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"If the Wright brothers were alive today Wilbur would have to fire Orville to reduce costs." - Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines, 'USA Today,' 8 June 1994.

"The worst sort of business is one that grows rapidly, requires significant capital to engender the growth, and then earns little or no money. Think airlines. Here a durable competitive advantage has proven elusive ever since the days of the Wright Brothers." - Warren Buffett.

"Running an airline is like having a baby: fun to conceive, but hell to deliver." - C. E. Woolman, principal founder Delta Air Lines.

Groups such as the International Civil Aviation Organization establish worldwide standards for safety and other vital concerns. Most international air traffic is regulated by bilateral agreements between countries, which designate specific carriers to operate on specific routes. The model of such an agreement was the Bermuda Agreement between the US and UK following World War II, which designated airports to be used for transatlantic flights and gave each government the authority to nominate carriers to operate routes.

Bilateral agreements are based on the "freedoms of the air," a group of generalized traffic rights ranging from the freedom to overfly a country to the freedom to provide domestic flights within a country (a very rarely granted right known as cabotage). Most agreements permit airlines to fly from their home country to designated airports in the other country: some also extend the freedom to provide continuing service to a third country, or to another destination in the other country while carrying passengers from overseas.

In the 1990s, "open skies" agreements became more common. These agreements take many of these regulatory powers from state governments and open up international routes to further competition. Open skies agreements have met some criticism, particularly within the European Union, whose airlines would be at a comparative disadvantage with the United States' because of cabotage restrictions.

• 3 Airfare Hacks for the Committed Penny-Pincher - The New York Times.
• 3 ways to avoid checking your bag at the gate - "If you’re flying soon and want to minimize your risk of having to check a bag, here are three things you can do."
• 4 letters you don't want to find on your boarding pass - The Telegraph.
• 5 Most Produced Commercial Aircraft In History - "In the last century, thousands of commercial aircraft have been built and delivered to customers all over the world. But which are the most produced aircraft? We take a look at the most produced commercial aircraft in history with our top-five rundown."
• 5 unusual airlines that really existed - "In the late 1970s, the US government deregulated the airline industry, removing federal control over fares, routes and the entry of new airlines into the market. As a result, a flurry of new airlines appeared from the 1980s onward, and some of them were particularly unusual. Let's take a look."
• 5 ways Boeing's 747 jumbo jet changed travel - "Over 50 years after the launch of the 'queen of the skies,' the very last Boeing 747 has been rolled of the assembly line. The aircraft, a 747-8 Freighter, left the Boeing factory in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, and will be delivered to American cargo airline Atlas Air in early 2023."
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• 6 of the Best First & Business Class Amenity Kits - Flight Centre.
• 7 Best Economy Seats for Long-Haul Flights - "These cabins offer respectable legroom, seat width, and recline to help you get (reasonably) comfortable on longer flights."
• 7 Little-Known Perks of Flying Business Class - "Flying in business class differs greatly from the standard economy class travel experience. The most attractive benefits include a more spacious and comfortable seat, not being pressed against strangers, and the ability to recline your seat much more than a few inches. But a business class ticket includes other valuable benefits that can improve your travel experience."
• 7 supersonic passenger-jet concepts that will connect cities in as little as one hour - "Fly up to 9 times faster than the speed of sound. The Concorde was a supersonic commercial airliner, flying passengers at 1,350 miles per hour. High costs, safety concerns, and loud sonic booms forced the plane to retire in 2003. Several companies are trying to reintroduce supersonic air travel with new ultra-high-speed jet concepts."
• 8 best-selling planes - "Size, energy efficiency, cargo and passenger load, comfort and cost. There are a lot of factors involved in making an airplane design appealing to airlines and, in turn, their customers. But which are the best-selling civil airplanes of all time, and what made them stand out from the rest? Let's take a look at the top eight, based on total deliveries as of December 31, 2021."
• 8 Ways to Make Your Flight Better - "From scoring the best seat assignment to zipping past security lines: how to make air travel more tolerable."
• 10 best airlines you've never heard of - The Telegraph.
