As many of you have probably realized by now, yesterday was April Fools Day*. This was an opportunity for airlines, with a sense of humor, to break out their best creativity and come up with stories that are almost believable — almost.
How would you like to spend your next flight standing up? All images by Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand offers STRIGHTUP Fares for those willing to stand while flying
From Air New Zealand’s press release: Air New Zealand’s Domestic airline is proud to introduce STRAIGHTUPFARESâ„¢, the next step in the evolution of affordable domestic air travel on sale to anyone who can ‘stand it’. The special fares are part of the airline’s Grabaseatâ„¢ promotion.
For the April 1, 2012 launch date, the airline has installed hand holds on the cabin ceilings of selected aircraft to allow even more passengers per flight. The new “seating” plan can accommodate up to 69 extra passengers standing in the aisle for the duration of the flight, massively increasing Air New Zealand’s capacity and drastically lowering ticket prices.
The fares are offered at three different levels: STRAIGHTUPFARESâ„¢ – The standard offering includes carry on baggage only, STRAIGHTUPBAGâ„¢ – Includes carry on bag and one checked in bag up to 25kgs, and STRAIGHTUPDELUXEâ„¢ – Includes carry on bag and one checked in bag up to 25kgs, inflight refreshments and a interactive handhold.
Fare restrictions:
* Height restriction: 150cm Minimum height, excluding wheelchair passengers.
* Girth restriction: STRAIGHTUPFARESâ„¢ 100cm max waist, STRAIGHTUPBAGâ„¢ 120cm max waist, STRAIGHTUPDELUXEâ„¢ 150cm max waist
* Standing passenger must possess at least one fully functional arm and one fully function leg or equivalent. Wheel clamps provided for wheelchair passengers.
Who wants to go to space? Spirit can take you there. Image from Spirit Airlines.
Spirit Airlines Offers $9 Each Way Trips to the Moon
What is funnier than Spirit offering to take you to the moon is their ability to make fun of themselves. They are known as an ultra low cost carrier and charge for everything (even your carry-on). So they might have $9 each way fares advertised, but adding in your space suit, oxygen mask, tang, government service fee (good thing that is not hidden) and the rocket fuel, you are looking at a $1,203,000,025.97 ticket. Classic.
TOFUnuts on Southwest? Please no. Image from Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines Now Serving TOFUnuts Onboard
Mmmm. TOFUnuts. Thank goodness this is a joke. From the airline’s press release: Southwest Airlines today begins serving a delicious onboard snack in addition to the carrier’s legendary peanut offering, TOFUnuts. With the same salty taste, TOFUnuts contain more protein than Southwest’s lightly salted peanuts. Customers who stop in the airport terminal for that savory cheeseburger can wash away the guilt knowing that a packet of TOFUnuts will help lower bad cholesterol. Other benefits include appearing younger as Customers step off one of the carrier’s LUV jets since the isoflavones in the TOFUnuts scavenge free radicals to prevent premature aging.
“We didn’t think we could top our world famous peanuts, but this little baby has real potential,” said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. “If you aren’t in the mood for our traditional peanuts, then get on the tofu train. I mean, a snack food and healthy skinsign me up!” Read more…
The new VVS1 will be able to take up to three people down to the Earth's core. Photo from Virgin.
Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic
From the “official” press release: Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic. Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks to join first expedition. Only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever attempted to journey to the core of an active volcano. Until now. Using patented carbon-carbon materials pioneered for deep space exploration, Virgin is proud to announce a revolutionary new vehicle, VVS1, which will be capable of plunging three people into the molten lava core of an active volcano. Read more…
WestJet says no to kids? Origional photo from Andrew Sieber. Click for orig.
WestJet Introduces Child-Free Cabins
From WestJet’s website: Airline unveils Kargo Kids, a travel program to create a serene travel experience. WestJet today introduced Kargo Kids, an exciting new program allowing guests to travel on select child-free flights, creating a quieter and more relaxing inflight experience, while children travel in a “special VIP” area of the aircraft. “As Canada’s low-cost airline, we are constantly looking for innovative and fun ways to enhance the guest experience,” continued Richard Bartrem. “The initial feedback on Kargo Kids has been quite positive and we’re looking forward to the peace and quiet while we get families where they need to be.”
Do you have what it takes at 30,000 feet? Photo by Air New Zealand.
FORE! What do you get when you have a fun-spirited airline, like Air New Zealand (ANZ) sponsoring a sporting event like the NZ PGA Pro-Am Championship? You get to test your putting skills at 30,000 feet… that is what.
Starting yesterday, ANZ started their 30,000ft In-Flight Putting Challenge. It is exclusively on board their Airbus A320 aircraft that is painted in All Blacks livery (ZK-OAB), flying between Auckland and Queenstown.
