It’s time to dive into the year in review, and pick out some highlights, lowlights and everywhere in between in the year. This time, we’re going back in time to May, through to the end of August.
Like the weekly updates, I’ve gone through some of the choicer articles
May
Not so long now for the Qantas Boeing 747 fleet…
- KLM to offer Douwe Egberts coffee on their services – I’m no coffee addict, but this can only be a good thing for the state of coffee in the air.
- Qantas begins the long goodbye to the Boeing 747 – And has four aircraft left in the 747 fleet
- Norwegian to expand London Gatwick to New York JFK service – Not that they could run the service to time without getting extra lift in…
- American Airlines sign for 15 Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft – More Bombardier Aircraft to join the regional fleets
- American Airlines signs for 15 more Embraer E-175 – And some Embraers to match.
- Lufthansa Group opens the cheque book, goes shopping for small batches of new aircraft – Always remember to check what’s in your cart before pressing buy…
- Japan Airlines to set up an International Low Cost Carrier… – Just in time for Tokyo 2020.
- Goodbye Virgin Trains East Coast – Hello London North Eastern Railway (LNER) – So long Virgin East Coast…
- British Airways opens the new Aberdeen Airport Lounge – Another new BA lounge to the network.
- Acro Seating announces first delivery the Series 7 Seat with Primera Air – We’re nowhere near the end of the Primera Air. Hang on though…
- SIngapore Airlines to fold in SilkAir into its brand, plans re-fit – It was only a matter of time before Singapore Airlines decided to fold in its Silk Air Unit, and leave Scoot to the marginal destinations.
- “Smart Luggage” companies BlueSmart and Raden shutter their doors – If you’re honestly surprised after the IATA rule changes, press 1.
- FlyBe to drop larger Embraer E-195s, focuses on Bombardier Q400 – And this wasn’t the end of flyBe’s troubles.
- Lufthansa Group to introduce “Light” fares on North American Routes – Basic is as basic does.
- Qatar Airways returns to Gatwick Airport – It’s what happens when you can’t get slots at Heathrow.
- airBaltic sign on for up to 60 Bombardier C Series Aircraft – airBaltic becomes a solid A220 customer.
- Lufthansa and Airbus firms up additional aircraft options – Another dribble for Airbus.
June
- Fiji Airways joins oneworld as a oneworld Connect partner…. eh? – An interesting concept. Who else will join next?
- Primera Air suspends long haul Birmingham services for summer 2018 – Ahh. And so Primera Air’s fall begins ever so slowly.
- Akbar Al Baker Apologises after his IATA comments – Blames media for sensationalising – And I still think he’s a <deleted by editor>.
- Westjet signs for Recaro seating – both long and short haul – And they’re the good Recaro seats
- LOT Polish Airlines to add Warsaw to London City Airport – London City Airport has never had it to good.
- Airbus takes its A330neo onto route proving flights – TIme for Airbus to take its new widebody out for a spin.
- Delta to Order 20 Bombardier CRJ-900, launches ATMOSPHÈRE cabin – New Cabins are always welcome – even on a regional jet.
- United to drop Stroopwaffles, switches to Maple Wafer Cookies… – Who else wants Stroopwafles back?
- Aegean Airlines firms up order for 30 Airbus A320neo family aircraft – More Neos, less problems.
- Bamboo Airways sign for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners… but who are they? – This will explain who Bamboo are…
- Virgin Atlantic to suspend London-Dubai Route – Seems Virgin Atlantic is retreating from some east bound routes…
- LEVEL goes shorthaul from Vienna – The LEVEL model changes and adapt. But how?
- Norwegian picks the Recaro BL3710…. and it’s going to be *TIGHT* – The BL3710 is finally live. It’s still a good seat – but avoid the front row and exit rows…
Norwegian/Recaro BL3710 in production – Image, Norwegian.
- Airbus unvelies its first BelugaXL – The new generation of Airbus Supercarrier.
The Airbus Beluga XL – Image, Airbus.
July
- Boeing and Embraer announce Strategic Aerospace Partnership – And thus the industry consolidates further.
- Airbus rebrands the C Series as… the Airbus A220 – And I still type it as C Series when editing articles…
- JetBlue kicks off the Airbus A220 party – And Airbus secures an order from JetBlue too.
