SYDNEY – The travel plans of thousands of Australians were disrupted Saturday by a power outage at Sydney’s international airport.
Australia’s busiest air terminal was blacked out for an hour and a half, crippling security screening and check-in and delaying “thousands” of passengers, a Sydney Airport spokesman said.
“The cause of the failure is under investigation,” he told Agence France-Presse, estimating that it would take “several hours” to get back on schedule.
Back-up generators also took “some time” to come on, he added, compounding the problem. The reason for the generator problems was also being investigated, he said.
Passengers said the outage brought customs and security to “a standstill” and there was “chaos” in the terminal, with huge lines as people were manually processed.
“Madness at Sydney Airport! Nobody going anywhere!” one passenger wrote on Twitter.
“Absolute chaos at Sydney Airport. Am definitely going to need that massage when I get to Bali … if I get there, that is,” another said.
Hundreds of people were left stranded on the tarmac, tantalisingly close to gangways left frozen by the blackout.
“Sitting about 20 feet from Sydney gate waiting because of power outage at airport – 2.5 hours late and counting!” one man tweeted from his jet seat.
Agence France-Presse
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
AIR FRANCE SAYS COCKPIT WARNINGS CONFUSED CREW
Air France defended the pilots of a jet which crashed in the Atlantic two years ago and said the stall warnings were misleading.
French investigators said earlier the crew of the Rio-Paris flight failed to discuss repeated warnings the aircraft had stalled, or lost lift, and failed to follow textbook procedures.
Air France said there were multiple probable factors behind the loss of an Airbus with all 228 people on board and that a chain of events had started with speed data problems.
"After the manoeuvres carried out by the crew in deteriorated and destabilising piloting conditions, the aircraft stalled at high altitude, could not be recovered and struck the surface of the Atlantic Ocean at high speed," it said in statement.
"It should be noted that the misleading stopping and starting of the stall warning alarm, contradicting the actual state of the aircraft, greatly contributed to the crew's difficulty in analysing the situation."
It said investigators had not found any reason to question the crew's technical skills.
(Reuters)
French investigators said earlier the crew of the Rio-Paris flight failed to discuss repeated warnings the aircraft had stalled, or lost lift, and failed to follow textbook procedures.
Air France said there were multiple probable factors behind the loss of an Airbus with all 228 people on board and that a chain of events had started with speed data problems.
"After the manoeuvres carried out by the crew in deteriorated and destabilising piloting conditions, the aircraft stalled at high altitude, could not be recovered and struck the surface of the Atlantic Ocean at high speed," it said in statement.
"It should be noted that the misleading stopping and starting of the stall warning alarm, contradicting the actual state of the aircraft, greatly contributed to the crew's difficulty in analysing the situation."
It said investigators had not found any reason to question the crew's technical skills.
(Reuters)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
SMOKE CAUSES AIR CANADA 777 RETURN TO SYDNEY
An Air Canada plane bound for Vancouver was forced to dump fuel and return to Sydney on Thursday after crew reported smoke coming from an oven in the galley, the airline said.
The Boeing 777 landed safely without incident, according to a Sydney Airport spokesman.
Air Canada's general manager for Australia and New Zealand Jeannie Foster was quoted by local media as saying the plane returned to Sydney as a precaution, denying earlier reports of a fire.
"A crew member saw smoke come out of the oven in the galley and informed the captain. The captain took the precaution to return to Sydney... No emergency was declared. There was no fire, only smoke," she was quoted as saying on Sky News.
She added the aircraft was expected to leave for Canada later on Thursday.
(Reuters)
The Boeing 777 landed safely without incident, according to a Sydney Airport spokesman.
Air Canada's general manager for Australia and New Zealand Jeannie Foster was quoted by local media as saying the plane returned to Sydney as a precaution, denying earlier reports of a fire.
"A crew member saw smoke come out of the oven in the galley and informed the captain. The captain took the precaution to return to Sydney... No emergency was declared. There was no fire, only smoke," she was quoted as saying on Sky News.
She added the aircraft was expected to leave for Canada later on Thursday.
(Reuters)
INVESTIGATORS TO SAY MORE ON AIR FRANCE CRASH
French air accident investigators are expected to provide further insights on Friday into the airliner crash that killed 228 people when an Airbus A330 crashed into the Atlantic two years ago.
The BEA crash investigation agency will present its latest findings on the disaster, after two months sifting through data from black box flight recorders recovered from the ocean floor in May.
Its report, to be presented at a 1230 GMT news conference attended by victims' relatives, comes weeks after the second anniversary of the unexplained crash which led to a USD$50 million search operation to recover the black boxes.
The BEA will not attempt to give an official cause. Dozens of legal suits are pending on both sides of the Atlantic involving the airline, plane maker Airbus and their suppliers.
A final report is not due until later this year.
But sources close to the investigation say the BEA is for the first time ready to go further than just issuing rigidly factual summaries.
"This report will present the exact circumstances of the accident with an initial analysis and some new findings based on the data recovered from the flight recorders," the BEA said.
An initial summary in May, shortly after the black boxes were hauled from the ocean floor, raised questions over the actions of the pilots, but it stopped short of blaming them.
Initial black box evidence suggested the junior pilot pulled the nose up as the aircraft became unstable, shortly after there were inconsistent speed readings and an audible stall warning.
Aviation experts say this contradicted procedures which call for the nose to be lowered in response to an alert that the plane is in danger of losing lift and stalling.
"The main difficulty has been to understand why the pilots did what they did, starting from their earliest responses," a source familiar with aspects of the investigation said.
Jean-Louis Barber, head of the Air France branch of the main French pilots' union, told France Info radio the root cause of the accident was clearly a mechanical one, whatever the pilot response.
"What the first two reports from the BEA have shown is that, firstly, the event that triggered the accident was defective speed sensors, that it was a mechanical failure," he said.
That triggered a chain of events that the pilots may have struggled to respond to, especially if the plane's alarm system was apparently working against them and giving contradictory signals, he said.
