Recent years there has been a lot of talk about airport security and security on board. We are being exposed to reports on numerous dangers lurking from every corner – exploding motors, aircraft falling apart, terrorists on board, terrorists at airports…
During the last couple of days, media report about yet another danger. This time the danger comes from inside. We do not mean TSA officers terrorising passengers or the risk of radiation associated with body scanners. It is about what seems to be the last craze among traffic controllers across the world – taking a nap at work.
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Slawomir Budziak Aviation news, Other
Just as airlines compete for passengers, numerous producers in the aviation industry are constantly trying to outdo both one another and themselves. The battlefield is aircraft, electronic equipment, motors, design, new fuel types or in-flight entertainment systems. Now if there is one key component of an air plane decisive for our comfort on longer flights, that thing is plane seats.
A very exciting design of the plane seat of the future was presented at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg. The most prominent part of it is a kind of bow or arc extending from the top of the seat , bend over the passenger and holding a high-tech screen. The screen can be used both as a part of the in-flight entertainment system and as a monitor for the device brought by the passengers.
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Slawomir Budziak Aviation news, Europe, News by Continent, Other
When asked who is the biggest individual and most colourful personality of the aviation industry, many would answer it is sir Richard Branson, the mastermind behind the Virgin-empire and a pioneer in the field of private space travels. Now it appears as though the achievements of the British visionary and entrepreneur are bound to be overshadowed as soon as the Ikaros aircraft goes into the mass production.
Incredible as it is, Ikaros is the prototype of a towed airliner. Even though the project is still in the experimental phase, the interest on the part of numerous carriers is huge.
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Slawomir Budziak Europe, Funny, News by Continent, North America, Other
Plane passengers world over may expect some pretty radical changes with regard to baggage policy. Even thought the change is due to take effect as of April 1, 2011, it does not appear to be an April Fool’s prank since it is officially announced on the website of IATA which stands International Air Transport Association.
Why change anything?
IATA views today’s situation as a problem for all parts involved – passengers, airlines and travel agents. With numerous airlines defining their own baggage policy, travellers combining airline tickets, nobody seems to have a good overall overview of charges and fees. Hence the attempt to simplify it all.
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Slawomir Budziak News by Continent, Other
The land of Homer is struggling with its gravest financial problems for some decades. This crisis-stricken EU country faces a record high unemployment, social unrests and a huge budget deficit.
Now the authorities sees the tourism industry as an particularly important economic driver and a revenue source for the budget.
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Slawomir Budziak Europe, News by Continent, Other
Good afternoon! 
Another week has arrived and brought up a fresh handfull of new airfare deals. So let’s have a look at the selection of this week’s best fares.
Alitalia: 5-Day Sale! 2 people fly for €150 rtn
The traditional carrier Alitalia has launched a new air promotion. Book by Sunday March 20, 2011 and fly between June 15, 2011 and October 15, 2011 in order to enjoy this special air sale. What’s so special about it? Well, you and your darling or friend will pay only €150 for 2 return flights. Have a look at the samples below.
Ada Petrova Airfare Deals, Airlines, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Other, TAP Portugal
When it comes to in-flight food, which nowadays is a regular ancillary service and no longer and obvious part of the flying experience, we can observe a stratification which by and large comes down to two trends. Low-cost airlines overcharge you for a dishwater of a coffee and a child portion of insipid food which makes them what they are: low-cost.
Inflight food ©summer park
On the other hand there are those more traditional carriers offering a variety of products depending how much you are willing to put up. That kind of diversity is surely advantageous in that is gives one a freedom of choice. Let us take a look at just a few examples of airlines know for quality food.
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Slawomir Budziak Air France, Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Funny, Lufthansa, Other, Singapore Airlines, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic
Have you planned travelling to, from or via Spain over the Easter period? Well, think again because all travellers’ nightmare may come true as the fate of passengers is once again a bargaining card in disputes between authorities and unions.
Long story short: the reason the staff at Spanish airports are considering to go our on strike are plans to partly privatize the the civil aviation Agency Aena. The employees are afraid of losing their status as public service workers and as well as redundancies which in the unemployment-stricken Spain is everyone’s fear these days.
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Slawomir Budziak Europe, News by Continent, Other
Another episode of the never-ending story of the strike threat in British Airways. The unresolved dispute between British Airway’s cabin crew and the management may result in industrial action threatening the passenger traffic over the Easter period.
The dispute began already last year and three strike ballots have been held so far but the management have challenged them on technical issues. This time the Unite union made it clear it would observe the industrial law to the letter. The management is determined on their part to run all short- and long-haul routes despite the prospective industrial action.
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Slawomir Budziak Airlines, British Airways, Europe, News by Continent, Other
Some say that the centre of gravity in the world aviation is bound to move eastwards as flying is becoming ever more popular in Asia and as there are more and more low-cost airlines in this region. A recent announcement by the head of the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration appear to confirm this prediction.
Li Jiaxing – who is a former CEO of Air China – broke the news that this powerful country will have build 45 new airports by the year 2015. Now, the China is widely-known for building projects of epic proportions but this announcement still makes impression.
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Slawomir Budziak Air China, Airlines, Airports, Asia, Other
Recent years there has been a lot of talk about airport security and security on board. We are being exposed to reports on numerous dangers lurking from every corner – exploding motors, aircraft falling apart, terrorists on board, terrorists at airports…