Four passengers on each flight will be able to strut their stuff and put down the aisle for a chance to win a variety of golfing prizes. The one passengers who does the best overall during this week will win a VIP trip to the actual championship.
Putting on the ground is one thing. Trying it while in an airplane at 30,000 feet is another. Photos from Air New Zealand.
’œAt Air New Zealand we’re crazy about rugby on the outside of our planes and we’re crazy about golf on the inside,” James Gibson, Air New Zealand’s Head of Sponsorship stated. “This world-first for entertainment onboard is sure to show off some skills and provide a few thrills for passengers traveling on the all black A320 over the next few days.”
How can you not like fun airborne promotions like this? I have a hard enough time at my local putt-putt golf course on the solid ground, I couldn’t imagine what it would be like at 30,000 feet with a little bit of turbulence.
Photos and the leaderboard are up on ANZ’s theflyingsocialnetwork.com site. Currently the person in the lead was able to make her hole in one at six feet. Let’s see if that can be surpassed.
About mid-December, Boeing revealed a 777-300ER for Air New Zealand with special All Blacks (rugby team) livery. The livery looked amazing, but unfortunately the shots that Boeing shared where taken at night. On Friday December 30th, the 777-300ER (ZK-OKQ) took off for the first time, giving ample opportunity to get a better look at her. Here are some photos I wanted to share:
Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER (ZK-OKQ) taxiing at Paine Field on December 30th. Photo by Kristopher Hull.
Air New Zealand's Boeing 777-300ER with All Blacks livery (ZK-OKQ) had her first flight at Paine Field on the 30th. Photo by Liz Matzelle.
Undershot of the 777-300ER (ZK-OKQ) at Paine Field. Photo by Kristopher Hull.
HI-RES IMAGE (click for larger). Air New Zealand’s All Black Boeing 777-300ER comes out of the Boeing paint hangar. Photo by Boeing.
This is not the first aircraft that Air New Zealand has painted black for the World Champion All Blacks rugby team, but it sure is the biggest. Actually this is the world’s largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted completely black.
“It’s a sensational looking aircraft and will really turn heads at airports around the world,” said All Black’s No. 8 loose forward Kieran Read. “I reckon they should paint all their planes like this!”
The special paint job took Boeing just over a week (two days longer than a standard 777 paint job) and 14 painters worked 24 hour shifts — not an easy task.
“It was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging paint jobs we’ve ever done, but the paint team was up for the challenge and the results are absolutely outstanding. I am very proud of what the paint team has achieved,” said Jeff Klemann, Boeing Vice President Everett Delivery Center.
One might think the black paint would cause the aircraft to get too hot, but in reality, the 330 tvs on board the aircraft will create more heat than the paint job.
Air New Zealand is hoping to take delivery of this special 777-300ER in late January 2012 and it will initiate normally schedule flights shortly afterwards. By mid next year, the airline plans to have six additional planes painted in the all black livery, including two Airbus A320s and three Beech 1900D turbo-props. Here is also a video highlighting the creation of the new livery…
Boeing painter Bill Pearson applies chrome-free primer to the 777-300ER that was delivered to Air New Zealand in November 2011. Photo from Boeing.
Boeing has announced 10 initiatives on the 777 program that will help to eliminate 5.5 million pounds of CO2 and 300,000 gallons of jet fuel per year just in the 777 delivery process.
A lot of attention is given to how airlines can save money and the environment when flying them, but how about aircraft manufactures saving a little green (money and environment) before an aircraft is even delivered?
Before each 777 is delivered, there is a 20-day process of paint, tests and flights before Boeing hands over a brand plane to a customer. Boeing has been working on creating a more efficient process with Air New Zealand, which took delivery of a 777 using all ten initiatives.
“A team of employees identified redundancies in testing,” said Jeff Klemann, vice president Everett Delivery Center stated in a press release. “One idea was to eliminate engine-run tests already performed by GE, the 777’s engine manufacturer. This will result in a reduction of 1.4 million pounds of CO2 in 2012 as well as less community noise and emissions.”
In December 2010, Air New Zealand took delivery of their first Boeing 777-300ER. Photo by AirlineReporter.com.
A team of employees identified redundancies in testing and new more sustainable processes.Through out the 777 delivery process the team implemented the following 10 initiatives:
* Eliminated redundant fuel test in pre-delivery flight test
* Reduced the amount of times hydraulic filters are changed
* Eliminated engine-run tests already performed by GE
* Used waste fuel carts
* Reduced the number of times potable water is changed
* Reduced the amount of times engine fuel filters are changed
* Enhanced recycling throughout the delivery process
* Used electric carts instead of gas-powered vehicles
* Improved flight planning efficiency for pre-delivery flights to reduce fuel loads and flight times
* Used chrome-free primer
Nine of the initiatives will come standard with all future 777 deliveries. Usage of the special chrome-free paint will be an airline option.
