Economy Class & Beyond

Airplane Art Extra: Thai Airways International Airbus A380

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It's Tuesday, and it's time for some Extra Airplane Art. Today, it's a green Airbus A380... with a Thai Airways International tail on it. Image - Airbus S.A.R.L. This is the first Airbus A380 for Thai Airways, who are due to take delivery in the 3rd Quarter of 2012. Thai Airways are due a total 9 frames from Airbus. The first aircraft for Thai was ferried from Toulouse … [Read more...]

A second group enters the frame for BMI Baby….

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It seems there is a fight brewing for BMI Baby. Yes, I laughed at that too. But apparently people are interested in the British Midland Airways Low Cost Carrier, with a second group - quoted as an "EU based Airline Group" now joining the action. British Midland Airways say: "This potential new owner, which has operations in several countries across Europe, would acquire … [Read more...]

Peach Aviation takes to the Air

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Well the Japanese Low Cost Carrier war has finally engaged, with Peach Aviation taking to the air yesterday. The first two domestic runs - Osaka's Kansai International Airport  to New Chitose Airport and Osaka-Fukuoka have now commenced, operating 3 times daily services between these cities. Coming soon are the Osaka-Kagoshima service and a twice-daily Osaka-Nagasaki … [Read more...]

Singapore Changi: The LCC’s are coming to T2 as the Budget Terminal is shut for rebuilding

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In plans to expand further, it seems Singapore Changi Airport will be doing a big shuffle over the next few months, with the current "Budget Terminal" closing, and a new Terminal - to be known to all as Terminal 4 to provide Low Cost Carrier Facilities. The current budget terminal was opened in 2006, and expanded in 2008 to handle 4.6 million passengers a year. This alas … [Read more...]

Singapore Airlines to increase fuel surcharges

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Not so good news if you're planning to fly Singapore Airlines in the future, with them announcing that fuel surcharges are on the way up. Like most carriers, it's being stung by the cost of fuel, and has kindly decided to pass that onto the customer. Which isn't nice The surcharge is dependent on Class of Service and Distance from Singapore, applying to all Singapore … [Read more...]

IAG (BA+Iberia) numbers are out and good…

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The IAG Group has released its latest numbers, and all is going well it seems, making profits of £410 million. £190m in 2010, with revenues up 10.4 per cent. Pre-tax profit was up from £70m in 2010, to £426m However, with all these good numbers, there is a heck of a sting in the tail. And that's in the form of the Air Passenger Duty collected, which comes in at a whopping … [Read more...]

Emirates introduce a varible fuel surcharge

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It seems even the darling of the Middle Eastern airlines - Emirates -  is suffering with the current round of fuel prices and is to institute fuel surcharges on its flights The airline will be introducing the surcharge for all tickets issued from 1st March 2012. Of course, like any surcharge it's comparatively confusing depending on you're going and the class you're … [Read more...]

O’Leary on the 737-MAX… APD and “Boris Island”

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The shy and retiring CEO of Ryanair Michael O'Leary has looked at the new 737-MAX project. And his words on it could be worrying for Boeing with the amount of planes Ryanair has ordered in the past. Talks are ongoing, but the shy CEO stated that re-engineered plane is a "dog's dinner of a design", and that it had been drawn "on the back of a fag packet as a response to the … [Read more...]

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