Editorial

Where Technology Doesn’t Count

Would you be willing to fly on a plane operated via AI and without any pilot on board?  This is not a new conversation, but is a conversation that seems to be occurring more frequently now that AI and ChatGPT has found its way into the mainstream. Not that the two are necessarily connected, but as more and more people use ChatGPT and its clones as the “go to source” to enable fountains of wisdom to be presented to us, the more trusting we somehow become of believing what we are actually being told. Not that we should, but that’s a different conversation.

Pilotless planes are not a new concept and whilst it may not be widely admitted, the duopolies in the manufacture of airlines i.e. Boeing and Airbus, have been experimenting for some time with technology that would facilitate pilotless planes and the airline operators themselves would jump at any chance to reduce costs; having no pilots certainly reduces cost! The cut and paste of “’your safety is our main concern”’ is true, but only when it comes after having the ability of making more profit.

Modern planes invariably are on autopilot some 90% of the time anyway and this includes take off and landings. The pilots and their co-pilots supervise this and are ready to step in and intervene when required, the thinking being that human judgement remains irreplaceable when trouble shooting and making last minute decisions. Its, hard to envisage, for example, how AI could intervene for an onboard medical emergency: how would it evaluate the situation? AI helps pilots do their jobs but it does not replace them and the biggest barrier airlines and airline manufacturers face is not technology but getting the “buy in” from the travelling public and also from the regulatory bodies.

The memory is still fresh in many circles of the Boeing 737 Max planes which came crashing to earth killing hundreds of people through what would not incorrectly be said to be due to “’bad tech”. Not having any pilot on board is hardly likely to settle many people’s nerves. Boeing tried in vain to blame pilot error for these crashes until they were rumbled, so one wonders who they would blame if the same happened without a pilot on board! This also excludes the very real threat of planes being hacked whilst operational and then either being held for ransom or weaponised in an act of terror. If bank systems et al are hacked routinely nowadays, why would hacking a plane be different?

As far as the regulatory hurdles are concerned the US FAA and the European EASA both require a minimum of two pilots on board any flight and any attempt to change this is likely to be challenged at every turn and will take an eternity to go through the courts.

So, whilst driverless cars may be gaining traction in some quarters, though not from people who like driving cards, driverless planes are not likely to be following suit anytime soon.

Mark Thomas

Numbers Looking Good

Single Luxury

The “’Gulf Airlines’” are widely associated with pushing the borders when it comes to comfort and luxury. A new first will start on August 1^st when UAE based Etihad becomes the first airline to operate a single aisle aircraft that contains First Class seating. Before anyone jumps in and says that in the USA, they too have single aisle planes with “’First’; their definition of first is actually a business class offering.

The Etihad offering comes with its introduction of the A321 LR planes that will not only have First Class suites, but 14 lie flat premium business seats as well. The First Suites include a sliding door, buddy seats, large 4K entertainment screes with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging.

In the UAE and all First Class destinations, guests will also get free chauffer service to and from the airport. Also in the UAE, first class guests will have the benefit of Land and Leave services which offers a baggage free airport experience as bags are collected from home. Once at the airport the guests will be delivered to the aircraft in a limousine if the plane does not board at a gate.

Keeping the Lawyers Busy

Ryanair is filing a 1m Euro defamation lawsuit against the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) after the latter announced a case against Ryanair for 160,000 Eu in damages. The dispute started some two years ago when the Italian Price Surveillance Authority summoned airlines, including Ryanair, to explain why fares had increased by 50% when the price of fuel had dropped 45%? A war of words ensued.

No doubt there will be some amicable step back from both sides cometh the hour, but the ranting from both sides also throws up an intriguing scenario that involves leftish EU policies and their consumer protection philosophy pitched against the free market (supposedly) in which we all live here in Europe.

EU law states that prices are set by the market and institutions cannot impose general airfare caps. Price controls in aviation were removed from the Single Aviation Market several years ago. However, there is always some sort of back door and the back door might be opened as limited price regulation or interventions may be allowed on specific routes or cases where pubic service obligations or emergencies are involved.

So, this one is down to the judges if both sides don’t relent and even then, as we have seen in the farcical Amsterdam Schiphol Airport soap opera, judges will make random decisions based on their beliefs and carreer path rather than on what the law says.

It’s in the Stars

Italian national carrier ITA, the successor to Alitalia is to become a member of the Star Alliance group of airlines in 2026. Star Alliance is led in Europe by the Lufthansa Group who have now acquired a 41% minority stake in ITA. Previously Alitalia were members of the Skyteam Alliance led in Europe by Air France-KLM and they will become the 26^th airline to join Star Alliance.

What’s in a Name?

The Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism has announced a new name and domain: VisitBulgaria.com. The previous offering being BulgariaTravel.org. Whilst obviously using the corporate buzz words that one has to use to garner EU funds, the explanation was that the move is “the first key step in the overall process of rebranding and digital transformation of the country’s presentation to the world”.  The Ministry added that “the ultimate goal will be for this not to be just an information site but also a true digital platform that creates an experience even before the trip:”.

Let’s hope the site doesn’t crash otherwise that experience may not start a happy one.

