Air France starts charging for exit row seats
Air France is taking a page from Delta and Northwest’s book. They are starting to charge €50 (about $63) for exit row seats on their Paris to North America routes. Air France claims the charge is in response to passenger demand. Really?
Air France and KLM launch social networking site for travelers
What do you get when you combine TripAdvisor, Facebook, and Twitter into one Web site? Just go to Bluenity for the answer.
Lufthansa considers Austrian Airlines buyout offer
Germany’s Lufthansa is considering offering a buyout to Austrian Airlines’ shareholders to take over the ailine carrier, according to Austria’s Takeover Commission. Lufthansa’s offering price can’t be less than 182 million euros or $234 million due to Austria’s Takeover code.
What does a motorscooter and Alitalia have in common?
A CEO it appears. Roberto Colaninno, chairman and CEO of the Piaggio motorcycle company, heads CAI and is expected to become chairman of the new Alitalia. Now in the Humpty-Dumpty world of this Italian flag carrier, the reconstruction of Alitalia which just fell off the wall will be fascinating.
Is Air France/KLM on to something with roomier seat plan?
The parsing of airline seats continues with Air France/KLM announcing the start of a new seating arrangement. Their approach is to provide better seating (closer to business class) and less services (can we say coach?). It might work. I’ve never flown for the gourmet meals.
Alitalia back in play?
Italy’s new prime minister is trying to restart the Alitalia merger talks with competition from Aeroflot for the Air France/KLM team.
Early-bird discounts for business class
Carriers are slashing prices as demand for business class seats sags along with the economy.
Alitalia take-over crashes
The take-over bid by Air France-KLM for struggling (to put it mildly) Alitalia crash landed once the Italian unions entered the fray.