The BEA has confirmed that cockpit speed readings went haywire shortly before the accident on June 1, 2009, something that may have been linked to icing up of the speed sensors on the outside of the aircraft.
In the worst previous accident linked to such sensors, in 1996, pilots of a Boeing 757 flown by Dominican airline Alas Nacionales were confused by poor speed data and lost control, according to records kept by the Flight Safety Foundation.
The jet struck the sea, killing all 189 people on board.
(Reuters)
The BEA crash investigation agency will present its latest findings on the disaster, after two months sifting through data from black box flight recorders recovered from the ocean floor in May.
Its report, to be presented at a 1230 GMT news conference attended by victims' relatives, comes weeks after the second anniversary of the unexplained crash which led to a USD$50 million search operation to recover the black boxes.
The BEA will not attempt to give an official cause. Dozens of legal suits are pending on both sides of the Atlantic involving the airline, plane maker Airbus and their suppliers.
A final report is not due until later this year.
But sources close to the investigation say the BEA is for the first time ready to go further than just issuing rigidly factual summaries.
"This report will present the exact circumstances of the accident with an initial analysis and some new findings based on the data recovered from the flight recorders," the BEA said.
An initial summary in May, shortly after the black boxes were hauled from the ocean floor, raised questions over the actions of the pilots, but it stopped short of blaming them.
Initial black box evidence suggested the junior pilot pulled the nose up as the aircraft became unstable, shortly after there were inconsistent speed readings and an audible stall warning.
Aviation experts say this contradicted procedures which call for the nose to be lowered in response to an alert that the plane is in danger of losing lift and stalling.
"The main difficulty has been to understand why the pilots did what they did, starting from their earliest responses," a source familiar with aspects of the investigation said.
Jean-Louis Barber, head of the Air France branch of the main French pilots' union, told France Info radio the root cause of the accident was clearly a mechanical one, whatever the pilot response.
"What the first two reports from the BEA have shown is that, firstly, the event that triggered the accident was defective speed sensors, that it was a mechanical failure," he said.
That triggered a chain of events that the pilots may have struggled to respond to, especially if the plane's alarm system was apparently working against them and giving contradictory signals, he said.
The BEA has confirmed that cockpit speed readings went haywire shortly before the accident on June 1, 2009, something that may have been linked to icing up of the speed sensors on the outside of the aircraft.
In the worst previous accident linked to such sensors, in 1996, pilots of a Boeing 757 flown by Dominican airline Alas Nacionales were confused by poor speed data and lost control, according to records kept by the Flight Safety Foundation.
The jet struck the sea, killing all 189 people on board.
(Reuters)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
US AIRLINES RAISE FARES TO SCOOP UP TAX LAPSE
Many US airlines raised fares in recent days to take advantage of a drop-off in US ticket tax collection after Congress failed last week to fully fund the Federal Aviation Administration budget, but passengers will likely not notice any price difference.
The expiry of the FAA re-authorisation on Friday means some aviation taxes are no longer being collected. These include a 7.5 percent sales tax on US air transport and a 7.5 percent sales tax on the purchase of air miles, said fare watcher FareCompare. Additionally, taxes on jet fuel are also reduced.
"Friday evening we adjusted prices so the bottom line price of a ticket remains the same as it was before prior to the expiration of federal excise taxes, etc," American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said.
JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines began raising ticket prices by at least 7.5 percent on Friday, according to FareCompare. Other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines and United Continental, boosted prices on Saturday.
The changes could save consumers 10 percent to 15 percent of the cost of a ticket, should the FAA-related tax relief be passed along, Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare, said on Monday.
US airlines have long complained about taxes and security fees, saying they cannot always pass them along to customers. The Air Transport Association, the airline lobbying group, said that on a USD$300 ticket, about USD$61 goes to taxes and fees.
ATA spokeswoman Jean Medina said consumers are not affected by the latest round of fare increases because they will pay the same amount for tickets as they did last week.
"This short-term additional revenue for airlines, which does not mean a fare increase for consumers, benefits all stakeholders -- customers, employees and investors -- by temporarily improving tiny industry margins to better cover costs, and enable airlines to invest in their product and service," Medina said.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spoke with the ATA twice on Monday about the pricing, he told reporters.
"If this tax is not being collected, I don't believe the airlines should be charging people for this amount of money. I think that is not fair," he said. "I'm going to continue those discussions."
Congress is currently debating raising the country's debt limit, but it still has the time to pass an extension, he said. LaHood, a former member of Congress, said he hoped an extension would be ready for President Barack Obama's signature within the next few days.
Ray Neidl, senior aerospace specialist at Maxim Group, said passengers will not notice the latest fare increases because the price they pay for tickets will not change.
"Basically (airlines) are just charging what they think the consumer will pay to fill the seats," Neidl said.
Neidl also said the benefit to airlines would be minimised if Congress reached a deal soon to resolve the partial FAA shutdown.
"It looks to me like it's going to be very temporary," Neidl said. "So whatever effect it has, it's going to be very minor."
Attempts failed on Friday to resolve the dispute over the FAA's funding, due to fighting between the political parties. Members of Congress hope to take up the issue on their return on Monday.
Shares of US airlines were down on Monday in response to a growing perception that recent signs of renewed pricing power will fade after the peak summer travel season.
The Arca airline index was down 2.1 percent at the close of the market on Monday. United Continental was down 5.1 percent at USD$18.93 and US Airways was off 4.4 percent at $6.50. Both stocks touched 52-week lows on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
(Reuters)
The expiry of the FAA re-authorisation on Friday means some aviation taxes are no longer being collected. These include a 7.5 percent sales tax on US air transport and a 7.5 percent sales tax on the purchase of air miles, said fare watcher FareCompare. Additionally, taxes on jet fuel are also reduced.
"Friday evening we adjusted prices so the bottom line price of a ticket remains the same as it was before prior to the expiration of federal excise taxes, etc," American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said.
JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines began raising ticket prices by at least 7.5 percent on Friday, according to FareCompare. Other airlines, such as Delta Air Lines and United Continental, boosted prices on Saturday.
