These certainly are interesting economic times 😉 It’s not all doom and gloom for the Far East, however. Watch this space, Vietnam could be hugely powerful in the next 10-15 years. Along with South Korea, both are growing progressively and sustainably.

China’s problems are quite widely published http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-19662365

Carry on laughing all you like. A stock broker friend of mine, informs me that the rise of the Chinese economy, along with those of India, Brazil, and others in South America, will bring about a seismic change in the economic order globally. As he is fairly clued up on things financial, I think I’ll take notice of what he says.:diablo:

South America, yes. India, maybe (if they utilise their young and vibrant workforce). China, no.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/20/china-next-generation-ageing-population

Hmm, I thought this was their theme tune? :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTu7GLfrmUI

Also, whilst the US does have a lot of debt. A lot of it is owned by China, if the US were to default tomorrow – it wouldn’t be the everyday American Joe that feels the brunt of the collapse, but his bond holder across the Pacific. :dev2:

The US may indeed still be a superpower, but one I think, that it is in a slow, gradual decline in that respect. Being in debt to the tune of trillions of dollars, will inevitably have an effect on the US being able to hang on to that status, as time marches on. Economics is key in these matters, and economic power is shifting east.

I can’t help but laugh when people think the far east’s (namely china’s?) economic policies and bubble growths are sustainable.
Lets go back 20-30 years. To a time when the west was fearing another Far Eastern emerging ‘superpower’ – oh yes, that little island named Japan. During the mid 80’s Japan’s annual growth far outpaced even that of China’s growth today.
However, the sun finally set over the rising sun economy – leaving a nasty hangover. Japan currently has (by far) the highest debt to GDP ratio of any country on earth (about 230% of annual GPD). They’ve also had the ‘lost decade’ of economic growth where economic growth remained at 0% throughout the late 90’s up to the 2008 financial crisis. On top of this they’ve also had 7 prime ministers over the past 7 years, as an endless stream political leaders fall short of the mounting internal pressures of the country.

You could ultimately say Japan’s economic problems lie with its dwindling workforce and growing OAP demographic. hmm… :rolleyes: Where else in the world has a slowly declining workforce and fast growing OAP demographic… Oh yes… China :diablo:

If recent history’s anything to go by? We should really stop worrying about the long term viability of China.

I find your favourites a little tacky, but to each their own.

I personally feel the subtle elegance and sophistication of BA’s livery can’t be beat – but, I guess I’m bias? :p

Failing that, the historic red, white and blue stripes and polished aluminium of American Airlines is always a treat to see flying overhead 🙂

the Scilly Isles have very little cover for anyone in need of medical attention or indeed contact with the mainland.

I assume in the event of a medical emergency, air ambulances or Navy Sea-Kings from Culdrose would be drafted in to ferry the patient?

I can understand the Newark cut… but LA? 😮 Were the loads really that bad on the A380 that the route deserved a complete cut rather than a capacity downgrade?

I suspect they’ll be back, those 40 A350s have to go somewhere 😉 …or will all those A350s be flying from Europe to Australia? :diablo: