Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Jetstar Australia has officially launched non-stop flights between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The inaugural flight departed Sydney on December 12, 2024, at 10:20 local time. After a flight time of roughly three hours and 30 minutes, the A321neo aircraft arrived in Vanuatu at 13:50 local time.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Star Alliance carrier United Airlines is rapidly growing its fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft. The airline now has 25 of the next-generation models in its fleet and was spotted flying one of the planes to Hawaii on what could potentially be a proving flight for future routes with the type to Hawaii.
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Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Boeing plans to invest $1 billion in infrastructure upgrades at the 787 Dreamliner production home in Charleston County, South Alabama. On December 12, 2024, the US planemaker said the billion-dollar investment in Boeing South Carolina (BSC) should also fund 500 new jobs over the next five years. For more than a decade, workers at Boeing South Carolina have been assembling 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft, providing jobs for 7,800 people across its airport and North Campuses in North Charleston,
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
According to Airways Magazine , Airbus first began working on the A340 in the 1970s. At the time, the European manufacturer needed to make a plane that could compete with Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. The A340 was advertised as a replacement for the Boeing 707-300 and the Douglas DC-8.
Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
On December 12, 2024, Korean Air celebrated 30 years of serving non-stop flights between Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). To mark the anniversary, the airline awarded a complimentary round-trip economy class ticket between Atlanta and Seoul to the 30th passenger checking in for flight KE036 to Seoul.
Airline Geeks
DECEMBER 13, 2024
The Atlanta-based airline typically uses the Airbus A330-900neo aircraft on long-haul routes from its Pacific Northwest hub.
Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Turkish Airlines is set to add five additional Airbus A321 neo aircraft to its fleet after reaching a lease agreement with Ireland-based SMBC Aviation Capital. Under the agreement announced on December 12, 2024, Turkeys flag carrier will receive the Airbus A321 neo jets next year, marking yet another important step in the airlines fleet expansion and modernization strategy.
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Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
After years spent developing countless renderings, concept experimentation and tests, the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft industry appears poised to finally make its public debut. But which country will be the first to launch an eVTOL into service remains to be seen. Will it be the Middle East, where Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia have rolled out the red carpet for eVTOL developers?
One Mile at a Time
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Competition in Seattle is heating up across the Pacific, as Delta is upgrading several routes to its flagship aircraft. Delta replaces A330-900neos with A350-900s in Seattle Delta has a hub in Seattle (SEA), whereby the airline flies both cross the Atlantic and Pacific. Transatlantic destinations include Amsterdam (AMS), London (LHR), and Paris (CDG), while transpacific destinations include Seoul (ICN), Shanghai (PVG), Taipei (TPE), and Tokyo (HND).
Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
China Southern Airlines maiden flight from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) took to the skies on December 13, 2024. Flight CZ 5026 departed Sydney at 21:29, and at the time of writing it is en route to Beijing, with an estimated arrival time of 05:27 local time on December 14, 2024, after a flight time of 10 hours and 58 minutes.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
The small Gulf State of Bahrain has signed a contract to order nine Airbus H145 helicopters (formerly called the Eurocopter EC145). The H145 is a twin-engine light utility helicopter built by Airbus based on the MBB/Kawaski BK 117 C1. In November 2024, Simple Flying reported Airbus had delivered the first of up to 82 H145M helicopters hastily ordered by the German Army.
Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
In the third of a series of six articles, Gavin Eccles, Professor of Aviation at Universidade Lusfona, will address how airlines look at network planning and route development, and how airports and destinations can benefit from knowing how carriers think when preparing a new route. Gavins previous roles have included development in British Airways, as well as consultancy projects for United Airlines, American Airlines, Qantas, and supporting the development of low-cost airlines to touristic dest
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Over a dozen global airlines - including British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines - are set to integrate Apples 'Find My' network into their baggage recovery procedures. A new 'Share Item Location' feature in Apple's recent iOS 18.2 update will allow users to share location information with third parties, such as airlines, to expedite tracking down mishandled baggage.
Aerotime
DECEMBER 13, 2024
TrustFlight Ltd. (TrustFlight), a technology innovator focused on the digitization of the aviation industry, today announced that North Star Companies, a premier aviation service provider based in Minnesota, has selected TrustFlights Safety Management, Quality Management, and Risk Management platform, Centrik 5, for real-time operational management of their flight training, FBO, and aircraft maintenance services.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
New details are emerging about Boeings current workforce reduction process that will affect thousands of workers in the coming months. The plane manufacturer is trimming its employee count as it looks to rebuild its business after a brutal year that has seen serious questions being raised about its manufacturing quality, tight FAA regulations, as well as a debilitating workers strike.
One Mile at a Time
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Royal Jordanian is currently undergoing an impressivefleet modernization and expansion. When it comes to wide body jets, the airline currently has seven Boeing 787-8s, and it plans to acquire six more Boeing 787-9s in the coming years, which basically doubles long haul capacity. So, what exactly does the oneworld carrier have planned? We now have a sense of what to expect.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Occasionally, Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II (aka Panther) development has been compared to the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark (aka Pig). Recently, a noted electric vehicle, rocket, and social media investor and also a noted futurist posted on X (aka Twitter) thoughts about the F-35s development while we at Simple Flying have covered the F-35 and F-111 in recent months.
