Paris loves bike-share program so much it plans to launch electric car version

by Anna Brones on

The bike sharing program in Paris known as Vélib has been so popular that the city’s mayor is considering launching the same version with electric cars. Just like its sister cycle program, with Autolib a driver could pick up a car on the Left Bank, cruise the Champs Elysées and return it a couple of hours later with enough money left over for a pain au chocolat.

There is some debate regarding the program, which would launch in late 2009 or early 2010 with a fleet of 4,000 cars. Some — motivated by high gas prices and the parking nightmare — love it. Others are less excited, holding that it would lead to more car dependence in a city already packed with vehicles.

Judging by the craziness of Parisian traffic, I would personally stick with the bicycles. Take the metro or a nice stroll and save yourself some stress; leave that to the Parisians.

[Via Huffington Post]

Talking travel with Emirates Airline VP Nigel Page

by Jerry Guo on

This Friday will mark the launch of the first regular route in the world on the A380, from Dubai to New York JFK on Emirates Airline. I’m here to talk to Nigel Page, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (Americas) about this exciting development, the airline’s famed “private hotels in the sky,” and why we should book a ticket to Dubai.

What will be the configuration on the A380, New York-Dubai route? What are some of the amenities?

Emirates A380 on the New York-Dubai route will feature 489 seats in a three-class configuration. (14 first class, 76 business class and 399 economy class.) Our official unveiling takes place today as we accept the first A380 directly from Airbus in Hamburg, Germany. This will be followed by the first-ever commercially scheduled A380 flight to the United States on August 1st.

How much cost savings does the A380 provide over the traditional transatlantic equipment?

The A380 is an aircraft built to not only serve the customer better, but the operator as well. Fuel economy is perhaps the greatest advantage the A380 provides, as this aircraft receives better mileage per passenger than most hybrid passenger cars. This fuel economy, combined with the A380’s range and capacity, allows for a greater projected cost savings over other older aircraft.
As a luxury carrier, how do you plan to stay competitive in an industry that’s increasingly under pressure from high oil prices?

While high oil prices are a concern for every carrier, Emirates feels that we can stay competitive because of our younger fleet. With the average age of aircraft in the Emirates fleet at just over five years old, Emirates operates aircraft that are more fuel efficient than that of many other carriers. Additionally, we only operate wide-bodied aircraft that allow for a greater cargo capacity, and therefore result in greater profit margins.

Does Emirates’ position in the Middle East have any leverage over other carriers when bidding for jet fuel?

No, Emirates being a Dubai-based airline does not have any effect on other carriers when bidding for jet fuel. Dubai has an open skies policy and Emirates operates alongside 110 other airlines at Dubai International Airport. We receive no subsidies whatsoever.

Do you have any plans to enter the business-class-only market?

No, Emirates does not have any plans to enter the business-class-only market.

What are your other planned routes into the United States?

In addition to twice daily service from New York JFK and daily service from Houston, Emirates will launch Los Angeles service October 1st and San Francisco service November 20th.

Which airlines does Emirates see as its biggest competitors? And what does Emirates do better than them?

We can say that with our unique route network, competition largely depends on the market in which we are operating.

I’ve seen your first-class private suites. Quite jealous.

Emirates first class suites offer our customers the finest in-flight experience available. Amenities include our 1,000 channel ice entertainment system; 23-inch hi-definition personal viewing screen; full lie-flat seat featuring in-seat massage and pre-set seating adjustments; in-suite refreshment center; multiple personal stowages; Bvlgari amenity kits; 7-inch touch screen control for entertainment system and seat, dine on-demand service; and sleep amenities include sleep mask, slippers, and luxurious duvets. Our private cabins are practically a hotel in the sky.

What’s a weekend itinerary for first-time visitors to Dubai? (Let’s imagine an extended layover.)

A typical weekend in Dubai would include a stay at one of Dubai’s numerous outstanding luxury hotel properties, followed by a city tour hosted by one of Dubai’s tour operators like Arabian Adventures – visitors can experience the charm of Dubai’s historic heritage area including the famous gold and spice souks and enjoy the feeling of a city changing from a small trading post on the Arabian Sea to one of the world’s most futuristic cities.

Visitors can’t miss the spectacular shopping malls that have put Dubai on the map for being one of the world’s greatest shopping capitals- one of which even includes an indoor ski facility! Evening entertainment would not be complete without a desert safari and 4WD sundown dune driving, followed by an Arabian dinner with entertainment under the stars. Dubai has options catering to every taste and desire- from PGA golf courses to some of the most spectacular beaches in the world.

