Boutique Air Announces Codeshare Partnership with United Airlines

Boutique Air is proud to announce a new codeshare partnership with United Airlines. As a leading airline to smaller, secondary cities throughout the United States, Boutique is excited to begin this partnership with United. Boutique serves 30 destinations with plans for continued expansion and has a large presence in Denver, which is one of United's largest domestic hubs. Customers will enjoy a seamless connection experience between the two airlines. Boutique Air flies Pilatus PC-12 and King Air 350 aircraft, all of which feature an executive style seating configuration.

Air Astana A320 runway excursion - on video

An investigation has been launched into the runway excursion at Astana International Airport in Kazakhstan of an Air Astana Airbus A320-200 on Tuesday 22nd May.

The Airbus A320-232 ran off the right side of the runway during landing, damaging an engine cowling that came into contact with a sign as the aircraft crossed two taxiways before rejoining the runway. The front of the engine appeared damaged and dented in photos posted to social media after the incident, however, there appears to be no other damage to the aircraft as a result of its going off the paved surfaces.

The incident was captured from inside the plane by one of the 97 passengers on board the aircraft on what was quite a windy day. Indeed, there were heavy thunderstorms in the area in the hours preceding the arrival of the  A320, registration P4-KBB and local media report that earlier high winds had caused destruction to a crane in the city.

Map showing where the aircraft left the runway

In the video, passengers can be heard applauding the captain after a relatively smooth touch down following a crosswind landing on the wet runway. Then the aircraft seems to move to the side, following which, a loud bang is heard and it becomes clear the aircraft had left the paved area of the runway and continues across the grass. Save for a few shouts and gasps, the atmosphere in the cabin seems remarkably calm and measured and a following cabin crew announcement sounds relaxed and in a typical style of the usual arrival message.

Delta to start a Mumbai service....maybe....sometime next year

The republican biased Trump supporting US carrier Delta Air Lines has announced it will begin nonstop flights between the United States and Mumbai, India, but you'll have to wait till next year for the service doesn't start until May 2019. Although the airline hasn't said exactly when or where the service will orginate or what aircraft type it will be on.

Asia Miles Introduces Changes To Make Air Travel More Rewarding

Asia Miles, Asia's leading travel and lifestyle rewards programme, is changing the way that members earn and redeem miles when flying. From June, members will earn more miles when they fly Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon, and there will be more redemption seats available on those airlines.

SA Express operators certificate suspended

The South African Civil Aviation Authority has suspended South African Express's Air Operator's Certificate as well as the airline's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) approvals. 

In addition, the SACAA has also suspended the certificates of airworthiness of nine of the twenty-one aircraft being operated by the airline. This means that, as of today, SA Express can no longer continue to operate as an airline. 

MH17 investigation team confirms plane was shot down by Russian BUK missile

It was the Russians!  That's the proclamation from the official investigators looking into to events of the 17th July 2014 that caused the downing of   Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine.

All 298 people on the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 were killed when the aircraft blew apart mid-air on a flight heading to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam.   Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft approximately 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border.  It crashed in the Donetsk area, in territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Sir Ernest Shackleton takes to the skies

as Norwegian’s latest tail fin hero

Norwegian is proud to announce that Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is the airlines latest tail fin hero. The renowned explorer’s portrait graces the tail fin of a Norwegian Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which has taken to the skies this month.

Since Norwegian’s first aircraft took to the skies, the airline has always honoured iconic figures on the tails of its aircraft, using personalities who symbolise the spirit of Norwegian by pushing boundaries, challenging the norm and inspiring others.

To reflect Norwegian’s rapid growth in the UK, where it now flies 5.8 million UK passengers each year to more than 50 destinations, the airline has launched a series of UK tail fin heroes. Sir Ernest Shackleton has become Norwegian’s seventh UK tail fin hero, following the announcement of poet Robert Burns, rock legend Freddie Mercury, author Jane Austen, footballer Bobby Moore, children’s author Roald Dahl, pioneering pilot Amy Johnson and aviation maverick Sir Freddie Laker.

FlyBe to ditch E195's as it struggles to cut costs and focuses on profitable routes with the Q400

One of Europe's largest regional airlines, the UK based FlyBe, has been doing a lot of thinking recently regarding its fleet and has come to the conclusion that the Bombardier Q400 is the best core aircraft for both its current and future needs. 

The airline said it chose the Q400 because it is faster than any other alternative turboprops and its performance is close to that of a jet aircraft over the relatively short sectors that Flybe operates. The carrier also rates the aircraft highly for the operating economics, fuel efficiency and lack of noise.

Part of the fleet reevaluation at FlyBe will see the carrier hand back all of its Embraer 195 jets, of which the airline has nine currently. although it will retrain the 175 aircraft and continue with its outstanding order for four of that type which are due in 2019.  These new aircraft will be delivered with new ‘winglet technology’ to help reduce fuel consumption. Apart from these, Flybe is not going to be ordering any new aircraft for the foreseeable future. It had tried to cancel the four remaining E175 aircraft but was already financially committed to them. 

