Aerotime

JANUARY 13, 2025

The team at Boom Supersonic are determining whether a 12 th test flight of its XB-1 demonstrator is needed before undertaking its first attempt at breaking the speed barrier. On January 10, 2025, XB-1 reached speeds of Mach 0.95 during a 44-minute flight over the Mojave Desert with Chief Test Pilot Tristan Geppetto Brandenburg at the controls. The 11 th XB-1 test flight also saw the aircraft climb to 29,481 feet as it closes in on supersonic speeds.

Approach 362

Approach Knot Pilot 362

Cranky Flier

APRIL 10, 2025

The end of Mesa has finally arrived, and lucky for the airline, it was the rosier situation that prevailed. Instead of failing outright, Mesa has now been bought. No doubt many a United customer is now celebrating this turn of events. Republic is the winner, and that means that outside of wholly-owned regionals, there are really only two major regional carriers of note left: SkyWest and Republic.

Airlines 260

Airlines Airline Pilot 260

Aerotime

APRIL 21, 2025

Space exploration is not usually among the topics that come to mind when thinking about Switzerland. This Alpine nation is most often associated with its mountain landscapes, cheese and love for precision clockwork. However, in late 2024, Starlab Space, a Houston-based joint venture developing a next-generation space station, selected it as the location of its European hub.

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Payload Cargo Approach 311

Aerotime

MAY 4, 2025

Travelers flying with easyJet through Gatwick Airport (LGW) in May and June should prepare for severe flight disruptions. Refueling staff and ground workers are planning coordinated strike actions that could impact over 70% of the airlines daily operations from the airport. easyJet operates more than half of all departures from Gatwick, making it the largest airline at the UKs second-busiest airport.

Airlines 322

Airlines Airline 322

Aerotime

APRIL 28, 2025

Widespread travel chaos is unfolding at airports across the Iberian Peninsula as power networks across Spain and Portugal have failed, bringing both countries to a standstill. Not only is aviation affected, with public transport and transport infrastructure, domestic and commercial customers, and widespread access to the internet all said to be significantly affected by the outage.

Airlines 338

Airlines Airline 338

Aerotime

MAY 30, 2025

In an announcement on May 29, 2025, JetBlue and United Airlines have declared that they are entering into a comprehensive partnership that will see both airlines cooperating closely across a number of fields. One aspect of this agreement that will have an immediate and tangible effect on passengers is the fact that both airlines will be linking their respective loyalty programs.

Airlines 283

Airlines Airline 283

Aerotime

MARCH 11, 2025

The Air France-KLM Group has reportedly tabled an offer of 300 million ($330 million) to take a controlling stake in Spanish carrier Air Europa. The move places the Franco-Dutch airline consortium in the running to take control of the Spanish airline with Germanys Lufthansa Group, which until now, had been considered as the clear favorite to take a majority shareholding in the Madrid-based airline.

Stability 326

Stability Airlines Airline 326

Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

The automatic pilot (autopilot) has to be one of aviations finest technological inventions. Yet, it is also one of the earliest, having been introduced (in its most rudimentary form) in 1912, just nine years after the Wright Brothers first took to the air in their powered Wright Flyer in 1903. Since those early days, the autopilot has developed enormously, both in terms of capabilities and functionality.

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Weight-Shift-Control Cockpit Pilot Stability 303

Aerotime

JUNE 20, 2025

A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 sustained damage after its right wing tip struck a ground structure at an airport in Greece. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew onboard the aircraft, which was able to return to service immediately following the mishap. Ryanair flight FR6080 departed from London-Stansted Airport (STN) at 09:00 on the morning of June 19, 2025.

Drag 307

Drag Turbulence Runway Airlines 307

Aerotime

MAY 26, 2025

December 2025 will mark the 24th anniversary since the last ever flight operated by the one-time great American icon of commercial aviation, TWA, or Trans World Airlines, to give the carrier its full name. Having held a dominant position on routes across the Atlantic for decades, the airline became synonymous with transatlantic glamour and the epitome of long-haul travel by air.

