Aviation

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, several US airlines have added special liveries to aircraft in their fleets, turning some of their aircraft into flying tributes to the semiquincentennial. America250, established by Congress in 2016, is the national organization coordinating the commemoration of the anniversary on 4 July 2026.

Some aircraft feature a complete special livery, while others have added a decal or partial livery.

cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/48197477

Airlines may soon be given far more freedom in how they advertise airfares after the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed fully repealing an Obama-era rule that forces airlines to include a tax-inclusive airfare in advertisements and commercials.

The so-called ‘Full Fare Rule’ was introduced in 2011, and it was designed to prevent airlines from misleading consumers about the true cost of airfare by advertising cheaper flights that required multiple connections but which would then cost more than a non-stop flight when you added taxes and fees.

Airlines were also required to make the total price (including taxes) more prominent than any other components of the airfare, so that consumers weren’t confused about the price they may end up paying for a flight.

As JetZero’s blended wing body (BWB) demonstrator takes shape, the airframer is touting a new milestone for future certification, as it targets a commercial entry into service in the early 2030s.

As of this spring, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has moved JetZero into its Integrated Certificate Management Office (AIR-500), and out of the division designated for emerging technologies. The development advances JetZero’s Z4 commercial variant toward Part 25 certification.

FRANKFURT—SAS Scandinavian Airlines has placed an order for 18 Airbus A330neos in a bid to expand its long-haul network and build a third hub in the future Air France-KLM Group.

“Combining outstanding economics with improved environmental performance, the aircraft will play a key role in our long-term fleet strategy,” SAS CEO Anko van der Werff said June 30. "This is the largest investment in our company’s history and a clear signal of our confidence in the future.”

Europe's airports and airlines have issued an urgent appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that the rollout of the Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) has reached a "critical point" and is causing severe disruption for millions of travellers during the peak summer season.

Air New Zealand has 10 787s on order and it ​is looking to trim spending at a time when elevated fuel costs due to the Middle East conflict have piled onto existing pressures, leading the company to forecast its largest pre-tax annual loss in four years in May, and impose two rounds of fare increases.

The company on Tuesday noted significant ​operational and financial pressures in the past few years, including aircraft and engine availability constraints, rising aviation system costs and ​a weak New Zealand economy.

The Super Guppy first appeared at Oshkosh in 2000 and most recently attended AirVenture in 2023. Developed during the 1960s by Aero Spacelines Industries (ASI) and derived from the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, the Super Guppy remains one of the most unusual aircraft flying today. Designed specifically to transport oversized cargo, the aircraft features an enormous fuselage measuring 111 feet, 6 inches in length, with a maximum internal height of 25 feet, 6 inches, and a diameter of 25 feet. Powered by four Allison T56 turboprop engines, the Super Guppy has a maximum takeoff weight of 170,000 pounds and can carry payloads of up to 48,000 pounds. The aircraft cruises at approximately 290 mph at an altitude of 25,000 feet. One of the Super Guppy’s most distinctive features is its hinged nose section, which swings open 110 degrees—much like a giant refrigerator door—to allow front-loading of cargo. Freight is carried on pallets and moved within the cargo compartment using an integrated rail system.

In a statement to the BBC, JetBlue said: "The flight landed without incident, customers deplaned normally, and the plane was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of a collision."

American Airlines faces a mammoth $2.64 million annual fee to allow its workforce of more than 47,500 pilots and flight attendants to skip past regular TSA airport security screening, as the Department of Homeland Security introduces a new fee as part of the introduction of its ‘Crewmember Access Point’ program.

United Airlines faces a similar annual bill of $2.17 million, and Delta Air Lines will be charged around $1.95 million per year for its aircrew to access the program. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines will end up paying appoximately $1.38 million per year and JetBlue around $456,000.

Since 2011, pilots and flight attendants have been allowed to skip the regular passenger screening lane via a program called ‘Known Crewmember,’ which was set up as a joint initiative between the Air Line Pilots Association and industry trade group Airlines For America (A4A).

