Charles Dolan, HBO founder and pioneering cable TV mogul, passes awayThe secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets By RICHARD MARSDEN FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 06:49 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 06:54 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Some diligent planning ahead – combined with a few savvy crosschecks – can make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheap first-class ticket. Follow our guide to the ins-and-outs of travelling posh and a whole new world of British trains opens up, including bigger seats, soft drinks and snacks on shorter journeys, and hot meals and alcoholic drinks on long-distance services such as Avanti. We tried all the tricks to get first-class tickets at reduced prices – here’s what we found... Is there really a simple way of getting a cheap first-class ticket? Yes. Sign up to the Seatfrog auction app ( seatfrog.com ). After buying a standard-class fare for a journey, it’s possible to bid for an upgrade to first. On most trains, a limited number of such upgrades are available. It’s a straightforward system: the highest bid wins, with the auction closing 30 minutes before departure. On a random check, we found a standard ticket from London Euston to Penrith at 1.40pm was £94, while a first-class ticket was £230. Using Seatfrog you could bid for an upgrade for £36. So, effectively, the first-class ticket came to £130 – a saving of £100 (or 43 per cent off). Are first-class tickets for all train services offered on Seatfrog? Almost all. Transport for Wales has just joined but Scotrail and Hull Trains don’t take part. If not entering a Seatfrog auction, is it better to book in advance or wait till the last moment? Booking well in advance is usually best, says Mark Smith, of website Seat61.com . When we looked, a first-class fare from York to Edinburgh was £59.80 ten weeks in advance. This compared to £91.70 on the day (54 per cent more). Is there an exact best time to book ahead? Eight to 12 weeks is best for long-distance routes as this is when most rail operators release timetables and when prices are normally lowest. Fares may be up to 75 per cent cheaper during this ‘sweet spot’. Some operators allow you to book bargain advance fares even further ahead: LNER is 20 weeks and Hull Trains 26 weeks. What about very last-minute deals? These are possible and worth checking if the Seatfrog app is not for you. On trainline.com – on the day of travel – we found the difference between first-class and standard-class for Bristol to Penzance was a mere £22.10 – £83.50 instead of £61.40. For London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, a last-minute first-class ticket was £138.90 (booked 30 minutes before travel) while journeys later on that week were £173 to £299. Are some routes better for first-class deals than others? Yes. The best prices are usually available when travelling between regional stations and when avoiding London, says Railsmartr.co.uk. It highlights that a York to London first-class fare on the same day at around the same time can cost £95 (for a journey of 1h 52m), while York-Edinburgh in first class can be as low as £52 (for a journey of 2h 37m). Read More How to save a fortune by stocking up on booze in Calais: JEFF MILLS reveals the astonishing bargains What about upgrading once you’re onboard? This is sometimes possible if there’s availability – you’ll need to ask the guard. Especially low rates may be available at weekends and bank holidays. The cost on Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia is from £10, or it’s from £10 to £45 on LNER. You can pay there and then with your card and walk on through. What about on Avanti West Coast trains? It's different from the others with two upgrade possibilities: standard premium and first class. You sit in the same-style carriages for both – with wider seats and a guaranteed table – but with standard premium you do not get free food or drink. On-the-day first-class upgrade prices are similar to LNER. If booking in advance, Saturday fares between London and Glasgow might be £85 (standard), £120 (standard premium), and £199.50 (first class). On all journeys, standard premium is from £17.50 extra. Do railcard discounts apply to first-class tickets? Yes, when tickets are bought in advance. They do not work for upgrades available via Seatfrog or onboard. Any other travel tips? Try boarding a train with a restaurant car. Although first-class passengers get priority bookings, standard-class ticket holders can dine too on GWR. When do GWR dining cars run? GWR’s Pullman Dining is in a vintage-style Pullman carriage, available Mondays to Fridays on the 1.03pm and 7.04pm Paddington to Plymouth services; 5.48pm from Paddington to Swansea; 1.15pm and 6.16pm from Plymouth to Paddington; and the 12.23pm Swansea to Paddington (gwr.com). It’s £37 for two courses or £44 for three courses; wine is from £17 per bottle. What about the Transport for Wales dining service? Two courses £21.95 (with a bottle of wine £37) or three courses £24.95 (with a bottle of wine £40); for details, see First Class Menu at tfw.wales . Share or comment on this article: The secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets e-mail Add comment
