All Systems & Interiors news – Page 798

  • News

    Light beckons in Japan

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Both of Japan's major carriers sense the worst could be over for their national economy. A sign of confidence perhaps, is that Japan Airlines (JAL) is expecting to pay its long-suffering shareholders their first dividend for seven years when this 1998/9 financial year ends in March. All ...

  • News

    BA takes over CityFlyer

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    News that British Airways would take over CityFlyer Express finally came as little surprise. The regional airline was its first franchise partner back in 1993 and has thrived from flying in the BA colours. In the process CityFlyer has built up a valuable block of slots at London Gatwick, integral ...

  • News

    Debonair broadens its horizons

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    The last few months of 1998 have been a busy time for ambitious UK low-fare airline Debonair. First came the regional frequent flier initiative, followed by approval from above for an extensive air-bridge operation for pilgrims travelling to the religious sanctuary of Lourdes from 10 European cities. Then came ...

  • News

    Crises contained?

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Fears of an outright recession have begun to recede, but world economic growth is still expected to slow in 1999 and serious risks remain. Concerted action by the world's economic policy makers appears to have paid off. The threat of global recession that loomed during the crises of 1998 ...

  • News

    Global outlook

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    With the world economy poised to slow in 1999, the airline industry may finally get the chance to show whether it has learned the lessons of the last recession. Even the most experienced of forecasters has been forced to admit that 1998 was a difficult year to call. As ...

  • News

    The rise of the global super brands

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Global alliances are attempting to build and enhance new common brands, while protecting the core products of their members. It felt like a delayed reaction. Some 18 months ago Lufthansa, United Airlines, Air Canada, SAS and Thai International, later joined by Varig, jumped feet first into the branding game ...

  • News

    Economy challenge

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Rising numbers of frequent business travellers fly in economy class and the trend is intensifying. By Doug Cameron. Business class seats may be getting flatter and IFE screens even bigger but the battle for premium passengers is moving inexonerably towards the back of the aircraft. For all the product upgrades ...

  • News

    TAM seeks foreign fish

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Transportes Aereos Meridionais (TAM) of Brazil, which has seen profitability fall at home following a fare war and recession, was to launch its first international flights on 28 December with a daily Sao Paulo-Miami service. "It's much easier to tap a lake with fish than an empty lake," says Rolim ...

  • News

    Could you please confirm

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    No-one can hope to predict when a crisis will strike but you can be ready to limit the damage to brands and reputation It is the moment every airline executive dreads. To be woken in the early hours of the morning by the insistent summons of the telephone and ...

  • News

    Money well spent?

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Interactive inflight entertainment technology may not have lived up to its promise as a lucrative new revenue stream, but carriers are spending more than ever on the technology to retain a competitive marketing edge. Airlines have already spent a fortune on inflight entertainment (IFE) and the sums are getting ...

  • News

    Taking action over passives

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    In the battle to cut distribution costs, the airlines are fighting hard to reduce computer reservation fees for passive and duplicate bookings. But despite progress on both sides of the Atlantic, the issue remains a cause of tension. Passive or duplicate ticket bookings may be sound harmless enough, but airlines ...

  • News

    Vanity fare

    1999-01-01T00:00:00Z

    Luxury seats, gourmet meals and complimentary amenity kits are all commonplace in business class. As premium products continue to improve is there a future for first class or will its adepts start to want more value for money? The fallout from the global financial crisis in the second half ...

  • News

    Marconi begins NG 737 head-up display tests

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    Marconi Avionics has begun flight testing the HUD 2020 head-up display for the Next Generation (NG) 737 on a leased 737-800 based at Mojave, California. The tests are aimed at achieving US Federal Aviation Administration certification in the first quarter of 1999, followed by immediate deliveries to Boeing for ...

  • News

    Delta scales back Los Angeles operations

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Delta Air Lines is scaling back services to Los Angeles by discontinuing its codeshare arrangements with SkyWest Airlines. At the same time it is strengthening its Asian presence with the signature of a co-operation deal with China Southern Airlines. The two companies have announced that ...

  • News

    Blind alley

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    It would be difficult to describe the prospects for future supersonic civil transports as anything other than bleak, and getting bleaker, even as the enabling technology is advancing. Notwithstanding the promise of a supersonic corporate jet getting off the ground, there seems little realistic likelihood of even premium airline passengers ...

  • News

    The final frontier

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Every time a Space Shuttle blasts off, its booming sound waves pass unseen over the forgotten bones of a long abandoned project. Lying at the edge of the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, are the forlorn remains of Boeing's 2707-200 supersonic transport (SST) full-scale mock-up. Abandoned when the ...

  • News

    Thai probe focuses on ILS and weather

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Investigations into the accident which destroyed the Airbus A310 operating Thai Airways International flight TG261 on 11 December are focusing on weather conditions, human factors and the lack of a working instrument landing system (ILS) at Surat Thani Airport, Thailand. The 12-year-old A310-200 (HS-TIA), one of ...

  • News

    Boeing hopes repairs will occupy Long Beach

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing is resorting to introducing repair and modification work to keep its Long Beach plant in California busy, following the reversal of plans to set up a Next Generation 737 assembly line at the former Douglas factory. Boeing 737 operators face the prospect of their ...

  • News

    SIA eyes Ansett as it aims for Australian foothold

    1998-12-23T00:00:00Z

    After months of speculation, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has confirmed interest in taking an equity stake in Ansett Australia. The airline released a speech made at the University of Melbourne by SIA deputy chairman and chief executive Cheong Choong Kong, in which he tacitly refers to an interest, while stopping ...

  • News

    BA chooses to bring A320 training in-house

    1998-12-16T00:00:00Z

    British Airways is to bring training for its new fleet of Airbus A320s in house, with the airline's Flight Training (BAFT) division finalising the acquisition of its first Airbus simulator. In August, BA selected the A320 family for its future short-haul fleet, placing orders and options for up to ...