New Istanbul Airport open on March 3, 2019

The New Istanbul Airport (ISL) is now due to open on March 3, 2019. The opening has been delayed twice. (worldairlinenews.com) Altro...

Is this the new Aer Lingus livery?

Is this the new look for Aer Lingus with less green? (worldairlinenews.com) Altro...

Lufthansa Group is the largest airline group in Europe

Lufthansa Group becomes the largest airline group in Europe with 142 million passengers in 2018 (worldairlinenews.com) Altro...

Effect of lightning strikes on Carbon Fibre (video and photos)

If you know a Boeing engineer, please pass this on. On average, every single airliner is hit by lightning once a year. Modern, metal planes are built to carry on perfectly safely even if they are struck but the very latest airliners are now being made of carbon fibre, which can be very badly damaged by lightning. So how are aeroplane designers making them safe to fly? BBC Transport Correspondent Richard Westcott was given exclusive access to the Airbus "Lightning Lab" based at Cardiff… (www.bbc.com) Altro...

Video: First Air Canada Airbus A220 Performs Maiden Flight

Air Canada’s first Airbus A220-300 performed its maiden flight from Montreal-Mirabel, in Canada. The plane rolled out of the paint shop at Bombardier’s Mirabel facility in November. Air Canada is the North-American launch customer for the A220-300 and will eventually take delivery of 45 planes. The carrier also has 30 options to exercise, all of which will be used to replace the airline’s oldest Airbus A320 family aircraft and its entire Embraer E190 fleet. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

Congo Airways Purchases Two Embraer E175 Valued $194.4 million

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, has announced a deal with African carrier, Congo Airways, of a firm commitment for two Embraer E175s and purchase rights for a further two planes. The deal is valued at $194.4 million at current list prices if all purchase rights for the aircraft are exercised. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

Delta Private Jets partners up with Wheel’s Up, creating large private fleet

Delta Air Lines Inc. will leave the private-jet charter business after 20 years, selling the struggling operation to Wheels Up Partners in a deal expected to close early next year. (www.bloomberg.com) Altro...

FAA 2018 analysis warned of 15 fatal Max crashes months before second accident

A Federal Aviation Administration analysis completed months before the second 737 Max crash found that the Max’s flight control system, if unchanged, could cause 15 fatal accidents over the service life of the aircraft. (www.flightglobal.com) Altro...

Boeing NMA future doubted after United orders 50 Airbus A321XLRs

The future of Boeing’s proposed New Mid-market Airplane (NMA) seems more uncertain than ever thanks to United Airlines’ recent order for Airbus’s competing A321XLR (www.flightglobal.com) Altro...

UPDATE : Chile missing C-130 plane: Floating debris found

Chilean officials say they have located debris believed to be from an air force plane that went missing on Monday. They said the wreckage was found floating 30km (19 miles) from where the C-130 Hercules cargo plane with 38 people on board last made contact. (www.bbc.com) Altro...

JetSMART acquires Norwegian Argentina

JetSMART Airlines confirmed the acquisition of Norwegian Air Argentina, reaffirming its commitment to Argentina and the development of affordable air travel in the region... (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) Altro...

NTSB Chief: Doors-off Helo Flight Was 'Death Trap'

In language that was uncharacteristically blunt and direct, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt accused the doors-off photo tour company NYONair, parent of FlyNYON, of turning “a perfectly good helicopter into a death trap” and characterizing it as “madness.” Sumwalt praised the airmanship of accident pilot Richard Vance. (www.ainonline.com) Altro...

Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure, even after FAA experts objected

Boeing removed a feature that protects its 787 planes during lightning strikes as a cost-cutting measure even after technical experts from the Federal Aviation Administration experts objected, according to a new report from The Seattle Times. The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will today grill FAA Administrator Steve Dickson about why the FAA's managers ultimately approved the change, which involved removing copper foil from part of the 787 Dreamliner's wings. (www.businessinsider.com) Altro...

