All articles by David Kaminski-Morrow
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NewsLuton airport expansion secures government consent despite examiner’s objection
London Luton’s expansion plan has obtained UK government planning approval, despite a formal recommendation that consent should be withheld. The decision marks another instance in which the government has set aside an examining authority conclusion in order to allow an airport expansion – a development scheme for Manston airport was ...
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NewsEmerald ATR 72 nose-wheel loss inquiry points to improper maintenance
UK investigators believe bearing overheat led to a nose-wheel being shed from an ATR 72-500 on departure from Edinburgh in October 2023, but the reason behind the failure could not be determined. The Emerald Airlines aircraft – with 55 passengers and a crew of four – continued to Belfast City, ...
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NewsWizz Air sets ‘customer first’ objective with three-year transformation plan
Budget carrier Wizz Air is rolling out a new three-year investment programme intended to prioritise customer service across its operation. It has unveiled the transformation plan – branded as the ‘Customer First Compass’ – stating that it aims to put customers “at the forefront” of its activities. Wizz Air has ...
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NewsExecutive jets lift Embraer’s first-quarter deliveries
Brazilian airframer Embraer delivered 30 aircraft over the first quarter of this year, including seven commercial models. Embraer handed over three E195-E2s and four E175s during the three months to 31 March. The manufacturer complemented these airliner deliveries with 23 executive jets. These comprised nine mid-sized models – Praetor 500s ...
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NewsSwiftair 737 crash probe finds flaps remained retracted after hydraulic system turned off
Lithuanian investigators have disclosed that the flaps of a Boeing 737-400 freighter remained retracted during its final approach to Vilnius, before the jet sank below the glideslope and crashed short of the runway.
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NewsHeathrow chief Woldbye defends decision to close airport during power outage
London Heathrow airport chief Thomas Woldbye has defended the decision to close the hub after it suffered a substantial loss electrical power on 21 March. Woldbye, who was appointed to the post in 2023, testified before a UK parliamentary transport committee on 2 April. “When we cannot safely operate the ...
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NewsGreen Africa acquires first owned aircraft after flights interrupted by lessor issue
Nigerian operator Green Africa Airways has acquired its first owned aircraft, just after its operations were badly disrupted by a issue with its lessor. The airline’s chief, Babawande Afolabi, informed passengers of the problems which emerged during the Eid al-Fitr festival. Afolabi referred to a “sudden and unexpected development” with ...
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NewsAlaskan C-54 in-flight explosion traced to engine power loss and poorly-repaired fuel tank
US investigators believe loss of power in the outboard left-hand engine of a Douglas C-54, and the subsequent feathering of its propeller, initiated a chain reaction of events including a fuel explosion and fatal loss of control. The inquiry into the accident, which occurred in Alaska on 23 April last ...
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NewsAirbus sees no A350 delivery impact after fire halts fuselage section work at Illescas
Airbus believes there will be no impact on A350 aircraft deliveries after a fire damaged equipment at its Illescas plant south of Madrid. The fire broke out on 25 March in one of the production halls. FlightGlobal understands that the blaze affected an autoclave in the area of section 19 ...
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NewsUN Dash 8-400 lands with retracted nose-gear at Mogadishu
Somalian authorities state that no injuries have resulted from an incident in which a De Havilland Dash 8-400 landed with its nose-gear retracted at Mogadishu.
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NewsZurich airport operator plans noise fee hike to encourage fleet renewal
Zurich airport’s operator is to introduce a new noise classification by 2027, and implement adjustments to landing fees for the noisiest aircraft. The Swiss federal civil aviation office has approve an application from operator Flughafen Zurich which was submitted at the end of last year. “Flying at night will become ...
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NewsIl-114-300 prototypes fly formation as third aircraft joins test fleet
United Aircraft has flown its latest prototype airframe of the twin-turboprop Ilyushin Il-114-300, bringing the flight-test fleet to three aircraft. Its initial sortie – with three crew members on board – took place on 31 March and lasted for 30min. The crew tested controllability of the Il-114-300, number 54116, as ...
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NewsLufthansa shifts A350 hub capacity to counter aircraft delivery delays
Lufthansa is addressing delays in aircraft deliveries by shifting Airbus A350-900 capacity to its Frankfurt hub. The German carrier says four A350s have been transferred ahead of the summer season. Another pair will join them in May and July. Source: Lufthansa Lufthansa is transferring six A350-900s ...
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NewsAeroflot Superjet accident probe asks United Aircraft to consider design modifications
United Aircraft has emphasised that the inquiry into a bounced landing, leading to a fatal fire which destroyed an Aeroflot Superjet 100, has found no faults with the aircraft design.
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NewsProfitability re-emerges as Virgin Atlantic turns in record revenues
UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic is claiming to have delivered on a plan to return to profitability – counting this as profit before tax and exceptionals – for the first time since 2016. It achieved a fully-year operating profit of £230 million ($298 million) and pre-tax profit of £19.7 million, ...
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NewsAeroflot Superjet fatal fire inquiry highlights aisle jam as passengers retrieved luggage
Russian investigators believe passengers’ attempts to retrieve luggage during a fatal Aeroflot Superjet 100 fire probably slowed evacuation, and was a contributor to the severity of the outcome. Forty passengers and one flight attendant did not survive the fire, which ignited as fuel spilled from ruptured fuel tanks during a ...
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NewsPlay starts transferring Airbus fleet after securing Maltese AOC
Icelandic budget carrier Play has secured a Maltese air operator’s certificate from the country’s civil aviation regulator.
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NewsChina Airlines firms A350-1000 order
Taiwanese carrier China Airlines has firmed its preliminary agreement for 10 Airbus A350-1000s, which it will use for long-haul services to Europe and North America. The airline unveiled the initial agreement in December last year, part of a split order with Boeing. It has not given many details about the ...
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NewsAeroflot and regulator dispute inquiry findings over Superjet's fatal bounced landing
Both Aeroflot and Russian civil air transport regulator Rosaviatsia have dissented over investigators’ conclusions regarding the fatal hard landing and fire which destroyed a Superjet 100 nearly six years ago. Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee says the Aeroflot crew had “insufficient knowledge and skills” to control the jet in direct law, ...
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NewsInvestment firm Blackstone takes minority share in UK airports manager
US-based investment firm and asset manager Blackstone is taking a 22% shareholding in AGS Airports, the parent of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports in the UK. Blackstone is acquiring the shareholding from AviAlliance – which took over AGS Airports towards the end of last year – for a sum of ...
