Simple Flying

The Airbus A350 next generation widebody draws on a host of technology proven by both the superjumbo A380 and decades of pioneering development, including systems proven on the military-grade A400M. This pedigree of cutting-edge aerospace engineering spans a spectrum of innovation from the industry-leading use of composite material to some of the most advanced and resiliently redundant avionics ever installed in an airplane.

Yesterday, a British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the UK to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, had to alert air traffic control after a fire broke out on board that was caused by a cellphone. While the incident did not impact the flight operationally, it is said to have 'scorched' some of the inside of the cabin of the widebody twinjet.

Summer is now in full swing at Etihad Airways, with the Abu Dhabi-based flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates having recently launched four routes in as many days. All served by narrowbodies, these new corridors link its main hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) with destinations in three different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe. This week will also see five seasonal routes restart.

British Airways is comfortably the largest European carrier for long-haul flights. According to Cirium Diio data, the oneworld member has an average of 90 daily departures from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW). It has 2% more long-haul services than it did last year. Multiple new and returning routes have contributed to this growth. They include operating the first flight from LHR to St Louis, while BA will once again fly from LGW to Colombo later this year.

Most airline coverage focuses on product reviews. Analysts compare seat widths, meal service, airport lounges, and cabin design to determine which carrier offers the best experience. Yet the more interesting story is often hidden in the pricing. Why can one airline charge significantly more than its competitors on the same route and still fill its aircraft? Singapore Airlines offers one of the clearest examples of this phenomenon.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is one of the most striking airliners ever made. With its widebody configuration and distinctive trijet configuration, the MD-11 stands out from other airliners. Its design is even unique among other trijets. The MD-11 and its predecessor, the DC-10, were workhorses for large airlines, especially for cargo airlines in the case of the MD-11. However, the trijet design that defined the MD-11 and the DC-10 ended up being the downfall of the model as a whole.

Two easyJet Airbus A320 flights operating from London Luton Airport (LTN) and Manchester Airport (MAN) were involved in separate serious takeoff incidents weeks apart after departing from runway positions that differed from those used in the crews' takeoff performance calculations.

On March 25 2018, the Australian flag carrier Qantas wrote aviation history by becoming the first airline to commence direct non-stop flights between Australia and Europe with a route from Perth International Airport(PER) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR). This historic event marked the first time travelers between Europe and Oceania could fly without a stopover or transfer, and that all the world's inhabited continents were connected by a non-stop flight in one form or another.

Regional airline pilot pay in the US has increased dramatically over the past decade, with first-year first officers at major regional jet carriers now earning between $80,000 and $110,000. That transformation has received significant attention across the industry and the media. What has received far less attention is the tier of professional flying that sits below it.

A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 15, 2026, prompting an immediate emergency response and the closure of the installation's airfield. Military officials confirmed the aircraft went down at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time on the base, but had not released definitive details on the extent of any casualties as of publication.