Author Archive
Monday, May 6th, 2013
Qatar Airlines has estimated that the grounding of its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners cost the company $200 million. The aircraft had been on the tarmac for three months after problems were discovered with the plane’s batteries. Air India, which owns six 787s, said last week that it will be receiving compensation from Boeing because of the electrical fault.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways who own 24 Dreamliners between them have estimated that taking them out of action cost around $110 million in lost revenues. The amount of compensation to be paid out to Qatar Airways and Air India is still to be confirmed by the US planemaker.
Although the contract Boeing has with Air India does not necessarily include liability for loss of the use of an aircraft because of a technical fault, an official spokesman for the airline said the grounding of its entire fleet had meant Boeing had agreed to pay compensation for financial losses.
Jeff Johnson, Middle East President for Boeing, said a comprehensive and permanent fix had now been made to the aircraft and he was confident about guaranteeing the 787’s safety. Despite the problem a number of rapidly growing airlines in the Gulf are preparing to put in orders for the new 777X jet from Boeing.
Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said he hoped that Boeing had learned from the mistakes. Although Emirates does not operate the 787, it has around 175 777 jets that will need to be replaced soon.
Tags: 787, Air India, All Nippon Airways, boeing, Dreamliner, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airlines
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Monday, December 17th, 2012
Transport for London has published figures that show crime on the capital’s transport system was down by 2.3 per cent between July and September in spite of the fact the Olympic Games saw record numbers of people using the Tube and the buses. TfL said during the summer there were 200 fewer crimes than had been reported a year earlier.
During the three months there were 8,319 offences recorded compared to the same quarter in 2011 when 8,516 offences were reported. However, theft on the capital’s buses was up by 4.3 per cent.
Although crime appears to be at its lowest level in eight years, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said the figures are still two high while voicing concerns over plans by TfL to close more ticket offices.
Although the instances of theft are up, there has been a reduction in other crimes including violence against the person, robbery and criminal damage. Metropolitan Police Ch Supt Sultan Taylor said the transport system was safer, more secure and more reliable despite the fact that a huge number of people came into the city for the Olympics and to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee over the summer months.
He added that a clear message was being sent to criminals that they will be caught because of the technology and tactics being used by officers on the network.
Tags: buses, crime, Olympic Games, robbery, tfl, Transport for London, tube
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Thursday, October 25th, 2012
As of the end of next year business-class customers with Singapore Airlines will no longer be able to enjoy non-stop flights between the carrier’s hub and Los Angeles and Newark, NJ, currently the longest commercial flights on the planet. Passengers wishing to fly from the US to Singapore will no longer be able to do so without a stop-over in either Europe or Asia.
The decision to cut the service comes as jet fuel prices remain high and SAS retires some of its older aircraft. This year has already seen the axing of three services considered to be ultralong because they last for more than 15 hours. American Airlines has cut its Chicago to New Delhi service, Thai Airways no longer flies non-stop between to Los Angeles from Bangkok, and Delta Airlines has cancelled its Detroit to Hong Kong service.
Singapore Airlines’ decision comes as budget carriers grow their presence in Asia. The rise of low cost travel has put pressure on the premium airlines to rethink their business models in order to remain competitive, and in some cases, survive.
Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines’ chief executive, said in a statement that it was disappointing to have to announce the end of the long-haul services to the US, adding that SAS remained as committed to the American market as ever.
The airline’s boss went on to say that the introduction of the Airbus A380 superjumbos meant that capacity had been increased to both Los Angeles and New York.
Tags: airbus, american airlines, delta airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Thursday, October 18th, 2012
A rescue dog, currently travelling from the UK to New York on the Queen Mary II is looking for an onward lift to Alaska, and the new home that awaits him, after he docks in the Big Apple. Welly was a stray rescued from the streets by Midlands-based animal rescue centre My Forever Home.
