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Rivals are paying the priceWhen Ryanair announced yesterday they were considering making free standing room available on flights, like most I let out quite a big chuckle. The imagery of 'Mind the closing doors please, mind the closing doors' came rushing to my head and the thought of being caught between the sweaty armpits of Malaga returning tourists with a little too much alcohol on the breath for comfort seemed too bizarre not to raise a smile at. It is easy to laugh at this idea, like it was easy to laugh at the concept of paying for an in flight comfort break, or carting your own luggage on board the aircraft, and I dare say there are more laughable ideas to come (bring your own trolley for free drinks, fly the plane for your choice of destination, the mind boggles). But last Friday Ryanair, in the midst of a global recession announced a hefty 13% rise in passengers alongside a load factor increase from 1% to 85%. Yesterday rival budget airline Easyjet revealed similar, positive results. So the jokes may continue long into the night about the 'crazy, attention seeking' schemes being suggested by Ryanair but the fact is, they know the market they are dealing with. People are clearly willing to sacrifice comfort for price. Compare their success with the current plight of British Airways and it is plain to see who's having the last laugh. This is a company putting in research and expanding possibilities at a time when others are merely covering up and waiting for the bell. Knowing the playing field is half the battle, a battle which the budget airlines are currently strolling through with ease. To keep track of your market visit www.artesiansolutions.com
The Artesian Blog takes a look at the morning headlines:
Summer of chaos feared as British Airways workers vote against job plans - British Airways passengers could have their summer holidays disrupted by industrial action after the airline’s plans to cut thousands of jobs, freeze pay and make other savings were rejected by workers. A strike by BA staff would cause chaos for hundreds of thousands of families planning to fly abroad during the school holidays, and the possibility of disruption moved a significant step closer yesterday after 2,000 cabin crew voted almost unanimously to reject the airline’s cost-cutting proposals. (full story)
National Express's east coast line is 'an accident waiting to happen' - A junior transport minister has warned of fears among National Express staff that a "major accident is just around the corner" on the east coast mainline, partly because of the pressure of staff cuts.The minister, the Gillingham MP Paul Clark, spelt out a series of concerns to National Express in a letter following a meeting with an employee of the company who lives in his constituency. (full story)
Sony to enter netbook PC market with new Vaio - Sony Corp said on Tuesday it plans to launch a new Vaio laptop that will sell for around 60,000 yen ($629) in Japan in August, making its entry into the fast-growing netbook market.Netbook PCs are smaller and cheaper than traditional notebook computers and optimized for simpler computing tasks such as Web browsing and email. (full story)
BBC to cut programme budget to fill £2bn black hole in pension fund - The BBC will be forced to cut millions of pounds from its programme budgets to plug an estimated £2 billion black hole in its pensions scheme.The public broadcaster has warned its pension scheme members that in April last year the fund was £470 million in the red. (full story)1,000 Danger Men on Loose - NEARLY 1,000 convicted criminals including murderers and rapists are roaming free, despite breaching terms of early release from jail.Ministry of Justice figures revealed yesterday that 954 offenders recalled to prison before March this year had not surrendered to custody by the end of last month. (full story)
The Artesian Blog takes a look at the morning headlines:
Graduates 'face more competition' - The average number of graduates chasing every job on offer this year has risen to 48 and graduate starting salaries have been frozen, a report says.There were 25% fewer jobs available in the UK on the last recruitment round, the Association of Graduate Recruiters said after surveying 226 members. (full story)Police spending half their time away from front line as paperwork increases - Police officers are spending an increasing amount of their time on paperwork, despite the Government's claim to have cut the burden of red tape, new figures have disclosed. Official Home Office data appear to suggest its moves to cut bureaucracy are working, with police spending a larger proportion of their time on what is called "front line policing". (full story)Google or Microsoft could hold NHS patient records say Tories - Health records could be transferred to Google or Microsoft under a Tory government, The Times has learnt.Patients will be given the option of moving their medical notes to private companies after the Conservatives said that they would replace Labour’s “centrally determined and unresponsive national IT system”. (full story)Violent Riots Kill Up To 140 In China - Up to 140 people have been killed and more than 800 injured during violent ethnic riots in China's western Xinjiang region.Thousands of people, mostly Muslim Uighurs, took to the streets of the region's capital, Urumqi, where some rioters smashed vehicles and set them alight. (full story)Honduras coup leaders block ousted president's return - Coup leaders in Honduras thwarted President Manuel Zelaya's attempted return early today by blocking an airport runway with military vehicles, forcing his plane to divert to Nicaragua.Thousands of the ousted leader's supporters clashed with police and soldiers at the airport, leaving at least two dead and dozens injured. (full story)
"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"In times of crisis people, at the very least, want to be reassured by confident, focused leadership. Like troops heading into a battle the spirit is always stronger when led by a commanding general who convinces of victory. But to me, it seems like our government can not even talk the talk and it can only be down to poor preparation.I've sat and watched time and time again as Gordon Brown delivers a speech which he appears to be making up on the spot, like a ten year old child who hasn't done his homework before a class presentation. Whilst some factors are simply beyond his control:
