Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Iceland volcano spews lava fountains of up to 100m
For the last month, scientists have been closely observing Iceland’s volcanic activity, with the Bardarbunga volcano continually spewing lava and sending tremors across the island.
According to the Iceland Review, at least 40 earthquakes were recorded from Vatnajökull glacier since Sept. 15. The strongest earthquake took place in August, recording a measured magnitude of 5.7. There was even an eruption that was beautifully framed underneath the Aurora Borealis.
While many nearby residents have been evacuated, volcanic scientists stay behind to study the aftermath of the eruptions, including researchers from the University of Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences, who were able to get incredibly close to the lava thanks to heavy equipment that includes fire-resistant flight suits, helmets and face masks.
Tim Orr, the head Geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, described the laden perils of the job to Tested. “You have to do it very quickly,” Orr said. “I don’t take my time. If you’re close enough the radiant heat from the lava will burn your bare skin if it’s exposed so we wear gloves, leather boots, a face mask, and sunglasses.”
Iphone 6 plus + Norwegian travel assistant, the perfect match!
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Ryanair Long-haul flights have "blowjobs" included!
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Here’s how much WestJet, Air Canada will rake in from baggage fees
The country's two biggest airlines said this week they are "unbundling" baggage costs from the base airfare for economy class customers. A $25 fee will apply to the first piece of checked baggage.
Canadian Press Images/Bayne Stanley
Canadian Press Images/Bayne Stanley
The country’s two biggest airlines stand to rake in millions from new baggage fees implemented by each this week, experts said Friday.
Early this week, WestJet said it would begin charging $25 for the first piece of checked luggage, a move followed by Air Canada on Thursday.
Early this week, WestJet said it would begin charging $25 for the first piece of checked luggage, a move followed by Air Canada on Thursday.
Southwest flight forced to make an emergency landing!
Airline officials said the crew on Southwest Airlines Flight 481 reported an odor in the passenger cabin, and the captain declared an emergency as a precaution.
The plane landed safely at ABIA, but Southwest Airline officials say fire and rescue workers recommended that the plane not pull up to the terminal. Southwest officials said the captain deployed evacuation slides to help passengers onto the tarmac.
There were 107 passengers on board and five crew members. All passengers are being put on other flights to Dallas. The plane in question is out of service for maintenance.
No injuries have been reported.
United plans extensive cuts to winter flights
Long before the first snowflakes fall, United Airlines is planning cuts to its winter schedule.
While other U.S. carriers are bolstering their operations, United’s reductions will pare first-quarter 2015 seating capacity by 6.3 percent, Daniel McKenzie, a Buckingham Research Group analyst, said in a new report. The pullback is steepest on domestic U.S. routes and flights to Tokyo, according to McKenzie’s analysis of published airline schedules.
The shift is part of United’s strategy to match capacity to travel demand and strengthen financial performance, Chief Revenue Officer Jim Compton said. Chicago-based United plans to offer 25 percent more capacity during July, its busiest travel month, than in February, when demand is weakest.
“If we can find ways to grow our capacity in the summer at the expense of the winter, we think that overall that is just the right thing to do,” Compton said in an interview at the World Routes Strategy Summit in Chicago.
The 25 percent difference between winter and summer operations is about twice as much as United’s historical average and reflects its decision to ground the smallest aircraft flown by its regional affiliates.
Domestic airports that will see the biggest United cuts in the first quarter include Washington’s Dulles International Airport, where seats will fall by 14 percent, and Denver and Los Angeles international airports, each down by 7 percent. Seats to Tokyo Narita International Airport will fall by 17 percent, McKenzie estimated.
When flying ebbs in winter months like February, United plans to accelerate hiring and training for pilots and to schedule jet maintenance checks. Doing so should enable the carrier to haul more people when travel peaks during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, Compton said.
“You do that by better timing of your maintenance visits so you ensure the aircraft are available for the summer,” he said. “You do the work during the winter.”
United has three ways to adjust its capacity without disrupting its schedule, Compton said. The carrier can add or reduce the frequency with which it flies to a city, shift aircraft size or fly to destinations such as Rome only during peak months for tourism.
While other U.S. carriers are bolstering their operations, United’s reductions will pare first-quarter 2015 seating capacity by 6.3 percent, Daniel McKenzie, a Buckingham Research Group analyst, said in a new report. The pullback is steepest on domestic U.S. routes and flights to Tokyo, according to McKenzie’s analysis of published airline schedules.
The shift is part of United’s strategy to match capacity to travel demand and strengthen financial performance, Chief Revenue Officer Jim Compton said. Chicago-based United plans to offer 25 percent more capacity during July, its busiest travel month, than in February, when demand is weakest.
“If we can find ways to grow our capacity in the summer at the expense of the winter, we think that overall that is just the right thing to do,” Compton said in an interview at the World Routes Strategy Summit in Chicago.
The 25 percent difference between winter and summer operations is about twice as much as United’s historical average and reflects its decision to ground the smallest aircraft flown by its regional affiliates.
Domestic airports that will see the biggest United cuts in the first quarter include Washington’s Dulles International Airport, where seats will fall by 14 percent, and Denver and Los Angeles international airports, each down by 7 percent. Seats to Tokyo Narita International Airport will fall by 17 percent, McKenzie estimated.
