Russian cargo plane crashes in South Sudan 'killing 40'

Russian cargo plane crashes shortly after take-off in South Sudan 'killing 40 people' A Russian plane has crashed shortly after taking off from an airport in war-torn South Sudan, reportedly killing 40 people. Witnesses said the tail fin of the plane and other parts were scattered along the banks of the White Nile River near the airport in the capital Juba. (www.theaviationnews.com) More...

15 injured in ‘serious’ stall alert incident on Qantas flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong

15 passengers were injured on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong after a serious stall alert last Friday, it has just emerged. Authorities will now begin a serious incident investigation after a ‘stick shaker’ warning activated on the QF29 service... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

Emirates to add 21 new Airbus A380s and 16 Boeing 777s as it expands in Asia

Emirates, the world’s biggest long-haul airline, plans to add 37 new planes to its fleet in the fiscal year beginning April as it expands operations in Asia with new destinations. The airline will receive 21 Airbus Group SE A380 superjumbos and 16 Boeing 777s in the year ending March 2017, Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori said Wednesday in Singapore. The aircraft are worth $14.5 billion at list prices.... (www.theaviationnews.com) More...

United Airlines to transfer 3 Boeing-737 aircrafts from Guam to U.S.

United Airlines will transfer three Boeing-737 aircrafts from its Guam fleet to the U.S. mainland in November, according to a letter issued to pilots by Howard Attarian, senior vice-resident of flight operations. The Tokyo Narita-Seoul Incheon route, currently flown by a Guam-based Boeing 737-800 aircraft, will reportedly be discontinued... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

Qantas crew wears All Blacks jerseys after losing Rugby World Cup bet to Air New Zealand

Qantas has swallowed its pride and followed through on a bet after engaging in a friendly wager with Air New Zealand ahead of the Rugby World Cup grand final on Saturday. After a little friendly banter on Twitter the airlines agreed that if their respective teams won, the crew of the other airline would have to wear the victorious team’s jerseys for a day.... (www.theaviationnews.com) More...

British Airways ‘turning into Ryanair’ as first class passengers are the latest to lose perks

British Airways has come under fire from both staff and customers as concern grows that cutbacks at the flag carrier are damaging its “elite” brand. Disgruntled cabin crew have provided a list to management of recent changes they say are diminishing the carrier’s reputation, the Sunday Times reported, including the loss of first-class perks, such as free amuse-bouches with customers’ first drink, no more fresh flowers in the first class toilets, and the downsizing of complimentary washbags... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

Emirates Airline launches new A380 destinations in 3 continents on same day

Emirates Airline, the world’s largest operator of A380s, today celebrated the launch of three A380 destinations, bringing its flagship three-class double-decker aircraft from Dubai to Tokyo- Narita, Casablanca and Sao Paulo on the same day... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

United Airlines Faces Questions Over Death of Giant Rabbit

Less than three weeks after a passenger was dragged off a United Airlines flight at the Chicago airport, the carrier found itself facing another public relations fiasco on Wednesday after a three-foot-long rabbit died on a flight from Britain... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

Mum says family was banned from Jetstar flight over toddler tantrum

TWO families with three children have been stranded in Hamilton Island for days at their own cost after being refused entry to their flight home. Laura was stunned when she was told she could not fly to Sydney on her booked Jetstar flight on Wednesday, February 22 because of her two-year-old son’s tantrum on their flight to Hamilton Island 10 days earlier... (www.aviationfigures.com) More...

Qatar Airways introduces direct flights between Windhoek and Doha

Qatar Airways will from September 28 have four weekly direct flights between Windhoek and Doha, Qatar’s state airline announced this week. The route between Windhoek and Doha is part of the airline’s network expansion of 14 new world destinations revealed by Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive, Akbar Al Baker, on the opening day of ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) – the world’s largest international travel fair... (www.theaviationnews.com) More...