What Is Your Most Flown Airline?
While there are several factors at play when choosing a flight, many people will tend to gravitate towards a particular airline. This could be because they live near a base, have frequent flyer status, or simply prefer the service on offer. I track all of my flights in the Flighty app, and today took a look at my most flown airlines and was slightly surprised to see British Airways claiming the top spot with 49 flights compared to 41 at Ryanair (which I had expected to be at the top)! Equally cool is Air Astana with 7 flights from a single trip to Kazakhstan last summer. What are your most flown airlines? Join the conversation below!
Tom Boon
46
Where Would You Like United Airlines To Fly The Airbus A321XLR?
United plans to have 50 Airbus A321XLRs, with the first aircraft due to enter service in 2025. Naturally, the carrier said they’ll partly replace the Boeing 757-200ER, including to Europe. Unlike the A321LR, a variant United does not have and has not ordered, the XLR is a true 757 replacement – just with a longer range and much better fuel burn.The XLR may also help United to make some seasonal routes year-round while right-sizing capacity with demand on others, freeing up other equipment to be used elsewhere. It may also enable higher frequencies.More interesting are new route possibilities. While necessarily vague, United said, “The XLR can fly much further [than the 757] and will open new stations that either don't have service from an airline today [from the US], or they don't have United service.” Where would you like the carrier to fly the type? Let us know!
What Is The Longest Nonstop Flight You've Been On?
Modern aircraft have the ability to seamlessly venture on transcontinental and transoceanic adventures across the skies. The longest nonstop flight I’ve been on was a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A350 trip from Kuala Lumpur to London, which took nearly 13 hours to complete. However, I’m sure many of our readers have been on longer flights. Please share your experiences with us below!
Sumit Singh
75
Can The Aviation Industry Balance Growth With Environmental Sustainability?
The aviation industry has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Do you feel that this is compatible with growth in the industry?
Tom Boon
20
Do You Like Daytime Transatlantic Flights To Europe?
There are more daytime transatlantic flights between the US/Canada and Europe in August 2024 than in any other year. Some 419 departures fit the bill, up from 399 in August 2023 and 307 in the pre-pandemic 2019. The growth was partly influenced by multiple thin new routes by Azores Airlines, many on wet-leased widebody aircraft. Despite the increase, daytime services are uncommon, with only about 1 in 50 US/Canada-Europe flights timed like it. That’s no surprise: they rely on shorter markets with strong point-to-point demand and fewer time zone changes, of which there aren't many. Some passengers may prefer them because of less jetlag, although they may mean a day is ‘wasted’. For airlines, they may mean lower aircraft use and lower yields from less interest in beds if available. Have you flown from North America to Europe during the day? If so, did you like it? How did it compare to during the night? Let us know!
James Pearson
27
Why Are Western Commercial Airlines Pulling Out Of China?
Virgin Atlantic announced this week that it would end service to Shanghai. It left its only other connection in that region - Hong Kong - in 2022. Qantas has revealed plans to pull out of Shanghai on July 28th, leaving only Hong Kong in its Far East network. Carriers from other countries, including the USA, have flagged difficulties in making China operations work. The problem for many airlines is the closure of Russian airspace, which has meant longer trips to destinations in China. For example, Virgin’s Shanghai route had to add an hour outbound and two hours inbound to accommodate the increased flight time. Compounding the problem is the fact that Chinese airlines are not required to circumvent Russian airspace, so can complete trips heading West faster and with less fuel and crew than competitors. This lack of a level playing field has frustrated many airline leaders and is clearly taking the wind out of many carrier’s sails as they struggle to build back their pre-pandemic China n
https://simpleflying.com/virgin-atlantic-heathrow-shanghai-flight/
Joanna Bailey
16