The centre has managed to find Welly a new home with a family in Fairbanks, Alaska, who already have two dogs and are hoping to add a third to the family. However, Welly’s travel arrangements have only been sorted out as far as New York, and Alaska is quite a trek from there.
The people at My Forever Home are trying to raise awareness about Welly’s plight and are appealing to anyone who may be heading in the direction of Welly’s new home who can offer him a lift.
Welly is hoping to arrive in America on 21 October and it would be ideal if he could be met by a generous person willing to help him cover some or all of the 4,100 miles to Fairbanks. My Forever Home said it was not keen to see Welly put into the hold of a commercial flight, but they are sure that the former stray would not turn his nose up at a private jet.
Welly would be happy to travel by train, tram, coach or car as long as it means he gets to meet his new family soon. Donations to get Welly on his way would also be appreciated and any money left over will go to providing other strays with a better life.
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Tags: alaska, dog, My Forever Home, New York, Queen Mary II, stray, Welly
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Thursday, September 27th, 2012
Commuters on the London Underground are facing yet more travel disruption as the Rail, Maritime and Transport union ballots members over proposals to introduce driverless trains onto the Tube network. Bob Crow the union’s leader has said he will be urging workers to vote in favour of industrial action over the matter.
In his election manifesto, Mayor of London Boris Johnson promised that within a decade he would make sure that all trains on the Underground are capable of running without a driver at the controls. Mr Crow has slammed the idea as a cost cutting exercise which will result in job losses and put the travelling public’s safety at risk.
During the summer the union said London Underground wanted to have all trains operating on the Jubilee Line driverless within three years.
Tests are due to begin before the end of this year. The RMT said it would be balloting staff members who will be directly affected by the new trains first, adding that it may ask other workers to support a strike if that is the way the vote goes.
Mr Crow insisted that every train in operation needs to have a driver to make sure that train is running safely and efficiently. He added that the RMT was prepared to oppose any attacks on its members and public safety by Transport for London and the mayor.
Tags: Bob Crow, boris johnson, London Underground, rmt, Transport for London, tube
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Thursday, September 6th, 2012
David Cameron has denied that the removal of Justine Greening from her cabinet position as Transport Secretary is a precursor to a U-turn on expansion at Heathrow. The Prime Minister has just announced that he is launching a review of airport capacity in the UK, but has admitted that it is unlikely to be completed until after the next election.
The move has outraged Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and is likely to leave many business leaders less than impressed. Mr Johnson is vehemently opposed to any expansion at Heathrow and is instead backing the construction of a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
The Mayor said it was unthinkable that it could take at least another three years for ministers to come up with a policy on aviation and that UK business could well suffer as a result. Mr Johnson has said that he will fight the government if it goes against its campaign pledge not to construct a third runway at the UK’s largest airport.
Patrick McLoughlin, who has replaced Ms Greening, said he currently has an open mind about Heathrow. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has promised that no third runway will be built under the Coalition.
The removal of Ms Greening in the recent cabinet re-shuffle from her position has been seen as many as a way of opening the door for the possibility of a capacity increase at Heathrow as the MP for Putney is one of its more vocal opponents.
Tags: airport capacity, boris johnson, David Cameron, Heathrow, Justine Greening, third runway
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Thursday, August 30th, 2012
Flag carrier Japan Airlines has announced that it aims to raise more than 660 billion yen in a share sale. The figure is nearly double the amount that was paid from public funds to keep the airline afloat after it filed for bankruptcy in 2010.
When it goes ahead the sale will be the second largest of the year following Facebook’s floatation on the US stock exchange earlier this year. Japan Airlines declared bankruptcy in January 2010 and a month later withdrew from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. It is due to refloat on 19 September.
For the quarter ending in June the airline declared a 26.9 billion yen profit which is double what it declared for the three months a year earlier. Following its bankruptcy the carrier implemented a wide range of cost cutting strategies including getting rid of unprofitable routes and drastically slashing staff numbers.
Japan Airlines has credited much of its recovery to a strong yen which has encouraged more travellers to buy tickets to international destinations.