When flying ebbs in winter months like February, United plans to accelerate hiring and training for pilots and to schedule jet maintenance checks. Doing so should enable the carrier to haul more people when travel peaks during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, Compton said.
“You do that by better timing of your maintenance visits so you ensure the aircraft are available for the summer,” he said. “You do the work during the winter.”
United has three ways to adjust its capacity without disrupting its schedule, Compton said. The carrier can add or reduce the frequency with which it flies to a city, shift aircraft size or fly to destinations such as Rome only during peak months for tourism.
Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Minister in row with Ryanair on charges
Minister in row with Ryanair on charges
Donohoe says he is acting within his mandate
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has clashed with Ryanair over the High Courtrow in relation to passenger charges at Dublin Airport.
Ryanair last week threatened the Minister with legal action unless, by close of business yesterday, he withdrew a direction to the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, John Spicer, that the airline claimed would increase the airport’s passenger charges.
Mr Donohoe wrote to the company’s regulatory affairs chief, Juliusz Komorek, yesterday afternoon saying he had no intention of withdrawing the direction or any part of it as he was acting wholly within his mandate.
His move leaves it open to Ryanair to follow through on its pledge to challenge the direction in the High Court on grounds the Minister went beyond his powers when he issued the direction and was therefore acting unlawfully.
A Ryanair spokesman said the company did not comment on “pending legal matters” and added its position was outlined in the original statement issued in response to Mr Donohoe’s action.
Charges cap
The dispute is rooted in proposals by the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) to block €
170 million of Dublin Airport’s spending plans to allow the cap on its passenger charges to be cut by 22 per cent from €10.68 to €8.35 over the next five years.
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) wants the cap to be set at €13.50, although it has said that any increase in charges from their current average of €10.50 will be kept in line with inflation. Airlines such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus want deeper cuts than those that the regulator is proposing.
Mr Donohoe last week used his powers under the Aviation Regulation Act to direct Mr Spicer to ensure State-owned DAA has the cash to implement Government policy.
Political interference
The move angered the airlines, which accused the Minister
of political interference and warned the move would drive up passenger charges.l
In his letter to Mr Komorek, the Minister said his action was a response to CAR’s statement that it had not received any directions or policy statement notifications.
“It was therefore necessary to clarify the situation for the commissioner, before he finalises his determination that ministerial directions issued previously to CAR remain in place,” he said.
“It was also important to formally confirm to CAR that the draft national aviation policy, which is currently being finalised, is to be considered as a statement of present policy,” Mr Donohoe added.
At American Airlines, The Life Of The Boeing 767-200 Is Winding Down
In the late 1980s, Piedmont Airlines took delivery of sixBoeing BA -0.96% 767-200s, which at the time were the most modern aircraft in the world.
They are not so modern anymore, but some of them are still flying for US Airways, now a division of American Airlines. They are now the oldest widebodies in the U.S. passenger airline fleet.
A week ago, as I flew from Barcelona to Charlotte on a 767-200, I was struck by the aging interior, especially after flying to Barcelona on an Airbus A-330. In the 200’s cabin, the inside luggage bins could not accommodate the normal size roll aboards that many passengers carry today. Also, in many cases, windows were separated by panels that vastly limited passengers’ ability to look outside. Also the airplane appeared to have space for galleys, no longer used, in the forward coach area – as well as in the rear.
American spokesman Matt Miller says seven 767-200s remain in the US Airways fleet. All were ordered by Piedmont before the 1989 merger with US Airways (Some 767-200s, ordered by Piedmont, were delivered after the merger). One will be sold off in the fourth quarter, he said. The remaining aircraft are expected to be retired, but Miller said “We have not provided guidance on when they will exit the fleet.”
The planes currently operate from Charlotte to Barcelona, Orlando, Philadelphia and St. Thomas, and from Philadelphia to Charlotte, Frankfurt and Zurich.
In the fall schedule, which takes effect in October, the 767-200s will operate from Charlotte to Cancun, Paris and Punta Cana, and from Philadelphia to Cancun, Dublin, Paris, Punta Cana and San Juan, P.R.
American’s fleet, as distinct from US Airways’ fleet, includes fifty-eight 767-300s; the carrier sold off its last thirteen 200s during the current year. American’s last 767-200 flight was a red-eye from LAX to JFK on May 7. American now operates the Airbus A321 on all of its flights from JFK to LAX and San Francisco. United operated its last 767-200 flight in May 2013.
When Piedmont ordered the 767-200, the plane was arguably the 787 of its day, a revolutionary aircraft. Launch customer United flew the first aircraft in 1982, making history because “up to that point, with the exception of a few charter carriers, all airlines used three- and four-engine airplanes” for trans-ocean flights, said aerospace analyst Scott Hamilton of Leeham Co.
The plane “was Boeing’s answer to the Airbus A300,” Hamilton said. “But Boeing built a better airplane than the A300.
“The 200 is old now,” Hamilton said. “As far as the passenger experience goes, it’s about whether the airline is willing to invest in upgrading the interior.” Given that the airplanes are being phased out, it’s logical that US Airways has not made such an investment, he said.
Both of the airplanes flown into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 were 767-200s, Hamilton noted.
The 767-300 entered service in 1986. Subsequently, aircraft makers developed additional twin-engine aircraft including the 777 and A330. American, Delta and United all have 767-300s in their fleets; the planes are often used on the Trans-Atlantic.
