My least favourite airline Ryanair last week signed a contract extension for its CEO Michael O’Leary that will keep him until September 2019. Ryanair plans to grow by 50percent over the period increasing passenger numbers from last year ‘s 81 million to 120 million people a year by the end of 2019. After signing the contract O’Leary predicted that SAS, Alitalia and Air Berlin would reduce short haul operations or go bust. Other competitors that O’Leary predicts will be “cutback and consolidated” include Olympic Airlines of Greece; TAP- Transportes Aereos Portugueses; Spain’s Iberia which is…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for October 2014.
Lava claims Hawaiʻi Home, threatens more
On one of my trips to Hawaiʻi, I really enjoyed going to Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island (seen above on the far right of the Hawai’ian chain). Many think of Hawaiʻi only for its beaches and lush vegetation but this park really brought home to me, that this chain of islands was formed by volcanic activity. That brings risks for those who live on the Big Island where seismic activity continues. Lava from the most active volcano in Hawaiʻi, Kilauea began seeping out heading toward the ocean on 27 June. It paused its movement in…
All about #Bargaining /Haggling
I have bargained for Books in Bombay, Cards in Cambodia, Drivers in Delhi, Face-creams in Fiji, Household oddments in Hong Kong, Linen in Lebanon, Night time accommodation in Nicaragua, Sunglasses in Singapore, Trousers in Thailand, Zimbabwean stone carvings and more! Yup, I love bargaining (also known as haggling)! This shopping method for me is all part of the fun of travel. For other travellers, it feels annoying, confusing and frustrating and even terrifying. I have had friends insist I bargain for them. Others give up buying, lamenting “why can’t it be fixed price?” When I see people struggling with bargaining or when I am tired of the bargaining…
Where you will find the Concorde
As mentioned yesterday, it is 11 years since Concorde last flew. Sadly, the closest I have ever got to Concorde was at the Seattle air museum, Heathrow airport and CDG airport in Paris. I have the germ of an idea of going to visit all of the remaining Concordes around the world. As most are in the UK and France, that should not be too hard! Adding Barbados in, is a little trickier. 001:F-WTSS Prototype – flew 1969 to 1973 Museum of Air and Space, Le Bourget, France 002 – flew 1969 to 1976: Fleet Air Arm Museum,…
NZ’s Vincent Aviation Vanishes
Following the collapse of its Australian operations in May, the Vincent Aviation New Zealand went into receivership this week. The Wellington-based company was established in 1990 and had about 30 workers . The company carried out flight operations, administration, engineering, planning and compliance, as well as charter flights. They had run scheduled flights, in the past, on behalf of Air New Zealand. Owner Peter Vincent blamed the collapse on Vincent Aviation Australia which had was $US7.7 million. Two weeks ago, NZ helicopter company Helipro, also failed suggesting things are not easy in the world of NZ aviation. Related Posts Vincent Aviation Australia…
11 years since Concorde
It is 11 years since the last take off of the mighty Concorde, our only supersonic passenger aeroplane. This video shows the plane leaving JFK for the last time on October 24th, 2003. Sadly, the closest I have ever got to Concorde was at the Seattle air museum. Enjoy. While I am posting old footage, here is a spectacular night takeoff in April of 2003 from London Heathrow. The afterburners are clearly visible.
Air NZ’s newest Hobbit safety video
The next part of the Hobbit movie series: The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies will be released in December. Again, filmed largely in New Zealand. Air New Zealand is gearing up again with the release of their latest safety video: The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made. And I am inclined to agree. At 4 mins 38 secs, it is a long safety video but it certainly kept my attention! I get such a kick out of these. I love watching them. I wonder if they add to safety or distract from it? Did…
Don’t carry a Money Belt
It seems it is almost compulsory for a tourist on their first overseas trip, to carry a money belt. Every travel goods shop will tell you that you have to have one. I don’t do it! I tried for a few trips. I wore the one around my neck and the one around my waist. With relief, I abandoned the practice for the following reasons: 1. Nothing spells “Target” more than a money belt. I try to look like I belong wherever I visit and money belts blow that! Thieves can see them, shopkeepers see…
Tourist ID bracelets for Thailand?
Travelling to Thailand, is a relatively safe thing to do. Considering how many tourists go there, the state of the driving and how much many of those tourists participate in risky and/or risque activities it is astounding most people get home okay! Most end up with nothing more than sunburn! Some tourists, however, get lost or confused after too many drinks and cannot find their hostel or hotel! A number end up in fights or vandalism. Tragically out of the 20 million tourists that visit Thailand, several hundred die and thousands are injured. Most of…
Trusting People
I was barely out of my teens and I had arrived at Chicago’s Union Station by train on my first big North American adventure! The noise of people, traffic, trains and announcements seemed overwhelming. We needed to get to our youth hostel. This was the days of no internet, no cell phones and no google maps! (Yes, I am that old). We must have looked lost with our back packs, maps as we struggled to find the bus that would take us from the station to our hostel which was out in the Chicago suburbs!…
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