Economy Class & Beyond

More A380’s heading towards LHR … and MAN?

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Both Qantas and Emirates are upping service frequency and swapping Boeing 747's/777's for Airbus A380 aircraft for London services.Emirates will be bringing a second service, which will be EK03/04 (along with EK01/02) with a Dubai service, making it two A380 services a day to London Heathrow.  The remaining services (EK05/06, 07/08) will remain on whatever other equipment … [Read more...]

And so the inevitiable happens – the iPad becomes an IFE Device.

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(Yes, I know - an on-topic post. Be shocked.)Jetstar (the low cost arm of Qantas) will be trialing a new Portable in-flight entertainment (IFE) system that is based on... the iPad, initaly on some domestic routes across Australia.According to Jetstar's CEO Bruce Buchanan, in his own words:"Based on demand for the iPads as part of the trial, we'll be looking to roll out the … [Read more...]

Off to the World Cup? Planning to use your Smartphone? BE VERY CAREFUL!

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Well in a few days the world cup (football - no not Aussie Rules, Gaelic Football or the American thing - we're talking foot on a circular ball in low scoring games) will be up and running. But if you're thinking of taking that wonderful little smartphone you have (be it an iPhone, an Android device or anything that can connect to the Internet), unless your roaming agreement is … [Read more...]

Aeroflot says no to drink on certain Y class routes

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It seems Aeroflot has been busy doing analysis after banning alcohol sales on specific flights in Economy Class since February. By doing this, they have managed to reduce on-board incidents related to intoxication. Selection of the flights affected was done on flights that highest reported alcohol related incidents in the air. By banning alcohol sales in economy, … [Read more...]

Ryanair makes a profit… and then the ODM bitches.

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Well, it makes a difference to talk about someone than BA who are on Day 3 of their third (or is it forth... I loose track)Lets talk about everyone's "favourite" Low Cost Carrier - Ryanair, who has reported a nifty pre-tax profit of €341m, recovering from a loss last year, thanks in no small part to the reduced price of fuel. The airline reported revenue was up 2%, and … [Read more...]

So day 2 of the BA Strike round 3….

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... and what's new? Well, ACAS are trying to rally the two together, and Unite is on the verge of going back to the staff within the next two weeks to ballot.Oh wonderful. But it's still he said/she said territory, with neither side seeming want a resolution. Which isn't pretty if you're a traveller. Nothing new really. … [Read more...]

Air Southwest… Selling up or last gasps?

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Now I've dealt with the annoyance that is the BA Strike, it's time to look at the problems at Air SouthwestNo. Not Southwest Airlines of USA fame, but a small little carrier in the South west of the United Kingdom. But little Air Southwest is to be sold after operating profits drops by £600,00 in 2009.In turn, this now brings the question the pull of Newquay Airport which … [Read more...]

Afriqiyah Airways Flight 711 – Not a Technical or Terror fault.

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News today comes from Tripoli with the announcement of the preliminary enquiry of the crash of Flight 711 from Johannesburg to Tripoli. According to the enquiry, there was not mechanical fault, there was enough fuel onboard, and there was no request for help. Neji Dhaou, head of the Libyan commission investigating the crash, said the causes remained unknown and indicated it … [Read more...]

So BA are back on Strike. Again.

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There's not much more to say other than that is there?It's another 5 day strike, which started on Sunday and will finish on Thursday.....Before they walk out again on the Sunday after.BA and Unite are of course pushing at each other, but is there a case of oversimplifying the issues at stake - least of all the re-instatement of travel rights - for the public.And striking on a … [Read more...]