Latest News.
QANTAS FAREWELLS “QUEEN OF THE SKIES”
Qantas will today mark the end of an era with the departure of the national carrier’s last Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
The final 747-400 in the fleet (registration VH-OEJ) will depart Sydney at 2pm as flight number QF7474, bringing to an end five decades of history-making moments for the national carrier and aviation in Australia.
Qantas took delivery of its first 747 (a -200 series) in August 1971, the same year that William McMahon became Prime Minister, the first McDonalds opened in Australia and Eagle Rock by Daddy Cool topped the music charts. Its arrival – and its economics – made international travel possible for millions of people for the first time.
The fleet of 747 aircraft not only carried generations of Australians on their first overseas adventures, they also offered a safe voyage for hundreds of thousands of migrant families who flew to their new life in Australia on board a ‘roo tailed jumbo jet.
Qantas 747s were at the forefront of a number of important milestones for the airline, including the first Business Class cabin of any airline in the world. Their size, range and incredible reliability meant they were used for numerous rescue missions: flying a record 674 passengers out of Darwin in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy; evacuating Australians out of Cairo during political unrest in 2011 and flying medical supplies in and tourists home from the Maldives and Sri Lanka following the Boxing Day Tsunami in December 2004.
The last rescue missions the 747 flew for Qantas were to bring hundreds of stranded Australians home from the COVID-19 epicentre of Wuhan in February this year.
Qantas brought forward the scheduled retirement of the fleet by six months after the COVID-19 pandemic decimated international travel globally.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the 747 changed the face of Australian aviation and ushered in a new era of lower fares and non-stop flights.
“It’s hard to overstate the impact that the 747 had on aviation and a country as far away as Australia. It replaced the 707, which was a huge leap forward in itself but didn’t have the sheer size and scale to lower airfares the way the 747 did. That put international travel within reach of the average Australian and people jumped at the opportunity,” Mr Joyce said.
“This aircraft was well ahead of its time and extremely capable. Engineers and cabin crew loved working on them and pilots loved flying them. So did passengers. They have carved out a very special place in aviation history and I know they’ll be greatly missed by a lot of people, including me.
“Time has overtaken the 747 and we now have a much more fuel efficient aircraft with even better range in our fleet, such as the 787 Dreamliner that we use on Perth-London and hopefully before too long, the Airbus A350 for our Project Sunrise flights non-stop to New York and London,” added Mr Joyce.
Qantas has flown six different types of the 747, with Boeing increasing the aircraft’s size, range and capability over the years with the advent of new technology and engine types.
Qantas’s first female Captain, Sharelle Quinn, will be in command of the final flight and said the aircraft has a very special place in the hearts of not just Qantas staff, but aviation enthusiasts and travellers alike.
“I have flown this aircraft for 36 years and it has been an absolute privilege”, Captain Quinn said.
“From the Pope to pop stars, our 747’s have carried over 250 million people safely to their destinations. Over the decades, it’s also swooped in on a number of occasions to save Aussies stranded far from home.”
aptain Quinn added, “It has been a wonderful part of our history, a truly ground breaking aircraft and while we are sad to see our last one go, it’s time to hand over to the next generation of aircraft that are a lot more efficient.”
Captain Quinn and crew will fly the 747 to Los Angeles with a full cargo hold of freight before its final sector to the Mojave.
VH-OEJ is scheduled to depart Sydney at 2.00pm. Weather permitting, it will do a flyby of Sydney Harbour, CBD and northern and eastern suburbs beaches as well as a low level overfly of HARS Museum (Albion Park) where it will dip the wings in a final farewell to Qantas’ first 747-400, VH-OJA, which is preserved there.
The aircraft will then head out over the Pacific Ocean, as the sun sets on a 50-year love affair with Australians and their beloved Queen of The Skies.
