Ask the Pilot
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Emirates first class suite. Author’s photo. January 9, 2018 FOR TWO DECADES NOW, seat-back video has been the standard for inflight entertainment. Passengers the world over have grown accustomed to watching movies and shows on the screen in front of them. As well they should; it’s a fantastic amenity. Ill go so far as to say that its the single greatest advent in onboard service in the past fifty years.
Aerotime
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
A variant of the new Airbus A321XLR, powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, has received type certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). On February 21, 2025, the European aerospace giant announced that, following extensive testing, the path is now clear for the Pratt & Whitney-powered A321XLR to enter service later this year.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
One Mile at a Time
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Hello from Washington, as Im wrapping up my quick trip to Versailles , flying Austrians Boeing 787-9 business class, on the nine-hour flight from Vienna (VIE) to Washington (IAD). I was excited about this flight. Austrian has long been my favorite Lufthansa Group airline in terms of business class soft product, despite the fact that Lufthansa Group kind of treats Austrian as if its second class within the group.
Aerotime
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Delta Air Lines and its regional subsidiary Endeavor Air have defended two pilots against the spread of online disinformation after their experience was called into question on social media. On February 20, 2025, Delta declared that it was correcting disinformation regarding two Endeavor Air pilots who were involved in a serious crash at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada.
Cranky Flier
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Southwest Announces Layoffs Southwest Airlines disclosed the first layoffs in its 53-year history with the carrier cutting about 1,750 corporate and leadership jobs, or roughly 15% of its non-union workforce. Southwest will save about $210 million this year with the cuts, and another $300 next year — but it will be hard to measure what this does to the morale and spirit for those left in the aftermath.
Aerotime
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Boeing has delivered its 100 th 767-300BCF Converted Freighter to the worlds largest operator of the aircraft type, SF Airlines, marking a significant milestone in the projects 17-year history. Boeing confirmed on February 20, 2025, that, to mark the occasion, a special ceremony was held on Valentines Day at the Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company ( GAMECO ) Phase III Hangar in China. “Celebrating the 100th completed 767-300BCF with SF Airlines and GAMECO is a testament to t
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that the confidence of Americans in air travel and the federal agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has reduced by seven percentage points over the last year following the recent American Airlines accident. However, the public still considers air travel to be safe overall.
Aviator Connection brings together the best content for aviator professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
One Mile at a Time
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
American has revealed plans to resume its longest domestic route, which will offer travelers in Chicago a warm winter getaway. Americans Chicago to Honolulu route resumes in late 2025 American has announced a moderate expansion out of Chicago, with the most significant addition being a new route between Chicago (ORD) and Honolulu (HNL). As of October 26, 2025, the airline will operate the route with a Boeing 787-8.
Aerotime
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines has announced that it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy within weeks after a US court approved its recovery plan. On February 20, 2025, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York said that Spirits reorganization plan had been confirmed in its entirety and that the burden of proving the satisfaction of the requirements had been met.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Pratt & Whitney , an RTX Corporation enterprise, and General Electric have completed the first all-detailed design reviews (DDRs) of their XA103 and XA102 adaptive cycle engines (aka variable cycle engines) for the United States Air Force's (USAFs) Next-Gen Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. NGAP is intended to propel, at the bare minimum, the USAFs Next Generation Air Dominance (NBAD) fighter jet.
One Mile at a Time
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
British Airways has been working on improving its lounge network, including renovating lounges that are past their prime. The airline has just unveiled its new lounge at Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and it looks great! New British Airways Lounge SeaTac unveiled British Airways new Seattle lounge has just opened its doors, following an extensive refurbishment.
World Airline News
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Cologne/Toulouse, 21 February 2025 The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued the Type Certificate for the Airbus A321XLR powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. This follows the certification of the CFM LEAP-1A powered A321XLR in July 2024 and paves the way for the first customer aircraft with Pratt & Whitney engines to enter into service later this year.
One Mile at a Time
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Lufthansa has announced changes to its business class catering on short and medium haul flights. These updates are probably mostly positive, though well have to wait until theyre fully rolled out to be sure. Lufthansas new meals on short and medium haul flights As of February 26, 2025, Lufthansa will be introducing new meals in business class on short and medium haul flights.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
In the modern aviation industry, increasingly restrictive baggage allowances mean that passengers have to double and triple-check what they can and cannot bring with them on any given flight, based on the terms and conditions of their ticket. Every airline has its own way of doing things on this front, with Qantas having among the most generous policies.
Fear of Landing
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
On the 17th of February 2025, Delta flight 4819 from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Toronto, Ontario suffered a hard landing and flipped over, bursting into flames. The aircraft was fully loaded with 76 passengers and four crew on board. TSB photograph of the aircraft after the accident One passenger wrote about the experience on Reddit : I felt what seemed like too violent of jerking motions from the wind immediately before landing.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Converting older aircraft from passenger to cargo-carrying platforms has been a great success, often giving new life to aircraft that may otherwise have been headed for the scrapheap. While many aircraft, from turboprops to multi-engine jets, have been converted, one of the most popular platforms has been the Boeing 767, which this week notched up its 100th passenger-to-freighter conversion.
Vintage Aviation News
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Back in August 2023 , we wrote about the Castle Air Museum receiving a McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II that flew with the callsign Vandy 1 as a “Black Bunny” after it spent over 30 years at the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson Arizona. In the year and a half since the Black Bunny made its way from Tucson to Atwater, California, restoration has been steadily underway, with the focus of the project being the removal of the old paint in preparation to sand and repaint
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Wheels Up is a New York City-based on-demand private jet service provider founded in 2013 by Kenny Dichter. The company offers two private flying options to its customers: charter or membership, allowing people to travel to almost any destination in the world conveniently. A range of modern aircraft are available for charter, and customers earn rewards with no upfront costs, all while earning rewards.
