Italy’s new national airline ‘ITA’ recently replaced and ended the operations of Alitalia. What exactly is this new airline; is it just Alitalia under a new name? In this article, we will detail an overview of Italy’s new flagship carrier and why this decision was made. Alitalia’s decline and the birth of ITA Rome-based airlineContinue reading “What is Italy’s New National Airline ‘ITA’?”
Author Archives: Daniel Luo
Lufthansa Retiring Last MD-11
Last Friday, Lufthansa announced the flights for its final remaining MD-11 freighter. The aircraft, registered D-ALCC, will perform its last flight with Lufthansa on October 15th. D-ALCC will be Lufthansa’s last MD-11 out of a total fleet of 19 throughout the years to leave the airline. For the MD-11’s last couple of flights, Lufthansa hasContinue reading “Lufthansa Retiring Last MD-11”
Alaskan Start-up Airline ‘Northern Pacific’ Secures 6 Boeing 757s
Alaska-based start-up airline Northern Pacific recently acquired 6 ex-American Airlines Boeing 757s from the aircraft leasing company AerSale. Most of the aircrafts are over 20 years of age and were retired in January of last year from American Airlines. One of these 6 Boeing 757-200s, previously registered N206UW, is currently going through extensive checks forContinue reading “Alaskan Start-up Airline ‘Northern Pacific’ Secures 6 Boeing 757s”
Can UV Rays From Flying Hurt You?
When you are souring miles above the surface of the Earth without any cloud cover or protection, can the beaming sunlight from the windows of a plane hurt your skin? Just like a hot summer day on the ground, the strong sunlight from the windows contains UV rays that can cause damage to your skin.Continue reading “Can UV Rays From Flying Hurt You?”
Which Airlines Are Evacuating People From Afghanistan?
As people in Afghanistan scramble to Kabul Airport in a desperate attempt to escape the government takeover of the Taliban, several countries around the world have come together to form a rescue program for the refugees stranded in the unstable country. Countries around the world have chartered aircraft from an array of different airlines toContinue reading “Which Airlines Are Evacuating People From Afghanistan?”
Update: Qatar Airways’ A350 Dispute with Airbus
There have been further developments in Qatar’s A350 situation with Airbus, as the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) issued an official directive for 13 of Qatar Airways’ A350s to remain grounded last Thursday. The 13 grounded Qatar A350s are to remain out of service until a cause and solution can be determined for the surfaceContinue reading “Update: Qatar Airways’ A350 Dispute with Airbus”
The Best Airlines of 2021
As air travel demand continues to rebound in 2021, and as airlines have recovered from the pandemic last year, which airlines have been recognized as the best operators of this year? Airlineratings.com, a website that ranks airlines in many different categories, recently published its annual assessment for the best airlines this year, and to reachContinue reading “The Best Airlines of 2021”
Transair 737 Crashes Off the Coast of Hawaii
This morning, July 2nd, a Transair Boeing 737 aircraft crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff. The plane, a Boeing 737-200 registered N810TA, was operating a daily cargo flight between the Hawaiian islands of Honolulu and Kahului when the incident happened.
