Museum of Ingenuity Charts Bombardier History

Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 06:00 PM ET

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Scale model of a Bombardier C Series wind-tunnel test aircraft (Photo | John Flett)

The Bombardier brand is one of the most familiar names in the global aviation industry and has its origins in Quebec, Canada. The Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier (Musée de l’ingéniosité J. Armand Bombardier) in Valcourt, Quebec — ninety minutes east of Montréal, Canada’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport — charts the history of Bombardier and its founder Joseph-Armand Bombardier.

What may not be commonly known is Bombardier’s beginnings and its role in the design and manufacture of snowmobiles. Bombardier launched a seven-passenger snowmobile in 1937 and founded his company L’Auto-Neige Bombardier Limitée in 1942.

Following the invention of the Ski-Doo in the late 1950s and its phenomenal success, the company was listed publicly in 1969 and diversified into the railway industry in 1970. In addition to supplying cars for the new Montreal subway system in the 1970s, Bombardier successfully bid for a contract with the New York City Transit Authority in 1982 to provide 825 subway cars.

Bombardier’s foray into aerospace followed in 1986, when the company purchased Canadian aircraft manufacturer Canadair. At the time, Canadair was manufacturing the iconic Challenger widebody business jets and the CL-215 amphibious firefighting aircraft. Bombardier continues to develop and manufacture enhanced Challenger aircraft and has superseded the CL-215 with the Bombardier 415 amphibian.

With its purchase of Canadair, Bombardier began a revolution in regional jet development with the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) program and subsequent series of aircraft. Further acquisitions in the 1990s included Learjet with its luxury private jets and Boeing’s de Havilland with the iconic Dash 8.

This placed Bombardier as the only manufacturer of both turboprop and jet 50-seat regional aircraft. In recent years the development of the C series of aircraft and the initial partnership and subsequent sale to Airbus resulted in the rebranded A220 regional aircraft.

The layout of the museum has a chronological order with an introduction to J. Armand Bombardier’s first inventions in a reconstructed reproduction of his workshop, a 270-degree short film of the company’s history and an exhibition space of the evolution of the company. Though relatively small, the museum also has an impressive collection (or reserve) of Bombardier snowmobiles that can be accessed with an enhanced ticket.

Aviation buffs may be disappointed by the limited space accorded to the company’s aerospace history and may wish to also include Ottawa’s Canada Aviation and Space Museum on their itinerary. Though within the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier, there is a free flight simulator and an 8.6 percent scale model used for wind tunnel testing of the C Series family of aircraft. One of only twenty used as part of the 4,500 hours of wind tunnel testing undertaken for the development of the aircraft.

For those who wish to enhance their visit to the Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier further, you can pre-book a 90-minute guided tour of the Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) factory situated across the road from the museum. BRP manufactures a range of brands including Ski-Doo snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and Can-Am Off-Road vehicles.

John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content. John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

Emirates Unveils New Modernized Livery

Andrew Chen

Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 03:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

An Emirates Airbus A380-800 in the airline's new livery (Photo: Emirates)

The world’s largest Airbus A380 fleet is getting a new look, as Emirates recently revealed a new livery. The Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based carrier — which is also the world’s largest Boeing 777 operator — announced that its aircraft will sport a new signature, distinctive livery.

A Refreshed Look

While the livery’s overall colors and branding largely remain the same, Emirates has modernized several aspects of its livery. Perhaps the most notable change can be seen in the flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the tail, which now has a 3D artwork effect to give the appearance that it is flowing.

Winglets on the Airbus A380-800s will now be painted red on the outside with the Emirates logo on it in white. From a passenger’s perspective, the insides of the winglets will feature the colors of the UAE flag.

The “Emirates” lettering across the fuselage is now more prominent, with the airline noting that it is bolder and 32.5% larger. The airline’s website URL has also been dropped from the design. On the underside of the fuselage, Emirates has retained the red branding that allows its aircraft to be easily identified from the ground.

First Livery Change in Over Two Decades

This is the third livery that Emirates aircraft have worn since the airline’s founding in 1985. The overall theme of the livery has remained constant throughout the years, but the look has evolved with each iteration of the livery. The carrier’s original livery debuted with its launch in 1985 and was designed by British design company Negus & Negus. The livery had its first refresh in 1999 with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing 777-300 at that year’s Dubai Airshow.