Alaska Air
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
For the first time, Hawaiian Airlines employees joined Alaska Airlines in the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, where thousands gathered to watch the festivities. As the title sponsor, Alaska Airlines is honored to celebrate the Year of the Snake and its significance in Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions. The post Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines Unite for a Festive Lunar New Year Celebration in San Francisco appeared first on Alaska Airlines News.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Avelo's first revenue-generating flight was in April 2021, nearly four years ago. Since then, its fleet has grown to 20 aircraft, averaging 16.8 years, meaning they'd be less fuel-efficient and more maintenance-heavy but much cheaper to acquire. They don't have to be used as intensively as newer alternatives. It has 12 189-seat Boeing 737-800s and eight 149-seat 737-700s.
Aerotime
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Co-founder and Principal of Air52 Aviation Consultants, Koen Karsbergen brings over two decades of experience in airline management and strategy to his columns. Through Air52 , Koen assists airlines, airports and industry stakeholders with practical solutions for complex challenges, drawing on his extensive background in feasibility studies, fleet and network planning, and airlinestartups.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Simple Flyings latest podcast is live and ready for you to enjoy! Hosted by Tom Boon , our Managing Editor, alongside Senior Editor Channing Reid , the 248th episode is now available for your listening pleasure.
Vintage Aviation News
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
The North Weald-based C-54 Skymaster has reached the end of the line, as reports confirm that the aircraft has been cut into sections and is being removed from the airfield by truck. In February 2024, the C-54 Skymaster Society and Charitable Trust announced with “a heavy heart and great sadness” that work on the restoration of C-54D 56498 had officially come to an end.
Airline Geeks
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Malaysia Airlines has added a second Airbus A330-900neo aircraft to its fleet this week. The jet is expected to enable additional network opportunities.
AV Web
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Delta Airlines has issued a statement countering what it says are “false and misleading assertions” about the experience and past performance of the pilots of the Endeavor Air CRJ 900 that crashed in Toronto on Feb. 17. Social media and YouTube has exploded with commentary and analysis, some of it centering on the fact that the pilot flying is a 26-year-old woman who graduated from the degree aviation program at the University of North Dakota two years ago.
One Mile at a Time
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
While details are limited as of now, it looks like a Ritz-Carlton safari camp will be opening later this year! Ritz-Carltons first safari camp coming to Africa In April 2023, we saw the opening of the JW Marriott Masai Mara, located in Kenya, which is probably Marriotts most luxurious safari camp to date. If you search Masai Mara on Marriotts website, youll now see another property listed as well the Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp (this was flagged on FlyerTalk ).
Vintage Aviation News
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
By James Kightly, Commissioning Editor In a press release on February 20, 2025, the management of the Nederlands Transport Museum shared the sad news that the museum will be closing on Monday, March 6, having exhausted all avenues over the last two years to attempt to move the collection. They said: “ The curtain falls for the Dutch Transport Museum.
Airline Geeks
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Airbus reported a six percent revenue increase in 2024, delivering 766 commercial aircraft despite supply chain challenges.
Plane and Pilot
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
A Cessna 150. Its almost a tale as old as time. Whether youre an accomplished pilot with thousands of hours or just starting out, chances are youve spent time in a 150. For me, the 150 gave me my first and (so far) only scare with carb ice. Hopefully, your C-150 story is far more enjoyable than that. But back to business. If you havent heard of the story surrounding N22318, a polished cruiser with blue trim and a larger social media following than some of your favorite jokesters, DIYers, and who
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Air Greenland has announced that it will be leasing an Airbus A320neo as part of its expansion plans in advance of the opening of the countrys new international airport in 2026. The new aircraft - which will only be delivered at the end of next year - will serve to reinforce the carriers links to Copenhagen, the Danish capital.
Airline Geeks
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Delta has pushed back on disinformation regarding the qualifications of the Endeavor Air pilots on flight 4819, which crashed on Monday.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
United Airlines is reintroducing a nonstop route between Washington Dulles International Airport t (IAD) and Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) beginning May 22, 2025. This new service marks the return of a connection that United previously operated until 2014, offering travelers a convenient and direct option between the US capital region and New Mexico's largest city.
Airline Geeks
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
The sunburst, a signature element, incorporates a gradient of orange and yellow, evoking a sense of warmth and leisure travel.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
In May 1974, Air France introduced Airbus' first production aircraft, the Airbus A300 , into service. Today, Airbus' flagship airliner is the widebody and efficient Airbus A350. In 2016, Airbus wrote , " The over-four-decade-long Airbus success story is now an achievement that spans 10,000 aircraft from the A300 to the A350 XWB and beyond." And now that number has swelled to around 16,000 aircraft.
Airline Geeks
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
A Delta passenger has filed one of the first lawsuits against the carrier following a flight that crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.
Simple Flying
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Spirit Airlines expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the coming weeks after its plan of reorganization was confirmed by a US bankruptcy court. The airline will exit bankruptcy in a take-private deal that gives its major bondholders control of the company.
Aviation Bussiness News
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
The Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group has reported a 9.7% jump in cargo revenue to $54 million for Q3 FY2024/2025, fuelled by surging e-commerce shipments, increased freighter charters, and higher perishables traffic. Cargo volumes rose 14.6%, outpacing a 12.8% increase in capacity, while load factor edged up to 56.4%. However, yields dipped 4.5% amid intensifying competition.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
Let's personalize your content