United Flight 935: Turbulence over the Atlantic results in 4 with fractures and 1 with sprained ankle

United Flight 935 (Boeing 777) with 196 passengers, 12 crew and 3 pilots, was flying from Heathrow (London UK) to Los Angeles (USA) over the Atlantic Ocean when it hit turbulence. The turbulence resulted in 4 passengers suffering with fractured bones and 1 flight attendant spraining her ankle. The seat belt sign was off when the plane hit the bump that resulted in the rapid altitude loss. Since the sign was off, there were passengers walking in the aisles resulting in the injuries.

The flight ended up landing at Montreal (Canada) around 1:15 p.m. and aircraft was taken out of service. United Airlines provided another aircraft from passengers to be flown from Montreal to Los Angeles.

So, please whenever you are flying keep the seat belts on!

Mizozo.com

Read Full Post »

London’s Heathrow opens up again!

Read Full Post »

Activists, Greenpeace and Celebrities buy land to stop Heathrow Expansion Plan

We have heard about different ways activists have tried to stop Heathrow’s expansion, but recently they came up with a novel idea – buy a piece of land (almost an acre is size) in the middle of the planned site for expansion. Celebrities like Emma Thompson, Alistair McGowan; millionaire Tory Zac Goldsmith and a lot of activists contributed to buy the piece of land now called “Airplot”.

From Mizozo.com -

Celebrities like “actress Emma Thompson, the comedian Alistair McGowan,
millionaire Tory Zac Goldsmith”, greenpeace and activists bought a
portion a land in the middle of Heathrow’s expansion project.The land plot is called “airplot” and a thousand of brits have their name on it’s registration.

Cons 

• More planes, more pollution = more carbon emissions
• More planes – more noise

Pros

• More planes – More jobs
• More planes – More money for London or UK (since every person flying through or from London pays airport tax)

Read Full Post »

Kingfisher Airlines launches Mumbai-London Service

Kingfisher Airlines recently announced the start of its new service between Mumbai and London (Heathrow Airport) starting January 5th 2009. The airline will use an Airbus A330-200 (28 seats in First and 169 seats in Kingfisher Class).

Mumbai – London Flight Schedule IT 007
Departure from Mumbai – 13:45 Mumbai Local Time
Arrival at London – 17:55 London Local Time (Terminal 4)

London – Mumbai Flight Schedule IT008
Departure from London – 20:30 London Local Time
Arrival at Mumbai – 11:00 Mumbai Local Time (next day)

Other Services Launch -
Kingfisher also plans to launch Mumbai-Hong Kong operations from January 12 and Mumbai-Singapore flight from January 16. In addition, its flights from Bangalore and Chennai to Sri Lanka capital, Colombo, will start from January 19.
(from Hindu)

Read Full Post »

Is Heathrow’s third runway the best solution?

British Airways (CEO Willie Wash) and BAA (CEO Colin Matthews) have called for the construction of a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport. This statement came after a business group, London’s First, has called for “drastic action to end the problems of “Heathrow hassle“”. The group has called for scrapping of some flights at peak time (read here).

From Forbes -

“ BA chief executive Willie
Walsh told a transport conference in London that the London hub needed
a short extra runway and mixed-mode operation on its existing two
runways, which would create more take-off and landing space.”
“ Walsh said the absence of
spare runway capacity had caused Heathrow’s global network to shrink
from 227 destinations in 1990 to 180 today. ‘This is a cycle of decline
that must be reversed,’ he said.”

I am little worried about more construction at the airport for the following possible reasons (you might agree with one or two of them) -

• A patch to a bigger problem – The problem at Heathrow is capacity constraints, not just at the runway level but at Gates, etc. I think the best alternative would be to make another airport?
• Bad Record – Terminal 4 has caused us all to believe that expansions can result in chaos!!!
• Environmental Impact - Though I do not consider myself an environmentalist, but still I feel this should be studied, esp. with all the wide body planes at Heathrow.

Read Full Post »

SriLankan Airlines adds flights from Heathrow to Maldives

Starting October 26th 2008, SriLankan Airlines, national airline of Sri Lanka and previously know as Air Lanka, will start a new flight between London’s Heathrow Airport and the island nation (and luxury holiday location) Maldives.