To date, Boeing has manufactured 1,062 B767s, including 245 of the 200s and 200ERs (extended range). Today, the 767 is primarily a cargo airplane, and is also the platform for the U.S. Air Force K-46A tanker. However, a passenger version is still offered: The most recent delivery was in June, to Air Astana, the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Monday, 22 September 2014
A few things you will hear from your flight attendant...
When JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater lashed out at a passenger and made a dramatic exit down the aircraft's emergency slide, people were left to wonder what put him over the edge. Sure, every job is stressful, but does being a flight attendant come with a unique share of annoyances? We talked to flight attendants around the world to learn what goes on behind the scenes, what pushes their buttons and what passengers can do to make their jobs easier.
1. We don't give orders just to hear our own voice.
Getting you to your destination safely is the number-one priority of flight attendants. "People find rules annoying but they don't understand that there's a reason behind every rule—which is to keep you safe," says Sara Keagle, who's been a flight attendant for 18 years and blogs about it at TheFlyingPinto.com. Ellen,* a former flight attendant for United Airlines, wishes "that passengers would understand that we're required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to ensure safety at all times. We've seen what can happen when a flight hits unexpected turbulence, so we need you to sit down so that you don't hurt yourself."
2. We don't enjoy delayed flights any more than you do.
Sitting on the tarmac is stressful for passengers and flight attendants alike. "We're usually on the plane an hour before the passengers to prepare for the flight, plus we've been at the airport for a few hours before that," says Fanny Delaunay, a former flight attendant for Air France. And if you're tired, multiply that by three to understand how tired your flight attendant is. "It's likely that we're on the third or fourth day of a multiday trip. We're tired and want to see our families too," says Ellen.
3. Give each other a hand during boarding.
1. We don't give orders just to hear our own voice.
Getting you to your destination safely is the number-one priority of flight attendants. "People find rules annoying but they don't understand that there's a reason behind every rule—which is to keep you safe," says Sara Keagle, who's been a flight attendant for 18 years and blogs about it at TheFlyingPinto.com. Ellen,* a former flight attendant for United Airlines, wishes "that passengers would understand that we're required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to ensure safety at all times. We've seen what can happen when a flight hits unexpected turbulence, so we need you to sit down so that you don't hurt yourself."
2. We don't enjoy delayed flights any more than you do.
Sitting on the tarmac is stressful for passengers and flight attendants alike. "We're usually on the plane an hour before the passengers to prepare for the flight, plus we've been at the airport for a few hours before that," says Fanny Delaunay, a former flight attendant for Air France. And if you're tired, multiply that by three to understand how tired your flight attendant is. "It's likely that we're on the third or fourth day of a multiday trip. We're tired and want to see our families too," says Ellen.
3. Give each other a hand during boarding.
According to Teresa,* a former flight attendant with Delta Air Lines, the hardest part of a flight is boarding, because properly stowing baggage can be tricky. "If passengers worked together and stopped only thinking about themselves it would make our job a lot easier, as well as help the flight get out on time." So be considerate of other passengers by leaving them some space when you place your suitcase in the overhead bin, and assist someone who's struggling to stow their suitcase.
4. An airplane is a mode of transportation, not a flying restaurant.
Keep in mind that the main function of flying is not to provide you with a fine dining experience. According to Ellen, "we usually don't board 100 percent of any one food option, so passengers should be prepared not to get their first choice." As Gary, a flight attendant with United Airlines, puts it, "You're on board a 747, not a 7-Eleven. We will do everything we can to make your flight enjoyable, but sometimes we just don't have everything that you want."
5. A simple "please" and "thank you" goes a long way.
As do good manners. "It meant the most to me when people would say 'good morning' in return as I greeted them when they got on the plane," says flight attendant Lisa Lent. According to Teresa, sometimes passengers would bring the crew little gifts, like candy. "We also loved it when someone would offer us their magazine after they were through with it. It's always those little things that made a big difference."
6. Many passengers don't realize how much more drunk they get at 35,000 feet.
"Due to the high altitude, alcohol is more powerful when you're on a flight," says Fanny. If you're noticeably drunk or getting unruly, it's the flight attendant's responsibility to control the situation. "Sometimes if we think you've had too much to drink, we'll serve you, but not serve the whole mini-bottle of booze," confesses Ellen. "We may just dip the rim of the glass in enough vodka or gin and fill the rest with mixer."
7. And serving you those drinks is not the primary reason we're on board.
Flight attendants are there to ensure your safety, not cater to your every need. They go through rigorous training, including medical emergency training, CPR and training to evacuate an aircraft. "Because—fortunately—most flights do not encounter safety problems, some people believe that we're just luggage handlers and beverage servers, and don't recognize that flight attendants are highly trained for the safety and comfort of the passengers," says Agnes Huff, PhD, a former flight attendant for US Airways and Pacific Southwest Airlines. Sara explains that because the pilots can't see the back of the aircraft, flight attendants are depended upon to be the eyes and ears at the back of the plane. It's up to them to be aware of what's going on with the aircraft and alert the pilot to any emergency situations.
8. We're a very tight bunch.
Despite sometimes having met only minutes earlier, "once the crew is on board for a flight, something miraculous happens," says Gary. "We suddenly become one another's best friends, as if we've known one another for years. I guess the trust comes from knowing that we really do have one another's back in an emergency." According to him, the most intimate conversations take place during taxi, takeoff and landing. Those bonding moments are referred to as "jump seat news."
