Airline Technology News
Air New Zealand to offer flat beds in economy
Air New Zealand is to offer flat beds in economy on its new fleet of Boeing 777-300 ER this November. The “Skycouch”, which is aimed at couples and young families, features three standard seats that can be changed into a single, flat space.
Flight Attendant Bloggers Launch Podcast Offering Insight into Job
Two popular Flight Attendant bloggers have joined together to create a podcast offering an entertaining and enlightening look at their jobs and the lifestyle that being a Flight Attendant provides.
Etihad takes delivery of first airbus A330-300
Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-300, configured with the airline’s new first, business and economy cabin product.
Second Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Flight
The second Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, completed its first flight today. The all-new airplane, which features the livery of the Dreamliner’s launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan, took off from Paine Field in Everett, completed a two-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.
Qatar completes first natural gas flight
Qatar Airways has made a major breakthrough in airline fuel technology by operating the inaugural paying-passenger flight powered by natural gas, with a flight between Gatwick and Doha. The move is regarded as an important step in the industry’s attempts to reduce its dependence on oil-based fuel.
Lufthansa to relaunch inflight internet
Following a deal with Panasonic, Lufthansa is set to relaunch FlyNet, its on-board broadband Internet service, after a three-year hiatus. From the middle of 2010, customers will be able to communicate via the internet and the new service will also permit inflight data transfer over standard GSM/GPRS mobile networks.
Airlines eye free Wi-Fi for travelers
It should serve as the death knell for Internet connection charges in upscale hotels.
Airline emissions cap urged for Copenhagen summit
The UK government is to raise its initiative against airline emissions as part of a new international treaty on climate change. The Committee on Climate Change, which was set up last year, is urging world leaders to agree on an international treaty at Copenhagen in December to ensure that greenhouse gas emissions from aviation are no higher than 2005 levels by 2050.
JAL Group Reforms Corporate Organization Structure
The Japan Airlines Group (JAL) announced today that the new corporate organization structure will take effect from October 1, 2009.
Dreamliner to fly by year’s end
Boeing has said the inaugural flight of its Dreamliner would take flight by the end of the year, with delivery of the first plane toward the end of 2010, two years behind schedule. It will also cost the aerospace giant an additional $2.5bn to get the revolutionary aircraft airborne.
BTN Spotlight: Richard Thorne, Innovata
Travelling the world is becoming easier with revolutionary booking tool developed by Innovata. BTN caught up with Richard Thorne, who heads up its Aviation division, to find out what new technology the company has planned.
easyJet lifts lid on mobile check-in plans
easyJet has revealed plans to introduce mobile check-in using handheld machines by as early as October. The low-cost carrier is also planning mobile scanning of boarding passes in a bid to reduce airport queues and staffing costs.
Planes to land in neutral under new SAS fuel-saving method
Scandinavian airline SAS has said it has designed a new landing method which could radically cut fuel emissions. The technique involves planes gliding into land in neutral by following a satellite mapped route, and could save 100kg of fuel for a twin-engine jet.
UK fronts £350m to develop Airbus carbon A350
The UK government is to provide Airbus with a launch aid package worth £350m to develop the A350 XWB, a carbon-fibre aircraft that aims to rival Boeing’s Dreamliner. The package amounts to roughly half what Airbus was seeking from the UK to develop the wide-body jet.
OnAir wins Airblue deal
OnAir has announced an agreement with Airblue, Pakistan’s fastest growing airline, to launch Mobile OnAir voice and data services on up to 12 of its Airbus A320 aircraft beginning in 2009.
Interview: Marvin Tan, General Manger UK & Ireland, Singapore Airlines
Breaking Travel News interviews Marvin Tan, General Manger UK & Ireland, Singapore Airlines at World Travel Market 2007 on the launch of the A380 superjumbo. The airline is the inaugural carrier for the Airbus plane.
Ryanair takes on WebTrends
Ryanair has brought on-board WebTrends to enable it to have a complete understanding of visitor activity across all of its 19 different language web sites.
Trodent Launches AirWEB Authorization Solution
Trondent Development has released a new version of AirWEB Authorizer - an automated, pre-ticketing travel approval tool. The web-based utility can either be used as a stand-alone application or offered as a private labeled integrated tool within an on-line booking system. AirWEB Authorizer is fully compatible with Amadeus, Apollo, Galileo, Worldspan and Sabre.
Airlines to Scrap Paper Tickets by 2007: Industry Feedback
By Anna Gouldman Airlines will no longer print tickets by the end of 2007, in an ongoing effort cut costs and drive efficiency, according to the International Air Transport Association, (IATA).At last week’s aerospace forum in Asia, IATA introduced their Simplifying the Business initiative, which focuses on utilising technology to make air travel less costly, more efficient and a better experience for the traveller. BTN spoke to industry experts to gain some insight into this move.
Business Travel: Singapore Airlines Introduces In-Flight E-Mail
For over a year, airlines have been fiddling around with technology and fretting about when and how they`re going to introduce in-flight e-mail and Internet capability on their airplanes.
