Some stats of the combined airline:

Revenue 2009: USD 8.49 billion (USD 3.6 billion from LAN and 4.89 billion from TAM)
Pax per year: 45 million/year
Staff: 44,000 (17,700 from LAN and 26,300 from TAM)
Fleet: 241 aircraft (98 from LAN and 143 from TAM) plus outstanding orders of 110 by LAN and 90 by TAM
Destinations served: 115
Countries served: 23

Of course, profitability of the new airline is a goal here and, in general, any merger that eliminates competition is bad for the flying public. Will we witness a rigorous model of anti-trust regulations on international routes, as you would see in the US or in the EU? Probably not…

Which of the three major alliances LATAM will join remains a major outstanding question. TAM and LAN are in separate alliances, Star Alliance and One World, respectively. And unless it is already decided, I’m sure all three alliances (the third being SkyTeam,) are trying to woo the new carrier.

If they remain in separate alliances, would they enjoy the benefits of being in both alliances, as any flight on LAN could also be a flight on TAM? Or would other alliance members disallow this advantage? More than likely, LATAM will have to choose one alliance and to date, no mention of alliances was made by either carrier, which may suggest they’re at the dance waiting for the best offer to come their way. If it has any significance, TAM only recently joined Star and signed code-share agreements with other Star members, and must have done this while simultaneously working on the deal with LAN.

For TAM/LAN’s biggest cities in the US-JFK, MIA-OneWorld, via American Airlines, provides the greatest connectivity at these airports and AA carries more passengers to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Guayaquil, and Quito than any other US carrier. As well, Iberia is a member of OneWorld for connections throughout Europe. However, the seamlessness of OneWorld may be too much, as TAM/LAN and AA/Iberia are major competitors on one hand, and on the other, the dominance of one alliance on US-South America and Europe-South America may block it from ever obtaining regulatory approval.

If one alliance is to be selected, our money is on Star Alliance.

Used by the US as a port during the Vietnam War, Quy Nhon (also spelled Qui Nhon) was a sleepy town then and remains so today. There isn’t much to the city, but the people are friendly and, unlike folks in some places, they want you to take their picture.

I had stayed at the Seagull Hotel-a very nice place and well-priced at around USD 35. Clean room, complete with a new TV and a balcony. But I waited over 50 minutes for my dinner in the restaurant, watching people who arrived after me begin their meals. I eventually walked out and head to the other high-rise hotel (there are only two) on this strip of the beach, and had some tasty grilled squid that arrived (relatively) promptly.

If you’re looking for a beach in Vietnam, skip Quy Nhon and head down to Nha Trang, about a four-hour drive to the south, and closer to Saigon. There, you’ll find nicer and more numerous hotels and a greater offering of food and drink. But expect to pay a little more, if not double, to stay in Nha Trang at a comparable hotel.

However, if you’re looking for a beach city that is off the beaten path, is generally inexpensive, and has A320 service, then Quy Nhon may be worth checking out. Vietnam Airlines operates daily A320 service between Quy Nhon (UIH) and Saigon (SGN), supplemented by ATR’s three times per week, and five A320 flights weekly to Hanoi (Tuesdays and Saturdays excepted). All Quy Nhon flights are out of Phu Cat airport, built by the USAF during the war, which is a painful 40 km (and $15 outside of the city) given the relative size of the city. Previous called Phu Cat Air Base, it was home to the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, and the 6259th Air Base Squadron, all part of the 7th Air Force, and is now used by both the Vietnamese Air Force and the national airline, Vietnam Airlines.

Walking around, you’re certain to be offered drinks in this friendly town.

Late evening on the beach.

In New York City, for November (the latest data available), there were 103,579 more revenue passengers (both domestic and international) in November 2009 than in November 2008—an increase of 1.3%—indicating improvements there as well. (Numbers were up for EWR and LGA, but down for JFK). NYC’s 2009 numbers also exceeded those of 2008 in September by 1.5%, though were down in October by 0.2%.  NYC’s relative low point in 2009 was in March, where passenger levels were down 13% from March 2008, with the best faring airport that month being JFK at -10.2%.

In Los Angeles, the numbers are even stronger. LAX hit positive year-over-year numbers in September at 1.0% and remained in positive territory through October (at 1.7%) and November (the latest available data) at 3.4%.

Detroit, on the other hand, continues to suffer, with passenger numbers down 8.6% in October year over year (latest available data).

On the national level, looking at October 2009 data (the latest available) for revenue passenger miles for US carriers on domestic and international routes, the general curve is improving with one month, September, where 2009 levels exceeded those of 2008. September was up by 0.4%, a marked improvement from -10% in January, -13% in February, and -11% in March.