What are your favourite restaurants and hotels in Dubai?

Hotels: The Royal Mirage, the Madinat Properties, and the new Raffles Hotel are all lovely. Restaurants- Al Nafourah in Emirates Towers has wonderful Lebanese food. There are a number of new restaurants opening in the new Dubai Festival City complex which will also be excellent.

What are the top three “undiscovered” / underrated destinations in the Middle East?

Muscat, Oman, the rugged East Coast of the UAE (Hatta, located in Dubai, Fujeriah, and the east coast of Sharjah are all lovely and terrific for wadi hikes, outdoor camping and offroad adventures), and Petra Jordan.

Disabled Delta passenger made to ‘crawl’ off flights speaks to Gadling

by Jeffrey White on

I’ve been contacted by the disabled Delta passenger with muscular dystrophy who says she was forced to crawl off two different Delta flights on July 20 after wheelchairs were not available when her flights landed.

She was traveling Harrisburg –> Atlanta –> West Palm Beach.

I posted about the incidents on Wednesday.

Her name is Julianna Dombrowski, and she is a 53-year-old retired accountant who lives in the West Palm Beach area of Florida. She has muscular dystrophy and lives in a house with no stairs.

She agreed to answer some follow-up questions from Gadling.

We wanted to clarify exactly what happened, at least in her own words rather than through third parties. Some readers have suggested that Dombrowski requested her wheelchairs after the flights in question landed, which would explain why none were waiting. Also, semantics or not, some readers are questioning whether Dombrowski really crawled off her flights, or merely struggled to get off them by herself. I agree with this distinction in this case: While both are horrifying and not acceptable, the image of a disabled person forced to crawl certainly is more disgusting to consider and has the power to drive a level of angry reaction in people that perhaps exaggerates what really happened.

I’ve also been contacted by a few Delta flight attendants who say they know what really happened on these flights. None so far have agreed to go on the record.

Below is what Dombrowski had to tell Gadling.
Gadling: Did you arrange for a wheelchair to be present at both of the arrivals in question in advance? I imagine this is done (a.) at the time of booking or (b.) before landing, by alerting the flight crew that you need special assistance leaving the plane.

Dombrowski: When I purchased my ticket online I checked the wheelchair box. I placed a follow-up call because I needed to change the seating because of my handicap.

On flight 4664 from Harrisburg to Atlanta I checked with the flight attendant in route because I knew the turn around time would be tight because of a delay out of Harrisburg. She advise me she could not request the wheelchair until we landed.

Policy dictates the all other passengers leave the plane before the wheelchair passengers. I asked if this could be changed so I could get off first to make my connection. When the flight arrived on the tarmac the wheelchair was not there, so I waited until everyone had disembarked and the chair still had not arrived. I assumed additional help would arrive with the chair and it did not.

This may seem like hair-splitting, but did you literally crawl off the plane? I want to be as specific as possible. Oftentimes we use the term crawl metaphorically, which gets the point across even as it carries with it a pretty horrific image that might not be entirely accurate in terms of what really happened.

My disability is weakness in my leg and glut muscles, which forces me to live in a stair-less environment. In order to try to make my connection I needed to climb backwards down the staircase holding onto each step with my hands because the railing was not firm and did not give me the support to exit the staircase. I did not walk down those steps.

As to the shuttle bus in order to get into something high I need to hold onto something and use my upper body to pull myself up to get my second leg up onto each step and onto the seat.

Who do you blame? Delta Airlines in general? Delta crew? Delta ground crew? The airports (since I’m told, after the fact, that it is the airports’ responsibility to provide wheelchairs to the disabled)?

Dombrowski: I am unsure who to blame but believe someone must be held accountable for this disgraceful lack of respect for the handicapped when there are extended delays at an airport.

Has Delta been in touch since you sent your letter?

I sent my letter overnight mail on July 21st. I have confirmation it was received on July 22. I did receive two phone calls from Delta representatives on July 24th who said they are researching my complaints.

I have recently spoken to several representatives from Delta. They seem to be sincere in making things right for the next handicapped passenger. They cannot undue what was done. They offered me to participate in special handicap employee seminars to give my feedback to the appropriate personnel so I can help make a difference for other handicapped fliers.

Delta is taking responsibility for the contractors who dropped the ball on 7/20/08.