The changes could save consumers 10 percent to 15 percent of the cost of a ticket, should the FAA-related tax relief be passed along, Rick Seaney, chief executive of FareCompare, said on Monday.
US airlines have long complained about taxes and security fees, saying they cannot always pass them along to customers. The Air Transport Association, the airline lobbying group, said that on a USD$300 ticket, about USD$61 goes to taxes and fees.
ATA spokeswoman Jean Medina said consumers are not affected by the latest round of fare increases because they will pay the same amount for tickets as they did last week.
"This short-term additional revenue for airlines, which does not mean a fare increase for consumers, benefits all stakeholders -- customers, employees and investors -- by temporarily improving tiny industry margins to better cover costs, and enable airlines to invest in their product and service," Medina said.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spoke with the ATA twice on Monday about the pricing, he told reporters.
"If this tax is not being collected, I don't believe the airlines should be charging people for this amount of money. I think that is not fair," he said. "I'm going to continue those discussions."
Congress is currently debating raising the country's debt limit, but it still has the time to pass an extension, he said. LaHood, a former member of Congress, said he hoped an extension would be ready for President Barack Obama's signature within the next few days.
Ray Neidl, senior aerospace specialist at Maxim Group, said passengers will not notice the latest fare increases because the price they pay for tickets will not change.
"Basically (airlines) are just charging what they think the consumer will pay to fill the seats," Neidl said.
Neidl also said the benefit to airlines would be minimised if Congress reached a deal soon to resolve the partial FAA shutdown.
"It looks to me like it's going to be very temporary," Neidl said. "So whatever effect it has, it's going to be very minor."
Attempts failed on Friday to resolve the dispute over the FAA's funding, due to fighting between the political parties. Members of Congress hope to take up the issue on their return on Monday.
Shares of US airlines were down on Monday in response to a growing perception that recent signs of renewed pricing power will fade after the peak summer travel season.
The Arca airline index was down 2.1 percent at the close of the market on Monday. United Continental was down 5.1 percent at USD$18.93 and US Airways was off 4.4 percent at $6.50. Both stocks touched 52-week lows on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
(Reuters)
THAI HAS NO PLANS TO RAISE FUEL SURCHARGE
Thai Airways has no plan to raise its fuel surcharge as global oil prices remain stable, president Piyasvasti Amranand told reporters.
He said the airline sees higher fuel hedging at 80 percent in the third quarter compared with 60 percent in the previous quarter.
The airline expects to gain from fuel hedging of THB1.5 billion - THB1.8 billion baht (USD$110.7 million) in the first half of this year.
Thai Air is on track to meet its 2011 revenue target of more than THB200 billion baht as its revenue tracks oil price movement.
(Reuters)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Virgin Atlantic Airways cut to a 3-Star Airline status, reflecting a decline in quality levels
Airline research organisation, SKYTRAX, say the latest 2011 Star Rating analysis sees Virgin Atlantic Airways cut to a 3-Star Airline status, reflecting a decline in quality levels
Edward Plaisted, Chairman and CEO of Skytrax said: "Virgin Atlantic has been a long-standing 4-Star Airline, and was well known for many pioneering product and service initiatives during it's history. More recently they seem to have undergone an image building exercise with glossy advertising, but the projected standards are just not being delivered to customers at this time, and our audit analysis is pointing to the fact that Virgin Atlantic are currently suited to 3-Star Airline ranking."
"Monitoring quality across more than 250 airlines worldwide, we are careful not to allow an Airline Rating to be impacted by any very short term quality changes" added Plaisted, "but we have seen the decline in service quality and many product areas to be too prolonged over the last 12 months with Virgin Atlantic to defer this final review to 3-Star Airline ranking. From a personal viewpoint it is also a sad moment, because Virgin Atlantic Airways was the first airline that Skytrax used as a Competitive Benchmark back at our inception in 1989."
"The airline market has undergone massive change in recent times, and during a period when many European airlines have been slow to modernise their customer products and service concepts, we have witnessed the continued and rapid dominance from carriers in the Middle East and Asia. Some of the most rapid change is happening in the Chinese airline industry, which has been able to invest in new aircraft fleets together with achieving rapid and sustained improvements in customer service quality. In contrast, we have seen an air of almost complacency amongst European airlines towards some quality issues. Whilst they have been subject to greater financial pressure from rising oil costs and reduced consumer spending power in local markets, the airline industry is a global business, and our primary role at Skytrax is to ensure that a fair and equitable Quality Ranking is applied to airlines across the globe" added Plaisted.
Peter Miller-SkyTrax
Edward Plaisted, Chairman and CEO of Skytrax said: "Virgin Atlantic has been a long-standing 4-Star Airline, and was well known for many pioneering product and service initiatives during it's history. More recently they seem to have undergone an image building exercise with glossy advertising, but the projected standards are just not being delivered to customers at this time, and our audit analysis is pointing to the fact that Virgin Atlantic are currently suited to 3-Star Airline ranking."
"Monitoring quality across more than 250 airlines worldwide, we are careful not to allow an Airline Rating to be impacted by any very short term quality changes" added Plaisted, "but we have seen the decline in service quality and many product areas to be too prolonged over the last 12 months with Virgin Atlantic to defer this final review to 3-Star Airline ranking. From a personal viewpoint it is also a sad moment, because Virgin Atlantic Airways was the first airline that Skytrax used as a Competitive Benchmark back at our inception in 1989."
"The airline market has undergone massive change in recent times, and during a period when many European airlines have been slow to modernise their customer products and service concepts, we have witnessed the continued and rapid dominance from carriers in the Middle East and Asia. Some of the most rapid change is happening in the Chinese airline industry, which has been able to invest in new aircraft fleets together with achieving rapid and sustained improvements in customer service quality. In contrast, we have seen an air of almost complacency amongst European airlines towards some quality issues. Whilst they have been subject to greater financial pressure from rising oil costs and reduced consumer spending power in local markets, the airline industry is a global business, and our primary role at Skytrax is to ensure that a fair and equitable Quality Ranking is applied to airlines across the globe" added Plaisted.
