LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Crystal Cruises, the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, is once again pioneering new fronts in the luxury travel industry with the purchase of a Boeing Business Jet B777-200LR, offering an array of global itineraries for its expanded brand extension Crystal Luxury Air. The announcement comes on the heels of Crystal’s groundbreaking news in July of an extensive brand expansion, which will include extravagant air vacations around the world aboard a luxurious Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
In addition to doubling the initial air projections with the expanded aircraft fleet, Crystal will work with the Registry of Aruba in developing and securing an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC). This will pave the way for Crystal Luxury Air to launch international operations. The twin-aisle BBJ B777-200LR will be redesigned to accommodate just 88 guests with flat-bed first class seats; a beautifully appointed lounge and bar; and offer 14- and 28-day around-the-world and international itineraries, beginning in 2017.
“Our mission is to make Crystal the core of what will become the world’s premier luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand collection, not only for the immediate future, but for years to come,” said Crystal Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. “The acquisition of our second luxury aircraft is another profound step toward establishing our goal.”
The twin-aisle Boeing 777-200LR, and the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which typically seats up to 300 passengers and will be redesigned to accommodate just 52 guests, will boast the premium luxury that discerning global travelers have come to expect from Crystal, including copious amounts of guest space, plush amenities and Crystal’s world-class service and crew. Trips will include accommodations at the world’s most luxurious hotels, the finest Michelin star-level cuisine prepared by celebrated chefs and fabulous local cultural entertainment. Additionally, the aircrafts can be arranged for special charters.
“Following our expansion announcement, travelers and travel agents expressed a strong interest in all-inclusive luxury air travel with a wider range of itineraries,” says Crystal’s President and CEO Edie Rodriguez. “Based on this enthusiastic feedback, we are growing our fleet to meet the demand from our guests and travel partners in luxury air options.”
Crystal Cruises is the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, having earned more “World’s Best” accolades than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history. Crystal Cruises has won “World’s Best Cruise Ship” in Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader Choice Awards for 22 years; been voted “World’s Best Large Ship Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure readers for 20 consecutive years; and the “Best Luxury Cruise Line” by Virtuoso in 2014. In summer 2015, Crystal embarked on the most significant brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, which will introduce three new classes of cruising – Crystal Yacht Cruises (December 2015), Crystal River Cruises (July 2016), Crystal Exclusive Class Ocean Cruises (late 2018) – and Crystal Luxury Air Cruises (2017).
Aviator
SAS Scandinavian Airline launches daily BBJ service from Copenhagen to Boston
Starting with its summer 2016 program, SAS is launching yet another year round service between the US and Scandinavia. From late March 2016, SAS will operate daily nonstop flights between Copenhagen and Boston. As such, SAS will be the first carrier to fly directly to Boston from Scandinavia.
As part of its determination to further strengthen its offer to frequent travelers to and from Scandinavia, SAS is now launching a year round nonstop daily service from Copenhagen to Boston. In 2016, SAS will offer approx 500 flights between Boston and Copenhagen and 6,600 flights between Scandinavia and the US – a total of 1.6 million seats between USA and Scandinavia. This further reinforces SAS’s position as the number one Scandinavian carrier:
– SAS is the absolute strongest carrier between Scandinavia and the US, a market where we are seeing growing demand amongst frequent travelers. Boston has long been high on our wish list of nonstop destinations and we are therefore delighted to start selling tickets for this direct daily service from Copenhagen. It is especially important for our customers who travel for business purposes that we offer flexible travel options, and this is why this route is aimed at these frequent travelers in particular, said SAS Group CEO Rickard Gustafson.
The route will be operated by an 86 seat Boeing 737-700 BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) and is primarily aimed at customers traveling for business purposes to meet growing demand on this route from the business segment in particular. Companies in the high tech, finance and Life Science industries plus the various top colleges and universities in both regions have long sought a nonstop daily connection with Copenhagen. With timetables that provide good connections, SAS also expects to attract a large number of passengers via Copenhagen to/from major points in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
– The new SAS route to Boston provides daily flights between two key metropolises, benefiting both Scandinavian and North American travelers, and the strong US dollar may make even more Americans want to go to Denmark, which would benefit the entire Danish economy. The new route also strengthens Copenhagen Airport’s position as a northern European airport with some of the best connections to the important North American market, said Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S.
Also Boston Airport applauds the route launch:
– Boston Logan has become a terrific gateway for those traveling to Europe and beyond. We are honoured that Scandinavian Airlines added this flight and a new airline to our roster, providing yet another way for our customers to enjoy Scandinavia and Europe, Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn said.
Tickets for the new SAS route to Boston go on sale on 9 October. The route opens on 29 March 2016 and will be operated by PrivatAir with a Boeing 737 configured with 20 Business and 66 Go seats. Departure and arrival times are scheduled to connect with flights to and from Copenhagen to major airports in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.
SAS currently offers long haul flights from Scandinavian to New York, Washington DC, Chicago and San Francisco and recently launched new direct routes to the US in 2016: From Stockholm to Los Angeles, from Oslo to Miami and from Copenhagen to Miami.
Timetables Copenhagen-Boston
From Copenhagen: SK927 will depart daily at 12:50 arriving in Boston at 15:20.
From Boston: SK928 will depart daily at 17:30 arriving at 07.00 the following day.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines