Surprisingly fresh Flight Attendant

Passengers aboard the first Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen to Tokyo via Anchorage in 1957 were impressed that one particular flight attendant remained impressively fresh and alert all the way from Copenhagen to Tokyo.

What SAS did not write about at the time was that the company had employed two identical twin sisters, and replaced one sister with the other during the intermediate landing in Alaska!

Source: SAS, Scandinavian Airlines Systems

Air Canada Expanding to Asia

Air Canada Boeing 777-300ER

New Seoul and Istanbul routes; seven more weekly flights to China; Calgary-Narita upgrade

Air Canada is bringing the world closer this summer with a major expansion of its international services.
The carrier is launching a new non-stop route between Toronto and Seoul, starting service to Istanbul subject to government approval, adding seven weekly departures to Beijing from Toronto and Vancouver, and upgrading its Calgary-Tokyo Narita route to provide daily service.

"Air Canada is seizing the opportunities of the Pacific Century with the most far-reaching international expansion of its schedule in its 75-year history.

With our Asia expansion alone, we will be flying 11 daily departures or more than 43,000 seats a week across the Pacific Ocean this summer
- a commitment of up to 14 widebody aircraft valued in excess of $2 billion".

"Our service to Istanbul, the bridge between Europe and Asia, adds an exciting destination to the Air Canada network with easy connections throughout Turkey and points in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa with our Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines," said Ben Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

All flights will offer lie flat suites in Executive First, industry-leading seatback entertainment throughout all aircraft, the ability to collect and redeem Aeroplan mileage and lounge access and concierge service for eligible customers."

All flights will offer lie flat suites in Executive First

Highlights of Air Canada's 2013 summer schedule include:

Non-stop service to Istanbul beginning June 4. Subject to government approval, Air Canada will begin flying three-times weekly, year-round to the historic city which also serves as a gateway to other destinations in Turkey, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Flights will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. It will be the only early evening departure from Toronto to Istanbul.

The launch on June 2 of a new Toronto-Seoul service operating three times a week, creating a fifth Asian destination from Air Canada's Toronto hub. The year-round service, operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, will complement existing Vancouver to Seoul service by providing daily departures from Canada to Seoul.

An addition of three more weekly departures between Toronto and Beijing starting June 1, bringing the total number of departures from Toronto to Beijing to ten a week. The flights will be operated with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

Four additional departures each week between Vancouver and Beijing starting June 1, for a total of 11 weekly departures, including a new late night flight timed to be convenient for business travellers. The flights will be operated with a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

The upgrading of our Calgary-Tokyo Narita service starting May 1 to offer daily departures, up from five a week last summer. The flights are operated with a Boeing 767-300ER.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents.  Canada's flag carrier is the 15th largest commercial airline in the world and in 2011 served more than 33 million customers.  Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 59 Canadian cities, 56 destinations in the United States and 63 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.  Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,356 destinations in 193 countries.

SOURCE: AIR CANADA

Breitling Jets and Airbus A380 Formation Flight

Breitling Jet Team and Airbus A380 Formation Flight at the Paris Air Show 2012.
Just beautiful!

Emriates want three story planes

Emirates is the biggest operator of aircraft with two passenger decks today, and the company is also one of the biggest when it comes to international passenger airline traffic, but the company would like to fly even bigger planes. A three deck plane would be a solution.

Today, Emirates operate a fleet of no less than 26 Airbus A380 with a capacity of 517 passengers each. The company has orders for yet another 64 Airbus A 380, but wish that the planes could be even bigger.

Arabian Business reports that Emirates Adel Al Redha would like to see planes that could carry up to 800 passengers, but believe that the aircraft manufacturers will not develop such planes during the next decade or so.

More expensive to fly with Ryanair

From November 30, all Ryanair tickets bought with Credit cards will be charged an extra 2% (10%?) percent on the ticket price. This has to do with the new British Fair Trade policies for Credit Cards. By paying with Debit Card you can avoid this extra fee.

In the same time, Ryanair will charge all tickets with an extra 6 Euro or 6 Pound administrative fee. This goes for all tickets except the tickets being bought Ryanair Cash Passport in Ireland, Germany and Spain up to February 1 / February 15 and March 21, 2013.

Source: Moss-avis.no

SkyTeams's SkyTips Amsterdam

SkyTeams's SkyTips: Amsterdam - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

 www.schiphol.nl

Silver Airwas expand in Florida

Silver Airways SAAB 340 B

Silver Airways, Florida’s hometown airline offering more flights to more cities within the Sunshine State than any other carrier, announced today that it will further boost its intra-Florida network in January 2013 with the launch of two new routes: Fort Lauderdale-Orlando and West Palm Beach-Tampa. Flights along the new routes are on sale now for service
beginning January 7, 2013.


Silver Airways will deploy its flagship Saab 340Bplus aircraft on its new Florida routes.
One of the most advanced turboprops operating today, the 34-seat Saab 340Bplus is distinguished among the world’s most eco-friendly aircraft, burning 60% less fuel per hour than a 70-seat regional jet. Each Silver Airways Saab 340Bplus is outfitted with plush leather seating, ample legroom, large and easily accessible overhead bins, personalized flight attendant service, on-board lavatories, and an active noise reduction system, delivering a superior in-flight experience.

About Silver Airways (www.gosilver.com)
Silver Airways Corp. (IATA: 3M) is a U.S. airline operating 200+ daily scheduled flights to/from 45 gateways in Florida, The Bahamas, Georgia, Montana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The company is owned by Victory Park Capital, a Chicago-based investment firm. Silver Airways is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL with a new, state-of-the-art 61,000 square-foot maintenance facility based at Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV).

The airline operates under principal code share and alliance agreements with United Airlines and Copa Airlines. The Silver Airways fleet is comprised of modern, state of the art aircraft with reliable, fuel-efficient jet-turbine engines, including Saab 340Bplus aircraft (maximum seating: 34 passengers) and Beechcraft 1900D aircraft (maximum seating: 19 passengers).

The Florida Bahamas Network

Source: Silver Airways

    www.gosilver.com

Finnair is renewing the ticket system

Finnair - Food and Soft drinks included

Finnair want to make it easier to by airline tickets. There will be five new types of tickets, two of them in Business class and three forms of tickets in economy class.

One bag that you can check in for free, hand luggage, food and soft drinks during the flight is included in each ticket.

Source: FNB

US Airways retires the last Boeing 737-300

US Airways quietly retired its last Boeing 737-300 on November 26 from revenue service.
Aircraft 737-3B7 N530AU (msn 24412) operated flight US 1611 from Raleigh/Durham to the Charlotte hub ending 28 years of faithful service for the type. USAir was the launch customer of the 737-300 and received its first copy (N353AU, later registered as N374US) on November 28, 1984.
N530AU was delivered new on June 26, 1989. N530AU was immediately ferried to Miami.

