Asia-Pacific: April 2008 Archives

Blogging here from Kuala Lumpur at the close of the Airline Business/UATP Airline Distribution conference where the rather inspirational Malaysia Airlines chief executive Idris Jala has this morning waxed lyrical about the carrier's turnaround plan and it's vision for a sustainable profitable future.

He has also been talking about industry consolidation.

Below is the story I have written for our 24-hour news wire service Air Transport Intelligence on what he said:

When JAL's Eco Jet press release popped into my inbox this week my interest was piqued. Are our friends in Japan promoting a new green jetliner design - a la easyJet with its "ecojet" - giving a gentle shove to the airframers and engine manufacturers on coming up with the next generation of more environmentally friendly aircraft?

Sadly no. This is a PR exercise. A demonstration of JAL's green credentials and efforts.

Almost as if it were a note to self, Japan Airlines sent the media this note this week:

JAL Memo: JAL International Enters Into Plea Agreement with the US Department of Justice Concerning International Air Cargo Business.

The announcement by the Japanese flag carrier is the latest in an on-going string of investigations and plea bargains into price-fixing in the airline business. We've been following them closely here at Airline Business - links to all we've done so far follow at the end of this story.

The ability to enter an Emirates airport lounge is indeed a perk worth having in my limited experience. Over the past few years the Dubai-based carrier has been spending over $10 million on opening new lounges around its network.

The latest lounge the carrier has opened in Brisbane, Australia has an added bonus - direct boarding from the lounge (including the upper deck of the A380). Now that is worth having - no more route marches from lounge to gate.