50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Kingdom aviation news

easyJet takes off under cost-per-flight-hour contract with AJW Group

In a partnership that firmly establishes the UK as leaders in MROinnovation, easyJet has partnered with AJW Group in a five year cost-per-flight-hour contract to support its growing fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The contract is evidence of a new dynamic in aviation support which sees AJW establish its position as the leading independent provider of integrated servi...

British Airways Launches First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Delhi

British Airways' first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft made a debut flight to Delhi from London on Monday. For the first time, the airline has introduced a first-class cabin configuration in the aircraft and offers a total 216 seats. The aircraft has eight first class, 39 premium economy, 42 business and 127 economy class seats. "This brand new aircraft is a centrepiece to our EUR5...

Glasgow Police EC135 Crew Didn't React To Fuel Warnings

In a final report released on October 23, UK AAIB investigators were puzzled by the pilot's reaction—or rather the lack of it—after he acknowledged low fuel warnings in his Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+, which eventually crashed and killed 10 in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2013. Without flight recorders, investigators cannot understand why the police...

Vietnam Airlines ups Heathrow frequency

Vietnam Airlines has added a sixth weekly flight from Heathrow Airport using a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 as part of its winter 2015/16 schedule. The carrier will now fly non-stop three times a week to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from Sunday, 25 October. Vietnam Airlines remains the only airline to offer direct flights between the UK and Vietnam. Departure times from Heath...

Rhinos to fly on IAG’s first A380 flight to Miami

IAG Cargo is welcoming six white rhinos on British Airways’ first Airbus A380 flight to Miami (US) on 25 October. The rhinos are embarking on the journey from Johannesburg (South Africa) to Miami to ensure the continued genetic diversity for breeding programmes which are part of a global conservation effort. IAG Cargo product manager for live animals, Gabriella Tama...

Black hole in Heathrow Airport’s runway plan?

Gatwick Airport has accused Heathrow Airport of having a £6 billion ($9.2 billion) black hole in its expansion plans after it was confirmed the UK governement will not pay for required road and rail improvements. The government’s transport minister, Robert Goodwill, told parliament that the airports will be responsible for any surface access improvements required...

Exclusive: Birmingham Airport Loses Out to Manchester on China Flights

Birmingham Airport has lost out to Manchester Airport in securing direct scheduled flights to China, ITV News Central has learned. The Chinese President will announce the deal today. Birmingham Airport has been talking to Hainan Airlines for some time about starting a scheduled service but the airline has decided to go to Manchester. The news comes after the Chancellor George Osborne...

British Airways Launches Miami Superjumbo A380 Service

This weekend British Airways will begin flying its new double decker Airbus A380 between Miami and London. The inaugural flight BA209 will touch down at Miami International Airport on Sunday, Oct. 25 and will depart as the BA208 the same evening. The superjumbo A380 is the largest and grandest aircraft in British Airways’ fleet. The new aircraft spans two full decks and can accommodate up...

NATS installs electronic flight strips at Newcastle

Newcastle International Airport has become the latest UK airport to transition to using state-of-the-art electronic flight progress strips. Moving from traditional paper to electronic flight strips will offer major efficiency benefits for Newcastle, allowing for the seamless sharing of operational data across the entire airport. Aircraft can now be given departure clearances electronically,...

Is This Plane Crazy? Man Who Lives near Busy Airport Complains to Them About Noise Twice a Day

A man who lives near one of the country's busiest  airports complained 729 times about noise in just one year. It means he logged a grievance about the constant din of jet engines, on average twice a day. His dissatisfaction took the total number of noise complaints to 1,509 in 2013/14. The previous year, there were 773. This year, 2014/15, there have been 860 complaints....

British Airways launches long-haul services from Heathrow Terminal 3

British Airways will be offering a warm welcome to even more customers in a new look Heathrow Terminal 3 with the start of long-haul flights. A new check-in area has been created for customers during the last few months including a dedicated area for premium customers to use. The new additions to British Airways’ Terminal 3 schedule will include flights to Miami, Phoenix, Las Vegas, De...

Birmingham-Bound Monarch Holiday Flight Intercepted by Fighter Jet

Passengers have told of their panic after a Monarch Airlines holiday flight travelling from Madeira, Portugal, to Birmingham was intercepted by a French fighter jet. The fighter jet flew so close to the plane, passengers said they could see the pilot in the other cockpit. The Monarch flight ZB983 reportedly lost communications over French airspace, and the jet was sent to inte...