9. We wish you'd time your bathroom trips better.
Disregarding the “fasten seatbelt” sign and jumping up to visit the lavatory whenever you need to can add to delays. "There's a sequence to taxiing and getting in line for takeoff," says Sara. "If somebody gets up to use the restroom, we have to tell the cockpit, and they have to stop the plane and wait until the person is back in his or her seat and buckled up. During that time we could lose our spot in line." Plus, says Ellen: "Moving the 300-pound drink cart back to the galley against gravity after you've pulled it all the way to the front because one passenger needs to use the restroom is the most annoying thing ever."
10. Meeting passengers can be the best part about being a flight attendant.
"One of my favorite parts of the job was having meaningful conversations with interesting people," says Fanny. "Maybe it's an underlying fear of flying, or just the magic of being in the air, but people tend to open up and talk about themselves a lot. You can learn so much."
Friday, 19 September 2014
Ryanair clashes with transport minister on airport fees
Ryanair has told Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe that it will seek a judicial review of a ministerial order he issued this week related to airport charges unless it's withdrawn by next Tuesday.
Mr Donohoe issued a ministerial order to the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) instructing it that it had to protect Dublin Airport's financial viability when determining the maximum passenger charge that the airport will be allowed to levy between 2015 and 2019.Ryanair alleges that the minister has "grossly exceeded" his statutory powers.The CAR issued a draft determination in May that proposed the maximum amount that could be charged in the period should be cut by 22pc.The maximum charge is currently €10.68 per passenger.But semi-state Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) lashed out at the proposals.Its chief executive, Kevin Toland, claimed last week that reducing the charge would "stifle passenger growth".
The DAA also wants more money than the CAR has estimated it needs for capital investment, including a refurbishment of Terminal 1.Despite seeking a higher maximum charge per passenger, the DAA has pledged not to raise the current charge beyond the rate of inflation for the next five years.In a letter to acting commissioner for aviation regulation John Spicer, Mr Donohoe said that the CAR must be mindful of the government's draft national aviation policy that was published in May.He said it was essential that Dublin Airport should have the "terminal and runway facilities to promote direct international air links to key world markets".
In a letter to the minister yesterday from Ryanair's head of legal and regulatory affairs, Juliusz Komorek, Ryanair alleges that Mr Donohoe has "grossly exceeded" the powers granted to him under the Aviation Regulation Act."I now put you on notice that unless you revoke the direction to the extent it is unlawful, by close of business on Tuesday 23 September, Ryanair will apply for a judicial review of the direction," Mr Komorek warns.Mr Komorek argues in the letter that the Aviation Regulation Act does not enable the minister to issue specific instructions to CAR or instructions "that would hinder the CAR's ability to exercise its functions" in compliance with regulatory objectives. -
American Airlines customer-service agents OK union
Customer-service agents at American Airlines voted overwhelmingly for union representation, reversing a narrow defeat for organized labor less than two years ago.The results affect about 14,000 employees of American and US Airways at airports and reservations centers plus home-based reservations agents.
The airline business is among the most heavily unionized industries in the U.S. economy. Pilots, flight attendants and mechanics at American and US Airways have long been represented by unions, making American's service agents a notable exception, until now.
The National Mediation Board, a federal agency that oversees union elections, said Tuesday that 86% of service agents voting favored representation by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the Teamsters. The CWA lost a previous election at American in January 2013 by about 150 votes, or 51% to 49%.
CWA President Larry Cohen said labor won because, unlike the last election, American's management did not campaign against the union. American and US Airways merged in December, and the new company is run by the former leaders of US Airways, where the service agents had been represented by unions for more than a decade.
"When it is left to the employees, they would rather be engaged than apathetic," Cohen said in an interview. "They would rather have a voice."
American Airlines Group Inc. spokesman Paul Flaningan said that the company would work to reach new collective bargaining agreements covering both American and US Airways employees.
"We have enjoyed a productive relationship with the (CWA-Teamsters) as well as our other unions and look forward to continuing our work together," he said in a written statement.
The mediation board said that 13,962 workers were eligible to vote. Of those, 9,640 voted for union representation and 1,547 voted against it.
About 9,000 of the eligible employees work at American and the rest at US Airways. The parent company, the world's largest airline operator, plans to convert all US Airways planes and people to the American Airlines brand.
Negotiations on a contract covering the agents' wages and other items are expected to begin this fall.
Separately, the mediation board on Tuesday approved the Allied Pilots Association as the union representing pilots at both airlines. That group had represented American Airlines pilots and was much larger than the union at US Airways.
Southwest Airlines flight makes emergency landing at Midway
No one was hurt when a Southwest Airlines flight made an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Midway Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
Flight 321, headed to New York, returned to the airport and landed safely about 1:35 p.m. after an engine indication light illuminated in the cockpit, according to a statement from Southwest Airlines.
None of the 118 passengers or five crewmembers was injured, the statement said.
The passengers boarded another flight to LaGuardia Airport, the statement said. They were scheduled to arrive about two hours behind schedule.
A jet Blue plane diverted and had to be evacuted this morning!
A JetBlue airliner experienced engine problems and returned to the Long Beach Airport on Thursday after a short flight that ended with passengers evacuating onto the runway using the plane’s emergency slides in Long Beach, California.