US Airways still operates the Boeing 737-400. Southwest Airlines currently still operates the Boeing 737-300 and is now likely to be the longest operator of the type when retired.

Source: US Airways / Worldairlinenews.com / Airliners.net

Air Namibia pilots strike

Air Namibia is currently strugglig through a pilot strike, represented by the Namibian Airline Pilots Association (NAPA). Some flights are being cancelled and the carrier to lose money.

The airline issued the following short statement: The NAPA industrial action is still on going. Negotiations continue, to reach an agreeable solution.

According to this report by AllAfrica the African carrier is hiring foreign pilots to maintain most of its flights.

According to the union the airline is paying more for these foreign pilots than what the national pilots are asking for in the negotiations.

Source: Worldairlinenews.com / Allafrica.com

Hawaiian Launches Flights to Australia

Honoring the Southern Cross 1928

Hawaiian Airlines continue its expansion into new international markets, with the launch of nonstop service to Brisbane, Australia, capital city of the State of Queensland.

Passengers of the inaugural flight departing Honolulu enjoyed a festive island-style send-off, featuring live Hawaiian music and hula, a traditional Hawaiian blessing by Kahu Richard Kamanu of Kaumakapili Church, and fresh flower lei upon boarding.

Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian's president and CEO, commented, "Brisbane is our second gateway city in Australia and the accessibility and convenience we are offering into an entirely new region will make it far easier to go and experience the vast appeal of this beautiful country.
Likewise, Australians have a great affinity for the charms of Hawai'i and we see these new flights providing our state's visitor industry with a tremendous boost."

Hawaiian also offers nonstop daily flights between Sydney and Honolulu using its 294-seat, wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Only U.S. Carrier Serving Brisbane
Hawaiian is the only U.S. carrier serving Brisbane, giving travelers in Hawai'i and throughout North America a convenient new travel alternative for experiencing the scenic beauty of Queensland – Australia's "Sunshine State."

Centrally located on Australia's east coast, Brisbane is the gateway to a host of appealing sites and attractions for visitors to enjoy, including the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, world heritage listed rainforests, the iconic Outback territory, and the renowned leisure destinations of Australia's Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Brisbane also serves as a key hub for onward travel throughout Australia. Capitalizing on this, Hawaiian has timed its flight schedule for travelers to connect with same-day flights to and from throughout Queensland and other states via an interline partnership with domestic carrier Virgin Australia.

Hawaiian's Brisbane-Honolulu service is benefiting Hawai'i's visitor industry by adding 41,000 new air seats to the market annually, generating an estimated $79 million in visitor expenditures and $8.6 million in tax revenue for Hawai'i, according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.


Honoring the Southern Cross
The inaugural flight from Honolulu to Brisbane is also honoring the famed transpacific flight of the Southern Cross, which in June 1928 – the year before Hawaiian was founded – became the first aircraft to fly from Hawai'i to Brisbane.

Originating from Oakland, California, the Southern Cross captured international headlines with its successful completion of the world's longest journey by air at the time.

Flown by Australian aviation pioneers Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm, the tri-engine Fokker monoplane took approximately 83 hours to fly from Kaua'i to Brisbane's Eagle Farm airfield, stopping en route in Fiji for the pilots to take a one-day rest break.

In honor of Kingsford Smith and Ulm's pioneering flight, Hawaiian has placed a commemorative image of the Southern Cross near the cockpit window of the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft operating today's flight.

Continued Long-Haul Expansion
Brisbane is the seventh of eight new destinations that Hawaiian has introduced or announced new service to since November 2010, following Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Sapporo, Japan; Seoul, South Korea; and New York City. Hawaiian will launch service to Auckland, New Zealand, on March 13, 2013.

Hawaiian's continuing growth into new markets and expansion of existing operations in North America has been fueled by its long-haul fleet renewal and expansion program that began in June 2010. Since then, the company has welcomed nine new Airbus A330-200 aircraft to its fleet, and is scheduled to introduce 13 more A330s into service between 2013 and 2015.

SOURCE: Hawaiian Airlines

Overweight Passengers Challenge Airlines

Over-sized passengers who can not fit comfortably in a 17-inch-wide economy-class airplane seat is an increasing phenomenon. Obesity is a common condition, and the airlines also want to pack more and more people in the the cabin.

In the US, more than 30 percent of adults are categorized as obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. Airlines have a variety of policies to deal with “passengers of size”, Triblive.com and The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

No government regulations exist for accommodating overweight air travelers, it is up to the airline, check in agent, gate agent or cabin attendant.

More airlines are enforcing “customer of size” rules, which range from requiring such passengers to purchase additional seats. In some cases passengers are even refused to board the aircraft, change seat or asked to wait for other flights with more space.

Fellow air passengers are sometimes squeezed by over-sized passengers, making the journey less comfortable for them.
Sometimes it is also possible to upgrade to a class with wider seats.

For more information please visit Airfarewatchdog.com.

There are several safety-risks involved in transporting passengers of size.
Difficulty to evacuate the cabin, aircraft weight and balance, and the risk of thrombosis due to immobilization, are factors affecting the safety.

The problem arise if the seat belt extension belt is not long enough to secure the person in the seat, or if the seat is not wide enough to accommodate the person between the armrests.

The best would be if the passenger, regardless of medical condition, discuss the condition with his or her doctor before booking the ticket. In an ideal world, every airline would also have a person that the passenger could talk to in confidence and to get advice about any condition, including weight, that could effect the safety and comfort of the flight. It is always wise to plan the trip as good as you can.

Please also read the conditions that apply to your airline.

If you are still in doubt, contact the airline again before the trip.

American Airlines new Routes

American Airlines Boeing 777-300

American Airlines Strengthens Its Network With Service To Cities In Asia, Europe And Latin America

More International and Domestic Cities from Dallas/Fort Worth; More European and Domestic Service from Chicago O'Hare and New Service to Europe from New York - JFK

American Airlines announced today that it will launch service to markets in Asia, Europe and Latin America, delivering on the airline's business plan and network strategy designed to offer customers more choices to new destinations. Next year, American will begin the following international services: Dallas/Fort Worth - Seoul, South Korea; Dallas/Fort Worth - Lima, Peru; Chicago O'Hare - Dusseldorf, Germany; and New York JFK - Dublin, Ireland.  This new service enhances American's network footprint and will provide more access and choices for customers in key international markets.  It will also add domestic service to match customer demand through its Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago hubs.


New Service to Asia
From its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth, American will launch its first-ever service to Seoul on May 9, 2013. 
As one of the top 10 premium markets in the world, the new service to Seoul reinforces American's commitment to customers and the Asia-Pacific region. 
The new service will be operated as a part of American's joint business agreement with Japan Airlines and will provide convenient access for customers traveling from South Korea to connect to more than 200 flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to cities in the United States and Latin America.

