March, 2025

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Air France-KLM Group makes €300 million offer to take control of Air Europa

Aerotime

The Air France-KLM Group has reportedly tabled an offer of 300 million ($330 million) to take a controlling stake in Spanish carrier Air Europa. The move places the Franco-Dutch airline consortium in the running to take control of the Spanish airline with Germanys Lufthansa Group, which until now, had been considered as the clear favorite to take a majority shareholding in the Madrid-based airline.

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With Southwest’s Big Change, It’s Time to Rethink the Network

Cranky Flier

Thanks to Southwest’s elimination of its differentiators, both United CEO Scott Kirby and Delta President Glen Hauenstein said last week that in competitive markets, Southwest’s customers are up for grabs. Scott took things further in his chat at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference as he explained what should happen next. I think the far bigger thing… it’s the slaying of a sacred cow.

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Airline Demand Between Canada & United States Collapses, Down 70%+

One Mile at a Time

Recently, I wrote about how were seeing a general softening of demand for travel to the United States, for a variety of reasons. Theres no denying that the most contentious situation is between Canada and the United States, and we now have some data that shows just how extreme the change in demand is. Transborder flight bookings are down by 70%+ Weve known that travel demand between Canada and the United States has been decreasing, both by air and by roads.

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Pilot Actions May Have Contributed To Endeavor Air CRJ-900 Crash

AV Web

Pilot actions, including an excessive rate of descent, may have contributed to the Feb. 17 crash of an Endeavor Air CRJ-900 at Toronto Pearson International Airport, according to a preliminary report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The TSB report noted that the aircraft descended too quickly, striking the runway and causing the right main landing gear to collapse.

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Messerschmitt Me 262 Flies Again: Military Aviation Museum’s Replica Returns to the Skies

Vintage Aviation News

On a quiet Virginia afternoon, the Military Aviation Museum ‘s Messerschmitt Me 262 replica returned to the skies for the first time in over a decade. The museums chief pilot, Mike Spalding, took off at 3:14 PM and landed safely at 3:45 PM, marking a significant milestone in the aircrafts journey back to operational status. Back in February, the Military Aviation Museum announced that its Me 262 replica was on track to return to flight , with the goal of making an appearance at EAA AirVent

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Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 Nearly Takes Off From Taxiway In Orlando

Simple Flying

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating after a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 nearly departed from a taxiway at Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Thursday. The incident occurred amid a busy morning at the airport, as Spring Break peak travel is in full swing.

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Alaska Airlines Flight 261: Investigating what caused the tragedy

Aerotime

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was one of the worst aviation disasters in modern US history. What should have been a routine flight turned into a tragedy after a part of the tail assembly failed. Twenty-five years on from this terrible accident, we look back at what led up to the crash, what was learned from it, and why the pilots Ted Thompson and Bill Tansky are now hailed as heroes for their actions during the incident.

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New Air France La Premiere First Class: Stunning, Elegant, Chic!

One Mile at a Time

Its a big day for Air France, Europes most premium airline. The airline has today unveiled its new first class product (marketed as La Premiere), as part of a project that has been over three years in the making. For context, Air Frances current first class was introduced over a decade ago, in 2014, and continues to be very competitive to this day. Now the airline is launching a new cabin, designed in partnership with Frances STELIA Aerospace, that will no doubt lead the industry for the next de

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Airbus Planning Open Rotor Engine For A320 Replacement

AV Web

Airbus says it is considering using an open rotor engine on its replacement for the A320. The company has been working with CFM to develop the engine, which has primary and secondary counterrotating turbine vanes on the outside of the engines rather than being encased in a nacelle. Exposing the turbines makes the bypass ratio a lot bigger and that improves efficiency.

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Today in Aviation History: P-51C Mustang ‘Thunderbird’ Sets Transcontinental Speed Record

Vintage Aviation News

Seventy-six years ago today, on March 29, 1949, the P-51C Mustang Thunderbird set a new transcontinental speed record in the United States. Flown by former Army Major Joseph C. De Bona, Thunderbird departed Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California, at approximately 6:20 AM. Over the next five hours, the cobalt-blue Mustang carved a path into the record books, cruising at 30,000 feet and averaging an astonishing 490.625 miles per hour.

