Three years ago International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched its drive for Internet booking and electronic ticketing (e-ticketing). There are so many airlines such as British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet that are already paper-free. Now IATA plans to expand the electronic ticketing facility and abandon paper tickets totally by next June.
To kill traveler’s boredom to some extent, Virgin has implemented a Bluetooth-style seat-to-seat chat system that allows passengers to connect with fellow travelers elsewhere on the aircraft.
Built into the back of seat, passengers will be able to use seat-to-seat chat system by setting their consoles to the discoverable mode. After selecting the seat-to-seat chat option, fliers are prompted to enter a chat name and then select the number of the seat of the person they’d like to chat with. The chat is displayed on the seat-back monitor. Passengers have to tap through Virgin America’s chat code of conduct, before they chat.
This system also has a drawback. The keyboard buttons on the remote control are small and a bit tough to use for the chat. Still, the chat option is unique and a fun way to pass time. At any rate, it’s a pretty cool advancement.
Source: USA Today
To lure well-heeled business travelers, several airlines are upgrading their business-class cabins. United Airline, the second-largest U.S. carrier by passenger traffic, has announced that it will be the first American airline to add fully reclining seats to its international business-class cabins. The upgradation of the United Airline carriers is scheduled to complete by late 2009.
The business-class cabins will have new seats that fold down completely flat and stretch out to 6′4″ (nearly two meters). Also, there will 15.4-inch television, noise-canceling headphones, and iPod jacks that will keep the passengers busy if they remain awake during the flight.
Source: Gadling
No doubt, several airlines have been offering comfortable in-flight sleeping options for many years. But these days, several airlines are taking steps to provide more comfort to the travelers, one such step is business-class service on the carriers. In fact, the competition for business-class service is heating up.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Swiss Airways and Cathay Pacific are such airlines that have introduced business-class lie-flat and flat-bed seats long back. The airlines are providing facilities a private suite, in-flight manicures, complimentary ground transportation to and from airports.
United Airlines has recently announced that it’ll make changes in its international business-class airline seats. The revamped seats will recline to a 180-degree, 6-foot, and 4-inch bed. These seats will be available in planes this fall.
Qantas recently joined the race and unveiled plans to provide suite-like seating aboard planes in 2008. Delta also plans to lie-flat seats in its BusinessElite cabin.
Business-class seats on the United carriers offer video on-demand on a 15.4-inch television, iPod-playing capability through an in-flight entertainment system, a USB port and power outlet, and noise-canceling headphones.
So, if you wish to travel in great comfort, make sure to book the right flight.
Source: MSNBC
To ease the check system, French airline Air France plans to test biometric boarding passes that would allow passengers to be fast-tracked through airport checks using a scan of their fingerprints. The new technology will permit registered travelers to bypass general boarding on shuttle flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Scheduled to start later this year, this new check system will allow passengers to cross the automated gate only after complete verification. The passengers will have to provide their index fingerprint, which will be encoded in a personal smart card. They will have to flash their card in front of a machine at the boarding gate, which will read the information. After complete verification, automated gate will open for the passenger.
The airline also plans to integrate radio microchips into baggage tags at the Paris airport for flights to and from Amsterdam and Tokyo. This will ensure that the bags are monitored throughout the airport. A text-messaging service that will alert customers when their luggage will arrive at baggage claim carousels will also be introduced in nearby future. If the tests are successful, the biometric cards will be offered to between 10 and 15 percent of Air France customers.
Source: USA Today
Citing safety concerns, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has announced its plans to scale back flights at Beijing airport and impose ban on the new airlines before 2010. There will be overall adjustment in the number of flights, entry into the aviation industry and rise in cargo capacity, to ensure safety and bring about the positive, rapid, healthy and orderly development.
There are plans to restrict flight arrivals and departures at Beijing Capital Airport to 1,050 per day or 58 per hour at peak times by the end of October. The number will further fall to 1,000 per day or a maximum of 55 at peak hours by the end of March 2008.
It’ll be mandatory for three biggest carriers of China i.e. Air China, China Eastern and China Southern to cut a total of 336 daily flights. Other high-traffic airports will be required to take similar measures by March 2008. New airlines would be permitted from 2010 but the threshold for entering the market would be raised considerably. CAAC has yet not sent the official notice to the airlines but plans to send it shortly.
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Source: IHT
Russian airlines Aeroflot is probably one of the worst airlines that you can fly. Almost everyone has their own version of Aeroflot horror stories. They span from pilots flying the plane while being seated on beer crates to wheels falling off during landing. Lately though, things are improving a little bit. With the introduction of the Russia’s new Sukhoi superjet to the aging fleet of airplanes, things are about to change.
Public transit in the coming future could look very different from today’s. Starting in 2008, Advanced Transport Systems will be whisking passengers between Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 and a parking lot a mile away in tiny driver-less vehicles.
Australian international airline, Qantas has launched a new class for economy passengers traveling on long-haul flights. The new premium economy class will be offered on international flights of its Boeing 747-400 and new Airbus A380 aircraft.
The seats on this new economy class will offer more width (50 cm), recline (23 cm) and legroom, an in-arm digital wide screen television monitor, and laptop power connection. It’ll give more space and a higher level of service to the passengers. Also, there will be a self-service bar and a choice of meals designed by Neil Perry’s Rockpool Group.
Premium economy travel will be available on B747-400 services to London, Hong Kong and Johannesburg from February, 2008. Following the introduction of A380 aircraft in August 2008, further routes will be added.
The premium economy cabin will include 32 seats in a two-four-two configuration and will be located on the main deck of B747-400 aircraft. But on the A380, the cabin will be located on the upper deck with 32 seats in a two-three-two configuration.
Qantas also revealed a new version of its iconic flying kangaroo logo which was adapted to fit the tail of the new A380 aircraft, and to reflect the airline’s contemporary design. The first aircraft to carry the new logo and livery, a Boeing 767 plane flying domestic routes was rolled out today.
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Source: Stuff
If I ask you to name the best 10 International airlines, I’m sure it won’t be difficult for you. Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways are few names that come to the mind of people when asked for the best airlines.
Skytrax Research conducted the 11-month survey and based on more than 14 million interviews with respondents from 93 countries, taking into account 40 products and service factors named Singapore, Thai and Cathay Pacific airlines among the best airlines.
•Airline of the Year: Singapore Airlines followed by Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, Air New Zealand, China Airlines, Emirates and British Airways.
•Best First Class: Qatar Airways followed by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysia and Thai Airways.
•Best Business Class: Singapore Airlines followed by Virgin Atlantic, Cathay, Malaysia and Air New Zealand.
•Best Economy Class: Korean Air followed by Malaysia Airlines, Singapore, Qatar and Asiana Airlines.
If the pack of these airlines is shuffle a few times, the same names will appear on lists for best first-class, best business-class, best lounges, best cabin-staff and best-catering.
Click here to get the detailed results of the Skytrax survey.
Source: IHT
