None of the three that made it would be classed as "Rare" visitors to MAN. The French arm of Transavia are fairly unusual - and a delay on the return meant it did actually depart at a "civilised" hour - but coincidentally, a couple of unconnected TVF charters are expected in June.
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Aviation Discussion
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None of the three that made it would be classed as "Rare" visitors to MAN. The French arm of Transavia are fairly unusual - and a delay on the return meant it did actually depart at a "civilised" hour - but coincidentally, a couple of unconnected TVF charters are expected in June.
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AlterEgo
Veteran Member
Great news. Any idea what sort of product they’ll have in their business class? I’m on the world’s sketchiest WiFi in Jeddah Airport right now and google is being weird.
atillathehunn
Established Member
So as I understand it, in the end none of the Ethiopian planes were used in anger?
Seems like a bit of a shambles. But credit to them for at least sorting out some planes in time for the final, even if expensive.
atillathehunn
Established Member
On their old 777s they have angled-flat beds.
The new 787s will have 2-2-2 Stelia Equinox seats - so lie flat. Same seats as in Air Europa's and Royal Air Maroc's 787, which has had mixed reviews. From their website it looks like it might be fairly packed. However, I would imagine the price is going to reflect that.
Actually, a 787 did operate from LPL on Friday. This was the flight "saved" by the two Mayor's.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Ah, this I wasn't aware of. Thanks.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
Thanks I’ve seen it now.
You can get Dhaka to London one way for as low as £600, which, if it stays that low when the flatbeds come out, would make that one of the best value C fares around.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Not bad at all. Could be a nice cheap option for accessing the sub-continent.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Air Belgium has finally taken off and the inaugural ran over the weekend with their A340; Russian overflight issues appear to be resolved. I'm quite sure the plane is stuffed to the gunwhales with tour groups.
Interestingly, on Skyscanner they show up as Blue1 rather than Air Belgium, don't know why. Not necessarily the cheapest option for travel between Brussels(ish) and Hong Kong - assume they can sell enough seats through the tour operators.
Interestingly, on Skyscanner they show up as Blue1 rather than Air Belgium, don't know why. Not necessarily the cheapest option for travel between Brussels(ish) and Hong Kong - assume they can sell enough seats through the tour operators.
Blue1 is now defunct, but had the IATA code KF, and the new Air Belgium has the IATA code KF. Almost certainly just keying off of that.
atillathehunn
Established Member
That makes sense. The flight number in the search engine was tallying with that shown in flightradar. Had assumed it was some kind of agent they used, but you are right clearly just an out of date link in a database.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
I’m amazed Air Belgium took off. Taking bets on when their last flight will be...
atillathehunn
Established Member
They don't appear to be offering any particular discount over Cathay Pacific direct from BRU or the one stop options available also from Zaventem.
I would imagine it will rest on tour business and fractional and low-yielding VFR/tourism.
I would imagine it will rest on tour business and fractional and low-yielding VFR/tourism.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
Talking of Cathay, I’m at HKG airport right now about to take their ultra long haul to JFK (with a stop in Vancouver) in first class. God damn the lounges here are magnificent.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Jammy sod. That's going to be one hell of a trip - trip report very welcome! Are you in The Wing? That's very much going the pretty way round from Milton Keynes to JFK, though, if I may say.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Reading a small piece by onemileatatime on Air Belgium. €40 credit card fee in business class, and €75 seat selection! The inaugural (they claim a technical run) had 15 people onboard. The author also notes that during the delay, passengers were rebooked; a spokesman said that about 60 people had to be re-accommodated over a period of 5 weeks. That's somewhere between 1.5 and 3 people per flight.
The numbers are not looking rosy.
Crawley Ben
Member
Primera Air have axed flights from Birmingham to New York & Toronto this summer according to reports elsewhere. This is due to problems with delivery of the new Airbus planes that had were due to operate the flights in question. The airline are looking to try again in 2019.
Not sure how many people this will effect & hopefully they can make alternative plans.
Cheers
Ben
Not sure how many people this will effect & hopefully they can make alternative plans.
Cheers
Ben
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
It is the long way round - 25 sectors (mostly on separate tickets) round the world. Was in Singapore yesterday which is great - though a bit too humid for my pasty complexion. I was just in the Wing and am in the Pier now, which is much more me.
Yeah I read that, I understand he’s due to fly them sometime soon but whether they’re still operating is another thing! There’s something not right about the whole thing.
Joe Paxton
Established Member
- Joined
- 12 Jan 2017
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- 2,465
OK, so the Cabinet has just approved Heathrow expansion (again) - BBC News story.
