Recent content by Airline Man

Well against all the odds and financial common sense the first commercial flight between GLA and JFK has taken off. Good luck to them. would love to know how many passengers actually paid for their tickets…

I’ve been in the airline business for forty years and still don’t know what they’re trying to achieve. I’m not sure whether this is going to be a scheduled airline or a charter company. All their traffic is going to be point to point with no connecting traffic and even with dirt cheap give...

I did that once, it was a Sikorsky S-61 and it took just fifteen minutes, G-LINK operated by BCal helicopters I believe.

I’m not working today (phew). After chatting to my colleagues nearly everyone is blaming the Russians (without any evidence) even senior BA management! The last time I remember Heathrow being totally closed was when the volcano in Iceland went off. We were still at work during that but I can...

I did ’revenue management’ for BA for around twenty years! Yes, it was me that decided how far to overbook flights. In the department individuals were each responsible for a small number of routes where we knew the characteristics of each route booking wise. I wouldn’t mind doing the same for...

I started work with British Caledonian at Gatwick in 1984 and the second runway was a hot topic even then. I believe that the airport and West Sussex council agreed not to build a second runway for FORTY years! I wouldn’t hold your breath, this will go on and on for many years and we’ll all be...

Peter, i‘m currently reading a book by Lucy Leonelli called ‘A Year in the Life’ where she delves into the A-Z of British ‘sub cultures’. I’m currently up to T for trainspotters and the person she is travelling with has the same name as YOU! Are you that person? I know it’s nearly four in...

Well all be long dead by the time they build a third runway at Heathrow.

American Airlines ran a short lived Stansted - Chicago service in the 90’s (I think). I think Emirates have a service there now.

Excess hand luggage is a pretty common cause for flight delays, too many passengers turn up at the gate with huge carry ons that won’t fit into the overhead luggage locker, which then have to be checked in and put into the hold. Of course no frills airlines look at this as yet another revenue...

VF was British Air Ferries or later known as British World Airlines. They went bust in 2001. They were mostly charter but did some scheduled services towards the end, including a Stansted - Bucharest service. The ‘VF‘ code stood for ‘Vehicle Ferry’ as they used to run car ferry services over...

It’s being reviewed. It’s universally unpopular with staff, of low quality and falls apart quickly. And yes, I work for them and wear the uniform.

The answer is that the UK has no control over the level of security checks carried out in other countries. Each country has their own standards so international transfer passengers have to go through UK security as do UK originating passengers transferring flights in other countries. UK...

Don’t Ryanair refer to Newquay as ‘London West’?

I’d love to have flown on the VC-10 or Handley Page Herald. Although still in service I’ve never been on one of the 146 family. But for the sheer white knuckle ride it’ll have to be the Tupolev Tu-104. The thrill of a high speed landing with a high chance that the most dangerous jetliner in...