Vintage Aviation News
DECEMBER 13, 2024
This update comes from Scott Thompson of Aero Vintage. The B-17G formerly known as Yankee Lady, serial number 44-85829, is currently undergoing disassembly at the Erickson Aircraft Collection facility in Madras, Oregon. Recent photos shared in a Facebook post reveal significant progress, with the propellers, engines, and outboard wing sections removed.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
A fascinating commercial aviation drama is currently playing out at AustinBergstrom International Airport (AUS). In a market dominated by Southwest Airlines, which has nearly half of the flights at the airport, two legacy carriers, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines , have been duking it out for second place. Each has been trying to turn Austin into a profitable focus city.
Flight Training Central
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Thousands of simulated Instrument Rating written exams are completed every month in Sporty’s Instrument Course , but certain topics consistently trip up IFR pilots. These commonly missed questions often relate to IFR regulations, ATC clearances, meteorology, and complex instrument procedures. Understanding why these questions are frequently misunderstood can help test-takers better prepare and avoid making costly mistakes.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
A proposed skyscraper in downtown Oklahoma raises concern for the Federal Aviation Administration , as the country's tallest skyscraper could affect flight operations.
Fear of Landing
DECEMBER 13, 2024
On the 25th of November 2024, a Boeing 737-400 crashed on final approach to Vilnius airport with one fatality. The 31-year-old cargo aircraft, registered in Spain as EC-MFE, was operated by Swiftair on behalf of the German logistics group DHL for a routine cargo flight from Leipzig, Germany, to Vilnius, Lithuania. There were four crew onboard, two of whom were likely to have been in the jumpseats for repositioning.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Ryanair is an airline that has long been comically associated with cutting costs by whatever means. From jokes about charging for toilet usage to the carrier's own Twitter/X account leaning into its thrifty reputation, it has become a part of the overall Ryanair experience.
Airline Geeks
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Air Canada announced plans to roll out fast, free streaming-quality Wi-Fi across its fleet, starting with Aeroplan members in May 2025.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
News about Boeing continues to get worse as more revelations from current and former employees come to light. One of the most recent revelations comes via reporting from the CBS program 60 Minutes, with workers telling the media outlet that Boeing used faulty or nonconforming parts to keep the assembly line moving and meet delivery targets.
Airline Geeks
DECEMBER 13, 2024
A new major update to the pilot simulation video gameInfinite Flight has added the Boeing 737 MAX as its 60th aircraft to pick from.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
The flight was operated with a 2009 Boeing 777-300ER.
Airline Geeks
DECEMBER 13, 2024
The animal designs are typically rather large and colorful, making Frontiers fleet easily recognizable among travelers and aviation enthusiasts.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
In the last two days, Australia's leading low-fare carrier, Jetstar, has launched three new international routes using three different aircraft types from airports in Brisbane, Sydney and Sunshine Coast. The new nonstop services have left those ports for New Zealand, Vanuatu and Thailand, respectively, with the flight to Bangkok still in the air at the time of writing.
AV Web
DECEMBER 13, 2024
The FAA says those who have their medicals denied under a new deferral processing policy will not necessarily be disqualified from obtaining medical certification through BasicMed. Effective Jan.1, anyone whose medical deferral is not accompanied by all the necessary paperwork and reports will have their medical denied. A medical denial makes a pilot ineligible for BasicMed and Sport Pilot.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
A change to Southwest Airlines ' retirement benefits that went into effect in August has allowed pilots to increase their retirement savings, USA Today reported on Thursday. The new Market-Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP), which is a result of the airline's contract discussions with the pilots union , enables pilots to save more for retirement than is possible with a traditional 401(k) plan.
One Mile at a Time
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Marriott Bonvoy is making an update to the upgrade instruments that elite members can earn, partially reversing a change that was made earlier this year (thanks to LoyaltyLobby for flagging this). Nightly Upgrade Awards now clear up to 3-5 days out Nightly Upgrade Awards (NUAs) are Marriott Bonvoys upgrade certificates, each of which can be used to request a confirmed upgrade several days in advance.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Dassault Aviation is one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. The company's offerings of private jets make it the largest private aviation manufacturer in Europe.
One Mile at a Time
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Some airline frequent flyer programs offer household accounts, whereby you can pool the points that several people earn, in order to unlock award redemptions more quickly. This sounds exciting, but there are always at least some restrictions. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has just introduced household accounts for all members, and thats potentially nice flexibility to have.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
On Thursday, December 12, an American Airlines flight was diverted to New York John F. Kennedy Airport after experiencing bird strike on take-off from La Guardia.
One Mile at a Time
DECEMBER 13, 2024
During my quick trip to Japan & Korea , I had the chance to check out the SkyTeam Lounge Vancouver Airport, prior to my Korean Air Boeing 787-10 business class flight to Seoul Incheon. The SkyTeam Lounge Vancouver is what most SkyTeam premium passengers will visit, and its also open to Priority Pass members. On the plus side, the lounge has a fairly decent selection of food and drinks.
Simple Flying
DECEMBER 13, 2024
Entomologists at the US Department of Agriculture recently confirmed that US Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport successfully intercepted two insect pests that posed a threat to local agriculture.
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