The evolution of Emirates’ livery (Photo: Emirates)

Emirates rolled out its latest livery update on an Airbus A380-800 registered as A6-EOE. The aircraft’s first flight in the new livery took place on March 17, 2023 when it operated flight EK51 from Dubai International Airport to Munich Airport. The airline plans to apply the new livery to 24 aircraft this year, which will be followed by a gradual rollout to the rest of its fleet of approximately 250 aircraft in the coming years.

“Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world,” Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said in a press release. “We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.”

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

Air France Boosts its Flight Offering in Updated Summer 2023 Schedule

Aviacionline

Friday, March 17, 2023 at 08:26 PM ET

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Pablo Diaz

A 787-9 Dreamliner destined for Air France during its checks at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Air France is strengthening its summer 2023 schedule by bringing back multiple destinations that were suspended due to the pandemic and restoring capacity to 2019 levels. The French airline will operate up to 835 daily flights to 191 destinations in 89 countries.

Asia

With the reopening and easing of health restrictions in Greater China, the carrier will fly daily to Beijing – Capital (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), and Hong Kong (HKG) from July 1. Air France will have a schedule of 21 weekly operations between Paris – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Greater China.
The company will also be increasing its operations to Japan, where it will fly twice daily to Tokyo, operating from the two main airports. The airline will have 11 weekly flights to Haneda (HND) and three weekly operations to Narita (NRT).

North America

Air France is scheduled to operate 180 weekly flights in the United States to 14 destinations, including high-demand markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, among others.
For the summer season, the airline will have 50 weekly flights between France and Canada. The airline will resume its seasonal service between Paris (CDG) and Quebec (YQB) from May 2, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

It will also inaugurate a new route between the French capital and Ottawa (YOW) with five weekly operations on Airbus A330-200s and will be the only airline to connect the Canadian capital with Europe on non-stop flights. Air France will be the carrier with the largest capacity between Europe and Canada this summer.

Africa

In this region, Air France remained very present during the COVID-19 crisis and will maintain higher capacity at 2019 levels. As of June 12, 2023, the carrier will add a new service to Dar Es Salaam (DAR), operated three times a week on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner via Zanzibar (ZNZ), thus expanding its offering in Tanzania.
In its Kenya schedule, the airline will have non-stop operations between Paris (CDG) and Nairobi (NBO) with daily flights on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

South America

In French Guiana, the carrier will fly from May 5 between Cayenne (CAY) and Belem, Brazil (BEL) with a weekly frequency operated by Airbus A320.

Europe

Air France’s short/medium-haul network will offer up to 650 daily flights and 106 destinations between France and Europe for the summer season.
The airline will have 66 seasonal services in France and Europe this summer, with operations from Paris and French regional airports.

These routes will connect to Corsica from Paris (ORY), Bordeaux (BOD), Caen (CFR), Rennes (RNS), Lille (LIL), Lyon (LYS) and Nantes (NTE); Greece from Paris (CDG), Marseille (MRS), Nice (NCE) and Toulouse (TLS); Algeria from Paris (CDG/ORY), Marseille (MRS), Nice (NCE) and Toulouse (TLS); Morocco from Paris (CDG/ORY) and Nice (NCE); and Tunisia from Paris (CDG/ORY), Marseille (MRS) and Nice (NCE).

Transavia France, a low-cost subsidiary of Air France – KLM Group for its summer operation will have 200 short/medium haul connections on 120 destinations, including 100 to/from Orly Airport (ORY). The airline positions itself as the first low-cost operator in the Paris metropolitan area.

New destination with Air France’s new Boeing 777-300ER cabins

Johannesburg (JNB) will be the next destination served by Boeing 777-300ERs with new cabins as of March 27. The South African city joins New York (JFK), Dakar (DSS) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) where these aircraft currently operate.

Air France will gradually be refurbishing the cabins of 12 Boeing 777-300ERs with a configuration of 48 seats in Business Class, 48 in Premium Economy and 273 in Economy.

This article was originally published by Rainer Nieves Dolande in Aviacionline as per current syndication agreement.