Peter Miller-SkyTrax
Friday, July 22, 2011
ALASKAN VOLCANO MAY CAUSE AIR TRAVEL PROBLEMS
Recent satellite images of a remote Alaska volcano along a flight route for major airlines show the mountain may be poised for its first big eruption in 10 years, scientists said.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has issued an eruption advisory for the 5,676 foot-tall Cleveland Volcano, located on the uninhabited island of Chuginadak in the Aleutian chain about 940 miles southwest of Anchorage.
The advisory was based on "thermal anomalies" detected by satellite, the observatory said. Those measurements indicate the volcano could erupt at any moment, spewing ash clouds up to 20,000 feet above sea level with little further warning, the observatory said.
A major eruption could disrupt international air travel because Cleveland Volcano, like others in the Aleutians, lies directly below the commercial airline flight path between North America and Asia, said John Power, scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
The volcano's last major eruption came in 2001, when it blasted ash more than 5 miles into the sky and spilled lava from the summit crater. Cleveland has experienced several smaller eruptions or suspected eruptions since then.
So far, airlines have not changed their flight patterns because of Cleveland's heat emissions, said Steve McNutt, a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist who works at the observatory.
Scientists are not always certain about what is happening at the remote volcano, observatory officials said. Although Cleveland is among the most active of Alaska's roughly 90 volcanoes, no seismic equipment is set up there because the costs of working in such a remote area are prohibitive, observatory officials said.
Still, Cleveland is the only Alaska volcano blamed for an eruption-caused human death in recorded history. A US soldier who was stationed on Chuginadak Island during World War Two disappeared during an eruption and was presumed killed.
Without sophisticated monitors like those used to keep tabs on volcanoes closer to Anchorage and other populated areas, scientists must rely on a variety of other observations to track Cleveland's eruptions, McNutt said. Those include satellite data, eyewitness reports and video from mariners and pilots in the area.
(Reuters)
The Alaska Volcano Observatory has issued an eruption advisory for the 5,676 foot-tall Cleveland Volcano, located on the uninhabited island of Chuginadak in the Aleutian chain about 940 miles southwest of Anchorage.
The advisory was based on "thermal anomalies" detected by satellite, the observatory said. Those measurements indicate the volcano could erupt at any moment, spewing ash clouds up to 20,000 feet above sea level with little further warning, the observatory said.
A major eruption could disrupt international air travel because Cleveland Volcano, like others in the Aleutians, lies directly below the commercial airline flight path between North America and Asia, said John Power, scientist-in-charge at the Alaska Volcano Observatory.
The volcano's last major eruption came in 2001, when it blasted ash more than 5 miles into the sky and spilled lava from the summit crater. Cleveland has experienced several smaller eruptions or suspected eruptions since then.
So far, airlines have not changed their flight patterns because of Cleveland's heat emissions, said Steve McNutt, a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist who works at the observatory.
Scientists are not always certain about what is happening at the remote volcano, observatory officials said. Although Cleveland is among the most active of Alaska's roughly 90 volcanoes, no seismic equipment is set up there because the costs of working in such a remote area are prohibitive, observatory officials said.
Still, Cleveland is the only Alaska volcano blamed for an eruption-caused human death in recorded history. A US soldier who was stationed on Chuginadak Island during World War Two disappeared during an eruption and was presumed killed.
Without sophisticated monitors like those used to keep tabs on volcanoes closer to Anchorage and other populated areas, scientists must rely on a variety of other observations to track Cleveland's eruptions, McNutt said. Those include satellite data, eyewitness reports and video from mariners and pilots in the area.
(Reuters)
EASYJET GETS BUSINESS TRAVEL BOOST
British low-cost airline easyJet raised full-year guidance when reporting strong growth in third-quarter revenue after it attracted more business passengers, sending its shares up 15 percent.
EasyJet said revenue for the three months to end-June grew 23 percent to GBP£935 million (USD$1.52 billion), also boosted by growing passenger and ancillary revenues.
The budget carrier, which acted last year to lure more corporate passengers, said the number of business travellers flying with it jumped a fifth during the quarter, and the outlook was positive -- it has already sold around three quarters of the seats for its summer flights.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall said that, assuming normal conditions and a 10-12 percent return on capital employed, it expected a full-year pre-tax profit of GBP£200 million - GBP£230 million, at current fuel and exchange rates.
EasyJet said it carried 14.4 million passengers in the June quarter, up 17.3 percent. Its load factor rose 0.2 percentage points to 86.3 percent.
The company had been expected to report a 2010/11 pre-tax profit of GBP£184 million based on estimates in a GBP£160 million - GBP£268 million range.
Despite a recent rebound in economy class travel, rising fuel prices continue to cause trouble for the industry and could wipe out airline profitability in 2011, hindering the industry's recovery, industry body IATA has said.
Fuel cost rises tend to weigh more on price-sensitive flights used by tourists and individual travellers.
EasyJet said it would look to forward buy up to 85 percent of its fuel requirements for the coming 12 months and around two thirds of its 12-24 month requirements.
The carrier said it had hedged three-quarters of its fuel requirements at USD$812 per metric tonne until its fiscal year-end.
Earlier this month easyJet's largest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, said he wants to force a shareholder vote over the airline's plans to by new aircraft, resuming a long-running dispute with the company he founded.
(Reuters)
EasyJet said revenue for the three months to end-June grew 23 percent to GBP£935 million (USD$1.52 billion), also boosted by growing passenger and ancillary revenues.
The budget carrier, which acted last year to lure more corporate passengers, said the number of business travellers flying with it jumped a fifth during the quarter, and the outlook was positive -- it has already sold around three quarters of the seats for its summer flights.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall said that, assuming normal conditions and a 10-12 percent return on capital employed, it expected a full-year pre-tax profit of GBP£200 million - GBP£230 million, at current fuel and exchange rates.
EasyJet said it carried 14.4 million passengers in the June quarter, up 17.3 percent. Its load factor rose 0.2 percentage points to 86.3 percent.
