A Boeing 737-200 cargo plane made an emergency landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii, prompting a maritime rescue mission. Pilots Rescued In Ocean After 737 Emergency Landing Off Coast of Hawaii Transair Flight 810 left...
American Airlines Tells Flight Attendants: Stop Locking 787 Window Dimmers
American Airlines has told flight attendants to stop locking 787 window dimmers. Thank you American for instructing your crews to stop prohibiting passengers from being able to look out their window, a move which parallels instructions United Airlines has...
First Impressions: Turkish Airlines A350-900 Business Class
Earlier this week I had the chance to fly a Turkish Airlines A350 in business class. Although the journey was short, I had an excellent flight and was happy to see that Turkish Airlines has restored much of its...
Which Business Class Seat Will Lufthansa Use On 787? (Six Options)
Lufthansa increased its Boeing 787 order from 20 to 25 yesterday and accelerated the delivery schedule, which will begin later this year. Today, it indicated it will use an “intermediate” business class seat on its 787, not the business...
New Lufthansa Aircraft Order Assures Death Of A380
I’ve been secretly holding out hope that sufficient demand will return such that Lufthansa, against all odds, will be bring back the A380 into service. But with its latest aircraft order, that possibility becomes even more unlikely. Lufthansa Orders...
747-300 Returns To Passenger Service
Iranian carrier Mahan Air has re-activated its Boeing 747-300, becoming the only carrier in the world to utilize that variant of the Queen of the Skies for passenger service. Mahan Air Activates 747-300 Per Sam Chui, Mahan Air has...
Qatar Airways CEO: “There Is No Future For A380”
Sam Chui recently sat down with H.E. Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways. The interview touched on many topics, but discussion on the future of the A380 caught my attention. Al Baker is clear: he sees no...
777-200s Retired on JAL While United Activates 767-400s
With Boeing 777-200s featuring Pratt & Whitney engines still grounded worldwide, JAL has opted to simply retire them a year ahead of schedule while United Airlines is flying them to storage and re-activating the 767-400. Which Airlines Fly 777-200...
How China Airlines Said Goodbye To Boeing 747
After 45 years of gracing the sky for China Airlines, the Taiwanese airline has completed its final Boeing 747 flight…to nowhere. Final China Airlines 747 Flight Last autumn, I noted that China Airlines would retire its 747 passenger fleet...
FAA Grounds 777s, Orders Thermal Inspections
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has grounded a number of Boeing 777 aircraft which use Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines and ordered thermal imaging inspections to check for stress cracks. FAA Grounds 777 – Orders Thermal Inspections In an...
Boeing Recommends Immediate Grounding Of Over 120 Boeing 777-200s
Responding to the United Airlines 777-200 Pratt & Whitney engine incident that occurred over the weekend, Boeing now recommends that all 777 operators with such engines to suspend operations while an investigation is performed. The announcement comes after Japan...
United Airlines Grounds Boeing 777-200s With Pratt & Whitney Engines
Following an engine failure on Saturday, United Airlines has temporarily suspended all of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft featuring Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines. United Airlines Grounds 777-200 Subfleet With Pratt & Whitney Engines On Saturday, a United Airlines...
UPDATE: Airbus Downplays Composite Cracks On A350
Yesterday, I noted a report suggesting composite cracks had been discovered on a Qatar Airways A350. Now Airbus has refuted that report and claimed the A350 fuselage cracking was “superficial” and “cosmetic” in nature. Airbus: No Composite Cracks On...
Uh-Oh: Qatar Airways Reportedly Finds Cracks On A350 Composite Fuselage
Composite cracks were reportedly found on the fuselage of a four-year old Qatar Airways Airbus A350-900 undergoing a new paint job in Ireland. A stabilizer issue was also discovered. It will now be ferried to Airbus headquarters for further...
A Royal Experience In SAS A350 Business Class
A long-time Award Expert client and friend recently returned home from Europe and had the great fortune of having the entire business class cabin to himself onboard a brand new SAS A350-900 in business class. When we booked his...
Want A Truly Flexible Ticket? Book A Boeing 737 MAX
Now that the Boeing 737 MAX has been “ungrounded” in the United States, airlines have the tall task of getting people to fly on it. All three U.S. operators have assured customers they have flexible options if they do...
Another Carrier Announces Retirement Of Boeing 747
This has been a bad year for the Boeing 747. As the pandemic has made larger, four-engine aircraft less attractive, carriers have accelerated retirement plans for the Queen of the Skies. Now another airline, China Airlines, has indicated it...
British Airways Defends Its Decision To Retire 747
British Airways abruptly retired its fleet of Boeing 747-400 aircraft over the summer, blaming COVID-19. But the newly-installed CEO now touts the decision as a huge boost to British Airways’ sustainability efforts. British Airways Defends 747 Retirement Speaking at...
Details: Final Boeing 777 Flight On Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines surprised many of us by announcing the early retirement of its entire Boeing 777 fleet due to the pandemic. Now the final Delta 777 flight has been penciled in for the last day of this month....
747 Wins Fat Bear Week In Alaska
As we close the week, a bit of humor…I think we all need it. Our story takes us to Alaska, where a very fat bear, aptly called 747, has just won a very special honor. 747 Grizzly Bear Wins...