Air Travel News 9.14.10

Air, Air Travel News, Travel Products & Services — By Nancy Y on September 14, 2010 at 6:00 am

by Nancy Yeomans

LG Air Travel Editor

Look up in the sky! It’s a bird….it’s a plane! No….it’s your weekly air travel news! Here’s what’s happening in the world of aviation, from the ground up.

Just Like Riding A Bike

Coming soon to an aircraft near you? Hopefully not. A new model airline seat is being unveiled next week at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (yes, there is such a conference). It’s called the SkyRider and boasts a scant 23-inch pitch – the distance between the back of your seat and the back of the seat in front of you. Just for comparison, Boeing recommends a 32-inch seat pitch for their aircraft. By the looks of it, it’s somewhat like a bike seat or a horseback saddle. And probably feels like one too.

Source: USAToday

On The Flip Side

Meanwhile, the folks at Delta are making the most of their pre-owned fleet of ex-Northwest Boeing 747’s. The lucky ducks up in Business class will be snoring away on lay-flat seats. For the rest of us: USB ports, touch-screen displays for tv and movies, extra under seat storage and increased space between rows of seats are on tap for the Economy class. Hmmm, more space and amenities instead of less…..

Source: Jaunted

Quickie: For comprehensive information about everything airline seats, SeatGuru is the place to go. Here you will find detailed comparison charts for almost every type of aircraft and airline. When trying to decide between airlines, the information included on this website could make your decision for you.

Rest For The Weary

The US government is proposing a new set of rules aimed at combatting cockpit fatigue. The proposal includes a longer minimum rest period pre-flight as well as more duty-free hours during the week. If these changes are approved it will likely equal more pilot hiring and cost to the airlines. It’s easy to assume that any additional cost to the airlines will be passed on to the consumer, but if it means an alert flight crew I’m willing to pay my share!

Source: Reuters

Photo credit: aaronx/flickr, USAToday