• 10 of the world's biggest aviation mysteries - The Telegraph.
• 10 of the world's largest aircraft - CNN travel.
• 10 things you never knew about being an air hostess - The Telegraph.
• 10 Ways to Be a Greener Traveler, Even if You Love to Fly - The New York Times.
• 10 ways to boost chances of surviving a plane crash - CNN travel.
• 13 unbelievable statistics about air travel - The Telegraph.
• 17 biggest secrets of air travel - The Telegraph.
• 20 astonishing facts about the A380 superjumbo - "Beloved by passengers for its spaciousness and comfort, but disliked by airlines because of its running costs, the Airbus A380 has already entered its sunset years, even though it debuted commercially just 14 years ago. Whether you plan to catch a flight on an A380 while you still have the chance or not, here's our pick of the 20 most interesting facts about this unique aircraft."
• 20 of our favorite personalized travel accessories to take along on your next trip - "Travel is in full swing once again. While your journey might face hiccups galore - think lost luggage, delays and cancellations - your travel gear is the one thing you can and should count on. And if you’re like us, your travel must-haves could use some refreshing. When investing in new accessories - from luggage and toiletry bags to travel backpacks and packing cubes - consider upgrading to personalized items with a monogram. Not only will the pieces identify their owner without a doubt, but they’ll also keep you super organized and add some swagger to your travel ensemble."
• 20 Years at 30,000 Feet: A Flight Attendant Answers Readers' questions - "Does the cabin crew ever get scared in the air? Is there a secret flight attendant code? How do I survive a flight with my toddler? An industry insider answers."
• 21 most terrifying incidents in air travel history - The Telegraph.
• 23 Plane crashes where everyone survived The Telegraph.
• 25 safest airlines for 2024 - full list - "1. Air New Zealand. 2. Qantas. 3. Virgin Australia. 4. Etihad Airways. 5. Qatar Airways. 6. Emirates. 7. All Nippon Airways. 8. Finnair. 9. Cathay Pacific Airways. 10. Alaska Airlines. 11. SAS."
• 25 things Travel guru Rick Steves always packs in his carry-on - "Steves spends four months out of the year traveling Europe for work, and he only brings a carry-on bag. Steves' must-haves include hemp shorts, Bose headphones, Patagonia pants, and bags he designed."
• 33 Airline Posters From Flying’s Golden Age - The New York Times.
• 40th anniversary of Concorde - 40 fascinating facts.
• 90% of Travelers Say This Is the Worst Thing You Can Do on an Airplane - TIME Magazine.
• 737 MAX: Boeing 'inappropriately coached' test pilots, say senators - "Planemaker and US regulator may have tried to cover up important information relating to deadly crashes - official report."
• 747 might be having her finest time - "Queen of the skies: The Boeing 747 is playing a hero's role during Covid-19 crisis."
• 1903, New York Times predicted that airplanes would take 10 million years to develop - "Only nine weeks later, the Wright Brothers achieved manned flight. The pathologically cynical always will find a reason to complain."
• 2014 World Airline Awards - Skytrax.
• 2015 was the safest year in aviation history - The Telegraph.
• 2016 set to be the safest year in aviation history - The Telegraph.
• 2017 world's most (and least) punctual airlines - The Telegraph.
• 2018 world's safest (and least safe) airlines - The Telegraph.
• 2020 List Of The World’s Best Airlines Is Out Now - "The 2020 list of the world’s best airlines is out, and regaining the top spot this year from Singapore Airlines is Air New Zealand."
• A380 superjumbo pulled apart for souvenirs - "Own a piece of the first Airbus A380 to be retired."
• A380's biggest supporter is asking Airbus to build a new super jumbo - "The A380 super jumbo has many supporters around the world, but none quite as vocal and powerful as Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, by far the largest operator of the aircraft. The Dubai-based airline purchased nearly half of all A380s ever produced and now has 118 in its fleet, about 80 of which are currently flying."
• A Flight Attendant's Tips on Surviving Travel Now - "‘A One-Hour Layover Is Not Enough Anymore’. In two decades of flying, things have never been as stressful as they are now, a cabin insider says. Here, her tips from 30,000 feet for avoiding airline chaos this summer."
