is unbundling making the booking more complex?
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13 Aug 2010
What would you like to see available first before the next volcanic cloud disruption
27 Apr 2010
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- Air Rail News airrail NEWS, is a key source of information for all those seeking up-to-date industry news on rail links to airports.
- Railway Gazette The publisher of news and business information for the world's railway industry: magazines, newsletter, directory, and on-line services.
- Air Rail Today Blog A.R.T is the International Air Rail Organisation's blog, with news, articles and comment on all things related to air rail links world-wide.
- InfraWeblogs.com InfraWeblogs.com is the weblog about infrastructure.
- EURAILmag - The magazine for European rail decision makers and customers EURAILmag delivers news and information on Europe’s railway industry, its product offerings and services.
- International Air Rail Organisation IARO spreads world-class best practice and good workable ideas among people interested in rail links to airports.
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Unbundled fees. Are they an advantage for Railways?
I read two interesting reports which came out in July, both dealing with different aspects of airline ancillary revenue.
The preliminary results of the Amadeus Guide to Ancillary Revenue showed that airlines are increasingly making money from doing things other than flying people – which is good news for the aviation industry and, by and large, for the travelling public too. These revenues, at €11bn in 2009, were 43% higher than in 2008: they were for things like baggage fees, on-board sales of food, hotel and car bookings, insurance, and partner revenue from frequent flier programmes. Amadeus has systems which can help airlines to offer and collect these, and can also manage cross-selling of non-air products to people booking flights. US carrier Allegiant waas the star performer. It made nearly €25 in ancillary revenue from each passenger: this accounted for 29% of its total revenue. Aer Lingus made nearly €17/passenger (14% of its revenue). I said that this could be good for the passenger. So it can.
17 Aug 2010
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Apple set out to revolutionize the travel industry - but where does 'rail' fit in?
Apple has set out to revolutionize the travel industry. The new iTravel application which is being developed will not only allow consumers to purchase tickets but also to check-in online and use an electronic ticket at check-in. This new travel platform could have a huge affect on the way we view and purchase travel content. You will be able to access it wherever and whenever you want. Apple will possibly change the way we shop, by making travel content accessible on portable, stylish and easy-to-use devices. No longer are you restricted to booking your trip on your home computer or visiting a travel agent, you will be able to reserve flights, car rental, hotels etc wherever you happen to be…whilst waiting for the bus or even at the gym…. As well as developing cutting edge applications, the new iPad device may move Apple even closer to being one of the key players in the travel industry. Apple have already sold more than 2 million iPad's since it launched 2 months ago. One of its smart feature’s is “iBooks” which is similar to iTunes and could change the way we consume print media. You will be able to download books, magazines and brochures to your iPad and this could be how clients will browse through travel brochures in the future. Travel agents must be able to feed content through many different channels and adapt to ever changing technological advancements to stay ahead in the industry.
But where does ‘Rail’ fit in and will railways manage to keep up with the latest technology trends?
1 Jun 2010
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Volcanic disruption, an opportunity missed?
When over a 1000 flights were cancelled during the volcanic cloud disruption, many travellers looked for alternative ways to get home. Stranded after a few days business or holidays and desperate to get back home, what was the alternative. Some travellers would have called their travel consultant, their assistant or their travel agency, the people that help them book their travel, and who book their travel on a regular basis.
This was a wonderful opportunity for the rail industry to open up its services and join together to get people back home. Whereas some services were enjoying vastly increased number of bookings others were not, quite simply because travellers and consultants/agents were unable to book onward journey or piece together their full itinerary. Gone was an easy way of showing what was available from a to b as you would expect from any airline schedules and availability computer display.
26 May 2010
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Shanghai - Hangzhou train journey
Here is the second train journey of my colleague Lina, from Shanghai, she just loves to travel by train: "When vacationing in China I took the train from Shanghai to Hangzhou. The modern Shanghai train station looks like a state of the art airport. A couple of restaurants and seating areas make the wait comfortable with hot and cold water fountains available for travelers to fill up their bottles. Each train is allocated its own waiting area with information specific to its journey on a dedicated screen. Water bottles were handed out to the first class. The train is clean and runs smoothly with stops and other information being displayed thought the journey. Water fountains similar to those in the station are even available on the train. Furthermore, tea, coffee and snacks may be bought as well. Tickets must be purchased in a travel agency or in the train station where queues tend to be long and tiring. To make this excellent train experience complete, the modern station and its high speed trains should really be partnered with an online reservation syste" Images of the Shanghai station and train can be found at: http://www.fotopedia.com/en/Shanghai_South_Railway_Station
24 Feb 2010