Internet services suspended in Pakistan amid protests“Gladiator II” asks the question: Are you not moderately entertained for roughly 60% of this sequel? Truly, this is a movie dependent on managed expectations and a forgiving attitude toward its tendency to overserve. More of a thrash-and-burn schlock epic than the comparatively restrained 2000 “Gladiator,” also directed by Ridley Scott, the new one recycles a fair bit of the old one’s narrative cries for freedom while tossing in some digital sharks for the flooded Colosseum and a bout of deadly sea-battle theatrics. They really did flood the Colosseum in those days, though no historical evidence suggests shark deployment, real or digital. On the other hand (checks notes), “Gladiator II” is fiction. Screenwriter David Scarpa picks things up 16 years after “Gladiator,” which gave us the noble death of the noble warrior Maximus, shortly after slaying the ignoble emperor and returning Rome to the control of the Senate. Our new hero, Lucius (Paul Mescal), has fled Rome for Numidia, on the North African coast. The time is 200 A.D., and for the corrupt, party-time twins running the empire (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger), that means invasion time. Pedro Pascal takes the role of Acacius, the deeply conflicted general, sick of war and tired of taking orders from a pair of depraved ferrets. The new film winds around the old one this way: Acacius is married to Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, in a welcome return), daughter of the now-deceased emperor Aurelius and the love of the late Maximus’s life. Enslaved and dragged to Rome to gladiate, the widower Lucius vows revenge on the general whose armies killed his wife. But there are things this angry young phenom must learn, about his ancestry and his destiny. It’s the movie’s worst-kept secret, but there’s a reason he keeps seeing footage of Russell Crowe from the first movie in his fever dreams. Battle follows battle, on the field, in the arena, in the nearest river, wherever, and usually with endless splurches of computer-generated blood. “Gladiator II” essentially bumper-cars its way through the mayhem, pausing for long periods of expository scheming about overthrowing the current regime. The prince of all fixers, a wily operative with interests in both managing gladiators and stocking munitions, goes by the name Macrinus. He’s played by Denzel Washington, who at one point makes a full meal out of pronouncing the word “politics” like it’s a poisoned fig. Also, if you want a masterclass in letting your robes do a lot of your acting for you, watch what Washington does here. He’s more fun than the movie but you can’t have everything. The movie tries everything, all right, and twice. Ridley Scott marshals the chaotic action sequences well enough, though he’s undercut by frenetic cutting rhythms, with that now-familiar, slightly sped-up visual acceleration in frequent use. (Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo are the editors.) Mescal acquits himself well in his first big-budget commercial walloper of an assignment, confined though he is to a narrower range of seething resentments than Crowe’s in the first film. I left thinking about two things: the word “politics” as savored/spit out by Washington, and the innate paradox of how Scott, whose best work over the decades has been wonderful, delivers spectacle. The director and his lavishly talented design team built all the rough-hewn sets with actual tangible materials the massive budget allowed. They took care to find the right locations in Morocco and Malta. Yet when combined in post-production with scads of medium-grade digital effects work in crowd scenes and the like, never mind the sharks, the movie’s a somewhat frustrating amalgam. With an uneven script on top of it, the visual texture of “Gladiator II” grows increasingly less enveloping and atmospherically persuasive, not more. But I hung there, for some of the acting, for some of the callbacks, and for the many individual moments, or single shots, that could only have come from Ridley Scott. And in the end, yes, you too may be moderately entertained. “Gladiator II” — 2.5 stars (out of 4) MPA rating: R (for strong bloody violence) Running time: 2:28 How to watch: Premieres in theaters Nov. 21. Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.
