June, 2006

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Airbus denies report of standing-room-only for passengers
Airbus is flatly denying yesterday’s report from The New York Times that the company has pitched the idea of stand-room-only seating in its A380 super-jumbo jet. A spokeswoman for the airline even went so far as to call the Times report “crap,” according to an online story by CNN/Money. "Our passengers and customers want more and more comfort," says Barbara Kracht a spokeswoman for the European aircraft maker. "We're going in the direction of more comfort, not in that direction." The Times story went on to say that the standing-room-only seating could boost the capacity of the jet up to 853 passengers. Kracht confirms that capacity, but tells CNN/Money that is the maximum capacity for an all coach-class configuration for the A380 – a configuration that includes seats for everyone. In its story, the Times cites experts that it claims have actually "seen a proposal" on the standing-room-only seating, which was described as a section where passengers would be propped against a padded backboard and held in place with a harness. So far, CNN/Money is the only publication to run a story with Airbus’ denial of the plan. Stay tuned …

'N.Y. Times' prints correction regarding Airbus's standing-room-only 'seats'
I told you last week about a New York Times report that said Airbus was allegedly proposing standing-room only “seats” where fliers would be strapped into a standing board, “secured” with some type of harness. Airbus subsequently denied that it had pitched such a idea … and now it appears there may be some truth to Airbus’s denial. Here’s the text of a correction from Tuesday’s New York Times that addresses the proposed standing-room seating section allegedly proposed by Airbus …
“A front-page article last Tuesday about seating options that airlines are considering to accommodate more passengers in economy class referred incorrectly to the concept of carrying passengers standing up with harnesses holding them in position. During preparation of the article, The Times's questions to one aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, were imprecise. The company now says that while it researched that idea in 2003, it has since abandoned it. The article also misstated the capacity of the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet. The airliner can accommodate 853 passengers in regular seats; standing-room positions would not be needed.”

Illegally broadcast Catholic mass creates devil of a time for trans-Atlantic flights
Catholic priests in Ireland have been transmitting masses on illegal radio frequencies, potentially creating a safety risk for trans-Atlantic flights over the island nation. The priests tell local media that the broadcasts are intended to reach "housebound" parishioners, but Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) officials say they are creating frequency interference on a heavily-used route between North America and Europe. Many pilots on such routes "had been complaining for months about mysterious bursts of static on their cockpit radios as they approached Dublin airport," writes The Guardian of London. "None of the pilots actually reported hearing prayers or hymns coming over the airwaves," says Lilian Cassin of the IAA, "but what prompted our suspicion was the regular timings of the disturbances." Irish officials say they’ve taken measures to address the safety hazard. "The priests have received a stern lecture -- a sermon, if you will -- from the Irish communications regulator, ComReg," writes The Globe and Mail of Toronto, which adds: "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's airspace." Father Brendan Quinlan, a parish priest in Dublin, tells the Irish Independent (free registration): "I knew it was sort of a gray area but I didn't know that we were breaking the law, not only in transmitting mass but in having this equipment because we have no license to transmit."

Coke or Pepsi? US Airways makes a choice
There’s finally an answer at US Airways, which announced Thursday that it will serve Coke products on its flights, according to The Arizona Republic. The airline had to make a choice following the merger between America West -- which served Pepsi -- and the “old” US Airways, which offered Coke. As for the soda, The Arizona Republic notes that US Airways chief “is rarely seen around the office without a can of Diet Dr Pepper." That soft drink brand, owned by Cadbury Schweppes, was carried on America West but will not be offered on US Airways. US Airways also had to pick which beer it would serve following the move. In that decision, which was previously announced, the carrier picked Bud over Miller.