50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Kingdom aviation news

Bird strike leaves huge dent in passenger jet as it lands at Heathrow

This is the huge dent left in the nose of a passenger jet after a bird struck the plane as it landed at Heathrow Airport. The EgyptAir Boeing 737-800 was approaching the runway following a flight from Cairo when it collided with the bird, leaving behind blood stains and feathers.   The aircraft, registration SU-GDZ, which had 71 passengers on board managed to land safely...

Scientists develop ice-repellent coating for airplanes and windshields

Scientists develop ice-repellent coating for airplanes and windshields – Researchers from the University of Michigan have developed a spray-on coating that can make theice slide off from a large amount of commercial equipment like airplanes and car windshields, with nothing but the force of gravity. The new finding could have major implications in industries like energy, shippin...

Passenger shocks crew by opening aeroplane door moments before take-off

A passenger delayed a flight by an hour by opening an emergency exit of a Boeing 737 just before take-off. He was on a domestic flight with China Southern Airlines when the incident occurred, the People's Daily Online reports. The plane had to stay at Chengdu Shuangliu airport while the issue was resolved. The flight, bound for Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in north-west Ch...

Lord Deighton to become Heathrow chairman

Heathrow Airport has today announced that Lord Paul Deighton will succeed Sir Nigel Rudd as chairman of the board when he steps down later this year. Lord Deighton will guide Heathrow through its next phase of development, supporting Heathrow’s vision of giving passengers the best airport service in the world and preparing for the government’s decision on airport expansion. Follo...

Major alert at Heathrow after man locks self in jet cockpit

Portuguese national Louis Pedro Verdasca dos Santos Costa, 38, has been charged over the incident at Britain's biggest airport on Saturday. A major security alert was sparked at Heathrow Airport after an intruder broke through a security cordon, climbed aboard an empty British Airways 747 airliner and locked himself inside the bomb-proof cockpit. Police were alerted shortly after 11.30am...

easyJet signs distribution deal with Sabre

easyJet has signed a new long-term distribution agreement with Sabre Corporation. The agreement gives corporate travel agencies across Europe continued access to easyJet fares through the Sabre GDS. Around 20 percent of easyJet’s passengers travel for business. The airline’s agreement with Sabre helps easyJet continue serving this important corporate segment. “easyJet made...

Manchester Airport: £1bn plan to 'transform' site approved

A £1bn programme to "transform" Manchester Airport has been approved. The 10-year plan includes doubling the size of Terminal 2, expanding self-service check-in facilities and building a larger security hall. Manchester City Council also approved plans to demolish Terminal 1 and build a ramp from an M56 slip road to give access to a new departures forecourt. The work, whic...

British man forced off easyJet plane after passenger saw message about 'prayer' on his phone

A British man was removed from from an easyJet plane by armed officers after a passenger saw a message on his phone about 'prayer' and reported him as a security threat. Laolu Opebiyi, 40, a Christian, born in Nigeria and now living in London,was ordered off the flight at Luton Airport and asked if he was converting to Islam as the 6.45am flight to Amsterdam took off without him. A f...

Loganair unveils first revamped plane in 13-aircraft fleet

The refurbishment of the first of 13 aircraft operated by the Scottish airline Loganair has been completed. The interior of the Saab 340 that flies to and from Orkney was stripped out and renewed and the exterior repainted at a cost of almost £270,000. Loganair, a franchise partner of Flybe, will spend £3.5m having the same work done to the rest of its fleet. The first stage i...

London City Airport Deal Shows Infrastructure Investors’ Willing to Pay Up for Smaller Airports

Infrastructure investors are hot on the trail of airport assets and are willing to pay a premium, even for secondary and regional airports. Emblematic of this quest is the deal reached by a consortium that included Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Borealis Infrastructure to acquire London City Airport, located just east of the city’s Canary Wharf district and favored by business t...

Gatwick Airport runway closed to all flights after spillage

Passengers faced long delays and diverted flights after the runway at Gatwick was closed because of a spillage. No flights were able to land or take off at the West Sussex airport after a plane was believed to have dropped oil on Monday morning. At least 18 incoming flights were diverted to other airports, while outgoing flights were being delayed by up to an hour. An airport spokesm...

easyJet links London Southend with Paris CDG

easyJet entered into the congested London to Paris market on 26 February, starting a four times weekly A319 operation between London Southend (SEN) and Paris CDG (CDG). The LCC will join London-Paris incumbents offering 184 weekly rotations ‒ Air France (which flies London Heathrow to Paris CDG 46 times weekly), British Airways (Heathrow to CDG 53 times weekly and Paris Orly 27 times weekly) a...