Economy Class & Beyond

IAG purchase of BMI: Looks to clear after concessions

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An update from Reuters indicates that International Airlines Group (owner of British Airways and Iberia) is prepared to make more concessions to enable the sale of British Midland International/British Midland Airways According to the report, IAG offered give up 10 slots for domestic and international use. But it seems the moaning of Virgin Atlantic Group has resulted in a … [Read more...]

EasyJet to trial allocated seat numbers….

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Well, this is a turnabout for the books. EasyJet is to trial allocated seats on a number of limited routes. Of course, everything will be chargable, with those wanting: Exit Row - £12 Front Row - £8 Anywhere else £3 The following routes are in the trial: Glasgow to Alicante London Luton to Alicante London Luton to  Istanbul London Luton to … [Read more...]

JAL takes delivery of the it’s first 787

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Well for those 787 watchers out there - good news. Japan Airlines today took delivery of its first pair of Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The JAL 787-8 being unveiled at Boeing's Everett Plant - Image, The Boeing Company JAL 787 Taxing at Everett - Picture - The Boeing Company As JAL ramps up to the Tokyo Narita to Boston service due to commence next month, and  … [Read more...]

Eva Air prepares two more routes to go “Hello Kitty”

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EVA Airways is being a busy little kitty... I mean airline and are preparing more Hello Kitty routes to take to the air. From 23rd May, EVA will operate the following routes: Taipei Songshan-Tokyo Haneda (HND)  Flights BR192/BR191 Taipei Songshan-Shanghai Hongqiao  Flights BR 190/BR191 In addition to the new routes, newly painted Hello Kitty Jets will be … [Read more...]

IAG waits for the European Commision to approve the purchase of BMI…

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Well, we're down to the final week of the hopefully will close the Lufthansa saga of owning British Midland Airways - or BMI as the rest of us know it as. The sale is down to the European Regulators either a yay... or nay. The EU Anti-Trust regulators have extended the provisional deadline for a decision on the acquisition from 16th March to 30th March Both Lufthansa and … [Read more...]

A new Jetstar on the horizon: Jetstar Hong Kong

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After the failed attempt to create a premium carrier with Malaysia Airlines, Qantas is to try again to make a new airline. With it's Jetstar unit, Qantas and China Eastern Airlines are joining together to create a new budget carrier for the Chinese market Both airlines will be equal partners in this venture. The plan is to tie the networks together, with Jetstar Asia based … [Read more...]

Iberia Express to launch on Sunday

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IAG and Iberia are pushing the launch of Iberia Express, which is due to commence on Sunday 25th March with the aim to “restore profitability to short and medium-haul routes” Formed as a chance to take on the now dead Spanair, and to attempt to offer a higher value proposition than some Low Cost carriers, there is a fair olde list of destinations up for grabs. The first … [Read more...]

Lufthansa sets out expected dates for 747-8i

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Lufthansa has been speaking to Flight about when it expects the 747-8i's - and the date for your diary is is the 23rd April. This is ahead of the planned introduction to service in May. Like the 787, there have been some delays with the delivery of the 747-8i series aircraft, but the first delivery has been made to the Government of Qatar (after an appropriate re-fit). The … [Read more...]

The new APD numbers, now confirmed for 2012/2013.

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And the exact response is from the travelling public is "Open your wallets and scream" at yet another attempt by this government to milk the traveller out of every spare coin they have. Here are the Air Passenger Duty  figures for that are due to go into effect, from 2011 to 2012, and the new figures that meet the 8% Retail Price Index rise for 2013 APD. BAND A … [Read more...]