Etihad Cargo’s Boeing 777F White Ghost

MIAMI – AvGeeks and airplane spotters may have noticed an all-white Boeing 777F roaming the skies serving major global airports. The aircraft is the latest addition to Etihad Cargo (EY), based at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). The type, bearing registration A6-DDF (MSN-60509) was delivered brand new to the Cargo unit of EY nearly three …

EasyJet Points at 60% Capacity for Q4 2021

MIAMI – EasyJet (EC) is expected to emerge transformed from the pandemic crisis with a performance in line with its cost control program and thanks to a lower-than-expected cash burn. This is according to the results published for the third quarter (Q3) 2021, ending June 30. By maintaining a Q3 disciplined approach to cash and …

Today in Aviation: Air France 4590 Concorde Accident

LONDON — Today in Aviation, Air France (AF) flight AF4590 crashed moments after taking off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in 2000, marking the beginning of the end of Concorde in civilian use. In the July/August 2020 issue of Airways, Andreas Spaeth interviews Captain Jean-Louis Châtelain, an AF Captain of the Concorde, and a …

London’s taxi maker has turned a van into an electric camper RV for $85,000

Summary List Placement Camper van enthusiasts and environmentalists have found their match: the “world’s first electric campervan,” according to its maker London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC). LEVC specializes in electric vans, shuttles, and taxis, including the ones you can spot around London. Now, the company is expanding its electric automotive capabilities by venturing into the …

Three new pieces of suspected MH370 debris revealed

A source has disclosed to MH370 analysts Victor Iannello that an Italian satellite that is part of the COSMO-SkyMed constellation detected three floating objects on March 21, 2014, near where MH370 is believed to have crashed in the Southern Indian Ocean on March 8, 2014. This information was never publicly released and the three floating …

Eurowings Discover: First Flight to Mombasa, Zanzibar

MIAMI – Eurowings Discover (4Y) is performing its first commercial flight today July 24 destined to Mombasa (MBA) and onward onto Zanzibar (ZNZ). The Lufthansa Group’s (LH) subsidiary leisure first flight is out on perfect time to take full advantage of the growing demand for travel resulting from the success of the vaccination campaigns and …

United Airlines, EasyJet: Final Report on Potential Runway Collision

MIAMI – The Bureau d’Enquêtes et Analyses (BEA) has issued its final report on the near-collision incident between United Airlines (UA) and EasyJet Austria (EC) aircraft. The near-miss incident happened on July 20, 2020, at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG), between UA flight 57, a Boeing 787, registration N16009, and an EC Airbus A320 registered …

An increase in Airbnb rentals is linked to more crime in some Boston neighborhoods, a new study finds

Summary List Placement An uptick in violence in certain neighborhoods in Boston appears to be linked to an increase of Airbnb rentals in the areas over the span of several years, according to a study published this month. The study was published July 14 by researchers at Northeastern University in Boston, Boston.com reported on Friday. …

Leisure travel has made a startling comeback, but business travel’s recovery could still be years away

Summary List Placement It seems like everyone in the US is rushing to book their summer “revenge vacation.” But there’s one segment of travel that’s lagging behind: business travel. Most of us might be laser-focused on leisure vacations right now, but the revival of business travel is crucial for hospitality and travel companies. Before COVID-19, …

From Tuk Tuk races in Thailand to snowboarding in Iceland, a CEO who plans corporate retreats says many firms are ditching offices for team-bonding trips

Summary List Placement Ever imagined yourself Tuk Tuk racing across Thailand with your boss? Or zipping across the French Riviera with your colleagues?  While some workers may be wary, others consider it to be the perfect team-bonding experience.  Moniker, a company that plans corporate retreats, is catering to surging demand from those who have embraced …

3 Wyndham Rewards credit cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses up to 90,000 points, but only for a limited time

  Summary List Placement Wyndham’s co-branded credit cards are offering increased welcome bonuses until October 14, 2021. With these offers, you can earn up to double the usual number of bonus points. You can redeem Wyndham points for award stays starting at 7,500 points per night. Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit …

Max Crosswinds at Madeira Airport: Diversions, Go-arounds

MIAMI – A common experience at Portugal’s Madeira Airport (FNC), strong crosswinds and gusts await pilots flying into FNC this afternoon. The airport has seen several aircraft establish holds for hours to attempt a landing. The airport – aka Cristiano Ronaldo International, Funchal, or Saint Catherine Airport – is considered one of the most unusually …

7 great rewards credit cards that fly under the radar — but are worth paying attention to

  Summary List Placement Some credit cards aren’t advertised much, but offer bonuses or perks that make them worth a look. These hidden gems may require you to join a credit union or meet other criteria. There are also options for those with fair credit, or cards with a long intro 0% APR offer. Read …

