Parallel BA-Virgin Heathrow Take-off Restores Transatlantic Travel

MIAMI – British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic (VS) came together in a rare show of unity, taking to the skies in a synchronized departure on parallel runways at London Heathrow (LHR), in recognition of a long-awaited and critical event for the travel industry. On Monday, November 8, the Airbus A350 BA flight BA001, which …

Today in Aviation: The Final Flight from Berlin Tegel Airport

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Air France (AF) operated the last ever commercial departure from Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) in 2020. Flight AF1235, operated by an Airbus A320 (F-GKXP), departed at 15:39 local time bound for Paris (CDG). Fittingly, AF had been the first airline to operate into TXL on January 1, 1960. TXL dates …

Sir Tim Clark questions supersonics, air taxis and hydrogen fuel

Emirates chief Sir Tim Clark, the grandfather of so many aircraft, in an exclusive interview with AirlineRatings.com, has questioned the viability of the future of supersonic travel, air taxis, and hydrogen fuel. Question: Let’s look to the future: What do you think of supersonic flying and United ordering Boom’s Overture? Sir Tim Clark: I still …

Today in Aviation: Sabena Makes Its Last Flight

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, the Belgian flag-carrier Société Anonyme Belge d’Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne or Sabena (SN) ceased operations in 2001. The final flight SN690 operated by Airbus A340-300 (OO-SCZ) touched down in Brussels (BRU) from Abidjan (ABJ) via Cotonou (COO). Sabena took to the air on July 1, 1923, with a flight from …

Airlines are nuts not to bring back A380s says Emirates chief

Emirates Premium Economy What role in the recovery will your new Premium Economy Class play? With the last A380s coming we will have six of them with the new cabin (above). They will probably run on routes like to London and Sydney. But we want to get Premium Economy into the fleet as quickly as …

Embraer Reports Steady Growth in Q3 2021

MIAMI – Embraer reported revenues of US$958.1m with a year-on-year growth of 26.3% for 3Q21, according a manufacturer press release. The release also showed an adjusted EBIT of US$35.7m and an adjusted EBITDA of US$79.2m. Embraer had an adjusted net loss of US$33.9m for 3Q21. 21 executive jets and nine commercial jets were delivered by …

Boeing Reaches 737 MAX Safety Oversight Settlement

MIAMI – Boeing has struck a US$237.5m proposed settlement with shareholders to settle a lawsuit over the board’s safety oversight of the 737 MAX. According to documents revealed on Friday, the proposed agreement will necessitate the election of an additional board director with expertise in aviation/aerospace, engineering, or product safety oversight within one year. The …

Seattle Welcomes WestJet Airlines Inaugural Flight

MIAMI – The Port of Seattle welcomed WestJet Airlines (WS) as the newest airline to join the team at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) this week, with its maiden service to Calgary (YYC). With the addition of WS’s debut service this week, SEA now has 30 international services, compared to 42 international services prior to the …

Today in Aviation: First Flight of the Junkers G.38

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, the Junkers G.38, a large German four-engine transport aircraft, completed its maiden flight in 1929. Only two G.38s were manufactured. Both aircraft flew as commercial transports for Lufthansa (LH) within Europe in the years leading up to WWII. During its early life, the Junkers G.38 was the largest landplane in …

Airways AvFix: SkyTeam Welcomes ITA + More (VIDEO)

MIAMI – Welcome back to the AvFix and this week’s news recap! We take a look at ITA (AZ) and SkyTeam, British Airways (BA), and Breeze (MX). AvFix Summary The international airline alliance SkyTeam has accepted ITA Airways (AZ) Italy’s newest national carrier, as a member, succeeding Alitalia. SkyTeam’s 700 million clients will continue to …

Delta Air Lines Joins First Movers Coalition

MIAMI – Delta Air Lines (DL) has joined the First Movers Coalition with the aim to accelerate and scale the development of breakthrough technologies and fuels, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-abate industries like aviation. The collaboration with the coalition, a public-private cooperation platform, is led by the US State Department and the World Economic …

Today in Aviation: Russian Carrier Transaero Begins Operations

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Russia’s first privately-owned Moscow/Domodedovo-based airline Transaero (UN) began operations in 1991. Transaero started life as a charter carrier with its first flight taking off from Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport (VKO), bound for Tel Aviv (TLV). Initially its fleet was made up of aircraft leased from flag-carrier Aeroflot (SU). Later in …

Qantas bookings surge on boarding reopenings

Qantas Group bookings are surging as borders come down as a result of Australians getting vaccinated in droves. That is the upbeat message from Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce at today’s AGM in Sydney telling shareholders that the airline has sold half a million seats in the past two weeks. After a bizarre 18 months …

