Taiwan slowly being erased from the global scene..... how airlines are caving in to China's orders

China is succeeding in obliterating Taiwan from the face of the earth... at least in the terms of airline computer reservation systems.  

Many airlines around the world have crumbled and caved to a demand from the Chinese authorities to refer to Taiwan as part of China in all literature and websites. Nearly twenty of the worlds major airlines have completely removed Taiwan from all their websites and just refer to destinations such as Taipei as in China.

At least 16 other airlines have partly submitted to China's orders and use the phrase Taiwan - China, on their websites and booking engines. 

The sudden change comes after the Civil Aviation Administration of China sent a letter on 26th April to 36 foreign airlines ordering them to explicitly refer to Taiwan as a part of China. There are only a couple of days left for the airlines to either fold and submit to Cina's demands or face business sanctions in China. 

The fact that so many airlines have already crumbled has been seen as a clear victory for China’s President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party’s aims of forcing foreign companies to conform to their geopolitical vision, even in operations outside of China, even if it differs from what is the general or legal global viewpoint.  

Many critics see this as just the next step in the Chinese nationalistic programme to exert economic power to change political or accepted norm, that in the case of Taiwan could see a complete military takeover. China regularly sends up its fighter jets to buzz the coast of Taiwan or Taiwanese shipping and are seeking to isolate Taiwan both financially and politically. 

Painting the skies pink: Swoop livery unveiled

Today the first Boeing 737-800NG aircraft was delivered to Swoop, marking one of many exciting milestones as the airline prepares for the launch of operations on June 20, 2018. In the coming weeks and months, Canadians can look forward to many exciting milestone announcements, from Swoop's official uniform unveiling to the launch of a range of international destinations.

The unveiling of Swoop's livery has been much anticipated, prompting Swoop to share a first look teaser image on social media last week. Emblazoned with the eye-catching magenta Swoop logo, and magenta accented tailfin and winglets, this is the first of six Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to be delivered this year. Today Swoop released the official livery photos and a time-lapse video of the aircraft being painted.

Mexico suspends Damojh's operations

Mexico’s civil aviation authority has confirmed it has temporarily suspended Damojh’s operations, the airline that owned the 39-year-old Boeing 737 that crashed in Cuba, as the death toll rose to 111.

The Mexican authorities said it has suspended the airlines' operations while it made sure the firm had adhered to regulations and so it could gather all relevant information to help investigators find out what caused the deadly crash.

It is not the first time the airline, Damojh, has had its operations suspended, the airline that has two other 737's had been suspended twice before for regulatory compliance reviews the authority confirmed this week. 

AirAsiaX profits jump

AirAsia X  the long-haul budget carrier of Malaysia reported a massive jump in profits thanks to a programme to reduce costs and higher passenger numbers.

The airline said the net profit for the January-March rose to 41.5 million ringgit ($10.47 million) from 10.3 million a year earlier while revenue rose 7.2 percent to a record 1.3 billion.

Take off for the summer of Sigala

For one flight only British Airways changed its name to Sigala Airways as the celebrity DJ jetted off from London City Airport with a planeful of friends for his Summer of Sigala album launch in Ibiza.

Bruce Fielder, known professionally as Sigala, swapped his music earphones for aviation ear defenders to welcome almost 100 celebrities, friends and fans on board the private charter flight to the party island this morning.

British Airways launch new route to Marrakech from Heathrow

British Airways launch new route to Marrakech

from Heathrow

Fancy exploring the bustling souks to take in the sights, the sounds as well as the smells that are a true delight for all the senses. Perhaps you'll want to venture to the surrounding desert landscapes and don't forget those striking sunsets. Marrakech, the fourth largest city in Morocco is an amazing destination that offers so much for the intrepid traveller all year long. It boasts some amazing architecture dating back centuries, wonderful gardens and amazing historic buildings and palaces all of which can be explored freely. 