A flight that normally takes about 3½ hours turned into a 25-hour nightmare for a Wellington passenger after low cloud and strong winds meant his plane couldn’t land in the capital.

“We were told by the pilot that the Airbus A220 wasn’t good at landing in low cloud and wind,” Richard, who asked for his surname not to be used, said. “That’s not good for Wellington.”

On this day in aviation history, 81 years ago (June 28, 1945), the Cessna 140 took flight for the first time. The Cessna 120, an economy version of the 140, also first flew on this day 80 years ago, on June 28, 1946. These light general aviation taildraggers began to be produced immediately after the conclusion of the Second World War. Three main variants of the airframe were produced: the Cessna 140, 140A, and 120. The original Model 140 was fitted with a Continental C-85 engine of 85 hp. The fuselage was metal, while the wings were of wooden construction with metal control surfaces.

The  Lockheed Constellation, affectionately known as the 'Connie,' is one of the most iconic aircraft of the golden age of aviation. With its triple-tail design, curvaceous fuselage, and powerful radial engines, the Constellation was a true milestone in the modern era of long-range air travel. But in 2026, how many of these jewels of aviation history remain airworthy? This article explores the last flying Lockheed Constellations, their importance, a brief history of the type, and how they continue to inspire aviation enthusiasts around the world.

An American Airlines Airbus A319 bound for Bermuda aborted its takeoff at Miami International Airport(MIA) on Saturday evening, June 27, after the flight crew spotted a private aircraft on the same runway shortly after receiving takeoff clearance. The rejected takeoff prevented a potentially serious runway incursion, with the two aircraft coming within approximately one-third of a mile, or about 1,760 feet (536 m) of each other before the American jet came to a stop.

The incident involved American Airlines Flight 308, which was scheduled to operate from Miami to L.F. Wade International Airport (BDA) in Bermuda. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crew rejected the takeoff at approximately 6:00 PM ET after observing another aircraft on the runway. No injuries were reported, and the flight later departed safely after the situation was resolved. The FAA has opened an investigation into the incident to determine how the runway conflict occurred.

JetBlue Airways told CNBC on Wednesday that it will close its flight attendant base at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and tech operations bases there and at LaGuardia Airport in New York this fall as it seeks to reduce costs and beef up service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, though it noted that no staff will lose their jobs.

JetBlue said it is ending seasonal service between Newark and Los Angeles and Las Vegas. It said staff could bid or transfer to other bases.

Chinese private charter operator Deer Jet has become the launch operator for the Comac Business Jet (CBJ). The aircraft, registered in China as B-65A9, made an initial commercial flight between Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (ZSSS) and Beijing Capital (ZBAA) on Monday.

The CBJ, which is based on Comac’s C909 regional airliner, can carry up to 29 passengers in a cabin that is just more than 62 feet long. Deer Jet—the business aviation arm of airline and services group HNA Aviation—will base its CBJ bizliner in Shanghai.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury talks to Aviation Week Executive Editors Jens Flottau and Robert Wall about the next single-aisle aircraft and plans for defense, space and helicopters.

cross-posted from: https://lemmus.org/post/23387985

A United Airlines passenger flew from Huntsville to Houston on Wednesday evening and had her own private jet. She was the only one onboard, aside from the crew. 

She describes one of the pilots as “such a goofy goober” and she got to visit the cockpit after the flight. She got her “own personalized pre flight announcements.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.today/post/55491534

In yesterday’s discussion about Hawaiian’s planned replacement for the B717 on interisland trips, I mentioned how Southwest uses a model that flows airplanes from the mainland into the interisland operation. Today, I’m going to look more closely at how that is constructed.

The Airbus A350-1000ULR to be used on the routes will spend 70-75% of the year — particularly in the northern hemisphere summer — operating the conventional westbound flightpaths over the Middle East region.

But Qantas chief technical pilot Alex Passerini says the airline aims to use a “new and novel” route out of Sydney in the winter.

This would involve flying north across the Pacific, flying east of Japan and over northern Alaska, skirting just south of the North Pole, before heading south over Scotland to approach London from the north.

“The advantage of this is, obviously, the airspace constraints are a lot less,” says Passerini.