Alaska Airlines Marks Milestone with Seattle-Miami Nonstop

MIAMI – Miami International Airport (MIA) becomes Alaska Airlines’ (AS) 100th nonstop destination from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). AS will start daily nonstop service between its Pacific Northern hub and Miami on June 16, 2022.  Miami International Airport is a new frontier for our West Coast visitors. The airport serves as a major hub for a number of AS fellow oneworld …

Delta Air Lines’s International Bookings Surge 450%

MIAMI – As the US reopens to fully vaccinated international travelers, Delta Air Lines (DL) sees a 450% increase in international bookings. According to an airline press release, many foreign flights are projected to be completely booked by Monday, November 8, with continued high passenger volumes in the coming weeks. Customers in 33 countries will …

Today in Aviation: Sao Paulo’s VASP Is Founded

MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Viação Aérea São Paulo, better known as VASP, was founded in 1933 by the state government of Sao Paulo, Brazil. VASP’s head office was located in the VASP Building on the grounds of São Paulo–Congonhas Airport (CGH) in São Paulo. The airline had its bases at São Paulo’s two major airports, CGH and Guarulhos International …

Boeing to Debut 777X at 2021 Dubai Airshow

MIAMI – The 2021 Dubai Airshow will feature Boeing’s portfolio of products, including the international debut of the 777X, its newest fuel-efficient widebody jet, as well as the company’s growing autonomous capabilities, such as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System. A Boeing 777-9 flight-test plane will take to the skies as part of the airshow’s flying …

Aussie whizz Hapgood to lead digital production of Boeing’s next aircraft

Queensland-born Linda Hapgood’s mantra is “go take the hardest jobs, stretch yourselves, and know you can do more than you ever thought you could.” And Hapgood has stretched herself and her wings and has just been appointed to lead Boeing’s digital preparations for both the design of its next all-new commercial jet and the integrated …

Air New Zealand adds aircraft as international traffic looms

Air New Zealand is welcoming the latest addition to its fleet – a new Airbus A320neo that has made the 21,000km journey from Toulouse, France. “Our new A320 is a welcome sign of international travel being just on the horizon,” said Air New Zealand’s Chief Pilot Captain David Morgan. It’s the first of two new A320neo aircraft …

Qatar Airways adds flights to Australia with huge fare sale

Qatar Airways, which has maintained its flights throughout COVID to Australia has launched a massive fare sale with return Europe fares from A$1409 and added more flights as the country comes out of lockdown. Since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qatar Airways has been leading the aviation industry by being one of the …

Incredible video of parachute jump aircraft stalling into a spin

An incredible video of parachute jump aircraft stalling into a spin has been released on Twitter. The jump ship, a Kingair C90, is seen with parachuters clinging onto the door frame ready to jump, but their weight and drag meant the plane entered a stall. The parachutists leap off and the C90 goes onto a …

Emirates boss lashes Boeing for organizational problems

Emirates boss, Sir Tim Clark has lashed out at Boeing for its organizational problems and changing business model that has compromised delivery of the 777X. This is the first of a three-part exclusive interview. Q: The visit of the 777-9 to the Dubai Air Show, do you look forward to seeing it at your base? …

Lufthansa Makes a Profit in Q3 amid Travel Uptick

MIAMI – With a robust rebound in air travel demand, Lufthansa Group (LH) reported an operating profit for the first time during the pandemic. Thanks to people’s desire to travel and the easing of pandemic-related travel restrictions, Lufthansa Group airlines carried 19.6 million passengers in the third quarter of this year, 46% more than the …

European Domination: Ryanair Adds 250 Winter Routes

MIAMI – Talk about a big move! Analyses of Ryanair’s (FR) route structure by Ralph Anker, editor of the Anker Report, show that the airline is adding 250 routes to its schedule this winter. The new routes take flight from 116 airports in 34 countries. Thirty-three of those will depart from the United Kingdom. According …

Turkish Airlines Restores Crew Pay

MIAMI – Turkish Airlines (TK) increased pay for cockpit crew by 25% and cabin crew by 20%, resulting in a partial restoration of pay to pre-pandemic levels, according to a company press release. The decision will become effective from October 1, 2021, and comes after an 18% pay rise in July; however, despite the two …

Striking photos as NTSB recovers ditched 737 freighter

Photo: NTSB Four of the six cargo containers remained in the aft section of the freighter and two more were found near the wreckage. A pallet of cargo was also found during the initial search. Photo: NTSB The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said TransAir’s insurers contracted several companies to recover the wreckage and cargo …

Airports urged to say “you beauty” to Bonza

New Aussie start-up Bonza says more than 35 airports have so far expressed interest in hosting its flights as it collects bids prior to determining its domestic network. Bonza hopes to start services in the second quarter of 2022 and is calling on airports that have not yet expressed an interest to do so before …