a380

Tag Archives for a380.

HiFly moves to Eliminate Single Use Plastics

Hi Fly is aiming to have a single use plastic-free policy on all its flights by the end of 2019. This is welcome news for me. I cringe at how much plastic I  see get disposed of on planes. And I am mortified at how much I have contributed to. On 26th December 2018, HiFly operated the world’s first plastic-free flight from Lisbon to Brazil. The carrier replaced plastic cutlery and containers with bamboo and compostable alternatives made from recycled material. They are going to test the process on three other flights: I just need…

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Qantas Gold for Life- After 20 years

A minor monumental moment happened this week for me, when Qantas shifted me from Lifetime Silver to Lifetime Gold in recognition of the 385 flights and 562,430 miles flown with them since I joined the Qantas Frequent Flyer programme 20 years ago in 1997. (Plus the few hundred thousand miles on partner carriers such as American, British and Cathay Pacific). Lifetime Gold is the equivalent of One World Sapphire. I am pretty excited by being a Gold member for life. It means that while I am alive and Qantas is in business  and they do not change the rules (important…

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Emirates New Safety Video

This is the month of new safety videos. Emirates are using a cut through of their A380 to illustrate the safety procedures across the giant plane. I think it works, however. What do you think? Related Posts 5* Emirates Business: Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur Trip Review: Emirates- comparing the A380 Qantas Brilliant New Safety Video unpacked – Aussies may need a hanky Oman’s new safety video Vs Qantas: Imitation the greatest form of flattery

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Skymark’s Rescuer is ANA

All Nippon Airlines (ANA)  has beaten Delta Air Lines in a race to turn around the fortunes of Japan’s third largest air carrier Skymark Airlines. Skymark have been  in bankruptcy since January, 2015. Skymark launched in 1996 after airline deregulation in Japan. The carrier grew rapidly but in recent years has been impacted by significant growth in the number of low cost carriers in Japan and by the falling Japanese currency.  Since 2010, Skymark had planned to become an A380 operator. Their aim was to charge fares between Japan and Europe/USA that were less than half of those of…

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Unhappy Passenger’s revenge

If you could not get a seat on a plane, what would you do? After begging Merpati Nusantara airlines for five hours to sell him a seat on a sold out flight from Kupang (Timor Island) to Ngada (Flores) on Saturday 21 December, an Indonesian district chief, Marianus Sae, got revenge. Mr Sae sent public order officers to drive cars onto the runway of Turolelo Soa airport to stop the plane landing at its destination.  He said “blocking Merpati from landing at the airport would teach the airline a firm lesson.” Airport officials could not stop the…

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British Airways Beautiful new A380 has arrived, a visual tour

I have to be honest, I am in love with the A380. After 12 A380 flights with six airlines over 120,000km, I am hanging out to add more airlines to my A380 experience. This week it is British Airways turn as they add a Heathrow to Los Angeles A380 route (operating as  BA268 and 269). British Airways Senior First Officer Peter Nye takes you on a tour of British Airways new A380 aircraft. It certainly whets your appetite for the real thing. The BA A380 will have 469 seats in a four class set up: 1. BA First…

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China Southern’s messy A380 situation

The delivery last Sunday of a Boeing 787 to Guangzhou based China Southern airlines makes the carrier the first in the world to fly both the 787 and the Airbus 380. China Southern  are now the largest passenger airline in Asia, carrying over 85 million passengers last year. The carrier is rated a four star airline by Skytrax. The status of orders of the two craft by Chinese carriers is: At first, China Southern will use the 787  on the Guangzhou – Shanghai services. By the end of the year the carier plans to have five…

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Airbus drops 100 feet

What caption would you put on this picture? This picture taken by Alan Cross and published to Instagram has gone viral. The two Singapore Airlines flight attendants sit calmly after being ordered to their seats when their Airbus A380 (registration 9V-SKH) encountered severe clear air turbulence 90 minutes into a Singapore to London flight on 26 May. Behind them is a scene of devastation. Breakfast was just being served when the plane dropped 100 feet. Eleven people had minor injuries as a result of the turbulence. The flight SQ308 continued onto London and landed safely…

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Malaysia’s A380

Have you flown Malaysia Airlines? I now have four reasons to try them.  I have never flown them even though they connect Asia to almost every major Australian airport. Hope I can fix this soon.  They are rated a five star airline by Skytrax and I am eager to work through all of the five star carriers.  They are on track to  join Oneworld in the last quarter of the year which means I can now start earning Qantas points and Status Credits when flying Malaysian  They are the latest  airline to fly the A380, one…

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ANA 787 Biofuels Flight

787 launch customer All Nippon Airlines (ANA)  received their newest 787 this week. It completed a transpacific biofuel flight from  Boeing’s Delivery Center in Everett, Washington to Tokyo Haneda Airport. The plane was powered by a mix of regular aviation fuel and used cooking oil! ANA currently have five 787s; four are flying domestically and one is flying Tokyo-Frankfurt. They will begin flying Tokyo to Seattle from July 25 with a 777 , and some time in the year,  will switch to a 787.  The ANA 787 has 158 seats (46 Business arranged 2/2/2 and 112 Economy arranged 2/4/2). The airline itself,  announced a record…

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