None of the 142 passengers and five crew members was injured during the evacuation, though medical personnel tended to three passengers at the scene and one other was taken to a hospital for observation, airport spokeswoman Cassie Perez-Harmison said.
Flight 1416 was bound for Austin, Texas, when the crew declared an emergency due to a problem with one of its two engines. The plane had an “overheat warning” on the engine, Perez-Harmison said.
According to the tracking website FlightAware, the Airbus A320 took off at 9:17 a.m. and landed at 9:30 a.m.
The airport’s main runway was closed for about two hours due to the evacuation. Eventually the plane was towed to a hangar for further investigation, and air traffic resumed.
JetBlue spokesman Morgan Johnston said the airline is still looking into the cause of the plane’s problem.
Long Beach is on the south Los Angeles County coast.
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Air Europa sole sponsor of British Paddle
Air Europa sole sponsor of British Paddle
Air Europa has announced that it has become the sole main sponsor for British Padel. This announcement occurs in the context of a South American expansion campaign conducted by the airline. During the past year, they have added new routes to Sao Paulo, Santiago de Chile and San Juan.Paddle Tennis, generically called Padel was invented more than 100 years ago on British Cruises. The British Padel entity has been established in 1992 and since its growth in popularity it has attracted some attention from various sponsors like Air Europa.
“We are delighted to support British Padel, and their work in bringing this fantastic sport to the British public. Padel is, great fun to play, a wonderful spectacle to watch, and a superb day out for the whole family. Also, as it is strongly identified with Spain and Latin America, the sport is a natural partner for Air Europa, and we are sure British Padel has a very bright future indeed.” Colin Stewart, UK General Manager, Air Europa
“The Air Europa brand is instantly associated with Latin America and Spain, and also with attributes such as excellence, vibrancy and growth, which are very much shared by our exciting and growing sport. We are extremely happy to have their support in our work to continue to establish and expand Padel here in the UK. So far we have had a great experience working with Air Europa and we very much look forward to a long-term future partnership.” British Padel President Peter Vaan
Air Europa is under Spanish ownership and operates flights internationally with 16 destinations on its South American portfolio. It also sets flag towards New York, Miami and the Caribbean.
Hopes grow for end to Aer Lingus pension row
Hopes grow for end to Aer Lingus pension row
Airline prepares to get investor backing for once-off €191m contribution to fund
The latest proposal for resolving the Aer Lingus pension dispute involves a contribution of €191 million from the airline and €73 million from the Dublin Airport Authority to a new fund that will replace the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh
Aer Lingus, DAA, trades union and other stakeholders have been in deadlock for several years over how to plug a €780 million hole in the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS), whose members include workers in both the airline and airport.
The latest proposal for resolving the dispute involves a contribution of €191 million from Aer Lingus and €73 million from DAA to a new fund that will replace the IASS.
Aer Lingus told brokers this week it hopes the issue can finally be resolved by the end of this year and is planning to hold an egm to get shareholder approval for the €191 million contribution in early to mid December.
It has also agreed terms with its unions which they will put to a ballot of their members in a process that is expected to last until the end of next month.
Around the same time, the trustees will seek approval for the entire settlement from the Pensions Board, the State’s regulator. Earlier this year the trustees drew up a plan involving a clawback from retired workers and a 20 per cent benefit cut for current staff.
Aer Lingus hopes to issue formal notice of its egm in November, indicating the meeting will take place the following month. The original settlement called for a €140 million contribution from the airline.
Expert panel
This failed to get the unions’ support.The increased figure now on the table was proposed by an expert panel appointed by the Government in March after industrial action was narrowly avoided.
Aer Lingus “reluctantly” accepted the new terms in June. This week it told brokers’ analysts the new settlement would substantially reduce the risk of industrial action at the airline. The pensions row has several times brought its staff and those working for DAA to the brink of strike.
The airline also said the deal would stabilise staff costs as the deal involves no increments or annual pay inflation this year or in 2015 and 2016. From 2017 on, salary increases will be calculated off a lower base than previously.
Reaction
The analysts reacted positively to the news. Goodbody estimated that the pay freeze forming part of the deal will save up to €80 million and pointed out that the company’s balance sheet could absorb the €191 million once-off payment.
Goldman Sachs said the resolution would unlock the company’s balance sheet potential and cited it as one of the reasons why it believes the airline remains attractive to investors. However, a number of groups involved in the pension row have threatened to take legal action if their concerns are not addressed. Existing pensioners, who face a clawback from their payments under the trustees’ resolution, are reportedly considering going to court.
At the same time, deferred beneficiaries – workers who left either company before reaching pensionable age – are threatening litigation on the grounds they are not being put on an equal footing with current staff. A total of 14,343 people are affected by the row, including 4,270 workers, 5,186 deferred beneficiaries and 4,887 pensioners.
Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Free drinks will be offered on Thomson long haul routes for economy passenger of the Dreamliner
Free drinks will be served to economy passengers on Thomson Airways long haul Dreamliner flights from this winter.
Plus the flying experience will improve further with upgraded in–flight entertainment featuring a wider choice of films, updated monthly.
The leisure carrier gets two more of the jetlag-busting Boeing 787s next summer, bringing the fleet to eight and it has added flights from Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Manchester, Glasgow, Gatwick and East Midlands, so it now operates the aircraft from all seven of its long haul bases.
Airline boss John Murphy said: “The Dreamliner has certainly lived up to its promise to revolutionise long haul travel and is a major milestone in our journey of modernising the holiday experience.” .thomsonfly.com.
