One point I would make, is that the charter airlines in general are missing a trick with long haul flights.

I’m surprised that destinations like Phuket, Gold Coast or San Diego are not offered more. I think there are a few charter flights to Phuket – but you get my drift. There’s a big potential market there. A lot of people stick to the Med through price, because a more distant destination either involves forking out for a scheduled airline (and the hassle of arranging hotels etc) or an excrutiating day in a 200 seat 757.

I find really long flights in Economy a pain at the best of times, but I have to be honest and say that I would absolutely refuse to fly long haul on a charter airline. If I find BA or Emirates a trial, what joy with Britannia’s 28 inches?

Basically – the UK’s charter airlines have the chance to become the Ryanairs and Easyjets of long haul. I’m convinced there’s money to be made.

The 720 is a funny aircraft. I know it’s a lightweight 707 requiring less runway, but still with a good range.

In terms of capabilities, the nearest I can get to it is a four engined long range 727-200. Would that be accurate?

No cabin crew? The ones I flew on always had a stewardess. It must be a case of different requirements.

What is the passenger/cabin crew ratio in the US? I know that it usually works on the basis that you need to have a certain mimimum number of cabin crew. How do you serve the meals?

It’s very concerning that now the lies have been exposed, GWB and TB are refusing to admit that they misled anyone.

Originally posted by KabirT
Would be surpised if they go for B777s, they operate an all Airbus fleet.

The philosophy of cuting costs and increasing flexibility through fleet commonality is a bit of a mantra now. I agree with it fundamentally, but there are always a handful of reasons why it is logical to diversify the fleet.

Originally posted by KabirT
Ultimate issue is profit yes….but if they neglect customer satisfaction they cannot earn a thing!

But that isn’t the case, is it! Ryanair are the best example I can think of.

Conversely, Sabena was a great airline which shot itself in the foot.

To be honest, I reject the tags of “low cost” and “full service”. They’re just inaccurate and outdated descriptors.

All airlines exist on a service continuum with low cost at one end and full service at the other. Stray too far to either end of the contiuum and you will go bankrupt. Airlines position themselves on that continuum as they see fit. Using the notion of a “continuum” it would be easier to describe an airline according to colour I think.

Ryanair = brown
Emirates = yellow
Others are somewhere in between.

The same continuum idea applies equally well to cost structure. If I ever go into management consulting, I’ll probaby write a paper calling for colour convergence between service and cost continuums! I see lots of possibilites for taking a mathematical stab at this – any comment, GD?

Good to see! Jetblue seem to be one of the rare airlines going somewhere these days.

…until you go to Vladivostok!