The speed at which airlines are adding 787s is overwhelming. This week marks the first anniversary of the handover of the first 787 All Nippon Airways (ANA) on September 25, 2011. The carrier now own 13 of the Dreamliners. ANA were followed by: Japan Air Lines: March, 2012- currently have five Ethiopian: August 14, 2012 -one LAN August 31, 2012 – one Air India September 8, 2012 – received two 787s United Airlines will probably get their first 787 next week Qatar was meant to get their 787 but it has been delayed for some technical issues Related Posts LOT…
A380 arrives at Thai this week
Thai Airways will take delivery of its first Airbus A380 this week on 28th September, 2012. After delivery the craft will bear the registration: HS-TUA. Thai will become the ninth operator of the A380 after Singapore, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean, China Southern and Malaysian. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft between Bangkok and Hong Kong next month. This will be followed by Bangkok and Singapore then Bangkok and Frankfurt followed by Tokyo and Paris in 2013. Related Posts Time for Thai’s A380 I wanna fly Malaysian China Southern’s Third 380 Tuesday Trip…
LOT announces 787 services
At last a European carrier gets their turn. LOT Polish Airlines has announced that the carrier’s inaugural Boeing 787 service from Warsaw to Chicago will be on January 16, 2013. This will be followed closely by Warsaw to Toronto on February 1 and to New York JFK on February 3. LOT Polish Airlines will launch Boeing 787 service to Beijing a month later, on March 3. LOT is offering 252 seats all with individual entertainment in three classes of service on the new aircraft. This compares with JAL’s 186 seats, ANA’s 216, United with 219 and Ethiopian’s 270 seats. Elite Club (business…
The Return of JAL
There are very few success stories in the airline world about bankrupt airlines. The trading of Japan Air Lines (JAL) shares, this week, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange after a two and a half year absence, was welcome news. Generally, when a flag carrier fails, it vanishes. Consider Malev and Pluna this year. When Japan Air Lines failed on January 19, 2010, it had a phenomenal $US 25 billion in debts. One would have assumed that would be farewell. Instead, the carrier is flying high after its massive $US8.5 billion float on the Tokyo Stock Exchange a few months ago,…
Travel Tip #13 Save through Youth Hostels!
I have been a member of the Youth Hostels Association on and off since 1977. Over the last few years I have faithfully renewed my membership without hesitation. Yet, my days of staying in backpacker rooms with 12 or more backpackers are very rare. My major motivation frankly for staying connected as as member are the discounts that many establishments offer youth hostel members. These discounts far outweigh the cost of my mmbership. The YHA discounts, I think, are the best of any discount scheme I have encountered travelling. Travelex gives commission free cash at…
Ear Grounded Me!
Somehow, I picked up an ear infection last week. On Thursday evening, I was meant to be flying for a short one hour flight but pulled the pin and postponed the trip because my ear did not feel right. A visit to the doctor an hour later confirmed I did the right thing. The doctor told me that if I had flown, I was at risk of damaging my ear drum. She also said there was a five per cent chance I could have caused permanent hearing damage. She prescribed no flying for seven days and a course…
No time for 1time?
The South African airline industry has had a very colourful and interesting selection of carriers. Now they really seem under pressure. Earlier in 2012, airline Velvet Sky went into liquidation. The action was launched by oil company BP over unpaid bills. At the end of August, the carrier 1time which is estimated to have 15 per cent of the SA market, filed for “Business Rescue” . This arrangement protects the airline from any creditor forcing it into liquidation while the new management team tries rescue the carrier. 1time (which means in South Africa: “for real!” has…
Bye BMI Baby
Last flight last Sunday for BMI Baby. As part of the sale of BMI to British, BMI’s lower fare subsidiary has now gone from the skies. Related Posts British Midland Regional Future??? Bye bye BMI Who gets BMI?
Seoul at last
A Korean movie In Another Country at the recent Melbourne International Film Festival followed by an amazing Korean banquet with friends, reminded me I have not written about my Seoul experience. So here we go: Aesthetics: 8.5 out of 10 Seoul is built on the Han River, its plains and is bordered by eight mountains. It is easy to bike, run or walk along the riverside and there are many cafes and restaurants dotted along. In a 2011 survey, over half the population and two-thirds of “urban planning professionals” voted the river as the second most scenic place in the…
Travel Tip: Charge Constantly
In today’s high tech gadget world, finding places to recharge equipment, can be very difficult. I have learnt to charge my stuff at any time. Anytime I see a spare electrical outlet, I now take advantage of it!
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