The company had been expected to report a 2010/11 pre-tax profit of GBP£184 million based on estimates in a GBP£160 million - GBP£268 million range.
Despite a recent rebound in economy class travel, rising fuel prices continue to cause trouble for the industry and could wipe out airline profitability in 2011, hindering the industry's recovery, industry body IATA has said.
Fuel cost rises tend to weigh more on price-sensitive flights used by tourists and individual travellers.
EasyJet said it would look to forward buy up to 85 percent of its fuel requirements for the coming 12 months and around two thirds of its 12-24 month requirements.
The carrier said it had hedged three-quarters of its fuel requirements at USD$812 per metric tonne until its fiscal year-end.
Earlier this month easyJet's largest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, said he wants to force a shareholder vote over the airline's plans to by new aircraft, resuming a long-running dispute with the company he founded.
(Reuters)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
SINGAPORE QUERIES RISE IN TIGER AIR SHARE PRICE
Singapore Exchange on Wednesday asked budget carrier Tiger Airways to explain the sharp rise in its share price and surge in trading activity.
Shares of Tiger Airways closed up 13.5 percent at SGD$1.13, with a volume of 53.5 million shares changing hands. This was four times its average daily volume over the last five sessions.
The bulk of the gains came in the last hour of trading, which one dealer said was linked to rumours Singapore Airlines might raise its stake in the beleaguered carrier.
The budget carrier, about one-third owned by the Singapore Air, is currently suspended from operating domestic flights in Australia due to safety concerns.
Shares of Tiger Airways closed up 13.5 percent at SGD$1.13, with a volume of 53.5 million shares changing hands. This was four times its average daily volume over the last five sessions.
The bulk of the gains came in the last hour of trading, which one dealer said was linked to rumours Singapore Airlines might raise its stake in the beleaguered carrier.
The budget carrier, about one-third owned by the Singapore Air, is currently suspended from operating domestic flights in Australia due to safety concerns.
(Reuters)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
AIR FRANCE UNIONS CALL FOR MID-SUMMER STRIKE
Unions at Air France on Monday called for a four-day strike by flight attendants at the end of July, raising the threat of travel disruption over a peak holiday period.
The walkout, scheduled for July 29, 30, 31 and August 1, is to be held in protest against a reorganisation of flight attendants' work at regional hubs that Air France is setting up to counter competition from low-cost airlines.
"We refuse to become victims of productivity," representatives of seven unions, including the CGT and CFDT, said in a statement.
"More than 80 percent of cabin crew say they are tired and any increase in workload is absolutely unacceptable."
Air France plans to start operating connecting flights at its first provincial hub, in Marseille, in October, as part of efforts to regain market share on short- and medium-haul flights.
The opening of three further regional hubs -- in Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux, due by spring, 2012 -- should cut costs by 15 percent and allow for new routes to be opened toward destinations in France and Europe, the airline says.
The end of July and start of August is traditionally one of the busiest periods for French travel, with thousands of families heading off for their summer holidays, and many others returning home after taking their annual break in July.
(Reuters)
The walkout, scheduled for July 29, 30, 31 and August 1, is to be held in protest against a reorganisation of flight attendants' work at regional hubs that Air France is setting up to counter competition from low-cost airlines.
"We refuse to become victims of productivity," representatives of seven unions, including the CGT and CFDT, said in a statement.
"More than 80 percent of cabin crew say they are tired and any increase in workload is absolutely unacceptable."
Air France plans to start operating connecting flights at its first provincial hub, in Marseille, in October, as part of efforts to regain market share on short- and medium-haul flights.
The opening of three further regional hubs -- in Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux, due by spring, 2012 -- should cut costs by 15 percent and allow for new routes to be opened toward destinations in France and Europe, the airline says.
The end of July and start of August is traditionally one of the busiest periods for French travel, with thousands of families heading off for their summer holidays, and many others returning home after taking their annual break in July.
(Reuters)
Monday, July 18, 2011
DELTA TO CUT SERVICE TO SOME SMALLER US MARKETS
Delta Air Lines is to pull service from some smaller US markets to stem USD$14 million in annual losses associated with such flights.
The halt is planned for 24 markets served under the Essential Air Service programme, a US programme created to make sure smaller cities have a minimum level of passenger air service.
The US Department of Transportation provides subsidies to airlines tied to some markets under the programme.
Cities affected by Delta's planned move include Watertown, South Dakota; Waterloo, Iowa; and Butte, Montana, according to a list of affected cities the carrier provided on its website.
Delta said flights in the affected markets on average depart with 52 percent of seats filled, with some locations as low as 12 percent. Some flights have been operated occasionally with no passengers on board, it added.
"The new reality of mounting cost pressures faced by our industry means we can no longer afford to provide this service," Delta said in a statement.
Delta said plans to retire its Saab turboprop fleet and some 50-seat jets hamper the economics of serving the smaller and rural areas. It said the DOT would be able to select a new carrier to start service in the affected Essential Air Service areas within a 90-day period, and added it was coordinating with other carriers to bid on the routes in some cities.
The carrier also said it would continue service in some markets but was seeking an increased subsidy rate.
Delta has taken a number of steps to keep costs down this year, including closing facilities in some US locations, retiring less fuel efficient planes and planned capacity cuts. It has offered voluntary buyouts for which 55,000 workers are eligible.
(Reuters)
The halt is planned for 24 markets served under the Essential Air Service programme, a US programme created to make sure smaller cities have a minimum level of passenger air service.
The US Department of Transportation provides subsidies to airlines tied to some markets under the programme.
Cities affected by Delta's planned move include Watertown, South Dakota; Waterloo, Iowa; and Butte, Montana, according to a list of affected cities the carrier provided on its website.
Delta said flights in the affected markets on average depart with 52 percent of seats filled, with some locations as low as 12 percent. Some flights have been operated occasionally with no passengers on board, it added.
"The new reality of mounting cost pressures faced by our industry means we can no longer afford to provide this service," Delta said in a statement.