Air France-KLM orders an additional 10 A350 XWBs

The Air France-KLM Group has decided to place a firm order for 10 additional widebody A350-900s, which will take its total order for the type to 38 aircraft. By acquiring the industry’s most efficient and technologically advanced widebody aircraft, the airline will benefit from a significant reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions. The A350 XWBs are intended to be operated by Air France. “Rationalising and modernising the fleet is central to our effort to regain our leading position in Europe,”… (www.airbus.com) Altro...

Aeroflot Rated Most Punctual Airline In The World

After a month of travel in which 92.1% of its flights took off on time, the Russian airline Aeroflot retains the title of the most punctual airline in the world, beating out the 20 of the largest and most prominent competitors. The Russian flag carrier was given the honor for the second month in a row and received a five-star rating for punctuality by OAG, a flight analytics agency headquartered in the United Kingdom. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

A ‘Hail Satan’ T-shirt? Not on this American Airlines flight

Runi Goyal loves her “Hail Satan” T-shirt. But the shirt, which comes from the Satanic Temple religious group, didn’t fly with this AA flight crew. (www.miamiherald.com) Altro...

Can The Airline Industry Survive Climate Change?

Commercial airliners pump out 2.5 percent of total global warming gasses. The “flight-shaming” movement now sweeping Europe shows signs of driving would-be air passengers to other modes of transport. (www.forbes.com) Altro...

Airline trade group predicts Christmas travel will rise 3%

The trade group Airlines for America said Tuesday that 47.5 million people are expected to fly over an 18-day period from Dec. 19 through Jan. 5, 3% more people flying in the U.S. than during last year's holiday stretch. (komonews.com) Altro...

Air Malta’s Airbus A321XLR Could Fly To The United States

Air Malta has shared its intention to fly to the United States with its future Airbus A321XLR aircraft. The airline will introduce two of the planes in 2024 and it plans to operate them on long-haul routes to destinations such as New York. (simpleflying.com) Altro...

airBaltic Boosts Its Network With 13 New Routes

Latvian airline, airBaltic, has announced a further expansion to its ever-growing destination network with four new routes from its Baltic hubs in Tallinn, Vilnius, and Riga. The airline will launch a total of 13 new routes, set to initiate during the Summer 2020 season. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

First electric flight by Harbour Air

Harbour Air‘s First electric flight with a modified De Havilland Beaver was without incident. (www.youtube.com) Altro...

Unforgotten: Airlines of the Past

Part one: USA. Nothing is a more sobering testament to the unpredictability of the airline business than the long list of carriers that are no longer with us. From Pan Am and Braniff to Ozark and Southern, here's a look at America's most colorful and influential airlines of yesterday. (thepointsguy.com) Altro...

Boeing to Sponsor Free Youth Admissions at EAA AirVenture

Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Boeing are making a bold move to address future aviation and aerospace industry workforce shortages by partnering to offer young people age 18 and under free admission to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 (www.flyingmag.com) Altro...

American Airlines Fights Back In Austin: New Flights To Boston, San Jose

American Airlines has announced two new routes from Austin, Texas. The carrier, which has historically been the biggest legacy carrier to operate out of this airport, will add new flights to Boston (BOS) and San Jose (SJC), starting April 2020. According to the airline, the new flights have been introduced “in response to strong demand from customers who need to travel between one of the nation’s largest tech cities, Austin, to the tech centers in San Jose and Boston.” (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

Chile says it lost contact with military plane headed to Antarctica, 38 on board

A Chilean air force C-130 Hercules that was bound for Antarctica and carrying 38 on board lost radio contact with the country’s control center Monday evening, a statement from the military said. The military had declared an alert and activated a search and rescue team. The transport plane carried 17 crew members and 21 passengers. Those on board were to check on a floating fuel supply line and other equipment at the Chilean base. (www.foxnews.com) Altro...

Emirates Group announces half-year earnings 2019-2020

Emirates Group impacted profit during the 45-day South Lane closure at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and unfavorable currency movements in Europe, Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan. (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) Altro...

