MIAMI – Fly Angola (FLA) is back in the Angolan sky with a single Embraer ERJ-145 STD and plans to expand its fleet with another ERJ-145 and a smaller ERJ-120 are on hold awaiting the offset of COVID-19 pandemic.
Fly Angola took advantage of the forced stop to its activities (March 2020) to have its aircraft extensively overhauled in Europe. The ERJ-145, now painted in Fly Angola livery, is configured as all economy class with a one-two seating arrangement.
Image : Fly Angola
Fly Angola Own Operating License Obtained
At the same time the airline, which is privately owned and is part of Aerojet, went thru the six-month certification process and obtained its own Air carrier Operating Certificate (AOC) for domestic services on December 21. Flights resumed on December 23.
MIAMI – On January 29, a Hong Kong Airlines Airbus A330 finished its landing run in deep snow without leaving the runway at New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Japan. The incident caused no injuries or damage.
The aircraft apparently got stuck at the beginning of a taxiway not yet cleared of snow. After unsuccessfully trying to move out on its own power, the snow was cleared in front of the nose landing gear and the aircraft towed to the gate.
Japan Airlines E-170 Involved in Snow Incident
Earlier the same day, a similar incident occurred to Japan Airlines Embraer E-170 (reg. JA216J), operating flight JL2903 from Sendai (SDJ). No damage or injuries were reported.
MIAMI – Government-owned low cost carrier FlyDubai (FZ) announced the resumption of flights to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi (TBS) from Dubai (DXB), United Arab Emirates.
This service will run twice-weekly (Mondays and Thursdays). The Boeing 737-800 departed for Georgia’s largest city on January 28, 2021. Georgian authorities have eased International travel restrictions from February 1.
Jeyhun Efendi, SVP, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at FZ said the airline will continue to add flights to more destinations as restrictions ease. Passengers need to ensure the latest COVID-19 travel regulations http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world for their entire journey are followed.
Flydubai A6-FDC Boeing 737-8KN(WL). Photo: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt via Wikimedia
MIAMI – The oldest Airbus A320 in operations, MSN number 29, is 31 years and 8 months old. This aircraft belongs to Jordan Aviation (R5). As of December 2020, there were 9,160 A320 family aircraft in commercial service with over 330 operators.
This Airbus A320-200 was delivered to Ansett Airlines (AN) on April 21, 1989, with registration VH-HYG, and flew for the Australian airline until its extinction on September 14, 2001.
The aircraft was stored for a year without an owner. It was then bought by a private company and flew from August 2002 to May 2003 with registration N290SE.
The type was acquired by Bulgarian airline Balkan Holidays Air (8H) as LZ-BHA. Later, the A320 performed charter and leased flights with Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) and Air Greece (JG). Finally, Amman-based R5 bought the A320-200 on November 7, 2008.
MIAMI – TAP Air Portugal (TP) has confirmed it would suspend more operations than previously scheduled in February after major cuts in November. The move follows the announcement of new travel restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Compared with the same month last year, TP will suspend 93% of its operations in February, the Lisbon-based carrier said in a regulatory filing on Sunday. It had previously expected a reduction of 73%.
Portugal, which is facing one of the worst outbreaks in the world, declared restrictions on people wishing to fly by air and land abroad on Thursday.
Photo: João Pedro Santoro/Airways