Qatar Airways has added 20 more Boeing 777-9 aircraft to its order book. This brings the Middle East airline’s orders for the type to almost 100 aircraft, comprising both the 777-9 passenger variant and 777-8 freighter. Whilst it has been beset by delays, earlier this month Boeing began certification flight testing for the 777-9, which will reportedly offer a new level of passenger comfort, with a spacious cabin, better humidity, a quiet environment and increased natural light. “Qatar Airways is a leader in our industry, and we are honored the airline added 20 more 777-9 jets to its large Boei ..read more

Virgin Atlantic has confirmed an order for seven additional Airbus A330-900neo aircraft at the Farnborough Air Show. Already an A330neo operator, the airline is adding to its complement with these new aircraft which are due for delivery from 2027, and will take the fleet total to 19 examples. Virgin will begin retiring its older Airbus A330-300 aircraft from September this year, helping the carrier to reduce its average fleet age to just 6.4 years. The airline has also completed lease extensions with AerCap on seven of its Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Virgin A330neo G-VSRB wears special 40th annive ..read more

Recently I made a journey to Hamburg in Germany to experience the Airbus factory at Finkenwerder Airport, as well as a spotting hotel and viewing areas at the main airport. Here’s the trip report…   Travelling to London Stansted Airbus A220CJ at London Stansted. Flights to Hamburg in the middle of the Euros football competition (being held in Germany) were surprisingly cheap, as long as I flew with Ryanair from London Stansted. This meant a road journey of over 3 hours to take the flight. Travelling with two friends, we set of around 5am and arrived at Stansted before 9am, with time for ..read more

Donald Trump has had a lot of dealings with aviation over the years, including his Trump Shuttle airline. As President of the United States, he was often seen flying the US Air Force transports known as Air Force One and other aircraft. One constant for the past 13 years has been his private Boeing 757 aircraft which is emblazoned with large TRUMP titles and is often seen ferrying him around on business engagements and election campaigns.   A History of Donald Trump’s 757 Aircraft Photo (c) Aero Icarus This Boeing 757, with registration N757AF, has serial number 25155/371 and was built ..read more

Planetags have come up with a fascinating new collection for aviation enthusiasts to enjoy. Their latest MotoArt tags are made from the skin of an actual former Northwest Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Intended to allow enthusiasts to collect pieces of aviation history and save memories of these aircraft before they are scrapped, the team found it difficult to find a suitable donor airplane. They said: “Finding this particular aircraft has been challenging – only 386 DC-10s were built, and most have been lost for good.” The DC-10 has been one the company’s most requested tags. The team was ..read more

The Sud Aviation Caravelle was an early jet airliner developed in France in the 1950s. It pioneered the rear-mounted engine and T-tail design, and was a popular choice for airlines and passengers around the world for many years. Its distinctive triangle-shaped windows and the use of the cockpit design from the de Havilland Comet gave the Caravelle a unique look, and the last ones were still flying in the early 2000s. Today no Caravelles still fly, but in their home country of France a number of aircraft are preserved or used as ground training aircraft. Here’s a list: Caravelle I prototype F ..read more

Korean Air is one of the few remaining operators of the Boeing 747. It operates a fleet of eight 747-8 aircraft in passenger service, as well as seven 747-8 freighters and four 747-400 freighters. We recently reported, however, that it plans to remove part of its fleet of passenger jumbo aircraft which are likely to be sold to the US Air Force.   Where Does Korean Air Fly its 747s? Korean Air 747-8I HL7638. Photo (c) Erik Ritterbach Korean Air’s passenger Boeing 747 fleet is currently flown from the airline’s base at Seoul Incheon to destinations in Asia, Europe, and the United States ..read more

The first of two Boeing 777 freighters ordered by Maersk Air Cargo has been delivered. The brand-new aircraft joins the existing fleet of Boeing 767 converted freighters and adds great capacity and efficiency on the airline’s long-haul network. Arrival of the aircraft, OY-MAC, into Maersk’s Billund Airport base was scheduled for 13 July, with it expected to be used primarily on the airline’s routes to China. Maersk ordered the two 777Fs in November 2021 as part of the modernization of its fleet. The delivery of the second aircraft is scheduled later in Q3. Maersk Air Cargo’s owned controlled ..read more

TAAG Angola Airlines is to unveil its brand new livery on upcoming aircraft deliveries from Airbus and Boeing. The African airline will take delivery of both Airbus A220 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft which will fly on its regional and long-haul services respectively, replacing older types. The airline will also introduce more new routes and frequencies as it seeks to expand its business. The new livery features an updated design which includes the familiar orange, white and black colours, as well as the airline’s logo. It has an updated font and larger titles on the forward section of an ..read more

Orlando is one of the most popular destinations in the United States. The city’s theme parks and thriving tourist industry means millions of visitors arrive every year to enjoy all it and Florida have to offer. If you’re one of them, Orlando can also prove an enticing destination for aviation enthusiasts thanks to its many airports and spotting opportunities. Here are some tips on plane spotting in Orlando:   Orlando International Airport Orlando’s main airport is the guilty pleasure of many spotters who should otherwise be enjoying a family holiday at the nearby theme parks. Because of ..read more