Well the UK has decided paranoia must rule again, and the Home Secretary – Alan Johnson has said  the UK terror threat level is being raised from “substantial” to “severe”,

Whilst no specific threat has been given in relation to the threat increase,

The decision to raise the threat level was made by the UK’s Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).
Mr Johnson says

“We still face a real and serious threat to the UK from international terrorism, so I would urge the public to remain vigilant and carry on reporting suspicious events to the appropriate authorities and to support the police and security services in their continuing efforts to discover, track and disrupt terrorist activity.”

So the sky isn’t falling yet – but it could do soon!

The rise is in response to the perceived increased threat from international terrorism following the NW253 Incident on Christmas day.

Again – Mr Johnson stressed there was no intelligence to suggest a terrorist attack was imminent.

In other words, the free pass for extended security at airports and transport hubs has now been given a free ride.

Kevin’s hint: Allow extra time for travel.

N106US – the A320 that was involved in the little splash-landing in the Hudson River in New York last year is up for auction, with a small warming that the A320 suffers “severe water damage” and “impact damage to underside of aircraft,”

The pictures are at http://www.aigaviation.com/aviationsalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?faano=N106US.

Picture – AIG Insurance

Bids for the plane are open to the public, and will be accepted until 27 March.

Well a nice collectable if you can get it. Although no wings, no engines, seats optional extra and wet…. say isn’t this the usual US Airways experiance?

British Airways seems to have ratcheted up its position, by issuing a threat that ID90′s (used for standby travel which gives an industry discount of 90%) are to go for striking workers, and in addition, the quality of crew hotels are now up for review.

Unite describe the move as “shocking”, “another act of provocation” and “petty’.

It should be noted that the ID90′s and other travel perks are NOT part of the standard BA contracts – and thus can be withdrawn as a disciplinary measure. For those BA crew members who commute from far and flung places – this could be very expensive in the long run if their benefits are withdrawn and they’re travelling on ID90′s

Let the games continue – this is get very nasty very quickly.

Once again, one apple spoils the entire TSA Crop – this time with a fake drugs incident at Philadelphia International.

A TSA agent decided to play a joke on a passenger on a Rebecca Solomon as she was travelling back to college

After pulling her laptop out, through the scanning machines, and walking through a detector, she went to collect her things and a TSA agent motioned her toward him, where a small, clear plastic bag from her carry-on. Inside the bag was fine, white powder – which is the sort of power that drugs could be in for example.

The TSA agent seems to be their usual caring self, saying

Answer truthfully, the TSA worker informed her, and everything will be OK.

Of course, this complete axehole of a TSA agent started to smile and said

Just kidding, he said

He waved the baggie. It was his.

I’m sorry. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. Security Theater is a Joke as it is. Adding this little twerp into the mix with this action is UNACCEPTABLE.

Security was called and the incident reported

In the first instance, the TSA knew nothing. Shortly after the first inital statement was released.

“The TSA views this employee’s behavior to be highly inappropriate and unprofessional,” she wrote. “We can assure travelers this employee has been disciplined by TSA management at Philadelphia International Airport, and he has expressed remorse for his actions.”

Remorse. REMORSE! That it? No other penalty of acting like a complete numbskull?

But wait – there’s more!

It seems the young lady’s father is a Litigator. Now there is a shame. And in later a later comment the idiot of a worker is no longer employed.

This is why people don’t trust the TSA. Idiots like this who take their powers, exercise them to beyond the limit and then giggle about it afterwards.

COME ON TSA – SORT IT OUT. BEFORE THE TRUST IN YOU GOES COMPLETELY

The TSA have responded in it’s Blog, showing minimal remorse (which about right for the TSA Blog)

Rebecca Solomon also has published her comments too http://michigandaily.com/print/52118

Source: The Philadelphia Enquirer .

* POS = Passenger of Size

In two steps, Air France seems to be trying to make money. First up is the introduction of silmline seats.

Slimline seats are the current modern marvel that reduces the weight of the seat, yet allows more passengers to be packed in a plane at the same time. Nifty.

Image – Air France

These seats are being introduced on the Short-Haul A319′s, A320′s and A321′s (37 frames in total) – in many respects – adding one row extra. Keep an eye out when selecting your seats

In perhaps not an unrelated news, Air France is now offering POS’s the option to buy a second seat at check-in at 75% of the fare (minus taxes and fees). If the flight is light, then you don’t have to pay for your extra seat.  Which is nice.

Alternatively – for safety reasons Air France can choose not to carry you. So if you’re 43″ waist or above,you don’t have to pay, but will be offered the extra seat actively.

Spokesman Jean-Pierre Lefebvre clarified:

“It is not an obligation; we suggest to such passengers they buy a second seat for their own comfort and in order to be sure the seats are adapted to their needs. If the plane is not full, they can get a refund.”

This new rule comes into effect from 1 February. Oh well Air France, win one loose one….

It seems that the UK government has completed a report after the NW253 incident, and I’m afraid if you’re a traveller, here’s a hint – it’s going to get worse.

• A No Fly list is to be set up (well we’re only a few years behind eh?), including deep screening, and no entry into the United Kingdom at departure countries
• New Intelligence teams to identify individuals who could be terrorists (Government intelligence? Oxymoron there. Moving on)
• More information sharing – in other words, yes your data about your travels will be mingled more than it is at the moment.
• A Harder push for e-Borders to implemented at all UK entry points (which is currently under investigation by the European Union for interfering with the rules of Freedom of Movement).
• Direct flights between Yemen and the United Kingdom are suspended until further notice (which kiboshes Yemina’s services) due to security fears and concerns over safety are addressed.
• Nude-o-Scopes (Millimetre Wave Scanners/Full body scanners)  to be introduced next week at UK Airports.

