A321XLR First Flight – Flying Xtra Long Range

Hamburg, 15 June 2022 – Airbus’ first A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) has successfully accomplished its first flight. The aircraft, MSN 11000, took off from Hamburg-Finkenwerder Airport at 11:05 hrs CEST for a test flight which lasted approximately four hours and 35 minutes. The aircraft’s crew consisted of experimental test pilots Thierry Diez and GabrielDiaz de…

Read more

Insight into Coulson Aviation’s Large Air Tanker Operations and Behind the Scenes Preparations

Western Australia, 23 January 2020 – Have you ever wondered who flies these massive firefighting aircraft and how they operate? Already this year, since January 2nd the Large Air Tankers [LAT] have conducted 23 drops in Western Australia on bushfires for a total of 346,000 litres of retardant. Operating these aircraft are highly experienced crew…

Read more

What aircraft are stored at Kemble?

Kemble, 11 October 2020 – Costwold Airport, formerly Kemble Airfield, is synonymous with aircraft scrapping as the operating base of Air Salvage International. Air Salvage International, in particular, describe themselves as Europe’s leading aircraft decommissioning company. So what aircraft are stored at Kemble? What are the aircraft histories? How and why did they end up…

Read more

Virgin Atlantic files for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in the US amidst growing pressure to finalise a rescue plan

New York, 4 August 2020 – This morning Virgin Atlantic Airways filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in the US – staving off debtors whilst the airline attempts to finalise a rescue plan in the UK courts. Following in the footsteps of fellow Virgin Group airlines; Virgin Australia and TigerAir, Virgin Atlantic Airways has begun proceedings…

Read more

First Vistara Airbus A321neo Delivered Feature Flat Bed Business Class

Delhi, 25 July 2020 – Vistara is raising the service bar by introducing flat-bed seats in Business Class onboard its new Airbus A321neo fleet. Vistara, a TATA Group and SIA (Singapore International Airline) joint venture started in 2014, has received its first Airbus A321neo registered VT-TVA and is powered by 2x CFM LEAP1A engines. The…

Read more

First of Twelve Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners Delivered to British Airways

London, 28 June 2020 – British Airways took delivery of it’s first of twelve 787-10s which landed at the airline’s main base of operation shortly before midday today. Delivery of the first aircraft, G-ZBLA, had been delayed a number of times since it’s original delivery date pencilled in for January 2020. The aviation world has…

Read more

The French Farewell: Corsair Retires Boeing 747 Fleet After 29 Years!

Kemble – 15 June 2020 – Corsair, France’s largest long-haul leisure airline, today officially ended Boeing 747 operations after 29 years by flying its sole remaining 747-400 from Paris Orly International Airport, France to Kemble Cotswolds Airport in the United Kingdom. The aircraft in question, F-GTUI, was rolled off the production line in 1992 as…

Read more

Aeroflot takes delivery of its first A350-900

Toulouse, 28 February 2020 – Aeroflot, the Russian flag carrier and member of the SkyTeam alliance, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-900, becoming the launch operator of the latest generation widebody aircraft in Eastern Europe and CIS. Aeroflot’s A350-900 features a distinctive new livery embracing its almost 100-year heritage. Aeroflot has a total…

Read more

Indian Government places national airline, Air India, up for sale – again!

Indian authorities are once again trying to sell their stake in struggling national carrier Air India. Following years of financial dismay the Indian Government have finally decided to try their luck at selling the struggling flag carrier again, following a previous attempt in 2018 to sell 76% of the government’s stake which resulted in unfruitful…

Read more

ANA to Receive Third FLYING HONU A380 from Airbus

TOKYO, Jan. 9, 2020 – All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for seven consecutive years, will be launching the third of its specially designed “FLYING HONU” Airbus A380s, allowing for ANA to offer both daily flights between Narita and Honolulu on these unique aircraft. ANA currently provides two flights daily on the…

Read more

WestJet adds Halifax to Manchester from June 2020

WestJet Airlines (WS/WJA) have today announced they will commence direct scheduled flights between Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ/CYHZ) in Canada and Manchester Airport (MAN/EGCC) in the United Kingdom. The first departure from Halifax will be on Friday 5th June 2020, returning from Manchester on Saturday 6th June 2020. The route will be operated using WestJet…

Read more

Russian Nuclear Bombers Visit South Africa

Russia landed two nuclear-capable bombers in South Africa on a training mission on Wednesday 23rd October 2019, a flight seemingly timed to coincide with President Vladimir Putin’s opening of a flagship Russia-Africa summit designed to increase Russian influence in the continent. The two Tupolev Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ strategic bombers touched down at Waterkloof Air Force base…

Read more

Lion Air Recommence Boeing 747 Operations

Lion Air of Indonesia have recently recommenced Boeing 747-400 operations. The last remaining aircraft in their fleet is PK-LHG. This aircraft entered storage at Kualanamu International Airport (KNO/WIMM), Indonesia in March 2017. In November 2017 PK-LHG was transferred to Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (CGK/WIII) until May 2018 when the airframe returned to the sky operating to…

Read more

New Saudia Arabian Airlines Riyadh to Manchester Service

New Saudia Arabian Airlines Riyadh to Manchester service is due to begin on the 23rd June 2017. We understand that the aircraft type assigned to the route will be the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Introduction will bring Saudia operations at Manchester to daily, in addition to the existing Jeddah to Manchester sectors. Saudia only recently increased the frequency of the JED-MAN route…

Read more