Lufthansa Commits To East Africa With More Nairobi Flights & New GM

The Lufthansa Group is reaffirming its commitment to East Africa by relocating the commercial responsibility for the passenger service back to Kenya. The group has appointed a new General Manager for the East African region stationed in Nairobi, Kenya. The airline will further increase its presence in Kenya by adding more flights from Frankfurt, while Swissport will offer more services to the German flag carrier in Nairobi. An experienced General Manager for East Africa Effective March 1,… (www.msn.com) More...

Bad luck hampers start of WestJet freighter operations

WestJet Cargo has been stymied by Boeing problems from getting its new freighters airborne. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

Flying this summer? Get ready for cramped seating

The start of the summer travel season is only a few weeks away, but people in the know have already identified the most pressing problem: dangerously cramped airline seats. ... Mike Heck, vice president of supplier solutions for Fox World Travel, predicts passengers who haven’t flown in a while will be shocked to see the reduction in seat pitch and width. (www.seattletimes.com) More...

Air Tanzania & Air Senegal Team Up To Take Action Over Airbus A220 Groundings

Air Tanzania and Air Senegal are collaborating to mitigate the challenges faced due to the grounding of their Airbus A220-300 aircraft. Several of their A220-300s have been grounded since November due to technical issues with the Pratt & Whitney engines. The Airbus aircraft is powered by PW1524G-3 engines, whose defects have affected all airlines operating similar models. The two airlines grounded the planes without a target date set for which they would return to service. This has resulted… (www.msn.com) More...

8 Hours Plus: The World’s 5 Longest Boeing 737 MAX Flights This Summer

Long-haul narrowbody flights have always been controversial. Many argue that they're less comfortable than widebodies, although new technology plays a vital role in making cabins feel more spacious. A narrowbody flight has a far lower trip cost than that operated by a widebody. However, it has a higher seat-mile cost and higher cost per seat, but offset by fewer seats to fill. This balance partly depends on the extent of premium passengers and/or a lack of competition, but helping to… (www.msn.com) More...

A second close call at Hollywood Burbank

The second close call in 30 days. This city has been fighting to close this airport because housing and businesses are bumping up against the airport perimeter. It doesn't leave the pilots much wiggle room if an emergency happens, and it's a relatively short runway to boot. (www.nbclosangeles.com) More...

Boeing Lawyers Argue 737 MAX Crash Victims Didn't Have Time to Feel Pain as Plane Slammed into the Ground

Attorneys for Boeing and the families of those killed in a 737 MAX crash are embroiled in a legal dispute over what kind of damages the company is required to pay under Illinois state case law. (www.msn.com) More...

Russia flies strategic bomber planes near Japan as its PM visits Ukraine

March 21 (Reuters) - Two Russian strategic bomber planes flew over the Sea of Japan for more than seven hours, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday in a statement released as Japan's prime minister was beginning a visit to Ukraine. The Tupolev Tu-95MS planes are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and Moscow regularly flies them over international waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic and Pacific as a show of strength. (www.reuters.com) More...

In a Queens Miracle, New York LaGuardia Airport Goes From Loser to Winner

Throughout a troubled 2022, the pandemic exposed many fragilities in a troubled U.S. airline industry, but it also enabled a widely recognized miracle in the $8 billion resurrection of New York LaGuardia Airport. Once widely viewed as a hellhole, LaGuardia was transformed. (airlineweekly.com) More...

Runway crack forces Spanish airport closure for third time in two years

Vigo Airport (VGO), in the north-western region of Galicia, had to close down unexpectedly on March 20, 2023, after a crack was reportedly detected on the runway around 7pm local time. The total closure of the airport affected at least five flights, three arrivals and two departures, operated by three different airlines (Vueling, Iberia and Air Europa) and connecting the Galician airport to Barcelona and Madrid. (www.aerotime.aero) More...

Southwest 737 MAX Makes Emergency Landing In Cuba

A new 737-8 suffered a bird strike in Havana and was forced to make an emergency landing, with passengers deplaning via evacuation slides. (simpleflying.com) More...

Beijing still seeking answers a year after China Eastern plane crash

China's aviation regulator said on Monday that investigators were still looking into the cause of the crash of China Eastern Airlines (www.reuters.com) More...

Slovakia donates 13 MiG-29 Aircraft to Ukraine

Slovakia has recently completed the transfer of 13 MiG-29 aircraft in which they have no use for. They are currently out of service, however Ukraine has what it takes to get them airworthy again amidst the war with Russia. (www.theguardian.com) More...

