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Old 27th June 2008, 10:08 AM
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Montague S Montague S is offline
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Default UA new cost cutting on flights...

beginning of the end some might assume? they've also made everyone else an attractive option when it comes to flying from Australia to the USA.

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Effective July 1, we will implement a charge of $6 for alcoholic beverages in United Economy. We will also begin charging for alcoholic beverages in the economy cabin on all Pacific and intra-Asia flights beginning August 1.

Also beginning August 1, we will conduct tests offering a la carte snack items available for purchase in the economy cabin for $3. These items, including cookies, candy, chips and trail mix, are in 4- to 5-ounce portions and are in line with our strategy of offering customers more items that they value and can choose from accordingly. The U.S. domestic testing, to run through the summer, will include Denver-Seattle flights and Denver-San Francisco, as well as Chicago-Denver and Chicago-Boston trips. International flights participating in the test will include Los Angeles-London and Los Angeles-Frankfurt flights, as well as San Francisco-London and San Francisco-Frankfurt flights.

Staffing changes to go into effect August 1 include reductions in flight attendant staffing on the Boeing 777XZ and B747OB aircraft, as well as B757 and p.s. flights. We will implement these changes with an eye toward maintaining a clear differentiation between the three cabin products, as well as between United First and United Business on international flights.

We continue to enlist the ideas of our flight attendants to streamline service procedures so that we continue to serve our customers in the best and most efficient way possible.

Flight attendants have begun accepting the "Early Out" option for eligible flight attendants, which goes into effect August 1. In addition, we continue to offer unpaid schedule flexibility, including special leaves of absence and both 30-day and daily authorized no-pay offerings. The division is also undergoing salaried and management organizational reviews that will result in workforce reductions of approximately 20 percent, similar to other divisions.
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Old 27th June 2008, 10:24 AM
Andrew M Andrew M is offline
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Sad times, but what will happen if your wish for oil at $200 a barrel happens?

Lots more cuts than charging for grog
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Old 27th June 2008, 10:36 AM
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maybe they'll invest in biofuel too?
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Old 27th June 2008, 10:41 AM
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How quickly could biofuels be in wide use ?

Two problems

The thousands of existing aircraft flying around
The millions and millions of litres an hour of fuel that would need to be made.

We don't have any facilities for this, nor could they be up and running in any short period of time
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Old 27th June 2008, 10:46 AM
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well VS has conducted tests and I believe that Air NZ is also looking at it, I'm not sure of the supply side of things but arlines, manufacturers and engine makers are investing and testing the new process.

that's how the aviation industry will survive, I have no doubt about that...but governments taking it on for the ordinary folk are understandably less willing, remind me again how much free money the government of Australia makes from a litre of petrol in this country? and then you begin to understand why its not in their interests to promote it for you & me.

Quote:
updated 2:48 p.m. ET Sept. 28, 2007

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Air New Zealand will partner with Rolls-Royce Group Plc. and Boeing Co. to conduct the first trial flight of a Boeing 747 airplane partly run on biofuel by early 2009, the airline said Friday.

New Zealand's national carrier, 76 percent owned by the government, said it had signed an agreement with airplane maker Boeing and engine maker Rolls-Royce to work together on projects to make commercial aviation more environmentally sustainable.

The first part of the deal is a trial flight of a Boeing 747 partly run on blended biofuel, to take place in the second half of 2008 or early 2009, it said.

One Rolls-Royce engine on the airplane will run on a blended mix of biofuel and kerosene while the other three will be powered by regular aviation fuel.

The flight is likely to depart from the company's base in Auckland but will not carry passengers, it said.

Air New Zealand Chief Executive Rob Fyfe said technology advances have made biofuel a viable possibility for the aviation industry sooner than expected. He did not elaborate on the biofuel blend to be used.

"Air New Zealand is keen to encourage research into alternative fuels and wants to work hand-in-hand with industry partners and the New Zealand government on promoting this type of activity," he said.

The New Zealand government welcomed the move.
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