Aviacionline

Airbus and Boeing Seek Indian Workforce to Speed Up Deliveries

Aviacionline

Friday, March 17, 2023 at 08:19 PM ET

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Pablo Diaz

A look at the Boeing 777's nose and door factory. (Photo: Boeing)

Airbus and Boeing are expanding their search for engineers in India to meet booming demand for aircraft and expand their presence in the country, one of the largest economies globally, according to a Bloomberg report.

In recent months, airlines and lessors have started to use their right to compensation as a bargaining chip for the constant delays in the delivery of commercial aircraft by the two companies.

Airbus and Boeing are looking for talent

The world’s two largest aerospace manufacturers are looking to source skilled – and cheap – labour in an Asian country, which is trying to position itself as a manufacturing base. With around 1.5 million new engineers graduating each year in India, both companies see it as a source of English-speaking and available talent.

According to Bloomberg, Airbus plans to hire more than a thousand new employees in India during 2023, out of a total of 13.000 new workers the European manufacturer would hire worldwide. The company currently employs more than 700 people at its Bangalore centre and more than a hundred in customer service areas in New Delhi.

Moreover, Boeing and its suppliers plan to increase their workforce in India. They currently employ about 18.000 people and have hired about 1.500 per year in the recent past. It is the second country in the world with the most employees of the American manufacturer after the United States itself. It is important to note that a worker in India represents a derisory cost to the company compared to what an employee in Seattle demands.

Last week it was announced that Boeing would strengthen its presence in the country by setting up a plant to convert 737 aircraft into freighters. The company’s investment in India exceeds one billion dollars a year, with a growing presence in its economy following the signing of various agreements.

India’s potential and importance

Compared to China, Airbus and Boeing see India as an interesting alternative for the establishment of new production sites, not only because of the above but also because of the reduced geopolitical tension with the West.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, said it was time for India to become an international centre of reference for aircraft manufacturing and assured the country was well on its way to achieving this.

India has a long history of outsourcing workers to large international companies, thanks to its availability of talent and cheap labour. The country is home to a large share of employees providing support in technology and information areas. Recently, higher-skilled jobs in various sectors of multinational companies have been on the rise.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that the goal is to make the country the third largest airline market in the world. The current trend seems to confirm this: aviation activity and competition are intensifying. Demand for air travel, both domestic and international, is already close to pre-pandemic levels. And projections indicate that this will continue for the near future.

This article was originally published by Agustín Miguens on Aviacionline as per current syndication agreement.

Aviacionline

Flair Airlines Files Lawsuit as Saga Drags On

Ezra Gollan

Friday, March 17, 2023 at 03:00 PM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Flair Boeing 737 MAX. (Photo: Flair Airlines)

On Wednesday, Flair Airlines — the trending Canadian ultra low-cost carrier — announced that it would be filing a $50 million CAD ($36.4 million) lawsuit against a lessor that claimed the carrier had failed to make payments on one of its aircraft last week.

The lawsuit against Airborne Air Capital — an Ireland-based lessor — was filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and alleges that Airborne Air Capital had aimed to seize 4 of Flair’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and lease them out to different carriers in Canada. The lessor company had responded to Flair’s comments suggesting that Flair had failed to make on time payments on the fleet.

The airline was forced to cancel flights in recent days as aircraft were stranded across Canada in Edmonton, Toronto and Waterloo. The carrier released a statement on March 15 saying that, “Airborne Capital’s unlawful and immeasurably destructive actions were taken on the first weekend of many of our customers’ school breaks. This is profiteering on the backs of Canadians and was entirely unexpected and unwarranted.”

As of now, it is uncertain who is in the right here. Flair alleges in its court filing that Airborne Air Capital had been working with Canadian airlines, who are much larger than Flair in an effort to sabotage its operation though this claim for the time being is unsubstantiated.

Long Shot Lawsuit

According to the airline, it had reached an arrangement with the lessor to make delayed payments before the 4 aircraft were seized at around 3 am EDT on Saturday with no notice. Airborne Air Capital told CH-Aviation in a statement that, “Airborne Capital strongly rejects the allegations that have been made by Flair Airlines in recent days in relation to four Airborne-managed aircraft.”