Flying private is cheaper than you think — here are 6 airlines to consider for your next flight

  Summary List Placement Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky I’m a travel writer, but it’s not always as glamorous as it sounds. When I fly, I often book commercial in coach for the best price to get my family of four where we need to go.  However, there are posher options that are affordable on …

Clean Configuration vs “Let’s Get Dirty for Landing”

MIAMI – Before we dive into the topic, let’s explain briefly how a wing creates lift and how lift is augmented by Flaps and Slats.  An airliner’s wing is designed to generate the optimum amount of lift with the minimum drag for a specific speed (Mach) and at normal cruise altitudes (35-41,000ft). This is especially …

Challenging Airports: Landing at McMurdo, Antarctica

MIAMI – While there are several airports that are considered challenging, almost all of them at least offer a paved tarmac strip to touch down but McMurdo station, located in Antarctica, offers pilots nothing more than a few inches of thin ice to put their aircraft down. The Location The entire runway complex is constructed …

New Zealand suspends travel bubble with Australia

New Zealand has dumped the travel bubble with Australia for at last eight weeks with most Australian states in lockdown because of the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the suspension after a cabinet meeting on Friday morning. However, there will be a managed flights over …

American, Southwest Airlines Q2 2021 Financial Results

MIAMI – American Airlines (AA) and Southwest Airlines (WN) have published positive results for Q2 2021 thanks to the recovering travel demand but also to crucial and substantial government aid. American Airlines Q2 2021 Financial Report American posted a total of US$7.5bn operating revenues composed of US$6.5bn passenger revenue, US$326m cargo revenue, and US$607m listed …

Flying has been an absolute mess this summer — and it may get worse before it gets better

Summary List Placement Flying is back, and with a vengeance.  US airlines have practically been begging the public to get back in the skies during the pandemic. They’re finally getting their wish this summer thanks to the vaccine rollout and near-flattening of the domestic COVID-19 curve. But many travelers looking to get away from it …

12 of the most incredible hotel suites in Las Vegas for every budget

  Summary List Placement Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky With about 150,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas and more than 30 resort properties along the Strip itself, it can be daunting to figure out where to stay. And of those offerings, many go far beyond the standard hotel room. Trade up from two simple beds …

Today in Aviation: First Solo Flight around the World

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Wiley Post successfully completed the first solo flight around the world in 1933 on a Lockheed Vega aircraft. The American pilot gained fame two years earlier when he flew around the northern part of the globe alongside aviator Harold Gatty, also on a Lockheed Vega aircraft. A New Record Around …

Qantas warns of standowns but promises bright future

A much fitter Qantas is promising its staff huge potential but warns of possible stand-downs if the current lock-downs drag on too long. In a rallying email to staff, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said that now, as thousands of flights are canceled, “it might not feel like it some days, but there are lots …

How to Transport the Olympic Torch on an Aircraft

MIAMI — In a special operation that began on May 1, 2016, LATAM Airlines (LA) successfully transported the Olympic Torch from Geneva to Brasilia, thus starting the 95-day countdown to the start of the XXXI Olympic Games to be celebrated in Rio de Janeiro from August 5 through August 21 of that same year. Today, …

Air Canada Offers 220 Daily Flights to the US

MIAMI – Air Canada (AC) has the intention to revive and increase its US trans-border schedule, bringing support to the economies of both countries. By publishing its revised summer schedule, AC has announced no fewer than 55 routes over 34 destinations for a total of 220 daily flights between Canadian and US city pairs. The …

Airbus Beluga XL4 Flies for the First Time

MIAMI – The Airbus 330-200F derived Beluga XL4, the fourth of a series of six, took to the sky for the first time on Tuesday, July 20, from its home base airport of Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS). The Smiling Beluga The aircraft, developed by Airbus for its own in-house needs, is the successor of the A300-600ST Beluga …

Korean Air Boeing 747 to Launch Missiles, Orbital Vehicles

MIAMI – Korean Air (KE) announced joint research with The Seoul National University and the Korean Air Force to launch missiles and orbital vehicles from a Boeing 747 aircraft. The venture into the research project to develop an air-launch system follows the termination of the US-South Korean ‘Revised Missile Guidelines’ agreement in May 2021. The airline …

A California influencer bought a one-way ticket to New York City 3 years ago. She says the decision transformed her life.

Summary List Placement Elena Taber started growing a significant following on YouTube as she was nearing the end of her time at college in Southern California. This helped her make the decision to upend her life and move across the country. “I already kind of had this mindset of like, I want to do something …