CHICAGO — It looked like the Vikings had put the game away for good on Sunday afternoon at Solider Field when a chip-shot field goal attempt from kicker Parker Romo sailed through the uprights in the final minutes. ADVERTISEMENT That made it 27-16 in favor of the Vikings with the Chicago Bears needing a miracle. They got it. After a big kick return put the Bears in very good field position, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams led an impressive drive, throwing a touchdown pass to receiver Keenan Allen to cut the deficit to 27-24. A blunder by the Vikings on the onside kick allowed the Bears to recover, then kicker Cairo Santos nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at 27-27 and send it into overtime. In the extra session, veteran quarterback Sam Darnold took over for the Vikings. He went 6 for 6 passing on the final drive, setting up Romo for a game-winning field goal that helped the Vikings escape with a 30-27 win. The game looked like it was going to be a hot start for the Vikings after running back Aaron Jones got loose for a 41-yard gain. He was stripped of the ball at the goal line a couple of plays later, however, marking another missed opportunity for the Vikings in the red zone. ADVERTISEMENT That cracked the door open for the Bears, and the mobility of their rookie quarterback took centerstage. On a particular play, Williams avoided pressure from Andrew Van Ginkel off the edge, rolled to his right, then dropped a dime to D’Andre Swift along the sideline. That put the Bears in position to score, and running back Roschon Johnson found the into the end zone shortly thereafter to make it 7-0. In need of a response, the Vikings got it almost immediately when Darnold dropped back and unleashed a deep pass to receiver Jordan Addison. It was an incredible catch from Addison as he hauled it in while being dragged down from behind. On the very next play, Addison finished the drive, catching a touchdown pass in traffic to help the Vikings to tie the game at 7-7. The vibes shifted in favor of the Vikings on the following possession. ADVERTISEMENT It looked like the Bears had picked up a big gain when receiver Keenan Allen caught a ball along the sideline. After a challenge flag thrown by head coach Kevin O’Connell, however, the officials ruled that Allen did not get both feet in bounds. On the very next play defensive tackle Jerry Tillery blocked a field goal, and the Vikings kept the Bears off the board. That paved the way for the Vikings to take control as star receiver Justin Jefferson drew a 35-yard defensive pass interference penalty that put the ball in the red zone. A couple of plays later, Darnold found receiver Jalen Nailor for a touchdown to make it 14-7 in favor of the Vikings. After a punt by the Vikings, the Bears got a field goal Santos to cut the deficit to 14-10 at halftime. ADVERTISEMENT With an opportunity to take control coming out of halftime, Darnold found Addison with a perfect ball near the sideline that went for 69-yard gain. Unfortunately for the Vikings, they stalled out in the red zone, setting for a field goal from kicker Parker Romo to stretch the lead to 17-10. The biggest swing of the game came when receiver DeAndre Carter muffed a punt for the Bears, and edge rusher Bo Richter recovered the fumble for the Vikings. Not long after that, Jones atoned for his fumble with a touchdown to make it 24-10. After the Bears got a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-16, it seemed like the Vikings put the game away with a field goal to restore the lead to 27-16. Not so fast. ADVERTISEMENT After an impressive drive by Williams helped cut the deficit to 27-24, the Bears recovered the onside kick. That set the stage for Santos to nail a 48-yard field goal to tie the score at 27-27 and send the game into overtime. In the extra session, the Vikings stepped up on defense by forcing a punt, then stepped up on offense with Darnold leading an impressive drive of his own. That set the stage for Romo and he nailed a 29-yard field goal to give the Vikings the win. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?
The secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets By RICHARD MARSDEN FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 06:49 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 06:54 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Some diligent planning ahead – combined with a few savvy crosschecks – can make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheap first-class ticket. Follow our guide to the ins-and-outs of travelling posh and a whole new world of British trains opens up, including bigger seats, soft drinks and snacks on shorter journeys, and hot meals and alcoholic drinks on long-distance services such as Avanti. We tried all the tricks to get first-class tickets at reduced prices – here’s what we found... Is there really a simple way of getting a cheap first-class ticket? Yes. Sign up to the Seatfrog auction app ( seatfrog.com ). After buying a standard-class fare for a journey, it’s possible to bid for an upgrade to first. On most trains, a limited number of such upgrades are available. It’s a straightforward system: the highest bid wins, with the auction closing 30 minutes before departure. On a random check, we found a standard ticket from London Euston to Penrith at 1.40pm was £94, while a first-class ticket was £230. Using Seatfrog you could bid for an upgrade for £36. So, effectively, the first-class ticket came to £130 – a saving of £100 (or 43 per cent off). Are first-class tickets for all train services offered on Seatfrog? Almost all. Transport for Wales has just joined but Scotrail and Hull Trains don’t take part. If not entering a Seatfrog auction, is it better to book in advance or wait till the last moment? Booking well in advance is usually best, says Mark Smith, of website Seat61.com . When we looked, a first-class fare from York to Edinburgh was £59.80 ten weeks in advance. This compared to £91.70 on the day (54 per cent more). Is there an exact best time to book ahead? Eight to 12 weeks is best for long-distance routes as this is when most rail operators release timetables and when prices are normally lowest. Fares may be up to 75 per cent cheaper during this ‘sweet spot’. Some operators allow you to book bargain advance fares even further ahead: LNER is 20 weeks and Hull Trains 26 weeks. What about very last-minute deals? These are possible and worth checking if the Seatfrog app is not for you. On trainline.com – on the day of travel – we found the difference between first-class and standard-class for Bristol to Penzance was a mere £22.10 – £83.50 instead of £61.40. For London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, a last-minute first-class ticket was £138.90 (booked 30 minutes before travel) while journeys later on that week were £173 to £299. Are some routes better for first-class deals than others? Yes. The best prices are usually available when travelling between regional stations and when avoiding London, says Railsmartr.co.uk. It highlights that a York to London first-class fare on the same day at around the same time can cost £95 (for a journey of 1h 52m), while York-Edinburgh in first class can be as low as £52 (for a journey of 2h 37m). Read More How to save a fortune by stocking up on booze in Calais: JEFF MILLS reveals the astonishing bargains What about upgrading once you’re onboard? This is sometimes possible if there’s availability – you’ll need to ask the guard. Especially low rates may be available at weekends and bank holidays. The cost on Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia is from £10, or it’s from £10 to £45 on LNER. You can pay there and then with your card and walk on through. What about on Avanti West Coast trains? It's different from the others with two upgrade possibilities: standard premium and first class. You sit in the same-style carriages for both – with wider seats and a guaranteed table – but with standard premium you do not get free food or drink. On-the-day first-class upgrade prices are similar to LNER. If booking in advance, Saturday fares between London and Glasgow might be £85 (standard), £120 (standard premium), and £199.50 (first class). On all journeys, standard premium is from £17.50 extra. Do railcard discounts apply to first-class tickets? Yes, when tickets are bought in advance. They do not work for upgrades available via Seatfrog or onboard. Any other travel tips? Try boarding a train with a restaurant car. Although first-class passengers get priority bookings, standard-class ticket holders can dine too on GWR. When do GWR dining cars run? GWR’s Pullman Dining is in a vintage-style Pullman carriage, available Mondays to Fridays on the 1.03pm and 7.04pm Paddington to Plymouth services; 5.48pm from Paddington to Swansea; 1.15pm and 6.16pm from Plymouth to Paddington; and the 12.23pm Swansea to Paddington (gwr.com). It’s £37 for two courses or £44 for three courses; wine is from £17 per bottle. What about the Transport for Wales dining service? Two courses £21.95 (with a bottle of wine £37) or three courses £24.95 (with a bottle of wine £40); for details, see First Class Menu at tfw.wales . Share or comment on this article: The secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets e-mail Add comment
