Flying on the Delta's Last 777-200LR Flights Over Labor Day weekend Saturday, I flew on Delta’s final scheduled Boeing 777 domestic flights (as of September).  In early 2020, Delta had just completed its 777 fleet cabin refurbishment.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in May, Delta made a dramatic decision to retire its entire 777 fleet by the end of October 2020 in order to preserve capital and have fleet commonality.  Delta has an unique variant of the 777 - the Long Range “LR” model. Designed for Ultra Long Range missions, only 60 777-200LRs were built. Delta deployed ..read more

Super80Sendoff – My Final Flights on the American MD-80 September 4th, 2019 saw the final flights of American Airlines once ubiquitous MD-80.  Launched in 1981 by McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach as the DC-9-80 series, the company marketed it as the “Super 80 – the plane for the 1980s”.  When American Airlines picked up its initial 25 aircraft, they proudly utilized that “Super 80” moniker.  By way of the TWA merger in 2001, American’s MD-80 fleet eventually peaked to 360 aircraft.  Impressively by 2004, 49% of American’s fleet were comprised of MD-80s!  As MD-80s became older, newer air ..read more

WestJet Inaugural 787 Dreamliner Flight In March 2019, I flew on WestJet’s inaugural Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight.  WestJet is the third airline in the U.S. and Canada to fly the Dreamliner.  I can proudly say that I have flown on the inaugural 787 flight on all three carriers! United – Nov 2012 (Houston to Chicago O’Hare)Air Canada – May 2014 (Toronto to Halifax)American – May 2015 (Dallas-Ft. Worth to Chicago O’Hare), and nowWestJet – March 2019 (Toronto to Calgary)Me with WestJet CEO Ed Sims My trip report can be found on Airways’ website here, or if you prefer a hardcopy, it can also ..read more

Delta Bombardier CS100 / Airbus A220 Inaugural In February 2019, I flew on Delta Air Line’s inaugural Airbus A220 flight.  Delta was the first airline in North America to fly the A220, formerly known as the Bombardier C Series.  With a capacity of 100 to 150 seats, this plane is newly designed for short to medium haul missions.  Airbus acquired the C Series from Bombardier in July 2018 which brought stability to an unknown product fraught with development troubles and a trade dispute.  Airbus has since expanded its factory in Mobile, Alabama to supplement the existing Bombardier final assem ..read more

Saying Goodbye to the Queen of the Skies On November 7, 2017, United Airlines flew its last passenger 747 flight after 47 years of service.  As an aviation enthusiast in San Francisco (SFO), it was a sad day.  The iconic Jumbo had been a staple at SFO ever since I started plane spotting there. I saw her evolve from the ugly gray Battleship scheme: To my favorite, Rising Blue scheme: Finally ending her service on the uninspiring UniCon Globe scheme: Every morning, the entire fleet it seemed, would arrive from Asia.  By midday, they'd make their turn and return to the Far East.  A few s ..read more