Turbulence 285

Turbulence Jet Airlines Airline 285

Aerotime

JANUARY 10, 2025

Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Avolon has published a new market outlook report , predicting that the global airline industry will reach US$1 trillion in revenue for the first time ever during 2025. According to this analysis, the main driver behind this growth is the Asia-Pacific region, which will be adding more capacity than all other regions of the world combined.

Airlines 291

Airlines Airline 291

Aerotime

APRIL 18, 2025

On April 17, 2025, Istanbul Airport (IST) conducted a triple independent take-off, the first time this feat has been achieved in Europe. It was undertaken by three Turkish Airlines aircraft which departed Istanbul at the exact same time, using each one of the three parallel runways. Trkiye's Istanbul Airport launches simultaneous operation on three runways, recorded by Flightradar24 1⃣ Istanbul Airport becomes the 1st airport in Europe and the 2nd in the world to launch such an operat

Runway 326

Runway Airlines Airline 326

Aerotime

JUNE 3, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines is eyeing up a possible double-digit order for regional jets with Airbus, Boeing and Embraer all in the running for the potentially lucrative deal. The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew Bekele, spoke to Reuters at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) where he confirmed the carrier was considering at least 20 regional or small jets.

Airlines 303

Airlines Airline Jet Airplanes 303

Aerotime

JANUARY 28, 2025

Boom Supersonics XB-1 demonstrator became the first manned civilian aircraft to break the sound barrier since the end of the Concorde era. The aircraft took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port (MHV), California, at 8.22am local time on January 28, 2025, and headed towards a reserved airspace section over the Mojave Desert which had been previously approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the purpose of this test.

Pilot 322

Pilot Jet Airlines Airline 322

Aerotime

JUNE 19, 2025

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has raised serious concerns over CFM International LEAP-1B engines used to power Boeing 737 MAXs. On June 18, 2025, the NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation over fears that smoke could enter the cockpit or cabin of aircraft equipped with LEAP-1B engines. The safety agency also issued additional recommendations to evaluate the potential for the same issue with LEAP-1A and -1C engines.

Jet 308

Jet Cockpit Flight Deck Airplanes 308

Aerotime

APRIL 24, 2025

Generally speaking, any commercial flight these days that exceeds ten hours (or so) is considered long, or at least certainly long-haul. Some of the longest airline flights operating today exceed even that length, with some lasting anything up to 17 or 18 hours flying time. Yet, as long as these flights may be, they are not even in contention for the accolade of the worlds longest-ever commercial passenger air service in terms of duration.

Payload 283

Payload Runway Airlines Airline 283

Aerotime

APRIL 15, 2025

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has confirmed that it will be reintroducing business class on its European flights, starting October 1, 2025. The intention had previously been announced by SAS Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Verhagen, in September 2024 during a media event in Copenhagen celebrating the Scandinavian carriers accession to SkyTeam. Although SAS offers business class on its long-haul flights to the United States and Asia, this is not the case on its European network, where the most prem

Airlines 289

Airlines Airline 289

Aerotime

JUNE 12, 2025

Embraer has forecasted that there will be 10,500 orders for new jets and turboprops over the next 20 years, estimating that the total value of these orders could hit US$680 billion. Embraer released its Market Outlook 2025 , which is its annual 20-year forecast for commercial aircraft deliveries in the sub-150-seat category, on June 12, 2025, ahead of the upcoming Paris Air Show.