The carrier has said that it aims to sell 175 million shares at between 3,500 and 3,790 yen. The recent financial results and the floatation on the stock market mark a dramatic turnaround for the airline.
Tags: airline, bankruptcy, facebook, Japan Airlines, Tokyo Stock Exchange
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Thursday, August 23rd, 2012
Australia’s flying kangaroo, Qantas, has announced that an order with US planemaker Boeing has been cancelled as the airline announces its first annual loss since privatisation 17 years ago. The airline said that an uncertain global market meant that it would now not be taking delivery of 35 new Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing.
At a list price, before discounts, this will save Qantas $US8.5 billion. The airline will receive liquidated damages worth $430 million because of rights it is permitted to exercise because the 787 project ran into lengthy delays. This will help to give a lift to Qantas’ finances for the fast half of the current financial year.
For the 12 months ending in June, Qantas reported a loss of $245 million compared to the previous year’s $250 million profit. The losses have been considerably higher than analyst’s expectations of a slump of $224 million.
Qantas is blaming a number of factors for the disappointing results. Last year saw the airline engaged in a bitter and long running dispute with unions representing its ground staff, pilots and cabin crews. The carrier is also fighting to make its international arm profitable again and is facing stiff competition in the domestic market from smaller rival Virgin Australia.
As with nearly all airlines, Qantas is also contending with the high price of jet fuel which it said cost $4.33 billion last year, an increase of 18 per cent. The airline is currently trying to reduce spending through job cuts and by trimming loss making routes from its schedule.
Tags: 787, boeing, Dreamliner, Qantas, Virgin Australia
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Thursday, August 16th, 2012
The Lib Dems have confirmed that new runways at airports in the south east of the UK will not be a part of their policy for aviation. The party has said that it will instead concentrate on coming up with a solution for growth which takes into account environmental concerns. Party leaders will ask members to support the policy when it holds its annual conference.
The government was supposed to launch a consultation on how to deal with dwindling capacity at UK airports in the spring. It was then delayed until the summer and will now not get underway until at least the autumn.
Although the conservative party said it was not going to look at providing Heathrow with a third runway when the Coalition came to power there have been rumours that some leading Tories, including Chancellor George Osborne, are now giving the option some serious thought.
The Lib Dems have also confirmed that they are not in favour of Boris Johnson’s plans to build a new UK hub in the Thames Estuary. The Mayor of London has been outspoken about the government’s lack of action concerning aviation policy and has accused the Coalition of pussyfooting around the issue.
The Lib Dems have also said that policy should not simply focus upon airports in the south east and should look at utilising the existing capacity at regional airports. MP Julian Huppert, Lib Dem transport committee chairman warned that expansion could lead to the UK missing its targets for carbon reduction.
Tags: aviation policy, boris johnson, George Osborne, Heathrow, Lib Dems, runway
Posted in Health & Environment | Comments Off
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Japan Airlines is on target for a net profit of 130 billion yen for the year after announcing that it had doubled its earnings for the quarter ending in June. The airline said the profits were the result of an extensive cost cutting operation. An increase in demand for international travel is also the result of a strong yen.
In 2010 Japan Airlines was forced into bankruptcy and had to request a government backed bailout. It exited bankruptcy in March this year and analysts believe that the carrier will soon apply to be listed again on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Earlier in the year the carrier said it had placed an order with Boeing for 10 of its 787 Dreamliners. According to the planemaker, the aircraft is around 20 per cent more efficient than other passenger jets of a similar size.
Japan Airlines has already launched the Dreamliner on a new route from Tokyo to Boston. The airline said it was also using the 787 in a number of existing international routes so that it can match capacity to demand and improve the appeal of the JAL product.
As well as an increase in the demand for overseas travel, the airline said that domestic services had also seen an improvement following the devastation caused by last year’s tsunami and earthquake.
Tags: 787, airline, boeing, Dreamliner, jal, Japan Airlines, Tokyo Stock Exchange
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