5 MARCH 2018
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- ON THE SOAPBOX: Glyn Jones, CEO, Stobart Aviation
- Aeroflot signs MC-21 deal
- Air Astana goes daily
- Air Italy on the move
- Delta in guns wrangle
- Egyptair sets CS300 date
- Etihad arrives in Baku
- Farnborough's new centre
- Hong Kong for Virgin Oz
- Lights on at Istanbul
- Lufthansa livery woes
- MH370 search updated
- More no-frills from BA
- New era for inflight internet
- Newquay to Berlin
- Praise for EASA decision
- Principal names the day
- Ryanair Glasgow shock
- Stobart PSO boost
- Ultra Long-Range A350XWB
- Welcome for airfields pledge
- ON TOUR: Britain to Australia non-stop by air
- MARCH CRUISING ISSUE
- AND FINALLY: Alexander who?
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Air Italy on the move
Direct flights between Milan Malpensa and Bangkok have been announced by the newly-formed Air Italy as part of its initial development programme. The four-a-week service starts on 6 September.
Etihad arrives in Baku
The first scheduled flights linking Abu Dhabi and the Azerbaijan capital Baku have been launched by Etihad Airways with the inaugural service on Friday greeted with a water cannon salute.
More no-frills from BA
No-frills fares from British Airways and others across the Atlantic are on the way next month in a new attempt by mainline carriers to combat competition from growing numbers of low-cost airlines.
ON THE SOAPBOX: Glyn Jones, CEO, Stobart Aviation
Among its interests, Stobart Aviation, where Glyn Jones is CEO, is the owner of London Southend Airport. It is an under-used asset, he suggests
Aeroflot signs MC-21 deal
A landmark contract for 50 of the latest Russian-built medium-range aircraft, the MC-21, has been signed between Aeroflot and leasing company Rostec, making the state carrier the largest customer for the state-of-the-art model.
Delta in guns wrangle
America’s gun politics were threatening to engulf airlines at the weekend after a row between Delta Air Lines, the US National Rifle Association (NRA) and the state legislature in Georgia, where the company has its headquarters.
Farnborough's new centre
A 20,000sq m conference and exhibitions centre with room for up to 10,000 delegates and costing £30m has opened for business at the home of the Farnborough International Air Show.
Lufthansa livery woes
Criticism of a new livery introduced by Lufthansa last month has forced the airline to take another look at its decision to change the mainly yellow design to blue. The blue is said to appear black in poor lighting or during the winter.
MH370 search updated
Families in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday marked the fourth anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines’ Flight MH370 as authorities announced the latest search for the missing aircraft was expected to end by mid-June.
New era for inflight internet
A new partnership called the Seamless Air Alliance promising to “usher in a new era of innovation for airlines” has been set up by Airbus, Delta Air Lines, OneWeb, Sprint and Bharti Airtel (Airtel) aiming to make in-flight connectivity as fast, reliable, and cheap as it is on the ground.
Principal names the day
Principal Hotels has set 16 April as the opening date for its latest UK venture as the Principal London, formerly the Hotel Russell, joins its portfolio of “urban lifestyle” properties after an £85m refurbishment.
Ultra Long-Range A350XWB
The first Ultra Long-Range version of the A350 XWB – or A350-900ULR in the preferred Airbus designation – has rolled out of the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse.
Welcome for airfields pledge
General aviation supporters in Parliament have welcomed a pledge from housing, communities and local government secretary Sajid Javid to review planning policies relating to airfields.
ON TOUR: Britain to Australia non-stop by air
On Monday 26 March, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, will take off at lunchtime from Heathrow on a 16hr-plus direct flight to Perth, Western Australia, writes Malcolm Ginsberg. It introduces the first ever scheduled nonstop air service between the UK and the Dominion.
AND FINALLY: Alexander who?
In a goodwill gesture toward neighbouring Greece, Macedonia has renamed its main airport, which bore the name of the ancient warrior king Alexander the Great, as Skopje International.
Air Astana goes daily
Business travel between the UK and Kazakhstan is set for a boost after the central Asia country’s national carrier Air Astana said it would offer daily non-stops between Nazarbayev International airport and Heathrow from 1 June. The company is also planning a stock market launch.
Egyptair sets CS300 date
Initial delivery plans for a new fleet of Bombardier CS300 aircraft for Egyptair have been announced by airline chairman and CEO Safwat Musallam, with the first due to arrive between November this year and next January.
Hong Kong for Virgin Oz
Daily flights between Sydney and Hong Kong are being launched by Virgin Australia from the middle of this year in a further escalation of the battle for business on the lucrative routes to and from Asia.
Lights on at Istanbul
Aviation officials in Turkey celebrated last week as construction of the first runway at Istanbul New Airport (INA), the world’s largest project of its kind, was completed and its 34,183 lights turned on for the first time.
Newquay to Berlin
A strengthening of links with Germany has been unveiled by Cornwall Airport Newquay (CAN) with the airport confirming Eurowings will be adding its fourth German destination this summer.
Praise for EASA decision
Confirmation by prime minister Theresa May last week that UK membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) would be on the table in Brexit talks has been welcomed by Airlines UK, which represents UK-registered carriers.
Ryanair Glasgow shock
The debate over Air Passenger Duty (APD) in Scotland took a major turn last week as Ryanair said it was closing its Glasgow International Airport base from November and cutting the number of routes from 23 to three – Dublin, Wroclaw and Krakow.
Stobart PSO boost
A €13.8m investment has been announced by Stobart Air following the renewal of its contract to operate Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes from Dublin to Kerry and Donegal under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.