All Systems & interiors articles – Page 799
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Could you please confirm
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 ...
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Economy challenge
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 ...
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New commission cap sparks fury
United Airlines has capped commissions on international tickets at $50 one-way and $100 roundtrip, setting off a furore in the US travel agency community. The move has prompted the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) to put together plans to file a complaint to the US Department ...
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Debonair broadens its horizons
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 ...
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The rise of the global super brands
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 ...
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Light beckons in Japan
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 ...
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BA takes over CityFlyer
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 ...
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Taking action over passives
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 ...
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Rivals act on SAA's domestic fares
South Africa's three independent airlines, BA-Comair, Sun Air and Nationwide, have lodged an urgent complaint to the Competition Board claiming South African Airways is charging fares that are "below cost and therefore constitute predatory behaviour on the part of the dominant carrier". The board's chief director support ...
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Thai probe focuses on ILS and weather
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 ...
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The final frontier
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 ...
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Boeing hopes repairs will occupy Long Beach
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 ...
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Delta scales back Los Angeles operations
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 ...
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Blind alley
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 ...
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SIA eyes Ansett as it aims for Australian foothold
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 ...
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Marconi begins NG 737 head-up display tests
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 ...
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International Space Station opens for work
The doors of the International Space Station opened for the first time on 10 December after astronauts from the STS88/Endeavour Space Shuttle mission bolted the first two modules together in space. Although the completion of the work marked the start of a new era in space exploration, full operations will ...
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Star picks managers as it gears up for fight
Andrew Doyle/MUNICH The six airline members of the Star Alliance have appointed a dedicated management team to take over the day-to-day running of their operation in a bid to achieve more effective co-operation in key areas. The move forms part of aggressive plans by Star, the largest members ...
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Landing gear deal
Hindustan Aeronautics and Boeing have signed a contract under which the Indian company will manufacture the main landing gear uplock box for the 777 landing gear assembly. The deal, for 300 shipsets, will be worth $4.5 million, says Boeing. Source: Flight International
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The spectrum challenge
Chris Yates/MANCHESTER The aeronautical community must pool its resources and protect its strategic interests if it is to avoid losing the hundreds of millions of dollars invested in satellite navigation. The threat comes from an Inmarsat-sponsored proposal, currently before the International Telecommunications Union-World Radio Council (ITU-WRC), to share frequencies ...