Update for Harbour Air’s first electric flight

Due to weather outlook for Wednesday, Harbour Air has pulled their first electric flight ahead to Tuesday, Dec, 10. Today they did some taxiing and skipping runs in preparation. (www.harbourair.com) Altro...

FAA fines Boeing for certifying 133 737s as airworthy despite slat track defects

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of more than $3.9 million against The Boeing Co. for installing nonconforming components on approximately 133 aircraft, which Boeing subsequently presented as ready for airworthiness certification. The FAA alleges that Boeing failed to adequately oversee its suppliers to ensure they complied with the company’s quality assurance system. The agency contends that this failure resulted in the installation of slat tracks that were… (news.aviation-safety.net) Altro...

EAA Offers Young People Free AirVenture Admission With Boeing Support

Young people age 18 and under will be admitted free to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2020 as a way to introduce more youth to the possibilities in the world of flight. (eaa.org) Altro...

Indianapolis Airport Welcomes Second Alaska Airlines Flight To Seattle

After entering the Indianapolis market two years ago, Alaska Airlines has announced a second flight to Seattle. The new flight is said to be seasonal, commencing on May 21, 2020. Alaska Airlines has carried over 160,000 passengers to Indianapolis since the route’s introduction in 2017. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

Air Italy Signs Codesharing Agreement With Oman Air

Air Italy and Oman Air have signed a codesharing arrangement to offer customers enhanced connectivity between the Sultanate of Oman and seven major destinations in Italy. This deal was somewhat expected. Air Italy, partly owned by Qatar Airways, will now be collaborating with Oman Air, which already has a standing codesharing arrangement with the Doha-based carrier. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

SKY Airline Purchases 10 Airbus A321XLR For Nonstop Miami Flights

Chile’s second-largest low-cost carrier has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus for 10 A321XLR aircraft, which will join its current fleet of 23 aircraft, comprised of 14 A320neos and nine A219ceos. According to the carrier, the new A321XLRs will be deployed on routes to Easter Island and Miami, all of which are currently served by the country’s flag carrier, LATAM Airlines, with wide-body airliners. (airwaysmag.com) Altro...

Four SpiceJet Pilots Fail Breathalyzer Alcohol Test

SpiceJet has grounded four pilots who failed preflight breathalyzer alcohol tests in separate incidents. (simpleflying.com) Altro...

Spirit Airlines Big Front Seat- Is It Worth It?

Spirit Airlines is one low-cost carrier that has own version of extra-legroom seats. (simpleflying.com) Altro...

Ryanair Refused To Fly A Passenger’s Wheelchair

Love them or hate them, Ryanair has managed to get themselves in the news once more by not allowing a disabled woman to travel with her wheelchair. (simpleflying.com) Altro...

FAA to Decommission Decades-Old System that Keeps Pilots Up to Date on Hazardous Weather

The Federal Aviation Authority is discontinuing a nonstop broadcast service that’s been keeping pilots aware of dangerous weather during flights since the early 1980s as part of the agency’s efforts to update and streamline its services (www.nextgov.com) Altro...

Woman Stung By Scorpion On United Airlines Flight

A woman passenger aboard a late-night United Airlines flight from California to Georgia was stung on the leg by a stowaway Scorpion. While the Samuel L. Jackson movie ‘Snakes on a Plane’ was all fun and games, an unknown woman told celebrity gossip website TMZ that she was stung by a scorpion while flying to Atlanta. When her leg started to feel painful, the woman decided to go to the toilet and find out what was causing the discomfort. As she was pulling down her pants, a live scorpion dropped… (simpleflying.com) Altro...

Coast Guard searching for helicopter that likely crashed in the Gulf of Mexico

NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard is searching for two people aboard an overdue helicopter that likely crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, Saturday. The tail number of the helicopter is N79LP and the owner is Panther Marine. Watchstanders at Coast Guard District Eight received a report at 10:37 a.m. from Panther Marine that the helicopter crew did not reach their destination. The passengers were transiting from one offshore platform to another but Panther Marine lost communications when they were 10… (www.wkrg.com) Altro...