Ethiopian set to receive its 100th aircraft

The largest aviation group in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed it will take delivery of its 100th aircraft next month.

Yes, the pioneering airline will receive a Boeing 787-900 on 5th June 2018,  the 1st for an African airline to operate 100 aircraft fleet in the history of the continent, thus maintaining its pioneering aviation technology leadership role.

Ethiopian Group CEO, Mr Tewolde GebreMariam said: “It is an immense honour for all of us at Ethiopian to reach the milestone of 100 aircraft. This milestone is a continuation of our historical aviation leadership role in Africa and a testimony of the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025."

British Airways changing one of its Moscow flights to Sheremetyevo

At a time when the UK's relationship with Russia grows ever colder, British Airways makes it easier for their passengers to go directly to the secret FSB training centre in the north of Moscow by changing one of their flights to head into Sheremetyevo Airport.

 From 28th October 2018, British Airways will begin operating one of its three daily services to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) instead of Domodedovo International Airport (DME), ideal for northern Moscow. Sheremetyevo is located some18 miles northwest of the centre of Moscow, whilst DME is 26 miles southeast from the centre of the city. 

Joerg Tuensmeyer, Head of Sales for Europe, said: “By changing one of our three daily flights to SVO we are opening up the north of the city for our Russian customers and giving more options to our UK based travellers who need to get to that part of the city when they arrive into the capital. We know how precious time is, especially to our business customers and frequent flyers, so this change allows them to spend more time in the lounge working or relaxing.”

In the British Airways press release issued today advising of the changes, not only did they spell centre wrong, they also spelt the name of DME airport incorrectly, however, thankfully their pilots know where they are going, even if the press office doesn't!

Air France and Qantas renew partnership

Qantas and Air France customers will now have more options to travel between Europe and Australia via Asia following a renewed codeshare agreement between the two carriers.(2)

Available for booking from 5 June for travel from 20 July 2018, Air France will add its code to Qantas flights between Hong Kong and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and between Singapore and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Air France customers will also be able to access codeshare services from Sydney to five cities on the Australian airline's domestic network including Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Cairns and Darwin.

Allegiant's first US produced A320 joins the fleet.

That ultra-low-cost airline in the US, Allegiant welcomed its first U.S.-produced A320 aircraft from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama this week. 

A team of Allegiant employees and executives from the company's headquarters in Las Vegas joined Airbus' leadership team at the production facility for a special ceremony to officially mark the delivery. The Airbus A320 is the 11th of 13 new A320 aircraft scheduled for purchase directly from Airbus, to be inducted into Allegiant's fleet this year. Previously inducted aircraft have been assembled in Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France and Hamburg, Germany.

This delivery marks another step in Allegiant's planned transition to a single fleet type by the end of 2018. Allegiant currently has a total of 99 Airbus aircraft either in service or committed for future delivery.

Xiamen Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX, expanding the fleet to 200 aircraft

On 22nd May Xiamen Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Seattle, expanding the fleet to 200 aircraft, and, by doing so, formally entering the pantheon of the world's largest airlines.

The 737 MAX is the best-selling civil aircraft in the history of Boeing, featuring excellent performance, flexibility and efficiency. The 737 MAX can offer passengers a more capacious and comfortable flying experience. Equipped with several of the latest technologies, including the winglet and a brand new engine, the aircraft outperforms the previous-generation model in flying performance, environmental protection and reliability.

United Airlines and The Private Suite Create a New Luxury Experience at Los Angeles International Airport

United Airlines and The Private Suite today announced a new relationship, offering the airline's customers access to a newly built, private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Customers who purchase access will enjoy private and personalized check-in and baggage handling as well as private screening by Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. United customers using the new terminal will be driven across the airfield in BMW 7-Series sedans directly to their aircraft. The United-branded lounge at the new terminal includes individual suites and restrooms and features a full bar and top-tier food service.

MH370 Was not a murder-suicide by the pilot, Australian investigators say.

Following speculation, reports, a book and a 60 minutes TV show that purported the pilot of MH370, the plane that went missing on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014, had committed a murder-suicide has been rejected by Australian investigators 

They rejected claims that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was deliberately brought down by the pilot.  The bureau maintains that the pilot was unconscious during the final moments of the flight which took the lives of 239 people. 

Official searches for the wreckage of MH370 was called off last year after 1,046 days, however, others are continuing to seek the final resting place of the ill-fated aircraft. Official searches would only be resumed if new credible evidence is discovered. 

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have said that the plane was out of control when it plunged into the southern Indian Ocean. On Tuesday the ATSB's search director, Peter Foley defended his bureau's findings against supposition and criticism levelled at it n a book by former Canadian air crash investigator Larry Vance. Foley insisted that investigators had explored all the advice and analysis provided.  "We considered every piece of evidence that we had at the time in an unbiased fashion," Mr Foley told a parliamentary hearing in Canberra, adding that he had read Mr Vance's book.  "We have quite a bit of data to tell us that the aircraft if it was being controlled at the end, it wasn't very successfully being controlled," he added.