Singapore Airlines all set to introduce low cost carrier -

 

Facing stiff competition from low fare air-carriers, Singapore Airlines is all set to introduce a low cost carrier soon, a top official said on Tueday.

 

China low-fuel landing row reflects growing pains

 

Aviation authorities have ordered stiff punishment for a local airline whose pilot refused to yield to a Qatar Airways jet requesting to land because it was short of fuel, highlighting growing concerns over safety in China's overcrowded skies.

Cathay Pacific to launch premium economy class

 

Cathay Pacific's new premium economy class is likened to the airline's regional business class, shown above.

Cathay Pacific will introduce premium economy seats to its fleet in the second quarter of 2012.

World's safest airlines revealed

 

Two other European airlines, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, featured in the report, which was published by the Geneva-based Air Transport Rating Agency (ATRA).

Six of the ten safest airlines – Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways – are based in the United States. Japan Airlines was also named among the top ten.

In its “Holistic Safety Rating” report ATRA compared publicly available data on 100 of the world’s largest airlines.

It took into account 15 different criteria, including the age of the each airline’s fleet, their pilot training facilities and the number of accidents they have been involved in during the last ten years.

ATRA, which operates independently of any airline, manufacturer or regulatory authority, says the study was undertaken to “provide the aviation sector with rigorous and transparent information, liable to encourage airlines to track, interpret and discuss any criteria in the organisation contributing to flight safety.”

Each year, the European Union releases list of banned airlines, often considered to be the world’s most dangerous. The latest list, published in April, can be seen at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air-ban/list_en.htm. It includes 37 Kazakh carriers and 43 Indonesian airlines.

World's safest airlines revealed - Telegraph

Qantas forced to issue apology after 'blackface' stunt on Twitter is branded 'appalling' racism

 

Australian airline Qantas has been forced to issue a grovelling apology after one of its attempts at social media advertising was branded racist.

The airline had offered two tickets to the deciding game of the Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand national rugby teams in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Set up earlier in the month, the Qantas Twitter giveaway promised two exclusive tickets to the game, at Suncorp Stadium, to the two fans who could best show their support for the Australian team.

Qantas overhauls with $9 bln fleet order, 2 new airlines!

 

Australia's Qantas Airways is setting up two new airlines in Asia and ordering $9 billion of new Airbus aircraft as part of a do-or-die makeover to salvage its loss-making international business.

Qantas will also cut 1,000 jobs in Australia as it shifts its focus to the world's fastest-growing aviation market, triggering threats by unions to block the move and a government pledge to scrutinise the plans.

In-flight film explains mysteries of female pleasure

 

 

Credit: Reuters/Daniel Munoz

The in-flight entertainment on some planes run by Australian airline Qantas currently contains a somewhat unusual offering -- a movie that purports to elucidate the mysteries of female sexual pleasure.

Cathay Pacific oral sex scandal - Pilot, stewardess sacked

 

A pilot and a flight attendant were dismissed from Cathay Pacific after photos of them having oral sex in a cockpit appeared online and in print, the Hong Kong airline said.  The airline's chief executive John Slosar said the couple, who have not been identified, "are no longer employees of the company."

Allegiant Airlines to close its Grand Rapids base, reduce destinations

 

Air travellers still will be able to use low-cost carrier Allegiant Air to fly out of Gerald R. Ford International Airport, but the Las Vegas-based airline is closing its base here and reducing the number of destinations it serves.

10 injured as PIA plane starts wobbling!

 

At least 10 passengers were injured when a Pakistan International Airline (PIA) plane coming from Multan to Islamabad started wobbling in the air due to bad weather conditions, 30 minutes air travel away from Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad (BBIAPI) here on Friday.

ANA, AirAsia to set up low-cost carrier in Japan

Japan's All Nippon Airways and Malaysia's AirAsia said on Thursday they will launch a new low-cost airline in Japan to further tap Asia's burgeoning budget-travel market.

Tourists dominate on world's longest 747 route for Qantas

The first Qantas flight from Sydney to Dallas arrived at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in May. Photo: AP

Qantas's new flights to north Texas are carrying mostly leisure passengers from Australia looking to visit the US, airline figures show.

The Flying Kangaroo started services to Dallas/Fort Worth in May, operating four times a week using a Boeing 747-400ER.

Airline, FAA at odds over emergency landing at DFW

 

View footage and news report

— American Airlines was at odds with the FAA on Monday over what happened on board a Boeing 777 wide body jet that made an emergency landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Sunday night.

A viewer snapped photos of the plane flying low and dumping fuel after taking off for Brazil and circling for an unplanned return to D/FW.

Officials with American say an indicator light suggested the plane's right engine caught fire, but the airline says there was no fire.

The FAA said airport fire-fighters reported spraying foam on the wheels after the plane landed.

The entire event played out in the North Texas sky around 8 o'clock as hundreds, perhaps thousands looked up. Fans at the Texas Rangers game could see it, and some called police reporting a plane on fire.

Within seconds of take-off, pilots of the Boeing 777 knew there was trouble. A panel light indicated a possible engine fire, so they started dumping fuel and making plans for an emergency landing.

Dave Jennings could see it unfolding from his home in Carrollton.

"I looked up and saw it dumping fuel, made a sharp turn over the house, and then back towards the west," he said. "I grabbed my phone cam and took out after it."

Jennings' video shows the plane dumping fuel, as it apparently did for most of its 12-minute flight. Fully loaded for the long trip to Sao Paolo, Brazil, the jet was too heavy to land.

American said after the jet took off heading south, the pilots made a left turn over Irving. Flying at a lower-than-usual altitude, the big jet flew across Interstate 35E, then turned north toward Carrollton before turning back to D/FW for the emergency landing.

Some people along the route said the dumped fuel coated their cars and floated on their pools.

Witnesses couldn't help but worry. "I hope it's fuel they are dumping and not smoke coming out the back," Jennings said.

American Airlines told News 8 there was no engine fire and that it had received no complaints of fuel contamination.

Any residents with legitimate concerns should contact American's customer relations department.

But in conflict with what the airline said, the FAA says fire-fighters reported extinguishing a fire in the jet's right engine.

A spokesman for D/FW Airport said its fire-fighters did use foam, but that it was sprayed on the wheels and brakes; after the plane landed, it was still so heavy that several tires blew out and overheated the brakes.

American said the entire event remains under investigation.

Airline, FAA at odds over emergency landing at D/FW | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

American Airlines Orders 460 Planes

AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, despite years of losses and an increasing debt load, showed it is still a high roller by ordering 460 new aircraft from Boeing Co. and Airbus with a total sticker price of nearly $40 billion.

U.S. airlines fight prospect of higher security fees

 

U.S. airlines are fighting the prospect of sharply higher passenger security fees that could be part of any deficit-reduction plan.