NewsIncidents
Ex-Flybe Aircraft Lifts Loganair Embraer Off The Ground In Collision
At Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) in Scotland, a ground collision occurred between an ex-Flybe aircraft and a Loganair Embraer jet, lifting the Embraer aircraft off the ground. The accident happened on the evening of June 16th as the ex-Flybe aircraft was being prepared for departure. There were no reported injuries to customers or crew.
LinkCommercial
Why Did Airbus Build The A340 Family?
The Airbus A340 fills a unique niche in the Airbus catalog. It is larger than an A300, has a greater range than an A330, and it can fly almost anywhere thanks to four engines. However, in recent years, the A340 has become obsolete and is quickly fading into history. Why did Airbus build the A340 family? And why did the plane cease production?
Link
Embraer Wins Major Financing Commitments
Embraer has finalized the terms of contracts providing for up to $600 million in working capital and export financing, the company revealed late Monday in a notice to securities markets. The Brazilian National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has committed to providing half of the financing, up to a value of $300 million, while the balance comes from private and public banks under the condition that the financing plan maintains a 50/50 split between BNDES and the other banks.
Link
Senators Accuse FAA of Dodging Calls for 737 Max Documents
U.S. Senators grilled FAA Administrator Steve Dickson on Wednesday during a Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing about alleged lack of response to several requests for emails and other documents related to the certification of the Boeing 737 Max. Upon opening the hearing, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) accused the FAA of keeping the committee “in the dark” since it began its congressional review in July 2019 by failing to respond to more than half of his requests for information.
Link
Gulfstream To End G550 Production
Gulfstream is nearing the end of the line for its workhorse G550 with the announcement that it has taken the last order for the ultra-long-range twinjet. Ending what will be an 18-year production run, the final commercial version will be delivered to a customer in 2021.
LinkAirlines
Iata's interactive travel map shows which countries are open and where flights are operating
Keeping on top of the endless travel updates and changing movement restrictions across the globe during the pandemic is no easy task.
Regulations change daily, with countries making their own rules on whether flights can operate and who can cross borders.
Link
IATA Reticent on Covid Testing for Passengers
After taking a stridently oppositional stance to governments’ imposition of quarantines for arriving passengers to help stem the spread of Covid-19, the International Air Transport Association on Tuesday expressed reservations about mandated virus testing as well due to cost, speed, scalability, and accuracy concerns.
Link
Wearing A Mask On Aircraft Could Be Required Under US Law Soon
Today, a US senator said that he was looking for congressional support for making it a legal requirement for passengers to wear masks on aircraft. While most US airlines require passengers to wear masks, it does not yet come under the law.
Link
Inside The World Of Incinerating Airline Passenger Food
Airlines are continually endeavoring to reduce their environmental footprint. One key area for this is a reduction in the amount of cabin waste getting sent to landfills or incinerated on arrival. However, draconian regulations that haven’t been reviewed for years are making all these efforts rather pointless. Here’s why.
Link
LATAM Argentina Suspends Operations Until Further Notice
LATAM Airlines Argentina announced an immediate cease of operations. According to the Argentinian branch, it will stop operating “until further notice.” Due to the current coronavirus pandemic, LATAM doesn’t see any viability or sustainable project in Argentina. Let’s investigate further.
Link
Qatar Airways Won't Accept New Aircraft Before 2022
Qatar Airways will not be taking any new aircraft this year or next, the airline’s Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said in an interview today. Furthermore, those jets on order scheduled to be delivered within the next two or three years will, in turn, be pushed back for as much as eight or ten years.
Link
Qatar Airways Won't Take Its Order For 30 Boeing 737 MAXs
Qatar Airways has told Boeing that it won’t be taking up its order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to the airline’s CEO, Akbar al-Baker. He mentioned that the airline now does not need the type, following the withdrawal of its investment in the aircraft’s target airline.
Link
Lufthansa Launches Complimentary Return Flight Guarantee
Lufthansa today revealed the details of a previously hinted return flight guarantee. The airline’s new policy will see additional protections given to travelers who may need to alter their travel plans due to the current pandemic outbreak.
Link
Iberia Reportedly Set To Retire Entire Airbus A340-600 Fleet
According to alleged sources within Iberia, the Spanish national flag carrier is now planning to retire its Airbus A340 aircraft sooner than expected. The unnamed source says that all of Iberia’s 14 Airbus A340-600 aircraft will be withdrawn from service earlier than was planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Link
What Happens When A Passenger Plane Is Retired?
