CNN International's Richard Quest trying to make it around the world in 8 days using just low-cost airlines across 9 countries.

CNN International's Richard Quest is going to try to make it around the world in just 8 days using just low-cost airlines.

Flying just cramped economy (welcome to the world of the rest of us!), and starting on Saturday 12 March, Richard Quest, the presenter of Quest Means Business on CNN International (DStv 401) will try to fly around the globe using just low-cost airlines.

There's no word on whether the aviation fundi who's clocked millions of airmiles in his career at the international news channel as a business and aviation news correspondent will be able to survive the ordeal of cramped seats – or how much S&T he will be getting from CNN to buy some water and peanuts onboard.

Richard Quest's itinerary in low-cost flying will start in London at Gatwick Airport.

From there he will go to Brussels, Prague, Dubai, Sharjah, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Sydney, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and then back to London – all in cattle class.

Together with jetlag, the journey will span 10 airlines through 9 countries in 8 days.

The adventure is part of CNN's monthly Business Traveller programme and will look at how far businesses can go on the world's expanding range of budget airlines.

"These airlines have democratised flying and are now the backbone of short-haul travel in Europe, Asia and America," says Richard Quest, announcing his project.

"They’re used for business as well as leisure and are often the only way to get between certain towns and cities. But now they're changing too, with more perks, benefits and the addition of new long-haul routes".

About the attempt Richard Quest says he's "being very strict about it".

"The rules are that the trip has to start and end in the same place, we can only travel in one direction, and we can't backtrack between continents. We're only using low-cost carriers and we're not allowed to take premium class tickets – it's economy all the way".

"We want to show just how far you can go in low-cost, and see which airlines are offering the best service for those on business and on a budget".

The marathon journey will be broadcast in a special edition of CNN Business Traveller on CNN International on Thursday 14 April.

Programming note: CNN Business Traveller looking at hotel breakfasts, the business lunch, and wine in September on CNN International.

During September CNN Business Traveller with Richard Quest will be sampling the hotel brakfast buffet and investigating how business travellers can eat well - and look at what's to offer for early risers on the road.

There's an evolution taking place in the catering department of the travel industry within the hotel breakfast buffet. On a global scale, hotel giants such as Hilton, Hyatt and Choice Hotels are reinventing the breakfast buffet in the belief that the quality of their breakfast is a huge driver of guest loyalty.

CNN Business Traveller in September will also be looking at whether the business lunch - during tough economic times - are still the way of clinching potential business deals. The celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay will weigh in on how to make a hotel restaurant a "place to be seen".

CNN correspondent Ayesha Durgahee will make use of the "chef on call" service at Malaysia Airlines and also take a peek at the vast wine cellars owned by the aviation industry.

CNN Business Traveller can be seen in September by South African viewers on Thursday 13 September at 10:30; Friday 14 September at 07:30; Saturday 15 September at 09:30 and Sunday 16 September at 06:00 (all South African times).

Programming note: CNN Business Traveller with Richard Quest returns as a monthly show to CNN International.

CNN Business Traveller is back on CNN International (DStv 401) as a monthly show, again presented by Richard Quest, as well as business travel news correspondent, Ayesha Durgahee.

CNN Business Traveller, which had its first ''new'' episode in the middle of March, will be a monthly show with a new episode that can be seen in the middle of each month. The show looks at unlocking value, giving tips and insights and sharing information with business travellers who are doing business on the road and in hotels and how to travel and stay better.

CNN International says CNN Business Traveller returns ''in a harsh, more demanding environment to reflect the size, importance and shifting trends of an industry that touches just about every aspect of the global economy".

Richard Quest will present CNN Business Traveller monthly from hotels, airports and cities around the world, bringing his detailed knowledge of surviving out of a suitcase on the world's corporate highways and byways. "This is a fascinating industry – we look forward to the year ahead on the road", says Matt Percival, the executive editor of CNN International.

In the second episode of CNN Business Traveller on Saturday 14 April at 08:30 (South African time) (repeats on Sunday 15 April 05:00; Saturday 5 May 14:30; Sunday 6 May 08:30; Monday 7 May 05:00) looks at hotels.

The trends of today show a changing role for hotels, as travellers demonstrate a thirst for more advanced technology. As the ubiquity of laptops and gadgets spells demise for the business centre, CNN Business Traveller looks at the rise of the lobby and its 21st century guise as a place of work, play and relaxation, not just a portal for coming and going.