September 2010 Archives

If you are traveling on a US carrier any time soon and are worried those cheeky hidden charges might rack up when traveling coach, you might want to check out this breakdown of airline fees (when you book, at the airport and in the air) put together by USA Today.

I'm not quite sure what conclusions we draw from this, other than that cost of flying has never been so complicated, though I am curious to know what kind of drink I get for my 16 bucks on Hawaiian Airlines (a large one at the very least I should hope!!!)

Theatre-land in London's glittering west-end. The Theatre Royal Dury Lane, The Garrick, The Gielgud, The London Palladium, and Uzbekistan Airways former London offices in Picton Place near Oxford Street?....

....Yes, that's right, the former London office of Uzbekistan Airways is the latest to join London's west-end theatre scene, housing a pop-up production of Theatre Delicatessen's new concept Theatre Souk - essentially a series of different acts across the building highlighting London's best emerging and experimental theatre-makers (a kind of souk for theatre - hence the name).

I'm still trying to find out a bit more about the show and to get some photos (I'm told it retains some of the old Uzbekistan Airways decor and the acts includes a man who repeatedly tumbles down the stairs - what's not to like), but in the meantime, if you want to know more about how a theatre company comes to be using old airline offices for its production, here's a video interview the Daily Telegraph did with Theatre Delicatessen artistic direction Roland Smith.

One of the challenges for airports and airline network planners alike is the lead time between evaluating and deciding to launch a new route, and when new services and additional capacity actually begin. It means route decisions being made now apply to the summer and winter 2011/12 programmes or beyond. Given the uncertainties of the economic recovery, this is more challenging than ever.

But preparing for growth, especially with the capacity due to come on stream over the next couple of years, was exactly what was happening in Vancouver as it played host to the World Route Development Forum this week. This is the annual forum at which airports and tourism authorities try and attract new services, and where network planners discuss route opportunities. To capture the mood of the industry, the thinking of airlines and the strategies of the airports, check out our three daily papers from Routes here - our biggest and busiest ever from the event.

One of the most interesting things at the show was to see the fresh approach of London Gatwick, now going it alone since London City Airport owner Global Infrastructure Partners bought it from BAA last December. The airport had one of the most high profile stands - in every sense of the words given that it had a high-wire illusionist floating at the top of the stand (see issue 2 cover picture left) and was in bullish mood about its plans to freshen up the airport and the re-awakening that has happened since the new team have come onboard. Read the full story here.

Other big stories included Mexico which, especially given the recent collapse at Mexicana, is seeing added interest. Click here to read about the US carriers Spirit Airlines and Frontier's plans to expand in Mexico and elsewhere in Central America, while click here for more on why Mexican airports operator ASUR expects a rapid recovery at Cancun airport.

There is also loads on Canada, including the challenges in establishing Vancouver airport as a hub between the US and Asia; British Columbia's plans revealed during Routes of boosting Vancouver's international hub traffic by scrapping aviation fuel tax on international flights; the downtown battle in Toronto now Air Canada and Westjet are to join Porter at the city's downtown airport; the frustrations of Middle East carriers like Emirates and Qatar in expanding in Canada; and Montreal's hopes of securing a direct Beijing service for 2011.

For all this and more check out our dedicated Routes page here.

Look on any Canadian twenty dollar bill and you'll see the The Spirit of Haida Gwaii --  a famous scuplture by Haida artist Bill Reid. 

The next time you're at Vancouver airport you'll have the chance to see Reid's Spirit of Haida Gwaii -- The Jade Canoe up close in the airport's international terminal. It's the first piece the airport added in the mid 1990s as part of its "Spirit of Place" art collection to reflect the land, sea and sky.  Throughout the airport and outside the Canada Line Railway station, you'll see works of art by Pacific Northwes artists reflecting the native culture of British Colombia, including a new "green wall" just outside the station.

Some of us attending the World Route Development Forum here received an interesting tour of the art collection, and a taste of the vibrant Seaplane culture here in Vancouver.

For all the show coverage look nowhere else but here -- flightglobal.com/landingpage/routes.html 

It seems that after around 33 years with Ethiopian Airlines, Girma Wake is preparing to retire next January to be replaced by chief operating officer Tewolde Mariam.

Wake, who is a very well respected figure in African aviation, joined the airline in 1965 and left in 1993 to take up positions with Gulf Air and DHL. He rejoined Ethiopian as chief executive in 2004, after the board rejected his recommendations to promote a younger executive.

You can read about some of Wake's achievements in this cover interview which fronted up our April 2009 issue. I also wrote a blog about my curious Ethiopian travels, which is well worth a read.

During my trip, Wake spoke to me about his retirement plans which seem to have shifted a bit.