The leasing of the four Airborne-managed aircraft was terminated following a five-month long period, during which Flair was regularly in default of its leases by failing to meet its payments when due, with payment arrears reaching millions of dollars,” It is unclear for the time being what is true and what isn’t since there has yet to be any ruling on the lawsuit though chances are the airline may be looking for a chance to get itself out of payments by causing a stir of sorts.

The seizing of aircraft is not a common practice by lessors and was most notably used during the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Flair, a low-cost carrier in a Canadian market that has long been notorious for a lack of low-cost options will likely continue to face an uphill battle combatting “Big Air” as the carrier puts it. The airline has been well received in Canada though the recent suit will likely mean more turbulence ahead for Flair in its quest to defeat “Big Air.”

The airline assured passengers that it will remain operating through the lawsuit and has deployed additional aircraft to cover flights.

Ezra Gollan

Ezra Gollan is a student, photographer and aviation enthusiast based in New York, New York. He has spent over half a decade around New York City’s airports as a photographer.

New Saudi Arabian Flag Carrier Orders All Boeing Fleet

Zach Cooke

Friday, March 17, 2023 at 01:30 PM ET

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Benjamin Pham

The Boeing 787-9 rolls out of the paint shop in Boeing house colors (Photo: Boeing)

Earlier this week, Boeing announced that Riyadh Air — the brand new Saudi Arabian national carrier — would order 39 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for 33 more of the 787-9 variant . This announcement came at the same time flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, SAUDIA, also placed an order for 39 787 Dreamliners, with options for an additional 10. That order will be broken down between -9s and -10s produced by Boeing in South Carolina and Washington. The combined orders totaled to become the fifth-largest commercial aircraft order concerning value in Boeing’s history.

This past weekend, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz — Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) — announced the launch of Riyadh Air to the public. The airline was in talks with Airbus and Boeing, choosing the latter to build its fleet and launch its operations. The carrier will be wholly owned by the PIF of Saudi Arabia and will be based in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. The overarching goal of the new gulf-based airline is to connect the world and grow Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry with 100 destinations by 2030.

One of the ambitions for Riyadh Air is to go head to head with other gulf carriers, such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, who have far-flung route structures stretching across the globe. Currently, SAUDIA — also state-owned — connects portions of the world, although not on the level of the other three. The airline operates to three destinations in North America: New York, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Emirates and Qatar Airways both operate 13 routes to North American airports, and Turkish Airlines offers service to 15.

Riyadh Air’s CEO, Tony Douglas, stated that the airline will compete with the other gulf carriers by, “shaping the future of global air travel and be a true disrupter in terms of customer experience.” It is currently unclear if the airline will connect passengers with SAUDIA, who is a part of the Sky Team alliance and is based in Jeddah.

With a range of 7,565 nautical miles, the 787-9s will allow the Riyadh-based carrier to operate to distant cities such as Perth, Australia; Chicago, Rio De Janeiro and Tokyo . However, it is currently unclear which cities the carrier will launch and operate to with its fleet.

On Feb. 23, the FAA halted 787 Dreamliner deliveries after a data analysis error related to the forward pressure bulkhead was discovered. This portion of the aircraft helps keep the 787 pressurized in flight. The error was reconciled by Boeing to the FAA’s satisfaction and deliveries were cleared to resume this week. This recent delay shouldn’t have an impact on recent orders placed by the two airlines. The Virginia-based manufacturer is off to a strong start, with this recent announcement from Riyadh Air and Saudia, along with other carriers totaling over 300 orders and 100 options placed so far this year.

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

Lessor Seizes Four Flair Airlines Aircraft

Andrew Chen

Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 06:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

Flair Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (photo Airlinegeeks - Vanni Gibertini)

Recently, passengers at multiple airports across Canada experienced flight delays and cancellations, after Flair Airlines had four aircraft seized by their lessor for non-payment. The travel interruptions came during the busy March break travel season in Canada.

