NewsIncidents/Accidents
Major fire destroys Liege airport building
On the night of July 22, 2020, a large fire broke out in one of the buildings siding the main terminal of Liege-Bierset Airport (LGG), Belgium.
The fire started in the building B30 between the passenger terminal and the fuel storage area. The structure was used as a storage area by two companies: Aéroservices, an air handling company, and Western Global, a U.S.-based cargo airline. More than forty firefighters were deployed to control the fire, which was finally extinguished in the early morning. Because of the smoke, six flights were forced to divert.
Link
Last two bodies of Colombian military helicopter crash found
A Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter of the Colombian Army crashed in a jungle area in southeastern Colombia with 17 military personnel on board. Eleven crew members were killed and six were recovered.
On the morning of July 21, 2020, the helicopter registered EJC2176 was reported missing in the jungle near San José del Guaviare, southeastern Colombia. Onboard were 17 service members of the Military Forces of Colombia (FFMM). The aircraft was participating in a guerilla operation against the so-called FARC dissidents.
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100 People Have Been Banned From Delta Over Mask Non-Compliance
Delta has banned a 100 people from flying with the carrier over non-compliance with its mask requirements. The airline has a strict policy requiring everyone to wear that mask in all Delta facilities, from lounges to on the flight. Unlike some carriers, it seems Delta is enforcing this policy too, with CEO Ed Bastian saying, “If you board the plane and you insist on not wearing your mask, we will insist that you don’t fly Delta into the future.”
LinkCommercial
Pandemic Likely to Delay New Aircraft Developments for Years
The Covid-19 pandemic downturn will delay any major developments for new aircraft by at least three to four years while the commercial aircraft manufacturing and airline sectors focus on recovery, leading commercial aviation executives believe. Even then, derivatives of existing aircraft appear more likely unless "disruptive" technologies come to fruition.
Link
The Future Of Electric Passenger Planes
With pressure ramping up for decarbonization of the airline industry, how far off are all-electric planes? Who’s developing them, and why are they important?
LinkAirlines
Counting losses of US Big Four: who is hit the most?
As the financial results of the second quarter become available, the full picture of monumental losses COVID-19 lockdowns inflicted on the airline industry appears. Let’s take a deeper look at the worst crisis airlines have suffered so far.
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Alaska Airlines officially poised to join oneworld alliance
Alaska Airlines is officially set to join the oneworld as the 14th airline in the alliance, following the formal invitation by the group.
Alaska Airlines already announced its intentions to join oneworld in February 2020, when the de facto Alaskan flag carrier established an elaborate partnership with American Airlines, particularly focusing on its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) flight offers.
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Southwest Reinforces Confidence In MAX As It Monitors Capacity And Fleet
Southwest Airlines has today reported its second-quarter earnings. Despite a loss of almost a billion dollars, the airline remains upbeat about its future. CEO Gary Kelly reaffirmed his commitment to the Boeing 737 MAX and gave us some insight into the tricky balancing act the airline is undertaking to ensure social distancing onboard.
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Emirates To Offer Free COVID-19 Medical Cover To All Customers
Today, Emirates announced it would cover medical expenses and quarantine costs if its travelers are diagnosed with COVID-19 during their journeys. The Middle Eastern carrier became the first airline worldwide to execute this kind of initiative.
Link
Alaska Airlines To Potentially Furlough Up To 7,000 Employees
Alaska Airlines has reported an understandably weak performance in the second quarter of 2020. While grappling with a loss of over $200 million, the airline has nevertheless managed to drive down its cash burn by around 70%. Even so, the group is still facing up to the prospect of furloughing as many as 7,000 workers in October.
Link
SpiceJet Given Green Light To Operate Flights To US
SpiceJet has been given the go-ahead to carry out international flights to the US. The low-cost airline will join flag carrier Air India, although it has not disclosed when services would start.
Link
American, United & Delta Tighten Up Face Mask Policies
American, United, and Delta have all tightened their mask policies in recent days, closing exceptions and clamping down on non-compliance. The moves come as airlines see revenues level off and load factors remain low, spurring ideas to restore consumer confidence. Airlines have now made the policy clear: if you don’t have a mask, you aren’t flying with us.