Before Wake settles down for a well-earned retirement, he wants to see several key projects through to completion, namely the introduction of the Boeing 787, the renewal of Ethiopian's Fokker 50 domestic fleet with Bombardier Q400s and an upgrade of the airline's training academy. "I should have retired many years ago. Retirement age in Ethiopia is at 60 and I am already above 60 so I am free to retire any time, but I think I will take more time yet. Not because people aren't ready, there are projects that I have to finish. "Wake is keen to help Ethiopia and Africa move forward in terms of trade. "It makes me feel good because you can work anywhere, but very few places make you feel like you're changing something. Here, feeling as though I'm a part of the change gives me a very good feeling."

My (totally unsubstantiated) suspicion is that Wake has been earmarked as the new chief executive of The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) after Nick Fadugba's surprise resignation this summer. It makes a lot of sense. Ethiopian has developed strongly under Wake's leadership and has become an African airline role model. Wake is well-liked industry veteran and has a forward-looking vision for the industry - supporting and pushing forward the liberalisation agenda. Also, quite neatly, Wake is the current AFRAA president and this year's AFRAA annual general assembly will take place in Addis Ababa. 

Perhaps this is Wake's opportunity to change things still further?

UPDATE: we managed to catch up with Wake at the Routes conference in Vancouver. He said his post Ehiopian plans were to "look after his grandchildren". He will relinquish all his postions - including the chief executive position at Ethiopian and the president position at AFRAA at the end of this year. As for the AFRAA chief executive's position there were 30 to 40 candidates. They are now interviewing 20 and he is confident they will find someone good.

Well, it was a good theory!

Photo credit: Billypix

I loved this story from a UK retail outlet the other week: The shop in question - Debenhams, says that budget travellers are "picking the pockets of airline thanks to a loophole in the baggage rules".

The shop has seen sales of its big coats and lots of pockets rise by 350% over the summer, and it thinks passengers are doing it to avoid expensive baggage charges.

"Rather than pay expensive charges for stowing cases in the hold of the plane, canny holidaymakers are using their free hand luggage allowance and 'wearing' the rest of their baggage."

They are putting the new trend down to reports from the shop floor that customers prefer to pack heavier items such as books, towels, electronic net books and cameras, into large pocketed garments, rather than pay fees up to £40 return, charged by some low-cost airlines for cases stowed in the hold.

As a result sales of Debenhams Rocha.John Rocha navy blue parka (seen left) with six pockets have gone up by 350% and the beige Mantaray five pocket bomber jackets, which even have a discreet pocket in the sleeve, has seen sales jump by 200%. Debenhams Mantaray shower proof coat, with 7 pockets has also seen sales leap by 181%.

Carie Barkhuizen, spokeswoman for Debenhams, said: "Worn strategically, multi-pocket coats and trousers can offer up to 10 pockets to stow everything from spare pants and socks, to bikinis and sarongs. It's traveling light like we have never seen before.
 
"Our sales assistants have even reported some customers coming in with specific items like net-books and paperbacks, to check if they will fit in the pockets before they buy the coat or jacket."

As passengers bulk up on low-cost flights the idea of the stand-up seat could take a hit - sounds like seat pitch may have to go the other way if this trend continues.

I read a report this morning on Airline Industry Review that Air Zimbabwe has sacked all its pilots. Apparently all 40 of the airline's pilots went on strike, so Air Zimbabwe sacked the lot of them.

Photo credit: Deanster1983 (Flickr Creative Commons)

After posting a quick tweet about this surreal story on my AfricanSkies Twitter account, I decided to delve a little deeper.

I went onto Air Zimbabwe's website and got a prompt, asking if I'd like to have a live MSN-style chat with one of their reservations agents. Well, I thought, why not? 

Here's what happened next...(the last line is priceless)

Air Zimbabwe: Welcome to Air Zimbabwe Reservations!
 You: Hi there. I've heard a report that Air Zimbabwe has just sacked all its pilots. Is that true?
 Air Zimbabwe: Welcome to Air Zimbabwe Reservations!
 Air Zimbabwe: You are now chatting with "James". Yes, our pilot are on indefinite strike.
 You: They're on strike, or they've all been sacked?
 Air Zimbabwe: They are still on Strike....
 You: Are you flying?
 You: Is Air Zimbabwe still operating?
 Air Zimbabwe: No we are not operating at the moment.
 You: When will services resume?
 Air Zimbabwe: No updated at the moment. You can keep checking with us.
 You: Okay - thanks for your help.
 Air Zimbabwe: Thanks for choosing Air Zimbabwe as your travel partner.

