TIGER Airways would consider introducing a "standing-only" option for passengers in a bid to lower airfares.
The low-cost carrier said it could follow in the footsteps of UK budget airline Ryanair and introduce “vertical seating”.
“We continue to look at ways of making our operation more efficient so we can offer even lower fares than we do now,” Tiger Airways director, Steve Burns, said.
“Everything we do is about offering the lowest possible fare then allowing our customers to choose what, if any, extras they wish to pay for.
However, Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said the airline would never contemplate vertical seating or charging passenger to use the bathroom.
“A lot of Jetstar destinations are over two hours and longer, so the stand up seating idea doesn’t register on our radar. We have a completely different business model to Ryanair,” he said.
“It’s an interesting concept but I can’t see how this would fly in our part of the world."
Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O'Leary said the Irish airline will fund the controversial travel option by charging customer to use the restroom during flights.
His proposed “vertical seats” would be available in a special standing-room only sections in the rear of commuter flights lasting an hour or possibly longer.
Tickets would cost between $7 and $14 per passenger, Mr OLeary said in TV interview.
The new seating proposal was welcomed by Mr Burns, who said Tiger Airways wouldn’t rule anything out.
“Selling cheap fares is easy. Doing it profitably means having to continually innovate and evolve so that the cost base continues to reduce.”
Ryanair will conduct safety testing for the new vertical seats next year.
"We've been looking at is taking out the last ten rows of seats so we will have 15 rows of seats and the equivalent of ten rows of standing area," Mr OLeary said.
However, Civil Aviation Authority officials harbor doubts that the revolutionary new seats would pass safety rules.
"It's aviation law that people have to have a seat-belt on from take-off and landing so they would have to be in a seat. I don't know how Mr O'Leary would get around that one," said a spokesman.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/tiger-airways-considers-standing-only-airfares/story-e6frfq80-1225887114429#ixzz0sVpKahCt
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/tiger-airways-considers-standing-only-airfares/story-e6frfq80-1225887114429#ixzz0sVpEaNZf
Benjamin Donalds • Flight International is the number one aviation journal available. I have been reading it for years and 100% recommend it to anyone and everyone in the industry. Its a real good read!
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Kevin Patrick Herlehy • BCA (business and commercial aviation)
AIN
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Jean-Luc Esnouf • If you want an insight from the US, try Aviation Week. If you speak French Air & Cosmos. I confirm the comments on Flight International: www.flightglobal.com. Their web site is e x c e l l e n t.
Good luck on your research work!
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Nathan Smith • If you are looking at the the aviation industry from a global perspective, try Airline Fleet Managemet, Aircraft Technology Engineering and Maintenance, Aviation Week & Space Technology, and I concur with Flight International. I wish you success with your research.
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Frederico Lavia • ATW, Air Transports World is my favourite. Very good for the civil aviation universe.
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Prakash Mulani • Hi Rachel
I agree with Benjamin for Flight International and Jean-Luc for Flight Global. Both are excellent. In addition to that, check these out. I read them online and they are full of good info & news.
http://www.ainonline.com
http://www.aviationtoday.com
http://www.wingsmagazine.com
http://www.aerlines.nl/
And if you wan tsome really great pictures, aviation related, be it of an airport or an aircraft or something on those lines along with news and updates etc check outhttp://www.airliners.net/
For some basic news, tips and stats, check http://www.airsafe.com/
And finally, my personal favourite, which is for the most recent and up-to-date aircraft accidents and relevant info, investigation details, background, stats etc check outhttp://aviation-safety.net/index.php
Hope this helps.
All the best in your research
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Dhaval Vaishnav • AIAA Publication: Aerospace America - Provides really updated information on latest technologies, industry trends and also aviation history.
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Gregg Bender • I agree with all of the above. You will probably have more material than you need just with those suggestions. I wouls add Air & Space Smithsonian to the list, though it's more for the general reader.
Best of luck.
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Sathya Narayanan Dinakaran • Hi Rachael, from the Ground Handling & Airport Managements' perspective, i would recommend Ground Handling International, and Airports International. These two are largely 'Good' though many a contents are Advertisers specific.
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Thomas Fouché • "Airline Business", and its yearly survey about alliances, MROs, airports ... it the best in business terms, to anyone who has an interest in P&Ls and profit margins.
Thomas
www.airbusiness-academy.com
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Mark Brown • All of the above are good. However, if you are looking for news and developments relating to the Middle East & North Africa, then ARABIAN AEROSPACE magazine is the best with its daily online news service at www.arabianaerospace.aero You can also subscribe free to the magazine online. Good luck.
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Neil Engerran • Hi Rachel, we produce Aircraft Commerce which is quite a technical magazine. Have a look at www.aircraft-commerce.com and if you think the subject matter would be useful email me your address and I'll stick a few in the post for you :-)
Apart from that I am also a big Flight fan aswell. All the best.
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Janine McEvilly • Hi Rachel, our company produces a number of aviation and aerospace related magazines and websites.
http://www.ukipme.com/e_media.htm - list of news websites
http://www.ukipme.com/mag_index.htm - list of publications
With kind regards, Janine