Economy Class & Beyond

Delta confirmed to buy 49% of Virgin Atlantic

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Delta finally does what it wanted - and has gone ahead to acquire the 49% of Virgin Atlantic that Singapore Airlines was selling. For the cool sum of $360 million (£244 Million), Delta gets more access to Heathrow, and the ability to set another joint venture across the Atlantic. For Richard Branson - 51% of the airline is still held by the Virgin Group with it's own brand … [Read more...]

Iberia unions call off Strike Action

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In a bit of good news as we head towards the Christmas travel season, the unions that represent staff for Iberia have called off their planned strike action. The action that was meant to take place on: 14th December 17th December 18th December 19th  December 20th December 21st December The unions have called off this actions as they do not wish to harm … [Read more...]

£1 Million says we’ll be around in 5 years – Virgin and BA in a war of words

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If there's anyone who can milk the media, it's Richard Branson. With reports that Delta are going to snap up the 49% of Virgin Atlantic, IAG head Willie Walsh has been talking of the Virgin Atlantic brand going away. Willie Walsh told the press aboard a London - Seoul flight that  that he couldn’t see Delta wanting to operate the Virgin brand. "If they do, what does it say … [Read more...]

Iberia route cuts to bite from January 2013

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We've been waiting to see how the cuts at Iberia are going to strike... well here they are. From Mid-January 2013, the short haul following routes are withdrawn: Athens Cairo Istanbul From 1st April, the following Long Haul services are facing the axe: Havana Santo Domingo San Juan (re-route via Miami) Montevideo (via other Iberia destinations) The … [Read more...]

Holiday Inn £20.12 UK sale now on

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For those who like the ICHG rooms on the cheap, ICHG is throwing away hotel rooms at £20.12 a pop. The full list is at: http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/celebrate_2012/hotels, with a mixture of Holiday Inns, a few Crowne Plaza's and a singular Hotel Ingido. Booking is at http://www.priorityclub.com/hotels/us/en/global/offers/celebrate_2012 and is … [Read more...]

Delta to purchase a lot of CRJ’s

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Good news if you like CRJ's... or terrible news if you hate CRJ's and fly Delta. Delta have placed an order for 40 Bombardier CRJ900's, with options for another 30 CRJ900's if needed. The jets will be operated by Delta Connection carriers as needed, and will configured with 76 seats in a two-class layout, configured with 12 first class seats, 12 Economy Comfort Seats and … [Read more...]

Lufthansa to roll out Premium Economy seat on Long Haul Services

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For some time, Lufthansa has been umming and ahhing over a Premium Economy product, and it seems the airline has finally given into deploying a PE product in its Intercontinental fleet. According to Lufthansa, they are planning what they are calling a " substantially upgraded economy product",with details to be finalised in 2013 In the Press release, Lufthansa … [Read more...]

China Southern to get 10 more Airbus A330’s

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It seems that the tensions over European Union's Emission-Trading System are easing, with news that China Southern Airlines is to get 10 Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Long haul orders seem to have been logged jammed with arguments over the ETS, with significant orders put on hold if they were being brought for use in China. China Southern says that the aircraft … [Read more...]

Fastjet eyes the remains of 1Time

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It seems Fastjet is eyeing up 1Time carefully, and is in negotiations to buy the carrier. 1Time was forced to suspend flights in November when it ran into serious cashflow problems. However, Fastjet sees this as an easy entry into South African aviation market. The plan would be for Fastjet to pay a nominal fee to acquire the airline and reach a settlement with 1time's … [Read more...]

Planes with Sharklets? Check!

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Oh this would please Doctor Evil so much - it also pleases me too. Most of us who have boarded a modern short haul plane (and quite a few long haul planes), can't help but see on the end of the wing, a wingtip device - be it a: Winglet (as seen on Boeing 747-400's, Airbus A330/A340's), Wingtip Fences (Airbus A320 family, Airbus A380), Blended Winglets  (Boeing … [Read more...]