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Yes, and most airlines use more than one aircraft type. Mix in cargo and other traffic and you have a very interesting time there. Maybe we shud organise a dedicated spotting trip there sometime!

Ouside CX office.. the minibus picked up some people there...

For me the age of the plane and the airline's safety record matter quite a bit. So I will only take MAS T7 flights right now... For domestic, I would prefer to use Firefly or AirAsia as their fleet is more or less brand new. Having said that, even brand new planes do crash - one cannot guarantee safety.

Was at Marriott Skycity - runway 25R was used for landing that day. It was horrible spotting weather - very hazy and light was not great. I managed to grab this one outside the airport. Sorry about the extremely tight crop, was in a minibus and it was a grab shot!

Those PW JT8D engines are rather noisy on take off. Surprising that they can still operate out of SIN!

Yes, AK had the Man U logojet but still does not operate to Manchester to date! Anyway, I think that D7 is already making early linkages with the US market and a logojet is one way to go about it.

A couple from my casual spotting session from my hotel room!

I remembered that last year Tiger had the "zero fees and taxes" promo and the fare is only RM 69. That is the same as the current AK promo where the "zero fare" tickets resulted in an average of RM 140 for a return flight. But it will cost more if you have luggage and you want to choose seats.

FOC seats to Hangzhou, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Hong Kong all gone. Tianjin, Perth and Macau also almost habis. Looks like this time, bookings are not moving so fast.

Just checked - zero fare flights still available for 6 Feb. RM 140 return.

Yes, that is why Tony Ferndandes is looking for a Head of Ancillary Income. Treasury management is very important to make the forward booking revenues work to earn even more income.

Yes, there are very limited "free" seats on each flight. Basically, pax who book later subsidise the pax who book earlier. So these "promos" are nothing to shout about because instead of quietly offering the earliest bird the zero fare ticket AK uses this as a chance to milk media coverage.... For people like me, the announcements will ensure that I know I have a good chance of getting these fares. I just came back from Hong Kong on a ticket booked in August last year. 2 pax for around RM 750 return. Next year, 4 pax can go for less than that! Amazing!

Today I booked 2 flights for 4 pax to Macau and (return from) Hong Kong for travel next year. Total cost, less than RM 700. AK is getting cheaper, if you can manage to snag the seats!

If you look at the results, AirAsia's operations are healthy. They decided to take all losses from fuel hedging and interest rate swaps into last year's accounts so that they have a clean balance sheet for 2009. Don't be surprised if AirAsia posts big profits in 2009, if oil prices don't go up. I think AirAsia needs to strengthen their treasury team - that is why Tony Fernandes has put priority to that. He is recruiting a Head of Ancillary Income in his blog and in Facebook and Twitter. This is an area that can contribute to the group's income and profits as AirAsia has substantial income from forward bookings. They need to make the money work harder and generate returns even before the passenger flies. I think AirAsia's main challenge is the red tape of the Malaysian and foreign governments. I am not confident that the permanent LCCT will be built on time. MAHB works like a govt. department, i.e. slow and illogical decision making... So it has to be more inventive in making the low cost model work. AirAsia's core operations looks OK but the non-airline operations part of things is putting the brakes on its expansion. Tune Money is another worry as it failed to take off. Now they are tying up with CIMB. If Tune Money can contribute more to the group, then things can improve. AirAsia needs all its group companies to pull their weight. Then it will definitely be a huge success.

The F14 and MiG 29's are both relatively old fighters now, the F14 is 1970's technology while the MiG 29 is roughly half a generation later, an 1980's design. So I wonder what the US and Malaysian air forces learnt that they did not know already.

Lots of information on the history of AF1 here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One

A jumbo jet being chased by a F-16 fighter jets buzzed Lower Manhattan this morning, panicking New Yorkers, many of whom were forced to evacuate their office buildings. Full Report: http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272009/news/...rker_166470.htm

Hmmm, but still only 1 customer for 747-8i...

Nope, it is included in the taxes, admin fees calculation. No choice...

I was just thinking, if Singapore airline was allowed into SZB, they would operate jet aircraft as they don't have a turboprop airline like Firefly. So, we may see only Firefly out of SZB for now. If jet aircraft is allowed then AirAsia would definitely make loadsa noise!

Firefly does include compulsory insurance. We cannot opt out...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- AirAsia is once more offering sweet deals to its guests, by offering free seats as introduction to its two new routes -- Singapore-Langkawi and Penang-Singapore. These new routes will simultaneously commence on June 1, 2009 with daily services. "By opening up these routes, we are looking forward to stimulating more travel and tourism activities which will definitely benefit the country's economy," said AirAsia Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan, in a statement today. "We always remain bullish that our low fares will help to stimulate and induce new travel demand, and will help boost tourism potential on both ends," she said. The free seats deals are exclusively available online via AirAsia's website at www.airasia.com or mobile.airasia.com. Booking period is from April 27 to May 3, 2009 for travel between June 1, 2009 and Jan 31, 2010. Alongside the new routes, the airline is increasing its frequency from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, bringing the total frequency to eight direct daily flights from the current seven. The added frequency will also commence operations on June 1, 2009, with free seats on offer to mark its initiation. The free seats offer is also available online with similar booking and travel period as the new routes above. "Our Kuala Lumpur - Singapore route on the other hand, received tremendous response ever since it was first introduced, with an average load factor of 80 percent," said Tan. The free seats offer exclude airport tax, admin fees and are applicable for one-way only. -- BERNAMA

Yes, I think it is better for you to be safe than sorry. You will probably need to hang out more at the public park to get a better collection. The shots look good and thanks for sharing!

Excellent shots of the Indian bird in Middle Eastern colours, Chaity. I admire you guys who spot in KLIA cos it is so much hassle and you may end up with nothing. The BULIS need to justify their wages, so they hassle innocent people pursuing their hobby. They should spend more time hassling the Mat Rempits lah!

Will be in HKG next month and might stay in Marriott Skycity. What are the chances of getting some shots from there? I am unlikely to get much time for serious spotting!