I have never flown Aeroflot (or its Russian rival S7 for that matter). Concerns about safety and service have always put me off and I have never flown to Russia. This week, Brand Finance announced that Aeroflot is the most powerful airline brand in the world with a AAA Brand rating. Brand Finance believe that dominance in the Russian domestic market (the collapse of competitor Transaero in 2015 would have been a fillip for Aeroflot. Combined with a new marketing investment, a renewed fleet and Russia’s growing status as a global hub have all contributed to…
Airline News (Friday)
Category Archives for Airline News (Friday).
Emirates New Safety Video
This is the month of new safety videos. Emirates are using a cut through of their A380 to illustrate the safety procedures across the giant plane. I think it works, however. What do you think? Related Posts 5* Emirates Business: Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur Trip Review: Emirates- comparing the A380 Qantas Brilliant New Safety Video unpacked – Aussies may need a hanky Oman’s new safety video Vs Qantas: Imitation the greatest form of flattery
Air Asia to fly to the USA -UGH
Air Asia was once so bankrupt that when CEO Tony Fernandes bought it, he got it for pocket change. It cost him, just over one US quarter in 2009! Mr Fenendaz has worked hard to re-invent the company so it is now one of the largest low-cost carriers in the world with 176 planes (mostly Airbus 320s with some Airbus 330s for long haul) and 168 destinations. AirAsia has been named as the world’s best low-cost carrier for eight years in a row including in the year 2016. Now, the company has announced it has FAA permission to fly…
How are Airlines addressing Poor Passenger Behaviour?
Coupled with the Expedia finding that almost a quarter of air travellers think other passengers are discourteous and the knowledge that air rage and discourtesy incidents have been climbing, I reached out to some airlines to ask them what they are doing about it. Responses were not helpful: We trust that our customers will act in a manner conducive to a pleasant atmosphere for all. JetBlue and We want every customer to enjoy a pleasant and trouble-free travel experience when traveling with us or any of our oneworld partners. American and Martin, we truly value…
The airlines that vanished in 2016
I have never been stranded by an airline that has collapsed but there is always a small risk. Of the 5000 global airlines, a handful went out of business in 2016. These airlines impacted passenger plans, disrupted communities and resulted in job losses. Many were too small to register a blip globally but for the cities and communities they linked, the loss impacts. For most airlines, their losses were caused by poor strategy. In some cases, there is a soap opera style script of intrigue, incompetence or insufferable management. Here is the list of carriers…
Airlines of Thailand receive key safety rating upgrade
In March last year, Thai-registered airlines were placed under “special measures” by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This followed an ICAO audit that found concerns over the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s ability to manage the air operator certification process. This led to Japan, South Korea and the USA blocking any new flights by Thai-registered airlines. Now, Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways and Thai AirAsia are expected to have air operating certificates re-issued in Februray, 2017 by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. Five more airlines will get theirs by March. A further 17 Thai airlines will get…
Three Airlines give points for AirBnB stays
I am a huge AirBNB fan both as guest and host (see below). I have stayed in AirBnBs in seven countries. Whilst there have been some very public battles between AirBNB and several cities, its expansion appears to continue unthwarted. In a study published this year, Skift suggested that ” hotels need not be too overly concerned about the threat of Airbnb on their bottom lines” I think it is significant that airlines are now giving points for AirBnbs booked through their sites. Delta has joined the club this week. Virgin America appears to have…
Qantas new logo and font
Qantas first formed on the 15th of November, 1920, 96 years ago this month. For its first 24 years, it carried only its name on the tail of its aircraft: Qantas, short for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services. The Australian carrier adopted the flying kangaroo in 1944. The symbol was itself adapted from the Australian one penny coin. The airline has changed its symbol four times since. In 1947, with the arrival of Lockheed L749 Constellations on the Sydney to London route, a 63 hour multi-stop service known as “The Kangaroo route”. To celebrate the…
Etihad goes Five Star
Etihad Airways has received the Skytrax “Certified Five Star Airline Rating” after a three month audit of the airline’s global product and service by Skytrax. A few couple of things about this are interesting: This brings the number of five star airlines in the world to nine: ANA, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan, Qatar, and Singapore. Malaysia used to have a five star rating but that was lost. This means of the big Middle Eastern carriers, Qatar and Etihad are five stars and Emirates is four I am a little cynical about the rating…
Happy birthday to Cathay Pacific at 70
Few companies last seventy years in our modern world and even fewer non-government airlines have survived. Carriers in Asia have come and gone over the decades but Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has maintained services since 24 September, 1946 from its base in tiny Hong Kong. They have survived SARS, hijackings, the handover of HK back to China and several economic crises. I fell in love with Cathay Pacific in 1971 on my birthday and today, they are my third favourite airline. I have rated its booking systems, check ins, service, meals etc and come up with…
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