United Places Largest Aircraft Order in a Decade
On Tuesday, United Airlines announced the purchase of 270 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus – 200 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 10 aircraft and 70 A321neo aircraft. The MAX 10 and A321 are expected to arrive in 2023, but the MAX 8 planes will start flying this summer. The order will be the largest inContinue reading “United Places Largest Aircraft Order in a Decade”
New Boeing 737 MAX 10 Completes Its First Flight
Last Friday, Boeing’s newest and largest variant of the 737 took flight for the first time. The type, named the Boeing 737 MAX 10, is an extended version of the infamous Boeing 737 MAX 8, a plane that had gained a highly critical public impression following its crashes in 2018 and 2019. The 737 MAXContinue reading “New Boeing 737 MAX 10 Completes Its First Flight”
Iceland’s New Low Cost Carrier “Play Airlines” Reveals Their First Plane
Yesterday, Icelandic startup carrier “Play Airlines” revealed several images of their freshly painted Airbus A321neo registered TF-AEW. The images showed the exterior of the aircraft sporting a vibrant red color with the word “play” written in bold white letters across the fuselage, resembling the conceptual images of the plane released back in 2019. Play AirlinesContinue reading “Iceland’s New Low Cost Carrier “Play Airlines” Reveals Their First Plane”
Supersonic Air Travel Returning: United Orders 15 Supersonic Jets
This Thursday, United Airlines announced a purchase of 15 supersonic jets from the Denver-based start-up company Boom Technology. This news comes 18 years after the retirement of the Concorde and when commercial supersonic air travel was last in service. United’s proposal to buy these hyper-fast jets could finally bring supersonic air travel back into theContinue reading “Supersonic Air Travel Returning: United Orders 15 Supersonic Jets”
Travel Demand Skyrockets This Summer
This summer of 2021, there has been a dramatic uptick in air travel and passenger demand in the aviation industry. Airports are much busier than they initially were at the beginning of the pandemic, and airlines are receiving increasingly more travelers. Parking lots at the airport are filling up with cars, and lines inside theContinue reading “Travel Demand Skyrockets This Summer”
Stratolaunch Plane Flies For the Second Time Ever
On April 29th of last week, Stratolaunch, the world’s largest plane by wingspan, flew for its second time ever. The Stratolaunch plane took off from Mojave Air and Space Port at 10:28 AM and stayed in the air for 3 hours and 14 minutes before returning. It reached a maximum altitude of 14,000 feet andContinue reading “Stratolaunch Plane Flies For the Second Time Ever”
747-300 Returns to the Skies
The least popular variant of the 747 has been unexpectedly brought back into commercial service after being absent for almost 2 years. A few weeks ago, Iranian based carrier “Mahan Air” reactivated one of their old 747-300s after it had been on the ground since 2015. Only 81 747-300s were ever built, and almost allContinue reading “747-300 Returns to the Skies”
Electrical Issues Found on Boeing 737 MAX
As the Boeing 737 MAX planes have been gradually reinstated into service this past year, another problem has emerged with the infamous aircraft. Just a couple of months after the FAA approved of the aircraft’s re-entry into service, Boeing has discovered a production error in several of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and has called forContinue reading “Electrical Issues Found on Boeing 737 MAX”
Why Was the Concorde Retired?
Almost 50 years ago, the first commercial supersonic jet was introduced into the world, revolutionizing air travel and opening a new chapter in the way people flew. Flying at 2 times the speed of sound and faster than the spin of the Earth, Concorde was a peak of innovation in aviation, and it allowed peopleContinue reading “Why Was the Concorde Retired?”
What Are Those Small Holes On Airplane Windows?
If you’ve ever been in an airplane, you might’ve noticed that there’s a small hole in the bottom of your window. If you haven’t noticed it before, look for it next time; it’s on every plane. If you have noticed it before, you might have wondered whether it should be there and whether it wasContinue reading “What Are Those Small Holes On Airplane Windows?”
Which Planes Are Used for Short, Medium, and Long Haul Flights?
Have you ever wondered which type of aircraft you were going to be flying on when travelling? Were you going to fly on a relatively large plane or a small one? The answer depends on the type of route you were travelling on. Aircraft are specifically designed to operate routes of a certain distance, soContinue reading “Which Planes Are Used for Short, Medium, and Long Haul Flights?”