Link
Spirit Airlines Records $144 Million Second Quarter Loss
Spirit Airlines has recorded a net loss of $144 million in the second quarter of 2020. The low-cost carrier noted that the global COVID-19 pandemic had put significant strain on the airline’s operations, leading to significantly reduced capacity for the second quarter.
LinkAirports
Brussels Airport To Get US Preclearance Facility
Brussels Airport will become the first airport on Europe’s mainland to offer preclearance into the United States. In doing so, the airport has got the jump on its bigger European rival airports. Belgium’s finance minister, Alexander De Croo, confirmed yesterday that the deal was signed last week.
Link
Pittsburgh Becomes First US Airport To Deploy UV Cleaning Robots
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) announced today that it is deploying autonomous floor scrubbers that use ultraviolet technology designed to kill microbes in high-traffic areas. The hub has teamed with Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Robotics to introduce these devices amid the global health crisis.
Link
Denver Airport achieves major milestones in gate expansion project
Denver International Airport (DEN) has announced that it has marked two important milestones in its Gate Expansion Program during July 2020, as the final beam of the exterior structure was put into place on both Concourse C-East and Concourse B-East, signifying the completion of the steel structure of the exterior buildings on both concourses.
Link
Sofia Airport project enters new phase following signing of concessionaire agreement
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and the SOF Connect consortium have signed the concessionaire agreement for Sofia International Airport (SOF).
LinkMilitary
Covid Dents F-35 Production as Development Continues
Considering that the Lockheed Martin F-35 is the largest global defense program currently under way, with a vast number of suppliers—both domestic and international—in the supply chain tiers, it comes as no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected its production rate.
Link
Tempest On Course To Be an Air Combat Game-changer
Speakers at a series of FIA Connect webinars this week have underlined the revolutionary way in which the Tempest program partners have undertaken development of a future combat air system (FCAS), as well as its significant effects on the national skills base, economy, defense industrial capabilities, and the ability of air forces to maintain an operational advantage.
Link
U.S. Air Force To Take Over Turkey’s F-35s
A Department of Defense contract announcement on July 20 ended a year of speculation concerning the fate of the Lockheed Martin F-35As that are in production for Turkey, following the nation’s ousting from the F-35 program in July 2019.
Link
Aviation Quote
Whatever the lengths to which others may go, His Majesty's Government will never resort to the deliberate attack on women and children and other civilians for purposes of mere terrorism.
- British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, House of Commons, 14 September 1939.
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Trivia
Airlines And Airways
1. What was Fiji Airways known as before May 2012?
Air Pacific
Pacific Airlines
Air Fiji
Fiji Airlines
2. Air New Zealand makes which major New Zealand city its "home base"?
Auckland
Wellington
Christchurch
Sydney
3. Magda Szubanski starred in which Australian low budget airline's commercials from 2004-2008?
Jetstar
Qantas
Tiger Airways
Air Australia
4. What is the name of the corporation that owns American Airlines?
AMR Corportation
Applied Industrial Technologies
American Transportation Corporation
Bucyrus International
5. Which airline was created with the backing of the Dubai royal family?
Gulf Air
Air Arabia
Emirates
Middle Eastern Airways
6. Singapore Airlines uses their iconic flight attendants as a successful marketing tool. What are the flight attendants known as?
Geisha Girls
Singapore Beauties
Asian Beauties
Singapore Girls
7. What airline is colloquially known as "The flying kangaroo"?
Emirates
QANTAS
Virgin
Air Canada
8. In 2011, Richard Branson's Australian airline became known as what?
Virgin Australia
Virgin Down Under
Virgin Oceania
Virgin Blue
9. If I was to fly to a regional center in Australia, what airline would I chose?
Regional Express
Emirates
Jetstar
Virgin Australia
10. Air Canada's predecessor was Trans-Canada Airlines, which was created in 1936. Which year was their first passenger flight?
1937
1932
1948
1955