British Airways have confirmed they will be launching a new direct service to Marrakech from Heathrow.  The airline already flies from Gatwick to Marrakech eight times a week. The new Heathrow service starts on 28th October and will operate four times a week from Terminal 5. During the winter season, the carrier will operate on Thursday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Director of Network and Alliances, said: “Marrakech adds another exciting destination to our leisure network at Heathrow and is a fantastic starting point to explore Morocco; from trekking in the Atlas Mountains to discovering the amazing deserts and beaches and soaking up the atmosphere of the many medinas. Marrakech is one of the key tourism destinations in north Africa, so we’re excited to serve it from two of our London airports.”

 British Airways is offering return fares start from £132 in Economy or Euro Traveller as BA call it and £332 for the business class / Club Europe. 

Odd odours and troublesome passengers causing flight disruption for Frontier

Frontier Airlines seem to be having a few issues over the last few days, passengers on one its flights from Tulsa to San Diego found themselves landing in Albuquerque on Sunday after the aircraft they were on had to make an emergency diversion and immediate landing because of an odor.

Approximately halfway through flight 1839, flight attendants smelt an odour of unknown origin in the cabin. The flight diverted, emergency crews checked over the aircraft and the cabin crew were checked by medical staff at Albuquerque, but nothing was found.

Frontier Airlines issued the following statement, “Flight 1839 operating from Tulsa to San Diego has landed safely and without issue in Albuquerque with 129 passengers and six crew. Safety is our number one priority and out of an abundance of caution, this flight diverted due to an unknown odor in the cabin,” 

Thai Airways has a new boss.....probably

After nearly two years of searching it appears that Thai Airways finally have found a new president and chief executive.

In a statement released by the company, it says the board has recommended the recruitment of Sumeth Damrongchaitham, 53, who has previously been president Dhanarak Asset Development Co and chief operating officer of  GMM Grammy PCL a music and entertainment company.

It is hoped that the new boss if terms can be agreed, will help boost the troubled Thai Airways as it faces turbulent times of increased competition from the low-cost market, higher fuel bills and a slump in profits. 

According to local media outlets, many people had been put off the top job with the national airline due to its close ties with the military that run the country. The airlines' board consists mainly of former air force personnel and civil servants. 

Still hope for Porter's CSeries dreams.....

Toronto's Porter Airlines hasn't let go of the dream of flying Bombardier CSeries 100 jets from the small, but beautiful Billy Bishop Airport, its CEO revealed last week.  

Speaking with Canada's Finacial Post the airlines chief executive Robert Deluce said “We continue to be of the view that it is not really a question of if, it’s a question of when,” and confirmed the airline hadn't yet walked away from its deal with Bombardier for 30 CSeries jet aircraft. Indeed, Porter Airlines still have the deposits in place with the manufacturer, despite the Canadian government decided not to allow jet aircraft from using Billy Bishop. 

Mr Deluce remains positive, “I think there is significant growth opportunity available to us. Whether that comes with additional regional routes, or whether a second fleet type gives us the longer-range destinations that come with flying an airplane like the CSeries, that will play out in due course.” 

Back in 2013 when the order was announced, Deluce said “The aircraft fits perfectly into our business plans and growth strategy and we are also proud to be the Canadian launch customer for Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft.  We look forward to expanding our network with an all-Bombardier fleet of CS100 jetliners and Q400 turboprops – promoting greener, quieter flying.”

Profits up for Ryanair but expect to be down next year

Ryanair was perhaps one of the most talked about European airlines over last year, perhaps even more than the bankruptcies of Monarch and Air Berlin. After all, Ryanair was the airline that publically rowed with its staff, suffered strikes and walkouts, had to delay the arrival of some of its new aircraft and of course ruined the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers when they cancelled a whole series of flights due to the pure incompetence of its rostering managers.  Yet even with that negative publicity, that ill feeling among staff, that continual search to rake even more cash from passengers in underhand fees and service charges, the airline, one of the biggest in Europe has still posted a massive profit!

