John Flett

News

Homeland Security Withdraws Proposal for Compulsory Facial Recognition at Airports for U.S. Citizens

December 6, 2019 John Flett

The use of biometric information such as fingerprints and facial recognition in the airline industry has become more familiar to passengers around the world over recent years. In addition to such procedures as biometric boarding,,

Top Story

Hong Kong Airlines’ Operating Certificate in Jeopardy as Airline Fails to Pay Staff

November 30, 2019 John Flett

The continuing political protests in Hong Kong have been cited by Hong Kong Airlines (HKA) as the main reason a significant number of their staff will not be paid on time this month. The South

News

Undisclosed Number of British Airways Flights Disrupted By IT Issue

November 21, 2019 John Flett

British Airways was affected on Wednesday night by an undisclosed ‘technical issue’ which resulted in a disruption to the airline’s schedule with flight delays and cancellations. A statement from the airline said: “Our teams are

News

South African Airways’ Survival In Jeopardy As Strikes Force Flight Cancellations

November 15, 2019 John Flett

In the wake of the announcement earlier this week that one-fifth of South African Airways’ (SAA) employees may lose their jobs due to restructuring of the airline, two union groups have confirmed that planned strike

News

Emirates Posts Huge Profit Increase While Etihad Hopes for Return to Profitability in 2023

November 8, 2019 John Flett

The two main international carriers of the United Arab Emirates continue to attract the attention of the aviation industry. On Thursday, Emirates Airline reported a half-yearly profit of AED 862 million ($235 million), a massive

Airports

Mixed Signals From Airlines on Hong Kong Market Demand

November 6, 2019 John Flett

There were mixed signals this week that international tourism to Hong Kong may be seeing demand levels return to normality after almost six months of continuous political unrest. This comes after the number of travelers

Airlines

Flights To and From Italy Canceled Due to National Strike

October 25, 2019 John Flett

A significant number of flights to and from Italy were canceled today as the result of a national strike called by public and private sector workers over demands for higher pay and improved pensions and

News

Flybe Chief Executive Ponders Future Route Cuts Due to Environmental Responsibility

October 18, 2019 John Flett

Two days after announcing a rebranding to Virgin Connect in 2020 and the offer of “more choice for customers through improved connectivity between UK regional airports, “the chief executive officer of Europe’s largest regional carrier,

Airlines

Ryanair Boss Predicts More European Airline Collapses

October 7, 2019 John Flett

The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will on Monday conclude the largest peacetime repatriation of more than 140,000 U.K. citizens after the collapse of travel firm Thomas Cook. The final flight, from Orlando to Manchester,

Routes

Norwegian Air Axes All Transatlantic Operations From Ireland

August 14, 2019 John Flett

Norwegian Air announced Tuesday that the airline will cease transatlantic operations from Ireland to New York, Boston and Toronto in September citing the unsustainability of the routes and the continued impact of the Boeing 737

News

Ryanair Faces Disruptions Due to Potential U.K. Strike Action and 737 MAX Delays

July 23, 2019 John Flett

Another week marks another announcement of the possibility of strike action affecting airline passengers traveling to and from the U.K., further adding to the uncertainty facing the U.K. aviation industry this summer. Following notices of

Airports

Heathrow Passengers Face Summer Disruptions Due to Industrial Action

July 15, 2019 John Flett

Passengers travelling through the U.K.’s busiest airports this summer may face serious inconvenience to their journeys if planned industrial action by multiple employee groups goes ahead. With British Airways pilots currently balloting on potential strike

Airlines

European Airline Chiefs Meet to Discuss Environmental Impacts of Aviation

July 13, 2019 John Flett

Chief executives of some of Europe’s largest carriers met this week for the annual Airlines 4 Europe (A4E) summit and air traffic control (ATC) delays and environmental taxation were the main topics for discussion. A4E

Airports

Historic UK Airport May Accommodate Passengers Again From 2022

July 6, 2019 John Flett

The congested airports in the south-east region of the United Kingdom may see some relief from 2022 with the announcement this week that Manston Airport in Kent is planned to reopen for cargo and commercial

