Mateen Kontoravdis

Trip Reports

Trip Report: Flying Business Class on Europe’s Best Regional Airline

November 14, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

In mid-June, Aegean Airlines was once again named Europe’s Best Regional Airline for the ninth consecutive year by Skytrax World Airline Awards. Commonly referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” Skytrax has come

Routes

Qatar Airways Celebrates 10 Years of Houston Service

November 1, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

This past March marked the 10th anniversary of Qatar Airways’ Doha-Houston route. The Middle Eastern carrier first commenced service to the Energy Capital of the World in March 2009, only its third route to the

Airports

Austin-Bergstrom Keeps Growing, Lands Two More Europe Routes

October 25, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Austin has grown at a pace faster than almost all other U.S. cities over the past decade. Dubbed Silicon Hills for the large number of tech companies that are headquartered in and around the city,

Planes

Mahan Air 747 Re-Enters Service After Nine Years in Storage

October 10, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Iran’s largest privately-owned airline recently reactivated an aircraft that was stored in 2010. Mahan Air’s EP-MNB performed a test flight on Aug. 27, 2019 according to ch-aviation and began commercial flights on Sept. 4. The

Routes

American Adds Summer 2020 Alaska, Montana Routes

August 29, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

In preparation for another busy summer next year, American Airlines is expanding its domestic offerings in two states known for their outdoor adventures. The news comes just weeks after the airline announced an increased presence

Planes

Saudia Outlines First 787-10 Route, Considers Additional Widebodies

August 15, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Jeddah-based Saudia is expecting to take delivery of its first 787-10 Dreamliner within the next few months after HZ-AR24 rolled out of Boeing’s Charleston paint shop in mid-July. The aircraft will be the first of

Planes

JetBlue Names First A321neo After Founder

August 10, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

After a quick transatlantic hop from Hamburg, JetBlue’s first Airbus A321neo touched down at New York’s JFK airport on June 29. Since then, the aircraft has been preparing for its entry into service in Lake

Routes

SWISS Adds New Service to Washington Dulles and Osaka in 2020

August 4, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Lufthansa Group’s SWISS will add new flights to Washington, D.C. and Osaka, Japan beginning in March 2020. These two destinations will be added to SWISS’ long-haul network which already sees service to seven U.S. cities

News

WestJet Shareholders Approve Onex Acquisition

July 27, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

During a special meeting held at WestJet’s headquarters in Calgary on Tuesday, airline shareholders and option holders overwhelmingly voted to approve the acquisition agreement reached by WestJet and Onex Corporation (Onex) on May 12, 2019.

Aircraft Orders and Deliveries

Highlighting the Paris Air Show’s Less Publicized Orders

June 23, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Coming from all corners of the world, the aviation industry meets at Paris-Le Bourget Airport every two years since 1967. For four days, the latest industry advancement is showcased, the newest aircraft perform and manufacturers

News

Delta Strives to Improve Customer Experience with New Amenity Kits

June 10, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

As part of a multi-billion dollar investment in the customer experience, Delta Air Lines recently debuted a new line up of in-flight amenity kits. The refreshed kits have been created for long-haul customers in all

Top Story

Via Airlines Ceases Commercial Service, Reverts Back to Charter Operation

May 31, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Growing independent regional airline Via Airlines has abruptly ended all scheduled commercial flights with plans to revert back to its original business model of conducting charter operations. Known by its shortened name, ViaAir, the airline

Photos

Delta Opens New Sky Club and Talks Future in Austin

May 21, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Just over a year after Delta Air Lines announced its plans to build a Sky Club at Austin Bergstrom International Airport during a visit to the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the airline celebrated the completion

News

Air Canada Enters Talks To Finalize Air Transat Acquisition

May 17, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

On Thursday, Air Canada announced that it has commenced exclusive talks with fellow Quebec-based Transat A.T. Inc., owner of Air Transat, for a full takeover of the Canadian leisure carrier. The publically proposed transaction is

Routes

Lufthansa Begins Flights to Third Texas Destination

May 6, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

While Lufthansa’s new livery dropped the airline’s iconic yellow, Austin Bergstrom International Airport’s west check-in wing was decked out with its recognizable yellow branding and signage as the airline prepared for the inaugural flight between

Aircraft Orders and Deliveries

Fiji Airways Expands Widebody Fleet with Airbus A350 Order

May 3, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Fiji Airways announced that it will acquire two brand new Airbus A350-900 XWBs during a joint press conference held in Nadi with the carrier’s largest shareholder, the Fijian government. Upon delivery of the type, Fiji’s

Planes

American’s MD-80 Retirement Not Affected By Boeing 737 MAX Grounding

April 26, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

American Airlines was forced to ground its fleet of 24 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on March 13, 2019, in an effort to comply with an FAA order that came in the wake of the

Routes

American Adds New South America Connection from New York

April 18, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Fort Worth-based American Airlines announced a new connection to Georgetown, Guyana on Thursday from its hub at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The new flight will add to the carrier’s current flights to

News

Air France and KLM Ink Deal with Greek Carrier for Island Connections

April 11, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Air France and KLM have signed a deal with regional Greek airline Sky Express in an attempt to strengthen the commercial cooperation between the three carriers on flights between Paris-Charles De Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol and

Routes

Iran’s Mahan Air Operates Flight to Venezuela, Seeks Permanent Connection

April 8, 2019 Mateen Kontoravdis

Just after 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 8, an unusual visitor arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela. A Mahan Air Airbus A340-600 landed in the Venezuelan capital after a 15-hour flight from

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Articles by Mateen Kontoravdis

Trip Report: Flying Business Class on Europe’s Best Regional Airline

Qatar Airways Celebrates 10 Years of Houston Service

Austin-Bergstrom Keeps Growing, Lands Two More Europe Routes

Mahan Air 747 Re-Enters Service After Nine Years in Storage

American Adds Summer 2020 Alaska, Montana Routes

Saudia Outlines First 787-10 Route, Considers Additional Widebodies

JetBlue Names First A321neo After Founder

SWISS Adds New Service to Washington Dulles and Osaka in 2020

WestJet Shareholders Approve Onex Acquisition

Highlighting the Paris Air Show’s Less Publicized Orders

Delta Strives to Improve Customer Experience with New Amenity Kits

Via Airlines Ceases Commercial Service, Reverts Back to Charter Operation

Delta Opens New Sky Club and Talks Future in Austin

Air Canada Enters Talks To Finalize Air Transat Acquisition

Lufthansa Begins Flights to Third Texas Destination

Fiji Airways Expands Widebody Fleet with Airbus A350 Order

American’s MD-80 Retirement Not Affected By Boeing 737 MAX Grounding

American Adds New South America Connection from New York

Air France and KLM Ink Deal with Greek Carrier for Island Connections

Iran’s Mahan Air Operates Flight to Venezuela, Seeks Permanent Connection

Allegiant Expands Florida and Nashville Routes

Azul Receives First Airbus A321neo

Europe Issues Type Certification to Airbus BelugaXL

South African Airways Announces Employee Cuts in Restructuring Effort

Tokyo’s Narita Airport Suggests Third Runway Addition and New Development