Delta said plans to retire its Saab turboprop fleet and some 50-seat jets hamper the economics of serving the smaller and rural areas. It said the DOT would be able to select a new carrier to start service in the affected Essential Air Service areas within a 90-day period, and added it was coordinating with other carriers to bid on the routes in some cities.
The carrier also said it would continue service in some markets but was seeking an increased subsidy rate.
Delta has taken a number of steps to keep costs down this year, including closing facilities in some US locations, retiring less fuel efficient planes and planned capacity cuts. It has offered voluntary buyouts for which 55,000 workers are eligible.
(Reuters)
SINGAPORE AIR NAMES CEO OF NEW LOW-COST UNIT
Singapore Airlines said on Monday that Campbell Wilson will be the first chief executive of the new no-frills, low-fare airline that it plans to launch next year.
Wilson, 40, has been with SIA for more than 15 years. He joined the Singapore flag carrier in April 1996 in Auckland and held marketing and sales positions in New Zealand as well as Australia.
(Reuters)
Wilson, 40, has been with SIA for more than 15 years. He joined the Singapore flag carrier in April 1996 in Auckland and held marketing and sales positions in New Zealand as well as Australia.
(Reuters)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Delta jet hits smaller plane on runway
A collision between two airliners on a taxiway at Logan International Airport is now considered serious enough for National Transportation Safety Board investigators to get involved.
A person was taken to a hospital after the wing of a large moving passenger jet clipped the tail of a smaller aircraft in front of it on Thursday night.
But it was the severe damage to one of the planes that caused federal investigators to elevate the seriousness of the collision, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.
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Both planes were taken out of service with visible damage. The wing tip of the larger aircraft was bent, while the smaller jet's tail was crumpled and bent.
The Federal Aviation Administration will assist the NTSB on the investigation, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.
Investigators will review the flight data and cockpit recorders in both jets and recordings of air traffic control conversations and ground radar. They also will interview crew members on both planes, review weather at the time of the accident and conduct physical inspections of both aircraft, Peters said.
The probe could include drug and alcohol testing, he said.
The NTSB, Knudson said, is expected to issue within 10 days a preliminary report, which would not necessarily point to a cause.
The wing of Delta Flight 266, a Boeing 767 headed to Amsterdam, clipped the tail of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 4904, departing for Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, about 7.30pm local time last Thursday, Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said. ASA provides regional air service for Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.
There were 204 passengers and 11 crew members on the larger plane, 74 passengers and three crew members on the smaller craft.
The Delta jet returned to the gate, and ASA passengers were transported by bus to the terminal. Some passengers were rebooked on other flights, while some had to spend the night in Boston.
Passengers said they were jolted but there was little panic.
Although there were some reports of screaming and crying, the pilots and most passengers remained calm.
In a recording of air traffic control communications, the pilot of the 767 says, "I think we hit the RJ (regional jet) off of our left wing."
"Did he hit you with his tail, his wing?" the air traffic controller asks.
The pilot of the smaller aircraft replies: "Absolutely, he did."
One woman was taken to a Boston hospital after complaining of neck pain, airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said.
Jay Copan, 59, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was on the smaller plane, half asleep, when the impact jolted him awake.
"It wasn't that strong, but it was odd. Some people thought we'd run off the runway," he told the Boston Herald.
Kristian Bille, 46, of Denmark, was on the larger plane and told The Boston Globe: "The whole plane shook, and some people started screaming."
AP
A person was taken to a hospital after the wing of a large moving passenger jet clipped the tail of a smaller aircraft in front of it on Thursday night.
But it was the severe damage to one of the planes that caused federal investigators to elevate the seriousness of the collision, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.
Advertisement: Story continues below
Both planes were taken out of service with visible damage. The wing tip of the larger aircraft was bent, while the smaller jet's tail was crumpled and bent.
The Federal Aviation Administration will assist the NTSB on the investigation, FAA spokesman Jim Peters said.
Investigators will review the flight data and cockpit recorders in both jets and recordings of air traffic control conversations and ground radar. They also will interview crew members on both planes, review weather at the time of the accident and conduct physical inspections of both aircraft, Peters said.
The probe could include drug and alcohol testing, he said.
The NTSB, Knudson said, is expected to issue within 10 days a preliminary report, which would not necessarily point to a cause.
The wing of Delta Flight 266, a Boeing 767 headed to Amsterdam, clipped the tail of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 4904, departing for Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, about 7.30pm local time last Thursday, Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said. ASA provides regional air service for Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines.
There were 204 passengers and 11 crew members on the larger plane, 74 passengers and three crew members on the smaller craft.
The Delta jet returned to the gate, and ASA passengers were transported by bus to the terminal. Some passengers were rebooked on other flights, while some had to spend the night in Boston.
Passengers said they were jolted but there was little panic.
Although there were some reports of screaming and crying, the pilots and most passengers remained calm.
In a recording of air traffic control communications, the pilot of the 767 says, "I think we hit the RJ (regional jet) off of our left wing."
"Did he hit you with his tail, his wing?" the air traffic controller asks.
The pilot of the smaller aircraft replies: "Absolutely, he did."
One woman was taken to a Boston hospital after complaining of neck pain, airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said.
Jay Copan, 59, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was on the smaller plane, half asleep, when the impact jolted him awake.
"It wasn't that strong, but it was odd. Some people thought we'd run off the runway," he told the Boston Herald.
Kristian Bille, 46, of Denmark, was on the larger plane and told The Boston Globe: "The whole plane shook, and some people started screaming."
AP
Saturday, July 16, 2011
What women business travellers want
A university study debunks the theory that women business travellers want the same as their male counterparts.
The study, by Professor Judi Browne of Cornell University's Centre for Hospitality Research, finds that women travellers place greater value on comfort - a good bed is a much higher priority for women than for men - and they prefer hotels that have amenities such as gyms and spas so they can mix business with pleasure.
The study also finds that the majority of female business travellers do not feel guilty about being away from home, rather they welcome the freedom from daily routines, Browne says.
