Nepal Plane crash
April 15, 2019
The crash occurred while the plane, a Czech-manufactured Let L-410 belonging to Summit Air, was trying to take off from Lukla for Kathmandu on Sunday morning.
The plane skidded off the runaway, hitting a Manang Air helicopter.
Reports of 3 deaths and 4 injured have been received.
The Kathmandu airport is often referred to as the world's most dangerous because of the short runway and difficult approach. It's open only to helicopters and small fixed-wing aircraft. It sits at an elevation of 2 845m.
Nordavia rebranded to Smartavia
April 12, 2019
Russian based, newly-rebranded operator Smartavia, formerly Nordavia, has shown off the first aircraft, a new Boeing 737-800 at St Petersburg on the 10th of April 2019. The airline will have aquired seven Boeing 737-800 jets by mid-summer, says chief executive Sergei Savostin. The airline will use St Petersburg as a hub, operating to 18 Russian and international destinations. Smartavia has emerged from Arkhangelsk-based Nordavia, which uses a fleet of 12 aircraft including 737-500s, -700s and -800s.
JetBlue to commence transatlantic flights
April 11, 2019
New York based carrier, JetBlue Airways will change 13 aircraft in its Airbus A321neo orders to the A321 long range, and launch transatlantic flights to London in 2021. The airline will offer service to London from both New York John F Kennedy and Boston. It will shortly begin the process to achieve extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) certification with the US Federal Aviation Administration- this process could take up to 18 months. JetBlue Airways will be the fifth airline entering the transatlantic market operating nonstop flights to London from Boston, and seventh airline to fly nonstop from New York City.