Pilots optimistic about Uganda Airlines future

Uganda Airlines
Kampala, Uganda

Uganda Airlines pilots have portrayed an emphatic survey of where they see the airline. They earlier triumphantly ran a few commercial flights to different destinations.

Captain Emmanuel Mutebi said the airline’s marketing policy will play a major role to get more passengers to fly with it. He said they anticipate to start achieving reasonably good numbers on board within a quarter.

The revived Uganda Airlines flew its first commercial flight to Nairobi on Wednesday August 28, 2019 with just eight passengers on board.

It operated to Mogadishu the next day with 33 passengers and on Friday to Dar Es Salaam with just a few passengers short of being full.

The airline has said it is fully booked on the Dar route from September 3 to September 7, 2019. Captain Charles Karabarinde has called on Ugandans to support the airline. He said it was new, with experienced pilots and expected everyone to support it. Karabarinde has 40 years of flying experience.

Uganda Airlines comes at a time when almost all the airlines on the continent – except Ethiopian Airlines – are grappling to make profits. Kenya spends millions of dollars annually to bail out Kenya Airways that has been regularly making losses.

Rwanda also spends public money heavily to keep its national carrier running. So is South Africa with South African Airways. Aviation analysts have observed Uganda airlines must be in charge of the ground handlings business at Entebbe, which will make for it a bit of money.

The handling is currently done by Enhas Uganda which was owned by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa and was in 2017 sold to a businessman from United Arab Emirates.
It will be difficult for the airline to get this business to its possession.

Also, government employees account for the biggest traffic at the airport. This is a constituency that the airline must tap into.

On August 5, 2019, President Museveni directed in a cabinet memo that all government officials travelling to destinations where the airline flies must go with the airline.

 

source https://ncairways.co/pilots-optimistic-about-uganda-airlines-future/

The TRS and the BJP were two sides of the same coin: Revanth Reddy

Hyderabad, 31 August 2019.

TPCC working president and Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy has claimed that the Telangana state BJP was divided into two groups:

– one group supports the TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and

– the other group was critical of him.

The aggressive approach of the BJP in the Telangana state has forced the Congress to hit the streets too in an attempt to illustrate that it is still the foremost Opposition party to contest with and the real challenge to the TRS. Congress is examining to stave off the BJP, which has now started to claim that it is the feasible alternative to the ruling party, the TRS. This has led to the making of fierce competition between the two opposition parties to surpass the TRS government.

As per Reddy, the BJP has no place for anti-KCR leaders. Mr Reddy said the TRS and the BJP were two sides of the same coin. Speaking to press reporters, he stated that both parties had an internal understanding.

 

After a humiliating defeat in the Assembly elections in December 2018, the state Congress had imprisoned itself to simply issuing statements and did not take up any programme against the government on the ground.

In contrast, after winning an unusual four Lok Sabha seats, the BJP propelled a relentless attack on the government and strengthened the means of letting leaders from other parties into its fold.

After squandering most of its MLAs to the TRS, with its party legislative leader losing the status of leader of the opposition (LoP), the Congress was sounded by the prospect of dissipating even its de facto Opposition party standing in the politics of Telangana and revised its strategy.

BJP working president J.P. Nadda toured Hyderabad lately and held a public meeting. He accused the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of revelling in extensive corruption in the Kaleshwaram project and the Haritha Haram programme. Senior BJP leaders from the Centre and other states are also touring Hyderabad constantly.

