How Much?

[Spacecadet]

How much were they charged before they could use the slide?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7719716.stm

[DodgyAgent]

How much were they charged before they could use the slide?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7719716.stm

[Purple Dalek]

Did they book on the website, or just turned up at the desk?

[BrilloPad]

I thought they tested engines against bird strikes?

Though there is that old old story about the frozen chicken....

[TheFaQQer]

I thought they tested engines against bird strikes?

Though there is that old old story about the frozen chicken....

They do. Birdstrikes are not uncommon, however a multiple birdstrike can cause a lot of problems, as seems to have happened here. IIRC, the impact of a birdstrike during landing can be much worse than one on takeoff.

[AtW]

Though there is that old old story about the frozen chicken....

What do you get on the other side of the turbo-fan engine, jerk chicken?

[TykeMerc]

Incinerated birdie with a seasoning of b0rked turbine blades and compressor bits is what you get out of the back.

Yes airframes are extensively tested with birdstrikes as are the engines, but as pointed out by FaQQer multiple strikes at takeoff or landing are troublesome for any aircraft. You should see a bird cannon they use in testing, bloody great big bit of kit and impressively noisy, takes all sorts of birdy calibres too from sparrows to damn great big seabirds/swans.
It's conceivably possible to make a strike immune airframe (not engine as they have to suck in loads of air by design) but it would be so heavy it couldn't fly or made of such wildly costly materials you couldn't afford to build one for commercial use.

[AtW]

it would be so heavy it couldn't fly or made of such wildly costly materials you couldn't afford to build one for commercial use.

Quite. Much cheaper to pay out from time to time insurance money to grieving relatives.

[Stan.goodvibes]

Why don't they just put chicken-wire over the front of the engines??? - air goes in, chickens stay out.

contracting plan B - the aviation industry. I think I've got a future there...

[AtW]

Solution - put defensive laser system that would shoot down incoming obstacles without proper ID. Also can double up as anti-missile defence system. Sorted!