Airliner World

NEW ISSUE OUT NOW! Featuring: LUFTHANSA Dawn of a new era KANSAI THE SENSEI World’s first artificial island airport uncovered MAN WITH A PLAN New Loganair boss reveals strategy AN UNLIKELY UNION When Air France and Lufthansa launched an airline BELUGA’S BIG 3-0 A whale of a rebirth EXCLUSIVE Inside Afghanistan’s Kam Air SUBSCRIBE: https://hubs.ly/Q02K2w_10 BUY PRINT: https://hubs.ly/Q02K2v5d0 BUY DIGITAL: https://hubs.ly/Q02K2z8s0 Alternatively find your closest store that stocks Airliner World here: https://hubs.ly/Q02K2yP30

Regional Express (Rex) has entered voluntary administration and grounded its Boeing 737 fleet. Rival Virgin Australia has agreed to honour all prepaid tickets for Rex’s direct services between domestic capital cities. The airline’s Saab 340 regional services are unaffected. Rex had launched jet operations three years ago in a bid to take on Australian behemoths Qantas and Virgin Australia on the lucrative golden triangle routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The airline had hoped to capture over 30% of the domestic market share and expand its fleet of 737s. However, intense competition meant the airline struggled to break out of single-digit market share on the routes, with an average load factor of 50-55%, according to ch-aviation. 📸: Rex Airlines #aviaitonnews #commercialaviation #rexairlines #australianaviation

Worrying times for Rex Airlines staff and customers as the airline suspends bookings on some of its domestic services to cities such as Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The move comes after the airline’s stock was suspended on Monday ahead of an announcement due by Wednesday morning. Flights are still bookable on its regional services to secondary cities across Australia. 📸: Rex Airlines 

MEET THE TEAM! Come say hello to the Airliner World team at the Manchester Airport Aviation Memorabilia Fair! We’re here 10am-4.30pm today and tomorrow ✈️

Airbus has secured European certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the game-changing A321XLR. The approval covers the CFM International Leap-1A-powered variant, while certification of the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered example is due later this year. The aircraft first took to the skies in June 2022 and since then has been undergoing a rigorous test programme involving three airframes. The type will now enter service with launch customer Iberia, with flights to Boston already bookable from mid-November. The airline’s maiden example was rolled out of the Airbus paint shop on July 18. Are you excited for the A321XLR? 📸: Airbus Operations GmbH 2023 - Bockfilm/Bengt Lange #avgeek #airbus #A321XLR #commercialaviation

Pictured at London Gatwick is Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-267, VR-HIA (c/n 21966). This aircraft had the honour of operating the airline’s first flight between Hong Kong and London on this day in 1980. Cathay Pacific had applied to the British government for traffic rights but was initially rejected. A second application was granted in 1979. The route was operated thrice weekly before increasing to a daily service on July 1, 1981. On July 3, 1983, it went non-stop following modifications to the 747s RB211-524C2 engines, offering greater fuel efficiency and range. Gatwick was switched to London/Heathrow on April 30, 1991, and after a return to the former in 2016 after 23 years, today, the airline serves Heathrow and Manchester in the UK. 📸: Tim Rees via Wikimedia Commons #avgeek #aviationhistory #cathaypacific #londonheathrow

Virgin Atlantic will drop its Shanghai service - its sole link to mainland China - on October 26 after 25 years of operating the route. The airline blamed “significant challenges and complexities” owing to its inability to overfly Russia. This has led to longer flying times, which in turn means extra fuel costs and aircraft and crew utilisation. The route is currently operated daily with one of the carrier’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. As the airline reduces its Asian network, where would you like to see Virgin Atlantic fly? 📸: AIRBUS-IMAGE EXM COMPANY-H.GOUSSE

Aurigny’s sole Embraer E195 has been sold to US-lessor Azorra. The Guernsey-based regional carrier has operated the single jet since 2014 to destinations across the UK and Europe. Nico Bezuidenhout, CEO of Aurigny, says: “The Embraer E195 is a very good aircraft that has served Islanders and visitors well over the last decade. Fleet simplification is, however, a key ingredient to improving the sustainability and resilience of Guernsey’s air connectivity, and as such, the decision to exit the Embraer from Aurigny’s fleet.” Do you think jet equipment can work for smaller regional carriers such as Aurigny? 📸: Aviation Image Network/Bailey #aviationnews #commercialaviation #embraer #aurigny

On this day in 2009, Iberia’s low-cost subsidiary Clickair was merged into Vueling. Clickair, initially known as ‘Catair’ – chosen to represent the airline’s Catalonian Barcelona base – was a joint venture between the Spanish flag carrier, Iberostar, Cobra, Nefinsa (parent of Air Nostrum) and Quercus Equity. Each party owned 20% of the start-up, but Iberia would be tasked with establishing and running the new airline, which had one of the best-financed start-ups in history with an initial capital of €120 million. With Alex Cruz at the helm, the airline took to the skies on October 1, 2006, with three ex-Iberia Airbus A320s. By the end of its first year of operations, the airline had carried over 4.5 million passengers, its fleet had swelled to 22 A320s, and it held the biggest share of traffic at Barcelona. However, the low-cost market had become saturated, and both Clickair and Vueling were struggling financially. In July 2008, the two carriers announced their merger, with the Vueling brand surviving and Iberia retaining a 45% shareholding in the new airline. Did you ever fly Clickair? 📸: Aviation Image Network/Simon Gregory #avgeek #aviationhistory #europeanaviation #airline

As Skybus, part of Isles of Scilly Travel, celebrates its 40th birthday this August, we sent Robert Veitch to Land's End Airport to experience a Twin Otter flight to St Mary’s Airport. On a glorious sunny day it proved to be a joyous experience, and the story is in this month's edition! BUY PRINT: https://hubs.ly/Q02GlGMS0 BUY DIGITAL: https://hubs.ly/Q02GlQ0Q0 FIND STOCKIST: https://hubs.ly/Q02GlDjy0