Economy Class & Beyond

APD: How to reduce the cost or mitigate it…

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So I've moaned about rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) today. Lets look at ways of cutting the cost of APD.1) Flying into the UK.APD is not applied flying into the UK. You are liable for airport duties.2) Flying out of the UK. Before getting much further I'd get a calculator out. Or a spreadsheet. Or something you can work your numbers with.  There are good rules to … [Read more...]

FR: Ryanair annouces profilts up, slams APD rises.

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It's earnings reporting seasons, with Ryanair annoucing it's numbers today, with a 17 percent increase in first half net profit with 450millon euros in the bank.  Guidance has been issued that full year profits are yield  from 380 million to 400 million euros. Which not a bad number.However, the Odious Little Man has been on BBC Breakfast today moaning about a … [Read more...]

Happy.. umm.. Happy APD Rise day…

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Air Passenger Duty is formally going up again is going up as of today.If you've been booking ahead of today you would had noticed the rises already. But for those who haven't seen the extra tax that is going to be lumped on your ticket.... here's the magic numbers: Band  Reduced Rate  Standard Rate  2009-10  2010-11       2009-10  … [Read more...]

Airplane p0rn – British Airways 757-200

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It's that time of the week again, and to celebrate the last revenue flight of British Airways venerable 757's yesterday, this week it's a 757-200 in British Airways Chatham Dockyard scheme, taxing past Terminal 1 on a crisp morning earlier this month. Whilst some 757's will remain with the Open Skies subsidiary, nearly all the remaining BA 757's are going to DHL to become … [Read more...]

The weak end of screening: Cargo….

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Yesterdays events at East Midlands Airport (Nottingham/Derby), Philadelphia International and Newark show the one problem with screening and security theatre: the distinct lightness that cargo screening suffers, and only when people talk does it come to light. The packages that were heading to Chicago had packages allegedly originating from the Yemen, and various threat points … [Read more...]

BD: A small operating profit… but lots of costs….

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Lufthansa has released the latest numbers for it's group and figures. Now I'm honestly not interested in the big numbers of LH Group, but instead looking at how little BMI is doing.And it's small encouraging signs mainly, A 3rd Quarter operating profit of €3million has been made. However, don't cheer too much, as a Q123 loss of €90 million was made. Ouch. Most of … [Read more...]

BA: A shock – Q2 Profit!!!

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That's right - hold the presses... British Airways has actually made a profit for the first time in two years!A half-year profit of £158m, has been achived, in spite of the cabin crew strikes and the annoying effects of the ash cloud. This is in tandem with Iberia also reporting a profit of £46mRevenues increases have pointed to with cargo doing excellent trade, … [Read more...]

Nude-o-scope or a nice tight feel? The TSA now gives you a choice….

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According to ABC World News, the TSA (Transit Security Administration) are preparing to deploy their scanning techinques - and you'll have a choice of a Millimetre Wave Scanner or an "Intensive Pat Down"So Full Body Pat Down... or X Rated Patdown (as ABC puts it) - including parts off of the body that were limits. A demo was shown, including full breast fondles and stroking (so … [Read more...]

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