- Vistara prepares for international expansion – lodges orders with Airbus and Boeing – Looking beyond the domestic Indian Market
- Singapore Airlines prepares to Los Angeles direct service, adds direct San Francisco services – All with the Airbus A350ULR
- Air France, KLM, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines form a single joint venture – And China Southern drops a bombshell later in the year.
- Etihad to offer more buy-on-board options – Everything is for sale!
- Cathay Pacific to launch Hong Kong – Seattle Route – Because using an Airbus to Boeing’s home state isn’t a finger in the air – it’s all about capacity management
- The Airbus BelugaXL takes to the skies – Why yes, it can fly too.
- Emirates rounds out services to France, adds more Lyon and Paris services – Or how to annoy Air France in a single move.
- Qatar Airways adds Gothenburg to its network – More expansion for the Qatari carrier.
- The Battle for Vienna: Wizz Air moves forwards new services – With LaudaMotion and LEVEL circling, Wizz Air prepares to attack.
- Singapore Airlines first Airbus A350-900ULR gets its colours – and looks good for it.
- Delta to roll out the Delta One Suite/Delta Premium Select on five Transpacific routes – Because if you have a business class seat, you need to slap a door on it.
August
- Lufthansa’s first A320neo in “Lufthansa Blue” – It’s dull dah dah dee dah dah dah…
Remember this lot? – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
- Primera Air throws in the towel at Birmingham Airport – And thus, the meltdown continues…
- The 90 seater Bombardier Q400 gains certification – Yes, you can squeeze 90 people aboard a Dash 8 Q400. Although that wasn’t the biggest Q400 story of the year. At all
- Shenzhen Airlines opt for Recaro seating for their shorthual aircraft – Slimline and comfortable seats from nose to tail
- Virgin Atlantic tries to placate the border queues – Well, it’s something. But sort the border out first please…
- Delta continues its IFE push with seat-back screens – Where others are turning their backs, Delta pushes forward with IFE equipment on planes.
- Air China signs for Recaro CL3710 long haul seats in Economy Class – A good long haul seat for the airline
- British Airways pulls Tehran… Again – and they won’t be the last pulling out of the area
- Air Canada detects intrusion attempt – all users to change their passwords – not the last data loss of the year … by any means.
- Virgin Australia signs for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 – Pop a 737 on the barbie please.
MTR Vibrant Express / MTR CRH380A Train – Image, MTR
- Hong Kong High Speed Rail Link to China starts 23rd September – All aboard the Vibrant Express!
- ANA’s first Airbus A380 breaks cover … but not with its signature paintwork yet.
Real World
- TRIP REPORT: Examining the new at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 – With FlyBe
- Funny and informative? The Brussels Airlines safety video – And yes. I still think it’s damn good.
- Does Ryanair give adequate warning about it’s luggage policy? – Hint: Yes.
- SNAPSHOT: Brussels Airlines Brussels to Lisbon featuring the AeroSmurf – It’s cute.
- SNAPSHOT: Ryanair 8513 Porto to Birmingham – The flight wasn’t 50p. Not by a long shot.
- SNAPSHOT: Eurostar 9114 London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal – Train…
- SNAPSHOT: British Airways 441 Amsterdam Schiphol to London Heathrow (EuroTraveller)… vs plane.
- TRIP REPORT: Europe: Start voting now! To Eurovision 2018 (Lisbon) with Brussels Airlines, Comboios de Portugal and Ryanair
- “Is 10 across seating spacious in Economy Class?” – Hint. No.
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- It’s STILL about Community – Why I fly – Communities are everything
- Train vs Plane – The London to Amsterdam Edition!
- OPINION: Is it time to let Alitalia just fade into history? – Italians are so married to the airline. But seriously – should we let it go?
- TRIP REPORT: Donuts on the Mound 2 – The Second Bite! With Aer Lingus
- Alex Cruz tears into UK Border wait times – Form a queue please Alex…. – But yes. Form a queue. I got there first.
- Dear Airport User Experience designers. Fix this. Please – Simple fixes are the best. Especially when you’re in an airport and are time-constrained.
- The Dublin US Pre-Clearance Experience – Room for improvement? – Earlier opening times are desperately needed.
- SNAPSHOT: Aer Lingus EI273 – Birmingham to Dublin
In the next part of the review, we’ll take a look at September, October, November and December
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