50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Kingdom aviation news

Skylon,to go from Paris to Sydney in four hours

British government decided to invest 84 million euros (60 million pounds) in Skylon, an aircraft that could connect Paris to Sydney in less than four hours. Actually it is the development of an orbital launch vehicle, developed by British Reaction Engines Limited since the mid-90s. Its uniqueness is in its next-generation engine called SABRE for Air-Breathing Rocket Synergetic Engine....

Keep calm and do some yoga at Gatwick Airport

Gatwick Airport has introduced pre-flight yoga for passengers who are nervous flyers or find the whole flying experience stressful. The yoga room will help passengers de-stress and unwind before a flight. The classes have been programmed by Shona Vertue, who is popular on Instagram, and is only 20 minutes long, but Shona believes that’s long enough to ease the effects of flying. Even m...

Wings Alliance looks to transform UK pilot training

A new training system initiative about to be launched in the UK is intended to offer prospective commercial pilots a route to the cockpit at around half the cost of the integrated courses created for major airlines. Being established by partners including Bristol Groundschool, Cardiff Aviation and several other approved training organisations, the Wings Alliance will be formally launc...

Flight Restrictions Imposed over William and Kate's House

Flight restrictions over the country home of Prince William and his wife Kate came into effect Sunday, with the authorities citing security considerations. Anmer Hall in Norfolk, eastern England, is where the royal couple spend most of their time with their children Prince George, two, and six month old Princess Charlotte. From Sunday, most aircraft will be banned from flying over the ten-be...

Fog Hits UK Travel: British Airways Cancels 100 Flights and Other Airlines Grounded at Heathrow

As fog blankets south-east England, airline travellers face a frustrating start to the working week. More than 100 of today's flights have been cancelled by British Airways - mostly to and from its main base, London Heathrow, and the Docklands airport, London City. BA is warning passengers not to travel to the airport unless they have confirmation their flight will be operating. Many o...

Passenger seated on plane next to stranger who looks exactly like him

Have you ever wanted a twin? This man met the next best thing, when he sat next to a stranger who looked exactly like him on a flight. The ginger-bearded man met his match met his match, and was delighted to meet someone who looked exactly like him. They took a grinning selfie together on the flight, which was posted on social media by the friend of our hero's wife. She tweeted:...

London Oxford Airport offers free shuttle services to new rail station

London Oxford Airport has begun offering business jet passengers and crew complimentary shuttle services to and from Oxford Parkway Station. The station, located five minutes’ away from the airport, offers high speed services to Marylebone Station in just under an hour, with trains running every 30 minutes. “The thoroughly modern transport hub at Oxford Parkway with its new hig...

British Airways launches new First luxury magazine

Customers flying in First with British Airways will now be able to browse at their leisure through the airline’s new luxury in-flight magazine. In a first for in-flight magazines, the new-look First appears in a bespoke journal-like size with unique cover artwork and specially textured paper, giving it a book-like feel. The launch coincides with the unveiling of British Airways’...

Demand continues to rise at London Heathrow

Demand at Heathrow has continued to grow, with traffic up 2.3 per cent to a record 56.9 million passengers. Service quality was also ahead of other European hubs during a record summer, with five separate days where Heathrow welcomed over a quarter of a million passengers per day. Robust financial results saw revenue up 4.1 per cent to £2.1 billion and EBITDA up 4.4 per cent to £...

easyJet takes off under cost-per-flight-hour contract with AJW Group

In a partnership that firmly establishes the UK as leaders in MROinnovation, easyJet has partnered with AJW Group in a five year cost-per-flight-hour contract to support its growing fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. The contract is evidence of a new dynamic in aviation support which sees AJW establish its position as the leading independent provider of integrated servi...

British Airways Launches First Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Delhi

British Airways' first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft made a debut flight to Delhi from London on Monday. For the first time, the airline has introduced a first-class cabin configuration in the aircraft and offers a total 216 seats. The aircraft has eight first class, 39 premium economy, 42 business and 127 economy class seats. "This brand new aircraft is a centrepiece to our EUR5...

Glasgow Police EC135 Crew Didn't React To Fuel Warnings

In a final report released on October 23, UK AAIB investigators were puzzled by the pilot's reaction—or rather the lack of it—after he acknowledged low fuel warnings in his Airbus Helicopters EC135 T2+, which eventually crashed and killed 10 in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2013. Without flight recorders, investigators cannot understand why the police...