Hello and welcome to another iteration of Simple Flying's 'Sunday Reads' weekly digest, with this being the 92nd edition. After what has been a busy week for big stories, let's take a look back at some of our most notable articles.
China Operates First Boeing 737 MAX Passenger Flight In Almost Four Years
In a historic moment, China Southern has become the first Chinese carrier to operate a 737 MAX passenger flight since the aircraft was grounded almost four years ago. Two of the airline's Boeing 737 MAX 8s departed its hub at Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN) on Friday – one bound for Zhengzhou Xinzheng International (CGO) and another for Wuhan Tianhe International (WUH).
Boeing Vs Airbus: Who Won 2022?
With Airbus and Boeing being such dominant forces in the commercial aviation industry, comparisons between the two manufacturers are inevitable. With both OEMs having released full-year data this week concerning their orders and deliveries in 2022, let's examine this, and other factors, to see who had the best year.
Flights Grounded As US NOTAM System Fails
This week, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) Notice To Air Missions (NOTAM) system failed for the first time in history. The absence of the system, critical for relaying essential information to flights, severely affected services in and out of the USA. You can find out more about this rare occurrence here.
Nottingham Forest FC Criticized For Flying To Blackpool FA Cup Match
The third round of the FA Cup marked an exciting start to 2023 in English football, with 32 fixtures taking place over the past weekend. One such encounter saw Blackpool face Nottingham Forest, with the Premier League visitors opting to fly to and from the game. This move has seen the club face environmental criticism.
Global Capacity Edging Closer To 2019 Levels Reaching 427 Million Seats In January
With China roaring back into global aviation, capacity in January is set to reach 427.1 million seats, just 7.7% below January 2019. The most recent figures from schedules analyzer OAG show that capacity grew by 3.3% compared to December, with five of the 17 regions offering more capacity than they did in January 2019.
UK Prime Minister Comes Under Fire For 30-Minute Private Jet Flight To Leeds
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing criticism from Members of Parliament and environmental activists for a private 36-minute flight between London and Leeds. The RAF-operated flight covered 200 miles before heading back to RAF Northolt three hours later, and MPs have slammed Sunak's choice to use the jet.
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What was your favorite story this week? Let us know what you think in the comment section!