Trivia 2014 (miscellaneous news)

[sn26567]

Even The Aviation Herald (which specialises in accidents and incidents involving aircraft) can makes us laugh from time to time. Its last title:

Incident: Transat B738 enroute on Nov 13th 2014, oven wants but doesn't get cream topping

Full story: http://avherald.com/h?article=47d75b2d&opt=0

... and the next one:

Incident: Sky Regional DH8D at Toronto on Oct 3rd 2014, figure skating while landing

Full story: http://avherald.com/h?article=47d760e7&opt=0

[sn26567]

CSA Czech Airlines has painted its A319 OK-NEP in a special livery to promote the capital city of Prague:

[Established02]

The ATC conversation below may have some resemblance with the hilarious Berlitz commercial.



Air Traffic Control: Swiss Airbus Bird Strike (Russia)

[Passenger]

The ATC conversation below may have some resemblance with the hilarious Berlitz commercial.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUsVcYhERY)


Air Traffic Control: Swiss Airbus Bird Strike (Russia)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lICb8p9SvvM

LX1311, you strike bird?

"...Radioscanner.ru commented, that the controllers learned English only during that communication..."

isse quote from
http://avherald.com/h?article=425911ab&opt=0

[Passenger]

There's another one of those unpleasant surprises for European airlines - Condor in this case. Verdict of the European Court of Justice (14th Nov 2014):

quote:

Mobile boarding stairs colliding with an aircraft does not constitute “extraordinary circumstances” relieving the air carrier of its obligation to pay compensation for a flight delay of more than three hours. A collision of that kind must be regarded as an event inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of an air carrier.

Under EU law, air carriers are required to pay passengers compensation in the event of the cancellation of a flight or a delay of more than three hours. However, the air carrier is relieved of that obligation if it can prove that the cancellation or the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

Sandy, Emma and Nele Siewert booked a flight from Antalya (Turkey) to Frankfurt (Germany) with the airline, Condor. The arrival of that flight was delayed by more than six hours. Condor argues that the delay was attributable to damage caused to the aircraft the evening before at Stuttgart Airport. A set of mobile boarding stairs had collided with the aircraft, causing structural damage to a wing and, as a consequence, the aircraft had to be replaced. According to Condor, these are ‘extraordinary circumstances’, relieving it of its obligation to pay compensation. The court hearing the case – the Amtsgericht Rüsselsheim (Local Court, Rüsselsheim, Germany) – has asked the Court of Justice whether a situation where a set of mobile boarding stairs collides with an aircraft can be categorised as ‘extraordinary circumstances’ of such a kind as to relieve the air carrier of its liability to pay compensation.

In its Order 2 of 14 November 2014, the Court noted that technical problems may be regarded as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, provided that they stem from an event which, owing to its nature or origin, is not inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier and is beyond its actual control.

As regards a situation where a set of mobile boarding stairs collides with an aircraft, it should be pointed out that such mobile stairs or gangways are indispensable to air passenger transport (to enable passengers to enter or leave the aircraft) and, accordingly, air carriers are regularly faced with situations arising from the use of such equipment. That being so, a collision between an aircraft and a set of mobile boarding stairs must be regarded as an event inherent in the normal exercise of the activity of the air carrier. Furthermore, there is nothing to suggest that the damage suffered by the aircraft in this case was caused by an act outside the category of normal airport services, such as an act of sabotage or terrorism (acts definitely covered by the term ‘extraordinary circumstances’).

The Court concludes from this that such an event cannot be categorised as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, with the result that, given the considerable delay in the arrival of the flight, the air carrier is not relieved of its obligation to pay the passengers compensation.

(end of quote)

Source :

EN:
http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/P_151656/

FR:
http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/jcms/P_151655/

[Passenger]

Pushback on a UTair TU-134 at Igarka (25th Nov 2014):



Source:
http://lifenews.ru/news/145809

[sn26567]

Check the generous baggage allowance of Alitalia. If all passengers make use of it, the plane won't take off !!!

[galaxy]

Check the generous baggage allowance of Alitalia. If all passengers make use of it, the plane won't take off !!!

According the name of the passenger ,his baggage allowance must be a piece off "the miraculous catch of fish"

[LJ]

There's another one of those unpleasant surprises for European airlines - Condor in this case. Verdict of the European Court of Justice (14th Nov 2014):

It's good news for the passengers as the airlines seem to have a very broad definition of the term "extraordinary event". Moreover, this verdict is probably good for Condor as well as it can use it in passing on the bill to the party (or his insurer) which caused the collision.