Thus, on the barometer of air travel as a specific economic indicator, the economy is indeed improving, as the numbers here show.

Getting there: The airport serving Nha Trang is the airfield at Cam Ranh Bay, a major American port and airfield built during the Vietnam War. Cam Ranh Bay is approximately 35km south of Nha Trang. The airport in the city of Nha Trang  was closed to the public around 2004 and is now a military-only airport.

The Nha Trang Cam Ranh Airport has a new, clean terminal with six gates. One can get from the airport to the city by a bus to the city center or by a flat-rate taxi directly to a hotel in the city center. The taxi is 260,000 Vietnamese Dong, about USD14.

Here is the Business Class lounge in the Departure Area of NHA. A table of snacks is laid out in this room, just to the left of where this shot was taken:

Once out of the airport and into the city, you can kick back on the beach and grab lunch or a beer (or dinner and a cocktail) at the Sailing Club (below), located on beachside of Tran Phu Street. They have an extensive menu, good drinks and you can chill there for as long as you like. A few steps down is the Louisane Brewhouse, which brews their own beer (and hence the name) which are pretty tasty. I tried two of them, but the two I wanted most–a red lager and a brew with ginger in it–were not offered that night).

And to relax further, there is plenty of beach:

And when you get tired of the beach, you can hit some sites in the city. Here is the centuries-old temple, Po Nagar:

From Nha Trang, you can take one of numerous boat trips to go scuba diving or to visit some of the islands off of the coast.  Here is the Tri Nguyen Aquarium, on Mieu Island, just off of the coast of Nha Trang. An all-day boat trip from 8am to 3pm will hit a few islands and set you back around US$6 or $7.

I just had the pleasure of flying Vietnam Airlines, on a domestic flight from Hanoi to Nha Trang. Great service, new aircraft, no headaches, and on-time performance summarize the trip; this article is a quick review of the airline. The airline is prepping itself for full integration into SkyTeam this June, when it becomes a full member.

Selecting and purchasing a ticket: The airline’s official website is easy to navigate and presented many options for the route (such as departure time and various prices for each departure time). Buying the ticket online with a credit card was seamless, though it took over 20 minutes before I received the confirmation email and receipt.

The E-ticket: Buying the ticket online, you get an e-ticket. While this saves you the hassle of obtaining and not losing a paper ticket, in reality at the airport, the “e-ticket”, functions like a regular ticket. You cannot print out boarding passes from your own computer or from kiosks at the airport; rather, you must still go to the ticket counter with your e-ticket printed out and show appropriate travel documents (for a domestic flight: an officially-issued Vietnamese ID if you have one or a passport if you don’t). You then get your boarding pass at the counter.

At both Hanoi and Nha Trang Airports, there was no jetway used for this flight, and you must board a wide bus-like vehicle to travel between the airplane and the terminal, and climb (or descend) the portable stairs at the aircraft parked on the apron, away from the terminal.

On-time performance: We departed the gate and arrived about ten minutes late (both on HAN-NHA and on the return, NHA-HAN).

Inflight service: Wet napkins were distributed about 15 minutes after take-off, followed by a snack for this 90-minute flight. The snack came in a box (see photo below) and contained, water, an apple, and a pastry-like roll. On the return flight, a quite-horrible quarter-inch thick piece of bologna between two slices of bread sat in the box, which I had to try to confirm that it was as bad as it looked. Suspicion confirmed.

There was some visual entertainment, some show similar to “Candid Camera” playing, though no headphones were distributed. When asked, the flight attendant said that they don’t provide them for such a short flight.

Overall, it was an excellent flight—new and clean aircraft (a comfy A321), snack provided, decent price, pleasant crew, and on-time service.

Vietnam Airlines currently operates a modern fleet of 52 aircraft of various types, serving 19 domestic and 23 international cities. And the airline is steadily expanding. They have on order 27 new A321’s and two additional wide body A350’s. With a total of 41 A321’s, VN will operate the second largest fleet of the type, after Lufthansa with 61 (counting current operations and those on order). This past November, the airline placed an order for four A380s, Airbus’s new super jumbo jet. As well, they have an outstanding order for 16 of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The A321 (as opposed to an A320 or 737) is the backbone of the Vietnam Airlines fleet, with which it can reach all of Southeast Asia, as well as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan with a two-class configuration. This June, Vietnam Airlines will be become an official member of the SkyTeam alliance, joining Delta, Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Air Europa, CSA Czech Airlines, Kenya Airways, Aeroflot, Korean Air, and China Southern Airlines, filling out the route network of the alliance which, until VN joins, remains weak in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam Airlines aircraft parked at the terminal at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

Terminal at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN).

The snack served on Hanoi-Nha Trang. Not the tastiest, but its nice to be able to get a snack these days.