United States, Mauritania held energy security dialogThe stock price rose because of the company's announcement of multiple 'multi-year contract bookings' worth up to $780 million in future revenue, which overshadowed the earnings miss. (Source: 'BlackSky by the numbers' section) BlackSky won a contract with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) worth up to $290 million over five years to monitor global economic and environmental activity and military capability. It also received an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to support NASA Earth observation research missions through November 2028, worth up to $476 million. (Source: 'BlackSky by the numbers' section) No, the contracts were awarded to multiple winners, and BlackSky will have to bid against other companies to receive a share of the work. For example, the NGA contract was awarded to 10 separate winners, and the NASA contract was awarded to 8 winners. (Source: 'Caveats and provisos' section) It is unlikely that BlackSky will receive the full amount of the contract awards. As one of multiple winners, the company's actual winnings will likely be a small fraction of the total. (Source: 'BlackSky will grow, but a lot slower than "hyper"' section) According to analysts, BlackSky is not expected to turn a profit before 2027 at the earliest. (Source: 'BlackSky will grow, but a lot slower than "hyper"' section) BlackSky Technology (NYSE: BKSY) missed analyst forecasts for both sales and earnings earlier this month, but investors didn't seem to mind very much. Shares of the commercial spy satellite operator actually closed out last week above $8, gaining about 9% from their pre-earnings price. Considering that this space stock missed analyst sales forecasts by more than 18% (sales were $22.5 million rather than the $27.5 million forecast), and missed on earnings, too (losing $0.66 per share instead of just $0.65), investors' enthusiasm for the stock is a little surprising. Maybe more than a little, considering the stock has been relatively unpopular among space investors since conducting a reverse stock split in September. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free » Ordinarily, the math of "reverse split plus earnings miss equals rising stock price" wouldn't seem to add up. So why is BlackSky stock on the rise these days? BlackSky by the numbers Let's take a closer look at the third-quarter numbers and see if we can find out. Year to date, management pointed out, sales are up 22% at BlackSky. But Q3 in particular seems to have been a weak sales quarter in a strong sales year. Quarterly sales came in just 6% above Q3 2023 levels. (And on the bottom line, BlackSky flipped from a Q3 2023 profit to a Q3 2024 loss.) But not to worry, says management. While BlackSky may have billed only $22.5 million in revenue in Q3, it signed multiple "multi-year contract bookings" and they're worth "up to $780 million" in total, in future revenue. Two of these contracts bear special mention. For "up to" $290 million spread over five years, BlackSky will "monitor global economic and environmental activity and military capability," including "objects of interest such as aircraft, ships, vehicles, and shipping containers," for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). BlackSky also received an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity ( IDIQ ) contract to support NASA Earth observation research missions through November 2028, and this one is worth "up to" $476 million. Add them up, and these two contracts account for $766 million of the $780 million in work BlackSky seems to be saying it won in the quarter. For a company that collected just $107 million in revenue over the past year, that would qualify as real hypergrowth -- a parabolic uptick in sales. Even spread out over five years, $766 million works out to an extra $153 million in annual sales -- more than 140% growth. Caveats and provisos But don't forget to read the fine print. While BlackSky's descriptions of its contract wins sound promising, the company was a bit vague on the details, and about one detail in particular. Specifically: If you examine the contract awards themselves, rather than just the press releases that BlackSky put out about them, or the even more terse summaries in the earnings release, it turns out that both of these contracts were awarded to multiple winners, of which BlackSky was only one. Put another way, BlackSky didn't win hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue -- but merely the right to bid against others for the work. For example, the $290 million NGA award will be divided up among 10 separate winners, including heavyweights such as Airbus , Booz Allen Hamilton , and Maxar Intelligence. Similarly, NASA's gigantic $476 million "Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program On-Ramp Multiple Award contract" names seven other winners in addition to BlackSky. To win a share of the loot, BlackSky must beat out heavyweights such as MDA Geospatial, Planet Labs , and Teledyne . BlackSky will grow, but a lot slower than "hyper" Now, there's every reason to hope BlackSky will be able to successfully bid for and receive a share of the work under both these awards. In particular, the company noted that it's already won at least one NGA award in the past (worth $60 million). But investors expecting BlackSky to get all $766 million of the monies on offer are in for a rude surprise. BlackSky getting all the money on offer, I fear, is probably a pipe dream. As only one among 10 companies bidding on the NGA contract, and one of eight bidding on the NASA contract, BlackSky's actual winnings will almost certainly end up a small fraction of the total -- and could be nothing at all. And as for BlackSky turning an actual profit, even the most optimistic analysts don't see that happening before 2027 at the earliest. Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you’ll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $368,053 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $43,533 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $484,170 !* Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. See 3 “Double Down” stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of November 18, 2024 Rich Smith has positions in Planet Labs Pbc. The Motley Fool recommends Booz Allen Hamilton and Teledyne Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy . This Little-Known Space Company Forecasts Parabolic Hypergrowth was originally published by The Motley Fool
Quick Links Reducing the carbon footprint Electric tugs can reduce carbon emissions by about 2.5 times compared to diesel tugs Significantly cutting the operational cost Each tug saves the airline $50,000 a year in diesel fuel Reducing the downtime Significant improvements in operational efficiency United Airlines states that more than 35% of its ground support equipment was electric as of December 2023. The airline continues to bring sustainability-manufactured and operated ground equipment to its daily operations at both its hubs and line stations. With nearly half of its combined equipment electrified, the airline is gradually phasing out its environmentally polluting tugs. This article explores several ways the airline’s new electric supertugs are shaping the future of sustainable aviation. 1 Reducing the airlines' carbon footprint Electric tugs can reduce carbon emissions by about 2.5 times compared to diesel tugs United Airlines will weep its entire operation off fossil fuels The airline is investing in companies utilizing sustainable aircraft technologies United Airlines made a commitment to going 100% green by 2050 The airline is exploring numerous opportunities to reach its target The airline's hub airport, SFO, has cut its carbon footprint by some 39% in the last decade The aviation industry is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and United Airlines will play a vital role in making its operations fully electric in the next two decades. One of the world’s largest airlines is taking company-wide initiatives to establish sustainable, carbon-free operations. One such initiative is the use of electric-based aircraft tugs at its major hubs. While many airlines have been gradually moving to all-electric tug operations, most electric tugs are limited to smaller aircraft. Super tugs require a tremendous amount of power to haul large airliners. Towbarless tugs provide greater maneuverability and increased efficiency. United Airlines’ all-electric super tugs are shaping the future of technology, sustainability, and environmental impact. The fully electric tug can lift and haul aircraft as heavy as the Boeing 777. Tugs are used to haul aircraft around terminal gates, particularly during a pushback from the gate. Conventional tugs run on diesel fuel, generating lots of energy while polluting the environment. United Airlines Operations Manager Charles Hinkle, comments about the super tug, “This thing’s been a game changer. It’s like the Tesla of super tugs.” These super tugs are designed and manufactured by the German company Goldhofer. The E-Phoenix electric tug is a distinctive bright orange tug capable of lifting all types of aircraft in the United Airlines fleet, including its largest Boeing 777. Tugs are common for jet aircraft pushback now, with use expanding significantly since the development of jets. According to Goldhofer AG , “The »PHOENIX« E turns the best-selling towbarless aircraft tractor into a future-oriented zero-emission apron vehicle, with a wide range of enormously powerful vehicles that can be individually configured for your application. Regardless of their battery configuration, they are capable of handling all common passenger and cargo aircraft on the market, from the ERJ170 to the B777.” United Airlines has acquired two Phoenix-E super tugs, costing approximately $700,000 each. United became the first airline at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), one of its largest bases, to utilize new electric super tugs. The airline aims to add two or three more tugs to its fleet by next year, gradually shifting away from diesel tugs. According to Hinkle, “At that point we’ll start to sunset the older fleet of the diesel operated tugs,” IATA's update on the path to net zero emissions presents some encouraging progress, particularly in developing the SAF supply chain. 