News and notes from around the interweb:
- New seat design introduces the world’s first lie flat premium economy. The design is for a cabin the mixes business and premium economy seats in the same cabin.
- Korean Air Chairman and CEO doesn’t think much of the airline’s pilots. (HT: Brian Sumers) His daughter of course, the nut rage vice president, didn’t think much of their flight attendants.
“Your posting is full of professional jargon, but 99 percent of your work isn’t new,” Cho wrote. “Aircraft are flying on autopilot, which is easier than driving a car. Pilots are useful only in emergencies. You’re just exaggerating. A dog would laugh.”
- After the flydubai 737 crash in Russia there will be plenty of people trotting out their own hobby horses. Here’s a pilot who says the airline’s pilots are overworked (“one of the last things I told management is that there would be an accident because of pilot fatigue”) as though there were evidence at this point that duty hours were to blame for the crash in terrible weather. Strange since data has been retrieved from the plane’s black boxes even the damaged voice recorder so we should have better insight soon.
- The UK government asked people on the internet to name their new $288 million research vessel. Apparently they were not familiar with the internet. Because Boaty McBoatface.
- 76% of Hong Kong residents age 18-35 still live with their parents and many married couples live apart, each with their respective parents.
- So now a possible engine piece from Malaysia Airlines MH370 was found on the coast of South Africa. Two years later and we know very little.
he owns the airline he can do what he likes
Boaty McBoatface is a fantastic name for a ship 🙂
Great idea on the Premium Lie-flat seats. I have often wondered why more aircraft don’t design lie-flats like the “couchettes” in trains, with each seat staggered above/below. Charge a price 2/3 that of Business and pack more pax in–you’ve got a winner.
In regards to the Hong Kong piece, you will be surprised to find that this is rather the norm in many places. Take South America, for instance, where universities are commute only, and housing is offered only on an as-needed basis (to those of less favorable background) or those with means can actually afford it. Further, married couples often live separate until they have a good/steady job and can afford to buy their own place. I would assume the same applies in Europe, Australia, etc.
@Marcho – sure but who is still attending school by age ~30?
@Eric – Tommy Boy…
Re: premium econ/biz mixed cabin.
How will FAs service the combined cabin?
I have a Hong Kong friend who married a couple years ago to a guy in his late 30s. Housing prices was at its peak so they split time between their parents (timeshare??). Housing prices have been crazy for the last few years and salary has been almost flat for a long time. For average young couples, if you rent, you will never save enough to buy. Even worse, some need to support their parents. I live in the Bay Area where many would already consider expensive. Folks always say, “for a 2-bedroom here, you can get a palace in Midwest”. I say, “for the same price, you can also get a shoebox storage room in Hong Kong”. The housing price vs. Pay ratio in Hong Kong is just ridiculous. Most young couples rely on their parents for down payment. If you are not born rich, you are stuck.
lay-Flat Premium Economy. I didn’t expect that development although it will be much welcomed.
I think the layout of the cabin will make it hard to resist slipping in to that empty suite close by.
I thought lie-flat premium economy already existing — the legacy United dorm-style business class.