Aviation
The Aviation Industry is in constant turmoil. New airlines, new business models and constant external challenges are producing a volatility that makes business difficult to plan and plans difficult to execute. In this section, members write on their experiences, risks and solutions.
Aviation: Continental to face trial over Concorde crash
Air France sued Continental Airlines in 2000 claiming that a piece of metal falling from one of Continental's planes directly led to the crash that killed more than a hundred people, and the world's only supersonic airliner.
Aviation: black box 50 years old this year - maybe
Melbourne inventor David Warren created the "Black Box" flight recorder in 1958. Or 1953, or 1957.
Aviation: Qantas first to blink
Of the big national carriers, Australian flag carrier Qantas is the first to announce massive changes to its operations to take account of impending difficult conditions.
Aviation: how the booms are going to turn to bust
Airlines around the world are reporting record profits or going out of business. The difference between the two has been the ability of some to hedge against the extraordinary rise in fuel costs. But the hedging strategies are expiring, and now airlines are facing the same challenges as motorists:
Aviation: US baggage charges underwritten by ... a brothel
In a spectacular piece of cheeky marketing, a Nevada company has announced that it will refund its customers the USD15 luggage fee being imposed by some airlines.
Aviation: BA's profits up 45%
Whilst Willie Walsh fines himself his annual bonus because of the LHR T5 debacle, and oil has doubled in price in the past year, BA has increased its profits by 45%. See: they could have afforded to keep Concorde.
Aviaton: "made in China"
An announcement on a Chinese government website will be causing consternation at four companies this morning: Airbus, Boeing, Bombadier and Embraer have awoken to the news that China Commercial Aircraft Company has been formed and funded.
Aviation: will you soon be able to clear security wearing your shoes?
Of all the indignities foisted on travellers in the name of security, the demand to remove footwear is probably the worst (although removal of a belt is a close second). But a US company thinks it might have the answer.
Aviation: Don't change your hairstyle when you are travelling
London Heathrow's T5 is to adopt facial recognition technology to speed up passenger flows through immigration.
Aviation: LHR gets a proper transfer service
London's Heathrow airport is a smelly, dirty dump that's difficult to escape and expensive to get away from. It's a horrible hike to the buses and trains and the taxis charge more than half the world's working population earns in a month for a one-way trip into central London. Compared to Hong Kong, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur or, frankly, most decent airports in Asia Pacific, it's a disgrace. But a new service offers hope.