Economy Class & Beyond

Taking the Gatwick Express? Good luck with that…

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Last week Southern Rail gave up running any pretense of running a normal timetable, and cancelled 341 services a day on its network from today (11th July 2016). Alas, Southern Rail operates the Gatwick Express route - and unsurprisingly this has been hit by changes. Gatwick Express train (Class 387/2 Electrostar) service passing Clapham Junction - Image, Economy Class … [Read more...]

What to look out for at Farnborough 2016

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As the aviation world gathers in East Hampshire at Farnborough for the bi-yearly aviation show, here's my predictions for this week's airshow. Orders Reading around, I wouldn't expect the mega orders we've seen at Paris and Farnborough the past few years. Let's blame the wonderful UK Brexit for some of this, which has introduced a lot of uncertainty into the … [Read more...]

Airplane Art – Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner

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It's Sunday, so it must be time for some more airplane art. This week, sitting at the gate in a summer morning at London Heathrow Terminal 2 is a Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Ethiopian Airlines was the launch customer for the Boeing 787 in its region. The airline operates a fleet of 14 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in its fleet currently, with a further six to … [Read more...]

More Air France and KLM “Oh My Deals”

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We all know the pound is in the doldrums after Brexit. Heck. It hurts a lot.  But Air France and KLM have some semi decent deals if you want to get away from the chaos for a bit. Air France Boeing 777-300ER at Paris Orly - Image, Economy Class and Beyond Let's start with Air France - http://www.airfrance.co.uk/GB/en/local/resainfovol/meilleuresoffres/wow_deals.htm (As … [Read more...]

Flight-Fight! Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham to Dublin

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Flight-Fight! Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham to Dublin Flight-fight? Fight-FIGHT! Round 1: Booking and Check in Off to Birmingham Airport Round 2: Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham to Dublin Airport Interlude: Spotting in Dublin Back to Dublin Airport Interlude: Finding the perfect Guinness Mug. Round 3: Ryanair FR666 Dublin to Birmingham Airport Quickie … [Read more...]

Flight-Fight! Off to Birmingham Airport

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Flight-fight! Off to Birmingham Airport Flight-fight? Fight-FIGHT! Round 1: Booking and Check in Off to Birmingham Airport Round 2: Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham to Dublin Airport Interlude: Spotting in Dublin Dublin Airport Interlude: Finding the perfect Guinness Mug. Round 3: Ryanair FR666 Dublin to Birmingham Airport Quickie ride home And … [Read more...]

Boeing demonstrates what it can do with a 787-9 Dreamliner (VIDEO)

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It's fast coming up to one of the aviation highlights of year - the Farnborough Air Show 2016. And yes - we know that many a deal will be signed, press images and renderings will appear. But there's nothing like a real life demonstration... as Boeing prove in their demonstration flight rehearsal with a Boeing 787-9 painted up in All Nippon Airways … [Read more...]

Thai Airways A350 begins testing

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Progress continues for Thai Airways and their Airbus A350 - which has now got some engines attached to the plane as it rolls out of hanger. Thai Airways Airbus A350 rolls out - Image, Airbus The plane has rolled out of the cabin furnishing & engine installation at the Airbus Toulouse Final Assembly Line. The aircraft is now ready to proceed to further ground and … [Read more...]

JR Central plans new Shinkansen train!

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At Economy Class and Beyond, I have a very soft spot for the Japanese High Speed network and its trains (see here, here, here, here and here for a few examples when I was last out in Japan) Yes. I can go quite densha otaku when it comes to the JR Shinkasen network. N700 Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka. Image, Economy Class and Beyond. Well, it seems JR Central is … [Read more...]

Flight-Fight! Round One: Booking and Check In

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Flight-fight! Aer Lingus vs Ryanair -  Booking and Check In Flight-fight? Fight-FIGHT! Round 1: Booking and Check in Off to Birmingham Airport Round 2: Aer Lingus EI263 Birmingham to Dublin Airport Interlude: Spotting in Dublin Dublin Airport Interlude: Finding the perfect Guinness Mug. Round 3: Ryanair FR666 Dublin to Birmingham Airport … [Read more...]