Jet 273

Jet 273

Aerotime

APRIL 25, 2025

Korean Air, the national airline of South Korea, has reintroduced its Boeing 747-8i fleet onto the carriers nonstop route from Seoul to Atlanta in the US, making it the longest route flown by a passenger-configured Boeing 747 by distance. The reintroduction of the type onto this particular route for the summer of 2025 sees the airline steal the crown for this accolade from German carrier Lufthansa, which was the holder until April 25, 2025, when the Seoul-based carrier brought its jumbos back to

Airlines 297

Airlines Airline 297

Aerotime

APRIL 13, 2025

A penguin which was being transported in the cabin of a Robinson R44 Raven II (registration ZS-RJC) has been, indirectly, blamed for the helicopters crash in South Africa, on January 19, 2025. According to a report issued on April 5, 2025, by the South African civil aviation authority (SACAA) , the helicopter went down due to an unsecured carboard box, in the penguin was being transported, sliding on the cyclic pitch control lever and causing an unexpected roll to the right from which the helico

Cockpit 318

Cockpit Pilot 318

Aerotime

JANUARY 8, 2025

On January 7, 2025, airBaltic announced that it had successfully conducted a certification test flight of its new SpaceX’s Starlink internet connectivity on one of its Airbus A220-300 aircraft. This flight, which departed and landed at the airlines main base in Riga, Latvia (RIX), is one of the necessary steps required in order to obtain the required certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Airlines 303

Airlines Airline 303

Aerotime

FEBRUARY 17, 2025

A Delta Connection flight operating from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), United States, to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Canada, encountered an incident upon landing, prompting an emergency response at the airport. The flight, DL4819, was operated by an Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJ900, registered N932XJ, on behalf of Delta Air Lines.

Runway 318

Runway Airlines Airline 318

Aerotime

FEBRUARY 4, 2025

South Korea is set to completely rebuild its aviation safety system after recent aviation accidents in the country, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced. On February 4, 2025, MOLIT revealed plans to create an Aviation Safety Innovation Committee, which will include around 20 private experts aimed at improving safety in the aviation industry.

Runway 289

Runway Pilot Airlines Airline 289

Aerotime

JANUARY 2, 2025

Latvian-based carrier airBaltic has announced the cancellation of 4,670 flights from all its bases for the summer season of 2025. The decision is due to unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance by its supplier Pratt & Whitney, the carrier announced in a press release published on January 2, 2025. airBaltic said the engine manufacturers inability to meet its timely maintenance obligations has impacted the operational capabilities of the airlines Airbus A220-300 fleet.

Airlines 291

Airlines Airline 291

Aerotime

JANUARY 17, 2025

AeroTime is excited to welcome Christian Charalambous as a guest columnist. A pilot operating Boeing 767s on global routes and a consultant leveraging his extensive aviation and technology expertise, Christian also holds a First-Class Honours degree in Air Transport Operations plus a masters degree in Blockchain. In his columns, he explores the modern challenges and innovative technologies that are shaping the future of flight.

Weather 283

Weather Approach Pilot Aviation Technology 283

Aerotime

APRIL 3, 2025

Wizz Air announced on April 3, 2025, that it will be investing 14 billion over the next three years to enhance the customer experience it provides to its passengers. This plan, called Customer First Compass, aims to be comprehensive in its scope, covering four major customer touchpoints: product, price, service and communications. Although no specific figures have been provided by the carrier about the exact allocation of this investment among the airlines different areas, the official announcem

Approach 301

Approach Airlines Airline 301

Aerotime

FEBRUARY 20, 2025

Air India and Germanys Lufthansa Group have agreed to build on their longstanding codeshare partnership which intends to boost flight options and connectivity for travelers between the Indian Subcontinent and Europe. The expansion, which will also see the Indian national carrier enter into a new codeshare agreement with Austrian Airlines, will include the broadening of existing codeshare agreements between the carrier with both Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).

Airlines 288

Airlines Airline 288

Aerotime

JUNE 3, 2025

Ryanair, Europes leading low-cost airline, has called for the CEO of the UKs National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Martin Rolfe, to resign immediately after almost 12,000 Ryanair passengers travelling to and from London-Stansted Airport (STN) on May 31, 2025, were made to suffer what the airline described as unnecessary delays of up to 50 minutes due to staff shortages among NATS-employed air traffic controllers.

