RE: Virgin Red-New US low cost airline

I do believe that BA/AA were willing to surrender some of their LHR slots if they were allowed to merge. Sounds reasonable to me!

I think that the UK would benefit from US airlines flying here domestically – Southwest might give Easyjet a shock! I also think some UK airlines would do very well in the US market.

RE: WHERE IS KABIR?!

Out !
Out !
Out !

If I can post my own very ugly picture…I’m sure you can man!

RE: Train crash kills 6 in UK

Well you gotta consider the abysmal state of the infrastucture when it was privatised – its a little unfair to blame the profit motive, when most of the current danger stems from decades of under investment at the hands of our glorious government. Companies are easier targets than the government, aren’t they?!

I actually hire a car these days rather than use the trains – apart from some of the prestige routes (the LHR express for one) the entire network just FEELS unsafe to me.

RE: The European Union bar code……..

Elp, is this the first time you ever agreed with me??

RE: Current Magazine

Not sure this is an editorial problem or not…

Sometimes it can be diffucult to buy a copy of AW outside of the big book retailers such as WH Smith. In the Isle of Man any way!

I also noticed that sometimes (going back 6 months-1 year admittedly) that out of date issues are on sale rather than the current issue.

Just a suggestion – at some airports (eg. Manchester) there are a bundle of complimentary magazines in the departure lounge (Economist, Vogue, T3 et al) and it would seem a natural placement for AW to catch people’s eyes. People with no pressing interest in the subject matter may be more amenable to reading a copy in such surroundings.

Mongu.

RE: Virgin Red-New US low cost airline

The US has always had a policy of protectionism – ie. only Americans can own airlines in the US and Americans can only buy steel made in the US (for example).

This would only work if at least 51% of the voting rights of Virgin Red were owned by a US corporation or individual, I think. It would therefore not be controlled at all by Virgin.

RE: Nigerian Airliner Crashes in Kano; 105 on Boar

The EAL 1-11’s went to Kabo Air I think (as with some Virgin 742’s) whereas the crashed aircraft was operated by a different airline.

Nigeria’s civil airline industry is a disgrace to that country. It has nothing to do with poverty whatsoever (it is in a much worse state than in, say, Zambia) but more to incomprehensible levels of corruption and incompetence.

Most western firms operating there DO NOT ALLOW STAFF TO FLY DOMESTICALLY. Several large multinationals have pooled together to buy a few light aircraft rather than risk the lives of management!

I can not illustrate this better than to refer you to the TV programme shown in the UK – “Lagos Airport”. In the opening credits, there is a Nigerian Airways A310 parked up. It is filthy, and a bit of the roof is missing!