When I wrote about changes already announced and those still pending with the United-Continental merger last week, I meant to mention ‘Channel 9′ and simply forgot.

United has long offered one of my favorite onboard features, at the pilot’s discretion, the ability for passengers to listen to air traffic control (on channel 9 of inflight audio). Pilots don’t always turn it on, some explicitly don’t like it and will not, but I’ll often ask a flight attendant whether channel 9 will be on for the flight and if they’ve learned during preflight briefing that it will not be I will politely request that they ask the pilot to reconsider, frequently they will when a passenger is requesting it.

Look, I don’t care about the tulip. I suppose I do care about the Blue Carpet replacing the Red Carpet since it appears to support all elites boarding together (mayhem) even though they appear to still be calling top tier elites first. But channel 9 is a real differentiator, something that makes United United. Like Rhapsody in Blue which thank goodness they are keeping.

It appears that they are indeed keeping channel 9 at least according to United’s twitter feed.

Now, that doesn’t mean that they will roll it out to Continental’s aircraft. And it doesn’t mean that it will remain in the future to the extent that the overall inflight entertainment product should change. And Continental pilots may well be less inclined to turn it on, since they aren’t used to it, it isn’t part of the Continental culture. So I suspect that it may become less available than in the past, especially as the fleets integrate and the pilots operate across the entire fleet — you’ll need a legacy United aircraft and perhaps a legacy United pilot as well.

I do hope it doesn’t die a slow death, at least it appears it will not die a fast one. It’s a real customer-pleaser, and product differentiator, in a world where those are few and far between.By Gary at The View from the Wing
http://www.reuters.com/

Sun May 22, 2011 9:12am EDT

Air Zimbabwe’s flights came to a halt yesterday as the aircraft it was leasing from Zambezi Airlines was withdrawn over an unpaid US$460 000 debt. Its three Boeing 737s stopped flying last month. The most recent setback comes days after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suspended Air Zimbabwe’s ticketing license over unpaid debt. 

In March Air Zimbabwe leased a Boeing 737-500 from Zambia’s Zambezi Airlines but it was taken back on Tuesday. "Yes, there have been problems with Zambezi Airlines, but we are negotiating with our partners," acting CEO Innocent Mavhunga told New Zimbabwe. 

A further setback came when Zimbabwe’s civil aviation authority (CAAZ) grounded the airline’s three Boeing 737-200s, saying they had reached their flying limits. The aircraft serviced the Harare-China and Harare-London routes. The CAAZ said the aircraft were a public danger as they had reached their limit of 34 000 cycles (complete flights), VOA reports. The aircraft have an average of 30 000 flight cycles and more than 31 000 flight hours.

However, in a letter to Air Zimbabwe obtained by The Herald, Boeing said the airline could continue to fly its 737-200s. “The initial inspection threshold is 66 000 flight cycles and there is no requirement to perform inspections before that time . . . The threshold to begin these inspections is 66 000 flight cycles." Many other 737s have performed more than 30 000 flight cycles. “The anticipated limit of validity for the Boeing 737-200 is well above the current hours and cycles on the ZMB [Air Zimbabwe] fleet, so even after incorporating in 2013, there will be minimal impact on the ZMB fleet."

Nevertheless, Air Zimbabwe’s fleet has been criticised by the CAAZ. In a recent letter from CAAZ general manager David Chawota to the Secretary for Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development Partson Mbiriri, he said, "The airline has failed to demonstrate that they have a current, updated pool of spare parts sufficient to support an evidently demanding aging fleet of airplanes such as the B737s.”

"There is evidence of robbing spares from one B737 to another and mostly from the ground aircraft. This has, often times, resulted in a fleet wide cross contamination of defective systems and components. One defect would appear on all B737 over a period of time, one aircraft after another."

"Of even greater concern are fatigue cracks that may develop. These weaknesses in the airframe structure, if left undetected and unrepaired, may lead to catastrophic failure of critical structural members and even disintegration of aircraft in flight," Chiwota said.

Air Zimbabwe’s only other remaining aircraft is a Chinese-made MA60 turboprop, which failed to take off yesterday to service the Harare-Victoria falls route, according to VOA. One other MA60 remains unserviceable while another was damaged after hitting warthogs on the Harare runway and has not been repaired.

Last week IATA suspended Air Zimbabwe over US$280 000 of unpaid debt. "We hope that it [Air Zimbabwe] will clear its financial obligations to return to participation in IATA's financial systems in short order," IATA spokesman Chris Goater said. IATA is demanding a surety bond of US$1.7 million from the airline to allow it to resume ticket booking through its 60 000 accredited travel agents.

The African Travel and Tourism Association (Atta) yesterday informed its members of ‘Air Zimbabwe chaos’, as no aircraft were flying. “We are telling members to take care and investigate thoroughly before booking Air Zimbabwe,” Atta managing director Nigel Vere Nicoll told TTG. “We absolutely encourage travel to Zimbabwe and the Atta has been fully supportive of the country’s recovery plan,” he added.

Air Zimbabwe is facing pressure from workers who have not been paid April salaries and there have been reports of staff picketing outside the airline’s offices, according to The Zimbabwean. It has been common for staff to only receive half pay, something that has led to numerous strikes. In September last year, pilots went on a two week strike and between March-April they went on strike for almost a month over unpaid wages and benefits. 
Air Zimbabwe has approximately US$100 million of debt and makes a US$3 million loss per month.

As Air Zimbabwe’s services grind to a halt, British Airways is considering re-instating its Harare service, according to Nicoll. South African and other African carriers have been taking over from Air Zimbabwe’s local routes over the past several years.

Written by defenceWebThursday, 19 May 2011 13:40

An air travel recovery and cost cutting at Europe's largest airline by revenue lifted Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA) back to a full-year operating profit, with its bottom line also boosted by a unit's share flotation.

The Franco-Dutch group posted a 2010/11 operating profit of 122 million euros on Thursday after a 1.4 billion euro turnaround in core earningssince the previous year.

Revenue rose 12.5 percent to 23.62 billion euros.

Air France-KLM said it was "confident" in its ability to improve operating income this year but was also focused on reducing its 85 percent debt-to-equity ratio, prompting it to skip its dividend for the financial year to end-March.

International Airlines Group (ICAG.L) (ICAG.MC), formed by the merger of BA and Iberia, said this month it expected significant growth in operating profit this year as a continuing recovery in travel helps unit revenue and costs.

Air France-KLM shares rose 1.09 percent at 0756 GMT, outperforming a firmer market, boosted by a stronger-than-expected performance in cargo that reflects a brisk recovery in global trade.

"Air transport remains in a favourable condition, particularly in emerging markets," analysts at CM-CIC Securities said, adding Air France-KLM had demonstrated its ability to cap costs after weathering a tough final quarter.

READY TO ADAPT CAPACITY

Like most airlines navigating through an economic recovery hampered by political instability and volatile oil prices, Air France-KLM expressed uncertainty about the Middle East and the aftermath of the Japan earthquake, as well as its fuel bill.

The various crises in the past few months shaved half a percentage point off its unit revenue in the fourth quarter.

"The oil price is very difficult for the world economy and air transport feels the effects more quickly than most," said Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, whose mandate as chief executive was renewed by the airline group's board.

"We have reduced our costs and improved performance and are much better positioned to face these uncertainties than before."

Fuel costs rose by 186 million euros to 1.43 billion in the fourth quarter ended March 31. Unit costs rose slightly.

Full-year net profit of 613 million euros was boosted by a 1 billion euro gain from a revaluation of the company's 15 percent stake in the Amadeus reservations system, which is now listed.
The underlying net loss was 234 million euros.
The results were slightly below average analyst estimates of an operating profit of 173 million euros and a net loss of 179 million.
Air France-KLM said it would be taking no chances this year with capacity on the North Atlantic, where the group complained about a glut of available competitor seats over the past winter.
Gourgeon said a joint venture between Air France-KLM and U.S. carrier Delta  would trim capacity by 10 percent compared with the previous year in the 2011/12 northern winter.
The group has announced a 5.7 capacity increase in the summer to absorb a "positive" trend in bookings but said it was ready to lower this to adapt to any bumps in the recovery.

Analysts have questioned to what extent airlines can pass on increases in fuel costs to passengers while offering more seats.

Gourgeon unveiled the annual results for the last time on the company's current April-March reporting year, since the company plans to adopt the regular civil calendar from the end of 2011. 

News Story First Published By By Tim Hepher and Cyril Altmeyer from Reuters
PARIS | Thu May 19, 2011 5:56am EDT