First Boeing 737 MAX jet lands in Antarctica

PRAGUE, CZECHIA — Low-cost Czech carrier Smartwings became the first airline to land in Antarctica with a Boeing 737 MAX 8. The landing at Troll Airfield at the northern tip of Antarctica took place on January 26, 2022. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

New Mexico Considers Taxing Virgin Galactic Tickets

Proposed bill would tax passengers on Virgin Galactic suborbital flights from the State-owned Spaceport America near Las Cruces. Millions in public funds went toward building the site in expectation of economic and tax benefits. Tax hit on VG's $450K tickets, 700 of which are now reserved, is $31,000 (6.9%). When shopping for future half-million dollar suborbital flights, don't be surprised by the big add-on at check-out. (apnews.com) Ещё...

TCAS Saves Two Air Mauritius A350s From Mid-Air Collision

Two Air Mauritius Airbus A350 flights headed in opposite directions narrowly avoided a mid-air collision as a result of what appears to be air traffic controller negligence. (www.gatechecked.com) Ещё...

Breeze Airways Announces Major Route Shuffles

Breeze Airways, America's newest airline, is making major changes once again. In advance of the addition of the a220 to the fleet, Breeze is cutting several routes and adjusting frequencies on many others. (aeroxplorer.com) Ещё...

China Airlines orders four Boeing 777 Freighters

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Boeing today announced the Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines has ordered four 777 Freighters, adding to its extensive fleet of Boeing airplanes. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

Battery breakthrough achieves energy density necessary for electric planes

Researchers have achieved a world-leading energy density with a next-generation battery design, paving the way for long-distance electric planes. The lithium-air battery, developed at the Japanese National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), had an energy density of over 500Wh/kg. By comparison, lithium-ion batteries found in Tesla vehicles have an energy density of 260Wh/kg. (uk.finance.yahoo.com) Ещё...

WHO Calls for the Lifting of Travel Bans

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO), recommended that countries around the world lift all COVID-19 travel restrictions. The International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the organization stated in a report that blanket travel bans "are not effective in suppressing international spread (as clearly demonstrated by the Omicron experience), and may discourage transparent and rapid reporting of emerging VOC [Variants of Concern]." (aeroxplorer.com) Ещё...

Supersonic jet startup Boom putting factory in North Carolina, expects passenger flights by 2029

Boom, the Denver-based startup company developing what could be the first supersonic airliner since the Concorde, will build a factory at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, state government officials confirmed to ABC11. (abc11.com) Ещё...

Relatives of 737 MAX crash victims want to re-open a settlement that protected the manufacturer from criminal prosecution

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — Relatives of victims who lost their lives in two Boeing 737 MAX jet crashes want to re-open a settlement that protected the American aircraft manufacturer from criminal prosecution although it was revealed that the company misled federal safety regulators during type certification of the plane. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

Tata Group Regains Control of Debt-Laden Air India

70 years after Air India was pushed into public ownership when the shares of its storied founder, JRD Tata, were bought by the State in independent India's nationalization fervor, now heavily indebted Air India has formally returned to private ownership by JRD Tata's family business empire, Tata Sons, ending a privatization process that ran for years. Tata Sons paid $2.4 billion and assumed 25% of Air India's $8.2 billion debt. LCC Air India Express is part in the sale. (apnews.com) Ещё...

The One Active Division of Pan Am That is Still Up and Running

During “the golden age of flying,” the U.S. had 3 iconic airlines among others: Eastern Air Lines, Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Pan American World Airways (Pan Am). They were all immensely popular for decades, but all three eventually fell prey to changing times, increased competition, and rising costs in the latter quarter of the 20th century. (yourmileagemayvary.net) Ещё...

Video: Qatar Airways hits back Airbus on Social Media

DOHA, QATAR — Qatar Airways took their dispute with Airbus to social media with a video showing the damaged exteriors of grounded A350 jets. The Doha-based carrier claims its safety concern is serious and legitimate. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

Ryanair Says Sorry After Saying Scotland Isn’t A Country

Ryanair has apologized after a staff member told a passenger that “Scotland is not a country.” (simpleflying.com) Ещё...

GOL agrees US$600 million financing to finance 12 Boeing 737 MAX

The transaction will include... The interest rate for finance leases is approximately... which represents a reduction from operating lease costs for current aircraft in the fleet. The proceeds from the transaction will... (cmsherbert.blogspot.com) Ещё...

Embraer trademarks Energia name for electric, hybrid aircraft line

Following an initial refusal by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer has filed trademark applications covering its upcoming Energia family of new low-emission and zero-emission electrified aircraft. (electrek.co) Ещё...

Pilot shortage forces United Airlines to suspend more regional routes

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — Speaking during the company’s 2021 fourth-quarter results, United Airlines CCO Andrew Nocella said the airline would cut more routes to secondary cities in the coming months due to the ongoing pilot shortage problem for regional aircraft. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

Southwest Exercises Option For Additional 737 MAX's

Low-cost carrier Southwest is one of the world's largest 737 series operators, they will be exercising their option to add a additional aircraft, bringing their firm order total for this year to a total of 77 aircraft. Per Simple Flying. (simpleflying.com) Ещё...

Air Serbia Announces New Routes

Air Serbia today announced three new routes commencing in the summer of 2022, connecting the Serbian capital city of Belgrade with Amman, Jordan; Sochi, Russia; and Lyon, France. Flights to Amman will begin on June 1st, while flights to Sochi and Lyon will start the following day on June 2nd. Tickets for flights to Amman and Lyon have gone on sale already, while sales for the Sochi route are awaiting permits from Russian authorities. (aeroxplorer.com) Ещё...

All landings and departures at Paine Field were canceled on Monday as 5G poses risk for regional jets

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — On Monday, Alaska Airlines' regional subsidiary Horizon Air suspended all flights in and out of the Paine Field to avoid 5G interference, as fog shrouded the airport. (www.airlinerwatch.com) Ещё...

USN F-35C Crashes in the South China Sea Soon After Taking-Off From USS Carl Vinson

Race is now on to reach the sunken aircraft before China does. (www.bbc.com) Ещё...

General Dynamics Will Ramp Up Gulfstream Output to Meet the Strongest Demand in a Decade

GD says annual Gulfstream output will need to increase 45% to complete nearly 450 orders by the close of 2024. In 2021, 119 aircraft were delivered. Deliveries going forward are set to be: 123 in 2022; 149 in 2023; and 170 in 2024. Production work-arounds are being introduced to reduce supply chain risks. (www.bloombergquint.com) Ещё...