Although Latin America is going through a difficult time due to new outbreaks of COVID-19, positive news has come out in Mexico regarding the development and recovery of its airline sector. Viva Aerobus, Mexico's ultra-low-cost airline, surpassed one million passengers in March 2021, a growth of 67.7% compared to last February. In a press release, the carrier announced that in March 2020, the month when the pandemic began to affect passenger demand in the aviation industry, Viva Aerobus achieved an increase by 27.3%. The statement…
In the wake of the Air Canada-Air Transat merger termination, the business industry of Canada might just get an additional competitor to add to the mix. The Toronto-based firm, calling itself Connect Airlines, targets a late 2021 launch date and wants to lure in business travelers as they make their way back to aircraft in post-pandemic Canada. Connect Airlines would be the second company formed by John Thomas, an Australian who as already created a business jet firm in the United States called Waltzing Matilda…
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Malaysia Airlines have signed a five-year extension of its Flight Hour Services Components contract for the carrier's wide-body fleets, which consists of the Airbus A330-300s and the A350-900s. The extension will also include the A330-200Fs operated by the carrier's cargo counterpart, MASKargo. This comes as a result from the Malaysian carrier's recently completed restructuring exercise and the agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur by Airbus President Asia-Pacific Anand Stanley and Malaysia Airlines Chief Operations Officer Ahmad Luqman Mohd Azmi. Maintaining…
The world woke up on Friday morning to the sad news that His Royal Highness Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99. A life dedicated to being by the side of his wife, HRH The Queen, for more than 70 years. Whilst the world will fondly look back at his public duty representing the Queen and the United Kingdom across the globe throughout his life, it is right to highlight the Duke's love of flying and aviation and remember his active duty during…
Japan Airlines has announced the retirement of all of its Prat & Whitney–powered Boeing 777s a year earlier than planned a little over a month after a similar United Airlines aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure, raining debris over a Denver-area neighborhood. “JAL has decided to accelerate the retirement of all P&W equipped Boeing 777 by March 2021, which [was] originally planned by March 2022,” the Japanese airline said on Monday in a statement. When the airline first suspended the operation of the aircraft, it…
An audio recording of an online meeting held in April 2020 has supposedly revealed how low-cost carrier Wizz Air decided to make certain pilots redundant, following its announcement to cut the workforce by up to 20% following the outbreak of the coronavirus last year. In the meeting held online, a manager is heard saying, “We start off with the bad apples, so anyone who has caused you grief on a routine basis,” before suggesting “excessive sickness” or declining to work on days off are among…
Southwest Airlines has grounded 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets after Boeing revealed an electrical power system issue on some aircraft. Boeing has asked 16 customers to check the electrical systems on some planes and verify “that a sufficient ground path exists for a component of the electrical power system,” per a company statement Boeing did not say which airlines are affected in its statement, but Southwest, American and United all say their fleets have been. Southwest is the most affected airline of the three, as…
On Thursday morning, Avelo Airlines — a new low-cost U.S. airline based in Houston — announced it had begun selling tickets for its first flights: 11 routes to as many cities in the Western U.S. operating from Hollywood Burbank Airport just north of Los Angeles. The airline is headed by Andrew Levy, a multi-decade veteran of the industry who has worked at big-name airlines like United Airlines and Allegiant Air and still serves on the board of directors of Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines. Levy…
Still responding to the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on international air travel, LATAM Airlines Brasil, Brazil's second-largest domestic carrier and the largest by international metrics, is retiring its entire A350-900 fleet by the next week. Brazil's was LATAM's only branch operating the A350, meaning the aircraft will leave the group. It also means the group's widebody fleet will be solely composed by Boeing aircraft - LATAM currently operates the 767-300, the 787-8, the 787-9 and the 777-300. The announcement, according to…
The Allegiant Travel Company and its subsidiary Allegiant Air have announced plans for a base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This move becomes Allegiant’s latest major announcement during the COVID-19 pandemic where there has been a significant focus on leisure travel. The announcement also comes just weeks after American Airlines announced that it would be significantly increasing its presence at the Central Texas airport. Allegiant, which operates out of the airport’s South Terminal, will base three Airbus A320 aircraft at the airport and invest roughly…
Airline industry tycoon Bob Crandall is no stranger to the peaks and pitfalls of the airline industry. As the former…
Late last year, the impending arrival of vaccines for COVID-19 stood as a glimmer of hope for the travel industry. Many thought vaccines would help travel return and begin down…
Over the past several years, airlines in the U.S. have gorged on easy business, many making money hand over fist. This led to some brazen liberties taken by three of…
New U.S. budget carrier Avelo Airlines has announced its launch date, including initial routes and its onboard services. The carrier will launch flights on April 28 out of its Burbank,…
The world woke up on Friday morning to the sad news that His Royal Highness Prince Philip passed away at the age of 99. A life dedicated to being by…
When the coronavirus pandemic hit the world economy full force in March 2020, the aviation industry faced its worst travel crisis ever. Air travel hit its steepest dropoff in history.…
In an industry notoriously difficult in normal circumstances, aviation faced extraordinary challenges in 2020. As COVID-19 spread, the travel industry was among the hardest-hit industries as governments closed borders and…
TBT (Throwback Thursday) in Aviation History: African Safari Airways
TBT (Throwback Thursday) in Aviation History: Western Airlines
TBT (Throwback Thursday) in Aviation History: Alas Uruguay
TBT (Throwback Thursday) in Aviation History: DETA Air
TBT (Throwback Thursday) in Aviation History: Virgin America
The Allegiant Travel Company and its subsidiary Allegiant Air have announced plans for a base at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This move becomes Allegiant’s latest major announcement during the COVID-19 pandemic where there has been a significant focus on leisure travel. The announcement also comes just weeks after American Airlines announced that it would be significantly increasing its presence at the Central Texas airport. Allegiant, which operates out of the airport’s South Terminal, will base three Airbus A320 aircraft at…
Chinese aviation is experiencing a recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic even though international travel largely remains closed. As a result of the huge demand in the domestic services, China Eastern Airlines’ grounded aircraft have returned…
Four U.S. Senators as well as four members of the House of Representatives have sent a letter to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to express their support of the initiative to set up…
Although Latin America is going through a difficult time due to new outbreaks of COVID-19, positive news has come out in Mexico regarding the development and recovery of its airline…
In the wake of the Air Canada-Air Transat merger termination, the business industry of Canada might just get an additional competitor to add to the mix. The Toronto-based firm, calling…
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and Malaysia Airlines have signed a five-year extension of its Flight Hour Services Components contract for the carrier's wide-body fleets, which consists of the Airbus A330-300s…
In part one of this trip report which can be viewed HERE, I went through the booking process, arrived at the airport, and took off for the first leg of…
It is once again time for another Essential Air Service (EAS) trip report. While it is true that the EAS…
This is Part Two of a two-chapter story about international travel during times of COVID-19. This article reports the second…
This is Part One of a two-chapter story about international travel during times of COVID-19. This article introduces the routing,…
