British Airways to allow cell phone use on London to New York flights

by Aaron Hotfelder on

British Airways has just announced that, beginning this fall, they will allow cell phone use in-flight, but only on business class flights between London and JFK. While talking on cell phones will still be prohibited, the airline will allow passengers to send and receive text messages and have access to the internet.

A BA spokesperson says that the airline will listen to feedback from customers in deciding whether to eventually permit actual cell phone calls. [Desperate plea: Don’t do it!]

This move follows a decision made last year by Emirates, which became the first airline to allow in-flight cell phone use, as well as similar experiments by Qantas and bmi.

What do you think, Gadling faithful? Smart idea by an airline trying to please its business-class passengers, or dangerous step on an insidious path leading to constant cell phone chatter on every flight?

More here.

What strange things have been found on planes?


Are the trains in Spain faster than the planes?

by Jeremy Kressmann on

If you’ve ever had a chance to travel around Europe, you’re probably familiar with its various high-speed rail networks. In France, the TGV and AGV lines whisk passengers between Paris and points beyond including Brussels and Lyon at speeds over 200 miles per hour. And in Spain, the AVE rail system connects Madrid to Seville and as of 2008, to Barcelona as well.

According to a recent post at Wired, the new high speed link between Spain’s two biggest cities has had a dramatic effect on the country’s transportation network. In 2007, the airline route between Madrid and Barcelona was the busiest in the world, carrying over 70 percent of the passengers traveling between the two. Yet upon the opening of the new Barcelona rail line last year, that percentage has already dropped to 60 percent, and experts predict the number of plane and train passengers on the route will be equal within the next 2 years.

Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of traveling by rail instead of air, there’s a significant convenience advantage as well. As heavy airplane traffic continues to choke airport runways worldwide, it’s likely many of us will be turning to the railways for trips shorter than three hours. And when you think about it, by the time you’ve made it through TSA clearance, located your gate and fought for an overhead bin spot, your quick two hour plane trip has often turned into four or five. Here’s hoping the U.S. continues to look into similar high-speed rail solutions like Acela. It’s no AVE yet, but certainly a good first step.

[Via PSFK]

Gadling exclusive! The official VivaAerobus 2009 calendar girls

by Scott Carmichael on

Want to win a VivaAerobus Calendar? Click here to enter our giveaway!

Remember the clip of the making of the 2009 VivaAerobus calendar? Well, I’m sure some of you were left hoping for more than just a Youtube clip, so Gadling has managed to get its hands om the official images from the calendar, and I’ve got to say – I have this sudden urge to head on down to Austin so I can take a flight to Mexico.

Check them out for yourself, all 12 months, plus the January 2010 bonus photo!

Remember, the calendar may be a great PR stunt, but all proceeds benefit the Mexican Childrens Cancer Institute, so next time you fly the friendly skies with these ladies, make sure you pick up one of their calendars!

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Delta wonders about Atlanta

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Is Delta playing chicken with Atlanta? The airline is getting ready for negotiations with Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport … and has opened by threatening to lean on secondary hubs like Memphis and Cincinnati. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution questions the airline’s likelihood of pulling the trigger, though.

Delta is concerned that the costs of running through Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s busiest airport, could be twice as high as those of other airports. Moving two-thirds of connecting traffic away could save a pile of cash for a company in a perpetually struggling industry.

When you need an expert, you can always find one to take your side, it seems. Airport consultant Jerry FitzGerald believes that pulling out of Atlanta could cost Delta a good chunk of business traveler dollars – and that Memphis or Cincinnati may not be able to cover the difference.

Well, like anybody sitting on the tarmac, all we can do is wait and see.

[Via USA Today]

American Airlines limiting passengers due to shortage of life rafts

by Jeffrey White on

American Airlines has announced that it will be limiting slightly the number of passengers it carries on its 767-300 planes as it orders additional life rafts to comply with FAA regulations.

The carrier said that it only learned this week that its 767s did not carry the required number of life rafts. The FAA requires airlines to have enough rafts — or room on rafts — to accommodate everyone on board the plane, including crew members.

American said it can carry a maximum 228 people, including crew, on its 767s, which generally have a capacity to hold 236 people.

The company said the shortage occurred when it added additional seats in its refurbished business class section a few years ago.

AA says it is also reviewing life raft compliance on other plane models in its fleet.

There is no doubt more attention being paid to life raft compliance following US Airways flight 1549, which was forced to ditch in New York’s Hudson River, its passengers evacuated with life rafts.