More Service to Europe
Beginning April 11, 2013, American will add service between Chicago O'Hare and Dusseldorf, Germany. American will code share with oneworld® alliance partner, airberlin - further reinforcing an already strong relationship and allowing customers to fly not only to Dusseldorf, but also to cities such as Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Nice through airberlin's extensive network. This route will also operate as part of the joint business agreement with British Airways and Iberia.

In addition, American also will add new service between New York - JFK and Dublin, Ireland, beginning June 12, 2013.  These new flights also will be operated in conjunction with American's Atlantic joint business partners, British Airways and Iberia. From JFK, American flies non-stop to nearly 50 cities throughout Asia, Europe, North America and South America with nearly 90 daily departures.

Increased Service to Latin America
Beginning April 2, 2013, American will add service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Lima, Peru.  American provides more service than any other airline between North America and Latin America with more than 900 weekly flights to 49 destinations.  With the addition of Dallas/Fort Worth - Lima, customers can access 30 destinations to Central America, Mexico, and South America from the Dallas/Fort Worth hub.

In addition, this added service continues to enhance American's relationship with oneworld partner, LAN, including reciprocal frequent flyer benefits for American Airlines AAdvantage® and LANPASS members, and reinforces American's commitment to the Peruvian market by providing seamless connections to multiple destinations including the Dallas/Fort Worth - Tokyo non-stop.

New Domestic Cities from Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago:
On Feb. 14, 2013, American will also add new domestic service, through its regional affiliates American Eagle and ExpressJet, from Dallas/Fort Worth to the following cities: Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas, Columbia, Mo., and Fargo, N.D, as well as new Chicago O'Hare – Columbia, Mo. service.

DFW is the largest of American's five domestic hubs offering more than 740 departures to nearly 170 cities in Asia, Europe, North America and South America.

Source: American Airlines

JAL to Serve San Diego Daily

JAL to Serve San Diego Daily from March 1, 2013

Japan Airlines (JAL) is launching the first-ever nonstop service between San Diego and Asia on December 2, 2012 with the 787 Dreamliner aircraft, starting with four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays initially.

From March 1, 2013, JAL will increase the frequency to once daily and customers can make reservations and purchase tickets for these flights from tomorrow, November 14, 2012.

To commemorate the launch of the brand new service, JAL will be also offering a special in-flight menu exclusive to this route and for the limited period between December 2, 2012 and February 28, 2013 only.

Boeing 787 routes
Tokyo(Narita)-Helsinki, commencing service from February 25, 2013.
The Tokyo(Haneda/Narita)-Singapore route will change to Boeing 787.
Tokyo(Narita)-San Diego, commencing service from December 2.

The Boeing 787 windows are 1.3 times larger than conventional aircraft windows.
The liquid crystal electrical shades are capable of adjusting up to 5 different level of brightness.

Source: JAL Japan Airlines

SAS launches 45 new routes in 2013

SAS, Scandinavia's leading airline, will in 2013 launch 45 new routes.

This means that SAS will offer direct flights to exciting new destinations from all of the main airports and a number of regional airports in the Nordic countries.

In addition to these new routes, SAS will also increase the frequency of current flights on a number of domestic and European routes.
The introduction of these 45 new routes is completely in line with the SAS goal to meet our customers' complete travel needs.

These new routes will start being sold successively beginning Monday, November 26.

New routes from Sweden:
From Stockholm to Innsbruck, Pula, Palermo, Cagliari, Thessaloniki, Tel Aviv, Pristina and Alanya
From Gothenburg to Nice, Pristina and Östersund

New routes from Norway:
From Oslo to Salzburg, Berlin, Budapest, Santorini, Cagliari, Palermo, Pristina, Valencia, Malta, Lisbon, Athens, Tenerife and Pula
From Bergen to Dubrovnik and Antalya
From Trondheim to Split
From Stavanger to Antalya

New routes from Denmark:
From Copenhagen to San Francisco, Budapest, Prague, Newcastle, Cagliari, Palermo, Alanya, Thessaloniki, Pula and Biarritz

New routes from Finland:
From Helsinki to Paris, Rome, Prague, Geneva and Östersund
From Turku to Kittilä
From Tampere to Kittilä

In combination with the 45 new routes SAS also increase frequencies on many of its existing domestic and European routes in 2013.

SAS Inflight Service in Business Class

Source: SAS, Scandinavian Airlines Systems

Finnair Automatic check-in

As from tomorrow, 2012.11.28, Finnair launch the new automatic check in system.

Save time before the departure of your flight and leave the check-in to us.
If you have not done the check-in online, we will automatically do the check-in for you and send your boarding pass to your mobile phone.

If your flight departs in the morning, you will receive the check-in confirmation between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the previous evening.
If your flight departs in the afternoon, you will receive the confirmation approximately three hours before the flight departure.

How to register for automatic check-in
You can start using the service by adding your mobile phone number to your Finnair Plus profile.
Please remember to update your mobile phone number if it changes.

You will also receive the service if you give your mobile phone number when making the reservation.

How to check in
You will receive a text message with the check-in confirmation including your seat number and a link to your mobile boarding pass.

If you want to change your seat or do the check-in for people travelling with you, you can easily do it using the link in the mobile boarding pass or online at the Finnair website.
Check-in can also be modified at the Finnair self-service check-in kiosks at the airport (excluding London Heathrow and Copenhagen airports).

Open the mobile boarding pass before security check and use it as an identifier.
In order to use the mobile boarding pass, your phone must have a functioning internet connection.
If not, please pick up a paper boarding pass from the Bag Drop desk at the airport.

Which flights does the service apply to?
Finnair operated flights and Flybe operated AY2000 flights departing from Helsinki and other airports in Finland, Amsterdam, Bergen, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Gothenburg, London, Madrid, Manchester, Munich, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Riga, Stockholm Arlanda, Stockholm Bromma, Tallinn, Toronto, Vilnius, Warsaw and Zurich.
Baggage

If you only have carry-on baggage, most airports will allow you to go directly to the security check and then to your gate.
If you can´t open your mobile boarding pass, pick up a paper boarding pass from the Bag Drop desk. 
If you have baggage to be checked in, simply leave it at the check-in or Bag Drop desk during the check-in period of your flight.

Source: Finnair

easyJet introduces allocated seating

easyJet Airbus A319

easyJet introduces allocated seating on all flights from 27 November

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, will introduce allocated seating on all of its flights – typically over 1000 a day - from 27 November 2012. 
The airline trialled allocated seating in April with nearly 2 million passengers flying on 12,500 allocated seating flights. 
In response to the trial’s success, the airline took the decision to roll out allocated seating across the whole network.

easyJet trialled allocated seating because passenger research showed that the boarding process could be a source of stress for some customers and in some case,  a barrier to them flying with easyJet.  The key tests of the trial were to improve passenger satisfaction without impacting easyJet’s ability to deliver industry leading punctuality  –  all of which were achieved on trial flights.