The Congress MP alleged that TS BJP president K. Laxman had claimed that the party would ask the Centre to order a CBI probe into the corruption in power purchase agreements. “When will the CBI inquiry be ordered,” he asked.
Continuing his attack on Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and TS Genco and Transco chairman and managing director D. Prabhakar Rao, Mr Revanth Reddy mentioned that usually IAS officers are appointed to head power utilities. When they refuse to sign on irregular agreements, the government removes them and appoints retired officers.
“As part of this practice, D. Prabhakar Rao, G. Raghuma Reddy and Gopal Rao were appointed,” Mr Revanth Reddy said. He alleged that these officers were cooperating with Mr Chandrasekhar Rao to loot public money.
He said that the power utilities in the state had borrowed Rs 74,000 crore since 2014, but Mr Prabhakar Rao had put the figure at Rs 35,000 crore “which is an utter lie”.
He said that the government has taken action on officials for speaking against Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and his son and TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao.“What action will be taken against power employees who spoke about me,” Mr Revanth Reddy asked, referring to comments made by power union employees during his war of words with Mr Prabhakar Rao.
Mr Revanth Reddy said that the government had banned TS Power Employees Joint Action Committee (JAC) leader Raghu not to speak on power issues. “Why are the power employees not conducting dharnas against this,” he asked.
He said that Mr Prabhakar Rao has no eligibility to appoint him as chairman and managing director of power utilities and alleged several IAS officers who are not interested to work with him had sought transfers.
…

source https://ncairways.co/telangana-state-bjp/

COP14 in India: Modi to address UN meet to raise desertification issue

Passenger frustrations rise as American Airlines struggles

Cancelled flights, wrecked vacations and leaky planes.

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Are fixes coming?

American’s recent court success may help, but the company is still negotiating contracts with all three of its major labor groups, including pilots and flight attendants. It also should get its grounded  Max jets back later this year, if Boeing’s timeline for fixes holds.

“I think it’s just a bigger problem than it ever has been in the past for American,” said Robert Mann, an aviation consultant with RW Mann & Co. in New York. “It’s more noticeable because American, as a Big 3 network carrier, has been able to rely on high fare corporate revenue.”

American benefited from size over its competitors when it merged with U.S. Airways in 2013, operating the largest network with 365 destinations, Mann said. But other airlines have aggressively grown routes and added flights between key markets, while American’s traffic growth has slowed.

“The only difference between American and Delta at this point is that Delta is far more reliable,” Mann said.

Rath, who came to American in 2015 from Delta, said the airline is making technology changes to help customers deal directly with delays and cancellations. Much of that is through American’s app to let customers deal with rebooking and compensation themselves. She said customers who prefer to use an app will help alleviate lines for those wanting face-to-face interaction.

In response to challenges with delays and cancellations, the airline has also started proactively bringing sandwich carts, food and beverages to passengers of delayed and canceled flights. But Rath said they can still do better to let customers know what’s happening.

“We have to get the customer taken care of before we get to the airport,” she said.

American has also put together teams to work on how to get planes in and out of airports faster, she said. And there are plans for improved crew scheduling systems, too.

Other major airlines, such as United, have shown the ability to improve reliability and win back customers. And American has major advantages if it can improve, said JPMorgan’s Baker.

Most passengers are going to pick airlines based on route and convenience, he said. American has the most destinations of any carrier. It also has credit card holders and frequent fliers who are reluctant to give up a preferred status that it took them years to achieve.

“I frequently hear from people that say they can’t stand a particular airline, but they stay with them for points, lounge access or other benefits,” Baker said. “The reality is that passenger memories are short and are easily overcome by price, network strength and loyalty perks.”

Contributed by :

source https://ncairways.co/canceled-flights-wrecked-vacations-and-leaky-planes-passenger-frustrations-rise-as-american-airlines-struggles/

Texas needs to do more to encourage carbon-free energy: Advocacy Group

Texas is progressing fast in boosting renewable energy production but could do a better job implementing more statewide efficiency programs and providing rewards and incentives for efficient technologies. The Austin-based advocacy group Environment Texas Research & Policy Center observed.

Texas produced more wind than any other state in 2018 and came in fifth in solar energy, producing 339 times the amount it produced 10 years ago. Texas is third in the U.S. for battery storage capacity with 94 megawatts, as per the center.

