Economy Class & Beyond

Hong Kong Airlines to abandon Hong Kong – London Business Route

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In what should also be no surprise, Hong Kong Airlines are preparing to suspend it's Hong Kong to London Gatwick route. The route was a bit of an oddity - the proposition was a twin-business class flight - one section with a lie-flat seat, one section with a recliner type seat, operated by an Airbus A330-200. The begun on the 7th March 2012, and will be up for the chop on … [Read more...]

BMI/Virgin Atlantic Earning/Burning Partnership to end

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In what should be a surprise to no-one, Virgin Atlantic and British Midland International will end their earn/burn relationship. You will not be able to burn or earn BMI Diamond Club miles on Virgin Atlantic from 1st September 2012. After this date, you will NOT be able to use BMI miles to redeem on Virgin Atlantic, nor will you be able to earn miles on Virgin Atlantic … [Read more...]

Virgin Atlantic also suffers losses

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Like buses, results are coming out. This time it's Virgin Atlantic who has made a lost  of £80m in the 12 months to the end of February, This compared to the same period in 2010-211 where a profit was achieved of of £18.5m, with revenue and passengers up on last year. The load factor has been 78% over the year. However, losses have been pinned on the fuel bill which has … [Read more...]

IAG turns in a loss

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International Airlines Group (BA/Iberia/BMI) is having a bad time of it - loosing €390m  ($476m; £306m) loss for the six months to the end of June. This is especially bad as the group turned in a €39 million pre-tax profit in the same period in 2011. Revenue increased in the period by10% to €8.5bn vs €7.8bn in the same timeframe. Whilst revenue has been up, costs has also … [Read more...]

The beginnings of something quite mad… (well BCN)

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I like to fare hunt - it's almost a sport in itself. When I fare hunt, mad ideas start to form, and gel (the like of which normally ends with me having a bad back for weeks after walking around cities for hours). But anyway, I did a bit of hunting and digging and found a little gem for the mid-end of hundreds of Euros (and it's still live from the looks of it - fiddle with … [Read more...]

United Boeing 787-8 rolls out of the paint shop

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In a bow to all those at United saying "Look at the Shiny! We're getting the 787!" , United yesterday broadcasted the roll-out ceremony of their first complete and painted 787 Dreamliner out of the Boeing hanger via UnitedHub.com. Here's a few grabs from the live event. Images - United Airlines AS we can all see, the United paint job has been modified to … [Read more...]

Safety in the air? Try safety on the ground as a Ryanair and AA plane have an incident on the ground – then BOTH take off

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On the ground when we get on a plane, the first thing we see when the doors go to close is the safety video or a safety demonstration - and hopefully a lot of us pay attention to it. However, there are bigger issues on the ground as Flight reports - and it's enough to make you want to head to the small room. The incident occurred on 14th April 2011, when passengers aboard … [Read more...]

Booking.com, Expedia and ICHG in possible price fixing bustup?

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It seems the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) occasionally does it job, with them releasing a statement today where they looked at  Expedia, Booking.com and InterContinential Hotels Group, and found them possibly breaking European Competition Law in regards to  room-only hotel accommodation,and trying squeezing out their competition. The OFT's findings are provisional at this … [Read more...]