The World's 4 Most Challenging Airports for Pilots

Aviation is safer than ever these days, but some airports are so extreme that they cause even the most skilled pilots to become uneasy. This article will break down some of the world's most extreme airports. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Cathay Pacific Cargo unleashed

Cathay Pacific has been operating its full fleet of jumbo jet freighters since August, but now gets the benefit of more widebody passenger jets reentering service. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

Economy Passengers Could Soon Lie Down On Airplanes—Meet The Airline That's Doing It First

Economy flights practically guarantee a stiff neck, a child kicking the back of your seat and competition with your seatmate to claim the middle seat's armrests. One airline wants to cure to these traveling ailments: Air New Zealand recently announced the world's first lie-flat "pods" for economy class airplanes, set to debut in 2024. The concept, called "Skynest," has been in research and development for five years and will likely feature two rows of three stacked… (www.cnbc.com) More...

Maersk Air Cargo unveils Denmark-to-China freighter service

Maersk is an ocean shipping line that is pouring resources into its airline venture. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

Qantas Pilots Report Radio Interference and GPS Jamming From Chinese Warships

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas pilots reported repeating radio interference and GPS jamming from Chinese military units in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Qantas said there were no safety concerns and has instructed its pilots to keep flying on their routes despite the breach. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Emirates New Livery... And Other Bad Ideas

Sometimes it feels as if airline branding has been taken over by millennials trying to out-cool each other... (askthepilot.com) More...

Air Safety in Perspective

New in Ask the Pilot: A spate of incidents puts airline safety in the spotlight. Here's some perspective. (askthepilot.com) More...

Bomb scare on Ryanair flight forces 190 passengers to evacuate

A Ryanair flight with 190 passengers was evacuated after a bomb scare onboard the aircraft. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 arrived at Palermo Airport (PMO), in Sicily, Italy, shortly after 8pm on March 17, 2023, where passengers and crew were instructed to leave the plane. (www.aerotime.aero) More...

Fleet Analysis: Lufthansa Group airlines

Lufthansa Group announced last week it will launch its latest airline, City Airlines. The airline will focus on short and medium-haul routes, expanding the European route network, and plans to operate with an Airbus fleet. Will Lufthansa use its existing fleet for City Airlines, or use incoming jets, or combine it with Lufthansa CityLine fleet? (www.airguide.info) More...

Former RAF Scampton set to become refugee detention centre

The Home Office has outlined plans for the former Royal Air Force (RAF) base at Scampton to become a detention centre for thousands of refugees as the government seeks to get a grip on the growing migrant crisis. (ukaviation.news) More...

Southwest Airlines Expects Reduction in Boeing Aircraft Deliveries in 2023

DALLAS, TEXAS — Following discussions with Boeing and ongoing supply chain issues, the largest American low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has revised its expectations for the number of aircraft deliveries in 2023, reducing it from 100 to around 90 copies. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Air India To Temporarily Reduce US Flights Amid Crew Shortage

Ashortage of qualified crew has forced Air India to reduce weekly flights to the US. The airline deploys a fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft to the US and has been looking for more qualified pilots over the last few months to meet operational demands, especially with new 777s joining its fleet and more to come shortly. Several of Air India’s US flights have been affected due to crew shortages in the recent past, and now the airline wants to cut some flights until the problem is resolved. Air India to… (www.msn.com) More...

Pilot safe after landing malfunction at Idaho Falls airport

IDAHO FALLS – A pilot is safe after a hairy landing situation at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport Sunday morning. It happened at 11:28 a.m., according to city spokesman Eric Grossarth. The pilot of a single-engine Beech Bonanza airplane reportedly experienced a gear malfunction and landed on the runway. (www.eastidahonews.com) More...

Ryanair Aircraft Evacuated In Palermo Due To Bomb Scare

A Ryanair flight from Milan was met with police on the ground of the Sicilian airport. (simpleflying.com) More...

Boeing Argues Against 737 MAX Crash Victim Suffering Claims

Four years on from the last MAX crash, Boeing continues to fend off lawsuits from those affected. (simpleflying.com) More...

Delta Boeing 767-400 Diverts Experiencing Instrument and Hydraulic Issues

A Delta 767 flying over the Atlantic from London to New York was forced to divert to Bangor, Maine. (simpleflying.com) More...

QantasLink Flight 1737: A Cabin Crew Perspective

No one could have guessed... . (simpleflying.com) More...

Viva Aerobus Receives 70th Aircraft In An All-Female Crew Flight

About 54% of the airline's fleet is now composed of A320neo family jets. (simpleflying.com) More...

Video: Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 Leaks Fuel Soon After Taking Off

The aircraft diverted and landed safely. . (simpleflying.com) More...

Pilot makes first-ever plane landing on Burj Al Arab helipad

Polish pilot Lukasz Czepiela made aviation history on Tuesday, becoming the first person to land a plane on the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai. (www.cnn.com) More...

