Web Censorship Is Failing, Says Chinese Official The internet and mobile phones have undermined attempts by China’s secretive rulers to control the news, a senior Communist party official admitted today.... Read Full Article Geldof In Tiger Lily Row Bob Geldof is trying to erase the memory of Michael Hutchence by forcing the late rock star’s only daughter to change her surname, Hutchence’s sister says.... Read Full Article Monster Profit Falls, To Restructure The parent company of Monster.com reported announced a restructuring plan that includes cutting 800 jobs, or 15 percent of its full-time staff.... Read Full Article Indian Shepherds Stoop To Conquer Caste System Tension over still-rigid caste classifications, which underpin the Indian social system, spilled over into riots, with at least 23 people killed.... Read Full Article Spat Between Actors? Unions Snarls Negotiations With Studios The sudden split between two actors unions this weekend appeared to weaken labor organizations without making life easier for the studios they bargain with.... Read Full Article |
Cabins NewsBritish Airways counts cost of T5 fiasco as passenger numbers fallThe chaotic opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 last month led to British Airways’ worst April since the start of the Iraq war. Yesterday the airline said that passenger numbers had fallen by 7.9 per cent, or 221,000 people, to 2.5 million after the problematic opening of the £4.3 billion terminal. The British flag carrier was forced to cancel more than 430 flights and lost about 20,000 pieces of luggage as it moved into its new home at T5. The negative publicity and cancelled flights are thought to have contributed substantially to the fall in passenger numbers during the month. This particularly affected BA’s UK and European operations, which were the first to move into T5. Short-haul passenger numbers fell 8.5 per cent last month and BA’s aircraft were operating at only 70 per cent of capacity. Worldwide, the carrier’s aircraft were 71.6 per cent full during the month, the lowest April load factor since the Iraq war began in March 2003. Load factors are seasonal and typically in April traffic rises before the summer. The decline in passenger numbers last month was worst in the economy cabins, with an8.8 per cent fall compared with last year. Premium passenger numbers rebounded by 3.4 per cent after a 5 per cent fall in the previous month. Of particular concern to BA will be the sudden drop in transatlantic travel, which is where the carrier makes the bulk of its money. Passenger numbers to and from the Americas fell 7.9 per cent and the load factor fell to 72.2 per cent, from 78.5 per cent in the same month last year. Nick van den Brul, aviation analyst for Exane BNP Paribas, said: “T5 has clearly been a big problem and it will have an impact on profits. April is usually a good month, when things start to pick up after the winter, but this has not happened.” Analysts are concerned that BA’s passenger numbers are falling just as costs rise and the economy slows. Oil prices have hit record levels and this has caused a number of airlines to go into bankruptcy. BA put up its fuel surcharge last week to cover these increased costs, but it risks losing passengers, particularly as the economies of Britain and the United States slow. Doug McVitie, managing director of Arran Aerospace, an aviation consult-ancy, said: “The combination of higher fares, higher costs and falling passenger numbers is very bad news and the more bad news there is, the more people will be put off the airline.” BA’s share price fell 9¾p to 239p yesterday and is trading at less than half the level of a year ago. The company said: “Market conditions are broadly unchanged with long-haul, nonpremium traffic showing significant weakness. In April some impact was felt, particularly on transfer traffic, from the move to T5 and the operational problems in the early part of the month.” Ryanair, the low-cost carrier, has also suffered from weaker demand as a result of tighter household budgets. Its traffic figures for April show that it is not increasing passenger numbers by enough to cope with the capacity it is adding. Passenger numbers rose by 15 per cent to 4.7 million, compared with the same month last year, but load factors dropped to 79 per cent from 83 per cent. Further indications of weakness in the airline sector is expected today when easyJet, another budget airline, reports its first-half figures. Analysts expect a loss of about £50 million compared with a £17 million loss in the same half last year.Read Full Article Camp David braces itself for the cool front heading its wayThe log cabins of Camp David in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland will tomorrow once more be the setting for the awkward mating ritual between an American president and a British Prime Minister.Read Full Article On The Road: Somewhere in the Skies, Fish Ceviche Is Being ServedThere is a whole other culinary world of airline food being served up in first-class and business-class cabins on premium international carriers.Read Full Article External News for: cabinsLand board approves plan to raise cabin rents - KTVBIdaho ReporterLand board approves plan to raise cabin rentsKTVBBOISE -- The Idaho Land Board voted to boost the rent paid on hundreds of state-owned cabin lots on the shores of Payette and Priest Lakes. ...Cabin owners threaten to sue over rent boost by Idaho Land BoardIdahoStatesman.comPriest Lake cabin lots will see rent increaseThe Spokesman ReviewStanding room only at state Land Board…The Spokesman Review (blog)Idaho Reporterall 24 news articles »Land board approves plan to raise cabin rents - KTVBIdaho ReporterLand board approves plan to raise cabin rentsKTVBBOISE -- The Idaho Land Board voted to boost the rent paid on hundreds of state-owned cabin lots on the shores of Payette and Priest Lakes. ...Cabin owners threaten to sue over rent boost by Idaho Land BoardIdahoStatesman.comPriest Lake cabin lots will see rent increaseThe Spokesman ReviewStanding room only at state Land Board…The Spokesman Review (blog)Idaho Reporterall 24 news articles »Alaska Early summer cruises are on sale - OregonLive.comAlaska Early summer cruises are on saleOregonLive.comPrices above do not include airfare, taxes,and fees, and are listed for inside cabins only. Cabins with views or balconies are extra. ...Orbitz cruise sale: 13-night Alaska trip for $61 per dayLos Angeles Times (blog)all 2 news articles »Land board approves plan to raise cabin rents - KTVBIdaho ReporterLand board approves plan to raise cabin rentsKTVBBOISE -- The Idaho Land Board voted to boost the rent paid on hundreds of state-owned cabin lots on the shores of Payette and Priest Lakes. ...Cabin owners threaten to sue over rent boost by Idaho Land BoardIdahoStatesman.comPriest Lake cabin lots will see rent increaseThe Spokesman ReviewStanding room only at state Land Board…The Spokesman Review (blog)Idaho Reporterall 24 news articles »Alaska Early summer cruises are on sale - OregonLive.comAlaska Early summer cruises are on saleOregonLive.comPrices above do not include airfare, taxes,and fees, and are listed for inside cabins only. Cabins with views or balconies are extra. ...Orbitz cruise sale: 13-night Alaska trip for $61 per dayLos Angeles Times (blog)all 2 news articles »BA Fights Strike With High-Density Seating, Cold Food - BusinessWeekThe HinduBA Fights Strike With High-Density Seating, Cold FoodBusinessWeekThe plane will accommodate more than 200 people in coach-class seats, versus 117 on the A319 and about 175 on BA's own A321s, which include premium cabins. ...British Airways strike: parents 'forced to carry children's food on-board planes'Telegraph.co.ukBritish Airways strike threat: Where to find travel infoLos Angeles Times (blog)Union accuses BA of 'waging war' on crew preparing for seven strike daysScotland on SundayRoyal Gazetteall 3,049 news articles » |
i8news.com |
