Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon) according to the The Korea Herald is planning to launch a second budget airline, tentatively named “Seoul Air”. The new entity would take over the short, less profitable international routes the main carrier now flies with narrow body aircraft.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Busan is 46 percent owned by Asiana. Air Busan operates only from the city of Busan.ย Air Busan Airbus A321-231 HL7723 (msn 2045) arrives in Tokyo (Narita).
SpiceJet (Delhi) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) VT-SUA (msn 4373) operating flight SG 1085 from Bangalore to Hubli was involved in an incident on landing last night at Hubli, India. The flight was carrying 74 passengers and four crew members. The Q400 reportedly skidded off the runway in heavy rain and the left main gear collapsed. There were no reported injuries.
QANTAS Airways (Sydney) yesterday (March 7) flew the pictured Boeing 747-438 VH-OJA (msn 24354) to its final resting spot in Australia. VH-OJA was delivered on August 11, 1989. The airline issued this statement:
QANTASโ first Boeing 747-400, celebrated for having flown the longest commercial flight in history, made its shortest and final journey today when it landed at Illawarra Regional Airport, where it is set to become Shellharbourโs first jumbo tourist attraction.
After less than 15 minutes in flight, the specially numbered QANTAS Flight โ7474โ, scheduled to touch down at 7:47am, was delivered to its new home with the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) where it will become the only Boeing 747-400 in the world to be put on public display.
QANTAS Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said donating the aircraft to the HARS museum will provide not only a great tourist attraction for the Illawarra region, but also an opportunity to preserve an important piece of Qantasโ and aviation history.
โHaving graced the pages of the record books, revolutionised air travel for Australians, marked a huge technical feat for Qantas and carried millions of passengers on their global adventures and home again, our Boeing 747-400 โCity of Canberraโ is very deserving of a graceful retirement as the star attraction at one of Australiaโs most prestigious aviation museums,โ said Mr Joyce.
The delivery flight from Sydney International Airport to Illawarra Regional Airport was the first time a Boeing 747 has landed at the regional port. The QANTAS pilots operating the final flight worked with industry stakeholders on a number of approvals and training procedures given the flight was outside normal QANTAS operations to a non-QANTAS port. A number of considerations were factored in to the preparations including ensuring the appropriate ground handling equipment were positioned at Illawarra Regional Airport for the arrival and giving the aircraft livery a โPermaguardโ coating to protect the paintwork for many years to come.
The aircraft interior was also given a full โspruce upโ with the only items removed from the aircraft being the Qantas Flight Operations manuals in the cockpit, the galley carts that store in-flight meals and the fresh flowers in the lavatory. Three of OJAโs Rolls Royce engines still have significant life left in them and will be used on other QANTAS Boeing 747s. One engine will be left on OJA, with QANTAS and HARS working on sourcing suitable replacements over time.
Over the past few years, Qantas has been gradually retiring its older Boeing 747s. Nine of its newest jumbos, the last of which was delivered in 2003, have been refurbished and will continue flying into the future. Since 2008, the QANTAS Group has taken delivery of almost 150 new aircraft, lowering its fleet age to an average of just over seven years.
The aircraft will join an impressive lineup of famed aircraft located at HARS including a Lockheed Super Constellation, Catalina, Douglas DC-3 and DC-4 and a Desert Storm US Army Cobra.
The official handover will take place on March 15, 2015 to coincide with HARS monthly open day weekend.
QANTAS Boeing 747-400 โVH-OJAโ facts
Years in service
13,833 flights (excluding the final delivery flight)
106,154 flight hours
4,094,568 passengers carried
This aircraft has flown nearly 85 million kilometres, which is equivalent to 110.2 return trips to the moon
โVH-OJAโ was QANTASโ first Boeing 747-400 aircraft and was named the City of Canberra
It was delivered to QANTAS on August 11, 1989 and made its debut flight on August 16, 1989 from London to Sydney
On Thursday August 17, 1989, it set the record for having flown for the longest distance (non-stop London to Sydney) and time over distance by a commercial aircraft. The time over distance record still stands.
All of QANTASโ Boeing 747-400 aircraft were named โLongreachโ as a tribute to our place of origin and to demonstrate the long-range of the aircraft.
QANTAS fleet facts:
Our first 747 was delivered in 1971; last in 2003.
A total of 65 Boeing 747s have been operated by QANTAS.
Between 1979 and 1985 QANTAS was an all-747 airline.
There are 297 aircraft across the QANTAS Group.
Average fleet age 7.2 years.
QANTAS currently has 12 Boeing 747s; 9 of which have been reconfigured and will be kept beyond FY16.
Limitless Airways (Zadar) is a new airline in Croatia. The carrier has taken delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A320 (9A-SLA), leased from GECAS according to EX-YU Aviation News. A second A320 is planned. The new carrier is planning to start operations on May 1.
Video from Air New Zealand: If you haven’t seenย Air New Zealandโs 75th anniversary exhibition at Te Papa in Wellington, youโll want to check out this video of just some of the highlights! The exhibition is free entry and is open until June 7, 2015.
New video from Arik Air:ย Discover Arik Air’s Lagos to London flagship service operated with an Airbus A330-200.ย The aircraft has two cabin classes accommodating 30 business class seats (Premier class), all designed to offer the maximum in comfort and style.
New videos from Etihad Airways. Above:ย Introducing Etihad’s First Apartment, exclusively available onboard the Airbus A380. Etihad revolutionises First Class with the First Apartment. More than a seat, it is a living space for the discerning traveller.
Video Below:ย Welcome to the worldโs most exclusive cabin in the sky, where a truly unique and bespoke experience is delivered with complete discretion and limitless hospitality.
Video Below: The cabin crew on the new Airbus A380. ”
To celebrate the maiden flight of our first Airbus A380, we profile some of the key crew roles within our fleet.ย Introducing Martina – part of Etihad Airways award winning Cabin Crew team.
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