Airlines and Charter Services Overview

Airlines

• Airlines are categorized by route (domestic or international) and schedule (scheduled or nonscheduled).
• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also differentiates between these classifications.
• Many countries classify airlines further, often including local service, trunk airlines for major hubs, international carriers, cargo lines, and charter services.

Charter Services

• Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft, unlike individual seats.
• Airlines that specialize in selling transportation based on the seat rather than the entire aircraft.
• Air charter companies primarily focus on individual private aircraft, time-sensitive cargo, and air ambulance services.
• They often offer helicopters, turbo props, light jets, mid-size jets, and heavy jets.
• Examples of chartered flights include Taj Air (India) and Titan Air (UK).
• Aircraft builders like Gulfstream and Cessna specialize in building charter aircraft.
• The Robinsons family specializes in making chartered helicopters for the wealthy and providing ambulance services to governments.

Business Class Services

• Business class travel includes schedule flexibility, superior seating, food, drink, and ground services compared to economy.
• It represents a significant upgrade from economy class.
• Business class amenities typically include extra seat width, more legroom, adjustable seats with legrests, larger personal screens, and laptop power ports.
• Premium food and wine service, increased cabin staff ratio to passenger, eye masks, and toiletries are also included.
• Different types of business class seats exist, including cradle seats (150-160 degrees recline, more legroom, common on shorter routes, offered by Air India, Air China, and Cathay Pacific), angled lie-flat seats (180-degree recline, flat sleeping surface, less comfortable than a bed, introduced in 2002-2003 on airlines like Northwest, Continental, JAL, Qantas, and others), and flat bed seats (completely horizontal, flat sleeping surface, parallel to floor, offered by British Airways in 1995, Club World in 1999).
• Cabin seating offers the most privacy and comfort, essentially a mini-cabin with a fully-flat bed, work station, and television.

Combi Carrier Services

• Combi aircraft are used for both passengers and cargo.
• A partition allows for mixed passenger/freight/cargo combinations.
• They were popular in the 1980s.
• Combi aircraft types include Boeing 727-100, Boeing 727–200, Boeing 737-200, Boeing 737-400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 747-400, Douglas DC-7C, Douglas DC-8. Fairchild F-27B, and Lockheed L-188 Electra.

Low Cost Carriers

• Ryanair's goal is to establish itself as Europe's leading low-fare airline.
• They aim to offer low fares while maintaining cost-effectiveness and operating efficiencies.
• Ryanair has emphasized low fares to attract leisure and business travelers.
• Their customer service is also a key aspect of their strategy.

Full Service Carriers

• Full-service airlines typically do not charge for services, such as booking charges, baggage fees, carry-on luggage, food and beverages, in-flight entertainment, seat preferences, and other similar services.
• They can be categorized as intercontinental/intra-continental, international, regional, and domestic.

Airline Inflight Services

• Airlines offer various services onboard, including meal service (breakfast options like continental and English/American, and lunch/dinner choices), drink services (non-alcoholic and alcoholic), reading materials, in-flight entertainment (personal TV screens and movies, music, games), and duty-free goods.
• Duty-free goods are tax-free products that are often sold at airports and on international flights.
• Passengers can pay by cash or credit card for these products. There are country-specific duty-free allowance regulations.

Inflight Safety

• Safety rules exist before and during flights.
• Passengers must turn off electronic devices (phones, tablets, etc.), fasten seatbelts, keep the tray table in its lock position, adjust seat backs, and open window shades after the cabin doors close, during turbulence, and before landing.
• Personal items must be stowed in overhead bins and under seats.
• Safety demonstrations and pamphlets are available on board regarding safety procedures like seat belts/ life vests/ oxygen masks / emergency exits.
• There are special rules for exit seats regarding which groups of passengers may not use them. (Monks, pregnant women, older adults, disabled people, and children)