♥ Tuesday, February 23
FRANKFURT (AFP) - – German airline Lufthansa and pilots agreed Monday to resume talks, ending a one-day strike that grounded almost one half of flights at Europe's biggest airline.
The strike will be lifted at midnight (2300 GMT on Monday), and talks would resume "immediately and without conditions" a joint statement said.
A planned four-day strike by about 4,000 members of the Cockpit pilots union was averted as cabin crew at rival British Airways (BA) voted a strike of their own against changes to their working conditions, without setting a firm date.
An air traffic controllers' strike was set for Tuesday in France, meanwhile, as Europe's airline sector tried to keep labour unrest from joining an already robust list of problems.
Lufthansa, Europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers, had asked a Frankfurt court to prevent the pilots strike from continuing past its first day, calling the action "disproportionate".
An airline spokesman told AFP the carrier had managed to assure around 960 flights on Monday from the daily average of 1,800 after the strike by pilots to press demands over job security and pay issues.
Unions representing 16,000 Lufthansa cabin crew threatened to follow the pilots' lead if the firm failed to come to terms with them as well.
A wage contract with cabin crew expires on February 28, but management has failed to make a new offer and is refusing to hold talks, UFO union spokesman Nicoley Baublies said.
Lufthansa, like most rivals, is reeling from upheaval in the global airline sector.
Worst hit by the strike were the airline's hubs in Frankfurt, Europe's third biggest airport, and Munich.
Lufthansa Cargo, one of the world's biggest freight carriers, and the firm's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings were also affected, though the cargo unit said more than 85 percent of its capacity had been covered on Monday.
Cockpit spokesman Joerg Handwerg nonetheless told AFP the strike had been "a great success."
The union says it is trying to defend the terms of a contract signed with Lufthansa in 2004.
"We have a contract and Lufthansa is breaking it" by boosting the number of flights operated by subsidiaries with lower costs, Handwerg explained.
Starting pilots at the parent group earn an annual pre-tax wage of 60,000 euros (81,600 dollars) according to its website, and one with more than 15 years with the airline told AFP his pay was double that.
With the strike announced last week and the airline informing passengers in advance, the situation at Frankfurt's airport on Monday had been orderly since many travellers had made other arrangements.
But others had to scramble, including Nigerian Hope Odia, 41, who was trying to make it back home for his father's funeral, while his nephew Chester Ade waited to see if something could be arranged.
"This is terrible," Ade told AFP. "The stress is getting greater and greater."
European airlines have been fighting for survival meanwhile as they battle with the triple challenges of low-cost airlines poaching customers, soaring fuel costs and the worst global recession in decades.
Lufthansa has nonetheless bulked up during the crisis via the purchase of a number of smaller carriers such as BMI, the former British Midland, and Swiss, formerly Swissair, and by creating its own subsidiary in Italy.
In France, a planned strike by air traffic controllers was set to disrupt a quarter of the flights from Paris' main airport Charles de Gaulle on Tuesday, authorities there said.
4/9 '10 loves x3 11:43 PM
♥ Monday, February 8
TOKYO (AFP) - – Japanese authorities have found the body of a man in the landing gear of a Delta airliner that arrived in Tokyo from New York and said Monday they were seeking US help in identifying him.
The man, who was of dark complexion and dressed only in blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, was carrying no passport or personal belongings.
A mechanic found the body in the landing gear bay of the Boeing 777 after Delta Flight 59 landed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport at about 6:05 pm local time Sunday, a Chiba prefecture police spokesman said.
"Doctors say he probably froze to death and that he suffered a shortage of oxygen at an altitude of more than 10,000 metres (about 30,000 feet)," said another police official, Narita airport station spokesman Yoshimi Ichihara.
"We found no passport, no bag and no personal belongings. If he carried any luggage, it must have all dropped out when the airplane opened up the hatch of the landing gear bay above the ocean before it landed."
Japan was seeking help from US police to identify him, he said.
4/9 '10 loves x3 7:49 PM
♥ Sunday, February 7
SINGAPORE : After a series of highs, the week—long Singapore Airshow has come to a close.
Wrapping up, organisers said over 112,000 visitors had walked through its doors.
Over 41,000 trade visitors from 122 countries and regions came to the show, while about 71,000 people showed up on the last two days, when the show was opened to the public. — CNA/ms
4/9 '10 loves x3 11:46 PM
♥ Wednesday, February 3
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean couple marked Jetstar’s inaugural flight from Singapore to Shantou, China, on Tuesday by tying their nuptial knots on board the aircraft.
Alvin Lim and Rachel Chan exchanged their marriage vows in the presence of a Justice of Peace on board the budget carrier.
Rachel said: "We decided that if we could have a wedding solemnisation venue that was completely different, how nice that would be. And if we could actually solemnise our marriage in the air, that would really bring out the spirit of adventure."
Jetstar Asia is the first foreign carrier to operate international flights into Shantou Waisha Airport in China’s Guangdong province.
Shantou is Jetstar Asia’s 20th destination and second to mainland China after it began the four times weekly direct Singapore—Haikou flights in Hainan province from December 16 last year.
Jetstar will fly the new route three times weekly between Shantou Waisha Airport and Singapore’s Changi Airport. — CNA/de
4/9 '10 loves x3 10:13 PM
♥ Tuesday, February 2
SINGAPORE: Asia’s largest aviation and defence exhibition, the Singapore Airshow, will take place on Tuesday.
Besides the commercial aspects, experts said defence contracts are something that will also be keenly observed.
And already the largest exhibitor, ST Engineering, has announced a S$58.8 million contract for the demilitarisation of ammunition for an African country.
The contract involves the supply of special equipment and services such as training and operations assistance. The contract is scheduled to be completed within the first half of 2012.
The company will also showcase Southeast Asia’s first—ever unmanned surface vehicle and other innovations at the event.
The VENUS Unmanned Surface Vehicle or USV can be used for naval missions and security operations. It is designed such that it can be reconfigured for maritime surveillance as well as anti—submarine warfare.
Such innovation is part of ST Engineering’s focus on customised solutions, especially with changing security needs worldwide.
Patrick Choy, executive VP, International Marketing, ST Engineering, said: "The situation that happened in Mumbai, for example, the terrorists came in from the water and created so much havoc.
"So in a sense, we are now going out to the market and say ’Look, there’s a real need to protect cities and protect all these assets.’"
It took two years for the company to develop the USV and it costs more than S$2 million, depending on various levels of customisation required. Even so, the company said there are already interested buyers.
Another innovation to be showcased at the airshow for the first time is the Trailblazer vehicle which destroys mines.
The Warthog will also make its debut at the show. Ten of the vehicles have been purchased by the UK Army for use in Afghanistan. — CNA/vm
4/9 '10 loves x3 9:46 PM
♥ Monday, February 1
Linger
Mmm hmm, I want to linger here
Mmm hmm, a little longer here
Mmm hmm, a little longer here with you
Mmm hmm, it's such a perfect night
Mmm hmm, it doesn't seem quite right
Mmm hmm, this is our last night here with you
Mmm hmm, and when comes December
Mmm hmm, I will remember
Mmm hmm, our camping days and friendship through
Mmm hmm, and as the years goes by
Mmm hmm, I think of you and sigh
Mmm hmm, it's just goodnight and not goodbye
4/9 '10 loves x3 12:50 AM
