Economy Class & Beyond

Train Repaint Saturday – First Great Western HST Power Car

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It's Saturday, and it is time for something a bit different (and as this is is a TRAVEL blog, trains are fair game. Buses are not - even I have limits). As we close in on the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee, it's First Great Western (a train operator who operates out of London Paddington to the South West and West of the United Kingdom  as well as the Thames … [Read more...]

EU to force mobile operators to cut roaming charges

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Some news you can actually use... if you have a Mobile phone SIM card in the European Union. The EU has noticed over time that roaming fees within the area have been stupidly high and since 2007 have forced operators to cap how much they charge with a lot of success despite their whining (Yes O2 UK, Orange UK, T-Mobile, Three UK and Vodafone UK, I'm looking squarely at you … [Read more...]

Malaysia Airlines prepares to receive it’s first A380

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Lets have some nice A380 news - well it is the nearly the weekend after all. Malaysia Airlines first Airbus A380 is edging ever closer after the bird being flown back from Hamburg - where the interiors, furnishings and cabin tests were conducted to the Airbus factory in Toulouse. Here's a pic of the plane returning to Toulouse... and someone really spent money on the … [Read more...]

AA announces long haul fleet re-jig

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Stand by for times of wondering what type of plane you'll get. American Airlines have confirmed they are to change some of the configurations of their 777 and 767-300ER's. The fleet of Boeing 777-200ER aircraft will also get the fully-flat seat from 2014 and have along with wifi capabilities on international routes, and  Main Cabin Extra product installed.  More importantly, … [Read more...]

BMI Regional sold to Sector Aviation

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In what can be described as some good news, BMI Regional has been sold by International Airlines Group to a company called Sector Aviation Holdings. The price: A cool £8 million. The sale is pending CAA approval, but IAG anticipates this will be completed within two weeks. For that cool £8 million, Sector Aviation Holdings will get: All of BMI Regional's fixed … [Read more...]

AirBerlin: We’ll stay at Tegel for a bit, but we’re annoyed…

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For those of you who missed yesterdays news, Berlin Brandenburg Airport won't be opening on the 3rd of June as planned, and has been put back to late 2012. Air Berlin have been.. well seething to put it blunt. A new PR from the company came out regarding the chaos, with an operation task force to try and make Berlin-Tegel work. For passengers, nothing changes for now, … [Read more...]

Oh great. Big UK Border Fun as one of the unions goes on strike….

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Arriving on the 10th May? Well you're probably going to have more of a wait to get into the country as the Immigration Services Union (who represent 4500 members) are going out on strike over pensions and retirement ages. The 24 hour strike is set to start at 00:01 on 10 May for 24 hours. BAA who operate London Heathrow, Stansted and other some other UK airports … [Read more...]

Berlin-Brandenburg Airport is now delayed….

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It seems plans to open Berlin Brandenburg Airport have gone into the air, with the start date of 3rd June 2012 cancelled and a new start date will be set for some point "after the summer holidays" For Lufthansa and Air Berlin, this is a major setback, with both carriers promoting the new BER airport heavily. Both carrier have planned a major resource attack at the new Berlin … [Read more...]

EVA Air to expand 777 operations

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EVA Air is gearing up for an expansion of its Boeing 777-300ER fleet, with announcement of seven more aircraft to join the fleet Deliveries will begin from 2014, and the airline expects to receive all of the aircraft by 2016. Looking at the EVA Air fleet, it's clear to see what the 777-300ER's are going to be used for - there are currently 7 Boeing 747-400's of two … [Read more...]