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The crew of a Russian jet took complaint-handling into their own hands, with two flight attendants attacking a
passenger and leaving him with a black eye.
Aeroflot reported the �reverse air rage� incident occurred after a passenger accused the attendants of being drunk and not
doing their jobs.
Other passengers told media the attendants distributed in-flight meals only when the plane started its descent into the
Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk, spilling much of the food on passengers and the
floor.
Russian media reports a post-flight medical examination
of the cabin crew showed they were heavily intoxicated.
The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating reports that a senior Ryanair pilot
allowed two off-duty cabin staff to fly from Spain
to Dublin seated in the rear toilets.
Ryanair said the pilot had resigned as a result of the
incident. The two senior cabin crew, who had been on holiday in
Barcelona, had refused to resign and were subsequently dismissed for
gross misconduct.
British Airways is offering 1.5 bonus points per mile
flown for all Qantas frequent flyer members who book during its August
fare sale. This offer is available for departures between October
4 and November 11, 2004 and is on sale up to August 16, 2004.
Jetstar CEO Alan Joyce has been forced to deny industry rumours that the new airline�s flights have been almost empty since
its $29 introductory fares ended. Joyce said contrary to speculation none of Jetstar�s flights had flown with fewer than 10 passengers.
In a speech to National Aviation Press Club luncheon,
Joyce said the strict check-in policy (See our
Reader's Comments), along with the airline�s decision
to offer unallocated seating and provide no baggage connectivity, were
all �pro customer� and reflected good service practice. As the
Americans say "You figure"!
After diverting a flight as a result of a smoke-filled cabin, Jetstar has been forced to deny
there are maintenance problems with its aircraft. (See our
Reader's Comments)
A spokesman for the airline said everything was normal with the aircraft, which met with Qantas group safety standards. Investigations into the incident were still underway but the spokesman said it appeared the fumes came from moisture from
water splashed in a toilet hand basin which created a reaction in wiring of a nearby intercom at the rear of the cabin.
The wiring heated up, setting off the fumes.
A spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was investigating the incident, along with another
which occurred earlier in July. In that incident, passengers
describe a near-miss between a Qantas jet and a Jetstar aircraft near Hamilton Island. The Jetstar aircraft, with 124 people aboard, took dramatic evasive action shortly after taking off from the island's
airport. Qantas said both aircraft were in visual
contact and no danger was posed to any passengers.
A United Airlines flight bound for Los Angeles was
forced to return to Sydney after a bomb threat written on an aircraft
sick bag was discovered on board. The threat is now believed to be a
hoax.
About 90 minutes into the flight a passenger found a sick bag
with the letters �BOB� written on it. The bag was handed to the
captain who took it to mean �bomb on
board� and decided to return to Sydney.
The 747 landed safely and was met by federal security
officers and emergency services. Passengers were questioned by
authorities keen to get to the bottom of the hoax. It is believed the
person behind the hoax was on board the aircraft. Investigators
could not locate a bomb.
Virgin Blue has applied to the federal government for the rights to compete with Qantas on trans-Pacific routes
to San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The Australian Financial Review
reported that Virgin Blue's strategic move from low-cost airline to full-service
long-haul carrier could involve the creation of a new international
airline, with its own air operator�s certificate and majority-owned by
Virgin Blue.
Richard Branson is planning to launch a low-cost
African airline in the latest expansion of his Virgin trading empire.
Africa is being earmarked as the next 'Virgin territory', with plans
also for the launch of mobile phone services on the continent.
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