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Korean Air Stuns With New Livery As Part Of Major Brand Refresh

Simple Flying

On Tuesday, Korean Air unveiled its first new corporate identity in 41 years by pulling the curtain back on a gleaming Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner adorned with a bold and distinctive livery. The event took place in a Korean Air hangar in Seoul in front of more than 1,000 enthusiastic guests, including employees, industry leaders and international and domestic media.

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Hong Kong Airlines crew race to extinguish midflight overhead bin fire: video 

Aerotime

A panicked Hong Kong Airlines flight crew raced to extinguish a fire using bottles of water after a blaze reportedly broke out in an overhead bin during a flight. Video posted on social media on March 20, 2025, showed crew members and passengers scrambling to douse the blaze as the pilot initiated an emergency landing. Hong Kong Airlines confirmed to local media that the fire aboard an Airbus A320-200 was successfully extinguished and flight HX115 landed safely at Fuzhou Changle International Ai

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As Uncertainty Reigns Over Washington, American Cuts Back

Cranky Flier

To say it has been a whirlwind month for those who live in Washington, DC would be an understatement. It has been an absolutely insane month, truth be told. Now, American is pulling back at its primary airport in the region, Washington/National, or DCA, and I’m guessing that these two things are directly related. Just think about everything that region has had to endure since inauguration day.

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Game On!

Plane and Pilot

I dont exactly fit the standard pilot profile of Game Aerospaces GB1 GameBird But theres always been something about the GameBird that has piqued my interest. The sleek, sexy lines, aggressive facial-esque features, and more often than not, bright and flashy paint schemes make this aerobatic design stand out from the crowd. Never in a million years did I think I would get the chance to learn the ins and outs of this beautiful machine, until recently.

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NTSB Issues ‘Urgent’ Call to Prohibit DCA Helo Traffic

AV Web

At a Washington, D.C. press briefing this afternoon, National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy announced an urgent recommendation to the FAA to prohibit helicopter operations on the designated helicopter Route 4 near Washingtons Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) when Runway 15/33 is in operation. The announcement included release of the NTSB Preliminary Report on the January 29 nighttime midair collision involving a U.S.

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Work Continues On Savoia-Marchetti S.55X Reproduction After Volandia Unveiling

Vintage Aviation News

On Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Volandia Museum in Milan, Italy, the Savoia Marchetti Historical Group unveiled a full-size reproduction of the iconic Savoia-Marchetti S.55X seaplane , famously used by Italo Balbo in his historic transatlantic formation flight. In 1933, Balbo led a fleet of 24 S.55X flying boats from Orbetello, Italy, to Chicago to participate in the Century of Progress International Exposition, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the citys founding.

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How US Air Force Global Strike Command Gets Aircrew Fit To Fly B-52s For 33 Hours

Simple Flying

Pilots operating the B-52 Stratofortress endure some of the worlds most extended missions, often exceeding 30 hours. Sustaining concentration while crossing multiple time zones requires significant physical stamina and mental resilience. Health and fitness efforts for pilots focus on optimizing human performance, ensuring that aircrews effectively cope with fatigue, stress, as well as decision-making under persistent strain.

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SpaceX Starship explodes in space, FAA delays flights due to rocket debris 

Aerotime

SpaceXs Starship spacecraft has exploded in space shortly after taking off from Texas, leading the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reroute or delay air traffic in some areas of Florida and the Caribbean due to rocket debris. SpaceX confirmed they lost contact with the Starship rocket nine minutes and 30 seconds into its eighth test flight on March 6, 2025, as the spacecraft began tumbling to Earth.

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How the Airline Credit Card Financial Model Works (Very Well, Thanks for Asking)

Cranky Flier

This is a two-part series looking at airline credit cards. Today, we look at how it all works. Then tomorrow, we’ll ponder what happens if it all goes away. The airlines in the US have developed into a special kind of company… one that consistently loses money on its core business but makes up for it on financial services. This is thanks to the way banking laws work in the US.

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Airlines Serving The Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks

One Mile at a Time

When talking about drinks served in first and business class, understandably the focus is often on alcohol, especially great champagne. However, it goes without saying that not everyone drinks alcohol. For that matter, even many who usually drink may not want much alcohol when flying, since its not exactly great for beating jetlag. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to talk about the airlines that serve the best non-alcoholic beverages.

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FAA Introduces New Runway Incursion Device

AV Web

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is deploying runway safety technology upgrades at 74 air traffic control towers in the U.S., the agency announced Wednesday. The Runway Incursion Device (RID) is designed to assist air traffic controllers by providing real-time alerts when a runway is occupied or closed. With the ability to monitor up to eight runways simultaneously, the RID will replace various outdated systems currently in use at control towers, streamlining safety operations across th

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Protected: Vultures Row Aviation’s F4U Corsair Restorations Update

Vintage Aviation News

At Vultures Row Aviation, Chuck Wahl is reviving the legendary Vought F4U Corsair through meticulous restorations. The "Birdcage" Corsair (Bureau Number 02449) is nearing key milestones, including the installation of its landing gearthe first time on wheels since 1943. Chuck's dedication to preserving these warbirds goes beyond craftsmanship; its about keeping their legacy alive, one painstaking restoration at a time.

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Widebody Private Jet: A Look At The Private Boeing Business Jet 777 Jumbo Jet

Simple Flying

The Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 777 represents the pinnacle of private aviation, offering an unparalleled combination of range, space, and luxury. As a widebody private jet, the BBJ 777 is derived from Boeings proven 777 airframe but customized for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, heads of state, and corporations that demand the very best in long-haul private air travel.

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Embraer E2 jet becomes the largest aircraft to ever land at London-City Airport

Aerotime

Wednesday, March 26, 2025, marked another milestone in the 38-year history of London-City Airport (LCY), located in the Docklands area of East London just a stones throw from the financial and legal hub of Canary Wharf. At 12:01 local time, an Embraer E195-E2 regional jet operated by Helvetic Airways and registered HB-AZI touched down at the airport, simultaneously taking a place in the airports history books.

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Silver’s Plans Appear to Be Tarnished

Cranky Flier

As Spirit sails through Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and prepares to exit, fellow Florida-based airline Silver is not quite having the same luck. After a whole lot of drama, the airlines’s fleet is shrinking and it has cut back flights with no notice. Silver’s outlook is… cloudy… at best. After Silver stopped flying for Amazon’s Prime Air in 2023, the airline had 14 aircraft flying around Florida and the Caribbean.

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WOW: Southwest Will Start Charging For Checked Bags

One Mile at a Time

Its officially the end of an era for Southwest Airlines, and the airline will finally do what it has insisted for so long that it wouldnt even consider. Southwest cuts two free checked bags policy Southwest has long been known for offering two free checked bags to all passengers, regardless of the fare they book. This has been one of the major ways that the airline has differentiated itself from the competition.

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Wingtip Vortices and Wake Turbulence

Pilot Institute

What do you think happens to the air when an aircraft flies by? The exhaust coming out of aircraft engines looks pretty dangerous, generating huge amounts of thrust and pushing back tons of hot air. Would it surprise you to know that the most dangerous part of an aircrafts wake is not the engine exhaust? By far the strongest component of wake turbulence is the swirling air generated at the tips of the aircrafts wings.

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American Aero Services Completes Stunning Restoration of Combat Veteran 1943 P-51C Mustang

Vintage Aviation News

American Aero Services , the renowned aircraft restoration company based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has once again delivered an exceptional restoration. Their latest project, a rare dual-control 1943 North American TP-51C Mustang, has just been completed and is now available for sale through Platinum Fighter Sales. A Rare Dual-Control Mustang This aircraft, registered as N251MX, is a full dual-control “razorback” Mustang, meticulously restored to factory-fresh condition.

