INDIA: KLM And Jet Airways To Partner In Flight And Cargo Business

KLM- a part of one of the largest airlines in Europe, is looking to increase its presence in India as it plans to launch a new flight to Mumbai and enhance cargo co-operation within the country.

At present, the airlines, which is a part of the Air France-KLM group, however, operated in a limited capacity and faces intense competition from airlines based in Europe and the Gulf.

We hear KLM plans to resume Amsterdam-Mumbai service after nearly twenty years. Can you share details?

We are seriously considering launching a flight to Mumbai but it is not confirmed yet. There has been an enormous growth of business and relations between India and Netherlands. We have moved from having no connection between Amsterdam-Mumbai to a daily service by Jet Airways.

Moreover, the Airbus A330 aircraft, which had a capacity to accommodate 254-293 passengers, was upgraded to a Boeing 777 aircraft with 346 seats in six months' time.


How are your relations with Jet Airways shaping up? Does the partnership with Jet Airways allow you to bridge the gap with Lufthansa, which is largest European airline group in India?

Our strategy is to have a strong local partner in a country where we operate. Until now, the Air France-KLM group had three destinations in India including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With Jet Airways launching flights between Paris and Chennai in winter, we will have a fourth destination and Bengaluru will be connected to both Paris and Amsterdam.

Together with Jet Airways, we will have 61 flights to Amsterdam and Paris during the winter season, thereby stepping up our presence in the market. That also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights, and we are catching up to become the first.

Our strategy is to connect the networks and passengers from tier II towns in India can travel to tier II towns in the US via Amsterdam. This is a win-win situation for the Air France-KLM group as well as the Jet Airways.

Is Air France-KLM expanding co-operation with Jet Airways to other areas such as cargo and aircraft maintenance?

We are exploring a partnership with Jet in cargo. We think we have a good opportunity with increasing trade between India and Europe. A Boeing 777 aircraft has 15-17 tonnes of cargo capacity and we are exploring an opportunities involving, cross selling, sharing of aircraft belly space and cargo handling with Jet.

We do have some co-operation on engineering but it is relatively on a small scale and there could be an opportunity to further it.

Last year Jet Airways signed an MOU to enter into a commercial joint venture pact with Air France-KLM. What is the status of the proposed JV.

We have put a lot of efforts to ensure daily operations work well. It is important for our customers to have a seamless connection and a smooth transfer at hubs. The way we conduct financial settlements among airlines is not relevant for customers. For customers, it is relevant that they have good products and a seamless service.

A JV is always a point on the horizon and at some point, it could happen. But if we look at the most successful and enhanced partnership like the one we have with Delta Airlines, it took us years for us to come to that point. Personally, I prefer to make sure everything is good for customers first and then take steps on financial settlements and JVs.

How is your relation with Etihad and other Gulf airlines? Do you see them as partners or adversaries?

We do have co-operation with Etihad. We do have code shares between our hub and Abu Dhabi. We have partnership with Etihad and we are competing with Qatar Airways and Emirates.

Airlines are now looking for partners outside their alliances. Is that going to be a new trend?

If you look at our code-sharing agreements, we have such pacts with Delta, China Southern, China Eastern, Kenya Airways (all Sky Team members). Our partnerships are with the core members of the Sky Team. There are a few exceptions and every airline has a few exceptions. I would not put it as a new trend.

Cabin Crew Bedrooms, They Are Like Sleeping In A Coffin

Long-haul journeys can be exhausting for hardworking flight attendants as well as passengers, but where do crew go to unwind and escape demanding flyers?

Many Boeing 777 and 787 planes feature a secret staircase that leads to a tiny set of windowless bedrooms known as Crew Rest Compartments (CRCs).

Fascinating images provide a rare glimpse inside these confined areas, which few people have a chance to witness for themselves.

Most flyers are unlikely to have spotted the area before, as its narrow stairs are concealed behind a door, which usually requires a code or key to access it, and sleeping areas for crew are discreetly hidden above their heads.

The size and position of these spaces varies depending on each aircraft model, but they are typically nestled away behind the cockpit area, located above first class.

A Boeing 777 300 even shows staff members entering the relaxation areas through a hatch disguised as an overhead bin.

The accommodation is cramped and features an average of eight beds, depending on the airline.

On Boeing 777s, there are between six to ten beds, each containing storage space for flight attendants' belongings during the journey.

This model of plane also includes a separate area for pilots, with two beds, two business-class seats and, in some airlines, a bathroom area with a sink or lavatory.

On the Boeing 747s it is all bunk beds and on the 777 it feels like you are in a coffin.

They are cramped but you can make it comfortable as you get a blanket and a pillow.

I always take my own pyjamas and I make a little bed up. I sometimes try to take pillows and blankets from business class if they aren't in use.

It's very basic, some have TVs but they are tiny, smaller than iPad minis.'

On the Boeing 777, there is a separate area for pilots, with two beds, two business-class seats and, on some airlines, a bathroom area with a sink or lavatory

Some of the sleeping compartments are situated at the front of the plane above the first class section

Some bays come with entertainment systems, a blanket, pillows and on occasion, pyjamas, with each bed separated by draped heavy curtains which muffle out the sounds of other crew.

