Tag Archives: Travel

Prix Versailles reveals the world’s most beautiful airports of 2026

16 Tuesday Jun 2026

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Techo International Airport, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

PARIS — Prix Versailles, which administers international architecture and design prizes, has revealed its list of the world’s most beautiful airports for 2026, and a majority of them are in Asia.

The seven airports are Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport – Terminal 3 in Guangzhou, China; Frankfurt Airport – Terminal 3 in Frankfurt, Germany; Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport – Terminal 2 in Guwahati, India; Navi Mumbai International Airport – Terminal 1 in Navi Mumbai, India; Techo International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Pittsburgh International Airport in the United States and San Diego International Airport – Terminal 1 in the U.S.

Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Guwahati, India.

Featuring distinctive designs, these projects show how airports are redefining established norms to create a more inspiring and balanced perspective for global travelers, Prix Versailles said Monday.

“Whether they have newly appeared on the horizon or undergone a major renovation, contemporary airports and airport terminals are innovative, inescapable hallmarks of their regions and their eras,” said Jérôme Gouadain, secretary general of the awards organization.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, China.

At the end of the year, three projects from the list will be honored with a World Title in the Prix Versailles, Interior or Exterior categories.

Through its awards program, Prix Versailles seeks to advance a vision of intelligent sustainability that integrates cultural values while extending beyond purely environmental considerations.

All images are courtesy of Prix Versailles.

Airhart takes another step in ‘democratizing’ flying

18 Wednesday Mar 2026

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The protype is based on the Sling TSi platform

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Airhart Aeronautics, the U.S. startup developing an airplane “anyone can fly,” will open its Design and Engineering Center in Long Beach, Calif., next week in the latest milestone in the project.

The guest of honor at Wednesday’s event will be legendary aviator Linda Sollars, the company said.

Airhart’s simplified flight controls

Airhart, founded in 2022 by former SpaceX engineer Nikita Ermoshkin, is seeking to “democratize” flying by building a safe and easy-to-fly personal aircraft with a price tag of under US$100,000.

No intense pilot training would be needed to fly the Airhart aircraft.

That is because at its core is an integrated avionics platform, which consolidates displays, automation and flight controls into one single simplified system. In January, Airhart began installing the software that makes the system possible.

Linda Sollars

The company has been flying a prototype, based on Sling Aircraft’s TSi platform, since late 2022.

Its goal is to deliver its first aircraft equipped with Airhart avionics later this year, with commercial production starting in 2028.

Second and third models are expected to be released in 2031 and 2035 respectively.

The aircraft will conform with the new MOSAIC standards, issued last year by the Federal Aviation Administration and slated to go into effect in July.

The FAA believes MOSAIC, or Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification, will help increase the availability of affordable aircraft for recreational aviation.

On Wednesday, Sollars will share her thought on how MOSAIC will modernize the light aircraft industry.

Guests will also be able to meet the team behind the aircraft and try out the Airhart flight simulator.

Photos are courtesy of Linda Sollars and Airhart Aeronautics.

Alaska Airlines unveils new livery, inspired by the Northern Lights

05 Tuesday Aug 2025

Posted by in Airlines, Airports, Alaska Airlines, Aviation, Boeing, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Business

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Alaska Airlines said its new livery was inspired by the Northern Lights.

SEATTLE – Alaska Airlines unveiled a new livery on Tuesday as the company sets sights on becoming a premium global carrier.

The U.S. airline, which already flies to over 140 destinations, also announced that it will launch two new nonstop routes to London and Reykjavik from its Seattle hub, starting next spring.

They will be the fourth and fifth of at least 12 intercontinental destinations Alaska plans to serve from Seattle by the end of this decade.

“With these bold moves, we are accelerating our vision to connect our guests to the world,” said Chief Executive Officer Ben Minicucci. “We are seizing this moment to redefine the international experience and level up. And we’re doing it with the same relentless focus on safety, care and performance that’s always defined us.”

The airline said the new livery on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners was inspired by the Northern Lights.

Alaska calls the design “the first phase of a new global experience for long-haul flying” on the aircraft.

The 787s with the new livery will debut in January, and the airline hopes to have its entire fleet of 17 Dreamliners to feature the new design by spring.

