Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson has urged the Australian government to speed up its vaccination program as a top priority so the nation’s borders can re-open. While conceding he was unfamiliar with the status of Australia’s vaccination program, Branson noted that countries where people had been vaccinated, such as the US and UK, had been …
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Aerion’s supersonic plans end with a whimper rather than a boom
Booms proposed supersonic airliner. Image: Boom NASA is also working on quiet supersonic technology with an experimental aircraft called the X-59. The X-59 is testing technology that could reduce a sonic boom to the equivalent of car door closing and allow aircraft to fly supersonic over land. A rendering of the X-plane on the ground …
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Ryanair Flight Carrying Top Activist Forced to Land in Belarus
MIAMI – Belarus is accused of forcing a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 to land in the country so that authorities could detain a prominent blogger who helped organize demonstrations against authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko last year. The Ryanair flight FR4978 was passing through Belarusian airspace on its way from Athens to Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital, when it was …
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Today in Aviation: Scheduled Air Service Begins in Canada
MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Laurentide Air Service Ltd. offered the first regular Canadian airmail, passenger, and freight service in 1924. The service flew from Haileybury, Ontario, to Rouyn, Quebec. Laurentide would cease service in 1925. Over the next few years, the major bush-flying agency in Canada was the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS). OPAS, which was …
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Is EU’s Green Pass Set to Become a Green Mess?
MIAMI – It was probably an expected outcome from compromises made between the EU Council and the EU Parliament. An agreement was reached on May 20 on the EU COVID Digital Certificate, aka ‘Green Pass’, reports Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. The document was aimed at quickly restoring travel possibilities for the year-long travel-deprived …
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British Airways Flies Urgent Medical Aid to India
MIAMI – British Airways (BA), and sister company IAG Cargo, operated a cargo flight that landed in New Delhi (DEL) with 18 tons of medical equipment on Saturday, May 22, as such supplies are urgently needed to fight the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic surge. As indicated by a BA press release, the flight was operated by …
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I flew Delta first class for the first time since the airline brought back real snacks and drinks but I was still unimpressed
Summary List Placement Snacks are back on Delta Air Lines. After a year of austerity onboard its aircraft, Delta is finally catching up with competitors to offer customers a proper in-flight service onboard its aircraft. Economy class now receives a full selection of soft drinks and snacks while first class has the added benefit of …
Mexico faces US aviation safety rating downgrade
The US Federal Aviation Administration is preparing to downgrade the air safety rating of Mexico after a lengthy review of its neighbor’s aviation safety oversight, according to US media reports. The surprise move to downgrade Mexico from category 1 to category 2 will affect the ability of carriers such as AeroMexico to access US ports …
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Virgin Galactic closer to commercial space flights after weekend test
Virgin Galactic moved a step closer to commercial space flight next year after a successful test over the weekend from New Mexico. The company’s third spaceflight was the first from Spaceport America base, making New Mexico the third US state to launch humans into space. The spaceship VSS Unity was dropped from mothership VMS Eve …
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Spain: First in Europe to Open for UK Tourism?
MIAMI – Spain, a prized destination for UK summer vacationers, aims to be the first European country to re-open its borders for British tourists. However, there are two caveats: the first is that Spain is requesting travelers to be fully vaccinated prior to arrival; the second is that Spain is still on the UK’s Amber …
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Supersonic Aircraft Manufacturer Aerion Shuts Down Operations
MIAMI – Reno, Nevada-based Aerion Corporation, known for developing a 10-passenger supersonic jet, suspended all operations on May 21. The company had been developing a 10-passenger supersonic jet to cut transatlantic flights by three hours using “boomless cruise” technology to negate the sonic boom. Via a press release, the company, founded by Robert Bass of …
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Airlines like United and Delta are making it easier than ever to access elite status and its perks like free first class upgrades
Summary List Placement The upper echelons of airline frequent flyer programs have historically been reserved for airlines’ most frequent flyers and top spenders. But airlines, eager to get their top flyers back in the air, are making it easier for more travelers to reach the coveted levels of status, and all the perks that come …
Today in Aviation: The Wright Brothers are Granted U.S. Patent for “Flying Machine”
MIAMI – Today in Aviation, with the help of an Ohio patent attorney, the Wright brothers were granted U.S. Patent 821,393 for a “Flying Machine” in 1906. In 1902, the Wright brothers were able to control their glider in all three axes of flight: pitch, roll, and yaw. The simultaneous use of roll control (with wing-warping) and …
Miami International Airport Inaugurates Daily COVID-19 Testing
