Aircraft Threads

We all know that Boeing has been unable to really challenge the Airbus A321neo. I think it's difficult to undersell just how big of an issue this is; with almost 8,000 sales, the A321neo on its own has outsold the entire 737 MAX family, and it's the most popular commercial aircraft variant of all time by a wide margin. They're also expensive, and Airbus has been able to extract even more profits from the program through the A321LR and A321XLR, variants that didn't cost that much to develop but which sell for a hefty premium. Airbus is making money hand over fist with the A321neo while Boeing has sold a few hundred 737 MAX 9s. The 737 MAX 10 is supposed to be coming later this year, and I find it to be a much bigger deal than I think people are giving it credit for. Boeing is promising that per-seat costs will be competitive or even better than the A321neo (which was always the main fault with the 737-900/MAX 9). The 737 MAX 10 has already received over 1,400 orders, despite the fact t

The Airbus A321XLR is meant to be the world's longest-ranged twin-engine narrowbody, with a range of 4,700 NM (8,700 km). Some believed that the aircraft could revolutionize long-haul flying by blending narrowbody economics with transatlantic range, while others see it as more of a niche product. However, Wizz Air eventually reported issues with the plane, and combined with a change in strategy, ended up cutting down its A321XLR order. This, though, didn't seem to be a huge problem for the plane because Wizz Air's examples naturally will have reduced range because the airline installs 239 seats on its examples. However, Air Canada began expressing concerns specifically about the aircraft's performance in certain airport conditions, which could affect takeoff weight, and most recently, United appears to be disappointed with its range. On the other end of the scale, IAG doesn't seem to have any problems with the plane, while American Airlines is planning to use the A321XLR on routes tha

Airbus is reportedly looking at stretching the A350-1000 in an attempt to better compete against the Boeing 777-9. The A350-1000 burns less fuel, but it has fewer seats. As such, the 777-9's per-seat costs are competitive with the A350-1000. However, the industry has generally been seeing rising demand for premium seats, which has made the 777-9 more appealing. Many airlines have ordered the 777-9 to serve as a flagship aircraft with first class, while their A350s do not have first class. A stretched A350 would serve this same role to customers and could stop Airbus's customers from going to the 777-9. I see Air France and EVA Air as being prime examples of airlines that could sign up for this program. The problem is that Boeing could easily stretch the 777-9, and then you have the same dynamic as today. With pressure from a stretched 777X, does the A350 stretch have a solid business case then? In my opinion, I don't think Airbus is particularly worried about a stretched '777-10'. It

Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Airbus is looking at stretching the A350-1000 to better rival the Boeing 777-9. Rolls-Royce has stated that a decision is expected within a year and that it would take maybe six to seven years for the manufacturer to develop a new engine (very likely a Trent XWB derivative). Reportedly, there is interest in the plane, but my question is: from whom? To me, I think Air France-KLM is the most obvious customer: the airline group has a large 777-300ER fleet, has ordered a huge number of A350-900s, and has only ordered three A350-1000s, while it has abstained from buying the 777X. Air France, in particular, also has some of the world's oldest 777-300ERs. I could eventually see Qantas going for the plane, as well as Turkish Airlines and EVA Air. All three are A350-1000 customers and have not ordered the 777-9.  What other airlines could you see buying a stretched A350 if Airbus decides to move forward with the program?

As avgeeks, once one flight is over, our attention immediately turns to the next one. We all fly to different places for different reasons, so, with the good vibes of the weekend having now just about landed, it would be great to hear all about what your future flying plans have in store! My next flight will be with Ryanair to Malta (MLA) next month. While that, in and of itself, is not the most interesting flight, it does at least have the novelty of being from Norwich (NWI) rather than my usual departures from London Stansted (STN). The route is relatively new, but it has been great to see the impact that Ryanair has had on Norwich, and I hope it will stay in the long term. When are you next taking to the skies? What are the airline, aircraft, and route in question? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Earlier this week, a Delta Air Lines passenger had the unfortunate experience of flushing their phone down the toilet on a Boeing 757-200. The jet was flying from Las Vegas to Atlanta, and the incident was confirmed in its logbook. Given the comical and curious nature of the incident, it would be interesting to hear about the most unusual things that you've left on planes or at airports over the years. I've personally not got much to offer on this topic. I'm quite vigilant with my belongings, so the best I can come up with is a jumper left on my seat on a British Airways Airbus A320 upon arrival in Glasgow from London back in 2021. Luckily, I was still on the jet bridge when I realized it, and was able to return to the jet and retrieve it from the cabin crew. What about you? Have you left anything out of the ordinary on an aircraft or in an airport? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Open the flight tracker and show us the most interesting thing you can find. A rare type, an unusual route, an aircraft you've never spotted before. There's always something interesting airborne if you know where to look, whether it's a widebody on an odd route, a one-of-a-kind aircraft, or something you simply didn't expect to see over your city today. Screenshot whatever you find and drop it below, tell us what it is and why it caught your eye. We'll be checking in, and the best or strangest finds might end up featured in the near future. 

