iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 20/09/2026

There's Durex and there's Durex. I wouldn't mix them up.

Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 12/09/2026

I totally missed this diplomatic spat and how Algeria has closed its airspace to aircraft registered in the UAE. Clearly affects routing to places like Casablanca and even Lisbon or Madrid. Just another detour in the region 🤷 #AvGeek www.air-journal.fr/2026-09-12-l...

Flight path for Etihad flight EY757 on September 9th as shown on Flightradar 24. It shows the route passing east to west over the coast of Algeria.

Showing flight EY757 again, now on September 11th. The route avoids most of the coast of North Africa, passing over the Mediterranean Sea from Egypt onwards and eventually over the Balerarics.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026

This is so intriguing. A total of six flights now on their way to Kirkenes.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/09/2026

Don't know what's going on here, but it can't be a regular occurrence to have 5 private jets land there within an hour of each other. Kirkenes is way up north in Norway, right at the Russian border. All of these started in the US about a week ago with stops in Canada, Greenland, Iceland... #AvGeek

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 05/09/2026

Had to use Google Lens to make sense of this sign. It really looked like 'no caterpillars allowed' to me.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026

Strange how when I passed by this place in Helsinki, a certain song started playing in my head. #iykyk

View of Helsinki Cathedral on Senate Square

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026

Ekstra, ekstra, ekstra! Read all about it!

A VR train in the station of Turku, Finland. Along the lower window is a green bar with the word Ekstra written three times in a row.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026

I like this airport so far 😊 Notice the reddish colour of the apron (and runway), made from local stone.

A Finnair ATR 72 is waiting on the apron at Mariehamn Airport, as seen from an outdoor terrace above. The apron as well as the runway aren't grey or black here, but have a reddish hue to them, made from local stone. Next to the plane is the word Mariehamn, formed by the shadows of those letters above the terrace.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/09/2026

Phew, dodged a bullet there. Only in Scandinavia 😂

Fermented herring in cans is prohibited both as carry-on and checked baggage on airplanes due to its strong odor and the risk of the cans exploding due to pressure changes. The smell can be very unpleasant for other passengers, and an explosion can create safety issues. Therefore, it is best to send fermented herring by mail or another transport method.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026

After a day of sightseeing on Åland, tomorrow is #AvGeek day for me. Featuring a 30 minute domestic Finnish flight on a Swedish airline and most of all, a reunion with a 34-year old Fokker 50 formerly known as OO-VLZ when it flew (mostly) between Antwerp and London for VLM.

Map from the Great Circle Mapper showing the short route crossing the Baltic Sea between Mariehamn (MHQ) and Turku (TKU).

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026

Of course I'm only here for the nature trails and lovely views. No, really.

Two huge scoops of ice cream in a cup. Sitting in the sunshine on a table.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 03/09/2026

Made it to the Åland islands, the autonomous, Swedish speaking part of Finland. But more than all that, it's just really lovely here. 🇦🇽

View over a bay on the island of Järsö, with a rocky coast line, trees and a small pier

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 01/09/2026

Flying Brussels Airlines to Stockholm today. According to the SN app, my flight is operated by OO-SSR, on its way from Marseille - as shown by Flightradar24. According to the FR APP itself, it's OO-SSB coming in from Berlin. 🤔

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 30/08/2026

Using AM/PM in Dutch is weird to start with. But '16:09 PM' really doesn't make sense at all.

Ad from Brussels Airport showing how quick you can get to the airport by train. It shows someone getting on the train at '16:09 PM' and arriving at '16:29 PM'

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 30/08/2026

No spine detected here in Belgium either. Even worse in a way with both names showing.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/08/2026

Iemand nog op zoek naar een hotelkamer in New York voor 13 euro per nach? 😀

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 04/08/2026

Ok, this looks very cool but what I really want to know is why it says 'Antwerpen'.

Screenshot from Atlas Obscura showing a submarine used as a tourist attraction on Tenerife. Besides the name of the company, the word Antwerpen appears on the sub.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 22/07/2026

A new direct TGV train between Brussels and Basel? Yes please!