Air Traffic Control 282

Air Traffic Control Airlines Airline 282

Aerotime

APRIL 30, 2025

Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) because of telecommunications and equipment issues at an air traffic control center in Philadelphia. The flight delays began on April 28, 2025, and continued into the evening. The airport confirmed that it was experiencing “ residual delays ” on April 29, 2025, and advised passengers to check with their airlines for flight updates.

Air Traffic Control 282

Air Traffic Control Runway Approach Airlines 282

Aerotime

MAY 21, 2025

Flight restrictions imposed at Newark Liberty Interantional Airport (EWR) following three recent radar outages at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) will remain in place until June 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced. In an interim order, issued on May 20, 2025, the FAA said that the airport will operate with 28 arrivals and 28 departures until the construction of Runway 4-Left/22-Right is finished.

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Air Traffic Control Runway Approach 293

Aerotime

JUNE 20, 2025

Driven largely by the huge increase in new services flown by its home-based airline, Turkish Airlines, iGA Istanbul Airport in Turkey , has taken the top spot globally in hub connectivity, surpassing Frankfurt in the 2025 rankings. This is according to the 2025 Airport Industry Connectivity Report published by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe.

Approach 274

Approach Airlines Airline 274

Aerotime

JANUARY 8, 2025

UK-based electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Vertical Aerospace has become only the second company in the world to perform a piloted thrustborne flight test in a full-scale vectored thrust aircraft. The full-scale eVTOL aircraft, known as VX4, took off on January 7, 2024, with pilot Simon Davies at the controls, at the Vertical Aerospace test center at Cotswold Airport (GBA).

Pilot 314

Pilot Thrust Stability Lift 314

Aerotime

APRIL 16, 2025

Air France announced on April 16, 2025, that it will be launching a new destination in Thailand during the 2025/26 winter season. Starting on November 27, 2025, the French flag carrier will fly nonstop three times per week between its hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Phuket International Airport (HKT). The new service, which is awaiting approval from the Thai government, will be operated by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with 472 seats.

Airlines 295

Airlines Airline 295

Aerotime

MAY 9, 2025

A debilitating power outage at London-Heathrow Airport (LHR), caused by a substation fire, has cost British Airways owner IAG around 50 million ($56 million), according to the company. On March 20, 2025, shortly before 23:30 local time, the London Fire Brigade descended on the North Hyde Substation after a fire broke out, damaging the three supergrid transformers located there.

Airlines 278

Airlines Airline 278

Aerotime

MARCH 17, 2025

Communities along France’s Atlantic shore have long held a special relationship with the sea. What has for centuries been a region of sailors, shipbuilders and maritime traders has evolved into one of Europe’s most dynamic centers for sailing technology innovation. The region is home to a thriving ecosystem where boat builders, equipment manufacturers, naval architects, and sailing technology startups collaborate to push the boundaries of what’s possible on water.

Aileron 300

Aileron Lift Tail General Aviation 300

Aerotime

JANUARY 9, 2025

Saudi startup airline Riyadh Air has announced that it is preparing for the arrival of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The leased aircraft, painted in the airlines pearl livery, will be showcased at Riyadhs King Khalid International Airport (RUH), the carrier announced on January 9, 2025. The new aircraft will be used as a technical spare and for training purposes in the upcoming months, the statement read.

Jet 283

Jet Airlines Airline 283

Aerotime

JANUARY 6, 2025

Gulfstream Aerospace announced on January 6th, 2025, that two more G700 aircraft have been delivered to Qatar Executive , the private aviation arm of Qatar Airways. These deliveries take the total number of G700s in Qatars fleet to six, with four more scheduled to arrive in the near future. Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream, praised his team for the swift delivery of the new aircraft to Qatar, noting that the unprecedented speed with which the team has been able to deliver this remarkable airc

Jet 267

Jet 267