While first class on long-haul flights has largely disappeared in recent years due to improvements to business class shrinking the gap between the two cabins, certain carriers are keeping it alive. Air France is a notable example, and it was in the news recently after expanding its La Première offering to include flights to San Francisco. Have you ever flown in a long-haul first class cabin? I have not personally had the honor, although I was lucky enough to sample Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class business class offering on a 2022 trip to the US. In truth, I feel like, for the most part, business class has got to the stage where I wouldn't see the need for a further upgrade, although I would make an exception for Etihad's 'Residence' first class apartment on the Airbus A380. What do you think? Have you ever sampled first class on a long-haul flight? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Simple Flying recently rolled back the years and looked at Qantas's decision to order the Airbus A330, A380, and Boeing 747-400ER rather than the 777, despite being involved in the Triple-Seven's consultation process. Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said long ago that this is a decision that he wished he could go back in time and change, but, with passenger production of the 777 having now shifted to the 777X, should Qantas order this next-generation version instead? I think the 777X would be a good fit for Qantas. While its future ultra-long-haul operations will be looked after by the A350-1000ULR, and it does have orders for the standard A350-1000 and 787-10, the 777X is the closest match capacity-wise to its Airbus A380s, and those certainly aren't getting any younger. What do you think? Should Qantas order the 777X? Have you ever flown with the Australian flag carrier? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, operates the Dash 8-Q400, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737 MAX 8, and the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. However, WestJet is now slowly retiring its Boeing 737-700s, which will leave a large gap between its 78-seat Q400s and its 174-seat 737 MAX 8s. With this in mind, do you think WestJet should get a new aircraft type to fill that capacity gap? If so, which kind, and how would you like to see it configured and deployed? Have you ever flown with WestJet before? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.

Sports teams have had partnerships with airlines for a long time. In European football, major partnerships over the years have included Arsenal-Emirates, Manchester City-Etihad, Real Madrid-Emirates, PSG-Qatar Airways, Atletico Madrid-Riyadh Air, and AC Milan-Emirates. In the US, major partnerships include Breeze Airways-Rhode Island FC, Etihad-New York City FC, Delta-Atlanta Braves, Allegiant-Las Vegas Raiders, and ANA-Los Angeles Dodgers. Other sports include Qatar Airways-F1, Etihad-Chennai Super Kings, and Malaysia Airlines-Mumbai Indians. Often, these partnerships come with special liveries on the airline's aircraft. Many airlines with sports liveries include JetBlue (Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, New York Jets, Brooklyn Nets), Delta (Team USA, LA 28, Atlanta Braves), Eurowings (Borussia Dortmund), Qatar Airways (F1, PSG), Etihad (Manchester City, Chennai Super Kings), Allegiant (Las Vegas Raiders), and VivaAerobus (Las Vegas Raiders). Among the other notable ex

Aviation history is full of aircraft that never quite delivered on their promise, but "failure" can mean very different things depending on how you look at it. Some were genuine technological failures, others were design failures, and then there are the sales flops.   So which one gets your vote, and which category does it fall into? Maybe it's a program that was grounded before it ever proved itself, a design that looked great on paper but flopped commercially, or one that succeeded technically but never made sense economically for the airlines that bought it. Whatever your answer, tell us how you're measuring "failure", because the aircraft that tops one list might not even make the cut on another.