According to Browne, women last year accounted for nearly half of all business travellers in the US, up from 43 per cent in 2003 and about 25 per cent in 1991.
Kay O'Sullivan
The study, by Professor Judi Browne of Cornell University's Centre for Hospitality Research, finds that women travellers place greater value on comfort - a good bed is a much higher priority for women than for men - and they prefer hotels that have amenities such as gyms and spas so they can mix business with pleasure.
The study also finds that the majority of female business travellers do not feel guilty about being away from home, rather they welcome the freedom from daily routines, Browne says.
According to Browne, women last year accounted for nearly half of all business travellers in the US, up from 43 per cent in 2003 and about 25 per cent in 1991.
Kay O'Sullivan
Hong Kong International Airport is named the World's Best Airport
Hong Kong International Airport is named the World's Best Airport at the 2011 World Airport Awards held in Copenhagen
1 Hong Kong International Airport
2 Singapore Changi Airport
3 Incheon International Airport
4 Munich Airport
5 Beijing Capital International Airport
6 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
7 Zurich Airport
8 Auckland International Airport
9 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
10 Copenhagen Airport
1 Hong Kong International Airport
2 Singapore Changi Airport
3 Incheon International Airport
4 Munich Airport
5 Beijing Capital International Airport
6 Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
7 Zurich Airport
8 Auckland International Airport
9 Kuala Lumpur International Airport
10 Copenhagen Airport
Troubled Tiger Airways to extend refunds
TIGER Airways Australia will allow passengers to cancel flights without penalty until August 31 because of the uncertainty still surrounding its return to service.
The move comes amid claims at least two of the airline's 10 Airbus A320 aircraft will be sent overseas and that it will begin flying over a reduced network.
The airline has vowed to return to service after it was grounded two weeks ago by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority over safety concerns but has not given any indication as to how it will resume operating.
CASA last week applied to the Federal Court to extend the grounding until August 1 and the parties are expected to start discussing a plan to get the troubled carrier airborne again next week.
The airline stopped selling tickets for flights scheduled to the end of this month after it came under pressure from consumer regulators.
Related Coverage
Tiger vow that ticket refunds assured Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Tiger relents on cancellation fees Herald Sun, 1 day ago
Tiger to start refunding passengers Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Tiger vows to refund fares Herald Sun, 1 day ago
Tiger allows penalty-free cancellations The Australian, 2 days ago
It said earlier this week it was providing refunds to passengers whose flights had been cancelled in July and aimed to process them within 20 working days.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said yesterday it had received a commitment from Tiger chief executive Tony Davis relating to the refunds as well as the airline's communications with customers. The commitment includes keeping regulators up to date on progress and allow passengers to opt for a credit or refund for flights until August 31.
Meanwhile, Qantas pilots are promising a low-key start to their industrial campaign and claim it won't disrupt passengers.
However, the Australian and International Pilots Association said it would carry out in a "limited capacity" over the next 30 days the industrial action it had listed with Fair Work Australia.
The actions include: banning work on days off and extended tours of duty, work to rule, stop-work meetings and work stoppages of up to two days.
(Steve Creedy, The Australian )
The move comes amid claims at least two of the airline's 10 Airbus A320 aircraft will be sent overseas and that it will begin flying over a reduced network.
The airline has vowed to return to service after it was grounded two weeks ago by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority over safety concerns but has not given any indication as to how it will resume operating.
CASA last week applied to the Federal Court to extend the grounding until August 1 and the parties are expected to start discussing a plan to get the troubled carrier airborne again next week.
The airline stopped selling tickets for flights scheduled to the end of this month after it came under pressure from consumer regulators.
Related Coverage
Tiger vow that ticket refunds assured Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Tiger relents on cancellation fees Herald Sun, 1 day ago
Tiger to start refunding passengers Courier Mail, 1 day ago
Tiger vows to refund fares Herald Sun, 1 day ago
Tiger allows penalty-free cancellations The Australian, 2 days ago
It said earlier this week it was providing refunds to passengers whose flights had been cancelled in July and aimed to process them within 20 working days.
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said yesterday it had received a commitment from Tiger chief executive Tony Davis relating to the refunds as well as the airline's communications with customers. The commitment includes keeping regulators up to date on progress and allow passengers to opt for a credit or refund for flights until August 31.
Meanwhile, Qantas pilots are promising a low-key start to their industrial campaign and claim it won't disrupt passengers.
However, the Australian and International Pilots Association said it would carry out in a "limited capacity" over the next 30 days the industrial action it had listed with Fair Work Australia.
The actions include: banning work on days off and extended tours of duty, work to rule, stop-work meetings and work stoppages of up to two days.
(Steve Creedy, The Australian )
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thai airline recruits transgender flight attendants
A new Thai airline is hiring transsexual ladyboys as flight attendants, aiming at a unique identity to set itself apart from competitors as it sets out for the skies.
Known as "katoeys" or "ladyboys," transgenders and transsexuals have greater visibility in Thailand than in many other nations, holding mainstream jobs in a variety of fields. They are especially common in cosmetics shops or health stores, which almost always have a ladyboy shop assistant.
PC Air, a charter airline set to start operations on Asian routes in April, originally planned only to hire male and female flight attendants. But it changed its mind after receiving more than 100 job applications from transvestites and transsexuals.
Four were chosen, along with 19 female and 7 male flight attendants.
"When I knew that I got this job, I burst into tears because I'm very happy," said 24-year-old Chayathisa Nakmai.
"I had sent many applications to different airlines."
The airline said that the qualifications for the ladyboy flight attendants were the same as for female flight attendants, with the additional provisos that they be like women in how they walk and talk, and have a feminine voice and the right attitude.
Though there is very little discrimination against ladyboys in Thailand, they are not officially recognized as women and their identification cards will always say "male."
While the airline strives for equality, PC Air president Peter Chan, who chooses the transsexual cabin crew himself, said he needed to spend longer with interviews for such applicants.
"For male flight attendants, if I don't want to hire them, it's because of their attitude or their characters, like the way they walk and smile. For female flight attendants, if they have no patience and their character does not qualify, we won't hire them," he added.
