Online Airline Guide
Many of you travel through different modes of transport such as car, bus, train etc. Traveling through air is considered to be luxurious and also reduces the time span of your travel. It’s very fast and convenient while you travel via air. While you plan to travel via air, airlines guide helps you to know the different places your flight shall make a halt, flight schedules and other necessary information.
Most of the airline companies have launched their online websites where you can find all the latest information with the click of your mouse. Such online air travel guide informs the following:
1. If you want to know the shortest route or flight duration between your departure and destination place, you can easily find it online.
2. You can find the direct destination from where you depart just by entering the correct information about the places in the boxes you find on the website.
3. You could easily find the terminal from where your flight departs from and arrive into just by entering the online code and flight number.
4. You have the ease to find all the routes an airline flow on a particular date just by entering the name of the airline.
5. You can find all the destinations that you need to fly by selecting the maximum amount of time you want to fly.
6. You can also find airlines that fly direct on specific routes.
7. You can find first and last flights of any particular airline on a specific day.
8. If you want to know which airline is operating your flight you can easily find it with the help of airlines guide.
9. All the relevant information about air fares, hotels and restaurants on the airports and maps and directions of your perspective flight.
10. You will find it very beneficial in case if you are carrying much luggage as it also gives cargo information.
In each way, considering an airlines guide is very beneficial to plan out your future air travel.
Categories: Airlines, Guide, Transportation, Travel Tags: airline flight guide, airline guide, help, Hotels, luggage, official airline guide, Online Airline Guide
Jet Aviation Sold to Permira Funds
Jet Aviation has announced that they have been sold, pending antitrust clearance, to the Permira Funds a leading international private equity specialist. Ending several years of speculation, the Zurich based operator of business jet services has finally accomplished what had long been expected: the sale of the Hirschmann family business to outsiders.
As early as 2000 the sale of Jet Aviation had been expected by employees as well as by industry insiders. Indeed, Jet Aviation management had been marketed openly throughout 2001 by Goldman Sachs, but the sale was cancelled when a suitable buyer was not found and the terrorist attacks put a further drag on an already downturning economy. Still, rumors of the sale of the company persisted and heated up recently with speculation that one of Warren Buffet’s companies, i.e., Gulfstream Aerospace, may have been interested in the company’s maintenance facilities.
Currently, Jet Aviation is a Zurich-based concern employing 3500 people worldwide. US operations remain strong with the bulk of the employees working out of Teterboro [NJ] Airport.
Even with the probable sale of the company to Permira, speculation is persisting as to what will become of the company after the sale is completed. Some industry leaders believe that the company is more valuable for its parts than as a single entity. Thus, parts of the company could be sold off and a scaled down Jet Aviation might remain in place. Areas of the company thought to be susceptible to a sale include:
1. US Maintenance Facilities. With prime locations at Bedford, Teterboro, West Palm Beach, and Dallas the American facilities are capable of providing expert airframe support to just about any type of business aircraft.
2. Completion Centers. Some or all of the company’s award winning completion centers are thought to be highly marketable. From the Boeing BBJ to the Gulfstream 550, and to the Sikorsky S-70A aircraft delivered “green” to Jet Aviation facilities are outfitted with state of the art interiors.
3. FBOs. Jet Aviation’s group of fixed based operations which provide domestic and international flight handling, line maintenance services, refueling, passenger and crew transportation, catering and hotel accommodations and immigration and customs services are an important asset for the company. Indeed, the Dubai facility — Jet Aviation’s newest FBO — is considered by some to be unmatched in the industry.
4. Jet Professionals. Founded in 1983, Jet Professionals — an aviation personnel service provider — became part of Jet Aviation as part of the acquisition of K-C Aviation Transportation Services in 1996.
5. Aircraft Management. Over 160 aircraft worldwide are managed by Jet Aviation including more than 50 in the US alone. Many of these aircraft are also available for charter. US operations could be sold to Jet Aviation’s strategic partner, New World Jet Corporation, a FAR Part 135 charter certificate operator.
In all, the sale of Jet Aviation ends one big area of speculation while, at the same time, it has opened up other areas. In the world of business aviation speculation is business as usual.
Low Cost Airline. Low service level?
Low cost airlines are now common place in our society and since there launch, traveling to foreign countries is now possible for the masses.
Easy Jet are considered to be the founders of low cost air travel, starting there operations from London Luton Airport. Over the years, Easy Jet has grown and now flies to many European countries. As Easy Jet grew, more and more airlines jumped on the bandwagon. Ryan Air, BMI Baby and FlyBe to name a few.
Not so long ago, I had cause to travel from the UK to France on a regular basis. As there were low cost airlines operating from my local airport, East Midlands, I decided to sample a flight and flew with BMI Baby. At that time, BMI Baby, the low cost arm of BMI (British Midland International), were flying to Paris CDG. It was a really convenient service and took about 1 hour. The flight I would regularly take, left the UK at 16:00 and would arrive in Paris at 18:00 local time. I can’t quite remember how many journeys I made with BMI Baby, but I would hazard a guess at about 12 – 15 times.
When BMI Baby launched there low cost operation from East Midlands, the fares were offered at ridiculous prices. Ridiculous to the point that they were offering seats for nothing! Unfortunately there is the issue of tax, so the flight was not actually free. Never the less, a return flight from the UK to France usually cost somewhere in the region of about £50 – £60, including tax. Seems incredible how they could actually make any money from their flights!
Although the costs were low, I felt that the service levels were quite high. My experience flying with BMI Baby was nearly always great. Although the flight is labeled as a no frills flight, the staff were very courteous and food and drink were always available for the short flights. The punctuality was excellent too!
BMI Baby stopped operating the flight from East Midlands to Paris and was replaced by there parent company BMI. In my experience, as soon as BMI Baby stopped flying and handed over the baton to BMI, which in effect is the same company, the prices escalated. It was very disappointing to lose the service as I had always enjoyed flying with them and found the prices easy on the pocket. I have since found alternative ways to travel from the UK to France, but if BMI Baby decide to come back, I will be tempted to come back too!
For people considering moving to another country as an expat, or simply looking at buying a holiday home abroad, there is no doubt that the low cost airlines have opened the door to another world. Another world which was not imaginable not so long ago. Low cost airlines, low service levels? Not in my experience.
Bon voyage!
Categories: Airlines, Airport, Transportation, Travel Tags: expatriate, flights, flybe, Low Cost Airline, low cost airlines, Low service level?, Travel
