BLOXHAM’S AVIATION analyst Joe Gill has lost none of his flair when commenting on airline matters.

In a note this week on a proposal being considered by the coalition government in Britain, whereby passengers at London airports would pay a higher air tax than those at regional airports, Gill described their thinking as “banjaxed”.

“ First, they promise to eliminate any options for runway expansion at key airports around London. Then, they introduce passenger taxes that rise over 200 per cent in less than 10 years.

“Now, they contemplate changes that would make Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt even more appealing to transfer traffic.

“It appears a group of train spotters that spend their weekends holding hands with railway-loving environmentalists are running aviation in Britain.”

Michael O’Leary could hardly have phrased it better.

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A game of musical chairs appears to be underway in the telecoms sector right now.

Conor Carmody, who is leaving Eircom mobile offshoot eMobile, is heading for mobile rival Vodafone.

I understand he will take up a senior role in Vodafone’s consumer division next year.

Carolann Lennon recently moved in the opposite direction. She left Eircom when Eircell was sold to Vodafone some years ago.