"For transsexuals, we can't just spend 5 or 10 minutes with them, we have to spend the whole day with them to make sure they have feminine characters."
The airline says it may hire more flight attendants from the "third gender" in the future since the Department of Civil Aviation has no objections.
Though excited by the opportunity, the transsexual flight attendants said they were aware they needed to prove themselves.
"People will keep their eyes on us... There will be more pressure," said Dissanai Chitpraphachin, 23, who was crowned as Thailand's most beautiful transvestite in 2007.
"We have to prepare ourselves more than the women."
The airline is initially set to fly to South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and China
(Reuters Life!)
Qatar Airways wins Airline of the Year title at the 2011 - Hows your favorite airline rate?
Qatar Airways has won the coveted title as the World's Best Airline at the 2011 World Airline Awards, in a ceremony held at the French Air and Space Museum (part of the 2011 Paris Air Show)
Doha-based Qatar Airways also received a 2nd award for the Best Middle East Airline award and a 3rd for the World's Best First Class Airline Lounge award for it's Premium Terminal facility at Doha Airport.
THE WORLD'S BEST AIRLINES : 2011
1 Qatar Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Asiana Airlines
4 Cathay Pacific Airways
5 Thai Airways International
6 Etihad Airways
7 Air New Zealand
8 Qantas Airways
9 Turkish Airlines
10 Emirates
Doha-based Qatar Airways also received a 2nd award for the Best Middle East Airline award and a 3rd for the World's Best First Class Airline Lounge award for it's Premium Terminal facility at Doha Airport.
THE WORLD'S BEST AIRLINES : 2011
1 Qatar Airways
2 Singapore Airlines
3 Asiana Airlines
4 Cathay Pacific Airways
5 Thai Airways International
6 Etihad Airways
7 Air New Zealand
8 Qantas Airways
9 Turkish Airlines
10 Emirates
OTHER 2011 AWARDS: · Qatar Airways is named as the Worlds Best Airline
· British Airways wins the world's Best Business Class lounge award
· Cathay Pacific has the most comfortable First Class seats
· Turkish Airlines is named as Best Airline in Europe
· Etihad Airways first class catering comes out on top
· Emirates wins Best Inflight Entertainment award
· Jetstar Airways is Best Low-cost Australia / Pacific
· Kingfisher Airlines is Best Airline India / Central Asia
· American Eagle N America's Best Regional airline
· Star Alliance named as world's Best Airline Alliance
· Oman Air has the world's Best Business Class seats
· TAM Linhas Aéreas named Best Airline South America
· Virgin America is repeat winner of Best Low-Cost Airline in North America
· ANA All Nippon Airways has world's Best Airport Services
· easyJet is named Europe's Best Low-Cost Airline
· TACA wins Service Excellence for C America / Caribbean region
· Air New Zealand Premium Economy named as best
· China Southern Airlines the World's Most Improved Airline
· Aeroflot recognised as Best Airline Eastern Europe
FIRST LUFTHANSA COMMERCIAL BIOFUEL FLIGHT TAKES OFF
Lufthansa became the first airline to use biofuels on regular commercial flights on Friday in a six month trial that it estimates will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1,500 tonnes during the period.
European airlines are pressing ahead with biofuel plans in order to cut use of regular jet fuel. A pact signed last month with biofuel producers and the EU Commission aims to produce 2 million tonnes of biofuel for aviation by 2020.
Lufthansa is using a mix of regular fuel and biofuel made by Neste Oil from jatropha and camelina crops and animal fats, in one engine of an Airbus plane on daily flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg.
It said on Friday the aim of the trial, along with reducing emissions, was to examine the effects of biofuel on engines.
Passengers on the flights will not see, feel or hear any difference in the aircraft, Lufthansa biofuels director Joachim Buse said at the Paris Air Show in June.
Robert Wall, international editor at Aviation Week and a passenger on the first flight, said the plane departed from Hamburg to a water cannon salute.
"Niko Pointner, the LH A321 captain, said 'everything was completely normal," Wall added.
Air France-KLM and Britain's Thomson Airways have said they will run commercial flights starting from September using a biofuel mix made from used cooking oil.
However, biofuels are the subject of much debate as to how 'green' they actually are, with the use of crops such as palm oil coming under fire for using land that could instead be used to grow crops to feed people.
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigner Robbie Blake said it was good that Lufthansa now seemed to be avoiding palm oil, but said they might still have to resort to palm oil should they expand the trial.
Lufthansa said the production of its biofuel was not in direct competition with food production and no rain forests were destroyed.
(Reuters)
European airlines are pressing ahead with biofuel plans in order to cut use of regular jet fuel. A pact signed last month with biofuel producers and the EU Commission aims to produce 2 million tonnes of biofuel for aviation by 2020.
Lufthansa is using a mix of regular fuel and biofuel made by Neste Oil from jatropha and camelina crops and animal fats, in one engine of an Airbus plane on daily flights between Frankfurt and Hamburg.
It said on Friday the aim of the trial, along with reducing emissions, was to examine the effects of biofuel on engines.
Passengers on the flights will not see, feel or hear any difference in the aircraft, Lufthansa biofuels director Joachim Buse said at the Paris Air Show in June.
Robert Wall, international editor at Aviation Week and a passenger on the first flight, said the plane departed from Hamburg to a water cannon salute.
"Niko Pointner, the LH A321 captain, said 'everything was completely normal," Wall added.
Air France-KLM and Britain's Thomson Airways have said they will run commercial flights starting from September using a biofuel mix made from used cooking oil.
However, biofuels are the subject of much debate as to how 'green' they actually are, with the use of crops such as palm oil coming under fire for using land that could instead be used to grow crops to feed people.
Friends of the Earth Europe campaigner Robbie Blake said it was good that Lufthansa now seemed to be avoiding palm oil, but said they might still have to resort to palm oil should they expand the trial.
Lufthansa said the production of its biofuel was not in direct competition with food production and no rain forests were destroyed.
(Reuters)
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