MIAMI – Miami International Airport (MIA) has inaugurated daily COVID-19 testing, according to an airport press release. The onsite testing will be available to nearly everyone passing through MIA whether passengers or employees, the tests are also open to visitors. A Central Terminal testing facility, located by Door 11 in the Concourse E ground level …
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The largest container ship to ever visit the East Coast just arrived at the Port of New York and New Jersey: Meet the Marco Polo
Summary List Placement A new record was just set at the Port of New York and New Jersey. The CMA CGM Marco Polo arrived in New York Harbor on Thursday morning after completing a three-week journey from China through the Suez Canal. It’s the largest container vessel to ever visit, or call, the East Coast …
The founder of JetBlue is finally launching his new airline this month with 39 routes and $39 fares — but it won’t be JetBlue 2.0
Summary List Placement America has yet another brand new airline. JetBlue founder David Neeleman has taken the wraps off of his fifth airline venture after more than a year of waiting since it was first announced. Breeze Airways will finally start flights on May 27 and aims to put a “seriously nice” and tech-focused spin …
New MH370 search by DSSV Pressure Drop debunked
Claims of a new MH370 search by DSSV Pressure Drop have been debunked by an investigation by Airlineratings.com. @MikeChillit had tweeted that the DSSV Pressure Drop was conducting a search for MH370, backed by the Malaysian Government, on the Zenith Plateau about 1,700km northwest of Perth, Western Australia. However, an Airlineratings.com investigation has found that …
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Use these 3 Amex cards to earn maximum rewards points for every purchase you make
Summary List Placement The easiest way to regularly earn the most points is to maximize your card’s bonus categories. It’s helpful to focus on one program and concentrate your efforts – it’s also simpler. Amex has three cards that will earn extra points for every dollar you spend, with a 2x baseline. Read Insider’s …
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Malawi Airlines Obtains Bailout to Resume Operations
MIAMI – Malawian flag carrier Malawi Airlines (3W), owned jointly by the Government and Ethiopian Airlines (ET), is set to be back in operations, according to the Nyasa Times, after obtaining an undisclosed bailout from the majority stakeholder. The Malawian government has a 51% stake in the carrier. The airline has confirmed to its customers …
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The 11 best hotels in Santa Fe from adobe-style downtown stays to secluded wellness retreats
Summary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky As the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States, it stands to reason that Santa Fe has history and culture in abundance. Plus, the city’s mountain setting makes it an excellent home base for those looking to enjoy outdoor activities from mountain biking to skiing. And …
EUROCONTROL: Don’t Expect Traffic Uptick Soon
MIAMI – Domestic and international air traffic in Europe is not expected to recover from COVID-19 slowdowns until 2024 at the earliest, EUROCONTROL announced in a forecast released today. The report says traffic will take another three years to recover compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels as nations in the zone set course for recovery. “The …
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American Airlines and others carriers were left helpless after a system outage crippled operations, causing delays
Summary List Placement Travelers arriving at airports across the US on Friday morning were greeted with long lines and flight delays due to a system outage at Sabre, a technology company that provides airline reservations and operational systems. The passenger service system, or PSS, that powers many of the world’s airlines suffered the outage overnight, …
In addition to home rentals, you can also book private campsites on Airbnb — here are 17 of the best spots to pitch a tent
Summary List Placement Last summer, there were 94.5 million camper households throughout North America and 10.1 million of those households camped for the first time, according to Kampgrounds of America (KOA) data. KOA also notes that most campers intend to increase their trips this year. That means federal campsites found on Recreation.gov will likely …
IndiGo Selects CFM Engines for 310 New A320s
MIAMI – Indian LCC IndiGo (6E) has chosen the CFM LEAP-1A engines to equip its 310 new Airbus A320s, pitting Pratt & Whitney out of the competition. According to a Bloomberg report, 6E selected CFM to power up its aircraft “without specifying the size of the deal,” although a CFM spokesperson told the news outlet …
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card review: A great credit card if you stay at Marriott hotels, even only a few times a year
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit CardSummary List PlacementTable of Contents: Masthead Sticky Review: Is the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless the best card for you? The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is a good option if you want to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases without paying a premium-level annual fee. (The premium Marriott credit card …
Oy…El Al Laying off 1,900 Employees
MIAMI – In March, Airways reported that Israeli flag carrier El Al (LY) was warning employees that it planned to lay off around 1,500 workers in the upcoming months. It appears that the airline has begun the layoffs – with numbers higher than originally projected. Reuters reports today that LY is cutting 1,900 positions as …
Cathay Pacific Commits to a Greener Aviation
MIAMI – The Cathay Pacific Group (CX) has set an ambitious objective for 2050: to be the first Asian airline to achieve zero-carbon emissions. CX is the first airline in Asia to establish a timeline to achieve such a goal. Cathay Pacific is taking a responsible stand on the matter, leading the movement in Asia …
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