Being an airline boss means you get to mix with pretty important types rather frequently. And, in some quarters, it doesn't come more important than mixing it up with the Governor of California, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Korean Air's enterprising chairman YH Cho was the one getting to meet one of the world's most high-profile politicians recently as the two made it big with the smiles over the ritzy Wilshire Grand Hotel in Los Angeles.

Many airlines have got rid of their hotel affiliates, but not Korean Air. It owns the Wilshire and is keen to give it a major facelift.

Schwarzenegger met Cho to personally thank him for Korean's ongoing commitment and investments in California.

The press release says the Governor offered his office's assistance to help cut "red tape" in an effort to expedite Korean Air's $1 billion plan to redevelop the Wilshire.

"Los Angeles is Korean Air's second home and we're grateful for the ongoing investments and subsequent job creation as a result of the Chairman's commitment to LA and California as a whole," said Schwarzenegger. "In exchange, I have pledged our State's continued support and will instruct my Office of Economic Development to help cut through any red tape to ensure we can get shovels in the ground at Wilshire and Grand as soon as possible."

As clear a case of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" as you'd care to find.

Check out our cover interview with Mr Cho here.

Sorry. so far we have never done one with Mr Schwarzenegger.

And, as a footnote, Korean operates 24 flights a week between LA and Korean and claims to be the largest transpacific carrier out of the LA.

Here's a bit of a quirky tale for you, which I found in the local commuter paper on the way into London.Photo credit: Flying Fish by frcsyk

Apparently scientists have discovered that flying fish glide through the air just like birds and can stay airborne for up to 40 seconds, covering up to 400m (1,300ft) in distance.

In case you're wondering, they made this discovery by stuffing the fish and putting them through their paces in the wind tunnel.

The paper says: "The fish glide better than insects and as well as ducks." So now you know.

And what use does this discovery have? The South Korean researchers are now planning to build an aircraft based on the aerodynamics of these sea creatures.

Much breathless excitement doing the rounds on the Internet over the Emirates A380 which, if you believe the gossip, damaged its undercarriage after touching down hard, then aborting its landing, at Manchester on 6 September.

Some websites - one or two of which ought to have known better - ran with the unsubstantiated rumours that Emirates had 'dinged' the aircraft, either citing nebulous 'airport sources' or the ever-reliable nobody at all. Since the airline shelved the return flight and parked the A380 at Manchester overnight, the stuff about the bent wheels had to be true. Didn't it?

Not according to an Emirates spokesman who wearily explains that, yes, the aircraft briefly touched down during a gusty approach, and yes, it performed a go-around, and yes, it "went tech" but, no, it wasn't broken. There was an unrelated electrical problem which delayed the return flight, he says, but the wheels were fine, the wings stayed on, and the showers still worked.

"The nature of the fault was with the aircraft's electrical system, and not undercarriage damage, and the fault was in no way connected to the go-around," says a patiently-worded accompanying statement, although you can't help feeling Emirates was tempted to add: "So get a life."

First it was other airlines looking for inspiration from Ryanair's low-cost structure, now it appears one UK local council sees the Irish no-frills carrier as a model for its attempts to cut its spending. Staffordshire County Council's Alan White is quoted as saying it needs to be more like Ryanair to meet a target of cutting its spending by 30% within the next three years.

"We need to go from British Airways to Ryanair, who still fly you to your destination, but they do it a whole lot cheaper because their organisational structure has been put together in a completely different way," he says.

The good people at Staffordshire County Council are presumably hoping this does not extend to paying for the toilet, standing room-only meeting rooms and an annoying bugle jingle every time they bring a project in on time.

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, Ryanair's O'Leary - never one to shy away from headlines on potential cost-saving ideas - has been in the news again, questioning the need for co-pilots and suggesting cabin crew could be trained to help land the aircraft in case of an emergency.

"Really, you only need one pilot. Let's take out the second pilot. Let the bloody computer fly it," air head Michael O'Leary said in an interview with Bloomberg BusinessWeek "If the pilot has an emergency, he rings the bell, he calls her in. She could take over," the outspoken 49-year-old continued.

Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, is off in Mumbai celebrating the arrival of BA's first new aircraft in over a decade.

He's used the trip as a platform to expand on his comments earlier this summer about potential consolidation opportunities. Take a look at suggested names in the frame in this report in UK business daily, the Telegraph.

Apparently BA and Iberia are eyeing up 12 potential acquisitions for their holding company International Airlines Group (IAG), narrowed down from a wish list of 40. Not all of these will come through, but those that do will be 100% acquired.

Check out the latest Airline Business consolidation articles at the following links:

-BA's Walsh: Iberia deal is platform for further consolidation

-Continental and United, the perfect couple

-Various weird and wonderful airline tie-ups, the odd couples

-Airline regulatory barriers: Stepping stones

-Mergers: After the honeymoon