Research among passengers who have travelled on an easyJet allocated seating flight has shown that 71% think allocated seating is better due to the improved boarding experience, while over 60% said that they are more likely to fly with easyJet in the future as a result.

Allocated seating provides a better boarding experience and gives passengers the added choice of selecting a seat for those who want to.
Thanks to a sophisticated algorithm, passengers who do not wish to pay to select their seat will be seated with the other passengers in their booking the majority of the time.

Some interesting facts also emerged from the trial flights:

- On shorter journeys seat 6A was the best seller while on longer flights it was 1A
- On shorter journeys seat 16B was the least popular while it was 19B on longer flights
- Passengers preferred seats on the left hand side of the plane with seats A, B and C out selling D, E and F

All passengers will be allocated a seat for free on easyJet’s flights but will have the choice of selecting a specific seat for a fee when they book flights, or adding them later to guarantee where they’ll be sitting.
There are three bands of pricing, dependent on the seat selected:

    £12 for extra leg room
    £8 for up front seats (emergency exits, row 2-5 on A319 or 2-6 on A320)
    £3 for any other seat

easyJet plus! annual cardholders and Flexi Fare customers will be able to select a seat free of charge as well as continuing to enjoy the benefits of Speedy Boarding’s dedicated check-in desk and Speedy Boarding - allowing them to board the aircraft first.

Passengers purchasing Upfront or Extra Legroom seats will be given access to the Speedy Boarding dedicated check-in desk and will be among the first to board.


How the algorithm works
An algorithm is a process or set of rules to be followed for problem-solving, typically performed by a computer system. All passengers will be allocated a seat with families and other groups travelling together on the same booking reference seated together wherever possible.
Anyone who pays to select their seat is allocated it at the point of purchase.
Anyone who chooses not to pay to select their seat is given their seat number when they check in either online or at the airport
   
The algorithm takes the data and seats the whole aircraft using a complex formula in less than 1 second

About easyJet:
easyJet flies on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries.

easyJet Cabin Crew

Source: easyJet

BA London Heathrow to Seoul

British Airways has delivered on its parent company’s promise to increase longhaul flying to Asia, by launching a new route from London Heathrow to Seoul in South Korea.

BA will operate six flights a week from 2 December 2012, BA says in a press release.

A Boeing 777, with First class, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy) cabins, will serve the six flights a week to Seoul, Breakingtravelnews.com reports.

Boeing is working on Stretching the 787

Picture by Boeing - The 787 Dreamliner

Boeing said it was moving ahead with plans for a stretch version of its 787 Dreamliner but added that more work is needed before it obtained approval for an official launch, Reuters reports.

Boeing has said it has been talking to airlines and leasing companies to define specifications for the 787-10, which would be the biggest version of the Dreamliner.

The company spokesperson adds that there are some more work to do before it is ready to launch the programme and/or be given authority to launch the programme.
The expected longer version of the carbon-composite, fuel-efficient 787 would be pitched to airlines for long-haul travel.

The 787-8 model can carry 210 to 250 passengers, and the 787-9, the slightly bigger version is designed to seat up to 290.

Boeing said it was still looking to raise 787 production rates to 10 a month by the end of 2013.
Pat Shanahan, Boeing senior vice president for plane programmes, said a rate of seven a month would likely be reached in mid-2013. The company reached the five-a-month production rate for the 787 in November.

Source: Reuters

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 12, 2012 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) employees last week rolled out the first 787 Dreamliner built at the five-airplane-per-month production rate. Four Dreamliners are shown in the final assembly facility in Everett, Wash. (See picture above).

Source: Boeing

Stung by a scorpion during flight

A Norwegian woman was bitten by a scorpion aboard the Iberia flight 6316 from Costa Rica to Madrid in Spain last Thursday, according to Norwegian Vinkingaposten.no.

She was rushed to hospital after landing at the Barajas Airport in Madrid. The woman was bitten in her right arm, and recovered fully.

The Iberia Airbus A340 was disinfected after the incident, EFE reports.

World's largest airlines 2011

World's largest airlines 2011 by scheduled passengers carried 2011

1) Delta Air Lines - 163 838 348
2) United Airlines - 141 799 000
3) Southwest Airlines - 135 274 464
4) American Airlines - 106 013 737
5) Lufthansa Group - 100 602 000
6) China Southern Airlines - 80 674 800
7) Ryanair - 76 400 000
8) Air France-KLM - 75 780 000
9) China Eastern Airlines - 68 724 960
10) US Airways -  60 854 368

Source: Wikipedia

LAN Airlines Rio de Janeiro to Miami

LAN Airlines Chile is planning to introduce nonstop Rio de Janeiro – Miami route.
The flights are to be operated with Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft starting on January 22 according to Airline Route.

About LAN
LAN Airlines has more than 82 years of experience serving passengers and cargo clients.
45,000 people choose the company’s services every day, which means passengers can depend on our consistency and ability to stand out from the rest, providing the best possible travel experience.

82 years of service
The growth and consolidation of LAN AIRLINES is reflected in the highest standards of safety, punctuality and efficiency.

LAN is a member of oneworld
LAN has been a member of oneworld, the global alliance that groups together the best international airlines, since 2000 and November 2007 marked 10 years since the company first began selling its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first Latin American airline to trade ADRs in the United States and proving the seriousness, prestige and solvency of the company to the international financial community

LAN Aircraft Fleet
Boeing 787 Dreamliner - 210 to 250 passengers
Airbus 340-300 - 263 passengers
Boeing 767-300 ER/ERF - 214/221 passengers
Airbus 320-200 - 156/168 passengers
Airbus 319 - 144 passengers
Airbus 318 - 126 passengers

Source: LAN Airlines

SkyWest fly for American Airlines

SkyWest Airlines starts operating for American Airlines as a new American Eagle carrier, WorldAirlineNews.com reports.

SkyWest Airlines on November 15 started its capacity purchase agreement with American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) for the operation of 23 Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet aircraft.
The aircraft are now starting to be operated under the American Eagle Airlines brand from the Los Angeles hub. This is a new type to appear in American Eagle’s colors.

Skywest Airlines will be placing 23 regional jets in service flying for American Airlines. All aircraft will be in service prior to the first quarter of 2013.