This year has been a big one for Alaska Airlines, as it looks to grow its intercontinental network following its merger with Hawaiian Airlines. The Boeing 787 is at the heart of this expansion, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) being the geographical focal point. The carrier currently flies its 787s from Seattle to London (LHR), Rome (FCO), and Seoul (ICN), as well as domestically to Honolulu. However, recent reports suggest that its cabin crew feel like they can't deliver good service levels due to understaffing. Specifically, flight attendants have filed a formal grievance against the airline due to it increasing the onboard offering in economy class on the 787 without providing the extra crew needed to deliver it. With this in mind, do you think that Alaska Airlines has fallen into the trap of trying to do too much too soon with its new Boeing 787 flights? Have you ever traveled on one, and, if so, did the understaffing issue stand out? Let us know your thoughts and e

Everyone who grew up loving aviation has one: the aircraft that first got you hooked, whether it was a family holiday flight, an air show flypast, or a poster on a bedroom wall. For some it's the Concorde, for others the unmistakable hump of a 747, or a scrappy regional turboprop that happened to fly out of a local airport. That first favorite rarely survives adulthood unchanged; understanding fuel efficiency, cabin comfort, or a type's specific history and quirks often shifts the answer entirely once you know more about the industry. What was your favorite aircraft when you were young, and is it still your favorite now? If it changed, what changed it, a specific flight, a piece of aviation history you learned, or just growing up and seeing the industry differently? Pull up the Simple Flying Flight Tracker and see if you can spot yours in the air right now. Mine's the Boeing 737, as a kid and now as an adult. I've been on more of them than I can count, and it's never lost its appeal

Earlier this week, Simple Flying reported on the unfortunate tale of a Delta Air Lines flight from Paris to Seattle that arrived 10.5 hours late after having to divert first to London to fix a sewage leak, and then to New York for a new crew due to hour limits. While each of these factors is not unheard of in isolation, the sucker punch of a double diversion is certainly a much rarer occurrence. With this in mind, what are your most unusual delay or diversion stories? Diversion-wise, I've only ever experienced one, when my United flight from London to San Francisco on a 747 had to return to Heathrow due to a pressurization issue. However, it would be interesting to hear about the situations you've found yourselves in over the years. Where did you end up? How was the situation resolved? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

We all have our 'sacred paradises' for aviation. Many of them are close to airports and other aviation hubs, such as the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, where the complex is split into two locations. Some of my other favourites are IWM Duxford, Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, and the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim near Munich. What do you think is the best aviation museum based on the variety of aircraft? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.

If you use the Simple Flying Flight Tracker and search for a Boeing 737 in the air, there is a good chance it is flying for Southwest or Ryanair. According to Planespotters.net, Southwest operates roughly 800 aircraft, all 737s, including around 330 MAX variants, and plans to become an all-MAX fleet by 2031. The Ryanair Group's fleet totals almost 650 aircraft, including over 600 Boeing 737s, with the remainder comprising other aircraft such as the A320 which operates under subsidiary Lauda.  The connection goes back to 1988, when Ryanair's then-CFO, Michael O'Leary, met Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher and returned to Ireland convinced Ryanair could replicate Southwest's single-type, fast-turnaround model in Europe. Nearly 40 years later, Ryanair has stayed remarkably close to that blueprint, while Southwest has evolved its model and customer proposition. Two airlines, enormous 737 fleets and one shared low-cost blueprint that has taken them in different directions. But how closel

The Lufthansa Group has an order for several Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, having put its name down for 40 (plus 60 options) back in December of 2023. However, it has not yet decided which of the group's airlines the aircraft will be given to. Which Lufthansa Group airline do you believe these aircraft should be used for? Are there any that would be especially bad fits? Share your thoughts in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.

We all have our favourite aircraft types (mine being the A330-300) and want to see them flying for as long as possible. There are many aircraft that could be considered 'iconic' for various reasons, although you may have your own criteria. The most iconic aircraft that I can think of (both military and civilian) are the Supermarine Spitfire, F-35 Lightning II, Boeing 747 (all types), Airbus A380, Cessna 172, BAe Harrier GR.1, and the Wright Flyer. What do you think is the most iconic aircraft of all time and why? Have you ever seen or flown on your aircraft of choice? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.

Today, pretty much every mainline flight is operated by an Airbus A319/A320/A321, A330, A350, Boeing 737, 777, or 787. It therefore makes it a very special occasion when you're at the gate and you do see a rare aircraft type at the gate. Sometimes it's the type itself that's special, like a 747, while other times it may be a specific variant of a popular type, like an A318. For me, two planes in my travel history stick out, one of which was an American Airlines Boeing 767-200ER from JFK to Miami in late 2010 I flew on as a child. I unfortunately have lost the exact date or registration, but it was a shock when I found out years later, given how rare they were even back then. The other was more recent: in June 2024, I traveled on N210UA, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 from SFO to Newark. Have you flown on any types that were rare during the period that you flew it on? A 767-200ER was certainly unremarkable in the late 1980s or 1990s, but they were already on their way out by 2010. L