MIAMI – India’s SpiceJet (SG) and Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines (JX) have both received approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to commence flights to the United States.
In November 2020, low-cost carrier SpiceJet applied to launch flights from India to the United States, notably with a fleet of Boeing 737s. SpiceJet intends to promptly begin operating a Delhi (DEL) to New York (JFK) route. Because the airline plans to use 737s, stops will be needed along the way.
SpiceJet proposes to operate Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 Freighters along with 737-800 passenger aircraft for U.S. flights. The carrier’s initial objectives are to operate charters carrying COVID-19 personal protective equipment and to repatriate citizens.
MIAMI – Bahrain International Airport (BAH) announced the successful grand opening of its brand new Passenger Terminal Building on January 28. The new terminal spans 210,000 sqm, four times larger than the rest of the airport’s facilities. It will increase the airport’s capacity to 14 million passengers a year.
“The launch of the new terminal will be a major contributor to trade, supporting the growth [of] tourism and travel for decades to come,” Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and Chairman of the Bahrain Airport Company, told Airports Council International.
The New Terminal in Detail
The new terminal will support 8 baggage reclaim belts, 104 check-in counters, 2 halls for registration of first and business class passengers, 36 passport control offices, 12 e-gates for Departures and 8 e-gates for Arrivals.
MIAMI – Qatar Airways’ (QR) first nonstop flight between the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and the Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar’s capital, took off Friday.
The new route will fly four times weekly on QR’s Boeing 777 aircraft and is the first-ever nonstop flight between SEA and Doha. The carrier is also the first new carrier to begin service at SEA since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Tom Harris
MIAMI – Today in Aviation, Hawaiian Airlines (HA) was formed in 1929. Ever since, we have been treated to 92 years of history from Hawaii’s flag carrier. Seeing as today is the 92nd anniversary of Hawaiian, what would be better than to explore that with an Aviation Deep Dive.
Today we are going to be looking at the rich history of HA and how it has shaped the airline as we know it today. So without further ado, let’s get right into it.
Hawaiian Airlines initiated air service in 1929 as Inter-Island Airways with this Bellanca CH-300, restored in 2009 by Hawaiian to flying condition. Photo: Wiki Commons
MIAMI – Thousands of residents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are scrambling to find alternative routes home as the UK announced the closure of its borders.
The UK’s unexpected decision has caused outrage in the UAE, as its government was non the wise it would to be added to the UK’s “red list” of high risk countries. All direct passenger flights between the two countries have now been suspended; however, cargo operations can still operate as normal.
Photo: London Heathrow
The Red List
The countries on the list are considered to be the most infectious in the world. As part of the action, from last Friday, all arrivals who have been in the UAE, Burundi or Rwanda in the 10 days before their arrival will have to self-isolate – as well as their households – immediately and will not be able to use the “test to release” scheme to shorten their quarantine period. The list is now up to 33 countries.