Top Story

British Airways Pilots Begin Ballot on Possible Industrial Action Affecting Summer Flights

June 30, 2019 John Flett

The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), the union which represents roughly 90 percent of British Airways pilots, has commenced balloting its members on possible industrial action over wage negotiations. The move comes after talks between

Airlines

FAA Prohibits U.S. Carriers from Persian Gulf Airspace, Other Airlines Reroute Aircraft

June 22, 2019 John Flett

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to all U.S. air carriers, commercial operators and those pilots issued with FAA airman certificates prohibiting overflying the Persian Gulf and Gulf

News

Alitalia Receives “Non-binding Expression of Interest” from Football Club Owner

June 17, 2019 John Flett

Italian media reported this week that the government authority overseeing the future of Alitalia has received a ‘”reserved” purchase offer for the airline from Claudio Lotito, the multi-millionaire owner and chairman of Italian football club

News

U.S. Congress Seeks Answers From Boeing on 737 MAX: ‘What They Knew, When They Knew It’

June 8, 2019 John Flett

The ongoing investigation by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee into the two crashes involving the now grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is in receipt of information that the manufacturer knew of a faulty

News

Flybe CEO Christine Ourmieres-Widener Resigns After Airline’s ‘Difficult Time’

June 6, 2019 John Flett

Christine Ourmieres-Widener, the CEO of U.K. regional airline Flybe, has announced that she will leave the airline on July 15 after overseeing Flybe’s sale to a consortium which includes Virgin Atlantic and Stobart Air. Ourmieres-Widener

News

Brexit Uncertainty Hits European Aviation as easyJet Reports Record Loss and Thomas Cook Troubles Intensify

May 20, 2019 John Flett

U.K. low-cost carrier easyJet has announced a record $352 million headline loss before tax for the first six months of its financial year. According to the airline’s chief executive officer, Johan Lundgren, the half-yearly result

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Articles by John Flett

Homeland Security Withdraws Proposal for Compulsory Facial Recognition at Airports for U.S. Citizens

Hong Kong Airlines’ Operating Certificate in Jeopardy as Airline Fails to Pay Staff

Undisclosed Number of British Airways Flights Disrupted By IT Issue

South African Airways’ Survival In Jeopardy As Strikes Force Flight Cancellations

Emirates Posts Huge Profit Increase While Etihad Hopes for Return to Profitability in 2023

Mixed Signals From Airlines on Hong Kong Market Demand

Flights To and From Italy Canceled Due to National Strike

Flybe Chief Executive Ponders Future Route Cuts Due to Environmental Responsibility

Ryanair Boss Predicts More European Airline Collapses

Norwegian Air Axes All Transatlantic Operations From Ireland

Ryanair Faces Disruptions Due to Potential U.K. Strike Action and 737 MAX Delays

Heathrow Passengers Face Summer Disruptions Due to Industrial Action

European Airline Chiefs Meet to Discuss Environmental Impacts of Aviation

Historic UK Airport May Accommodate Passengers Again From 2022

British Airways Pilots Begin Ballot on Possible Industrial Action Affecting Summer Flights

FAA Prohibits U.S. Carriers from Persian Gulf Airspace, Other Airlines Reroute Aircraft

Alitalia Receives “Non-binding Expression of Interest” from Football Club Owner

U.S. Congress Seeks Answers From Boeing on 737 MAX: ‘What They Knew, When They Knew It’

Flybe CEO Christine Ourmieres-Widener Resigns After Airline’s ‘Difficult Time’

Brexit Uncertainty Hits European Aviation as easyJet Reports Record Loss and Thomas Cook Troubles Intensify

Sky Airlines Expands to Miami with Airbus A321XLR Order

Alitalia Needs to Downsize Before Lufthansa Is Ready To Invest

Air Baltic Unveils State-of-the-Art Airbus A220 Simulator for Pilot Training

Opinion: I Flew on the World’s Longest Flight and Don’t Remember Most of It. But That’s the Point

Avianca Celebrates 100 Years of Flying