Page 10 - AAA MAY - JUNE 2013 Online Magazine

NEWS

Nepal Airlines modernises fleet with A320s
Nepal Airlines has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to buy two A320s
equipped with fuel-saving Sharklets. According to Airbus, the A320 was chosen
for its unbeatable economics, its unique performance capability required for high
altitude airport operations and its flexibility. “Adding the A320 to our fleet will help
us to capitalise on tourism growth and to enhance our network using the most fuel Boeing, Honeywell
efficient aircraft available,” said Madan Kharel, MD of Nepal Airlines.
to develop in-flight
wireless connectivity
CEB to launch Cebu- Garuda takes up SITA’s Boeing and Honeywell have inked
Taipei flights in July Airfare Insight a technical services agreement to
Philippines’ Cebu Pacific (CEB) has Garuda Indonesia has switched to SITA’s research and develop high-speed, in-
announced that it will soon launch fare pricing software Airfare Insight, in a flight wireless connectivity on Boeing
direct flights between the island of bid to provide the best fares. The system platforms, including the 787, 777, 737
Cebu and the city of Taipei, in Taiwan, monitors competitor fare activity and Next-Gen and 747-8. Commenting
bringing the airline’s international so Garuda can make fare changes in on the reason for this collaboration,
routes up to seven. The twice-weekly real time. Elisa Lumbantoruan, EVP Carl Esposito, VP of Marketing and
flights are scheduled to begin July Marketing and Sales, Garuda Indonesia Product Management at Honeywell
5, 2013. “CEB believes this new said, “SITA Airfare Insight gives us an Aerospace noted, “The current in-flight
route will open up tourism and trade effective tool to monitor the markets, connectivity landscape offers only a
opportunities between the Philippines so we can react quickly to changes narrow field of overland flight paths
and Taiwan, and provide tourists with in consumer behavior and market in the US and select international
the lowest fare alternative on the most conditions. We can now propose, markets, is unreliable, and does
extensive network in the Philippines,” approve and distribute fares in an error- not adequately address passengers’
said CEB VP for Marketing and free and streamlined fares management burgeoning desire for a true global in-
Distribution Candice Iyog. process across the entire company.” flight connectivity offering.”

SAID WHAT?!
“Due to distraction the co-pilot had touched the autopilot
disconnect button momentarily, but the same was connected

back,” Air India reportedly said
In April, on an Air India flight from Bangkok to New Delhi, the aircraft’s autopilot system was accidentally
switched off, endangering the lives of more than 160 people. Media reports at the time said the pilot
and co-pilot had taken a 40-minute break to nap, and left two flight attendants in their place to operate
the plane. Air India denied this, but admitted there was an “overstay of the cabin crew in the cockpit”.

10 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS MAY / JUNE 2013 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM