Economy Class & Beyond

BA A319 in major incident at Heathrow – ALL SAFE

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A British Airways Airbus A319 (G-EU0E) with flight BA762 from London Heathrow to Oslo suffered apparent engine damage on the right hand engine shortly after takeoff. Image - Sky News After circling, with the aircraft making a success landing back at Heathrow on runway 09L/27R. The flightpath can be seen on FlightAware at … [Read more...]

Flybe defers E-175 deliveries

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Flybe isn't have a great time of it. Apart from selling its slots at Gatwick yesterday, it is now to defer delivery of Embraer E-175 aircraft. The airline will defer delivery 16 aircraft - due for delivery in 2014-15 - to 2017-2019. Delaying delivery will reduce pre-delivery payments by £20 million for the coming winter season. With the sale of the slots and delaying new … [Read more...]

787 Update: Chinese Aviation Authorities certify 787’s, ANA to conduct charter flights

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Back to 787 update as the return to flight of the new Boeing wide body plane continues. First up is the news that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has cleared the 787 for flight - following clearances from other countries who have been following guidance from the United State Federal Aviation Administration. The CAAC will require Chinese operators of the … [Read more...]

Flybe sells Gatwick slots

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It's been speculated in the press (and reported by me here) - and finally it's come to pass that FlyBe has sold its entire slot portfolio at Gatwick Airport Flybe allocation of 25 slots at Gatwick is being sold to EasyJet for £20million. Services by FlyBe will continue to and from London Gatwick until the end 29th March 2014. Flybe blames Gatwick Airport pricing them out … [Read more...]

Oman Air to expand A330 fleet

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Oman Air is slowly building its fleet up of Airbus A330 aircraft, with the airline ordering three Airbus A330-300's. This will push Oman Air's fleet of Airbus A330 to 10 aircraft, split between: - 3 Airbus A330-300's (owned) - 2 Airbus A330-200's (onwed) - 2 Airbus A330-300's (leased) - 3 Airbus A330-300's (on order) The Airbus A330-300 is the playload optimused version of … [Read more...]

Skywest to buy 40 ERJ-175’s for United Express, options for 60 to 160 more

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Skywest has made a decision over its future fleet - and that fleet is to be based on the Embraer E-Jets - specifically, the E-175. Skywest has secured orders for at least 40 aircraft which will be painted up and operated for United Express under a capacity-purchase agreement with United Airlines. This order is separate from the United order for 30 E-175's made at the end of … [Read more...]

Etihad launches a UK Credit Card

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Etihad has been worming around the industry, snapping up bits of airlines, setting up strategic partnerships... and is now seemingly joining the ranks of those who offer credit cards in the United Kingdom with the release of the Etihad Guest Credit Card The card is issued by MBNA (who also issue Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa Miles and More, American Airlines and United Airlines … [Read more...]

Airbus to fly the A350 at Paris? Maybe…..

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According to Reuters, there is a chance that the Airbus A350 could make a surprise turn at the Paris Air Show 2013. The indications are that due to the limited time in the air if it makes it airborn and passes checks is that the Airbus A350 MSN1 will conduct a flypast and not a landing. The confidence in the ranks that the A350 is flight ready is growing, with a predicted … [Read more...]

Mmm. BAcon. Images going live, Videos live “soon”

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As I'm still buried in a mountain of user admin in the office, my take on BAcon (as well as the usual extensive - and I mean extensive) trip report is still in the process of being written.   Photos: Birmingham New Street, EI263 to Dublin - http://www.photoblog.com/kevincm/2013/05/01/aer-lingus-ei263-birmingham-to-dublin.html Dublin Airport, Dublin DAA lounge - … [Read more...]