Fast Facts
Flight number: QF7474
Aircraft registration: VH-OEJ
Aircraft name: Wunala
Year delivered: 2003 (30th July)
Airlines
Indigo contributed 31 crores to India’s political party for election funds
In a recent disclosure, it has come to light that Rahul Bhatia, the promoter of IndiGo, along with companies under his InterGlobe Group, has made significant donations totaling Rs 56 crore to four political parties. Additionally, SpiceJet, led by Ajay Singh, has contributed Rs 70 lakh to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The data further reveals that InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd, a part of the InterGlobe Group, purchased 11 electoral bonds valued at Rs 1 crore each on May 10, 2019, amounting to a total of Rs 11 crore. Similarly, Interglobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, acquired 5 electoral bonds worth Rs 1 crore each on October 23, 2023, totaling Rs 5 crore.
InterGlobe Real Estate Venture and InterGlobe Air Transport Ltd directed the lion’s share of their political contributions, totaling Rs 31 crore, to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Surprisingly, the second-largest recipient was the Trinamool Congress (TMC), receiving Rs 16.2 crore from Bhatia. Additionally, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd allocated Rs 5 crore to the Congress party, while Bhatia contributed Rs 3.8 crore to its ally, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Rahul Bhatia, individually, also made substantial contributions through electoral bonds, purchasing bonds worth Rs 20 crore. On April 7, 2021, a total of 29 electoral bonds were acquired, with 19 bonds valued at Rs 1 crore each and 10 bonds at Rs 10 lakh each, summing up to Rs 20 crore. When combined with the donations from IndiGo and its affiliated companies, the total contributions from the promoter and associated entities reach Rs 56 crore.
On the other hand, SpiceJet, once a prominent player in the Indian aviation industry, has seen a decline in its market position, currently ranking fifth in terms of market share. Despite this, the airline has engaged in political contributions, with donations made in three separate installments.
Aerospace
Comac is set to fly to five Southeast Asian countries for a C919 and ARJ21 demonstration tour
Following the successful debut of the COMAC aircraft at the Singapore Airshow 2024, the company has secured new branding rights for its products in the Southeast Asian aviation market. According to sources, the airline is directing its aircraft displays to Malaysia.
A static display and demonstration flight featuring the China-manufactured commercial aircraft C919 and ARJ21 were held on Wednesday at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia’s Selangor state.
The event showcased the brand-new C919 and ARJ21 aircraft, both quietly competing in the narrow-body segment market and slightly challenging the Boeing 737 and A320 family aircraft. The ARJ is tailored for regional airports with shorter routes.
C919 and ARJ21’s five-country tour.
This event concluded the C919 and ARJ21’s five-country Southeast Asian demonstration flight tour, which included visits to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
COMAC is actively seeking an international market alongside China. Currently, the company has amassed over 1100 aircraft orders for the COMAC C919 aircraft.
Throughout the demonstration flights and static displays, the aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) conducted a series of product promotion activities targeting potential customers.
Furthermore, the company aims to expand its airline network in these countries by obtaining regular licenses from their respective national aerospace authorities.
The purpose of the tour was to evaluate the aircraft’s adaptability to various airports and routes in the five countries, assess the ground service equipment’s suitability, test special flight procedures’ feasibility, and highlight the economic viability of these routes. COMAC stated that demonstration flights would lay the groundwork for future market development in Southeast Asia.
ARJ21 can carry 97 seats and C919- 192 seats.
The ARJ21 regional aircraft is designed to accommodate 78-97 passengers with a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers. Meanwhile, the C919 jetliner offers a layout for 158-192 seats and a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, as per the company’s specifications.
The C919 completed its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023. Since then, China Eastern Airlines, its inaugural customer, has received five C919 aircraft, operating round-trip flights on Shanghai-Beijing and Shanghai-Chengdu routes. COMAC reports that it has safely transported over 140,000 passengers to date.
Latest News.
British Airways Resumes Service to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur
British Airways has announced the reintroduction of two important capital city routes, marking a bold foray back into the Asian market. To the pleasure of tourists and aviation enthusiasts alike, BA is ready to restore flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur after a protracted hiatus due to the epidemic.
BA has made a strategic choice to expand its network significantly in the Far East by starting flights again to Bangkok in October and Kuala Lumpur in November. Once mainstays on the ba airlines route chart, many wondered where these destinations would end up in the post-Covid network.