[Passenger]

R.I.P. Frank Beirens (03/07/1958-30/11/2014)

Frank Beirens joined Sabena in 1983 and became VP International Affairs at Brussels Airlines in 2003.

http://www.inmemoriam.be/nl/2014-11-30/frank-beirens/

[airazurxtror]

Après plusieurs mois de suspens, l'État a choisi de vendre 49,99% du capital de l'aéroport de Toulouse (sur les 60% qu'il détient actuellement) au consortium baptisé Symbiose. Ce dernier est composé de deux sociétés chinoises, Shandong Hi-Speed Group, acteur majeur de la gestion d'infrastructures de transport en Chine et de Friedmann Pacific Asset Management, une société de gestion d'actifs de Hong Kong. Les deux groupes bénéficient en outre de l'appui opérationnel de l'entreprise canadienne SNC-Lavalin, spécialisée dans l'ingénierie et les infrastructures.

49,99 % of Toulouse Blagnac airport have been sold by the French government to Symbiose, a Chinese group.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2014/12 ... hinois.php

[sn26567]

Christoph Mueller, the former chief of Sabena who was until now the head of Aer Lingus, has been designated CEO of Malaysian Airlines, where he could start office on 1 May 2015.

I guess his destiny is to save airlines in trouble...

[sn26567]

Some other tidbits:

Chopin Airport in Warsaw (WAW) welcomed its 10,000,000th passenger of this year: hence it is twice smaller than BRU.

Speaking of Brussels Airport, it welcomed the 3,000,000th passenger travelling on Vueling today.

[RoMax]

Christoph Mueller, the former chief of Sabena who was until now the head of Aer Lingus, has been designated CEO of Malaysian Airlines, where he could start office on 1 May 2015.

I guess his destiny is to save airlines in trouble...

He certainly did a very good job at Aer Lingus. In terms of profit margin, it's on of the most profitable airines in Europe. Despite the competition from FR in Ireland.

Sadly Sabena was a lost case already when he came to Brussels, because I think he had the right vision to turn Sabena around again if he wouldn't have been block by both the Belgian government and Swissair in most of the 'extreme' measures he wanted to take.

Let's hope he can do something for Malaysia Airlines...

[Passenger]

EuroStat's 2013 figures for Air Passenger Transport in the EU-28:

Busiest passenger airport 2013:
1. LHR
2. CDG
3. FRA
4. AMS
5. MAD
...
19. BRU

More details:
http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ ... -AP-EN.PDF

[sn26567]

Singapore Airlines Refuses to Honour Mistake Fares on Nearly 900 Business Class Seats

Nearly 900 flyers who thought they were getting a cheap ride in business class on Singapore Airlines will be forced to choose between spending more to stay in business, travelling in economy or staying at home. After a computer mistake deeply discounted business class tickets, Singapore Airlines has chosen not to honour the fares.

The mistake fares were sold by a number of Australian travel agents between November 29 and December 1. A representative for Singapore Airlines said the mistake happened when a number of business class seats were incorrectly assigned to an economy booking subclass. This resulted in a significant discount on business class seats from Singapore to European destinations.

As a result, flyers who purchased the mistake fares have been given three options. Those who wish to remain in business class will be allowed to travel in the upgraded cabin by paying the difference between their mistake fare and the cheapest business class fare. Those who don’t want to pay for the difference will be allowed to either downgrade their ticket to economy at no additional cost, or accept a refund from the airline.

[sn26567]

Just like Brussels Airlines, SWISS is phasing out its Avro RJ100 fleet. The first one (HB-IXR) has been ferried to Kemble in the United Kingdom for storage earlier this month.

Although the type will eventually be replaced by a fleet of 30 Bombardier CS100 aircraft, the first four will be replaced by four EMB-190s wet-leased from Helvetic Airways, which just acquired them from Eurowings.

[sn26567]

Air Europa is adjusting operations on a number of long-haul routes, which sees LOT Polish Airlines’ Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating for the carrier in Summer 2015.

Planned Air Europa service operated by LOT Boeing 787-8 as follow:

eff 12APR15 Madrid – New York JFK 1 weekly

Code: Select all

UX091 MAD1730 – 2005  JFK 787 7
UX092 JFK2205 – 1150+1MAD 787 7

eff 13APR15 Madrid – Montevideo 3 weekly

Code: Select all

UX045 MAD2355 – 0720+1MVD 787 135
UX046 MVD1215 – 0505+1MAD 787 246

Source: Airline Route

[sn26567]

Qantas Flight QF2 (A380) travelling from Dubai to Sydney diverted to Perth due to a fault with the air conditioning. The fault occurred about 1 hour from Perth.

As a precaution the Captain descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet and requested a priority landing.

The aircraft landed safely and was inspected by engineers.

As the crew reached their maximum duty limits before the issue could be fixed on the ground, customers have been provided with overnight accommodation and will be booked on the next available services today to their destination.

[sn26567]

Scandinavian carrier SAS has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in regional airline Cimber A/S for 20 million Danish kroner ($3.3 m).