Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is the 45 year old CEO and approximately 90% owner of VietJet, the first private airline to gain approval to operate in Vietnam. She expects to sell up to 30% of the airline in an IPO this year. She made her first million at 21 trading fax machines and latex rubber. Her other major holdings are in commercial real estate. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao with the CEO of Airbu...
A year ago, one of Lufthansa’s most popular aircraft was officially delivered by Boeing and I was there to experience what is perhaps the highlight of my ‘Avgeek’ hobby. On March 25, 2015 Boeing literally handed over the keys to Lufthansa’s 18th 747 and a small group of us took off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington and brought her home to Frankfurt. Since ent...
Airline stocks took a tumble this week following the Brussels terror attacks on Tuesday that included twin explosions at the city’s airport. The bombings in the Belgian capital came three days after the flydubai crash in Russia and four months after the Paris terror attacks heightening safety concerns among travellers. Major European airline stocks — Air France-KLM, easyJet, Inte...
The UK Airprox Board (UKAB) released their reviews of 25 recently reported air proximity occurrences. Four of these cases involved drones. On 13 October 2015, the pilot of an Airbus A380 reported being on the DET 1J SID from London-Heathrow Airport. In the right turn, the crew observed a large object at the same altitude which appeared to be taking avoiding action. The...
Aeroflot has taken delivery of a new factory-direct Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft has been named in honour of Russian writer, poet and dramatist, Ivan Turgenev. The new B777-300ER aircraft is configured with Business Class, Economy Class and Comfort Class cabins. Passengers flying Comfort Class enjoy a premium-class service at highly competitive prices, with...
The first A350-900 for Cathay Pacific Airways has completed its maiden flight in Toulouse, France. The aircraft will now enter the final phase of production including cabin completion, further ground checks and test flights before being prepared for delivery in the second quarter of the year. The aircraft will be the first of 48 A350 XWBs acquired by Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific’s A350...
Visiting EVADAY at Strasbourg International Airport we had amazing opportunity to be onboard of unique aircraft - Marcel Dassault 312 "Flamant". The interest of public to visit this aircraft was amazing, told us Eric Janssonne,president of "Ailes Historiques du Rhin". As it was possible to make a reservation true internet in order to visit this aircraft, organizers were...
Scottish operator Loch Lomond Seaplanes is expanding into the English market with the upcoming launch of scheduled seaplane flights between Osea Island, a 400-acre private island located off the coast of Essex, and an undisclosed general aviation airport in London. The flights, which will ferry guests from London to Osea Island, are set to begin in May and will run through to September. In addi...
Wings is a new private charter travel company, offering bespoke solutions to suit all lifestyles and budgets. The tailor made service delivers the most cost effective propositions available, meaning private jet or helicopter travel is no longer solely for the rich and famous, with one-way European flights from as little as GBP150 per person. Wings was founded by Douglas Hopkins, who has been a...
The FlyDubai captain whose plane crashed in Russia on Saturday was due to leave the airline because of exhaustion, according to a report by the BBC. The crash, which killed all 62 people on board, took place early in the morning on Saturday, just short of the runway at Rostov-on-Don airport runway. "I don't want to speculate on what caused the crash, but I think that fatigue must ha...
As aircraft interior design evolves, we’re getting closer to the promise of a smart seat which will remember passenger preferences, making air travel more comfortable and familiar. The new Waterfront Business class seat, submitted for this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards, is ready to take flight. The Waterfront is a next-generation premium travel experience at the nexus between...
A Comp Air CA-9 turboprop single crashed into a townhouse moments after takeoff from São Paulo Campo de Marte Saturday afternoon, killing the pilot and mining magnate Roger Agnelli and six members of his family. One person on the ground was also injured. Agnelli was formerly president of Vale, Brazil's largest private company. The all-composite CA-9, tail number P...