2 Significantly cutting the operational cost Each tug saves the airline $50,000 a year in diesel fuel Ergonomics and operator safety Unbeatable reliability Sophisticated technology Uniform design and handling (single vehicle, independent of power train) Tailored to customer needs (battery system and charging options) Long-distance towing with enhanced towing capability and usability United Airlines is committed to reducing its operational costs by using electric tugs. Not only are the new super tugs sustainably manufactured and operated, but they also cut the airline's ongoing diesel cost. The airline states that each electric super tug is saving the airline over $50,000 a year in diesel fuel alone. According to a sustainability report by United Airlines , “Representing the latest development in our emission-freedom ground support equipment, each electric supertug saves approximately $50K per year in diesel fuel costs, allowing us to move airplanes without burning jet fuel. The supertugs can run up to nine hours on a single charge, providing great aircraft towing versatility.” The new super tugs require highly specialized and powerful charging stations. With the airline’s purchase of more than 1,000 pieces of small and large electric equipment in 2023, the airline has spent over $6 million on the installation of over 350 new charging ports at multiple stations across its network. Airbus spoke to Simple Flying about hydrogen-powered aircraft, the A380, and its yearly $2 billion investment in sustainable innovations. Additionally, the airline continues to retire fossil-fuel-based equipment, including aircraft tugs. United Airlines Managing Director of Operations at SFO commented, “The super tug is a really important piece for us because it’s a diesel big unit. To convert one of those to an electric piece – which we’re using throughout the day, 15 or so hours — that’s a lot of fuel and a lot of impact.” In its continuous efforts towards sustainability, United Airlines relies on grants from various airline industry partners and governments. According to United Airlines , "...grants play an important role in United’s ability to accelerate our eGSE efforts. United received $5.5 million in grant funding in 2022 to help procure 77 additional electric GSE and 20 electric mobile Ground Power Units (GPUs). Since 2019, United has been directly awarded over $8 million in grant funding to procure eGSE and has supported multiple airports seeking VALE funding resulting in over $26 million to procure common-use equipment to reduce Scope 1 emissions." Simple Flying caught up with the carrier's Chief Sustainability Officer to learn more about what goes into United's climate leadership strategy. 3 Reducing the downtime Significant improvements in operational efficiency Care : It helps track the tug and allows remote access to operating parameters and history. The system also provides a service countdown and supports customers with condition-based maintenance functionality. Trace: allows technicians from Goldhofer to establish a live connection to the vehicle's CAN bus. The system provides descriptive analytics methods for driving style assessment and wear prediction, as well as black box features. Faster support can reduce downtime, thereby increasing availability. MyConnect: Connecting various devices with operator login, user management, checkup app, and individual interface with your ERP and logistics system. Maintenance : Ensures that vehicles can be used for as long as possible and that workshop stays are reduced. The system checks runtimes of specific components and actions to predict their maintenance period. It also generates regular messages about upcoming maintenance. The system offers a link to the spare parts store to order the necessary components for maintenance. Key Performance Indicator (KPI): Presents all important information about the vehicle, such as working days in operation, consumption (per hour/day/year/aircraft movement), and CO2 savings compared to a diesel-powered vehicle of the same category. Goldhofer fleet, including the electric super tugs, comes with real-time monitoring of components and systems to ensure minimal downtime for maintenance. Moreover, continuous monitoring ensures inspections and maintenance are precisely scheduled according to airline operations. United Airlines will avoid unscheduled downtime and maintenance by using electric super tugs, saving direct and indirect costs. When maintenance is necessary, all information is available on a handy portal. According to Goldhofer AG, “Realtime monitoring of your fleet down to single components, automatically evaluated in real time by algorithms helps you to avoid damage, downtimes, and optimizes your fleet efficiency. Our »LINK« system connects vehicle control units via a telemetric device to a cloud database, which uploads information to a web portal and a mobile app.” As the world becomes warmer, the planes are becoming greener. Let's discover the 5 most eco-friendly aircrafts
