Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
On 8th January an Aviastar Tupolev Tu-204F catches on fire during pushback at Hangzhou International Airport in China. According to Avherald, the 29.5 years-old aircraft was about to perform freight flight 4B-6534 from Hangzhou, China to Novosibirsk, R…
Category: Videos
Atlas Air Worldwide Purchases Four Boeing 777 Freighters
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Boeing and Atlas Air Worldwide today announced an order for four 777 Freighters. “We are excited to expand our fleet and service offerings for our existing and prospective customers with these four new 777s. With the best team in the industry as well a…
First ACJ TwoTwenty delivered to Comlux
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
The first Airbus Corporate Jet, ACJ TwoTwenty was successfully delivered to Comlux from the Airbus A220 Final Assembly Line in Mirabel, Canada. The all-new business jet will be joining the Comlux’s facilities in Indianapolis, USA, for the VVIP cabin co…
Caspian Airlines Boeing 737-400 Landing Gear Collapses on Landing
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
On 5th January 2022, a Caspian Airlines Boeing 737-400 suffered a left main gear collapse on landing at Isfahan International Airport, Iran. According to Avherald, the 29 years-old aircraft (originally delivered to Malaysia airlines in 1992) with regis…
Allegiant Air Orders Up to 100 737 MAX Jets
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Boeing and Allegiant Air today announced an order for 50 737 MAX jets, with options for 50 additional airplanes. In Boeing’s first U.S. ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC) deal, Allegiant selected two models – the 737-7 and 737-8-200 – in the 737 MAX family….
Interview with Oman Air CEO Abdulaziz Al Raisi
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Oman Air is in the process to become a member of the global Oneworld Alliance and hopes to reach that goal by the end of 2022. The Sultanate of Oman is known for its hospitality. The nation depends a lot on tourism and the CEO of Oman Air Abdulaziz Al …
10 New Airlines That Commenced Operations in 2021
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Despite the ongoing pandemic, many new airlines have entered the market in 2021 seeking new opportunities. Here’s a list of 10 airlines that commenced operations in 2021. 1. ITA Airways Italia Trasporto Aereo, ITA Airways is the new flag carrier of Ita…
My Top 5 Flights of 2021
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
2021 in general was a recovery year for commercial aviation, normality has returned to some degree and many of us has started flying again. I flew 150,000 miles in total, which is still half of what I used to fly pre-pandemic. This was mainly on long-h…
Trip Report: PIA Boeing 777-200/LR Dubai to Islamabad
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
After a spectacular adventure in Pakistan 9 years ago, I am going to Pakistan again! My Pakistan trip was supposed to be earlier in this spring but due to COVID border restriction and my pilot training, I delayed this trip till December 2021. There are…
Interview with PIA CEO Air Marshall Arshad Malik
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
On my recent trip to Pakistan, I met up with PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik, he spoke openly about all the PIA issues and how he is going to fix the airline. We discussed issues about the EU blacklist, the credibility of the pilots and return PIA to …
Irkut MC-21-300 Receives Initial Russian Type Certification
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Russian state-owned manufacturer Rostec announced last Tuesday that the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) issued an initial type certificate for the Irkut MC-21-300 passenger aircraft, four-and-half-years after is maiden flight. The MC…
SAUDIA Opens New AlFursan Lounge in Jeddah – Biggest SkyTeam Lounge
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has recently opened their new international Alfursan lounge at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport Terminal 1. SAUDIA Passengers can use the dedicated Premium Class check-in area then proceed directly to the lo…
History Special: 10 Major Airlines To Remember (Part 2)
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
In case you missed part 1, it can be read here. Olympic Airways Back in the days when every European country had one national airline, Greece’s was more stylish than most. Olympic Airways was created in the mid-1950s by shipping magnate Aristotle Onass…
Trip Report: SriLankan Airlines Business Class
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
After 5 days in Thailand (I flew Singapore Airlines to Thailand), I traveled on SriLankan Airlines from Bangkok via Colombo to Dubai. This is a trip report on my latest SriLankan Airlines flight experience. At Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, many shops a…
History Special: 10 Major Airlines of the Past (Part 1)
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Airline industry is forever evolving. There are many great airlines that once dominated the aviation industry, they were launch customers for new aircraft type and household names of the industry. However, some of the biggest names in the airline indus…
Singapore Airlines To Sell Aviation Products from Upcycled Aircraft Parts
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Soon aviation enthusiasts can look forward to a wide range of unique products made from Singapore Airlines upcycled aircraft materials. These include furniture made from the Airline’s Business Class seats, cabin windows, and overhead compartments, as w…
Airbus Beats Boeing on Winning KLM Narrowbody Order + 4 Air France A350 Freighters
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Air France-KLM has inked a multi-billion dollar deal with Airbus for up to 160 aircraft to renew the fleets of the group’s subsidiaries. 100 A320neo Family Aircraft for KLM and Transavia The deal consists of a firm order for 100 A320neo Family (A320neo…
Qantas Selects Airbus A321XLR and A220 Jets For Fleet Renewal Scheme
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Airbus and Qantas today announced a major deal which will see nearly 100 narrowbody domestic and regional aircraft replaced with highly efficient and versatile new models. The deal consists of 20 A321XLRs and 20 A220s, however includes purchase rights …
Singapore Airlines Orders Airbus A350 Freighter
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has signed a Letter of Intent with Airbus to purchase seven A350F freighter aircraft, with options to order another five aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, when SIA will become the first …
Airbus Seeks Legal Advice to Settle Qatar Airways A350 Dispute
Written by Sam Chui @ BoardingArea
The ongoing dispute between Airbus and Qatar Airways over A350 paint degradation has been escalated today as Airbus seeks legal advice to defend its flagship long-haul aircraft. For months Airbus and Qatar have not been able to come to terms with a pai…