‘WELCOME TO PERTH’: Rooftop Sign Scares Passengers Flying Into Sydney Airport

A “welcome to Perth” sign painted on a building rooftop is scaring fliers descending to Sydney airport into thinking they have been flown to the wrong Australian city. The prank was spotted by a passenger coming into land at the country’s busiest airport and shared on Reddit. The building, in the Sydney suburb of Sydenham, is directly on the flight path. The building owner, Brad Heasman, told Australia’s Traveller he has been quietly waiting for someone to notice it since painting it three… (www.independent.co.uk) Plus d'info...

Brawl, Exploding Cell Phone on Flight Leads to Emergency Landing

A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing when a brawl broke out in the air on Wednesday, and a phone reportedly "exploded." It's the latest in a long string of passenger-related incidents to occur on Southwest planes this year. A flight from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday was diverted to Pensacola, Florida to let off two passengers, an unidentified man and a woman traveling together who allegedly got into a scuffle. What triggered the fight is… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

United Airlines says it, too, won't hire unvaccinated workers

United Airlines is following in Delta's flight path in saying it won't hire employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19. "As we welcome new employees to the company, it's important we instill in them United's strong commitment to safety," the carrier stated in a memo to employees. "Effective for all job offers made after June 15, 2021, we will require any external candidates for U.S.-based jobs to attest that they have been fully vaccinated against… (www.cbsnews.com) Plus d'info...

Frontier Airlines plane overshoots runway at Reagan airport near D.C., comes to a stop in the grass

A Frontier Airlines flight overshot the runway at Reagan International Airport near Washington, D.C., on Friday night before coming to a stop in a grassy area, according to reports. Frontier Flight 538 from Denver landed at 10:30 p.m. ET, according to FOX 5 in D.C. No injuries were reported. (www.foxnews.com) Plus d'info...

US formally retires Open Skies aircraft

The retirement of the second Boeing OC-135B aircraft, tail number 670, came some seven months after the former Trump administration ended US participation in the international treaty on 22 November 2022. “The 55th Wing has supported the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and travelled around the world as part of the Open Skies Treaty mission since 1996,” the US Air Force (USAF) said, adding, “A 45th Reconnaissance Squadron aircrew will now fly the aircraft to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base [AFB],… (www.janes.com) Plus d'info...

Airbus Delivers Delta’s 50th A220 Aircraft

Today marked the delivery of Delta’s 50th Airbus A220 aircraft. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

United won't furlough flight attendants in October as demand rebounds

United Airlines' flight attendants will not be furloughed when federal aid meant to protect U.S. airline workers during the coronavirus pandemic expires on Oct. 1, according to a staff memo, thanks to a travel rebound. The fate of U.S. airline workers has shifted dramatically in the three months since the industry won a third payroll support package in March. As more Americans receive COVID-19 vaccines, travel demand has surged, driving the need for more workers. John Slater, United's… (www.yahoo.com) Plus d'info...

Southwest Orders Another 34 Boeing 737 MAX 7 Aircraft

Southwest Airlines has placed a firm order for an additional 34 Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft, citing improved travel revenue trends. (www.gatechecked.com) Plus d'info...

Boeing Has Had Net Positive Orders For Four Consecutive Months

Boeing grew its net order book by 20 planes in May as the aircraft manufacturer posted its fourth consecutive month of net positive orders. Boeing took orders for 73 aircraft across May, but it also had 53 cancelations and conversions. So far this year, Boeing’s net order book has grown by 177 aircraft. (simpleflying.com) Plus d'info...

Delta flight diverted after passenger became "threat"

A Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York was diverted to Detroit Thursday night after a passenger became unruly, the carrier says. The pilot told other passengers the unruly one became "a threat," forcing the diversion, according to "CBS This Morning Saturday" co-host Dana Jacobson, who was on board. Flight 1131 was heading from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to JFK International Airport when it was sent to Detroit Metro Airport. Jacobson tweeted,… (www.yahoo.com) Plus d'info...

United to Split 200-Jet Order Between Boeing, Airbus

United Airlines (UAL.O) is in talks to buy around 200 single-aisle jets in a multibillion-dollar revamp set to benefit both Boeing (BA.N) and Airbus (AIR.PA), industry sources said (www.reuters.com) Plus d'info...

Boeing 767 Sunset Takeoff at JFK

Video of United Airlines 767-300ER takeoff at JFK. (www.youtube.com) Plus d'info...

Former USAF Pilot Turned Airline Pilot Pulls No Punches in B737 Critique

Former Air Force C-17 Pilot Candidly Compares Flying the Globemaster to the Boeing 737, including His Experience with Military Training Versus Airline Training (news.google.com) Plus d'info...

Jeff Bezos to be on first Blue Origin space flight next month

Jeff Bezos said on Monday that he would be on board when his rocket company, Blue Origin, conducts its first human spaceflight next month. He said his brother Mark Bezos would join him on the flight. Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Mr. Bezos in 2000, is also auctioning off a passenger seat on the New Shepard, a suborbital spacecraft that is set to take off on July 20. Bidding has reached almost $3 million with nearly 6,000 participants from 143 countries, the company said. (www.nytimes.com) Plus d'info...

Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation Announces Agreement to Sell Atlantic Aviation to KKR for $4.475 Billion

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: MIC) and KKR today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for MIC to sell its Atlantic Aviation business to KKR for $4.475 billion in cash and assumed debt and reorganization obligations. Atlantic Aviation operates one of the largest networks of fixed base operations (FBOs) in the U.S. providing a full suite of critical services to the private aviation sector. (www.businesswire.com) Plus d'info...

Boeing's big China problem

The Boeing 737 Max is back in the air, and air travel is finally rebounding, helping restart orders for new planes. But Boeing is still facing a major problem that could cripple the company for years to come — US-China trade tensions. China is by far the largest and most important market for aircraft purchases. It is estimated the country will account for a quarter of commercial aircraft sales globally over the next 10 years. But in an age of US-Chinese trade tensions only 1% of Boeing's… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

South Africa agrees to privatize troubled SAA airline

South Africa's government announced Friday it would sell a majority stake in cash-strapped flag carrier SAA to a consortium that includes the operator of a local budget airline, effectively privatizing it. The airline, which is emerging from a rescue plan, will effectively be privatized as investors will hold a majority stake. "Having evaluated the current environment, government has agreed to the (strategic equity partner) owning of 51 percent of the shareholding and government 49… (www.msn.com) Plus d'info...

Texan F-16 Viper Appears In Vietnam-Era Green And Tan Camouflage

The latest in a long line of U.S. Air Force heritage schemes is a special one, indeed, recalling the service’s combat during the Vietnam War, when hundreds of aircraft were adorned in these shades of green and tan. While the Southeast Asia camouflage scheme is a well-known one, this is very likely the first time an F-16 fighter jet has appeared in these colors. (www.thedrive.com) Plus d'info...

Inside Victorville Airport, 400 Pandemic-Stricken Airliners Face an Uncertain Future

ComAv Technical Services, located at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, is one of the largest aircraft storage facilities on the globe with total capacity for over 500 commercial aircraft. The largest leaseholder on the property, the company just about reached its capacity in 2020 and has been riding the waves of the Covid-19 pandemic ever since. (airlinegeeks.com) Plus d'info...