The warning signs were there in March when the coronavirus stopped the aviation industry dead in its tracks. The knock-on effects from the global downturn of passenger traffic were already being calculated by airlines across the world, with decisions being made for what life would look like for airlines post-COVID. When chaos and disruption occur in the industry – September 11, the 2008 financial crash and now the coronavirus pandemic – airline bosses and bean counters look at ways in…
This week we faced some sad news. It was slipped to us right before the start of the holiday weekend and it didn’t get much attention outside of the aviation community, but for us, the news hit home hard. It wasn’t anything we weren’t expecting. We knew it was coming,…
Qantas has prematurely retired its final Boeing 747s in response to dwindling demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. AirlineGeeks first reported the airline's final 747 flights in March 2020. The first of its last two superjumbos left Sydney on Tuesday around 9:30 a.m. It flew first to Los Angeles. From there,…
In an aviation world, where the number of large-capacity aircraft are becoming fewer and fewer, it is always a somber day to see even more retired. Unfortunately, another operator of the 747 has retired its final so-called Queen of the Skies. After nearly 30 years of operating variants of the…
On June 2, Air Canada operated the final mainline flight of the Boeing 767-300ER. Flight AC439 departed Montreal-Trudeau Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time and arrived at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport at 7:27 p.m. local time. The final flight marked the end of a 37-year era for Air Canada's 767s.…
With the retirement of Delta’s McDonnell-Douglas MD-88s, the chapter for the MD-80 series in North America and the world closes for major airlines. However, it is more than just the metal fuselage that will see service decrease as the engine that once powered numerous aircraft types is falling silently into…
The McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 have officially exited Delta's fleet after flying their last scheduled flights on Tuesday after being part of the active fleet and a steady workhorse for Delta for 33 years and 25 years respectively. The MD-88 and MD-90 will be replaced with newer, more efficient…
Air France has announced it will immediately retire its Airbus A380 fleet following the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The airline was due to retire nine A380s from its fleet by 2022, however, the French flag carrier has brought this date forward. In a statement, the airline said: "In the…
As airlines continue to struggle through the virtually nonexistent travel associated with the coronavirus pandemic, they are looking for as many places as possible to cut down on costs in an effort to save money. Many airlines have grounded large portions of their fleets, including inefficient jumbo jets that they…
The global COVID-19 crisis has impacted aviation profoundly as airlines quickly adapt to crippling demand for air travel and a new reality of border restrictions, grounded jets and seeing sub 20 percent flight load factors. Over 85 airlines across the globe have announced a temporary halt in flight operations and…
