Whenever we think about the risks associated with flying, our thoughts are mainly on terrorist attacks, plane crashes, and what we can and can’t take onboard. How many of us realize that the long periods of sitting in airplanes can lead to vein blockage, also called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) kills more than 200,000 people in the USA each year and is fairly common. During the long flight hours, legs of the passengers are jammed, increasing the risk of thrombosis. Patients who have undergone surgery are more at risk of DVT. It happens when a blood collects in the legs, creating clots that can travel to the heart, lungs and other organs. Arnold Jonas’s newly designed airline seat called NewSit promises to reduce the risk of DVT among the passengers. NewSit is a three-position seat that raises front cushion to allow airline passenger’s legs to dangle, swinging the feet freely and comfortably. No, extra leg room, and it is very much comfortable for the people who are tall. Various airlines are testing Arnold Jonas’s NewSits but US airline is doubted to test the seats.

Several airlines are planning to make their business class cabins more comfortable with new cushier seats, more lie-flat beds, gourmet food and high-tech entertainment. Among those major airlines that have announced the upgradation of their international cabins are American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Some major carriers in Europe and Asia are already investing for the upgradation of their business-class cabins and few others will announce their plans at the National Business Travel Association convention scheduled to take place next week in Boston. British Airways plans to change the seats of the business class cabins of its planes. There will be lie-flat seats and an individual entertainment system. Also, there will be a self-serve kitchen stocked with sandwiches, fruits, snacks and drinks. The seats of American Airline planes will also be outfitted by the year-end. By the end of this year United plans to retrofit its international business-class cabin at the NBTA. All-business-class flights between Newark and Frankfurt will start in October with 44 lie-flat seats per jet. Soon, you will get premium comforts in several airlines but you’ll have to shell out more to get it. Source: USA Today

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

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. Image Source: Stuff

While traveling by plane, passengers are forced to switch-off their cell-phones. The most effected is the business class. Many telecommunication companies are coming up with new technologies that enable people to stay connected. An off the shelf technology similar to that used by Verizon and Sprint for data networks and Wi-Fi hot spots will be employed by the airborne telecommunications company. Airlines can get this service for less than $100,000 in equipment costs. Emirates Airlines’ Airbus 340-500 is provides an e-mail facility while you are at 40,000 feet. If, you have Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, you can monitor your inboxes for a small fee, while sending and receiving e-mails costs more. West Sussex, England-based AeroMobile helps you keep dialed in. You can use mobile phones and PDAs, including BlackBerrys, in flight. Also, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines have installed live text news services to keep you aware of the breaking news. AirCell plans to provide exclusive broadband connectivity to U.S. airlines and business aircrafts and will soon take over the spectrum formally used by Airfone thus providing the passengers with air-to-ground phone service. AirCell anticipates offering the connection in the year 2008. Source: MSNBC

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. Known as ULTra system these pods are an innovative form of PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). The electrically powered pod cab resembles a small car with two fronts and sliding doors. Allowing users to key in their destination and be carried there automatically along special roadways at speeds of up to 25mph, these are designed to take four passengers along with their luggage and arrive within five minutes of passengers having pressed the call button. The PRT is already being built and has completed trials. The pods are seen as more economical, more environmentally friendly and less prone to being stuck in traffic than existing transport inside the airport. Source: USA Today

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. Recently, few hundreds of guests were taken to the remote Far Eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur for a very special event: the introduction of the midrange airplane. The airplane is the Sukhoi Superjet 100. It has a seating capacity of 75 to 90 passengers. Even the First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov was present at the ceremony. Soon enough, the hangar doors were lifted and the very priced possession was revealed to the spectators. With the induction of th new jet in the fleet, the Russian aviation industry should improve. Everyone has super hopes for the super jet. No more things falling off the air! Canada’s Bombardier (BBDA.TO) had a pretty good market in the Russian aviator as of now. But, the Sukhoi jet is going to take the market away. The super jet is going to have more fuel efficient engines to go with. I think that coupled with the Su30′s that are already being sold in the international market, the Superjet will definitely increase the demand for the Russian jets. Image Credits: Gadling

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. Image Credit Source: IHT

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. Image Credit Source: USA Today

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