Year: 2021

In the January 2022 edition of Airliner World, we proudly present our first-ever ‘Powerlist’. Written by your enthusiastic editorial team, we closely examine our top ten carriers to watch in 2022 – featuring both big-name operators and some surprises. Meanwhile, for those interested in commercial aviation’s illustrious past, we have a selection of historic treats. Firstly, we journey back to the 1950s for a look at the gigantic Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess flying-boat. We then head to the turquoise waters of the Dutch Caribbean and Guianas, charting the history of ALM Antillean Airlines and Surinam Airways (SLM). Finally, we jump continents once again, this time arriving in Africa for a snippet of Ethiopian Airlines’ history with two exclusive chapters from a new book. Additionally, Martin Needham investigates the reappearance of the Pan Am livery on UK shores three decades after the company’s collapse. Elsewhere, in a return to today’s aircraft action, Andreas Spaeth criss-crosses the globe to speak to Air France management about its new Airbus A220 and the company’s wider fleet plans as well as getting an update on Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot from their top executives.

A bumper 132-page December 2021 edition of Airliner World kicks off with an exclusive guide celebrating a decade of the Boeing 787. We begin by charting the Dreamliner’s origins, before jumping aboard the type’s maiden fare-paying service with ANA. However, despite the 787’s major success, we also analyse some of the ongoing problems that continue to plague the popular widebody. Finally, we present comprehensive information on the type’s specifications and deliveries. Following on from COP26 in Glasgow, we take a closer look at how the aviation industry aims to decarbonise, including through sustainable aviation fuels and radical clean-sheet designs. Meanwhile, staying on theme, we investigate the rising popularity of rail travel globally and its potential impact on flights – we also offer counter insight from Modern Railways’ editor Philip Sherratt. For those more accustomed to historic aviation, we take a fascinating look at the Airspeed Ambassador, while our very own Martin Needham delivers the concluding part of his visit to British airliner classics at Duxford.

In the November 2021 edition of Airliner World, we gain exclusive insight into Embraer’s new turboprop offering as our very own Gordon Smith sits down with key representatives from the Brazilian manufacturer. We find out how they intend to disrupt the market – a sector lacking innovation in recent years – with promises of a “jet-like experience” and future proofing for sustainability in mind. Keeping with the turboprop theme, we celebrate 40 years of ATR by looking back at some key moments from the Franco-Italian airframer’s history, and how this led them to hold a near-monopoly in the market today. Elsewhere, we jump aboard JetBlue’s much-anticipated inaugural flight to London and back as our US-based correspondent trials both economy and Mint-class products. Meanwhile, we provide a fascinating extract from Andreas Spaeth’s new book charting one of his journeys on supersonic fan-favourite, Concorde, just before the type’s retirement. If that isn’t enough, buckle up as Derek Ferguson reminiscences his experiences of testing on the later-cancelled BAE Systems AVRO RJX programme.

In the October 2021 edition of Airliner World we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Douglas Aircraft Company. We highlight some of the key developments from the pioneering firm with not one, but three in-depth articles to whet your appetite for all things Douglas, including the DC-7, DC-9 and mighty MD-11. Elsewhere, we shift our focus to the future as we offers an exclusive flight training guide which is a must-read for anyone considering a career as a commercial airline pilot. It provides prospective aviators with an industry overview, training route pathways, showcase what cadets could expect at flight school, personal anecdotes and useful advice from professional pilots such as Captain Chris Pohl. This bumper issue doesn’t stop there as we don our thermals and head to the frozen continent for a whistle-stop aerial tour of Antarctica with Qantas aboard one of their former Boeing 747s; we explain the history of such special flights, while analysing the logistics and planning involved. Elsewhere, we look at another US-built quad jet legend as we investigate the sad story of the recently scrapped pair of 707-400s in Germany. Finally, don’t miss out on our final instalment of 2021’s start-up airlines, as we focus on carriers beyond European shores.

In the September 2021 edition of Airliner World, we present our exclusive Global Airline Report which charts the most turbulent year in the history of commercial aviation. Using insights from analytics experts ch-aviation, our editorial team has crunched the data to bring you the biggest stories as well as some you might have missed. Elsewhere, don’t miss our exclusive interview with Brian Znotins, the vice president of network and schedule planning at American Airlines. We learn how his team navigated the worst of the pandemic and how the world’s largest carrier is priming itself for a post-COVID landscape. Also, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 atrocities, Tom Batchelor examines the legacy left by aviation’s darkest hour. We hear from German aviation journalist, Andreas Spaeth, who recalls his experience on September 11 while visiting Concorde at London/Heathrow.

