Fiji Airways started flying under its orignal name yesterday, after forty two years as Air Pacific. Fijian artist, Makereta Matemosi has created three new symbols based on Masi art: The first Symbol is at the centre of the tail and is referred to as the Teteva symbol. It represents the friendliness of the Fijians, their spirituality and consideration of others. The second motif, called Rova, is ringed around the two engines, and represents the warm hospitality Fijians extend to visitors. The last design, the Makare, surrounds the Teteva and evokes the allure of Fiji’s clear…
Airline News (Friday)
Category Archives for Airline News (Friday).
Ryanair to USA
Michael O’Leary the CEO of Ryanair likes to startle people with announcements. Who can forget his infamous promise to charge to use the lavatory in-flight? Or the news in March that the airline was buying 175 Boeing 737-800s for almost $US16 billion. On one of the takeover attempts of rival Irish airline Aer Lingus, last October, he promised $US150 fares on US to Ireland flights if the deal succeeded. He promised that the Aer Lingus brand would be kept: “We need a two-airline brand strategy,”. The takeover bid was thwarted but Ryanair owns 30 percent…
World’s best airlines -skytrax 2013
The 2013 Skytrax World Airline Awards were announced at the Paris Air Show on the 18th June 2013. The awards are based on a passenger satisfaction survey completed on 200 airlines by travellers from over 160 countries. They review over 40 plus areas from check-in to cabin cleanliness to food to service. The airline award winners are becoming fairly predictable. The names Air New Zealand, Air Asia, Qatar, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore sit in the top categories year on year. It makes me wonder if the airlines that are not in the Top 20…
Ex Ansett AirNZ CEO jets to Jet
India’s second-largest airline, Jet Airways has appointed Gary Mr Toomey as their new CEO. Commenting on the appointment, Chairman Naresh Goyal said: “We need a dynamic executive with deep knowledge of and experience in the airline industry to lead the next phase of our development. Toomey has extensive experience in domestic and international airline management, and the right credentials and skills to take Jet Airways forward.” The Toomey name won’t mean much to people outside Australia or New Zealand but in those countries he is remembered as the former chief executive of Air New Zealand-Ansett.…
Fastjet falters
Africa is a continent crying out for a decent transportation network. The railway systems are largely fragmented and crumbling. The top nine airlines in Africa carry fewer passengers a year than Delta alone does in two months. Trade, tourism and travel are all hampered by an inadequate infrastructure. Enter fastJet with the vision of a series of low cost airlines throughout Africa all using A319s, all sharing brand, marketing and infrastructure. With a pedigree as impressive as Easyjet‘s Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, a chunk of cash and the backing of Lonrho PLcwho already invest in 18…
I will have fries with that: Air Baltic
The phrase: “the chicken or the beef” might finally become a relic on all airlines if they follow airBaltic of Latvia’s meal service Customers can pre- order their meal online from the time of booking anytime up to 24 hours before boarding. Cold meals are available on all flights and hot meals are served on most flights of 1.5 hours plus. The online ordering system allows passengers to drag and drop their choices into a “virtual airline tray”. After payment, this pre-ordered meal is linked to the passenger. If a flight is changed or cancelled…
Rating US airlines
As a regular flier, I like to rate who I fly with. I am not alone. Over 16,000 readers of Consumer Reports magazine reviewed 31,732 US domestic flights in February, 2013 for the Consumer Reports National Research Center. The carriers were rated by the readers on six dimensions: 1. Ease of check-in 2. Friendliness and responsiveness of cabin crew 3. Cabin cleanliness 4. Baggage handling 5. Seating comfort 6. In-flight entertainment The results were not a huge surprise as to where the eleven US carriers ranked. The ranking was very close to my own assessments…
Airline Alliances -no future?
Regularly, a debate seems to emerge as to whether alliances have an on going future. The latest salvo from James Hogan, CEO of Etihad: “The traditional airline alliances have evolved into slow-to-respond, bureaucratic organisations which struggle to deliver added value to their member airlines, many of which are no longer compatible with each other.” Tim Clark, CEO of Emirates said in 2009: We see alliances as having significant anti-competitive elements and believe that our membership in one would be an artificial brake on our own business plans Willy Walsh of British Airways owner which is part…
Slovenia’s airline up for sale -again
Facing the prospect of an international bailout, the Slovenian government will sell 100 per cent of Adria Airways d.d. and airport operator Aerodrom Ljubljana plus 12 other state owned companies.The carrier has been flagged for ale before -with little real interest. Be interesting if they will find a buyer for the airline this time around. Air Berlin has been rumoured to be interested-although one would think they would be focused on their own financial survival.
Onion Satire: FAA declares Spirit worst airline
Last year in my controversial post on my ten worst airlines, I nominated Spirit as the third worst airline in the world (and worst in the USA). Now a satirical post highlights how bad they are! In an Onion report, the FAA is quoted as saying that passengers should boycott the carrier: “Nobody with any shred of dignity should ever fly Spirit Airlines, the report states” The article while intended to be humorous has major elements of truth: The airline touts its low fares, but it costs $45 to check your bag at the airport,…
Recent Comments