Economy Class & Beyond

ANA prepares to resume 787 flights

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All Nippon Airlines is gearing up for flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner again. According to the airline: We have decided to resume the operation of our Boeing 787 fleet from  1 June 2013, after assuring first that required improvements are  undertaken and that the safety of the aircraft is fully secured. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern caused by … [Read more...]

Qatar Airways to launch Doha to Philadelphia

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Qatar Airways will be launching a route from Doha to Philadelphia. This will be first route that connects the Gulf region directly from Philadelphia to commence in 2014 with a daily service. Exact detail below: QR727 DEPART DOH 0:100 ARRIVE PHL 07:50 PHL 77W D QR728 DEPART PHL 10:40 ARRIVE DOH 06:15+1DOH 77W D Commences 02 April 2014 Operates Daily Booked … [Read more...]

Japan Airlines firms up 787 route relaunches

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Japan Airlines is on track it seems with its 787 fleet testing as it confirms the routes that are to resume/commence on the 1st June. In addition, JAL will have a second crack of launching the the Narita-Helsinki route due on the 1st July which was suspended initially due the the 787 grounding. The Japan Airlines 787 route list looks like this: From 1st June - Tokyo Narita … [Read more...]

Bombardier CSeries moves closer to first flight

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One jet I haven't talked much about is the upcoming Bombardier CSeries aircraft. The CSeries is going to be the next step up from the CRJ series of aircraft, with a design that would hold from 110 to 150 people in an aircraft. The first unit will be the CS100, with capacity for 110-125 passengers. The plane would be powered by 2 Pratt and Whitney PW 1500G Geared Turbofan … [Read more...]

Etihad switches to Boeing 777-300ER for New York Service

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Etihad will be changing their deployment from Abu Dhabi to New York JFK, shifting from A340-500 operation to Boeing 777-300ER's flying the route. The daily from 1st June 2013 with 777-300 equipment configured as: - 8 Diamond First Class seats - 40 Pearl Business Class seats - 280 Coral Economy Class seats As well as all the usual onboard amenities, the plane will feature … [Read more...]

SAS to dispose of Wideroe

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In an attempt to shore up cash, Scandinavian Airline Systems is to dispose most of its Wideroe unit. 80% of the shares are to be sold to a group of investors, with an option to sell the final 20% of Wideroe in 2016. For SAS it's the best of both worlds - it gets the cash from the sale, whilst maintaining links with Wideroe to provide regional services. The sale is valued … [Read more...]

Boeing moves closer to launching the 777X

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The Boeing 777 is one of the most successful selling commercial long haul airliners out there with it's 777-200/200ER/200LR and its 777-300/300ER models. Well it seems Boeing is preparing to release to market a new plane - the 777X, with the manufacturer now authorised to offer the 777X to airlines and leasing companies. This is the last step before a formal launch … [Read more...]

Lufthansa strike threat ebbs away

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It seems the threat of another Lufthansa strike is ebbing away as the airline has managed to agree a deal with the German trade union "Verdi" Employees of Lufthansa Technik and Lufthasa Cargo will get a 4.7% rise, whilst those employed under Lufthansa AG will get a 3.0% rise. The deal struck will run for 26 months, and will exculde layoffs. It will be voted on by Verdi … [Read more...]

Commerical 787 services recommences, Airlines firm up restarts of flights

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Ethiopian Airlines flight ET801 became the first commercial flight operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to take to the air since the grounding of fleet on the 16th January, operating between Addis Ababa and Nairobi - a 2 hour flight. From there, there has been a spate of annoucements, Boeing PR trips, and confirmations when airlines intend to fly the 787 again. Here's a … [Read more...]

FAA issues an airworthiness directive for the 787

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It seems the groundings of the 787 fleet is beginning to lift after the US Federal Aviation Administration cleared the class for flight with a formal air worthiness directive with the replacement of the battery systems. Japan's regulators have followed the FAA, allowing All Nippon Airlines and Japan Airlines to release aircraft to testing after replacement systems are … [Read more...]