It is 2022….how many acts of kindness did we do in 2021? In this crazy world at this crazy time, kindness does not go astray. This is my challenge for 2022. Stay safe
Etihad’s Arty Safety Video
In 2017, the Louvre Abu Dhabi was opened as part of a 30-year agreement between the city of Abu Dhabi and the French government. This week, the airline of Abu Dhabi, Etihad launched a safety video filmed on location at Louvre Abu Dhabi. The three minute 27 second English safety and slightly sorter Arabic safety demonstration include shots from the building and art pieces. The architect for the building was Jean Nouvel, who also designed the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in 1987. He has also designed a Museum of Art, Seoulin South Korea…
Air France Continues the arty Safety videos
Air France’s new safety video is set in: the Paris Opera the Louvre a fashion show Château de Versailles iconic Eiffel Tower along the River Siene the legendary Hotel Martinez. Pioneered by Qantas and Air New Zealand, every airline now sseems to produce videos that feature scenery from their country. To be honest, these videos are now all looking the same. What do you think?
Air Namibia Abruptly Shuts Down
As someone with part of their heart in Africa and a fascination with rail and air transport across that magnificent continent, I was very sad to learn that 75 year old Air Namibia is no more. Today, 636 staff lost their jobs, as the Namibian flag carrier was put into liquidation by it’s only shareholder, the country’s government. The staff will be reportedly paid 12 months salary as severance but receive no benefits. Air Namibia had been advertising Valentine’s Day Specials just two days ago. The website is no longer taking bookings. Four A319-100s, two…
Etihad Inoculates 100% of Staff
Etihad (لِلطَّيْرَان) of the United Arab Emirates and Singapore Airlines have been working to get all staff inoculated against COVID-19. Singapore had 90% of its staff registered for a vaccine dose by the end of January, 2021 but Etihad appears to have beaten them to it with its claim that all of its pilots and cabin crew member have been innoculated with a vaccine. To do so, the Etihad Airways Medical Centre became an accredited Covid-19 vaccination clinic in December 2020 and Tony Douglas, Group CEO took the vaccine on 4th January, 2021 and staff…
Australian Government won’t let citizens home
For the last few years, I have flitted between Thailand and Australia regularly with regular easy travel across Asia, the Pacific and other destinations. For the last five years, I have averaged 75 plane flights a year- (about 6 a month) for business and or recreation. Many of those trips are documented in this blog. I definitely took the privilege of travel for granted. My biggest inconveniences prior to February 2020 were usually dodging long immigration queues. It is an understatement to say CVID19 changed all that. For two months the furthest I went from…
BA farewells 747s
“Sad Day for All” the understated words of an Air Traffic Controller at Kemble/Cotswold Airport summed up how I and so many 747 enthusiasts felt as the very last two British Airways Jumbo 747-400s departed the fleet. British Airways Boeing 747-400, G-CIVB and G-CIVY took off from London Heathrow Runway 27R on Thursday 8th October at 0646am and 0711am respectively. The airline had planned for the two Boeing 747s to have departed side by side from the airport’s parallel runways. As a result, of terrible weather, this spectacular double departure did not occur. G-CIVB (Negus…
World’s 40 Best Neighbourhoods
Time Out (the global magazine that provides food, art and cultural recommendations for 328 cities in 58 countries worldwide), has compiled a list of the 40 coolest neighborhoods in the world based on the feedback from 38,000 readers (I was one of the respondents). The magazine notes they focused on local neighbourhoods because so many people across the world have been confined to their local areas with lockdowns, travel bans and curfews to stop COVID’s deadly spread. While one can quibble on the order and placement of the neighbourhoods, it is a fascinating list and…
Airbus’ 2035 Zero emissions Hydrogen planes
With the drive to shift the world from fossil fuels, companies across the world are looking for new types of aircraft fuel. Norway’s government have already announced that they want domestic flights operated by electric planes by 2030. Hydrogen is becoming more and more appealing as the emissions free fuel to move a decent number of passengers long distances. Currently, hydrogen is expensive to produce and store but there is significant effort going into making hydrogen through “clean processes” such as solar, wind or geothermal methods. It is expected by the 2030s, we will have…
Following the Farewell to 49 years of Qantas 747
What would I have given to be on this 747 as it made its last voyage across the Pacific? Sadly, no passengers were aboard, sadly, nor any cabin crew. I would not have qualified as one of the half a dozen lucky pilots either who took the last ever Qantas 747 from Sydney to Los Angeles. After 49 years of service, COVID19 accelerated the retirement of Qantas’ Jumbo jet and their last plane of the type was ferried to the Mojave desert this week. With cooperation from Qantas, Air traffic control and the pilots entered…
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