Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond (5th July)

It’s time to Metal out in Birmingham as Black Sabbath and friends are in town for their final gig. But it’s also Saturday night, so it’s also time for Last Week at Economy Class and Beyond.

Among one of many headliners in Birmingham this weekend – The Black Sabbath Mural, Navigation Street, Birmingham. Mural by Mr Murals.

New Aircraft News

• Qantas takes delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR – with a one-stop flight to Sydney via Bangkok.
• Mexicana takes delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2 – A new aircraft for the Mexican state carrier
• Scandinavian Airlines signs for up to 55 Embraer E2 EJets – A major expansion for the regional fleet
• Air Algérie signs for 16 ATR72-600 aircraft – Although the division they’re allocated to has the most inspired name ever, “Domestic Airlines)
• Malaysia Airlines Group to add 20 extra Airbus A330neos to its fleet – And two weeks after a major air show, Airbus scoops a massive A330neo order. Delightful

The Business of Aviation

• Oman Air joins oneworld alliance – The third Middle Eastern hub for oneworld
• Air France-KLM Group to take a majority ownership in SAS Group – Air France-KLM Group go all Borg. ‘Till all are at least three airline groups (to paraphrase that child trauma film – Transformers: The Movie)

Routes and Networks

• LEVEL sets out its increased Winter 25/26 flight programme – And there’s a lot of capacity going in
• Etihad Airways adds seasonal flights to Krakow, Poland and Salalah, Oman – Seaonal capacity for these two cities
• Turkish Airlines to launch services to London Stansted – Filling up its stamp-book collection of London airports…

Passenger Experience

• Emirates expands its Premium Economy/Retrofitted Aircraft rollout, with further route expansions – More premium economy seats for booking

Multi-Modal Connectivity and Railways

• “Velvet Trains” rolls out – Private High-Speed Competition in France – I’m not sure which is better “Proxima Trains” or “Velvet Trains… But competition is on the way for SNCF in private form.
• West Coast Open Access Rail requests… denied! – With three very disappointed companies too

Pretty Pictures

• Air France Airbus A220-300 landing at London Heathrow Airport

Next Week

The Aston lads did good. Art by Mr Murals.

As Birmingham calms down from a busy weekend (with Cricket, ELO, Black Sabbath and Friends and the Colmore Food Festival), we’re heading deep into July.

With things with me in their current state (see last week’s commentary), I’m in the mood to jump on an aircraft somewhere. Not sure where… but who knows where my points or credit card can send me on short notice.

On top of my scheming ways to keep sane, I’ll have news, views and anything else that crosses my mind and keyboard.

Until then, Happy Landings… and stay Paranoid.