Different airlines have opted for varying bed layouts, ranging from Malaysian Air A380s, which has beds stacked on top of each other, to American Airlines Boeing 773s, which has beds sectioned-off from a central aisle.

On the Boeing 747s it is all bunk beds and on the 777 it feels like you are in a coffin.

The crew accommodation is cramped and features an average of eight beds, depending on the airline.

There is a strict policy of one staff member to each bunk, which usually stretches 6ft long by 2.5ft wide.

They are very small and very cramped and yes can be very claustrophobic. It’s not nice being in the tiny, confined space during severe turbulence, it can get very unnerving.

In terms of what staff do there, well that would be telling, but I’m sure you can imagine that a lot more than sleeping often goes on here.

We try to make them as comfortable as possible for us, bringing our own pyjamas, blankets and teddies to try and help us get some sleep, but to be honest it’s often very difficult to sleep.'

USA: Air France Diverts Two Planes Due To Terrorist Threats

Two Paris bound Air France flights from the United States were diverted Tuesday night due to bomb threats.

Both flights – an Airbus A380 and a Boeing 777 - landed safely.

Air France Flight 65 a 500-seat A380 was operating from Los Angeles to Paris and was diverted to Salt Lake City after the threat was received according to a US government spokesman.

Shortly afterwards, Air France Flight 55 a Boeing 777 with 298 passengers a crew operating from Washington's Dulles International Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport diverted to Halifax, Nova Scotia also due to a similar bomb threat.

Salt Lake City FBI Special Agent Todd Palmer said that “several law enforcement agencies are working to determine the nature of the threats which caused the aircraft to divert."

However no US military aircraft were scrambled.

Diversion of flights is the most draconian response to a bomb threat.

I think right now we take this seriously until we hear some explanation to the validity of the bomb threat.

However one safety analyst warned that this could be new phase in the terrorism war by ISIS.

“They [ISIS] could cripple aviation with hundreds of bomb threats,” the analyst warned.

Separately Russia has said that a bomb brought down Metrojet Flight 7K-9268 from Sharm el Sheikh to St. Petersburg (Russia) which crashed on Saturday October 31 killing all 224 on board.

USA: British Airways Plane Packed With Passengers Burst Into Flames On A Las Vegas Runway

A British Airways plane packed with passengers burst into flames on a Las Vegas runway just moments before it was set to take off.

The flight bound for London Gatwick was taxiing on the tarmac at McCarran Airport on Tuesday night when it suddenly caught fire after a catastrophic engine failure.

Terrified travelers on other flights captured the plumes of smoke coming from the Boeing 777 as those on board were forced to jump down inflatable slides and run away from the blaze.

Fourteen people were then taken to hospital for treatment – many suffering from suspected smoke inhalation while others were hurt when they evacuated.

The British Airways flight bound for London Gatwick was loaded with passengers on the tarmac at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas when it burst into flames – just before it was supposed to take off

There were 159 passengers and 13 crew members on board at the time.

According to preliminary information, the plane experienced a left engine fire on takeoff.

The pilot is heard calling ‘mayday’ and asking for ‘heavy fire services’ in a recorded transmission from air traffic control.

One runway was shut but flights continued to depart on remaining runways as paramedics treated those caught up in the fire.

The Boeing 777-220 has 225 seats. It is the same design of the Malaysian Airways Flight 370 which vanished last year.

A spokesman for British Airways said ‘The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority and we are looking after those who were on board the BA2276 from Las Vegas to London Gatwick following an incident on Tuesday September 8, 2015.

‘The aircraft, a 777-200 experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take-off from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

‘Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport.

‘157 customers were on board the flight, along with three pilots and 10 cabin crew. A small number of customers and our crew were taken to hospital.

‘All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.’

A spokesman from Boeing said they were looking into the incident.The Boeing 777-220 has 225 seats. It is the same design of the Malaysian Airways Flight 370 which vanished last year.

A spokesman for British Airways said ‘The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority and we are looking after those who were on board the BA2276 from Las Vegas to London Gatwick following an incident on Tuesday September 8, 2015.

‘The aircraft, a 777-200 experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take-off from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

‘Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport.

‘157 customers were on board the flight, along with three pilots and 10 cabin crew. A small number of customers and our crew were taken to hospital.

‘All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.’

A spokesman from Boeing said they were looking into the incident.The Boeing 777-220 has 225 seats. It is the same design of the Malaysian Airways Flight 370 which vanished last year.

A spokesman for British Airways said ‘The safety of our customers and crew is always our priority and we are looking after those who were on board the BA2276 from Las Vegas to London Gatwick following an incident on Tuesday September 8, 2015.

‘The aircraft, a 777-200 experienced a technical issue as it was preparing for take-off from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

‘Our crew evacuated the aircraft safely and the fire was quickly extinguished by the emergency services at the airport.

‘157 customers were on board the flight, along with three pilots and 10 cabin crew. A small number of customers and our crew were taken to hospital.

‘All customers have been provided with hotel accommodation, and our colleagues are helping them with anything further they require.’

A spokesman from Boeing said they were looking into the incident.He added that the pilot then addressed passengers and told them there had been a spectacular engine failure.

BA later sent this apology letter to passengers