Screenshot from a SNCF document requesting authorisation for the new service from the French Autorité de régulation des transports. It shows plans to leave Brussels at 7:17 (Friday to Sunday only), arriving Basel at 12:24. Return trips would leave the Swiss city at 14:09, arriving in Brussels at 19:09. Calling at Lille Europe, TGV Haute Picardie (to Brussels obly), CDG, Champagne Ardennes, Meuse TGV (to Basel only), Lorraine TGV and Strasbourg.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 25/06/2026

I wish these maps had city labels so I could find out where in Germany to go to enjoy those 26 degrees 😀

Map from Wetterzentrale for Saturday, showing a small 'island' of 26 degree weather in a sea of 30+ temperatures.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 29/05/2026

Ofwel heeft de site van Coolblue een klein probleempje, ofwel ben ik vergeten dat ik 14 JAAR GELEDEN iets besteld heb dat nog steeds niet toegekomen is.

Screenshot dat mijn 'laatste bestelling' toont als geplaatst op 3 januari 2012, nog niet onderweg en bezorgd op 'donderdag 1 januari' (zonder jaar erbij).

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/05/2026

And while PopulAir has some longer routes in Sweden, I picked a 86 mile / 30 minute hop across the Baltic Sea (which should be lovely) between Mariehamn (MHQ) and Turku (TKU). Technically a domestic Finnish flight although MHQ is in the automomous and Swedish speaking region of Åland. (2/3)

A map from GCMap showing the short route between the two airports.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 06/05/2026

Almost 8 years after the final demise of VLM, most of its former Fokker 50's are still flying. Some in places like Somalia or Kenya, but quite a few with PopulAir in Sweden. Given how some are almost 40 years old by now, I decided it was time for what could very well be one last Fokker flight. (1/3)

PopulAir | SE-MFO | Fokker 50 | Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN/ESSA) © Mitchell R Hope

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 05/05/2026

In my ongoing fascination for islands and (semi-)autonomous regions, I've once again planned a trip to a part of a part of Europe that I wasn't even sure belongs to the EU. Wikipedia tells me it does.

Table from Wikipedia showing Åland is indeed part of the EU.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 29/04/2026

I've always thought that 'acqua' is the Italian word for 'water' but apparently it means - checks notes - something that else entirely.

Sign at a restaurant at Linate Airport in Milan showing 'acqua' in Italian and 'Lasagne with beef ragù' in English.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 26/04/2026

And I'm clearly in wine country here

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 26/04/2026

It's such a pleasure to take a train in Italy. Yesterday, the high speed Frecciarossa brought me from Bologna to Milan in just 1h14, perfectly on time - even though the train was coming from Naples already - and for just 27 EUR. Today I'm on a regional train with lots of space and huge windows.

A picture of my regional train, seats far apart and windows almost up to the ceiling.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 15/04/2026

Actually, I'm pretty sure nobody with a basic command of the English language ever said that. 🙄

Sign outside a restaurant in Antwerpen reading 'Who said pita coudn't be healthy?' (Yes, really)

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 21/03/2026

What happened to the prices of the Barra flights? It's been a while since I looked at this route, but I don't remember them being THIS high. And I didn't cherry pick a specific day either, it's these kind of prices on every single day of the next few months. #AvGeek

Screenshot from Loganair showing prices for the Glasgow to Barra flights of at least 155 £, up to 173 £

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 09/03/2026

Of course, just looking at the prices on their site would give you a good indication as well. The 07:56 and 17:56 departures must have the lightest loads.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 09/03/2026

Essentially, they make you pick one of two VERY broad time blocks - up to 7 hours. But surely, they'll put you on whatever train has the most empty seats and set the fare based on the number of unsold seats? And yes, it turns out that their API shows the exact train already 😂 (2/2)

Screenshot from the 'snap.eurostar.com' site showing the time blocks as '07:56 - 14:00' and '14:00 to 20:56'

Part of the API response showing the exact timings: departing Brussels at 07:56, arriving London at 08:57

Another part of the API response showing the planned train for the later timeslot.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 26/02/2026

Somewhat unsurprisingly, there are big price differences between Train + Flight itineraries and that same route without the first and last legs. This, for example, is Cologne-Kinshasa vs Brussels-Kinshasa. (But 5h14 between plane and train? Ouch)

Direct flights between BRU and FIH priced at 629.29 EUR

Cologne to Kinshasa return at 418,29 EUR. With a 3h46 layover in Brussels on the outbound journey, 5h14 on the return.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 26/02/2026

Serving Antwerp as well and, at least between Cologne and BRU, sold as a codeshare with Brussels Airlines.