Leases Terminated for Four Boeing 737s

Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Airborne Capital issued lease termination notices for four aircraft, effectively grounding them and forcing the airline to cancel and delay flights. Four Boeing 737 aircraft were seized:

A 12.8-year-old Boeing 737-800 registered as C-FFLA was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
A 3.1-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLRS was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport
A 3.3-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKD was seized at Region of Waterloo, Canada’s International Airport
A 3.4-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKI was seized at Edmonton, Canada’s International Airport

Another two Boeing 737s leased to Flair by Airborne Capital were not seized. The Edmonton,Canada-based airline reportedly owed approximately one million Canadian dollars ($73,000,000) to the lessor.

According to the passengers, flight cancellations and delays occurred at all three airports, with the airline initially attributing the disruptions to maintenance issues. Flair has stated that it will be using three spare aircraft to fill gaps left by the affected aircraft. The carrier has stated that it was working to rebook passengers and that passengers who chose to rebook their own travel would receive reimbursement within seven days.

A Bumpy Road for Flair

Flair Airlines began operations in 2005 as Flair Air. In its early days, the airline operated cargo and charter flights for a variety of clients. In 2017, it rebranded itself as Flair Airlines and announced that it would become an ultra low-cost carrier. Since this relaunch, the airline has faced a number of challenges, including a review by the Canadian Transportation Agency over foreign control and a lawsuit with a large Canadian investor.

In September of 2022, Flair announced that it was increasing capacity by 50 percent in its summer 2023 schedule. The airline stated that in a press release that seven new aircraft would be entering service for the summer, bringing the total fleet to 27 aircraft. Prior to the recent seizure, Flair’s fleet consisted of less than 20 aircraft.

The latest troubles for Flair raise questions about the airline’s financial position and future growth plans. While passengers have been drawn to the airline due to its low fares, a series of maintenance-related cancellations in December of 2022 and the latest aircraft seizure are likely to erode consumer confidence in the airline.

In a statement, Flair has categorized the seizures as “extreme and unusual actions taken by a New York-based hedge fund.” It further noted that “the airline is aggrieved by this unprecedented action.”

Airborne Capital has declined to comment publicly on the seizures.

Andrew Chen

Sudan’s Badr Airlines Cements European Growth Plans

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 08:19 PM ET

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Edited By:

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

A Badr Airlines 737-500 (Photo: Eduard Onyshchenko (GFDL or GFDL ), via Wikimedia Commons)

Sudan’s largest airline, Badr Airlines, has recently appointed Network Airline Services (NAS) as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in the UK and Ireland. This announcement follows Badr Airlines’ launch of a new route from Khartoum to London Gatwick in late February 2023.

Providing a Vital Link

NAS will now be responsible for selling Badr Airlines’ cargo capacity, which is a vital link between Europe and Sudan, and also provides connections to other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe such as Chad, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Commenting on the appointment, John Gilfeather, Sales Director of Network Airline Services, said, “NAS is delighted to be selling the cargo capacity of Badr Airlines. This is the only direct flight between Europe and Sudan which allows us to provide a vital link for shippers to not only Sudan but also other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe.”

Badr Airlines’ Expansion Plans

The appointment of NAS comes as Badr Airlines continues to expand its services and operations. The airline had announced earlier in February 2023 that it would commence flights to London Gatwick from Khartoum via Istanbul, with the first flight scheduled for Feb. 24, 2023.

The route was scheduled to operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

However, it seems that the launch of this new route did not materialize as planned. Despite the airline listing a preliminary schedule in both GDS and OAG since the third quarter of 2022 for an Oct. 31, 2022 “launch,” the first flight did not take off until late February 2023.

This new service is significant as it is the only nonstop flight between Europe and Sudan. In 2019, about 33,000 passengers traveled from London to Khartoum, making London an unserved European market from Sudan. With the new direct flight, Badr Airlines aims to meet the needs of many travelers who have been seeking a more convenient way to travel between the two countries.

Badr Airlines’ Fleet

Badr Airlines operates a fleet of ten Boeing 737 aircraft, including -300, -400, and -500 variants. The airline provides international routes from its base at Khartoum International Airport to neighboring countries, as well as to Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

Interestingly, the flight to London Gatwick is operated by a Slovakian charter airline, AirExplore’s Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Badr Airlines as Badr is currently banned from flying to the UK by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The ban is due to safety concerns over the airline’s maintenance practices and safety standards.

