Business - 18 April 1985
AER Lingus expects to boost business traffic on its transatlantic routes this year with the launching of its new Golden Shamrock First Class and Super Executive Class services.
"The new services incorporate major improvements both in the air and on the ground," said Cathal Mullan, Assistant Chief Executivecial. Some of the major innovations are:
* New sleeperette seats in First Class, .allowing passengers to. fully recline and enjoy a 'comfortable nap in-flight.
* New extra wide seats two abreast in Super Executive Class, giving' more elbow and legroom.
* The ability to reserve a specific seat at time of booking.
* Separate check-in and boarding. *Use of special lounges at Dublin, Shannon and New York.
* Improved in-flight service with superior meals and drinks service, together with electronic headsets.
* Priority disembarkation and bagggage service.
* Complimentary helicopter link from JKF Airport to Manhattan or to La Guardia Airport for on ward connnections.
In addition, First Class passengers have a choice of free limousine service to their hotel with one night's accommmodation as guest of the airline, Mr Mullan said that the new improved service meant that Aer Lingus could now compete with any international airline in service to the business travel- , ler.
Aer Lingus has also introduced a ' Frequent Traveller Programme which allQ,ws regular North Atlantic travellers to build up credits towards free flights on Aer Lingus and major US carriers, such as Eastern and TWA. Mr Mullan said that participation in such proogrammes was now a feature of US airline marketing.
"Fares for the new service are exxtremely competitive," says Mr Mullan. Compared to London-New York our Atlantic fares are £400 cheaper on a First Class round trip and £262 cheaper on an Executive round trip.
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THE computer giant, ICL, has signed an agreement worth more than £500,000 with Queen's University and its holdding company, Qubis Limited.' The agreement involves collaboration -. on the development of new software for 'commercial and industrial applications', Queen's will be providing the necesssary expertise, staff and accommodaation, while ICL will be seconding staff 'to the university and making available' the appropriate hardware and software.
The agreement marks a significant step forward in co-operation between the information technology industry and higher education in Northern Ireland a'nd will be of benefit not only to Queen's and ICL, but to the industry as a whole and to the promotion of advanced skills in the province.
Qubis Limited was formed by Queen's in October 1984 to make the expertise and facilities of the univerrsity available to business and industry for mutual benefit. Its chairman is Professor Colin Campbell.
Commenting on the agreement, Professor Campbell said, "We think of this deal as a partnership whereby the university will be properly rewarded for its expertise in assisting ICL to develop software application products and service based on the latest systems, It shows the new thinking in univerrsities and in industry which will lead to further co-operation for the benefit .of everyone."