Airlines

Qantas adds New York flights with new aircraft, designer PJs & menu items

Qantas Announces New Non-Stop Direct Flights from Perth to Paris

Qantas has taken delivery of brand-new 787 Dreamliner aircraft to operate the route and has released a selection of exclusive onboard passenger products as it prepares to resume flights to New York for the first time since 2020.

The national carrier will begin offering three weekly flights from Sydney to New York on June 14; those flights will increase to four weekly in October. For the first time, the route will stop in Auckland en route to New York before continuing on a 17+ hour direct journey. The flight had previously used Los Angeles as a stopover.

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The relaunch of the New York flights brings Qantas closer to returning to 100 percent of its international network pre-COVID capacity by March 2024. For a limited time, Business Class customers on the New York route will be offered a navy sleeper suit featuring a monogram of the Qantas “Roo” and Rebecca Vallance logo, incorporating the flight numbers QF3 and QF4 and a bespoke New York heart design.

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They will also receive a custom-created Rebecca Vallance amenity kit, with a matching eyeshade instead of the Koskela amenity kit being rolled out across the international network. A small number of the collectible PJ and amenity kit sets will be available for purchase on Qantas Marketplace for $69 (plus delivery) or 12,000 Qantas Points (plus delivery).

New York inspired menu items across QF3, QF4 premium cabins

New York style spaghetti and meatballs
Classic Reuben sandwich
NY bagel with lox, cream cheese, capers and lemon
General Tso chicken with smashed cucumber salad, steamed rice and broccolini
Classic beef hot dog with sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard
Seared beef fillet with creamed spinach and baked potato with sour cream and chives
Pecan pie with crème fraiche
New York style baked cheesecake with blueberry compote

The Qantas First Lounges in Sydney and Melbourne and the Auckland International Lounge will feature a New York-inspired dish of the day for the month of June, along with Manhattan Spritz and Garibaldi cocktails.

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.