Arik Air is an odd beast. With bits of it from Nigerian Airlines, and different investments here and there, it operates a 22 aircraft fleet, focusing on Nigeria and the area, as well as a few long-haul routes (namely, London, New York JFK, Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg). To run the long haul routes, it's drafted in a pair of Airbus A340-500's which can been seen flying some of … [Read more...]
Heathwick? What an awful idea….
Hitting the press today in the United Kingdom has been the idea of "Heathwick" (with the Telegraph breaking it first, followed by the BBC The idea is to some simple - slap in a High Speed Rail link to operate between London Heathrow and London Gatwick Airports around the M25, running at 180mph to 15 minutes and create a "virtual hub" between the two airports. Ministers … [Read more...]
Dutch Railways to introduce “Emergency Plastic Relief Bags”
Umm. Are we sure it's not April 1st? Oh dear. In this case, it's probably true. This up on the BBC News site, who note that the Dutch National Railways (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), is to add plastic bags as part of a first aid provision on some services. What you'll be doing in these bags... well.. is it to provide an emergency place to urinate. Or to put it bluntly - Wee … [Read more...]
Korean Air: Why go to One London Airport when you can go to Two?
Korean Air has confirmed it is to begin services to London Gatwick as well as London Heathrow. The route will operate between Seoul Inchon and London Gatwick 3 times a week. FLIGHT DEPART ARRIVE OPERATES KE909 ICN 18:40 LGW 22:50 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday KE910 LGW 10:30 ICN 05:25+1 Wednesday, … [Read more...]
Fares going down at Gatwick for British Airways
British Airways must be feeling the pinch from all the other low cost carriers at London Gatwick, and has launched a new campaign of lower fares from/to Gatwick. Fares are down as much by 20%, for an undefined period (but not a short as a sale), and kick of from £39 a sector for Amsterdam, Bologna, Bordeaux, Malaga, Marseilles, and going up in steps from there (for example, … [Read more...]
UA: Lazy rebrand of the day
The ongoing merger of United and Continental goes apace with the annoucement that the airline has decided what it's going to do about it's lounges. On the United side, it was The Red Carpet Clubs, meanwhile on the Continental side, they're know as Presidents Clubs. So with those rich heritages, what do you think United is calling their clubs going forward? Have a good … [Read more...]
EI: Irish Goverment – Psst: Wanna by 25% of an airline?
It seems that the Irish government has declared Aer Lingus not to be in it's fiscal future according to RTE. Whilst no decision had been made, and there were some issues about the current value of the holding. The Irish State currently holds 25% of the airline, with the the government holding the 'strategic' no longer applies Now you'd expect Ryanair to be over this like … [Read more...]
WW: New fares to confuse you all
BMI Baby seems to be modifying itself. Or it's paid a visit to the Strategy Boutique to get some new ideas with the changes of fares operated by the airline. Instead of the old two types of package, they're confusing matters with 3 types - FlyPlus, FamilyFly and Fly. FlyPlus is BMI Baby's go at a business product. This adds to your booking: No flight change fees One … [Read more...]
TG: Introduces.. Thai Smile Air.
Oh dear. It seems Thai International Airways have been visiting the Strategy Boutique for a name for their new "light premium airline". And it's called Thai Smile Air. Oook. Thai Smile Air (TSA.. hmm. Not a good start) will begin services in July next year, operating from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai and Surat Thani. TSA … [Read more...]
DJ: Strategy Boutique Special – Virgin Blue rebrands as …. Virgin Australia
Yup. Virgin Blue has finally done what it's been trying to do for some time, and has rebranded itself as Virgin Australia Here's the advert - analysis on the Strategy Boutique visit later on today … [Read more...]