Whisper it who dares, but in the grim world of economy long-haul there’s an amenity that matters even more than IFE and connectivity. For anyone of more than average stature it’s legroom, as dictated by seat pitch and seatback thickness, that makes all the difference between a tolerable journey and hours of cramped misery.
If your shins and kneecaps have had their fill of the standard economy experience, French-based airline comparison provider Air Valid has just the thing – a listing of the seat pitches offered by a total of 157 airlines. Go to www.air-valid.co.uk/airlines-comparator.html to check the carriers serving your planned route and decide whether they’re more interested in torture than transport.
“Some leading companies have slashed their travel costs by requiring their employees to travel in economy even on long-haul journeys,” says the company. “So our seat-pitch information is now of direct interest to 90 per cent of all long-haul travellers.”
Air Valid delivers airline comparisons both through its Website and directly to its travel agency partners, which include Ebookers and Carrefour Voyages. The company plans soon to offer pitch comparisons as a Web service for the agencies so that travellers can make use of the information at the moment of booking.
The DoD has changed its structures and is been increasing efforts to facilitate access to loans by companies interested in working with artificial intelligence, advanced materials and semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum science.
India has approved millions of dollars in new military purchases, most of which will go to public sector companies.
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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