his speeches are a chance to really lay down his intentions and you have to wonder just how often he is left really winging it. If you spent sufficient time preparing to address the nation would you ever come out with these corkers: 1. "I did maths for a year at university. I don't think I was very good at it. And some people would say it shows."2. "We spend more on cows than the poor."3. "Each year India and China produce four million graduates compared with just over 250,000 in Britain."4. "Our financial discipline has made extra resources available."5. "I take full responsibility for what happened. That's why the person who was responsible went immediately."These lines come from someone who is under prepared, unclear and not on the ball. The only way to avoid these kind of blunders is to be completely up to speed with everything that can be thrown at you... Oh, and not picking your nose in prime view helps to. (view video of the famous Gordon Brown nose pick). Of course everyone makes mistakes, but they can be limited. "By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail."To keep up to date in your sector visit www.artesiansolutions.com
The Artesian Blog takes a look at the morning headlines:
British Workers 'To Skive' For Murray And Sun - Andy Murray's bid to reach the Wimbledon final this afternoon will receive a giant audience - much to the dismay of British bosses.Record numbers of workers are predicted to call in sick so they can watch the 22-year-old Scot face American Andy Roddick on Centre Court. (full story)Twitter followers 'can be bought' - Twitter users who lack an audience for their messages can now buy followers.Australian social media marketing company uSocial is offering a paid service that finds followers for users of the micro-blogging service. (full story)Swine flu: 100,000 UK cases a day by August - More than 100,000 people could be diagnosed with swine flu every day by the end of August, the government said, announcing that the disease can no longer be contained in the UK.A Commons statement by the health secretary, Andy Burnham, marks a watershed in the spread of the flu. No more schools will be closed, unless forced to by the lack of staff or if the pupils are especially vulnerable. Families and people in contact with those with flu will not be given preventative antiviral drugs. (full story)
US government investigates Google book deal - American authorities are conducting a formal investigation into whether Google's $125m deal with the US book industry is anti-competitive.The Department of Justice has confirmed that it is looking into the internet giant's agreement with authors' groups to pay for the right to digitise and sell millions of books. (full story)Sheep Riddle Solved - A MYSTERY which has baffled scientists has finally been solved – why the sheep on a remote British island are shrinking.Wild Soay sheep are getting smaller due to global warming, say the scientists. (full story)
The Artesian Blog takes a look at the morning headlines:US opens 'major Afghan offensive' - The US army says it has launched a major offensive against the Taliban in south Afghanistan's Helmand province.The US military says about 4,000 Marines as well as 650 Afghan troops are involved, supported by Nato planes. (full story)'Kick in the teeth' for students as grants are frozen - Student grants and loans will be frozen next year, while tuition fees rise, sparking warnings of financial misery for thousands of undergraduates.Ministers announced that financial support for students would be capped because of "difficult economic times". (full story)Miracle survivor of Comoros Airbus crash tells of rescue from Indian Ocean wreckage - A shy Paris schoolgirl described yesterday how she clung to a piece of wreckage in the Indian Ocean for more than 13 hours before being rescued. She was the only one to survive among 153 people on board the Yemenia Airlines flight that crashed into the sea off the Comoros Islands early on Tuesday. (full story)Brown finally admits that there will be cuts in public spending - Gordon Brown changed his tune on public spending last night, admitting Labour would have to cut Government programmes, as he tried to refocus his attack on the Conservatives.The Prime Minister insisted that Labour would secure economic growth, efficiency savings, asset sales and public-sector reforms to protect frontline services which would be at risk under a Tory Government. (full story)
Virgin Atlantic to cut 600 jobs and tenth of services - Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to axe almost a tenth of its services this winter with the loss of up to 600 jobs as the recession continues to bite into the airline industry.The Richard Branson-led company said it would not run its daily service from Heathrow to Chicago this coming winter and was suspending one of its two daily services between Heathrow and Hong Kong. (full story)
The Artesian Blog takes a look at the morning headlinesAirbus could be asked to ground all long-range airliners - Airbus is expected to face calls to ground its worldwide fleet of long-range airliners tomorrow when French accident investigators issue their first account of what caused Air France Flight 447 to crash off Brazil on June 1.It is believed that the accident bureau will report that faulty speed data and electronics were the main problem in the disaster that killed 228 people. (full story)Home Secretary abandons compulsory ID cards - British nationals will not be forced to carry identity cards after Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, scrapped plans to make the controversial £4.9 billion scheme compulsory.British nationals will not be forced to carry identity cards after Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary, scrapped plans to make the controversial £4.9 billion scheme compulsory. (full story)China delays internet filter plan - China is to delay a controversial plan requiring all new computers sold in the country to be equipped with an internet filtering software, state media says.The filter, called Green Dam Youth Escort, was to have been required from Wednesday, but the industry ministry said computer makers needed more time. (full story)East Coast rail line to be nationalised - The UK government is to take over the East Coast rail route between London and Edinburgh from National Express, the struggling bus and rail operator, which on Wednesday said it expected to walk away from the loss-making franchise later this year.In a toughly-worded statement, Lord Adonis, transport secretary, said: “It is simply unacceptable to reap the benefits of contracts when times are good, only to walk away from them when times become more challenging.” (full story)Overheating iPhone 3GS handsets worry users - Owners of Apple's new iPhone have reported that tsome handsets gets so hot it glows pink. The problem appears to particularly affect the white handsets of Apple's new turbo-charged device, which is twice as fast as its predecessor, the iPhone 3G, and boasts an improved camera and the ability to record video. (full story)