*Beefed up menus are being served by South African Airways with its new on-board catering partner DO & CO Event and Airline Catering Ltd.
The new meals in both business and economy cabins will be available on all flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg.
Posh passengers will get Loch Fyne smoked salmon, truffle tortellini, and parmesan and mango panna cotta, while down the back of the plane there’s Viennese paprika chicken, rigatoni with rosemary sauce, and carrot and banana cake with cheese and crackers.
Its new dishes will be supported by an award-winning South African wine list.
The airline will move from Heathrow Terminal 1 to the new Terminal 2 on October
Plus the flying experience will improve further with upgraded in–flight entertainment featuring a wider choice of films, updated monthly.
The leisure carrier gets two more of the jetlag-busting Boeing 787s next summer, bringing the fleet to eight and it has added flights from Newcastle, Birmingham and Edinburgh to Manchester, Glasgow, Gatwick and East Midlands, so it now operates the aircraft from all seven of its long haul bases.
Airline boss John Murphy said: “The Dreamliner has certainly lived up to its promise to revolutionise long haul travel and is a major milestone in our journey of modernising the holiday experience.” .thomsonfly.com.
*Beefed up menus are being served by South African Airways with its new on-board catering partner DO & CO Event and Airline Catering Ltd.
The new meals in both business and economy cabins will be available on all flights from Heathrow to Johannesburg.
Posh passengers will get Loch Fyne smoked salmon, truffle tortellini, and parmesan and mango panna cotta, while down the back of the plane there’s Viennese paprika chicken, rigatoni with rosemary sauce, and carrot and banana cake with cheese and crackers.
Its new dishes will be supported by an award-winning South African wine list.
The airline will move from Heathrow Terminal 1 to the new Terminal 2 on October
Student admits to bomb hoax on easyJet flight at Gatwick airport
Student admits to bomb hoax on easyJet flight at Gatwick airport
Muhammet Demir awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to making false claims that bomb was on plane bound for Turkey
The bomb hoax at Gatwick caused an easyJet flight to Izmir in Turkey being delayed for several hours. Photograph: Roger Bamber/Alamy
A student has admitted falsely claiming that an explosive was on a Turkish-bound flight at Gatwick airport.
Muhammet Demir, 20, called police saying a bomb was on an easyJet flight due to fly to Turkey just before 4.30pm on 9 September.
At that time the only easyJet plane to the Turkish port city of Izmir that day was taxiing on the runway with 170 passengers on board.
It had to be recalled to a remote stand where it was met by armed police at the airport in West Sussex before being given the all-clear.
The hoax resulted in the flight being delayed for three hours, Sussex police said. An all-forces alert was sent to police countrywide about Demir.
He was eventually arrested as he tried to board a flight to Luton airport. The Turkish national admitted what he had done but refused to divulge to police his reasons for carrying out the hoax.
At Brighton magistrates court on Saturday, he pleaded guilty to communicating a false message to cause a bomb hoax and was remanded in custody to be sentenced at a crown court on a date to be fixed.
Detective Inspector Andy Richardson said: "Fortunately we were able to quickly identify that this was a hoax call but it still caused considerable worry for airport and airline staff and passengers.
"Anyone considering making malicious calls of this nature should think long and hard about the consequences. We investigate fully all claims and threats like this and will not rest until we find those responsible.
"Making hoax calls not only wastes the time and money of members of the public and the emergency services but also delays us from responding to genuine emergencies.
Michael O’Leary has reiterated his desire to offer budget flights to the US within a decade
Michael O’Leary has reiterated his desire to offer budget flights to the US within a decade, saying he hopes to offer transatlantic services before 2024. A spokesman for the carrier expanded on the proposal, which has previously been branded unworkable by rivals, and said that the flights could touch down in between 12 and 14 North American cities.“We would love to do transatlantic flights and the business plan is there,” a Ryanair spokesman said this morning. “The lowest fares would start from €10 and we would link 12 to 14 European cities with 12 to 14 US cities.”Ryanair said it requires the appropriate aircraft to go ahead with the proposal however.“It is entirely dependent on attaining long-haul aircraft at a viable cost and at the moment,” the spokesman said. “There is a shortage of available aircraft.”Last year O’Leary claimed that the €10 fees would not include baggage fees and extras.”There is an opportunity with the EU-US open skies to, on a fairly big scale, connect 15-20 European cities with 15 of the big U.S. cities almost from day one. But you need a fleet of 30, 40, 50 aircraft and not two, four or six,” he said.He added at the time that a long-haul service, for example, might feature a “premium” section, like those offered by Asia’s low-cost, long-haul carriers.Norwegian has recently claimed to be offering some of the cheapest transatlantic air fares on the market, with returns available, for fliers who can be flexible with their dates, from £149/€187 one-way.When it launched a new long-haul service from Oslo to New York in 2013, Norwegian faced criticism from passengers after it refused to serve food or water unless paid for using a credit card. The policy, used on Norwegian’s short-haul flights, was abandoned after some fliers were left hungry and thirsty for nearly 12 hours.Currently the carrier is offering a return from London Gatwick to New York from Tuesday, November 25 to Saturday, November 29, for £360.20/€452.
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
Ryanair’s CEO puts on a show in Seattle
Ryanair’s CEO puts on a show in Seattle
Ryanair CEO says the company is expanding and trying for better customer service; Starbucks Seahawks cards are flying off the shelves; Washington Cider Week.