“Our new 787 exterior embodies Alaska’s transition to a global airline with beauty, grace and a nod to our heritage,” said Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison.

The daily Seattle-London Dreamliner flight will feature 34 enclosed suites with fully lie-flat seats in Business Class, the airline said. The service will operate throughout the year.

On the seasonal Reykjavik route, Alaska will operate a Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, Alaska added.

Images are courtesy of Alaska Airlines.

EBAA considers new venues for air show

20 Tuesday May 2025

Posted by in Airports, Airshow, EBACE

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The European Business Aviation Association is considering new venues for its flagship air show known as EBACE, the organization said Monday.

The announcement came on the eve of the opening of the 2025 edition of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Geneva.

For the first time, the show opened without a static display of business aircraft.

The association said it is “rethinking the event format to better engage high net worth individuals” and reconsidering bringing back the static display.

“Our goal is to reimagine EBACE with and for our stakeholders,” EBAA Secretary General Holger Krahmer (right) told a media briefing.

“While changes take time, one thing remains clear to us: the industry needs EBACE and it remains the right place to meet the right people in business aviation.”

More details are expected to be released at a news conference on June 30.

Images are courtesy of EBAA

Delta celebrates a century of success

18 Tuesday Mar 2025

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Delta Air Lines has revealed a new livery to mark 100 years of operation.

The U.S. company said it honors “a century of innovation, resilience and the people who built Delta into the airline it is today.”

The celebrations were held at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta on March 15.

What began as an aerial crop-dusting company in March 1925 has grown into one of the world’s largest airlines operating some 5,000 daily flights to nearly 300 destinations.

Delta has a fleet of 987 aircraft.

Video courtesy: Delta Air Lines

Pilatus showcases PC-12 PRO

15 Saturday Mar 2025

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Pilatus has unveiled a new version of its bestselling PC-12 aircraft, calling it the “most advanced” in the single-engine class.

The Swiss business aircraft manufacturer said the PC-12 PRO features a new cockpit, innovative safety functions and new interior finishes and colour schemes.

“These enhancements ensure the brand new PC-12 PRO is the most technologically advanced, best-performing and most reliable aircraft in its class,” the company said this week.

“The PC-12 PRO has been reimagined, yet it is instantly recognizable. In short: the Most Advanced Single has landed.”

The aircraft is powered by the PT6 turboprop engine, produced by Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Deliveries of the PC-12 PRO are expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2025, Pilatus said.

More than 2,000 PC-12s are in operation worldwide. The company, based in the central Swiss city of Stans, produced 101 PC-12s in 2023 alone.

Images are courtesy of Pilatus.

Korean Air unveils stunning new livery

14 Friday Mar 2025

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Korean Air has unveiled a stunning new livery as part of its first rebrand in decades.

It follows the South Korean flag carrier’s $1.3 billion acquisition of Asiana Airlines.

The airline showcased a Boeing 787-10 featuring the new livery and revamped cabins at an event in Seoul this week.

It is the first major rebrand since 1984.

Asiana is the country’s second-largest airline. It will be fully integrated under Korean Air in 2027.

“As a unified Korean Air, we are committed to more than just transportation,” said Walter Cho (right), chairman and chief executive of Korean Air. “We aim to connect people, cultures and the world through the skies.”

The airline has also updated its menu choices and inflight service.

One of the world’s major airlines, Korean Air serves 116 cities in 40 countries. It has a fleet of 161 aircraft.

The new aircraft livery was showcased at an event in Seoul on March 11 – Photos are courtesy of Korean Air.

Embraer, Polish partner to develop new aircraft technologies

11 Tuesday Mar 2025

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Francisco Gomes Neto (right) and Sylwester Wyka signed the MoU in Warsaw on Tuesday. Embraer photo

Embraer and Poland’s Łukasiewicz Institute of Aviation have agreed to jointly develop new aircraft technologies and materials, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer said Tuesday.

Francisco Gomes Neto, president and chief executive of Embraer, was in Warsaw to sign a memorandum of understanding on the project with Sylwester Wyka, acting director of Łukasiewicz.

Established almost 100 years ago, Łukasiewicz is one of Europe’s top aviation research centres. It focuses on materials, flight technologies, aeronautical design and maintenance processes.

