Garuda Indonesia unveiled their expansion plans at the Arabian Travel Market this week aptly called their ‘Quantum Leap’ program. They plan on increasing their fleet size more than twice fold by 2015 to a staggering 194 aircraft. Garuda has had a checkered past. Back in 2009 the airline, along with other Indonesian carriers, were banned…
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Virgin Australia have been busy recently and have just released images of their new domestic A330 fleet operating both the Syndey-Perth and Melbourne-Perth routes. This comes just over a week after releasing news of them updating the interiors of their 777 cabins for their trans-pacific flights. As designed by Brand Director, Hans Hulsbosch, Virgin Australia has…
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Thai Airways have launched their new subsidiary Thai Smile this week, the new ‘pseudo’ low cost wing of Thai Airways following a mantra of “Trendy-Friendly-Worthy”. Commencing operations on July 1st, they will be operating a fleet of 4 A320’s. This new airline will focus on short haul destinations from Bangkok to Asia and India. This…
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Whilst this hasn’t been officially released by Lufthansa, German newspaper Bild has reported through sources close to the airline that they are planning on launching a new low-cost unit (similar to the recent launch of IAG’s Iberia’s new Iberia Express) The new airline has been dubbed ‘Direct 4 You’ and will basically be an amalgamation of Germanwings…
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Wow Air, Iceland’s Newest Airline have created a full TV commercial to generate interest in their product. Whilst really keeping it as a sneak peak into what the airline might be, it definitely will generate a buzz. I have to say, as a pilot, it’s a bit of fun, if not a little cliché, but it obviously…
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Flybe, UK’s largest domestic carrier and short haul European carrier has recently updated its website, brought on a new non-executive director and banished evil debit card charges from its bookings. What with a new ‘Making Flying Better’ slogan, perhaps they mean what they say! Flybe’s new website is slick, it is finished too, something that…
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London Southend, (in the UK) which had a re-launch earlier this month as a London airport that is to be taken seriously, just got given the go-ahead to extend its terminal by a further 90 meters. Whilst this doesn’t sound much, for a smaller airport like this, it will give the airport a chance to…
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Thomson have revealed their new cabin and livery for the new 787 Dreamliner which will come into service early 2013 with the airline. This new livery hopefully will get rolled out across the rest of the fleet and I have to say, it’s really quite beautiful. The flowing lines naturally rolling over the wingbox give…
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On the following day of the launch of Virgin Atlantic’s updated premium product ‘Dream Suite‘ comes news from troubled Lufthansa of a different nature. In an effort to try and become more efficient, curb spending and reign in the purse strings after a less than successful stint of turning bmi around, they are going to…
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Vladimir the Bat, Samson the Sloth, Doug the Dung Beetle, Chloe the Chipmunk and Enrique the Tree Frog seem like characters from a Disney film, however, they were the competitors against the winner ‘Polly the Parrot’ to become Frontier Airlines new Spokesanimal. Frontier whilst struggling in the North American market, have to have some of…
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Before the merger of United and Continental, United offered a plethora (not often I get to use that word!) of bolt-on options for your flight, from sending your luggage before you, to extra leg room, lounge access, priority security clearance, priority check in. These are apparently great revenue streams for the airline, all which have…
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Thomson, the first UK 787 operator, has announced its first 787 routes to Cancun in Mexico and Sanford in Florida. It is allowing the whole country to enjoy the flights, flying from not one, but four UK airports, Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester and Glasgow. Thomson have got some great things planned for the plane including…
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Well, here it is! Bingo Airways’ new livery for their new A320 fleet. Bingo Airways is the new Polish Charter airline, who is flying exclusively to European sunshine destinations in Greece, Spain and slightly further afield. This bright Red and white livery is what can only be described as a Comic Sans / Willy Wonka…
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A new airline has taken to the skies in Europe, flying from Venice Marco Polo. Volotea is the brainchild of Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros, the creators of Vueling, and looks to be a contendor as one of Europe’s new metropolitan-style airlines, much like Vueling, serving main airports around the European network at convenient times with…
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Ryanair just announced to much fanfare they have reworked their only in-flight entertainment option to a smaller and ‘lighter’ product. Literally shaving centimetres off to making a compact A5 magazine. Whilst this is a smart move, reducing fuel burn and cutting costs, not to mention freeing up more space in the overhead bins for everyone’s…
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