Airlines

British Airways operates first flight with all-black crew

The first flight with an all-Black crew was flown by British Airways for the first time in the company’s history. The crew worked on a flight that took off from Bridgetown, Barbados, and returned along the same path from London’s Heathrow airport.” A very monumental day in BA’s history. So grateful to have been a part of this,” a British Airways employee tweeted along with the hashtags #WeMadeHistory #BlackHistory.

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British Airways First Ever All Black crew flight BA255 to Barbados.
This included the flight crew, onboard crew, ground staff, gate team and the dispatcher.
A very monumental day in BA’s history. So grateful to have been apart of this. #WeMadeHistory #BlackHistory
❤️?? pic.twitter.com/wkvZSkyE5O

— KING Pip (@__Epiphanyy) February 10, 2023

One of the airline’s employees tweeted, “A very significant day in the history of BA. I’m really happy I got to take part in this.” Photos of the flight attendants in the terminal and on the stairs of the aircraft were also included in the post. One tourist wrote that when the pilot announced that the entire crew consisted of Black personnel, the passengers applauded.

I am on the first ever @British_Airways all black crew from #Barbados to #London. What pride! We clapped when the pilot announced this.#Diversity #RepresentationMatters

— Matthew Wilson (@Matthewbarbados) February 9, 2023

“We’re proud to have supported our Be ME (Being of a Minority Ethnicity) colleague network group to organize British Airways’ first ever all-Black colleague flight, celebrating the contribution our Black colleagues make to the airline and highlighting how important representation and role models are to drive greater diversity,” a British Airways representative said in an interview with Insider.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.