But Texas could do more by providing state incentives to produce renewable energy and encourage state and local governments to purchase only renewable power, according to the center.

“The progress we’ve made in the last decade on renewable energy and technologies like battery storage and electric cars should give Texans the confidence that we can take clean energy to the next level,” said Jen Schmerling, deputy director of Environment Texas.

One percent of new car sales in June in Houston were electric vehicles.

source https://ncairways.co/texas-needs-to-do-more-to-encourage-carbon-free-energy-advocacy-group-says/

ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F aborts take-off at Nanchang Airport

23 August, 2019.

An ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F (OE-IFB) operated flight 3V820 between Nanchang Airport, China and Liege, Belgium. During take-off at Nanchang, however, the pilots rejected take-off. As a result, the tires of the aircraft’s main landing gears deflated. The pilots evacuated the aircraft by using the right-hand upper deck slide.

As the aircraft is currently disabled on Nanchang’s single runway, the airport is currently closed. Six flights were forced to divert to nearby airports, airlines were forced to cancel already more than 80 flights (according to flightradar24-statistics).

ASL Airlines Belgium Boeing 747-400F rejected take-off at Nanchang Airport, China. Flight number 3V820. Slide on the upper deck deployed. The single runway of the airport is closed. pic.twitter.com/IsfP4aDcrL
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

High temperature caused tires automatically deflated during rejected takeoff. Slide on the upper deck deployed. pic.twitter.com/sg5m6pKaxM
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

ASL Belgium B747-400F (OE-IFB) experienced 14 of 16 tire blow-outs during a take-off abort at Nanchang Airport (ZSCN, KHN), China. The crew evacuated via chute. Cargo Flight #3V820 to Liege became disabled on the runway forcing the temp closure of the airport. @ChinaAvReview pic.twitter.com/U1NJZAOSf5
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) August 24, 2019

A passenger PC-12 was chartered to ferry 747 tires from the nearest airport that has enough inventory.(Shanghai, 800km). All seats removed. Reduced runway used for taking off and landing. pic.twitter.com/mX8Yd0lsik
— ChinaAviationReview (@ChinaAvReview) August 24, 2019

source https://ncairways.co/asl-airlines-belgium-boeing-747-400f-aborts-take-off-at-nanchang-airport-china-aviation24-be/

British Airways incorrectly told passengers flights were cancelled due to email error

British Airways sent out an email incorrectly telling passengers their flights were cancelled.Some passengers rebooked alternative flights after receiving the email – only to later be told their cancelled flights would still go ahead as planned.

The airline’s pilots plan to strike for three days next month, but passengers who had flights on non-strike days were also contacted by mistake and told to rebook or ask for a refund.

British Airways apologised for the “confusion and inconvenience” and encouraged anyone who had rebooked to get in touch.

The airline said in a statement: “We are sorry that some customers received an email in error to say that their flight had been cancelled on non-strike days.

“We are getting in touch with all those customers this afternoon to clarify that their flight will go ahead as planned.

“We are sorry for any confusion and inconvenience this has caused.

“We would encourage anyone who has incurred any expenses as a direct result to get in touch, and we will deal with each case on an individual basis.”

Thousands of people received emails overnight warning flights on 9, 10 and 27 September would be hit by a “large number of delays and cancellations” after the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) union confirmed strike action over a pay dispute.

Balpa said 93 per cent of members voted in favour of the action after rejecting a pay rise package of 11.5 per cent over three years.

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Passengers took to Twitter on Saturday to vent their confusion after receiving the email in error overnight.

Many complained their honeymoons had been ruined, including one woman who claimed her only option was to pay £3,500 to rebook with another airline.

Another wrote: “You have ruined our day we’re not even flying on one of your pilot strike days but you’ve still chose to cancel our flight #BritishAirways your reputation is shot!

“Now our bridal party won’t even make the wedding.”

source https://ncairways.co/british-airways-incorrectly-told-passengers-flights-were-cancelled-due-to-email-error/