About SkyWest

SkyWest Airlines celebrates 40 Years and Flying in 2012. As a leading air service provider offering global access to millions of people each month, SkyWest partners with the world’s largest network carriers including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, US Airways, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. With a fleet of 321 aircraft, SkyWest’s more than 10,000 aviation professionals operate more than 1,700 flights each day to 169 destinations throughout North America. SkyWest is known for its industry-leading workforce, exceptional leadership team, and continued solid operational and economic performance. The airline is headquartered in St. George, Utah.

Source: SkyWest Airlines

Vueling expansion in 2013

Photo: Pedro Simões from Lisboa, Portugal

Spanish airline Vueling has revealed that it will expand its route network next year, BreakingAirNews.com reports. The rout network will reach out to 100 destinations from Barcelona El Prat Airport.

The new routes will be flown from the summer schedule commencing March 2013.
A new service to Gatwick, London’s second biggest hub airport for the airline, will be joined by Frankfurt, and Dusseldorf.  There will also be a significant increases in the frequency of flights from Barcelona and new cities in Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia. Over the past two summers, Vueling has launched a total of 45 new destinations.
Vueling’s objective is that in 2014 Barcelona will become the leading European airline for connections.

Of the 28 new routes planned for the next IATA summer season, from the end of March 2013, five have not been operated from El Prat airport in the past.  That is Dresden (Germany), Rennes (France), Fez (Morocco), Rhodes and Kos (Greece). The airline is also adding four new countries to its network: the Gambia (Banjul), Finland (Helsinki), Bulgaria (Sofia) and Luxembourg.

Pam Ann for SkyTeam at London Heathrow Airport

Discover why Pam Ann is so ecstatic about London Heathrow Airport by clicking on the video above.

http://www.skyteam.com/

SkyTeam has a global network of 1000 destinations!

EasyJet to add flights Manchester Malta

During the annual general conference of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association in Malta, Ali Hayward, EasyJet’s UK commercial manager, announced that the airline would be adding another weekly flight from Manchester next summer to the five it already operated every week.
This will provide 10,000 extra seats to Malta, Times of Malta reports.

Qatar offers Champagne in economy

As more and more airlines leave the catering on the ground, Qatar Airways does the opposite. As from November, the airline serves Champagne in all classes aboard the flights, including the economy class.

Qatar Airways is constantly moving the positions forward concerning Luxury and Comfort, according to president Akbar Al Baker.

Icelandair give disabled children a way to fly

 

The Icelandair Travel Fund for Special Children is a combined effort by Icelandair and it's passengers to help chronically ill and disadvantaged children realize their dream journeys.

Donations from Icelandair and it's passengers will enable these special children and their loved-ones to travel.

Source: Icelandair

Emirates Double Daily to Mauritius

Emirates Double Daily to Mauritius

Emirates, one of the fastest growing international airlines, has announced the addition of three frequencies to its present 11-weekly flights to Mauritius. The service to the paradise island will be double daily beginning 2nd December 2012.

The 12th weekly flight was introduced on 31st October and two further frequencies will be added on 2nd December. They will be serviced by a Boeing 777-300 in a three-class configuration.

Emirates flight EK3705 will depart Dubai at 1000hrs arriving in Mauritius at 1645hrs.
The return journey from Mauritius, EK3706 will depart at 1820hrs arriving in Dubai at 0110hrs, the following day.

Emirates Double Daily to Mauritius

Source: Emirates

Emirates Airline new service to Phuket

Emirates terminal

Emirates Airline is adding new passenger and belly cargo service to Phuket, Thailand, worldairlinenews.com reports. Phuket will become the second Thai gateway that connects it to international trade opportunities across its network of 126 destinations.

The launch of a daily nonstop flight to Phuket on December 10, 2012. The flights will be operated by an Airbus A340-300.  Phuket will become the 15th route launch for Emirates this year, Ho Chi Minh City was added in June.

More than 1 million per day watch Briefing

More than 1 million people a day have been viewing Air New Zealand’s Hobbit inspired safety video.

Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing and Communications Mike Tod says 'An Unexpected Briefing' has received more than 9 million online views in just eight days.

Air New Zealand will invest significantly in Hobbit movie related marketing efforts in Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe to attract more tourists to New Zealand. The airline is also working with Tourism New Zealand on a range of initiatives, including helping to bring a large contingent of journalists to experience Middle-earth.

Source: Air New Zealand

http://www.youtube.com/airnewzealand

United Air Lines is buying planes

United Air Lines Boeing 737 MAX 9

This summer, United Air Lines announced an order to purchase 150 narrowbody Boeing 737 aircraft.

Under the new agreement, United will purchase 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft for delivery between 2013 and 2022. These new aircraft will allow United to replace older, less-efficient aircraft to reduce fuel and operating costs, enhance the customer experience and maximize network opportunities. In addition, United is the North American launch customer for the 737 MAX 9, continuing its long tradition of launching new programs such as the 767, 777 and 787.

United will begin taking delivery of 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in 2018.
Boeing's newest family of airplanes will deliver a significant improvement in fuel efficiency in the single-aisle aircraft market.

The 737 MAX 9 will be powered by the new CFM International LEAP-1B engine, and it is expected to achieve fuel burn and CO2 emission reductions of up to 13 percent compared to current 737 aircraft.
United's 737 MAX fleet will feature the customer-pleasing Boeing Sky Interior, which creates a greater sense of space in the cabin and features an energy-efficient LED lighting system with different lighting and color schemes, a quieter cabin with improved ventilation, and larger overhead bins that accommodate additional carry-on bags.

United also plans to purchase 50 additional Boeing 737-900ER aircraft with deliveries beginning in late 2013. These next-generation models will be used primarily to replace older, less-efficient Boeing 757-200 aircraft that are flown domestically and are expected to burn up to 15 percent less fuel per seat than the aircraft they replace. CFM56-7B engines will power the aircraft.

United was the North American launch customer for the 737-900ER when its predecessor placed its first order in 2006 and currently operates a fleet of 43 737-900ER aircraft.

The new 737-900ER will also feature the Boeing Sky Interior, which has been included on United's 737-900ER aircraft since United became the first U.S. airline to operate 737-900ER aircraft with the new interior in 2011.

This order solidifies United's well-balanced order book with 272 new aircraft deliveries anticipated through 2022, including 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus A350XWBs.

United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the 787 Dreamliner, a revolutionary airplane that will provide customers a superior travel experience while reducing fuel and operating costs by up to 20 percent, with the first delivery in late September 2012.

Source: United Airlines

Alaska Airlines is powering up waiting

Alaska Airlines is powering up customer waiting areas at its major airports with electrical outlets that make it easier for travellers with electronic devices. At its airport gates in Anchorage, Portland and Seattle, the airline just finished installing 200 additional electrical outlets, each of which includes a 120-volt receptacle and two USB ports.

Source: Alaska Airlines

OpenSkies to join oneworld

OpenSkies is to become an affiliate member of oneworld from December 1st.

