Category: Opinion
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Lufthansa’s Free Baggage Trick: Generous Gesture or Marketing Shenanigan?
Flying is full of little surprises, isn’t it? Whether it’s the delight of discovering your seat is right next to the bathroom (lucky you!) or the joy of being offered a complimentary drink on a two-hour flight, the airline experience is a mixed bag of thrills. But Lufthansa recently pulled a move that even I—a…
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Speed Over Accuracy: Meet Captain Sum Ting Wong
Do you remember Captain Sum Ting Wong? If that name rings a bell, it’s probably because of one of the most embarrassing and unfortunate moments in aviation journalism history. It all happened back in 2013, when Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed on approach to San Francisco International Airport. While the accident itself was a tragedy,…
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Why does Swiss balance first class weight with lead in the tail instead of better, heavier economy seats
Swiss International Air Lines recently made headlines with a rather unconventional move—adding around 1.5 tons of lead to the tails of some of their Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Why? To balance the weight caused by their luxurious new first-class suites. Let’s dive into the reasons behind this decision, its impact, and whether it’s a necessary trade-off.…
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The unusual case of Air France flight AF1162…
Aviation is a well oil, global travel machine and it has an excellent track record, but every now an then, there are hiccups. On the 29th of August 2024, Air France flight AF1162 on the suffered not from one, not from two of those hiccups but… five! AF1162 is a scheduled flight from Paris Charles…
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Next! Ryanair raises an airport closure in Eindhoven to EU Presiden von Der Leyen
Earlier this month, I wrote about how Ryanair criticized the Spanish Air Traffic Control (ATC) over a temporary arrivals stop at Palma de Mallorca Airport. Now, Ryanair is at it again—this time targeting the Dutch ATC for a closure at Eindhoven Airport, which occurred on August 28 due to staff shortages and equipment failure. Ryanair’s…
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Emirati Women in Aviation: Progress or PR?
While the UAE’s aviation sector is making headlines for its increasing female representation, a deeper look reveals a mixed picture. Both Emirates Group and flydubai have celebrated significant strides in gender equality, but these announcements raise questions about the broader implications and true impact of these initiatives. flydubai’s Record Growth: Genuine Progress or Strategic PR?…
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One step closer to perfect boarding – Well done Austrian
Airlines worldwide constantly strive to optimize the boarding process, balancing efficiency with passenger satisfaction and safety. A recurring challenge is managing carry-on luggage, especially in the context of emergency exit rows, where passengers can’t use the space below the seat in front. Austrian Airlines has implemented a new and effective solution to address this issue.…
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Do Chinese airlines have an unfair advantage? Geopolitics and economics don’t mix better than water and oil
European airlines are facing significant challenges in flying to China due to the ongoing ban on accessing Russian airspace, a situation that has been in place since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This ban has forced European carriers to take longer, more circuitous routes, increasing flight times and operational costs. In contrast, Chinese airlines,…
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Oh, this is possible now? Air Asia asks passengers to check-in 14 days before flight
Airlines sometimes suffer of the “we always done it this way” and also of technical debt limiting what is possible and what is not. One of my pet peeves is the whole idea of “checking-in”. From the moment I buy a ticket and a seat, why is it then necessary to check-in? And there is…
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Is this the longest safety video ever?
British Airways just presented their new safety video and, dear, is it lengthy… There is a link at the end of this post, but as it lasts for 5 minutes and 23 seconds, we don’t want you to leave this page for too long. As a reference, the Emirates safety video for the Airbus 380…