2010 January | Digital Crosstalk

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Brian and team, who work for a digital marketing agency run this Digital Crosstalk blog.
Occasionally we might blog about companies and people we work with but for the most part we'll simply be blogging about stories and events which we find interesting.

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21st
JAN

Air France to charge ‘Fat tax’ for overweight passengers

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

Air France have caused a major uproar following news that the airline are to begin charging overweight passengers for two seats on a plane if they are unable to squeeze into a single seat.

Bitterwallet and other sources state that those who are unable to fit their portly frames into a single seat must now purchase a second seat minus 25% of the cost over and above the cost of the original seat, otherwise they will be refused transit. Air France does, however, state they will refund the cost of the seat if seats on the plane are not fully booked.

Air France claim the fare change has been made for safety reasons and will ensure the seats are side-by-side in order that a safety belt can be secured around the individual.

The new measures come into effect on all Air France bookings from 1st February for all flights on, or after 1st April this year.

Tags: air france, Airline

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20th
JAN

Nepal to promote gay tourism

Posted by Brian | Filed under tourism

: Image via Wikipedia

Nepal will celebrate its legalisation of gay marriage by promoting the country as being the gay tourism capital of Asia says Pink News.

Gay marriages were legalised in the land-locked country in 2009 by the country’s Supreme Court and the government is to begin drafting a law in the upcoming months. A conference in February will be held to discuss how the country can attract more gay couples.

Meanwhile, Sunil Babu Pant, the country’s only out gay MP has created and launched a travel company called ‘Pink Mountain’ which will offer wedding ceremonies at the base of Mount Everest and processions on horseback. The MP believes Nepal’s economy could benefit from a substantial boost if the country can attract one-tenth of the world’s gay population to the country.

Until 2007, homosexuality was illegal in the country but the past few years have seen profound changes for gay rights and Pant – a gay activist hero around the world told the Daily Telegraph the government had a target to increase tourist numbers from 400,000 to one-million in the coming year and that by looking to attract gay visitors the country could reap the benefit of additional tourist revenue.

In the past, Nepal was once a strongly conservative country and gays suffered persistent persecution from security forces during the absolutist rule of King Gyanendra, while harassment of lesbian, gay and trans-genders continued at the hands of Maoist rebels.

Tags: mount everest, sunil babu pant, tourism

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20th

Irish flights grounded following disruption by ATCs

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

Irish airports were hit by severe disruption on Wednesday, with warnings the disruption could get worse. The disruption comes amid a working dispute following the suspension of air traffic controllers which has seen more than 100 flights being cancelled.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) moved to suspend air traffic controllers for refusing to carry out ‘normal assigned duties’ which in turn caused IMPACT – the largest public sector union in Ireland – to take disruptive action, according to Reuters.

Budget carrier Ryanair said it was forced to scrap 48 flights on Wednesday affecting more than 6000 passengers while Aer Lingus had to cancel 64 flights as a result of the dispute.

The disruptive action, which takes the form of mandatory union meetings, will take place between 2 p.m. (2:00 p.m. British time) and 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Dublin airport and Shannon in the west and between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Cork in the south.

Tags: aer lingus, flights to ireland, ireland, Ryanair

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19th
JAN

Birmingham Airport to merge terminals

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image by mattingham via Flickr

Birmingham Airport has announced plans to merge its two terminals after falling passenger numbers saw footfall at the airport drop by more than 5% compared to 2008.

The airport are to invest £13m into the new joint facility, which it hopes will improve passenger flow and operational efficiency as well as creating a larger passenger security search area, larger arrival area and improved shopping and catering outlets in both landside and airside areas.

A further £1.5m project to merge the airport’s current four control rooms into a single room will be operational by the beginning of March.