Business class in the two-class configuration of VN’s A321 fleet.

One of our loyal readers wrote to us, reflecting on his fond memories of the airline:

an awesome airline — i remember showing up 25 minutes before the flight, paying cash (the only thing they took), and flying to madrid for less than 50% of what everyone else was charging…in high season. and the crew was nice, the plane a classic 1972 boeing luxury liner…RIP

Farewell, Air Comet…

Issued on the eve of the holiday travel rush, the rule states: (quoting DOT’s press release):

The new rule prohibits U.S. airlines operating domestic flights from permitting an aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours without deplaning passengers, with exceptions allowed only for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations….Carriers are required to provide adequate food and potable drinking water for passengers within two hours of the aircraft being delayed on the tarmac and to maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention.

The penalty for violating the new rule, which should take effect in about four months, could be  steep: up to $27,000 per passenger.

I imagine things will get sticky at around the three hour point.  For example, an aircraft waiting for takeoff that it is second in line but the clock ticks 2 hours and 58 minutes would be violating the law within a few minutes, and a return to the gate would delay the flight even further.

We may need to see some refinements after the law is truly tested in the field, but it’s a great starting point. The next step should be the development of a global/ICAO standard for all worldwide flights, or at least time limits built into the bilaterals between the US and foreign countries as the new law only applies to domestic flights.

The morning rush. (Masks are worn for the pollution, not swine flu!)

A shot down Kham Thieu Street, with a three-story KFC is the background. There are no McDonalds here, but several Kentucky Fried Chickens, which are very popular.

While here, be sure to stop in at the Green Tangerine on Hang Be Street for a tasty meal in the Ancient Quarter. Here is a seafood crepe, part of a delicious Sunday brunch. However, the menu is in dollars–not the local Vietnam Dong–so the place is targeting for foreign travelers, and their thicker wallets.

Here in Ba Dinh District, two worlds are juxtaposed as a motorcyclist navigates his way through two bicycles carrying chickens.

And the day comes to close over Ho Tay (West Lake), just north of the city.

A sudden downpour from a late summer storm hits the City of Cleveland. Here the Innerbelt Bridge connecting the West Side and Downtown fades into the beyond.

The rain aside, during a short trip to this musical city earlier this month, the city was looking good with its unique blend history, intrigue, and excellent food. (Though we have a recession on, the restaurants were as packed as usual.) Here, below, is a shot of the Mall, which extends from Rockwell Avenue to Lakeside Avenue, a designated open space surrounded by public buildings.

As summer comes to close, you should be able to get some good hotel rates on already-discounted prices. A personal favorite is the Hyatt Regency developed a few years ago out of a beautiful historic shopping arcade, called The Arcade, built in 1890. The Arcade, which serves as an internal ’street’ between Euclid and Superior Avenues remains open to the public and is still lined with shops, with the hotel built using the two former office towers at each end of the Arcade.  If you walk into the Arcade from the Euclid Avenue side, you will have to descend one of the elegant staircases to exit on the Superior side, as the city slopes lower as one gets closer to the Lake. The city’s newest hotel is the Doubletree at E.12th and Lakeside Ave, in the structure that was formerly a Holiday Inn, before undergoing a rehabilitation and modernization.

We begin our journey here, at the old Ogden Station that once served the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Railroads, but now hosts a museum and some shops. The mural in the background commemorates the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad and another mural opposite this one commemorates the building of the Union Pacific. (The Southern Pacific has since been acquired by the Union Pacific.)

Step outside the station onto the street side (as opposed to the track side, which you can still do even though there is no longer any service here) and you get this view of Downtown Ogden, juxtaposed against mountains. Ogden is a very clean city:

Leaving Downtown, here is a shot near the old Ogden Station along the Union Pacific, just south of the city:

Leaving Utah and crossing into Idaho, one of the biggest towns is Pocatello. Here is Union Pacific Yard behind the old Union Pacific station, which still posts a passenger schedule from 1964 for the Domeliner City of Portland and the Portland Rose, as well as the Butte Special.

This journey making you thirsty?  Need a Squishie? Well, here in central Pocatello is the Kwikee Mart! Or maybe where it once was…

Enroute to Shoshone, Idaho, passing a little derailment that had just happened:

Safe and sound in Shoshone, Idaho, here is the Shoshone Showhouse whose marquee reads “Closed this Week. Waiting for that Stimulus” though a peak inside looks like its been closed for a while… The Union Pacific mainline is in the foreground.

Interim report
f-cp090601ae
on the accident on 1st June 2009
to the Airbus A330-203
registered F-GZCP
operated by Air France
flight AF 447 Rio de Janeiro – Paris

Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses our la sécurité de l’aviation civile

The report has been translated into English and can be found here.