Karaoke, dance-offs, beer and pizza at the in-flight pub will be among the attractions of the world's first low-cost, long-haul budget airline, BackpackersXpress. The new airline is slated for launch this June, and is going (you guessed it) after the backpacking party crowd looking for cheap flights headed to and from Australia. Roughly half a million budget travellers flock to Australia from the northern hemisphere every year, Stopovers will include Delhi and Bangkok. "We're configuring it for fun and one class," Mr Millen said. "Our cabin features are designed around the backpacking culture." Backpackers-Xpress will offer open-ended return tickets from Manchester to Melbourne for $1290 starting in June 2004. Flight attendants have been expressly trained to "stimulate passenger interaction". Thanks to the help of some young Aboriginals, the staff will also be at the ready with trivia about indigenous culture, as well as loaded with tips on traveling. The airline has agreed to carry up to 20 tonnes of freight per flight and display the VB beer logo on the engine cowlings in a bid to lower its cost base.... copy and pasted from here and here.