In the August 2021 edition of Airliner World, we speak to industry legend David Neeleman about his boldest project yet. in an extended report examining his new airline, Breeze, we chat with the entrepreneur about its business model before we take our seat on the airline’s inaugural rotation. Neeleman isn’t the only head honcho speaking to us this month – don’t miss exclusive insights from the CEOs of Icelandic start-up PLAY and Italian leisure carrier Neos. For those with a keen eye on aircraft, we also have something just for you. We catch up with the CEO of Deutsche Aircraft about the firm’s plans to develop a more environmentally friendly, second generation Dornier 328, the D328eco.

The July 2021 issue of Airliner World is truly out of this world, as we chat with Virgin Orbit’s chief test pilot, Kelly Latimer. the legendary aviator gives us an exhilarating first-hand understanding of the technical challenges and rewards involved in horizontally launching a 70ft rocket into space from a Boeing 747-400 mothership. For those more accustomed to Earth-focused sorties, we also grab a much sought-after seat on the inaugural flight of US start-up, Avelo. We speak to the firm’s veteran CEO about its business model and look at how the new company aims to differentiate itself from the competition. That’s not all, don’t miss our fascinating account of how MEA provided a near-continuous service during the Lebanese Civil War often under the most perilous operating conditions. for those dreaming of a more tranquil journey, we also chart the ongoing project by HARS to return an ex-Qantas and former John Travolta-owned Boeing 707-138B back to Australia.

The June 2021 edition of Airliner World is an AIR Force ONE Special! Don’t miss our exclusive insights into the presidential jet provided by Scott Bateman, a professional pilot, and the producer behind a ground-breaking TV documentary on America’s flying fortress. We learn more about the challenges and rewards of producing a show on such a sensitive topic, plus we look back at previous iterations of Air Force One before asking what the future might hold. Elsewhere, as the freight market booms, we investigate the rapid demand for passenger-to-freighter conversions and explore the various options available from manufacturers and third-party providers. Meanwhile, keeping things technical, we discuss the merits of fly-by-wire and automation over traditional human control in a fascinating extract from Jack J Hersch’s new book. In a rare move for Airliner World, we take a rotary turn and travel to Vancouver to meet the Helijet team. Let’s just say that this Canadian operator offers scheduled air links with a difference! but fear not, for the ‘airline’ traditionalists, we also have a fantastic personal snapshot of Frankfurt Airport from the mid-1980s by Dirk Grothe as well as an exclusive chat with the managing director of Wizz Air UK. Other highlights include BN-2 Islanders in Germany, and a pictorial tribute to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, charting his aviation escapades.

In the May 2021 edition of Airliner World, we gain exclusive insight into Lufthansa’s longest-ever rotation to the Falkland Islands as the flag carrier delivered scientists bound for nearby Antarctica. We chat with key players involved in the pioneering project, discussing the rationale, logistics and operation of the flight itself. For those more mechanically inclined, we have the perfect treat for you as we go behind the scenes with Lufthansa Technik on its recent maintenance check of the super rare Nasa-dlr jointly owned Boeing 747SP (sofia). Keeping all things jumbo related, we take a fascinating look back at Qantas’ fifth engine flying on the 747 and examine the challenges it brought. Elsewhere, following the dramatic engine failure of a United 777 in February, we spoke to the spotter who captured the nail-biting images above Denver. Meanwhile, reverting to more relaxing settings, we head to the stunning landscape of Bolivia and climb aboard the local carrier, Transporte Aéreo Militar, which in 2013 still fielded a plethora of rare types used on commercial service.

The April 2021 edition of Airliner World is an Asia-Pacific special. Our first port of call is Laos, from where we take a domestic hop on the rare Xian MA60 before analysing this fascinating aircraft type. Next, we head Down Under as we grab an exclusive chat with Rex’s deputy chairman to discuss the Aussie firm’s exciting Boeing 737 plans. We then depart for Alice Springs to survey the dozens of airframes grounded by COVID-19. Finally, we bag a virtual seat at a roundtable discussion with the director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). Elsewhere, for those inclined to more historical features, we have not one, but two exhilarating examples. to start, we chronicle the history of the original transatlantic budget pioneer, Loftleiðir, before the first of a fascinating two-part series exploring several well-known brands of the Eastern Bloc under the USSR. Meanwhile, Airliner World’s Thomas Haynes speaks to two senior figures from the industry: Barbara Kracht, the former VP of media relations at Airbus, whose career at the airframer spanned more than 35 years; and the CEO of the UK’s biggest regional firm, Loganair. We round off this issue by gaining an intriguing insight into FlightRadar24 and assess the impact of Brexit on aviation.