Though ultralow-cost European airline Ryanair is well known for dismissing passengers who dare complain about its skimpy service, Chief Executive Michael O’Leary a year ago unexpectedly changed course and began a serious campaign to woo business travelers.
“Our reputation is a barrier to bringing new people to fly,” O’Leary said in an interview in Seattle on Tuesday. “We’ve been working very hard for the last 12 months to change some of the policies that used to piss people off.”
It’s part of the bold expansion plan O’Leary outlined this past week: to grow Ryanair’s traffic from 82 million passengers last year to 150 million in 10 years.
What policies were pissing people off?
Prohibiting a second carry-on bag; slapping exorbitant fees on families arriving at the airport with small children or with luggage a half-inch too wide; charging hundreds of dollars to print boarding passes at check-in.
And doing it all with a take-it-or-fly-elsewhere, we-don’t-care attitude.
“In the past, we were very obdurate about some of our policies,” said O’Leary. “We’ve learned to be ... a little more sensitive to our customers.”
Can O’Leary successfully tweak the business model that has made Ryanair the most profitable airline in Europe?
Boeing surely needs the transformation to work. If all goes to plan, Ryanair will take an average of three 737s per month out of the Renton assembly plant for the next 10 years.
Manic energy
In Seattle this past week, O’Leary dazzled his audience of Boeing workers with his humor and manic energy.
He dived into the crowd around the airplane at Boeing Field like an out-of-control politician, shaking hands, hugging women, posing for photos and cracking jokes.
He wore a Marshawn Lynch Seattle Seahawks jersey and on his head a silly plastic tiara appeared to sprout 737 MAX winglets out of his ears.
Given an outsized pair of golden scissors to cut the ribbon at the bottom of the stairs up to the new high-density model jet, he mugged for the photographers by putting the blades to his throat and claiming that this was the way Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief Ray Conner negotiated pricing with him.
When he stepped up to the microphone to speak, he bounced up and down and starting chanting Beyoncé’s hit “Single Ladies,” earning him the title of the world’s most off-kilter and entertaining airline chief executive.
He’s also known for his profane, witty and biting attacks on politicians and aviation regulators who dare impose new taxes, fees or limits to his airline business.
In America, he tones it down just a bit.
In an interview at Boeing Field, he used the f-word only once, in reference to the failure by the Department of Transportation — under pressure from unions, U.S. airlines and Congress — to grant a license for trans-Atlantic service to Dublin-based Norwegian Air International.
O’Leary, who said he hopes in a few years to launch his own low-fare trans-Atlantic service, firmly supports the principles of the U.S.-European Open Skies treaty, even though back home Norwegian is his direct competitor.
“Those guys are flying 787s. They are supporting American jobs,” O’Leary said. “It’s a disgrace. Congress should be ashamed of themselves.”
No wider seats
But back to Ryanair. What’s behind this charm offensive?
London-based aviation analyst Chris Tarry said Ryanair, which until now has flown mainly leisure travelers content to land at secondary airports, has saturated that market.
“Its ability to stimulate low-fare growth ... became exhausted,” Tarry said. “The focus had to change. They had to focus on attracting higher-value passengers who travel for business.”
Michael E. Levine, a former airline executive now on the New York University Law School faculty, said Ryanair must constantly convince the financial markets that it is growing.
“O’Leary has a bunch of people in the financial world telling him, ‘Nice what you’ve done. What’s next?’,” said Levine.
“Around the world, fast-growing low-cost airlines are coming up against growth limits,” said Levine. “They are trying to figure out how to diversify and at the same time trying to keep their unit costs down.”
Details of Ryanair’s offering to business travelers show it certainly intends to woo them without sacrificing its low costs.
The plane O’Leary took on Tuesday doesn’t feature any business-class seats.
Business travelers “don’t want a wider seat,” O’Leary said. “They want to show up, get through the airport quickly, get on an on-time flight and get where they want to go.”
With that mindset, Ryanair is offering business people a package that includes a fast-track line through security; seats at the front and back of the plane so they can exit first upon landing; and flexible ticketing so they can change flights without hefty fees.
It’s another twist on the strategy commonly used by airlines to charge for various revenue-enhancing ancillary services such as checked bags.
Airline analyst Levine is dubious that this offering will attract business travelers to switch from more standard airlines, even with the new 737 MAX 200 jets that O’Leary ordered last week.
The MAX will carry 197 passengers and feature a new light-filled interior and a tiny amount of extra legroom earned by removing the galleys fore and aft.
“The likelihood that you can move yourself upscale by putting 200 people on this airplane and saying, look, the decoration is nicer and you have an inch more legroom, that’s insufficient differentiation,” said Levine.
It will also begin to fly into more of the primary airports business travelers want to go to, competing head-to-head against the big European flag carriers.
O’Leary announced the 737 MAX 200 deal in New York last Monday specifically so that he could visit Wall Street to convince them his plan for rapid growth will be successful.
In Seattle a day later, he showed no doubts.
“The 737 MAX 200 is such a game-changing aircraft. We have such a cost advantage already. This gives us more seats,” O’Leary said. “Nothing should stop us from getting to 150 million passengers.”
The state of cider making
It’s still Washington Cider Week (yes, inexplicably, a 10-day week from Sept. 4 to 14). So who are the state’s largest cider makers?