There have been calls for both deeper internal investigations to possible people in the UK, and the safeguarding of civil liberties.

In other words, expect some liberties to be whittled away in the name of security theatre (Let us remember that MMW scanners would probably not have picked up the bomb), and remember to leave plenty of time to get to the airport and get through security.

Just makes you want to pack your bags and fly off into the sunset eh?

Ok, I’ve skipped the announcement that Unite is once again going to ballot it’s Cabin Crew workers, and that BA are going to try to break the strike by wetleasing aircraft and crew, and it is actually opening up cabin crew training up to other qualified staff to the point where Unite has made one hell of a concession

That it will NOT strike over the Easter period

Quote Unite:

“families to be able to plan their travel arrangements in confidence”.

That’s fine, except if you’re planning to travel between 1st March and Easter, you might run into problems if there is a decision to strike.

Simply put, this is public appeasement to make up for the planned Christmas debacle, whilst trying to bring the public on their side.

The new strike ballot among cabin crew will open on 25 January and conclude on 22 February – so March can look dicey – unless Unite and BA butt heads together to get a positive outcome.

We can but hope.

It seems it’s time for another strike, this time with Irish ATC walking out over modernisation and working practices after 15 controllers were suspended for failing to cooperate with the new technology implemented.

Shannon, Cork and Dublin are affected by this action which starts from 14:00 to 18:00 (20/01).

Aer Lingus has cancelled 64 flights, RyanAir cancelling 48  flights and a variety of other airlines hit during various times.

If you’re travelling today and heading to Ireland, or anywhere in Irish Airspace, expect delays, diversions and cancellations as aircraft are rerouted as needed – and if your airline has not contacted you – now would be a good time to contact them….

It’s done. Japan Airlines (JAL) has filed for bankruptcy protection.

A turnaround organisation says it plans to inject about 300bn yen into JAL, with a 600bn-yen credit line and get 730bn yen in debt waivers.  With stock at an all time low, it will be de-listed from the Japanese Stock Exchange on Wednesday 20th.

In practical terms:  flights will continue as normal as the airline restructures itself. JAL has also stated that Frequent Flyer benefits and miles are secure.

More of concern are 15,000 jobs that are now on the line thanks to this action.  All JAL’s board members have resigned in deference to this action.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a crash story without the companies sniffing around the carcasses. In this case, Delta was first out of the door with a statement.

“Delta and SkyTeam fully support Japan Airlines and stand ready to provide assistance and support in any way possible.
“Delta fully expects that JAL, with the support of ETIC, will be successful in its restructuring and return the airline to a position of prominence.”

In other words, once the re-organisation is nearing complete, expect a transition to SkyTeam…

Well it’s been a good few hours since BMI has announced its latest method of death spiral.

Lets take a closer look to see how this is going to happen – step by step (I’ve excluded the end of Manchester Long Haul for this exercise).

• Wet-Lease to Lufthansa Italia/Lufthansa Mainline – A sign on the beginning when an A319 were shifted away from BMI Mainline duties to help Lufthansa kick off it’s LH Italia service. And then the quick borrowing of anohter A319′s to assist the Berlin route take hold properly deprived the BMI A319 fleet of more rapid deployments.
• The cutback of KPB – This is a classic “What were BMI management on at the time” thinking – risk one aircraft, see if we get any traffic, pull it back if we don’t. Once again – no dedication to the route. 
• The cutback of TLV – From an A320 to an A330 to… nothing. Once again, poor leasing costs killed this route before it started. With reports of yields being awful too, this isn’t surprising – if regrettable.
• And CAI too – CAI also was upgraded to A330 service. However, this service has survived and has been switched back to an A321
• The cutbacks of AMS, BRU - Perhaps the first real sign of trouble when these were announced. This is down not only to the recession, but can be mostly be put at BMI’s own doorstep with it’s crazy inventory management – it’s classic way of killing off routes.
• The return of leased aircraft - with A330′s returning to lessor soon, and some A320′s/A321′s, it will be a much younger fleet that is left – however this reduces capacity and possible expansion space
• The Cutbacks of DUB - Or “How really to spite your customers”. Discussed in this very blog, and with revenues management hand playing, it’s spited customers in Ireland, who now consider Aer Lingus as the first method of getting to London now, with a useless service to get to London first thing, and getting back to Dublin last thing.
• The abolition of Short-Haul Business Class – BMI call it cost saving for APD. I call shenanigans, with all the changes coming up
• Spiting Golds, Silver and BluePlus by charging for food on Short-Haul - That’s right BMI – take away the last differentiator between you and BA for your elites. Shows how much you really value your elites, making short-haul users of the Electronic Upgrades practically useless
• The abolition of BluePlus – Set up as a method of making sure people who fly over 3000 miles a year so they don’t pay for food, this goes out of the window too. Shows once again, BMI don’t care about their elites for the price of £5 of food.
• And finally a wet-lease agreement announced today with Austrian Airlines from London to Vienna - Yet another A319 reassigned to other duties, which will retain business class.

Diamond Club members are however voting with their feet already, with elites burning miles, and switching business to other carriers – with BA and Aer Lingus being the direct beneficiaries of the actions of BMI.

Even British Airways is on the full poach, dragging customers from Amsterdam, Tel Aviv and Brussels for a very rare status match.

… and you know what – this Diamond Club member is thinking along the same lines. It could be time to dump BMI …