Ryanair said profit after tax rose 10 percent to a record 1.45 billion euros ($1.70 billion) in the year ended 31st March, as passenger numbers increased 9 percent despite the grounding of 25 of its 400 aircraft from November mainly due to crew rota issues. The airline advised that its load factor - bums on seats - was at 95 percent average for the year, one of the highest in the 'low-cost' airline industry, which was thanks in part to the re-accommodation of some of the passengers that had been due to fly on the 20,000 flights the company cancelled in the autumn. 

With more strikes on the horizon and the unionisation of the company, next year's profit is, the airline warns, not expected to be as much. They say annual profits will fall for the first time in five years due to higher fuel and staffing costs and on the flat fares across Europe's low-cost travel market.

More routes from San Antonio for Frontier

The ultra-low-cost carrier, Frontier Airlines has indicated its continued commitment to making flying to and from San Antonio more affordable by adding nine new routes.   The airline announced last week that it will offer more nonstop destinations from San Antonio International Airport than any other airline.

Man punches deaf pregnant woman in stomach and hits her service dog on Frontier Airlines flight to Orlando

A Frontier Airlines passenger punched a deaf pregnant woman and her service dog on a flight from Colorado Springs to Orlando on Friday.

The incident took place shortly after the aircraft had landed at Orlando and was taxing to the terminal. Local media is reporting that Matthew Silvay and Hazel Ramirez, a deaf couple had ben travelling with their two children and a service dog on the Frontier Airlines Flight 1752.

Timothy Manley, a fellow passenger, viciously punched the 20 weeks pregnant, Ms Ramirez in the stomach, as well as punching the couples service dog, causing it to yelp in pain. Local media also report that Mr Manley also touched or manhandled the couples two children during the incident. 

Endeavor CRJ900 runway excursion

An Endeavor Bombardier CRJ-900 operating a Delta Connection flight from Atlanta to Lexington ran off the runway during torrential rain on Saturday.

There were no injuries among the 73 passengers and 4 crew onboard the aircraft after its runway excursion that occurred at approximately 1.30pm on Saturday at Blue Grass Airport.  The passengers were bussed to the airport terminal and appeared to be in good spirits according to airport staff. 

Endeavor Air released a statement Saturday afternoon, advising “Upon landing in Lexington, KY., Endeavor Air flight 3359 from Atlanta, operating as Delta Connection, turned off the active runway and came to a stop in the grassy area between taxiways A2 and A1. Endeavor crew members made the decision to deplane customers through the main cabin door into the grass where buses took all on board to the terminal. We apologize to our customers impacted by this incident.”

IAG boss says 'no hostile bid' on horizon for Norwegian

The boss of International Airline Group, Willie Walsh told the media last week that the deal to take over the rapidly growing low-cost airline Norwegian won't go hostile! Yet we've been told that staff are still working on a bid.

Norweigan recently confirmed that they have so far unanimously rejected two approaches from IAG, the owner of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus because they seriously undervalued the company. Speaking at the CAPA-Centre for Aviation conference, Walsh doubted that he had got the value wrong, "We know what the value to us would be." he said, whilst also indicating that a hostile bid wouldn't be forthcoming, "This isn’t a deal I have to do. We have expressed an interest. If they don’t want to be bought by IAG, fine,” he told various media organisations, adding “I am not going to do anything hostile, that’s not my style.”

More union trouble ahead for Ryanair

There is more trouble ahead for Ryanair, as an Irish pilots union has given the airline a deadline of 24th May to agree to new working practices, or a ballot for industrial action would be called. Such a ballot could pave the way for more strikes at the low-cost high-fee airline. 

Management is, its fair to say, more than a little annoyed that after recognising unions for the first time in its history in December last year that industrial action may be taken so soon.

 The Irish airline has come to certain agreements with other unions in the UK as well as Italy and some other locations, however, it was still negotiating with Irish and Spanish unions. It has already faced some industrial action in Germany and Portugal which has lead to some cancellations and changes, yet no full-on strike had been called, at least so far.