OpenSkies currently links Paris with the New York metro area with two daily round trips between Paris Orly and Newark. From March, frequencies will rise to three daily round trips with the addition of one daily round trip between Paris Orly and New York JFK.

Its flight attendants wear the usual British Airways uniform, and its aircraft are painted in a livery similar to the regular British Airways design, but the OpenSkies logo along their fuselages. The flights all operate using the BA flight code and its frequent flyer programme is British Airways Executive Club.

OpenSkies was launched by oneworld founder member British Airways in 2008 and has carried half a million customers since then. It operates a fleet of three Boeing 757-200.

Source: Breakingtravelnews.com

Tour of the Qatar airways Boeing 787

Tour of the Qatar airways Boeing 787 - At the Farnborough International Airshow 2012.

The Qatar airways Boeing 787

The Qatar airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner is being built, short video 3 minutes.

Qatar Airways First Boeing 787

Qatar Airways First Boeing 787 Commercial Service Takes Off To Dubai

State-Of-The-Art Dreamliner Spreads Its Wings Across Middle Eastern Skies.

First 787 Luxury Travel Service Links Dubai With Airline’s Global Hub In Doha
Boeing 787 Service Operating Four Services Daily On Doha – Dubai Route on 20 Nov 2012

Qatar Airways has 254 custom-made seats across its 787 Business and Economy Class cabins with specially designed interiors, together with a unique inflight entertainment system offering over 1,000 audio and video programming options. Its Dreamliners are also the world’s first fully connected 787s with wireless facilities for passengers to remain in touch with their friends and loved ones on the ground.

A striking feature of every seat throughout the aircraft is the award-winning touch screen Android system, where passengers are able to navigate through a truly interactive service offering more than 1,000 movie, TV programmes, music and gaming entertainment options in a sophisticated and user friendly way, just like the latest smart phones.

The touch-screen control unit has a unique dual screen interface allowing passengers to play games on their handheld device while enjoying a movie on their personal screen. Passengers are also able to be fully connected through WIFI and GSM telephony, sending both text and MMS messages, with each seat equipped with USB, MP3 and other charger ports, including laptop power outlets.

In addition, dynamic mood lighting and the composite design of the Dreamliner with lighter materials, will ensure passengers are less fatigued and more refreshed as the cabin pressure is 2,000 feet closer to ground level with an air purification system that is cleaner and healthier than many other aircraft.

The 787 Dreamliner is made up of composite materials making it a lighter and more fuel efficient than any comparable aircraft of its size and range.

Key features include larger windows, lower cabin pressure at higher altitude ensuring less fatigue, mood lighting throughout the aircraft and
more passenger space and comfort.

One of the world’s fastest growing airlines, Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 15 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 112 aircraft to 121 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Since the beginning of 2012, Qatar Airways has launched flights to 10 new destinations – Baku (Azerbaijan); Tbilisi (Georgia); Kigali (Rwanda); Zagreb (Croatia), Erbil (Iraq), Baghdad (Iraq), Perth (Australia), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania); Yangon (Myanmar), Maputo (Mozambique), and Belgrade (Serbia).

Over the next few weeks and months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Warsaw, Poland (December 5), Gassim, Saudi Arabia (7 January 2013); Najaf, Iraq (January 23); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (February 20); Chicago, USA (April 10); and Salalah, Oman (May 22).

Seats on the 787 Doha – Dubai flights are now bookable online at qatarairways.com, through any Qatar Airways reservation office or local travel agent.

Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft, including Boeing 787s, 777s, Airbus A350s, A380s and A320 Family of aircraft. In addition to winning Skytrax’s prestigious Airline of the Year 2011 and 2012, Qatar Airways was named Best Airline in the Middle East for the seventh year in a row, and its Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport was named Best Premium Service Airport for the second consecutive year in 2012. Skytrax is the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and is considered the ultimate benchmark for excellence in the airline industry. In October 2012, Qatar Airways became the first of the major Gulf carriers to officially join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group.
Source: Qatar Airways

Xiamen Airlines join SkyTeam

SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, 2012.11.21 welcomed China’s Xiamen Airlines as its 19th member.

Xiamen Airlines is also the fourth member from Greater China. China’s sixth largest carrier, Xiamen Airlines is also one of the world’s most profitable airlines. The airline flies more than 15 million passengers annually to more than 50 cities including Macau, Hong Kong and Taipei.

Founded in 1984, it is headquartered in the coastal city of Xiamen in the dynamic province of Fujian.

Xiamen Airlines has a fast expanding international network that includes Southeast and Northeast Asia and the airline has announced plans to launch flights to Europe, North America and Australasia by 2014 after the introduction of the Boeing 787.

Source: Worldairlinenews.com

LOT Boeing 787 Dreamliner

 LOT Polish Airlines, has as the first carrier in Europe, added to its fleet the world's most modern passenger airplane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Thanks to the Boeings 787 aircraft, LOT will soon have the newest and the most modern aircraft fleet on our continent.

The quality of our services is an additional asset – specially trained Elite Fleet cabin crews, new comfortable classes of service Elite Club and Premium Club, as well as the unique product on board the aircraft.

The LOT Dreamliner offers three classes of service - Elite Club (business) with 18 fully reclineable seats,
new Premium Club with 21 seats and economy class for 213 passengers. The aircraft is 56.72 meters long, its wing span is 60.13 meters and the range is 12 000 km. Its cruising speed is 875 km/h.

The LOT Dreamliner's first commercial flight will be operated to Prague on December 14, 2012.
Its first trans-Atlantic flight to Chicago will take place on January 16, 2013.
The next flight will be operated to Toronto on February 1, 2013. On February 3, passengers will fly on the Dreamliner to New York, and one month later, on March 3, 2013, LOT Boeing 787 will be welcomed in Beijing.

 Source: LOT Polish Airlines

(LOT has ordered five Boeing 787 Dreamliner)

Volcano eruption in New Zealand

The volcano cloud from Mount Tongariro in New Zealand's 'Lord of the Rings' park disrupts the air traffic in New Zealand. Both domestic and international flight are disrupted.

A massive plume of ash mounts up into the sky as Mount Tongariro erupts in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand on November 21, 2012.

The volcano previously erupted in August this year, the first time in more than a century.
Authorities issued a no-fly alert above the mountain located in the sparsely populated area of central North Island, NBC news reports.

According to Volcano Met Centre VAAC in Wellington the ash cloud is estimated to be short lived but the cloud is drifting to the east. The warning is in effect from the surface to fight level 270.

Volcano: TONGARIRO/NGAURUHOE - SHORTLIVED ERUPTION AT TONGARIRO 0025 UTC 21 NOVEMBER. COLOUR CODE: ORANGE

For more information visit:

www.aucklandairport.co.nz
VAAC Wellington

Iberia Staff Savings

Iberia said on Tuesday it needed to cut staff costs by a third to become competitive.