• A380 superjumbo to test experimental open fan engine - "This Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger jet, has been recruited as a demonstrator to trial new cutting-edge open fan engine architecture which could help cut carbon emissions by up to 20%."
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• aeromobil - "Transforms in seconds from an automobile to an airplane."
• Air passengers' top ten superstitions when flying - The Telegraph.
• AIR TRAVEL OUTLOOK FOR 2016 - "Mining 2015 data to understand when to buy, expected ticket prices, and fare differentials."
• Airbus A340 airplane was built to rule long-haul travel. Now it's vanishing from the skies - "The A340 was introduced 30 years ago with Lufthansa and Air France, but only 380 have been produced since, the last in 2012. The A340 has been the aircraft of choice for some heads of government. By comparison, Airbus has already made 565 of its successor, the A350, since its introduction in 2015."
• Airbus A380: Where the superjumbo is flying as aviation returns - "If you're still hoping to experience the A380's memorably spacious interior and quiet inflight experience before the plane's a thing of the past, here's our round-up of airline A380 routes to check out."
• Airbus Beluga: World’s strangest-looking plane gets its own airline - "The Beluga ST’s cargo hold is 50% higher and 10% wider than regular cargo aircraft it is generally used to transport voluminous items such as satellites, helicopters, aircraft engines, flight simulators, sailing boats and army vehicles."
• Airbus reveals plans for hydrogen fuel cell aircraft - Airbus has announced it is developing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell engine - and that it plans to test it on the largest commercial airplane ever to take to the skies.
• Airbus to charter its popular Beluga XL 'whale plane' - "Airbus plans to charter out its whale-shaped Beluga transport planes - whose main job until now has been to ferry aircraft parts between its plants in Europe - to help other industries haul urgently-needed outsized machinery by air."
• Airbus to test hydrogen-fueled engine on A380 jet - "Airbus just moved one step closer to launching the world's first zero-emission commercial aircraft by 2035."
• Airbus unveils new 'bird of prey' concept plane - CNN travel.
• aircraft interiors expo - "The global market leader for the world’s aircraft interiors industry, Aircraft Interiors Expo is the launch pad for cabin programmes showcasing tomorrow’s designs, in-flight entertainment, connectivity and passenger services." April 14-16, 2015. Hamburg Messe, Germany.
• Aircraft registration - unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile.
• AIRFAREWATCHDOG - since 2009. "Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets & Deals." Airfare deals & money-saving tips from our airfare experts. Get Lowest Fares and Top Hotel Picks
• Airline starts weighing passengers at the gate - "Finnair is weighing volunteer passengers at the gate to collect data on travelers."
• Airline tweets about where passengers are least likely to die in a crash - "Generally, regarding broad sections of the plane, 'the analysis found that the seats in the back third of the aircraft had a 32% fatality rate, compared with 39% in the middle third and 38% in the front third,' the magazine said."
• Airlines could soon shrink the size of luggage you’re allowed to carry on - The Washington Post.
• Airlines flying near-empty ‘ghost flights’ to retain EU airport slots - "Analysis from Greenpeace finds deserted flights are generating millions of tons of harmful emissions."
• Airlines seen making $1 trillion for the first time in history - "The global airline industry will likely rake in more than $1 trillion in revenue next year, as passenger numbers look set to hit an all-time high of 5 billion, the International Air Transport Association said Tuesday."
• airlines that have never had a single plane crash - The Telegraph.
• Airlines to Address Carry-On Bag Dilemma - IATA.
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• Antonov 225 Mriya, the successful Soviet Cargo Plane with five facts - "The Antonov 225 Mriya is mostly known for its size. It is the largest aircraft ever made, with a wingspan size of a football field. By comparison, it dominates the double-decker Airbus A380 and still inspires crowds who watch its takeoff and landing. Antonov 225 Mriya, which means “Dream” in Ukrainian is a cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian SSR within the Soviet Union during the 1980s under the leadership of Russian engineer, Viktor Tolmachev."