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield embarrassed the woeful Giants with his arm and legs, and if that wasn't enough, he rubbed it in by mimicking New York fan favorite Tommy DeVito's celebratory dance after scoring a touchdown. Mayfield catapulted into the end zone on a spectacular 10-yard scramble for one of Tampa Bay's four rushing TDs, and the Buccaneers beat the Giants and new starting quarterback DeVito 30-7 on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak and extending New York's skid to six. With both teams struggling and coming off byes, most of the focus leading up to the game was on the Giants' decisions this week to bench and then release quarterback Daniel Jones. The brash DeVito was given the starting job and asked to spark coach Brian Daboll's team, as he did last season. Instead, Mayfield provided the energy with his play and his trolling of DeVito. “Tribute to Tommy,” said a straight-faced Mayfield, who was 24 of 30 for 294 yards. “He’s a good dude, that’s why. Most of the times, I don’t know what I’m going to do. It’s spontaneous.” Mayfield was asked several times about the gesture and admitted he wanted to give Giants fans something they liked, adding he met DeVito at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas in February. “He had his chain blinged out, swag walking through the casino. It was awesome,” Mayfield said. “It was like a movie scene, honestly.” DeVito did nothing to help the NFL's lowest-scoring offense. He threw for 189 yards, mostly in the second half with New York well on its way to its sixth straight loss at home, where it is winless. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers dominated in every phase in a near-perfect performance that featured TD runs of 1 yard by Sean Tucker, 6 yards by Bucky Irving and 1 yard by Rachaad White. After recent losses to the Ravens, 49ers and Chiefs, Tampa Bay (5-6) moved within one game of idle Atlanta in the NFC South. “We’re hoping it builds confidence,” Mayfield said. “We have a belief that we are still sitting and controlling our own destiny.” Tampa Bay scored on five of its on first six possessions to open a 30-0 lead, and none was more exciting than Mayfield's TD run with 12 seconds left in the first half. On a second-and-goal from the 10, he avoided pressure and went for the end zone. He was hit by Cor'Dale Flott low and Dru Phillips high around the 2-yard line, and he was airborne when he crossed the goal line. The ball came loose when he hit the turf but he jumped up and flexed, DeVito-style, as the Bucs took a 23-0 lead. DeVito said players talked about the celebration in the locker room but he did not see it. Daboll was asked about the gesture and said Mayfield played well. He said the Giants' poor performance had nothing to do with Jones being released. “No excuse on that,” said Daboll, whose job is on the line despite making the playoffs in 2022. “We just didn’t do a good enough job.” “We played soft, and they beat the (expletive) out of us,” defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence added. Mayfield's favorite target Mike Evans returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury and had five catches for 68 yards. Irving had 87 yards rushing and six catches for 64 yards. The Bucs held New York to three first downs and 45 yards in the first half, and they finished with 450 yards to the Giants' 245. DeVito had a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Devin Singletary. The brash New Jersey native was sacked four times, including once in the fourth quarter, which forced him to go to the bench for one play. Buccaneers: LT Tristan Wirfs (knee) did not play and Justin Skule replaced him. ... Tampa Bay lost OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to an ankle injury in the second quarter and safety Jordan Whitehead to a pectoral injury in the fourth quarter. Giants: LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) were hurt in the first quarter and did not return. Buccaneers: At Carolina next Sunday. Giants: At Dallas on Thanksgiving AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