Iberia parent IAG announced earlier this month it would cut 4,500 jobs at the Spanish airline, almost a quarter of its workforce. It estimate to get a profit of EUR€ 300 million in 2015, and will likely report a loss of around EUR€300 million in 2012.

IAG was formed in 2011 by the merger of British Airways and Iberia. In addition the savings would cut network capacity by 15 percent in 2013, and downsizing its fleet by 25 aircraft.

Source: Reuters - Read more on Airwise

US Air Cabin Crew Vote for Strike

US Air Cabin Crew Vote To Approve Strike

Flight attendants at US Airways voted by a 94 percent margin to approve a strike, according to the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA website, Airwise reports.

Flight attendants are calling on management to finish the US Airways/America West merger with a single contract for all flight attendants in the combined group.

Source: Airwise

Airbus A380 Luxurious Cabin

                                    ILA Berlin 2012 - A tour of the Emirates A380 cabin By Airbus

Along with aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Airbus A380 is truly a luxurious airliner.

The Airbus interior cabin design team has during a short time span developed a variety of customized cabins for a number of different airlines around the world. All with specific needs and demands.

The first class of this new airliner is once again reconnecting to the past, when aviation was a luxurious business.

 

Showers, beds, bars and even cabins for the passengers. Cabins or suites like small hotel rooms.

Here you can relax in privacy in your own space during flight, but be warned, some airlines do not allow sex aboard!

Spacious, variable lighting, walking areas. The Airbus A380 is an airliner in a class of it's own.

Estonian Air reduction

Estonian Air will cut down the number of employes from 318 to 172.
100 Cabin Crew and pilots will have to leave the company.

The fleet will be reduced from 10 aircraft to 5. The airline will stop flying to a number of destinations, Finnish radio YLE reports. 20 destinations will become 9 or 10.

Estonian Air's flight to the destinations in Finland, Helsinki, Jyväskylä and Joensuu will be dropped in December to January. The route to Vienna is also cancelled. Plans to open routes to Hannover, London, Gothenburg and Tbilisi are postponed.

Delta Air Lines refinery

 Delta Air Lines is starting up it's crude distillation unit at the 185,000 barrel-per-day refinery Monroe Energy unit in Trainer, Pennsylvania, Reuters report.

Monroe signed a three-year deal with BP to supply crude oil to the facility.
Delta expected to spend about USD $100 million to increase jet fuel production at the refinery to 52,000 bpd. Delta is the first US airline to buy an oil refinery, aiming to manage growing fuel costs.
The airline expects the refinery to reduce its annual fuel bill, which reached USD$12 billion last year, by USD $300 million.

Delta Air lines is doubling the profit during the third quarter of this year to more than one billion USD.

Landing Paro Airport Bhutan

One of the most difficult airports in the world to land on: Paro - Bhutan.
Only VFR - Visual Flight Rules. I am impressed!
Watch the YouTube clip and enjoy!

Two Icelandic airlines merge

The newly formed Icelandic Airline, WOW Air, is merging with the Iceland Express.
WOW Air is going to operate flights to Euorope.

Iceland Express was the first low cost airline in Iceland, and it was started in 2003 as a competitor to Icelandair. Icelandair started 50 years ago as a low cost airline, with lower fares compared to other airlines in Europe at the that time. Like Icelandair, Iceland Express has got a network of almost 20 destinations in Scandinavia and Europe as well as in North America.

WOW Air started to fly during the summer 2012, and it has now taken over Iceland Express.
The new airline will have the code X9.

Neither of the airlines has got any AOC of their own. The Czech airline CSA Holidays has been operating two Airbus A320 for Iceland Express and Avion Express has been flying two Airbus A320 for WOW Air.

The new merged airline will operate a fleet of four Airbus A320 and the airline will have about 15 destinations in Europe, however there will be no flights operated to the US.

Finnair and Malaysia Airlines Codeshare

Finnair and Malaysia Airlines Begin Codeshare Agreement

Finnair and Malaysia Airlines have established new code shares effective from 20 November 2012, increasing access to the airlines’ respective hubs in Helsinki and Kuala Lumpur.

Through this new arrangement valid for air travel from 1 December 2012, selected Malaysia Airlines services between Kuala Lumpur and the cities of Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong will carry the Finnair flight code.

Likewise, Malaysia Airlines’ flight code will be used on selected Finnair services between Helsinki and the European cities of London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

To promote this code-share, Malaysia Airlines is now offering attractive all inclusive return fares starting from RM4396.00 for economy class travel and RM13363.00 for Business class trips.

On February 1, 2013, Malaysia Airlines will also join the Oneworld alliance, of which Finnair is a member.

Source: Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines Third Airbus A380

Malaysia Airlines Takes Delivery of its Third Airbus A380

Subang, 15 November 2012 : Malaysia Airlines’ third Airbus A380 aircraft arrived in KL International Airport (KLIA) at 9.35am today.

The aircraft, which was ferried from Toulouse, France will undergo final preparations in KLIA for commercial flight operations. The national carrier will also receive its fourth A380 by end of this week.

Malaysia Airlines will use these two 494-seater aircraft to commence day-time flights from KLIA to London Heathrow effective 24 November 2012. Flight MH4 will depart KLIA at 10.45am daily to arrive London Heathrow the same day at 4.15 pm.
The return flight MH1 departs London daily at 10.00 pm and arrives KLIA the next day at 6.20 pm.

This day service will complement Malaysia Airlines’ current daily A380 night service to the UK capital, where MH 2 departs KLIA at 11.40 pm and arrives in London at 5.50 am the following day with the return flight MH3 departing London at 12.00 noon and arriving KLIA at 7.25 am the next day.

With the introduction of the double daily A380 services effective 24 November 2012, Malaysia Airlines will cease the 359-seater B747-400 flight operations between KLIA and London.

The double daily A380 operations by Malaysia Airlines, the only full service carrier to offer direct services between Malaysia and the UK, will also improve weekly seat capacity by 37% in both directions of the KLIA-London Heathrow route.

The A380 services will offer 6916 seats weekly compared to 5026 seats offered through the earlier double daily B747-400 operations, allowing more passengers to  travel on the latest super jumbo aircraft.
Malaysia Airlines is the eighth operator of this new aircraft and will receive its remaining two A380 by the first quarter of 2013.

Source: Malaysia Airlines

SAS will continue to fly

Right before 3 pm today Central European Time it was announced that Scandinavian Airlines Systems, SAS will keep on flying. This came true after the the last of the eight labor unions signed the treaty with SAS, according to the Danish news agency Ritzau and the Norwegian NTB.

