Qantas Redeploys the A380 on Hong Kong Route Amidst Growing Demand
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas Group has today announced its plans to increase its international and domestic capacity during the second quarter of the year. The group, which includes Qantas and Jetstar, aims to boost domestic capacity by 2%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. As the peak Easter travel period approaches, Qantas will briefly reintroduce the Airbus A380 to Hong Kong. This will be made possible by a significant increase in flights between Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as the use of widebodies on transcontinental flights to Pe…
Delta Airlines Partners With Skyborne Academy to Source New Pilots
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Delta Airlines has teamed up with Skyborne, a UK-based flight training academy, to establish a pilot training program aimed at producing qualified commercial pilots. The program, set to commence in 2022, will offer students access to Delta's pilot career path program, which guarantees employment opportunities following the successful completion of the training. The program will be based at Skyborne's training facility in Vero Beach, Florida, and is designed to equip aspiring pilots with the necessary knowledge and ex…
FAA's Proposal to Upgrade CVRs Gets a Boost From Recent Incidents
WASHINGTON — Increased efforts to gather additional data to address safety concerns have provided a strong rationale for the impending Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposal that would mandate cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) with a duration of at least 25 hours. On March 16, the FAA confirmed that a long-standing plan to propose upgrading CVRs from the current minimum recording time of two hours is making progress. While few details have been released regarding the timing or contents of the proposed rule, sources familiar with the agenc…
Former NOK Executive Launches a New Airline in Thailand
BANGKOK, THAILAND — Patee Sarasin, the former CEO of Nok Air, is launching a new airline in Thailand. Sarasin unveiled the new venture at an event held in Bangkok. The airline named "Really Cool Airlines" has yet to reveal its fleet and route strategies. The ownership structure, investors, and business model of the startup carrier currently remain undisclosed. Images released by the carrier display a blue and white Airbus A350-900 adorned with the livery of Really Cool Airlines. The aircraft's front fuselage showcases a pair of…
Wizz Air Set to Expand Fleet and Targets Growth in Middle East
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY — Wizz Air President Robert Carey revealed plans for the European budget carrier to grow its fleet to more than 200 aircraft in the coming year and 500 by 2030. Carey also highlighted the potential for growth in the Middle East while noting that the airline is content with its current presence in the Western market. Wizz Air aims to become the first and the only ultra-low-cost airline to offer service in the Middle East. The company is likewise preparing to expand its service in Abu Dhabi this summer, as well as double the nu…
Qantas Pilots Report Radio Interference and GPS Jamming From Chinese Warships
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Qantas pilots reported repeating radio interference and GPS jamming from Chinese military units in the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. Qantas said there were no safety concerns and has instructed its pilots to keep flying on their routes despite the breach. According to the airline, some planes have encountered interference on VHF channels believed to be associated with the Chinese military, as well as GPS jamming from ships near the northwest shelf of Australia. In response to reports of interference from warships,…
NTSB Investigates Florida Close Call Between American and Air Canada
WASHINGTON — According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an air traffic controller in Sarasota, Florida, gave clearance for a plane to take off while an American Airlines jet was in the final stage of landing on the same runway last month. As a result, the American pilots had to abort their landing. The NTSB revealed on Thursday that the American and Air Canada Rouge planes were approximately 3,000 feet (900 meters) apart at their closest point, which is a significant distance compared to recent close calls involving planes. …
Lufthansa Group Counts Down for New Regional Airline
FRANKFURT, GERMANY — The German civil aviation giant Lufthansa Group is making steady progress towards the launch of its new short and medium-haul airline in Europe, which will operate under the name Lufthansa City Airlines. The company has already begun recruiting staff for ground operations. However, the exact launch date is contingent upon several factors, including securing an agreement with the pilot union Cockpit. For more than a year now, Lufthansa has been exploring the idea of establishing a new regional subsidiary. At the annual resu…
Southwest Airlines Expects Reduction in Boeing Aircraft Deliveries in 2023
DALLAS, TEXAS — Following discussions with Boeing and ongoing supply chain issues, the largest American low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has revised its expectations for the number of aircraft deliveries in 2023, reducing it from 100 to around 90 copies. The operator's new aircraft delivery outlook for the year 2023 was revealed by the airline's chief executive Bob Jordan last week during the 2023 Industrials Conference of investment bank JP Morgan. As 27 aircraft are set to retire this year, Southwest Airlines is set to have 833 pl…