A Fresh Look: Emirates Releases its New Livery

Earlier this week, one of the world's most iconic airlines shared its new look with the world. This is a big announcement for the airline, as it marks its newest livery change in almost 25 years. The first aircraft to wear this paint is A6-EOE. It operated flight EK51 from Dubai to Munich yesterday, March 17. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

Will we ever solve the mystery of MH370?

In this age of constant real-time monitoring of everything that moves through the skies, in which even an unidentified balloon can cause the scrambling of fighter jets, how could a massive high-tech airliner carrying 239 people vanish into thin air? (unherd.com) More...

When It Comes to the World's Best Airports, the U.S. is Flyover Country

Travelers looking to fly out of a modern, attractive airport with efficient security, tasteful restaurants and top-notch shopping should bypass the U.S. (www.cbsnews.com) More...

Boeing Says There Was No Pain or Suffering in 737 Max Crash Because Everyone Died Instantly

Lawyers argue that victims in the Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crash died painlessly, thus, the airplane manufacturer shouldn't owe damages to victims' families. (jalopnik.com) More...

Flight attendants want to ban lap babies on planes

When the seat belt light blinks on, every passenger buckles up except for one group of fliers: lap babies. Unrestrained children sharing a seat with their parents are exempt from the safety mandate, presenting a growing concern amid recent incidents of severe turbulence. ... Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “The G-forces are not something even the most loving mother or father can guard against and hold their child. It’s just physically… (www.seattletimes.com) More...

The FAA Proposes Lengthening Cockpit Voice Recording Time to 25 Hours

The Federal Aviation Administration is working to establish a requirement that aircraft have longer duration cockpit voice recorders. The announcement comes after the agency held an emergency “safety summit” Wednesday following a series of near-collisions on US runways. (www.cnn.com) More...

Two SpiceJet Pilots Suspended Over Photo Of Uncovered Cup Of Tea On Throttle Quadrant

Two SpiceJet pilots have landed themselves in hot water after one of them posted a photo showing an uncovered cup of tea perched on the middle of the throttle quadrant. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

FedEx readjusts air network again amid sharp volume declines

FedEx is putting fewer aircraft in the air and retiring aging planes to cut costs as express and international business shrinks with the economy. (www.freightwaves.com) More...

B767 freighter deliveries could be delayed by fuel tank problem

A quality issue with the coating on fuel tanks appears to be delaying new deliveries of Boeing 767-300Fs, including 58 767-based KC-46 air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft. (theloadstar.com) More...

Preliminary report investigating plane crash in Hillsville, Va., released by NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Thursday investigating the Feb. 27 crash of a single-engine Cessna 150G in Hillsville, Va. (dcnewsroom.blogspot.com) More...

VIDEO: American Drone Crashes After Encountering Russian Fighters Over the Black Sea

Russian Air Force Su-27s have caused an American MQ-9 reaper drone to crash into the Black Sea in international airspace. This is the first incident of its kind since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. (aeroxplorer.com) More...

The Power of Predictions: Deep Learning Neural Networks Make Debut at FlightAware

FlightAware is excited to announce the introduction of Neural Network powered predictive models for FlightAware Foresight. Adam Suarez, Director of Engineering for Aviation Insight at FlightAware, discusses these developments and shares insights into the Predictive Technologies team's current projects. (blog.flightaware.com) More...

Global Warming Could Result In More Turbulent Flights

A new study predicts that instances of clear air turbulence will increase over the next few decades as a result of global warming. (www.gatechecked.com) More...

Flight attendants on SkyWest airplane reportedly get into fight, delay passengers for over an hour

Passengers on a recent SkyWest flight from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas, were delayed for over an hour after the flight attendants reportedly got into an argument and refused to work with each other. Ashley Brewer, an anchor on ESPN, tweeted on March 12 that her flight was delayed for a rather unusual reason. (www.foxnews.com) More...

Frontier cuts 14 routes, pulls out of 1 city in latest network shake-up

It's not all growth for Frontier Airlines, as the carrier has just quietly filed plans to exit a number of markets. The Denver-based carrier will cut 14 routes from its network, and it'll also end service to Rochester, New York, on May 8, as first seen in Cirium schedules and Ailevon Pacific data, and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson. (thepointsguy.com) More...

Lockheed Martin hints at existence of aircraft faster than SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft, famous for its top speed of Mach 3, was touted as the "fastest acknowledged crewed air-breathing jet aircraft" in a subsequent tweet by Lockheed Martin, with an emphasis on acknowledged. As you may recall from the movie, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell flies the Darkstar test jet at hypersonic speeds beyond Mach 10 before making a forced landing. (interestingengineering.com) More...