When will passenger Boeing 747s finally retire?
When will passenger Boeing 747s finally retire? The “Queen of the Skies” is in her twilight years. Boeing has built over 1,500 Jumbo Jets since the type’s first flight in 1969, but now fewer than 200 remain in passenger service. And that number is set to dwindle rapidly over the next few years as older […]
When will the Boeing KC-46 enter service?
When will the Boeing KC-46 enter service? Boeing yesterday handed over the first Boeing KC-46 Pegasus air-to-air refuelling aircraft to the United States Air Force (USAF). However, the USAF is withholding full payment due to ongoing issues with the new aircraft. These include problems associated with refuelling the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II, the air force’s […]
Air France closing “difficult to understand” subsidiary Joon
Air France is closing its “difficult to understand” subsidiary Joon. First rule when creating a new product is probably “know your market”. When Air France launched Joon in 2017 it said the airline’s name was a take on “jeune”, French for “young”. Its target base was supposed to be millennials and it seemed deliberately designed […]
British Airways retro jet and £100 flight offer
Many aircraft enthusiasts have been hoping for a British Airways retro jet and as part of its 100th anniversary this year, BA is finally going to make that dream come true. There is also a limited time special GBP100 flight offer. The flight offer only runs from 21-24 January, so I’ll deal with that first. […]
A visit to Oslo Gardermoen airport and the SAS Museum
Brrrr. There are probably better times of the year to visit Oslo Gardermoen airport and the SAS Museum, but I chose to go in early January. It was only -10 Celsius. And there was just a few feet of snow on the ground. So, what brought me here at an inhospitable time of year? A […]
Is Aer Lingus new livery copying its partners?
Is Aer Lingus copying it’s IAG and Oneworld alliance partners with its new livery? You’d be forgiven for thinking so. Aer Lingus’ existing livery has been around since the mid-90s so it’s perfectly understandable the company has opted for a brand refresh. But, in my view, it’s gone from having a distinctive livery that stands […]
Zurich Airport observation deck – a day out
The Zurich Airport observation deck is one of only a handful of public viewing terraces at major international airports in Europe. And, in my view, it’s one of the best. Officially known as “Observation Deck B” or “Zuschauerterasse” it’s situated on top of one of the piers of Zurich airport’s Terminal B with an entrance […]
Embraer EJet models – which airline?
The past two decades have seen the market for airliners with more than 120 seats come to be dominated by Airbus and Boeing. In the sector below a name from another continent dominates – Brazil’s Embraer. Initially producing small turboprop airliners, the EMB 110 Bandeirante and EMB 120 Brasilia, Embraer entered the jet market in […]
ANA Airbus A380 models – Hawaiian turtles
ANA, or All Nippon Airways to us old timers, saw the roll-out of its first Airbus A380 from the manufacturer’s Hamburg paint shop last month, December 2018. Airbus employees took 21 days to paint the 3,600m² fuselage surface. The elaborate design was chosen from 2,197 entries in a competition held by the airline. Hawaiian sea […]
Boeing 747 models – which airline?
There is perhaps no better known shape in the sky. Four big turbofans and that classic forward hump – it can only be the Boeing 747. Introduced in 1969, the first widebody airliner was a hit with passengers with its wide roomy cabins. Nicknamed ‘The Jumbo’, it increased capacity on long-haul routes and helped to […]