NewsAccidents/Incidents
Skunks And Seagulls Have Been Hit By Planes At Ottawa Airport
A report filed with Transport Canada shows that on Tuesday, July 14th, a skunk was struck and killed at Ottawa International Airport. The aircraft involved was a WestJet Boeing 737, which was landing after a flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport. Reports show that this is just the latest in a series of wildlife encounters at Macdonald–Cartier International Airport in Ottawa.
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Ryanair Deals With Second Boeing 737 Bomb Threat In One Week
A Ryanair plane has received a bomb threat but has landed safely and all passengers are unharmed. The aircraft landed in Oslo and is being attended to by Norwegian police. It’s the second time this week Ryanair has had to deal with a threat of this nature on one of its flights.
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Lufthansa Airbus A319 Rejects Takeoff Due To Engine Fire Warning
On July 18, 2020, a Lufthansa Airbus A319 rejected takeoff after receiving an engine fire warning emanating from the left-hand engine. The aircraft, with registration number D-AILU, was taking off from Munich International Airport (MUC) as flight number LH-2004 bound for Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS).
LinkCommercial
The FAA Gives All Clear For Boeing 737-700 Combi Aircraft
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a certification for a reconfiguration of passenger Boeing 737-700s into combi-freighter aircraft. The jets will be remodeled by Pemco Conversions, and already has its first customer in Bahrain.
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Airbus Starts Hamburg Deliveries Using Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Today, Air Transat became the first airline to receive a new aircraft from Airbus’ Hamburg facility delivered with sustainable fuel in the tank. The carrier took delivery of a new A321LRs on lease from AerCap today, while a second aircraft will be delivered on Saturday. Previously, Airbus only offered sustainable fuel delivery from its base in Toulouse, France, and its facility in Alabama, US.
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There Are More Boeing 737-200s In Service Than Airbus A380s
There are currently more Boeing 737-200s in active service than Airbus A380s. The surprising statistic comes as the majority of the world’s A380 fleet remains grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last Boeing 737-200 was delivered in 1988, meaning that the youngest aircraft would be 32 years old now.
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Why The Boeing 747-8 Wasn't Nearly As Popular As Its Predecessors
Boeing anticipated selling about 300 of the 747-8. Its passenger variant, the 747-8I, or Intercontinental, received a mere 47 orders before being discontinued. How could it be, that an upgraded, superior model of one of the world’s most popular widebody aircraft did so poorly on the market?
LinkAirlines
End Of An Era - Saying Goodbye To British Airways' Boeing 747s
It’s always hard to say goodbye. However, this is especially true for the British Airways Boeing 747, which has become so ingrained into history over the past 50 years. However, last night the queen’s 50-year reign came to an end as British Airways confirmed the retirement of the type.
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Singapore Airlines Sees 12.4% Load Factor In June
Depressed demand for air travel has battered Singapore Airlines’ June operations. The airline’s June capacity was 94.0% lower than in June 2019. Passenger carriage declined 99.1%, resulting in an average June load factor of just 12.4%
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In Pictures: Qantas Says Farewell To The Boeing 747
Qantas’ last Boeing 747-400 is having her swansong this week. After 17 years of flying for Qantas, VH-OEJ Wunala is the last jumbo jet left at the airline. Next week, it is flying off into its last sunset. It will be the end of the line of the Queen of the skies at the Australian airline after 49 years of continuous flying.
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British Airways Set To Retire Its Boeing 747 Fleet After 50 Years
It looks as though British Airways will be retiring its fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft early in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this year, IAG mooted retiring the queen of the skies as a part of its consultation on the future of the company.
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Alaska Airlines Goes Head To Head With JetBlue's LAX Expansion
Alaska Airlines has today revealed an impressive expansion at Los Angeles Airport (LAX). The Seattle-based airline will add eight new routes and will resume four more, bringing its end of year total out of the city to 35. Expansion at other cities was also announced, as was the resumption of service at most of its passenger lounges.
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Cathay Pacific Issues Profit Warning With Passenger Numbers Down 99%
Cathay Pacific Group, home to airlines Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon, expects to incur a massive loss for six months the first half of 2020. A profit warning released on Friday reveals that passenger numbers for the airlines dropped 99% in June compared to the same period in 2019.
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Vietnam Airlines Is Seeking Government Assistance
Vietnam Airlines is requesting a government bailout to the tune of VND12 trillion, or $518 million. Sources report that that the airline is set to report a loss of VND13 trillion ($561 million) for the year. The airline, like many others the world over, has been hit hard by the drop in air travel caused by coronavirus-related travel restrictions.
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What's Happening With ANA's Brand New Airbus A380 Fleet?
Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, better known as ANA, was somewhat late to order the Airbus A380. In fact, three years after the order was placed in 2016, Airbus announced that it would end the superjumbo program. It’s become painfully clear that COVID-19 has had an impact on ANA’s operations and its ability to use its new A380s. So what’s happening with the airline’s double-decker quadjets?
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KLM Grows Impressive UK Network With New Southampton Link
In a July 16 press release, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced that it is resuming its Cityhopper service between Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Southampton Airport (SOU). The news comes as a surprise following the SkyTeam alliance member’s decision to pull out of the English coastal city last summer. It cited landing slots at Schiphol as being the reason.
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Where Can I Fly On An Airbus A340 Post COVID?
Long before the COVID-19 global pandemic wreaked its havoc on the airline industry, the days of the Airbus A340 gracing the world’s skies were already in decline. With this in mind, we thought we would take a look and see which airlines were still operating the slender four-engine jet and where you could fly on it in a post COVID world.
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Jet Airways Saga: What's The Latest?
Jet Airways may have been out of the news for a while, but the saga continues on. The airline’s creditors are currently in the process of shortlisting potential bidders to take over the airline, for the fourth time. There’s also some good news for those holding out on a refund from their Jet Airways tickets, with IATA stepping in to help.
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American Airlines Is Rolling Out Touchless Check-In Today
American Airlines is providing customers a new, touchless experience to check-in luggage ahead of a flight. This is part of the airline’s broader commitment to using technology to simplify the travel experience. And, amid the airline’s response to the global health crisis, the carrier is rolling out the touchless check-in experience starting today.
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Icelandair Lets Go Of All Its Cabin Crew As Negotiations Fail
Icelandair will fire of its cabin crew employees after the carrier fails to agree on a collective bargaining agreement with its labor association. From 20 July onwards, the pilots of the Icelandic carrier will be in charge of onboard safety. What does this mean for the company? Let’s investigate further.
LinkAirports
GOAA presents COVID-19 and construction updates at Orlando
In addition to updates on internal measures being taken to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the airport community at Orlando International Airport (MCO), GOAA’s Board has received construction progress reports from the Central Florida Expressway Authority and Virgin Trains USA.
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GTAA announces workforce reductions due to COVID-19
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) has announced it will be reducing its workforce by 27 per cent and implementing a new structure to enable a more nimble recovery.
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Houston’s airports to buy nearly $3 million worth of new artworks
Houston Airports is looking to purchase $3 million in new art for George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) Airports.
The airport operator already boasts one of Texas’ largest public art collections and its decision to boost its collection, in co-ordination with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), will be welcomed by nearly 100 local artists who could potentially submit works of art.
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Major Wealth Fund Invests in Near-Instant Virus Testing at 3 Airports
A Russia-Japanese testing system, EMG, promises test results in a half-hour. If true, the tests could allow some passengers to avoid quarantines.
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Portland International Airport Opens First New Gates In 20 Years
On July 15th, Portland International Airport, otherwise known as PDX, opened six new gates within its Concourse E extension. These gates will serve carrier Southwest Airlines as the Concourse E extension is the new home of the airline at PDX. According to the airport, these are the first new gates constructed by the airport in nearly 20 years.
LinkMilitary
First Japanese V-22 Osprey deployed amidst controversy
Japan becomes the first foreign operator of the U.S.-made tiltrotor aircraft, a move anticipated for almost a decade, despite the objections by local citizens and government. Two Ospreys arrived at the joint U.S.-Japanese base at Kisarazu, fifteen remain on the waiting list.
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Airbus delivers third A330 MRTT to France four months early
The French Ministry of Armed Forces took delivery of the third Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) Phénix at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base on July 10, 2020, four months ahead of the initial schedule.
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The Air Force Buys First New F-15s In Decades
The U.S. Air Force has officially gone back to the future, placing an order for eight F-15EX fighters worth $1.2 billion. The Boeing-built fighters are the first of what could be as many as 144 new jets to supplement older F-15 fighters. The F-15EX will work alongside stealthy fighters like the F-22 and F-35, acting as a “flying magazine” of missiles and bombs.
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Will The Tempest Jet Fighter Be Battery-powered ?
The U.K.’s next generation fighter jet could be powered by electricity instead of jet fuel. That’s the word from BAE Systems, the lead contractor on the Tempest fighter, which has left open the possibility the aircraft could be powered by a hybrid electrical or fully electrical system. The system would undoubtedly be more environmentally friendly, but there are some doubts such a propulsion system will be ready for action by the time the jet enters service in 2035.
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Aviation Quote
Loyal employees in any company create loyal customers, who in turn create happy shareholders.
- Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Airways founder and CEO, 2001.
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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