“This MoU marks the beginning of a technological bridge between Poland and South America,” Wyka said. “Through collaboration with Embraer, we are combining our expertise with a global industry leader to jointly develop cutting-edge aviation and materials technologies.”

Embraer’s Neto said the collaboration is part of the company’s plan to deepen its engagement with the Polish aerospace ecosystem.

Based in São Paulo, Embraer is a leading player in the global aviation industry. The company has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft since its founding in 1969.

Boeing sets a lofty sustainability goal

22 Friday Jan 2021

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Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator 757
Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator 757

Boeing wants its commercial aircraft to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuels by 2030, the company said Friday.

Is that doable? May be.

In 2018, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator flight-test program made the world’s first commercial airplane flight using 100% sustainable fuels with a 777 Freighter.

Citing various studies, the company said sustainable aviation fuels reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% over the fuel’s life cycle with the potential to reach 100% in the future.

“Today, sustainable aviation fuels are mixed directly with conventional jet fuel up to a 50/50 blend — the maximum allowed under current fuel specifications,” it said.

“In order to meet aviation’s commitment for reducing carbon emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2050, airplanes need the capability to fly on 100% sustainable aviation fuels well before 2050.”

Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Stan Deal said the company is committed to working with regulators, engine manufacturers and other key stakeholders to ensure that airplanes can fly entirely on sustainable jet fuels.

Such fuels can be made from a wide variety of feedstocks, including non-edible plants, agricultural and forestry waste, non-recyclable household waste, industrial plant off-gassing and other sources, Boeing noted.

Airbus unveils concepts for zero-emission aircraft

21 Monday Sep 2020

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Biofuel, Business, Hydrogen, Zero-emission

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Airbus ZEROe

The blended-wing body design for up to 200 passengers.

Toulouse, France — Airbus has revealed three concepts for the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft, which could enter service by 2035.

Each represents a different approach to achieving zero-emission flight, Airbus said Monday.

The three concepts — all codenamed ZEROe for climate-neutral zero-emission commercial aircraft — are:

ZEROe

The turbofan design for up to 200 passengers.

A turbofan design (120-200 passengers) with a range of 2,000+ nautical miles, capable of operating transcontinentally and powered by a modified gas-turbine engine running on hydrogen, rather than jet fuel, through combustion. The liquid hydrogen will be stored and distributed via tanks located behind the rear pressure bulkhead.

A turboprop design  (up to 100 passengers) using a  turboprop engine instead of a turbofan, and also powered by hydrogen combustion in modified gas-turbine engines, which would be capable of traveling more than 1,000 nautical miles, making it a perfect option for short-haul trips.

A blended-wing body design (up to 200 passengers) concept in which the wings merge with the main body of the aircraft with a range similar to that of the turbofan concept. The exceptionally wide fuselage opens up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution, and for cabin layout.

ZEROe

The turbofan design for up to 100 passengers.

All of these concepts rely on hydrogen as a primary power source, an option which Airbus believes holds exceptional promise as a clean aviation fuel.

“This is a historic moment for the commercial aviation sector as a whole and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition this industry has ever seen,” said Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.

“I strongly believe that the use of  hydrogen, both in synthetic fuels and as a primary power source for commercial aircraft, has the potential to significantly reduce aviation’s climate impact.”

  • All images are courtesy of Airbus

 

NBAA show focuses on sustainability

20 Sunday Oct 2019

Posted by in Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Biofuel, Business, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, EBACE, Technology

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NBAA-BACELAS VEGAS, Nev. – Sustainability is the main focus of this week’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.

As part of the show, Henderson Executive Airport will for the first time in its history make available Sustainable Aviation Fuel, the National Business Aviation Association said.

“Some 100 airplanes will take on the renewable fuel at the Clark County-owned and operated airport this week, including those on display at the show.”

SAF is a non-fossil power source that can reduce aviation’s carbon lifecycle emissions by up to 80 percent.

“After planes refuel and depart at the show’s close Oct. 24, an estimated 150,000 gallons of SAF are expected to have been pumped at the airport in conjunction with NBAA’s convention,” the NBAA said.

The NBAA is also holding various events throughout the week to promote sustainability.