If you're feeling déjà vu all over again, then better get used to it as I'm sure the re-ignited campaign against the third runway is going to be just as vehement as it was in the past!
If you're feeling déjà vu all over again, then better get used to it as I'm sure the re-ignited campaign against the third runway is going to be just as vehement as it was in the past!
atillathehunn
Established Member
Have fun on your jollies! Sounds like quite a trip.
Was more a fan of Hong Kong than Singapore, though not to do with weather, just 'feeling'.
I don't see Air Belgium being a long term venture, especially if they carry on like this. They had these publicity trial flights recently, 3 hours round Europe with proceeds to charity. However, since then there has been no advertising. I've spent the last quite a few days in Belgium (for both pleasure and work) and didn't see any adverts for them. Perhaps it's a different story in China.
How was the ULR flight?
atillathehunn
Established Member
Well, there's quite a few posters on here (including me) who might feel somewhat vindicated. I think someone won £5.
Absolute shower. Nobody will touch them again after this. The reviews from Stansted are looking pretty dire, and to cancel with very little notice is shameful.
AlterEgo
Veteran Member
Best. Flight. Ever.
I’ve never flown with any of the blingy Middle Eastern carriers and I don’t really have the appetite to. Cathay’s service was utterly class from start to finish. The Pier was incredible - genteel ambience turned up to 11.
There’s nothing brash or showy about Cathay. The whole experience was other-worldly. Understated and elegant in every way possible. It was a privilege.
Back down to Earth now, just got off Frontier Airlines (who are nice in their own way!).
It was me who called this a while ago and I may have bet a theoretical fiver. I’m feeling full of schadenfreude right now.
There was no way I was booking Primera when I looked at their business model. This was always going to happen.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Sounds terrific, 17 hours in the lap of luxury. I was very unimpressed by the catering on Cathay. What was it like in the pointy end? Emirates always looks a bit OTT, but Qatar sounds more understated. One day someone will pay me enough to fly F...
From the sublime to the ridiculous from Cathay F to Frontier - worse than spirit?
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Primeria are surely done for. The implementation has been atrocious. While other carriers have had engine problems with Dreamliners etc, their resolution and communication is often better, with alliances and multiple daily frequencies to recover service. It's a crowded market and at the moment their niche is they aren't flying anywhere. They will need a big charm offensive to get back from this.
My first trip with Wizz Air London LTN to Bratislava this week, thanks to cheap initial fares. the 30" seat pitch certainly didn't look it! thankfully paid £18/each way for an exit row seat otherwise it would've been uncomfortable for me and everyone around me being 6'5.
The outbound flight was delayed over an hour which went unexplained and they brought forward the return flight 12hrs essentially cutting the trip short a day. But it's a lovely city and very cheap for a city break, 1hr away from Vienna by train also. Would highly recommend, but maybe fly Ryanair?
The outbound flight was delayed over an hour which went unexplained and they brought forward the return flight 12hrs essentially cutting the trip short a day. But it's a lovely city and very cheap for a city break, 1hr away from Vienna by train also. Would highly recommend, but maybe fly Ryanair?
Sure Ryanair will be great and no one will disagree. Ha ha. (PS I don't mind them, prefer Wizzair though)
atillathehunn
Established Member
Sounds quite terrible. Actually found Ryanair's (and easyJet's) new thin seats quite comfortable and with now relatively OK legroom. Wizz sounds very uncomfortable!
@Khxds - depending on when they informed you about the schedule change you may well be eligible under EC/261, so might be worth doing some research.
atillathehunn
Established Member
Horses for courses, but Wizz's baggage policy and very restrictive leg room is at the very bottom of the offerings for LCCs. Ryanair actually has a fairly generous baggage policy (easyJet is just 1 cabin bag) and their leg room, while tight, is not horrendous. I found Vueling far worse and I'm not on the small side.
atillathehunn
Established Member
There is to be a 747 flying for Norwegian from Gatwick to New York. Can't be too many 747s at Gatwick, perhaps aside for the bucket and spade Virgin routes? Norwegian seem to be taking anything they can get their hands on.
https://www.routesonline.com/news/3...irlineroute&utm_content=airlineroute-20180605
https://www.routesonline.com/news/3...irlineroute&utm_content=airlineroute-20180605
I presume this is born out of the current Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 issues?
atillathehunn
Established Member
Got to imagine so. They have an A340-500 operating BCN-OAK which is quite unusual so assume they are badly down on frames.
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