As expected, the Danish Cabin Crew Labor Union, known to be hard in negotiations, was the last to sign the new working contract. Lower salary, longer working hours, more work days per year, and changes to the retirement plans were some of the ingredients in the new contract.

This was the first, but crucial step for SAS on it's route to recovery.

The European Aviation History Video

The European Aviation History Video by EADS.

 

Tonight is the night for SAS

According to Scandinavian media, Scandinavian Airlines Systems, SAS's board of directors is currently in negotiations with representatives of the eight labor unions organizing pilots and cabin crew in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Talks are also being held with bankers in Stockholm.

It is not clear whether SAS will still be flying tomorrow morning. A decision is expected to come later tonight at midnight central European time. SAS may face bankruptcy if an agreement is not made later this evening.

More than one hundred airlines has been declared bankrupt in Europe during the last decade.

Update 2012.11.19 Time 14.00 Hours CET
Still no news about the future of SAS. The airline is operating almost as normal today.

Airline Ticket Dynamic pricing

Much has happened in the airline industry during the last decades. In the past, most airline passengers went to the airline booking office or to a travel agent to get their airline tickets.

Today, more and more people book the airline tickets themselves over the Internet. The number of airline sales agents has been reduced dramatically, saving a lot of money for the airlines.

Dynamic ticket prices

The price that you as an airline passenger see when you brows the airline's booking pages are so called dynamic prices. What it mean is that the prices are subjected to constant changes.

The price is different at different times.

Some airlines change the prize of the on line tickets many times every day, sometimes more than ten time times per day.

There are many factors that can affect the price of an airline ticket.

The major purpose of the dynamic booking system is of course to let the airline earn as much money as possible for every seat aboard the aircraft.

Another reason behind the on line booking system is of course to let you as an airline passenger book the ticket yourself. In this way there will be no travel agent in between you and the airline.

Travel agents normally charge the airline a commission fee for every booking. Thus as you do the job for the travel agent, you are saving money for the airline.

But beware! Some airlines are deceptive in their on line booking procedures.

They stat by presenting you a lower price at the beginning of the booking sequence.

As you proceed further in the booking, extra charges are being added to the initial price.

Baggage fees, seating request fees, insurances, booking fees, credit card fees are just some examples of extra charges that airlines may want you to pay. In this way, the final price can be much higher than what you anticipated from the start.

As you have made the flight reservation, given your name and address, the airline knows that you will most likely not back out of the booking at this late stage in the process, therefore they chose to present the real price for the ticket at the end of rather than in the beginning of the booking procedure. The airlines often claim that this is to let you choose the services you require, not charging you for things you don't want. Not entirely true.

The price can be lower for some passengers

If you are a group of people and you want to book and fly on the same flight, you may be charged differently.

Why does the price vary over time?

First of all, the airline has got different ticket or price categories aboard the aircraft.

Some cheaper tickets may be sold first. Closer to time of departure, the airline alter the price according to the number of seats being sold so far.

If you want to be able to change the booking at a later date, the ticket price is of course higher. This is because the airline reserves some seats aboard each flight for passengers that are willing to pay more for the possibility to get a seat on a flight in the near future.

As the departure date is coming closer, the airline's computer calculate the number of empty seats aboard the flight. If few seat have been sold, the price goes down a bit. However, if there are only a few seats left aboard the plane, the price goes up.

Tickets for flights departing at times when many people wish to fly is also naturally more expensive than tickets on flights on times when few people want to fly.

The airline may have planned to operate a bigger aircraft for a specific flight, thus offering many seats aboard the flight. As the departure date comes nearer, the airline may change to another type of aircraft if only few tickets has been sold. Suddenly much fewer seats are available on the flight, hence the ticket price goes up.

Cookies and IP addresses

One of the most cunning way that an airline use to charge your more is to let your own computer give you away. Say that you are interested to fly on a specific date. You check the airline's booking page for price and availability. Later you check the price again, but now it has gone up!

You check it again and it has gone up even more! You hurry to book and buy the ticket.

What has happened? Well, every time you visit the airlines booking page, the Internet site leaves a Cookie in the web browser on your Computer. As you revisit the airline's booking page, the Computer gives you away. The airline now know that you have been visiting their page before.

Sensing an interest from your side, they rise the price, pressing you to book.

To counteract this you can remove the Cookies from your Web browser by emptying the Cache memory. If your Internet provider assign Dynamic IP addresses, you may also log off your Internet connection and log on again. In this way you will show a different IP address that the airline's Computer does not recognize.

Important Tips for Airline Passengers

# If your airline offer a check in over the internet service, you can save a lot of time and trouble at the airport by check in in at home.

 # Cookies and IP addresses
In order to avoid the price to go up as you brows an airline's booking page more than once, remove the Cookies from your Web browser by emptying the Cache memory.
If your Internet provider assign Dynamic IP addresses, you may also log off your Internet connection and log on again. In this way you will show a different IP address that the airline's Computer does not recognize.

Jetlink Grounds Fleet

Kenyan airline Jetlink has grounded its fleet after a shortage of dollars in one of its main markets, South Sudan, left it starved of cash, its chief executive said on Friday.

Fastjet, a new budget carrier for the region, is due to start operations this month while Kenya Airways plans to start a low cost carrier, Jambojet, for the region.

Due to their focus on local business travel, low-cost airlines are shielded from factors that affect major carriers such as travel warnings by Western governments due to security incidents or the economic slowdown in the eurozone.

Jetlink's move will affect 800 passengers who fly with the airline daily. It operates twice a day to Juba, three times a week to Mogadishu in Somalia, and has several domestic routes in Kenya.

The firm, which employs 350 people, said it was talking to the Kenyan and South Sudanese governments about help to convert the cash in Juba into dollars, in order to resume flights.

Source: / Airwise.com / Reuters

The Airlines with least legroom

Airlines are often trying to pack as many passengers as possible in the cabin.
Legroom is sometimes at a premium.

The smallest seats are found aboard Ryanair planes, only 40 cm wide.
32 major airlines around the world was included in the survey.
When it comes to leg room, Ryanair end up on place number 24, with 76,2 cm between the seats.
The seats aboard Ryanair's planes can not be reclined.

Easy Jet has 73,66 cm between the seats, and the seats are 44 cm wide.

Other airlines with premium space in the economy class is Iberia, Air Berlin, Air France TAM, Finnair, Jet Airways and Turkish Airlines.

There is no big difference between the airlines, however.
Best legroom is offered by  Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, with 81 centimeter.
The widest seats are found aboard Emirates, with 45,7 to 51 centimeter wide seats.

Other airlines at the top of the list are ANA, Korean Air, Etihad, Thai Airways, Japan Airlines, American Airlines and Kenya Airways.

Source: Seatplans.com / Business Traveller / TT