How to Find the Cheapest Airfares
Searching for the cheapest airfares online can be a long and difficult process for many flyers. Finding a cheap price and a good deal for your airfares could take hours of searching and it could impede your travel plans. Whether it’s the cheapest ticket or the most worth-it, almost everyone wishes to find the bestContinue reading “How to Find the Cheapest Airfares”
Why Environmental Activists Broke Into Paris Airport and Painted a Plane Green
Overview Last Friday, a group of nine climate change activists from the organization Greenpeace broke into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and painted an Air France 777-200ER green. The activists scaled the airport fence with ladders early in the morning and were able to gain access to the airport tarmac and vandalize the plane. TheContinue reading “Why Environmental Activists Broke Into Paris Airport and Painted a Plane Green”
FAA Grounds Multiple Boeing 777 Aircraft
Following the engine failure of United’s 777 last week, the FAA has requested an immediate grounding of all Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines. The particular engine comes with hollow fan blades, which are believed to be the cause for the incident last week. The FAA will be conducting thermalContinue reading “FAA Grounds Multiple Boeing 777 Aircraft”
Boeing 777 Engine Explodes Apart Over Denver
This Saturday, a United Airlines flight experienced a severe engine failure shortly after taking off from Denver International Airport. The aircraft was performing flight UA328, a daily scheduled flight from Denver to Honolulu when the accident happened. The aircraft involved was a 26-year-old Boeing 777-200 registered as N772UA; it was the fifth Boeing 777 thatContinue reading “Boeing 777 Engine Explodes Apart Over Denver”
Uncertain Future For The 777x
Background Information Boeing’s latest aircraft, the 777-9x, is part of the new generation of twin-engine widebody jets and was first announced in 2013 in response to the Airbus A350. The flagship aircraft is marketed as the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine aircraft, combining features of the Boeing 787 and iconic Boeing 777. It featuresContinue reading “Uncertain Future For The 777x”
The Pandemic is Diminishing Pilots’ Flying Abilities
Last year, thousands of airline pilots were furloughed and suspended from their jobs due to the novel coronavirus. Many of these employees went through hard times and struggled to make a living during the pandemic last year. With improvements in this new year, numerous airline pilots are finally returning to the skies after a dramaticContinue reading “The Pandemic is Diminishing Pilots’ Flying Abilities”
The 3 Airline Alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, Oneworld
Airline alliances have been around for a couple of decades now, and they have proven to be great marketing strategies for the aviation industry. Airline alliances bring together several different airlines around the world and encourage travelers to fly with these airlines by offering certain perks. This benefits not only the travelers, but also theContinue reading “The 3 Airline Alliances: SkyTeam, Star Alliance, Oneworld”
How Do Pets Travel In Airplanes?
Have you ever wondered where pets go when you bring them on an airplane? If passengers are not allowed to have pets in the main cabin, where do they go? People are usually concerned about several different things, such as the engine noise, temperature, and other factors, when they bring their furry little friends ontoContinue reading “How Do Pets Travel In Airplanes?”
Will Aviation Make a Return in 2021?
With the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine and a possible end to this pandemic in 2021, is the aviation industry finally making a comeback in this new year? The answers are uncertain right now, but in this article, we will try to analyze and predict the future of the aviation industry. Last year, the aviationContinue reading “Will Aviation Make a Return in 2021?”
Saudi Arabia Reopens Borders And Airspace With Qatar
This Monday evening, the nation of Saudi Arabia announced the reopening of its maritime borders and airspace with Qatar, normalizing the tensions between the two countries following a 3-year conflict. This is a major breakthrough and a huge step forward for the two countries. It is a significant event for the aviation industry in bothContinue reading “Saudi Arabia Reopens Borders And Airspace With Qatar”
How Does WIFI Work on a Plane?
Have you ever wondered how WIFI works on a plane? How does a plane have an internet connection thousands of feet up in the sky when even a phone doesn’t have cellular data or any type of service? Furthermore, how is this connection strong enough to accommodate the hundreds of passengers onboard? Internet connection onContinue reading “How Does WIFI Work on a Plane?”
Transportation of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Ever since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, the aviation industry has been playing a critical role in the transportation of this valuable asset. Countries all around the world are in urgent need of this vaccine, and the world is counting on it to put an end to the global pandemic. However, the transportation ofContinue reading “Transportation of the COVID-19 Vaccine”
Spirit Airlines Flight Skids Off Runway in Icy Conditions
Last Thursday on December 17th, 2020, a Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Baltimore skid off the runway due to icy weather conditions. The flight, NK696, was operating a daily service between Las Vegas, Nevada to Baltimore, Maryland with an Airbus A320.The incident occurred just hours after the region was hit by a snowstormContinue reading “Spirit Airlines Flight Skids Off Runway in Icy Conditions”
How Airline Food Has Been Impacted By COVID-19
This year, the airline industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been a tough year in aviation and many things have changed. One particularly interesting change that has occurred this year is the change in the food service of airlines. Food has been a key part of the flying experience, and thisContinue reading “How Airline Food Has Been Impacted By COVID-19”
Why Flying is Safer Than Grocery Shopping During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Yes, that title is correct. Flying is safer than grocery shopping during this global pandemic. How could flying on a plane, the main cause for the spread of COVID-19, be safer than grocery shopping? It may seem unbelievable, but it’s true. Even the thought of flying during the pandemic may terrify many people, but restContinue reading “Why Flying is Safer Than Grocery Shopping During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