Unfortunately the Washington State Liquor Control Board doesn’t track cideries separately from wineries or breweries.
“Our reputation is a barrier to bringing new people to fly,” O’Leary said in an interview in Seattle on Tuesday. “We’ve been working very hard for the last 12 months to change some of the policies that used to piss people off.”
It’s part of the bold expansion plan O’Leary outlined this past week: to grow Ryanair’s traffic from 82 million passengers last year to 150 million in 10 years.
What policies were pissing people off?
Prohibiting a second carry-on bag; slapping exorbitant fees on families arriving at the airport with small children or with luggage a half-inch too wide; charging hundreds of dollars to print boarding passes at check-in.
And doing it all with a take-it-or-fly-elsewhere, we-don’t-care attitude.
“In the past, we were very obdurate about some of our policies,” said O’Leary. “We’ve learned to be ... a little more sensitive to our customers.”
Can O’Leary successfully tweak the business model that has made Ryanair the most profitable airline in Europe?
Boeing surely needs the transformation to work. If all goes to plan, Ryanair will take an average of three 737s per month out of the Renton assembly plant for the next 10 years.
Manic energy
In Seattle this past week, O’Leary dazzled his audience of Boeing workers with his humor and manic energy.
He dived into the crowd around the airplane at Boeing Field like an out-of-control politician, shaking hands, hugging women, posing for photos and cracking jokes.
He wore a Marshawn Lynch Seattle Seahawks jersey and on his head a silly plastic tiara appeared to sprout 737 MAX winglets out of his ears.
Given an outsized pair of golden scissors to cut the ribbon at the bottom of the stairs up to the new high-density model jet, he mugged for the photographers by putting the blades to his throat and claiming that this was the way Boeing Commercial Airplanes chief Ray Conner negotiated pricing with him.
When he stepped up to the microphone to speak, he bounced up and down and starting chanting Beyoncé’s hit “Single Ladies,” earning him the title of the world’s most off-kilter and entertaining airline chief executive.
He’s also known for his profane, witty and biting attacks on politicians and aviation regulators who dare impose new taxes, fees or limits to his airline business.
In America, he tones it down just a bit.
In an interview at Boeing Field, he used the f-word only once, in reference to the failure by the Department of Transportation — under pressure from unions, U.S. airlines and Congress — to grant a license for trans-Atlantic service to Dublin-based Norwegian Air International.
O’Leary, who said he hopes in a few years to launch his own low-fare trans-Atlantic service, firmly supports the principles of the U.S.-European Open Skies treaty, even though back home Norwegian is his direct competitor.
“Those guys are flying 787s. They are supporting American jobs,” O’Leary said. “It’s a disgrace. Congress should be ashamed of themselves.”
No wider seats
But back to Ryanair. What’s behind this charm offensive?
London-based aviation analyst Chris Tarry said Ryanair, which until now has flown mainly leisure travelers content to land at secondary airports, has saturated that market.
“Its ability to stimulate low-fare growth ... became exhausted,” Tarry said. “The focus had to change. They had to focus on attracting higher-value passengers who travel for business.”
Michael E. Levine, a former airline executive now on the New York University Law School faculty, said Ryanair must constantly convince the financial markets that it is growing.
“O’Leary has a bunch of people in the financial world telling him, ‘Nice what you’ve done. What’s next?’,” said Levine.
“Around the world, fast-growing low-cost airlines are coming up against growth limits,” said Levine. “They are trying to figure out how to diversify and at the same time trying to keep their unit costs down.”
Details of Ryanair’s offering to business travelers show it certainly intends to woo them without sacrificing its low costs.
The plane O’Leary took on Tuesday doesn’t feature any business-class seats.
Business travelers “don’t want a wider seat,” O’Leary said. “They want to show up, get through the airport quickly, get on an on-time flight and get where they want to go.”
With that mindset, Ryanair is offering business people a package that includes a fast-track line through security; seats at the front and back of the plane so they can exit first upon landing; and flexible ticketing so they can change flights without hefty fees.
It’s another twist on the strategy commonly used by airlines to charge for various revenue-enhancing ancillary services such as checked bags.
Airline analyst Levine is dubious that this offering will attract business travelers to switch from more standard airlines, even with the new 737 MAX 200 jets that O’Leary ordered last week.
The MAX will carry 197 passengers and feature a new light-filled interior and a tiny amount of extra legroom earned by removing the galleys fore and aft.
“The likelihood that you can move yourself upscale by putting 200 people on this airplane and saying, look, the decoration is nicer and you have an inch more legroom, that’s insufficient differentiation,” said Levine.
It will also begin to fly into more of the primary airports business travelers want to go to, competing head-to-head against the big European flag carriers.
O’Leary announced the 737 MAX 200 deal in New York last Monday specifically so that he could visit Wall Street to convince them his plan for rapid growth will be successful.
In Seattle a day later, he showed no doubts.
“The 737 MAX 200 is such a game-changing aircraft. We have such a cost advantage already. This gives us more seats,” O’Leary said. “Nothing should stop us from getting to 150 million passengers.”
The state of cider making
It’s still Washington Cider Week (yes, inexplicably, a 10-day week from Sept. 4 to 14). So who are the state’s largest cider makers?
Unfortunately the Washington State Liquor Control Board doesn’t track cideries separately from wineries or breweries.
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