Hello and welcome to Simple Flying's 95th 'Sunday Reads' weekly digest, and the first of the month for February 2023. The last seven days have seen various tremendous stories, with the Queen of the Skies generating the biggest headlines.
Boeing Hands Over The Last 747 To Atlas Air
Earlier this week, Boeing delivered the final 747 ever made, a 747-8F (freighter), to Atlas Air, the world's largest operator of 747s, with 51. The delivery closes the door on more than five decades of Boeing's history; you can read more about it here.
Airbus & Qatar Airways Settle Airbus A350 Legal Drama
Qatar Airways and Airbus have come to an amicable settlement to their ongoing legal drama regarding Airbus A350 paint degradation. The dispute has been bubbling up for almost two years and ended up in the High Court in London.
Huge Turn Around: Ryanair Posts €211M Q3 Profit After €96M Loss Last Year
Ryanair published its financial results for the quarter ending on December 31st this week, showing that the Irish low-cost carrier had made significant strides compared to the previous year. Most notable is that it converted an eight-figure net loss to a nine-figure net profit within 12 months.
Chocks Away As Bonza Launches New Era In Australian Aviation
This week, Australian aviation history was made on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. New entrant Bonza, a proper low-cost carrier, operated its first commercial flight and, in doing so, became the first Australian airline to fly the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Aer Lingus To Swap Gatwick For Heathrow On Knock-London Route
Aer Lingus has announced its plans to operate direct flights from Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as of next month. The Irish flag carrier already serves the British capital with flights to London Gatwick Airport, but switching to the West London facility will allow for greater connectivity.
Ryanair Passengers Leave Baby At Check-In When Told To Buy An Extra Seat
On Tuesday, a couple was traveling from Ben Gurion International (TLV) in Israel to Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) on a Ryanair flight and arrived late at the airport. During the check-in, the couple, who had not been identified, were told they needed to purchase an extra seat for their baby to travel with them. Rather than part with the additional cash, the couple decided to part with their child.
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What was your favorite story this week? Let us know what you think in the comment section!