Delta BusinessElite Class now featured on Transcontinental Flights

Delta Air Lines recently breathed new life into its product when it introduced new, modern amenities - in BusinessElite, in domestic First Class, and in Coach - on its Boeing 757's, 767's, and 777's. Passengers finally had things like PTV's and more ergonomic seats (a must for those of us in Coach!), and meals on longer flights became more commonplace.

Now, Delta is taking it a step further in the right direction: A new, greatly improved premium product is available on transcontinental flights. Reclining BusinessElite seats are now featured on all flights from JFK to Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with amenities such as in-flight internet and comfy duvets. This is a much-needed update to Delta's old product, and this will also hopefully force other airlines with special transcontinental services (like AA's Flagship Service) to rise up and compete. It is very nice to see Delta revitalizing its product!

The drawback is that since there are fewer seats in the BusinessElite cabin, upgrades will be more scarce - a sad thing for us SkyMiles Medallion members.

Landing in New Orleans (MSY)

This is a video of the landing in New Orleans, LA at Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY). The flight was on an American Airlines MD-80 and flew from Chicago O'hare International Airport (ORD). You can see a lot of Jefferson Parish and the lakefront.

The landing in New Orleans is one of the nicest landings out there.

Interested in following Airport Radar? Then Check Out this Utility!

While browsing on the New Orleans Int'l Airport website this morning, I found a very interesting utility called "Airport Monitor 2.0." Airport Monitor 2.0 is a real-time Airport Radar utility which can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection. It also has a retrospect mode, so radar can be viewed from previous dates and times. It is available for a number of airports including, LaGuardia, JFK, Newark, New Orleans, LAX, and San Diego. I will include a list of links below.

New Orleans Airport (MSY) Airport Monitor 2.0:

http://www4.passur.com/msy.html

JFK Airport:

http://www4.passur.com/jfk.html

LaGuardia Airport:

http://www4.passur.com/lga.html

Boston-Logan:

http://www4.passur.com/bos.html

LAX:

http://www4.passur.com/lax.html

Full List of Airports:

http://www.passur.com/airportmonitor-locations.htm

Yemenia Air Jet Crashes, Child is Found Alive

A Yemenia Air Airbus A310-300 carrying over 150 passengers crashed off the Eastern Coast of Africa while trying to land, according to the Sydney Morning Hearald. The jet departed Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and was bound for Moroni, Comoros Islands, with a stopover in Sana'a Yemen. The jet encountered difficulty landing and crashed into the swells of the Indian Ocean, according to eyewitnesses at Moroni Airport. The scene of the crash is being investigated by French military jets and seacraft, which were already stationed at other islands the Indian Ocean. Although the situation is egregious in the highest way, a small miracle has emerged. French sailors found a five-year-old boy floating among the wreckage of the A310. According to Ben Imani, a doctor at a Moroni Hospital, the boy is being treated and closely monitored. No other survivors have been found at the site of the crash.

This is the second Airbus aircraft to crash over a major body of water in less than a month. The last flight, an Air France Airbus A330-200 bound from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil. The cause of the AF A330-300 crash was determined to be failure of vital computer systems. The cause of the Yemenia A310 crash is unknown, as of now.

AeroMexico Comes to New Olreans Int'l, Promises More Routes

AeroMexico, a Skyteam alliance airline based out of Mexico City (MEX), announced that it will once again establish a daily nonstop service from Mexico City Int'l to New Orleans Armstrong Int'l (MSY), after arduous negotiations with the city of New Orleans. AeroMexico will use Embraer E-145's for the route, with possiblity for equipment upgrades if the route shows promise. This is vital to the economic growth of New Orleans, and is a sure sign of recovery of international commerce in New Orleans and its surrounding areas. AeroMexico will also begin to offer daily nonstop service from New Orleans to Honduras, beginning July 7. According to WDSU, a New Orleans news station, AeroMexico will continue to offer the inaugural flight, despite civil unrest in the country. AeroMexico also promises to start other services to cities in Latin America if these two new routes fare well.

AeroMexico coming to New Orleans Int'l?

On November 26, 2008, AeroMexico filed an application with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin a daily nonstop service from Mexico City, Mexico to New Orleans, Louisiana.  The application was approved by the DOT, and AeroMexico is currently engaging in talks with New Orleans Airport personnel.  Greater New Orleans Inc. President Michael Hecht who, with his economic development group, has been working fervently with AeroMexico stated, "AeroMexico sees New Orleans as a very attractive airport with a central location between Houston and Atlanta...  Our plan is to return New Orleans to the gateway to the Americas."  Airport officials stated that if AeroMexico wished to begin flights into New Orleans immediately, facilities such as INS (Immigration) Checkpoints and ticket counters are prepared and ready for use.