I admit that I don’t think much about my seats when I fly and instead I’d be more interested in where I’m seated (aisle or window). But apparently a lot of time and resources are poured into designing the seats. Take a peek inside the highly-secretive, East London studio where airline seats are dreamed up.
Airline pricing webinar – April 16, 2014
Click image to register and to learn more about the event
Date & Time: Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Venue: The Willard InterContinental Washington, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
For the United States, Japan is the fourth largest market in bilateral passenger air services. More than ten million people fly between these two countries every year.
Unfortunately, while other Asian aviation markets, such as U.S.-China, have rapidly developed, the U.S.-Japan market experienced a downward trend during the last decade. This may reflect the difference in economic and social circumstances among the U.S.-Japan and other bilateral markets. Some might argue that the U.S.-Japan market has and will continue to exhibit relatively softer demand than in the past.
However, conditions in the U.S.-Japan market are changing. The Open Skies agreement, airport expansion in Tokyo, and recovery from the recent economic downturn in both countries and the Great East Japan Earthquake could factor in the revitalization of the market.
In this seminar, JITI’s distinguished speakers will review the current dynamics of the U.S.-Japan aviation market and discuss whether it can be reinvigorated, including what the key to an eventual resurgence might be.
Click here to see the agenda, speakers line up and registration information.
Here is something new.. Attendants on a subway train serving snacks and beverages? Yeah.. That’s what happened in Toronto’s subway.. This past Sunday, Improv Toronto decided to put a fun twist in an otherwise mundane ride on the city’s subway ride to make it memorable for the riders. As they said on the website, “Our mission was simple, transform the old every day nature of riding the subway into a luxury flight experience, making it more a comfortable, enjoyable, and eventful ride.” So, off they went, equipped with snacks, drinks and blankets, our sharp looking flight subway attendants and captain tended to the riders on a Eastbound train on the Bloor Line.
Looking at the warm welcoming smiles on the riders’ faces, I wouldn’t be surprised if this stunt gets emulated globally much like the No Pants Subway Ride , another popular Improv stunt. BTW, worn out Washington, DC Metro riders like me can sure get used to some TLC like this..
Related articles
It should be maddening for any tax payer in the country to see how the public dollars are spent wastefully on projects that are not really benefiting the community. Today’s Washington Post story on one such wasteful spending measure shows how badly the lawmakers manage the money, despite the pressure to not do so from the administrations (incl. current and the previous administration ). It explores an obscure federal program established by Congress in 2000 allows tiny airports to draw $150,000 in federal funds every year. The article uses Oklahoma’s Lake Murray State Park Airport as a case study. This issue of wasteful spending takes added importance as the public are nervously watching what’s going to happen with the looming sequestration (scheduled to kick in on March 1) as the country is embroiled in a tough political battle to avoid further slide. Brilliant reporting.
And a few interesting nuggets from this Washington Post story:
Pres. Bush opposed continuing the program but the Tea Party dominated congress decided to continue with it.
Oh man.. Angry customers reacting to terrible service from a transportation provider is nothing new, esp. with airline companies, but what you are going to see below takes it to a new level. Interestingly, this customer who lost his cool is reported as a Chinese government official, which only means the airlines staff have no way of handling this as usual.. His poor spouse (lady standing adjacent to him) seems clueless about how to bring this raging bull of a man under control..
It is official. I declare that Air New Zealand is the most fun airline on this planet. You ask why? Check this video below and you will agree with me wholeheartedly. Always known for pushing the envelope, Air New Zealand packaged an important safety message into a well-made hobbit themed video that is not only fun to watch but also compelling enough to get you to pay attention. For this brand new Hobbit inspired Safety Video, Air NZ partnered with WETA Workshop and it features cameo appearances including Sir Peter Jackson. What’s better? Visit http://www.airnzcode.com/hobbitmovie to Find and Unlock the Elvish Code for your chance to win one of six double passes to the World Premiere Screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in New Zealand on the 28th of November 2012
I’ve not had a chance to fly #airnzhobbit but one of these days I’ll definitely do so to experience the fun. Oh, why can’t the other airlines take a leaf (or two) from #airnz and do such creative infusion into their drab and stale “professional looking” safety briefings. “If you need little more inflation, blow into your mouth piece..” LOL.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBlRbrB_Gnc&hd=1′]
(via ABC News on YouTube)
You can steal but you can’t hide! Stupid thieves never realize that these days they can be easily tracked down after stealing a digital device. That’s exactly what happened in this case. ABC NEws did an investigation into this allegation that TSA staff are swindling gadgets and other valuables at 10 airports and found out that 9 out of time times their valuables (incl. money and iPads) made it back. Except at that one airport – Orlando, FL. Too bad the crooked staffer who stole the iPad didn’t realize that he was caught handling it on the surveillance system at the airport. To make it worse, ABC staff turned on the “Find my iPad” app that does exactly that – homes in on an iPad device – and ended at the front door of this TSA employee’s house. Too bad for him! His face after getting caught is one that he will never want to see ever in his life!
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLxsLbl16IM&hd=1′]
Note: It is worth adding this bit – TSA says 381 of its officers have been let go for alleged thefts. For more on this story, click here.
A DIRECTOR’S FORUMSince the Wright brothers’ first flight, America’s leadership in aerospace has helped build our economy and ensured our security. Today our leadership is threatened by budget constraints at home and heavy investment by other nations abroad. In this National Aerospace Week address, Jim Albaugh will highlight what’s at stake and what steps the U.S. must take to lead the second century of flight.
Jim Albaugh is an executive vice president of The Boeing Company. A 37-year Boeing veteran, Albaugh has led the company’s commercial, defense, space and security businesses.
DATE & LOCATION:
To RSVP acceptance or to receive further information, send an email to
RSVP@wilsoncenter.org. Please provide your name and professional affiliation.
Please allow time on arrival at the building for routine security procedures. A photo ID is required.
Note: Individuals attending Woodrow Wilson Center events may be audiotaped, videotaped, or
photographed during the course of a meeting, and by attending grant permission for
their likenesses and the content of their comments, if any, to be broadcast, webcast,
published, or otherwise reported or recorded.
(via MIT News)
Apart from the aesthetic beauty this dynamic data visualization, the video also offers a lot to think about if you are a person tasked with natioanl security should a contagious disease be detected… Also, it helped me understand how pandemics can easily spread between far flung places via air travelers. Pretty interesting yet quite scary stuff.. That said, it makes me wonder how ready is our aviation infrastructure to handle a healthcare crisis like the one triggered by SARS or h1n1 virus a few years a back..
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzhKyD19ZEY&hd=1′]
Click here to read the analysis published on MIT News
