Although the prototype design appears unconventional based on the way we currently envision commercial aircraft, MIT is serious: the technology exists to substantially decrease fuel consumption while not compensating performance. Take a look at their proposal, at left, for...
No VDB on Tartarstan Airlines: Passengers Forced to Stand Due to Lack of Seats
Take this story with a grain of salt: after all, it does come from the UK Daily Mail, but apparently the Russians have beat Ryanair to the punch. Tartarstan Airlines, a Russian flag carrier, had a last-minute equipment change...
Woman Faces Three Months in Jail for Stealing Hotel Iron and Towels
If you ever find yourself in Nigeria, don’t even think about stealing any towels from your hotel room. Just like Singapore Airlines taking inventory of the silverware at the end of each flight, apparently the Hilton in Nigeria keeps...
Free Alcohol and Wi-Fi in United’s Red Carpet Clubs
As most of us expected, United announced early this morning that like Continental, alcoholic beverages and Wi-Fi will now be free for all guests in the Red Carpet Club, United’s airport lounge network. Red Carpet Club and Presidents Club...
TSA Misses 200,000 Volt Stun Gun in Woman’s Carry-On Bag
Another story to add to the "TSA competence" file. Earlier this month a woman named Jen (who fearing reprisals from the TSA, has refused to provide her last name [yet still proactively contacted a local television station…]) forgot to...
Ethiopian Airlines to Join Star Alliance
A third carrier from the African continent is slated to join Star Alliance by the end of 2011. Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to 59 destinations (including 39 in Africa), will give Star Alliance passengers a major boost in African...
My Thoughts on The Southwest – AirTran Merger
In a move that took many by surprise today, Southwest (WN) announced that it would be acquiring AirTran for $1.4B, subject to DOT approval. You can read about the details here: I’ll just briefly sum up my thoughts on...
United Airlines Fined for Following DOT Tarmac Delay Rules
I know this story has been widely reported already, but I just have to chime in and express my outrage over the recent $12,000 fine levied against United for erroneously reporting that it had violated tarmac delay rules in...
Wi-Fi Coming to JetBlue
Joining the club of "low cost carriers" (I hate to even use that misleading term) that offer or plan to offer wireless internet aboard their aircraft, JetBlue signed a deal today that will put satellite broadband internet and TV...
New Company Name and Stock Symbol for Post-Merger United
When United Airlines entered bankruptcy protection in 2002, it was de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange and lost it’s UAL ticker symbol. After emerging from Chapter 11, United’s new stock issuance was traded on the Nasadq under the...
Free Admission to Museums Nationwide on September 25
Are you a museum aficionado? On September 25, more than 1,000 museums nationwide will offer free admission to celebrate Smithsonian magazine’s sixth annual Museum Day. You can search for participating museums and download tickets here. Each pass grants complimentary entry to...
BA Chief Confident LAN Will Stay in OneWorld
British Airway’s Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, said this week that the LAN/TAM merger is not a threat to OneWorld. He argued that "LAN are very much core members of Oneworld," and that the new Latam Airlines company already sees the...
This Airline Seat Brings a Whole New Meaning to Cattle Class
A couple months ago I blogged about Ryanair’s vertical seat concept that Michael O’Leary, CEO of the budget carrier, hoped would boost revenue for the airline. EU regulators vetoed the standing seat design, but a new “saddle seat” recently unleashed...
ANA to Launch Low-Cost Airline
Taking advantage of JAL’s financial woes and a continuing growth in the China market, All Nippon Airways announced plans to launch a low-cost carrier by the second half of next year. What’s driving this demand for more low-cost travel?...
Ryanair’s O’Leary Proposes Eliminating Co-Pilots
Good ol’ Michael O’Leary. As if the standing seats and coin-operated lavatories were not enough, Ryanair’s chief has a new plan to save money: get rid of co-pilots. O’Leary told Bloomberg that having a second pilot in the cockpit...
The End of 50-Seat Regional Jets?
While we have seen a proliferation of regional jet routes on legacy airlines the last few years, have you ever noticed that the jets replacing mainline service are often the larger regional jets such as the CR7 or ERJ-170?...
New 747 Interiors Coming to Delta
Delta Air Lines has announced plans to refresh the interiors of their 16 Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The old Northwest birds have not encountered an interior decorator in years. The cabin refresh is part of Delta’s $1 billion plan to improve their product...
Government Tells Airline to Change Name After Crash
That’s one way to reset your safety record… After a deadly crash that killed 42 and injured 54, the Henan provincial government in eastern central China has told their namesake airline, Henan Airlines, to change its name. The EMB-190 crashed last...
JetBlue Joins Southwest at Newark, Will Offer Daily Boston Flights
In a move aimed to draw some of the limelight away from Southwest, JetBlue has announced plans to serve Boston next year from Newark’s Liberty International Airport. Right now, only Continental flies nonstop between Newark and Boston and commands a...
More Seats and Overhead Space on American Airlines’ 737-800s
American Airlines’ is retrofitting its 76 737-800s in a move that will double the capacity of the overhead bins, bring electrical outlets to more seats, enable WiFi, add drop-down LCD screens, and decrease legroom. Yes, the airline that once...