The Next Competitor is

The never-ending promise or threat – depending how you view it – from transport companies of all ilk to start operations on the London – Paris and thus, UK – France rail link, seems to have been like no other when it comes to empty promises. There are many factors why this is not as easy as starting a new bus route or even a new plane route that only an anorak rail enthusiast would find interesting.  Politics being just one of them.  This however doesn’t stop the flow of work into PR agencies who earn a crust by proudly announcing the next participant to enter the game.

That next participant is Italian operator FS Italiane who operate the Trenitalia brand. They have announced plans to start operations between London and Paris by 2029 as part of a 1 billion Euro investment. Just for the record, that announcement comes shortly after Richard Branson (who else!) and start up that no-one has ever heard of, Gemini Trains, announced they too had plans to start their own international services.

Trenitalia already operate trains between Paris and Lyon as well as Paris – Milan and will commence operations on the Paris – Marseille high speed route in June of this year. If their plans for the UK go ahead, they also intend to extend services from London to Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Milan; no doubt using Paris as a connecting hub in the same manner airlines use “home” airports as such connecting hubs in their hub and spoke concept.

Sample a Cruise

Taking a holiday or short break on a cruise is not to everyone’s liking, but the adage could be used that if you don’t try it, you will never find out of you like it or not. The general perception of a cruise is big ship, lots of people and far flung places. That is not always the case at either end of the budget scale and what might be described as “’sampler”’ cruises are available close by.

Celestyal Cruises are running 3,4 and 7 night cruises out of Athens from June until October. Their itineraries include: –

3 Nights:  Athens – Mykonos – Kusadasi – Patmos – Crete – Santorini – Athens and start from 339 Euros per person.

4 Nights: Athens – Mykonos  – Kusadasi – Patmos – Rhodes – Crete – Santorini – Athens with prices from 469 Euros per person.

7 Night: Athens – Thessaloniki – Kusadasi – Crete – Santorini – Mykonos – Milos – Athens from 779 Euros per person.

Special offers valid until 31^st May.

Contact Jamadvice/BCD Bulgaria for more details

Wizz Promises

Putting the customer first is an overused strapline that companies of all types and sizes use but seldom deliver their promise on. Thus, the PR blurb from Wizz Air as they unveiled a 12 Billion Euro transformation plan that “’puts the customer at the forefront of its operations” will have the no doubt gone in one ear and out of the other ear that belons to the travelling public. Wizz Air do what they say on the box, they get people from Point A to Point B (most of the time), but if there is ever a problem; don’t expect too much help.

The investment will apparently focus in four main areas: product, price, service and communication, which includes fleet renewal and network expansion plans plus upgrades to its app and customer support systems.

As a brief summery on the above key areas of focus, the Wizz Air fleet is very young anyway so travellers won’t see much difference there, they may though see lots of new routes as Wizz are “talking the talk” about expanding into all corners of the globe (except the Americas) and operating new Intercontinental flights with long range single aisle aircraft. The Wizz Air app is hardly cutting edge, when its working that is and the customer support is as bad as it gets, if you can actually reach it.

At the end of the day, as we have said, the airline does what is says in the box, but there comes a time when this alone is not good enough in the public eye. Of course, promises are made in all walks of business life, but how often they are kept and are how often they are kept at the expense of the bottom line is another question.

The Real World

It’s good to see the incoming German government taking a pragmatic and realistic approach to travel and not succumbing to the eco-loons that have penetrated society. The Government plan to reduce aviation taxes and reverse last year’s increase in the country’s air passenger tax. The previous government doing all it could to stifle aviation connectivity and people’s ability to travel by increasing the taxes by 20%. They also plan to abolish the policy of introducing the minimum quota use of synthetic fuels by 2026 arguing that such fuels are not readily available.

The fashion to be seen to be whiter than white is fine as long as commercially it makes sense not just for business, but also for the country. In Germany’s case, it didn’t. The main airport of Frankfurt is one of the only main European hub airports struggling to get to pre Covid levels of activity, with passenger numbers actually falling year on year; partly due to the high taxes charged for using the airport. With numbers down 17%, the German government are taking a business approach to matters and seeking to stimulate activity. A move the Greens wont like but the Green Party don’t pay the bills.

London the Place to Meet

London has once again been named as the top Meetings and Event location in Europe by Cvent, a market leader in Meetings and Event Planning for the Corporate World. This is the third year the city has been top of the pile and it was also the top location prior to Covid. Barcelona and Madrid came in second and third. Amsterdam rose two places to fourth, followed by Lisbon, Paris, Berlin and Rome. Interestingly enough Prague and Dublin appeared in the top ten and replaced two German cities, Frankfurt and Munich.

The top meeting hotel award was won by the Imperial Riding School in Vienna, the Torre Melina and Catalunya Congress and Convention Centre in Barcelona came second followed by the Prague Marriott Hotel.

Outside of Europe, Orlando was the top Meetings destination in North America ahead of Las Vegas and Chicago. In Asia, Singapore was the top destination whilst surprise surprise, Dubai came top in the Middle East and Africa region.

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Tel:+ 359 (2) 943 3011;
e-mail:mark @jamadvice.eu