Jaunted - Tag: airlines

Heavy Life Vests and English Newspapers Are Outta Here

amandak — 2008-09-03T09:45:21-05:00

We're just loving the novel ways airlines will cut costs now that fuel prices are cutting in to their tidy profits. We get it, weight is a big problem, and with a threat from Air Asia X to weigh passengers, we're already planning pre-flight diets.

Last week Air Canada spin-off Jazz decided to lose weight by ditching life vests. They're allowed to do this because they (mostly) don't fly over water. If the plane crashes into the Great Lakes, passengers will have to hold onto the seat cushion--it's considered a flotation device.

And while the phrase "no life vests" is still ringing in our ears, Air Canada itself has canceled part of its newspaper service to passengers. The Montreal Gazette, it seems, is just too heavy. The airline still carries a French paper though--maybe French words are more lightweight?

Related Stories:
· Airline Removes Life Vests to Lighten Plane [CNN]
· Air Canada Cuts Newspapers After Dumping Life Vests [CarRentals.co.uk]
· Will Air Asia X Weigh Passengers? [Jaunted]
· Air Canada Gets In On The "Fun" [Jaunted]

[Photo: Eric Begin]

Tonight: "The World's Celebritiest Airline"

pbb — 2008-09-02T12:55:20-05:00

Alright, England. You have about three hours before the debut of CelebAir, the new show that will put a bunch of reality has-beens in Monarch Air planes headed for Ibiza, Tenerife and other sunny spots.

As much as we want to love this train wreck, an early review from a CelebAir passenger isn't too promising:

Before long, the captain took to the loudspeaker to introduce our "celebrity" crew. And nothing happened. No gasps, or mad fans fainting. The looks of utter incomprehension on the passengers' faces can't have done much for Kenzie and Lisa's egos.
No matter, by this time, Lisa was performing the safety demonstration--"I always get this bit wrong," she giggled, worryingly, while explaining how to do up the lifejacket--and we were off.... They were just like real cabin crew, only much, much less competent.

At least we can expect lots of drama!

Related Stories:
· I'm on CelebAir... Get Me Out of Here! [The Independent]
· CelebAir Starts Tonight [Celebs on Holiday]
· CelebAir coverage [Jaunted]

Airline Travel: Fares and Fees Just Keep on Rising

kjb — 2008-09-02T10:45:20-05:00

It's now the day after Labor Day, which means flights are set to get more expensive and harder to find. Right? Pretty much.

The Boston Herald recently reported that yep, things are about to get wrose. This year alone, fares from major cities have risen about 16 percent and fares between smaller cities have risen by almost 37 percent, says industry watcher Rick Seaney. Even Southwest, which continues to turn a profit, is trimming flights. It recently announced that it would cut approximately 200 flights by early next year.

As the industry moves into the fall, analysts predict much of the same, as the airlines will begin to see what they can get away with and how much the market will allow for fare increases. Expect even fewer freebies, and more fees for what used to be included in your ticket. For now, the best way for consumers to beat this trend is to book as early as possible and jump on good fares when they fit your schedule.

Related Stories:
· Flyers Brace for Big Airline Changes [Boston Herald]
· Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: sanjoyg]

Zoom Airlines Declares "Insolvency"

pbb — 2008-08-28T15:40:16-05:00

Zoom Airlines stopped flying at 2 pm this afternoon, declaring that the company's run out of money to pay off its debts. Though insolvency isn't exactly the same as bankruptcy, it's close enough: All future flights have been canceled and its planes have been parked.

A statement from the airline's founders wasn't very surprising:

We have done everything we can to support the airline and left no stone unturned to secure a re-financing package that would have kept our aircraft flying. Even as late as yesterday we had secured a new investment package but the actions of creditors meant we could not continue flying.
The collapse of Zoom is a result of matter beyond our control. Only last year Zoom Airlines made profit, but that turned into a loss in the last year due to the unprecedented increase in the price of aviation fuel and the economic climate.

Zoom says it has contacted other airlines to help stranded passengers get where they're headed. Refunds? Call your credit card company pronto.

Related Stories:
· Zoom Airlines [Official Site]
· It's Doom for Zoom [Airline Biz Blog]
· Zoom Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Budget Long Haul Travel: Red Tape Worries V Australia

amandak — 2008-08-26T09:00:16-05:00

Long-haul budget airline V Australia is sure it's ready to start flying before the end of 2008 but the big question now is whether or not enough passengers will be able to book a ticket.

V Australia has run into some problems with IATA, the system used by travel agents to sell about 80 percent of all airline tickets. IATA won't start offering V Australia tickets yet because the carrier's still waiting to get an Air Operator's Certificate. (V Australia's been trying to get hold of one for nine months now.)

Of course, savvy travelers will have no problem buying tickets directly online, but V Australia naturally enough wants to make sure their planes are nice and full. We're definitely hoping boring red tape won't trip up any attempt to make flying down to Oz a heap cheaper.

Related Stories:
· Virgin Sees Red Over V Australia Ban [The Australian]
· V Australia on Track for First Flights in '08 [Jaunted]
· V Australia Coverage [Jaunted]

Money-Making Qantas Now Looking for Merger Love

pbb — 2008-08-22T10:45:14-05:00

Even profitable airlines are looking to merge these days! The latest to announce its intentions is Qantas, which raked in $843 million over the past year. Despite the gains, the Aussie airline suspects that fuel prices aren't about to plummet.

CEO Geoff Dixon, who's leaving his position in fewer than 100 days, says:

[Consolidation] is happening now: the Lufthansa-Swissair alliance, the KLM-Air France deal, BA in merger with Iberia, Delta and Northwest have announced talks.
And in the coming years, Australians in general and the authorities in Australia specifically are going to have to realise that, as strong as Qantas is and as big as it is, that it will have to have some form of consolidation.

One carrier we bet the Flying Kangaroo won't be talking with? V Australia, which just got government approval to fly from Sydney to South Africa.

Related Stories:
· No Airline Is an Island [The Australian]
· Qantas Reports Record Profit Despite Woes [AFP, via Google]
· Airline Mergers coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: SpacePotato]

Reality TV Travel: CelebAir Crew Revealed

pbb — 2008-08-21T13:30:14-05:00

CelebAir, the airline-turned-reality show set to take off September 2 has just announced its celebrity staff. Sorry, Americans: You'll have no idea who these people are!

Among the famous faces that'll be checking in passengers and serving drinks are model and WAG Michelle Marsh, comedian Phil Cornwell, "X Factor" alum Chico and former pop princess and reality TV star Lisa Scott-Lee

Lisa's husband Johnny Shentall will also be working for CelebAir, which should lend a bit of that all important manufactured reality TV drama to the series. Seats are still available!

Related Stories:
· CelebAir [ITV2]
· Seats Still Available on CelebAir [Jaunted]