sky

Vietnam Airlines posted a pre-tax profit of D1.7t (US$73m) in the first six months of 2019, up 21.8% from a year earlier. Revenue for the six months ended 30 June grew 5.8% to D38.3t, says the airline. Pre-tax profit at the wider Vietnam Airlines Group were D1.7t, 30% higher than planned, with revenue growing 5.5% to D51.6t. The improved result allowed the carrier to reduce its debt-to-equity ratio to 2.32, compared with a ratio of 2.58 at the beginning of the year. “These figures reflect a robust performance from Vietnam Airlines amidst the slowdown in purchasing power growth, saturation of domestic market, surge in fuel price during the first five months, as well as fluctuation in the exchange rates between key payment currencies and [the US dollar],” says the carrier. Vietnam Airlines' results comprise wholly-owned units as well as companies in which it has stakes, including Cambodia Angkor Air and Jetstar Pacific. The first six months saw the launch of seven new domestic routes, and the addition of eight Airbus A321neos and two A350-900s. In addition, the airline submitted its fleet plan for 2021-25 to the government, which could see it invest in 50 narrowbody jets.<br/>

Airlines have for years been embarrassed by photographs and videos taken by disgruntled passengers with smartphones and posted on social media. Indonesia’s national carrier is fighting back. Garuda Indonesia issued a directive on Tuesday asking passengers not to take snaps or record footage inside the cabin. Days earlier, a business-class customer’s video blog had shown Garuda flight crew handing out food menus scribbled on scraps of paper. As well as menus, the plane also ran out of champagne and white wine, the blogger said. Garuda said the circular wasn’t a response to the blog. It’s aimed at ensuring passenger comfort and privacy, and making sure the airline complies with laws governing aviation and electronic information, said Corporate Secretary Ikhsan Rosan. “Passengers are still allowed to take pictures for personal reason such as selfies, as long as it doesn’t disturb or cause inconvenience to others,” Rosan said.<br/>

An Indonesian YouTube personality said on Tuesday he had been sued by Garuda over a social media post about a handwritten business-class menu. Rius Vernandes, a popular vlogger, posted an Instagram video showing the menu written on a piece of notebook paper on Saturday with the caption: “The menu is still being printed, sir.” The post went viral and prompted Indonesian social media users to mock the airline. Rius said he has received a summons from the police in connection with the post. “We've been reported for defamation. I'm sure you know I had no intention whatsoever to defame anyone,” he said on Instagram. “I hope you can support me because I don't want anyone to be prosecuted for an honest review and constructive criticism.” Garuda said the handwritten menu was made by a cabin crew member for personal use and not intended to be handed out to passengers. Police confirmed that Garuda had filed a defamation case against Rius. Garuda came under more criticism on Tuesday after a circular instructing the cabin crew to prohibit passengers from taking photos or videos mid-air circulated on social media. The airline later clarified that the directive had been withdrawn, but said that passengers are advised to respect other people's privacy by not taking their photos.<br/>

A mother issued a warning to any nursing mothers who are considering travelling with KLM: don't. In a Facebook post to the airline's page, Shelby Angel detailed an incident on a flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam where she said the attendant told her to cover up while breastfeeding her 1-year-old daughter. Angel said she nurses her child to calm her during the flight and make her comfortable. "I do my best to be discreet, but sometimes some skin shows. Before we even took off, I was approached by a flight attendant carrying a blanket. She told me (and I quote) 'if you want to continue doing the breastfeeding, you need to cover yourself,'" the mother wrote. "I told her no, my daughter doesn't like to be covered up. That would upset her almost as much as not breastfeeding her at all." According to Angel, the flight attendant told her that if anyone on the flight complained then it would be the attendant's issue to deal with. While no one protested her breastfeeding in public, Angel said she felt disrespected by the flight attendant. She filed a complaint with the airline when she got home, to which they told her their employee was acting in accordance with their policy and she needs to be respectful of other people's culture. A spokesperson for the airline Manel Vrijenhoek, said that although breastfeeding is allowed on their flights, not everyone is comfortable with it, which results in complaints to cabin staff. "To keep the peace on board, in such cases we will try to find a solution that is acceptable to everyone and that shows respect for everyone's comfort and personal space," the statement read. "This may involve a request to a mother to cover her breast."<br/>