Airbus celebrates a major milestone

20 Monday May 2019

Posted by in Airbus, Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Aviation, Bombardier, Buisness, Canada, CS100, Delta Air Lines, Life

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AirbusThe first Airbus aircraft, an A300B2, was delivered to Air France in 1974. Forty-five years on, Airbus is celebrating the delivery of its 12,000th aircraft.

The Airbus A220-100, previously known as the Bombardier CS100, was assembled in Mirabel, Canada, and handed over to Delta Air Lines on Monday.

Delta received its first A220 last October. The aircraft delivered on Monday was its 12th. The airline has placed a firm order for 90 A220s.

A2

Images are courtesy of Airbus.

Bombardier steals the show with new jets

27 Sunday May 2018

Posted by in Aircraft, Airports, Airshow, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, Canada, EBACE18, Geneva, Life, Luxury Travel, Rolls-Royce, Transport, Travel, Travel Blog

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_DSC9351Bombardier has added two more aircraft to its Global family of business jets that the company says will deliver “unmatched total performance”.

The Global 5500 and the Global 6500 were launched ahead of this week’s opening of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, EBACE 2018, in Geneva.

_DSC9327

David Coleal

“Bombardier’s two newest Global aircraft are the result of our unrelenting commitment to innovation, excellence and most of all, our desire to deliver unmatched capabilities to our customers,” said David Coleal, president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, as he unveiled the Global 6500 at a TAG Aviation hangar on Sunday.

_DSC9337

The Rolls-Royce Pearl

The Global 5500 can connect Sao Paulo and Paris, and Moscow and Los Angeles while the Global 6500 can connect Hong Kong or Singapore and London, and Toluca and Madrid, the company said.

An all-new Rolls-Royce engine will power the aircraft. The jets are expected to enter service at the end of 2019.

All photos are by Abdul Latheef

EBACE static display to feature 55 aircraft

02 Wednesday May 2018

Posted by in Airbus, Airbus Corporate Jets, Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Boeing, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, EBACE, IATA, ICAO, Life, Travel

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PalexpoEbGeneva hosts the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, or EBACE, later this month.

One of the world’s biggest business aviation shows, it opens at Palexpo on May 29.

Eb2More than 400 exhibitors will showcase their latest products and services at the three-day event.

The static display will feature 55 aircraft. The organizers say 13,000 aviation professionals will attend the show.

Photo courtesy: EBACE, Palexpo

Bombardier CSeries finally takes off

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Delta Air Lines, GE Aviation, IATA, ICAO, Life, Quebec, SWISS, Transport, Travel

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CS8The world’s newest commercial aircraft is being delivered on Thursday.

After years of delay and billions of dollars in budget overruns, Canadian manufacturer Bombardier will hand over the first CSeries aircraft to launch customer Swiss International Air Lines at a ceremony in Montreal.

The airline, widely known as SWISS, has ordered 30 CSeries aircraft. The airplane being delivered on Thursday is a 125-seat CS100, the smaller of the CSeries family.

The bigger aircraft, the CS300 with a seating capacity of up to 150, is expected to be certified soon. Air Baltic is the launch customer of that airplane.

“SWISS is proud to be the first airline to take title of the CSeries. The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its acceptance flight, as expected,” said Thomas Kluhr, chief executive officer of SWISS.

“Along with the CS300 aircraft that we’ve also ordered, the CSeries fleet will allow us to perfectly tailor our capacity to demand on various European routes, while providing an excellent travel experience for our passengers.”

Fred2Fred Cromer (right), president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, called it the first “right-sized aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat market segment in nearly 30 years.”

“Today is a significant moment for Bombardier, SWISS and their employees – many of whom have dedicated years to designing, building, marketing and defining the flight network for the C Series aircraft,” Cromer added.

The maiden commercial flight of the CS100 will take passengers from Zurich to Paris on July 15. SWISS will gradually replace its Avro RJ100 fleet with the CSeries aircraft. The airline is a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

In all, Bombardier has won 370 firm orders and 252 options and purchase rights for the CSeries aircraft. Delta Air Lines Inc. is the biggest customer, with an order for up to 125 aircraft.

“A new aircraft program like the CSeries comes around once in a lifetime and it’s a proud achievement that belongs to many,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

CS1

All photos are by Abdul Latheef