Beginning on November 10th, British Airways will fly to Kuala Lumpur every day from its primary hub at London Heathrow Airport. The airline will give passengers a variety of options, from First Class to World Traveller, aboard an aircraft configured with four cabins. This action demonstrates ba amex dedication to providing its entire range of services to these important Asian markets.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) from London Heathrow (LHR)All times are local | ||||||
Route | Flight number | Departing | Arriving | Date | Days in Operation | Aircraft |
LHR – KUL | BA33 | 20:45 | 17:30+1 | 10/11/24 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 787-9 |
KUL – LHR | BA34 | 23:20 | 05:35+1 | 11/11/24 | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 | 787-9 |
Return flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) per person start at:
- First £4,000
- Club World £3,200
- World Traveller Plus £1,338
- World Traveller £620
Beginning on October 28th, british airways will start operating three weekly flights from London Gatwick to Bangkok. A three-cabin aircraft operating this seasonal route will offer alternatives for customers travelling as Club, World Traveller Plus, avios credit cards and World Traveller. The London Gatwick to Bangkok flight schedule is designed to accommodate the needs of passengers.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) from London Gatwick (LGW) All times are localThis is a winter only route | ||||||
Route | Flight number | Departing | Arriving | Date | Days in Operation | Aircraft |
LGW – BKK | BA2231 | 21:00 | 15:55+1 | 28/10/2024 | 1,4 and 6 | 777-200ER |
BKK – LGW | BA2230 | 22:55 | 05:30+1 | 29/10/2024 | 2,5 and 7 | 777-200ER |
british airways booking Return fares from London Gatwick (LGW) to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) per person start at:
- Club World: £3,257
- World Traveller Plus: £1,297
- World Traveller: £699
Aviation
Lufthansa and SWISS Introduce High-Flying Wi-Fi for Short and Medium-Haul Flights
In a significant move towards enhancing the travel experience, the Lufthansa Group has announced its plan to equip all short and medium-haul aircraft on European routes with reliable Wi-Fi. Passengers flying with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and now SWISS can soon enjoy seamless internet connectivity while soaring at an altitude of 10,000 meters.
The initiative includes the installation of broadband internet on over 150 aircraft, specifically those in the Airbus A220/320 family – including models A220, A319, A320ceo, A320neo, A321ceo, and A321neo. british airways in flight entertainment This comprehensive rollout will commence in the fourth quarter of 2024, with completion expected in approximately two years.
SWISS, joining Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines in this technological leap, is set to gradually equip its short-haul aircraft fleet with broadband internet access starting from Winter 2024/2025. This strategic move aims to provide passengers with uninterrupted internet services, allowing them to stay connected, whether for personal or business reasons.
One notable feature is the introduction of unlimited free messaging for passengers on Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines flights, where travelers can send and receive messages on their smartphones or tablets at no additional cost. To avail this service, passengers need to log into FlyNet using their Miles & More service card number or an email address registered with the Lufthansa Group Travel ID.
The Lufthansa Group has partnered with Viasat to implement the technology and services required for this massive upgrade. Additionally, the group has reduced the prices for other internet packages, making it more affordable for passengers to access faster Premium internet services. does air india have wifi
SWISS takes it a step further by offering free internet access for chat and messenger services, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, on its short-haul flights. Travelers will be able to send and receive unlimited text and picture messages throughout their journey. For those seeking a more extensive online experience, SWISS provides various product offers for activities such as email, web surfing, social media use, streaming, and VPN services, catering to diverse passenger preferences.
-
Aviation2 months ago
COMAC’s C919 to Showcase at Upcoming Singapore Air Show
-
Aviation2 months ago
Airbus is building the first H125 helicopter assembly line in India with TATA.
-
Aviation2 months ago
Boeing 777X will not be displayed at the Singapore Airshow 2024
-
Aviation2 months ago
Airbus & Boeing predict these many aircraft and pilots for India in next 20 years
-
Aviation2 months ago
China Constructs World’s Largest Civil Wind Tunnel Complex to compete with Boeing & Airbus
-
Aviation2 months ago
Air India selects RECARO seats for new Aircraft
-
Aerospace1 week ago
Korean Air to open Asia’s largest aircraft engine MRO cluster