I think everyone’s favourite aircraft is still the Jumbo Jet, the 747, which was introduced in 1970 by Boeing. It revolutionised air travel. It looked beautiful and enhanced the romance and excitement of air travel. Am I right? It has been my firm favourite since I first boarded it as a child for a journey from Hong Kong to Sydney with the first user of the 747: Pan Am.(Photo by Eduard Marmet from Wikipedia) Fast-forward 53 years, and today only three airlines regularly fly the 747 as a passenger aircraft: Air China, Korean Air, and…
korean
Search Results for "korean".
One of the world’s most unusual flights is in the world’s most controversial business seat.
Boarding Qantas Flight 291 is like stepping into a paradox where the expected norms are all flipped on their heads. The flight belongs to Qantas but Finnair provides the plane, pilots crew and service. Meals, amenity kit, and entertainment are all provided by Qantas and all carry Qantas branding. But the true twist comes with the cabin crew—rather than Finnish, they’re all Singaporean, adding another layer of fascination to this already unconventional flight experience. And right in the middle is the Finnair business seat, which is like no other and which has divided its users…
All about the 737MAX and How to avoid Flying
In 1999, I flew a Swissair MD11 from Singapore to Zurich. I was in the middle seat of the emergency exit row with two passengers from Switzerland. In the aisle seat was an Italian Swiss guy who presented himself as a humorous, jovial warm guy. To my left, by the exit door, was a more serious French-Swiss woman. The Italian guy beneath his laughs and bravado confided in us that he was terrified of flying on the MD11. The fatal fiery crash of Swissair 111, an MD11 flying between New York and Zurich, just a…
Who Went Where? 2023 Busiest Cities, Routes, Airports
For all of us who travelled, we have seen the crowds of people in airports, train stations and in cities. Reportedly, air travel reached 99% of 2019 figures in November 2023. It sure feels like it! Most Visited Cities, 2023 The Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023, published by market research company Euromonitor International looks at the world’s key cities and evaluates them based on a range of characteristics. In terms of international arrivals in 2023, Istanbul had the most arrivals, followed by London and Dubai. The cities with the highest year-on-year rise were Bangkok…
Decoding the Airline Alliances in 2024
I shared last week, that in 2023, I have been around the world five times on 83 flights bringing me to 1580 flights in my lifetime. Over half (46) of my 2023 lights were with one of the airline alliances: These Airline alliances weave an interesting web across the airline industry globe. They allow airlines to expand their local reach and more easily funnel passengers between each other. As a passenger, they allow me to earn points more easily for my “home” airline which make flying easier by allowing me to enjoy the same rewards…
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…
What is happening to Your Favourite Airline? [Updated]
Six months ago, the airline industry was facing a bumper year. While a small number of airlines were struggling, it seemed that most would do well. Take away most of the global passengers because of COVID19, and we have already seen some airlines collapse and we face losing more airlines. Governments have taken very different approaches to their airlines with some offering cash injections or loans with a variety of conditions, some offering nothing and some wanting to nationalise. Company by company, this is what is happening across the globe: Aegean- March 26, Aegean Airlines…
Premier Inn less helpful than North Korea in emergency situations
A UK couple were forced to cancel their North Korea trip after that isolated nation closed its borders to the virus. One would assume that getting the money back from the North Korean tour company, the Chinese airlines and hotels would be a nightmare. The Time of London reports that every penny of the £2,860 (approx $US3,700) they had given to the companies in China and North Korea was refunded -within days. They were reportedly delighted. Less delightful was their experienced with UK hotel operator Premier Inns. They had booked a non refundable night for…
CoronaVirus- Health Info Country by Country
The Coronavirus COVID-19 is here to stay for a while and so too are the rumours, myths and truths which seem to be spreading faster than the virus. One way to monitor the situation is to check with government websites and the WHO (World Health Organisation site). Click below on the country name to access information material published by that country’s health authority. This map shows where the cases are. Check out also my embassy information page and my page on What to do to prepare for a potential disaster while travelling. Also see my…
Busiest International Air Routes in the world
Being the air nerd that I am, I have been absorbed with the 2019 OAG listing of the busiest international air routes in the world. I cannot help myself, I am afraid. On the top 20 routes, airlines offer a combined 332,000 flights annually. This is about one percent of all the flights in the world! Fifteen of the top 20 air routes in the world are in Asia with four connecting Singapore and five connecting Hong Kong (including the route between them!). This shows the major shift in air traffic over the last 20…
Recent Comments