Airlines

Ryanair Announces Biggest Ever Birmingham Schedule

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Ryanair, the best-rated airline in the UK for affordability and dependability, has unveiled its largest-ever Birmingham Summer schedule for 2023, operating 42 routes, including 7 new routes for the season, including Girona and Pisa, as well as additional flights on 10 routes. Six Gamechanger aircraft total, representing a $600 million investment, have been added to the fleet at Birmingham.

Ryanair passengers board flight – only to discover their seats don’t exist(Opens in a new browser tab)

With over 350 weekly flights, Ryanair will have its largest schedule at Birmingham ever in the summer of 23. This will give residents and visitors of Birmingham an unprecedented range of options to confidently plan their well-earned summer vacations at the most affordable prices.

While other airlines across the UK are cancelling flights, Ryanair is expanding and reaffirming its commitment to Birmingham by bringing its investment to $600M by adding a 6th aircraft to its based fleet for Summer’23. Ryanair will sustainably deliver more tourism to and from the region, supporting over 1,700 local jobs, thanks to the fleet’s new Boeing “Gamechanger” aircraft, which reduces fuel and CO2 emissions by 16% and noise levels by 40%.

Ryanair poaches Aer Lingus passengers with $100 ‘rescue fare’ after a massive technical failure canceled more than 50 flights to and from Ireland(Opens in a new browser tab)

Ryanair applauds the UK Government’s decision to cut the domestic APD by 50% starting in April 23, but this decision ignores the importance of reestablishing international connectivity, which is essential for the expansion of the UK’s economy and tourism. Ryanair requests that Prime Minister Sunak fully abolish APD for all travel right away. This move would not only support the UK’s island-based economy but would also promote tourism.

Ryanair is launching a special seat sale with fares starting at just £24.99 for travel between the first of April and the end of October, but reservations must be made by midnight on November 4 in order to take advantage of this record-breaking Birmingham Summer schedule.

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.