Schedule for this new connection showing a departure in Cologne at 06:11, arriving Brussels Airport at 08:29 and Antwerp at 08:58

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 24/02/2026

Lol, WestJet will happily sell you a one way flight from Dublin to London - via St. John's. #AvGeek

Screenshot showing a 23.5 hours connection between Dublin (DUB) and London (LGW), via YYT (St. John's) on June 4th. Priced at just under 410 euro.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 19/02/2026

"Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airways orders ‘up to’ 40 787s". Got to admit I had to look them (or at least their parent company) up on Wikipedia and couldn't help but find that whole company history quite peculiar. #AvGeek

Sun Group was founded in 2007 by four Vietnamese who lived in the former Soviet Union. One of them being Lê Viết Lam, who was a business partner of Vingroup's founder – Phạm Nhật Vượng – in the Technocom instant noodle business they set up in Kharkiv, Ukraine. After establishing a supermarket, hotel and water park in Kharkiv, in 2007, Lam went back to Vietnam to build Sun Group's first Vietnamese theme park, Ba Na Hills.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 18/02/2026

They did eventually send me a mail. Including a very clear explanation (including contact information for their Head of Legal should I want to reach out 🤔), a discount code for 10% and a good part about not linking to their site to avoid looking like a phishing scan. All very classy!

Why are we reaching out?

You have booked a crossing with our ship within the period of 1st of May 2026 to 31st of October 2026.

However, the booking you have made is completed with an end net price of 0,- DKK. This is of course an incorrect price which differs substantially from the correct price you were informed about.

This has occurred due to a system failure. As there is no payment the crossing is seen as unpaid and will be cancelled.

We are very sorry for the inconvenience. In order to compensate you, we offer you a 10 % discount on your new booking of the crossing.

We have not included a link to our website in this e-mail. This is for your sense of security that this is not a scheme to relieve you from your credit card details.

We suggest that you use your favourite search engine (Google, Bing etc.) to find our webpage and book your new crossing.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 14/02/2026

Gotta (somehow) love these 'pie in the sky' airline startups. Like AIRIDEA, from Italy but operated by Dutch AIS. They plan flights from Genoa to 11 destinations, 3 of which don't have any scheduled operations yet. With 19-seaters, a 65% load and somehow profitability within the year. #AvGeek

Route map, showing flights from Genoa to Albenga, Milan, Trieste, Venice, Bologna, Rimini, Aosta, Cuneo, Ajaccio, Olbia and Oristano.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/01/2026

For a second there, I thought Westjet had launched another transatlantic route. But of course Saint John in New Brunswick isn't (anywhere near) St. John's in Newfoundland. But I hear that if you fly to Halifax you can actually drive to Australia. Or was it Austria? #AvGeek

Screenshot from a sloppy site talking about direct flights from London to Saint John, NB. Which don't exist.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/01/2026

Feed cleanser - the oldest airplane photo(s) on my phone Air Jamaica, March 2013 at Toronto Pearson. Or, if I'm cheating just a bit because the photo is obviously downloaded but on my phone: a Sabena DC-3 on its first flight between Antwerp and London (LHR).

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/01/2026

Dat en de 'u woont niet in Brussel en moet dus eerst nog op de NMBS rekenen om absoluut zeker 75 minuten op voorhand in Zuid te zijn' taks 😉

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 27/01/2026

I can't wait to see some competition for Eurostar in the Brussels to London route. The timings on these 'lowest fares' are truly awful, because god forbid that you'd continue your journey beyond London. Want more decent hours? That'll be almost 50% extra.

Screenshot from Eurostar showing 'our lowest fares in May' for Thursday to Tuesday trips. The two cheapest options (both 98 EUR) are for trips leaving London at 06:16 on the return. On top of that, the first trip being shown doesn't arrive in London until 16:57 on the outbound.

A more sensible trip, arriving in London at 09:57 and leaving at 17:04 on the return, priced at 140 EUR.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 26/01/2026

Seems like they got their act in order, no free trips anymore. Still a steal though, even in peak summer months.

Screenshot showing a total price of 67 euro for the Copenhagen to Oslo crossing on July 8th.

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 22/01/2026

And yes, the 'don't call the airline' rule applies as well here 😀

Screenshot: 'Your order cannot be modified. Please contact our Customer Service at... (phone number)'

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Raphael Cockx @raphael.cockx.com · 22/01/2026

I'm used to seeing airfares that are 'suspiciously' low and the whole discussion that follows on places like FlyerTalk. But this is something else: a 17 hour ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo for the princely sum of 0. And yes that includes a (basic) cabin. And yes, it's bookable - for several dates.

Screenshot showing the price for a ferry crossing on the Nordic Crown, leaving Copenhagen at 16:30 on Wednesday May 6th, arriving in Oslo at 10:00 the next day. The total price shown is 0.00 EUR

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