2020 is seeing several carriers retire some familiar aircraft models at a rapid rate. While airlines continue to reshuffle their fleets, there are questions about what happens next to these retirees.
Link
Norwegian Set To Resume London Gatwick Operations Next Month
Norwegian has today announced that it will resume select short-haul operations from London Gatwick Airport on July 1st. The airline has only been operating a skeleton service of flights since the pandemic induced aviation crisis caused it to largely suspend operations.
Link
United Increases Benefits To Encourage More Voluntary Leavers
On Tuesday, United Airlines sent an email to staff announcing additional benefits as an incentive for more flight attendants to accept the terms of its Voluntary Separation Program (VSP). While “thousands” have already signed up for the program, the carrier said the numbers are not enough to avoid involuntary layoffs come October.
Link
South African Airways' Turnaround Plan Will Cost Around $580 Million
State-owned South African Airways (SAA) is seeking another government bailout to survive. This time it will cost the government at least $580m in funds, according to the practitioner’s proposed business plan revealed yesterday.
Link
GOL Expects To Recieve Warning Over Coronavirus Survival
Underscoring the perilous state of commercial aviation in South America, GOL has warned financial regulators its ability to weather the 2020 financial storm is in doubt. In a regulatory filing this week, GOL says its auditors may issue a formal warning suggesting Brazil’s biggest domestic carrier may not be around in 12 months’ time.
LinkAirports
Egypt announces when airports will reopen and flights to UK will start again as coronavirus restrictions ease
The Egyptian authorities have announced exactly when flights are resuming to the UK as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
Brits are being urged to check with their airline well in advance of travel on any special requirements for passengers.
Link
Financial relief and evidence-based policies needed for airport recovery
Airports Council International (ACI) World has called for urgent government assistance and relief for airports to underpin operational restart of the aviation industry and to sustain long-term industry recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the industry and broader economy has halted the airport industry at a global level – ACI World estimates have outlined a reduction of more than 4.6 billion passengers and a decline in total airport revenues on a global scale of more than $97 billion for 2020.
Link
Thai Airport Group Expects Revenue and Passengers to Be Down by Half
Airports of Thailand thinks passenger numbers and revenue will fall by half this year. If a vaccine is made and ready for use by July next year, they could see air traffic volume being back to normal by October, 2021.
Link
Florida airport pushes back on DeSantis' claim that more than half of regional airport workers tested positive for COVID-19
Florida's largest regional airport on Wednesday pushed back on claims made by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that more than half of 500 airport workers tested for COVID-19 came back positive.
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority CEO Phil Brown suggested the governor's comments were misleading. He added that while the Florida Department of Health conducted 500 tests at Orlando International Airport over three days last week, just two tests – or 0.4 percent – came back positive.
Link
Denver Receives Its First International Flight Since April
Volaris has operated Denver’s first international flight since April 1st. The Mexican ultra-low-cost-carrier (ULCC) is operating twice-weekly flights between Denver and Guadalajara to fly those who have essential needs or else need to be repatriated. The first of these flights landed in Denver on June 16th.
LinkMilitary
Air Force One for Boris? RAF plane for VIPs gets a union jack makeover
The RAF VIP plane used by Boris Johnson and senior members of the government to travel around the world is to have its grey livery repainted red white and blue in a makeover estimated to cost more than six figures.
The union flag-inspired paint job for the Voyager aircraft comes two years after the prime minister complained about the dullness of its former colour.
Link
Aviation Quote
There is only one rule - Rule One - TNB - Trust No Bastard - they are all trying to kill you.
- Captain Rick Davies, Chief Pilot, Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
Daily Video
Editor's Choice
Trivia
World Airlines
1. What is the oldest airline still operating under its original name?
KLM
Northwest Airlines
Deutsche Lufthansa
Qantas
2. What airline carried the most passengers in 2005?
British Airways
American Airlines
United Airlines
Japan Airlines
3. Which of these low-cost airlines is not based in India?
Air Blue
Go Air
SpiceJet
Paramount Airways
4. What colour is associated with EasyJet?
Dark Blue
Purple
Orange
Maroon
5. Which of these is not an international airline?
Continental Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Delta Air Lines
6. Which of these European Airlines is not operating?
SABENA
Air Dolomiti
Eurowings
Luxair
7. Which of these is a French airline?
GB Airways
Air Scotland
Brit Air
Aurigny Air Services
8. MALEV was the flag-carrier of what country?
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Iceland
Hungary
9. Which of these is not a Japanese Airline?
Skymark Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana Airlines
Hokkaido International Airlines
10. Which of these is a Mexican Airline?
Aero California
Mesaba Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
