Plane flying to London from Mumbai was forced to return after a rat was spotted on board. Flight AI131 travelling to London on Wednesday and was over Iran airspace when someone spotted the rodent. The passengers continued their journey on a replacement flight later on. Air India says the plane had been fumigated and the…
UK chancellor George Osborne has confirmed the government will launch a review into airport sales to make sure VAT savings are being passed on to shoppers. As thousands of travellers head off for New Year’s getaways, the chancellor confirmed that the extensive review will make sure that VAT relief in airports is leading to savings…
Today marks 70 years since Heathrow officially became a commercial airport. Over the course of 2016, Heathrow will be celebrating a number of key moments with colleagues, passengers and the local community to mark this significant anniversary. Details
A Canada-bound plane has been forced to make an emergency landing after being hit by severe turbulence. Some 21 passengers, including three children, were injured on board the Air Canada flight AC088 from Shanghai to Toronto, with the aircraft diverted to Calgary after the turbulence hit. Details
Airbus has delayed the delivery of its first A320neo aircraft by “a few days”, a spokesman said on Wednesday, missing the goal to hand over the jet to its initial customer by the end of 2015. “Discussions are continuing such that when we deliver the plane, it is truly operational in the Lufthansa fleet,” the…
Virgin America and China Southern Airlines announce a codeshare agreement to offer seamless booking and travel between China, Southeast Asia and multiple Virgin America destinations across the United States. Under the new agreement, China Southern will place its two-digit airline code and flight numbers on a range of Virgin America routes operating from Los Angeles…
Southwest Airlines has announced a new tentative agreement with Transport Workers Union Local 555. The union represents more than 12,000 Southwest ground operations, provisioning, and cargo agents. The Union’s Executive Board reviewed an Agreement in Principle that negotiators reached December 23rd and decided to conduct a ratification vote that could end more than four years…
A court in Germany has ruled that Etihad Airways and airberlin cannot continue codesharing arrangements on some of their routes beyond mid-January. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad holds a 29.2 per cent stake in Germany’s second-largest airline and their codesharing provides important income for airberlin. Details
In view of increasing passenger demand, Hong Kong Airlines, an internationally-acclaimed full-service airline, will increase the flight frequency on its Hong Kong – Tianjin route service to double daily commencing on January 16th 2016. Li Dianchun, commercial director of Hong Kong Airlines said: “Benefitting from the booming economic and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and…
Iberia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200, a more modern aircraft and more fuel-efficient than the planes it is replacing. It is the first of 13 that will join the fleet over the next three years. Airbus A330-200s are powered by two engines and their fuel efficiency makes them both cheaper to operate…
Qatar Airways Cargo has announced it will launch a new freighter route to Dallas/Fort Worth commencing operations on January 19th, 2016, increasing its network to six freighter destinations in the Americas. A Qatar Airways Cargo Boeing 777F will fly two times a week to Dallas from Liege. Details
Cebu Pacific Air, the Philippines’ largest airline, has marked the start of twice weekly non-stop flights between Davao and Singapore with great fanfare. The inaugural flight was sent off by Philippine department of tourism assistant secretary Art Boncato and Cebu vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog. Details