Airbus SAS today handed over its 11th A380 superjumbo to Qantas Airways Ltd. of Australia. Airframe serial number MSN022 was registered VH-OQC and christened Paul McGinness. The plane was the third A380 for Qantas this year, Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said in an interview to Bloomberg. The first two VH-OQA (Nancy-Bird Walton) and VH-OQB (Hudson Fysh) have been operating between …
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Jet Airways and Emirates announce partnership
Jet Airways and Emirates Airline, have today announced their partnership plans spanning a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement and unilateral code share agreement. Effective December 15, 2008, the two airlines will launch a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement whereby members of Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege, India’s largest frequent flyer programme, may earn and redeem miles across Emirates’ rapidly-expanding international network, with the exception …
Read More »A380 too quiet for Emirates’ pilots to sleep
While we passengers spend tons of money on noise reduction headphones, and drive cabin crews silly with our umpteen requests for earplugs, weary Emirates Airbus A380 pilots are complaining that they cannot sleep in their crew-rest area in the aft main cabin because the aircraft is too quiet!!! The pilots claim that the lack of engine noise in the A380’s …
Read More »2008: The year reality struck home for airlines in India
The turmoil in the Indian airline industry during the month of October has produced results that can be, only mildly described as, significant. In just four weeks, castles built over the last four or more years, have come crashing down. By the end of 2008, the Indian airline industry which accounts for less than 2% of the global airline market, …
Read More »Singapore Airlines: a 5-star no more
As a regular flier around the world, I would always experience the mental shock of coming down the levels as I transited from my Singapore Airlines flight, on to a domestic US carrier. It did not matter whether it was American, Continental, Delta, United, or US Airways, it did not matter if the transition was from economy to economy, or …
Read More »IATA figures confirm global aviation slowdown
The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation reports that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released international traffic data for Aug-08 that confirmed a continuing downturn. International passenger demand growth slowed to 1.3%, following disappointing growth of 1.9% in July. Passenger load factors fell to 79.2% a sharp drop-off from the 81% recorded during the same period last year as capacity …
Read More »Foreign airlines flock to India
Foreign airlines flock to India, ignore global downturn India is seen as a growing market for international airline traffic and the current market size is nearly $5 billion (Rs 21,000 cr) a year They are cutting flights to several destinations in the wake of a worldwide slump in business, but international airlines are doing just the opposite in India because …
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