From Skyscanner -

“Chanaka Olagama, manager of Sri Lankan Airlines’ UK and Ireland
operations, said: “We recognise the need to introduce this non-stop
service for such a popular holiday destination.

“Customers’
needs are our priority and we believe that this new direct service will
provide a time-effective way to travel in style and comfort to their
paradise location.”"

Taj Exotica Maldives

Read Full Post »

Naomi Charged on the Terminal 5 incident

Naomi Cambell has been charged on the incidence assaulting two police officers during a luggage incidence at Terminal 5 of London’s Heathrow Airport. The incidence happened during the infamous chaotic opening week of Terminal 5.

From Associated Press –

“The Crown Prosecution Service said Campbell faced six charges — three
counts of assaulting a constable, two counts of using threatening,
abusive words or behavior to the cabin crew and one count of disorderly
conduct. Police said the assault charges related to two officers.”

“She arrived at the police station Thursday in a chauffeur-driven
Mercedes. She left without speaking, but her lawyer said the supermodel
was “bitterly disappointed” that she had been charged.”

Read Full Post »

Heathrow Expansion: Anna Chancellor joins the protest

Anna Chancellor, the “Four Wedding and a Funeral” star is the latest celebrity to join the celebrity mothers protesting against airport expansion.

From here -
“The group will hold a candlelight vigil outside the House of Commons
in an effort to get the Government to take the lead in tackling global
warming. Children of the mothers, who include writer and
broadcaster Rosie Boycott, will deliver a letter to 10 Downing Street.
Another member of the group, which calls itself we CAN (Climate Action
Now), is novelist and film-maker Rebecca Frayn, daughter of playwright
Michael Frayn.”

I do agree to the environmental aspect of expansions and introductions of more flights, but I would like to point out the following -

• Celebrity actors and actresses who have already made millions (or billions) of dollars/pounds/euros. How come most of the stars who could be reckless or anything, be the role models for such kind of environmental friendly events?
• From wikipedia, “She has spent time living in several countries around the world and has a particular attraction to Zimbabwe” and “She now lives with an Algerian cabdriver several years her junior, Redha, who is now a sound technician“. I wonder if she walks to these places??? So, if she can fly and a lot of other people want to fly, so does it make sense to curb the airline industry which would make the tickets more expensive and only let her fly?

Read Full Post »

Terminal 5 Update: Heathrow’s Managing Director Quits!

Terminal 5 has taken new victim or should I say guilty as charged. Mark Butler, Managing Director of London’s Heathrow Airport, has resigned from the position at BAA. He is supposed to have left due to “change to management roles” after the introduction of new group chief executive Colin Matthews.

Mark Bullock was charged with “the successful opening of T5″ and before being director, he was “responsible for integrating T5 into the rest of the Heathrow operation”.

More on Terminal 5 - click here

From BBC article -

Mark Bullock had “chosen to leave” his job as the airport’s managing
director because of a change to management roles, according to
Spanish-owned BAA

Read Full Post »

Heathrow Airport: UK’s dump?

Events in order -

• Terminal 5 Opening day (/week/month) Chaos with bags misplaced/mislaid, passengers mis-connected and a lot of delays. Since January 2008, BA has mislaid 28.9 bags per 1,000 passengers.
• American Airlines’ Head of Customer Services (Europe) Don Langford slamming the airport as “bit of a dump” and “worst among major European hubs”

Now it is British Airways’ Chief Wille Walsh’s turn. He told at an Annual Conference at at the Royal Albert Hall that Heathrow, “state of London’s Heathrow Airport was damaging the country’s reputation and economy“. “I believe it is in the interest of the country that the reputation of
Heathrow is restored on a lasting basis as quickly as possible“.“For the sake of the UK economy and London’s place as a business capital, Heathrow has to catch up”.”If things continue to decline, UK businesses will lose competitiveness and might be forced to consider relocating abroad”. “Businesses will also find it difficult to attract inward investment.”

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t he also involved in the current state of events? Is there a big disjoint between the dominant carrier (BA) and Airport Authority (BAA)?

Read Full Post »