Badr Airlines’ appointment of NAS as its cargo GSA in Europe is an important step in the airline’s expansion plans. As the only direct flight between Europe and Sudan, Badr Airlines’ cargo capacity is a vital link for shippers to not only Sudan but also other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe. With NAS now selling its cargo capacity, the airline is well-positioned to continue its growth and expansion in the region.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Korean Air Increases Flight Operations to China

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 07:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Korean Air A380 At Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Korean Air has announced that it will enhance its flight operations to China from March 17. It comes after South Korea and China signed an agreement to increase the number of flights to pre-pandemic levels. The total flights between the two countries will reach 84 , up from 13 per week by the end of March. The airline will go further in increasing the weekly flights to 99 in May.

Since China reopened its border in January, South Korean government demanded the visitors from China to take a PCR test upon arrival. In addition, the government limited the number of flights coming from China and the flights must touched down at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. China strongly opposed to the policies and stopped issuing short term visa to South Korean in return.

After two months of implementing its travel restrictions, South Korea has scrapped the policies on March 1. The decision has cleared the way for new flight schedule between two countries. However, Chinese government hasn’t approved the sightseeing tours to South Korea at the moment.

The South Korean flag carrier said it will enhance the services to Beijing and Shanghai from Seoul. The route of Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport to Beijing and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport will be resumed in March. Also, Seoul’s Incheon Airport to Beijing, Xian, Shenzhen, Yanji and Xiaman will be relaunched.

In the meantime, the airline will enhance its frequencies from Seoul Incheon International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and other cities across China such as Guangzhou, Qingdao, Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin and Nanjing.

Since the government lifted the restrictions, other Korean carriers are looking forward to resuming their direct services from other Korean cities to China, such as Jeju, South Korea — a popular tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Korean Air could face a delay on merging with Asiana Airlines. European Union won’t make a decision until Aug. 3. , almost a month late. After two years of the acquisition announcement, other competitors’ authorities include Australia, Singapore have given a green light to the merger.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines monopolized the flight operations of Seoul to Barcelona and 75% market share in Rome before 2019. Korean Air is expected to provide remedies to ease its monopoly, including returning some slots.

According to the airline, it will continue to cooperate closely with all authorities to receive approvals at the earliest opportunity. The carrier still need the approval from EU, Japan and the United States to finish the acquisition.

Virgin Atlantic Adds London – Seoul

Earlier, U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the acquisition. Following the decision, Virgin Atlantic has announced it will launch London – Seoul as a result.

“We welcome the CMA’s decision regarding Virgin Atlantic’s role as the remedy taker in the Korean Air and Asiana merger, which will facilitate our entry into Seoul,” the spokesperson of Virgin Atlantic said.

However, the flight planning is up in the air.

Pete Ainsley

Air Europa Adds 787 Flights from NYC to the Caribbean

Joey Gerardi

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 07:19 AM ET

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Edited By:

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

An Air Europa 787-8 in Madrid. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Milan to New York City on Emirates, Los Angeles to Paris on Air Tahiti Nui, and New York City to Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines all have one thing in common: they are what we call “Fifth Freedom Flights.”

These flights operate all around the planet and are flights where neither the origin nor destination is in the carrier’s home country, and they have the right to sell seats to people specifically on that flight, but the originating flight starts in their home country. For example, with Emirates, the plane originates in Dubai and flies to Milan and then continues onto New York City.

An Air Europa Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: Alan Wilson [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Well, another flight is being added to the list of fifth freedom routes, JFK to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Looking at the airline’s website and booking platform, it looks like the aircraft originates in Madrid and flies to New York before continuing to Santo Domingo. Once in the Dominican Republic, it turns right around and does the same thing in reverse. Flights between the two destinations will be operated twice a week: Tuesdays and Sundays. The flights between New York and the Dominican Republic on Air Europa will be operated twice a week: Tuesdays and Sundays.

What is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this route is that it will be operated by a widebody Boeing 787, unlike the many other flights between the two cities on other airlines. Air Europa isn’t adding any new destinations either as it already serves both JFK and Santo Domingo from Madrid.

Flights are scheduled to begin on July 18, 2023, and are subject to change. All data and flight schedules were obtained from the airline’s website.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.