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US Airlines To Take The Netherlands To Court If Capacity Cap Is Applied At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Simple Flying

US airline trade association Airlines for America (A4A) has warned Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) it will take legal action if the airport goes ahead with planned flight reductions. The airport is looking to cut over 4% of flight movements as it tackles noise pollution, but US airlines have said they will contest the flight cap in court, arguing that the 'Balanced Approach' ethos has not been met sufficiently by the airport.

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REGENT Craft conducts first sea trial of full-scale ground-in-wing Seaglider 

Aerotime

REGENT Craft successfully conducted the first sea trial of a full-scale seaglider carrying passengers onboard on March 6, 2025. The seaglider that conducted this test was a prototype of the Viceroy electrically powered wing-in-ground vehicle, designed to carry up to 12 passengers. Ground-in-wing vehicles make use of the laws of aerodynamics to move at high speeds just a few meters above the surface of the sea.

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For the First Time Ever, I’m Chasing Elite Status… and I Already Regret It

Cranky Flier

I have never cared about elite status, not even a little bit. Would an upgrade be nice? Sure, but I don’t travel enough to have high enough status to think that I’d ever actually get one. And I’m not tall, so I really don’t care much about extra legroom either. Living in Southern California, there are different airlines that are better for different routes.

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Qantas Airbus A350-1000 & Project Sunrise: 2027 Launch (Delay)

One Mile at a Time

Qantas has a couple of dozen Airbus A350s on order, which will be used to operate the worlds longest nonstop flights, like Sydney to New York. Theres a lot to be excited about with these aircraft, but well have to be patient. These planes were first supposed to enter service in 2025. Then in early 2024, it was announced that these flights were pushed back to 2026.

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Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways stop Mogadishu flights after US Embassy warning

Aerotime

It is understood that Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways have cancelled flights to and from Mogadishu, Somalia, following a warning from the US of a potential imminent attack at Aden Adde International Airport (MGQ). On March 4, 2025, after tracking credible information the US Embassy in Somalia issued an alert indicating multiple locations in the country, including Mogadishus airport, were at risk of attack.

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Air France-KLM Group reports revenues up 4.8% in 2024 despite cost headwinds  

Aerotime

Air France-KLM Group has released its latest set of figures for both the final quarter of 2024 (4Q24) as well as its full-year results. The results, announced on March 6, 2025, are generally favourable, with capacity increasing and the Franco-Dutch airline group benefitting from the use of more efficient aircraft. However, KLM is finding headwinds are hampering its overall performance, with a range of cost-cutting measures being actioned to improve its position in 2025 and beyond.

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Korean Air and Boeing finally sign off on ‘landmark order’ for up to 50 new jets

Aerotime

Korean Air and Boeing have finally signed off on a long-anticipated order for up to 50 brand-new widebody jets, having first announced the potential agreement at Farnborough Airshow last year. The finalized order, announced on March 26, 2025, includes 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20 787-10s, with options for 10 additional 787 Dreamliners in the future. Boeing has described the agreement as a landmark order between two companies with a business partnership that stretches back half a century.

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ITA Airways moves to Lufthansa terminals in Frankfurt and Munich airports  

Aerotime

Germanys Lufthansa Group has declared that, from summer 2025, all ITA Airways flights at Frankfurt and Munich airports will be managed from Lufthansa terminals. On March 30, 2025, the German airline group announced that this change means ITA and other Lufthansa Group airlines will operate under one roof at all the Group’s hubs. The move follows a previous announcement in February 2025 , where the German airline outlined detailed plans for incorporating the newly acquired Italian carrier in

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JAL to order 17 additional Boeing 737-8 as part of fleet update

Aerotime

Japan Airlines (JAL) announced it will order an additional 17 Boeing 737 MAX 8 on top of its March 2023 order for 21 of the aircraft type. The Japanese flag carrier intends to replace its single-aisle Boeing 737-800 aircraft with the B737-8 on domestic routes. Renewing the fleet in line with supply and demand will further enhance profitability, the airline said.

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