• Are flights really cheaper on Friday the 13th? - The Telegraph.
• As the 747 Begins Its Final Approach, a Pilot Takes a Flight Down Memory Lane - New York Times.
• aviation.com - "News and views on general, commercial, and military aviation."
• Aviation expert’s guide to surviving a plane crash could end up saving your life - The Sun.
• aviation record: singapore airlines flight enters the history books - after completing 16,700km, nonstop passenger service from Singapore to New York.
• AVIATION Safety Network - "An exclusive service of Flight Safety Foundation."
• AVIATION WEEK - since 1916. "Aerospace Defense, Business & Commercial News."
• best (and worst) in-flight meals, by the man who’s eaten them all - The Telegraph.
• best ever A380 airline stunts - "Last August, Emirate's video ad went viral after Nicole Smith-Ludvik ascended 828 meters to the very top of the building's spire, dressed in skirt, heels and the airline's instantly recognizable hat and scarf."
• Bette Nash, Longest-Serving Flight Attendant in the World, Dies at 88 - "Nash became a flight attendant in 1957 and never stopped working. She liked working the 6:30 a.m. flight from Washington to Boston, which regular commuters called the 'Nash Dash' in her honor."
• Bird strike - collision between an airborne animal (usually a bird or bat) and a human-made vehicle, especially aircraft.
• Boeing 737: How world's most successful airplane became its most troubled - "Over the course of its long history, the Boeing 737 has acquired more nicknames than any other commercial aircraft. Among them are Baby Boeing, Tin Mouse, Light Twin, Guppy, Bobby, Rudder Rotor, as well as a few less flattering ones, such as Fat Freddy and Dung Beetle."
• Boeing 747 transformed into a $1,300 per hour 'party plane' - "Suzannah Harvey, chief executive of the privately owned Cotswold Airport near Kemble in England, bought the Negus 747 for £1 (around $1.30) back in October 2020 and has spent 14 months or so converting it into a trendy 'party plane,' with rates starting at about $1,300 an hour."
• Boeing is losing the plane race. So it packed up and left for Washington - "The company's Thursday announcement that it will move once again, to Arlington, Virginia, only gives critics more fuel: By moving into the shadow of both the Pentagon and Congress, Boeing seems to be signaling it has lost the commercial race to Airbus and wants to be seen as primarily a defense and space contractor."
• Boeing 'probably shouldn't have taken' Trump-negotiated Air Force One deal, CEO says - "Boeing's CEO on Wednesday called the unusual deal his predecessor negotiated with then-President Donald Trump for the next generation of Air Force One a one-off that he hopes not to repeat."
• Boeing unveils new 777 'ecoDemonstrator' test jet - "US aircraft maker Boeing has just revealed its new 2022 ecoDemonstrator plane - a converted, 20-year-old 777-200ER that will be tasked with testing new technologies aimed at making air travel more sustainable and safer. The ecoDemonstrator will reportedly go through a six-month series of tests both on the ground and in the sky, starting this summer. Among the 30 or so technologies set for testing during the campaign include projects designed to reduce fuel use, emissions and noise, while incorporating more sustainable materials."
• Boeing's reputation for safety has been decimated - "Boeing was once known for safety and engineering. But critics say an emphasis on profits changed that."
• Boom Supersonic unveils new design for Overture supersonic jet - "Nearly two years after rolling out ts prototype supersonic demonstrator, the XB1, Boom has unveiled a major new design for its much anticipated Overture airliner, which will fly at twice the speed of today's subsonic commercial jets and is expected to carry its first passengers in 2029."
• Boom wants to bring back the days of Concorde, but for the masses - "The Colorado-based company aims to reintroduce commercial supersonic flight, which has been on hiatus since Concorde was retired in 2003. But unlike Concorde, an elitist engineering marvel that only a handful of airlines ever operated, Boom hopes its supersonic aircraft - called Overture - will democratize this type of travel, making it accessible to the masses."
• Brand new Boeing 747 scrapped after 16 flights - "A Boeing 747 configured as a private VIP jet is being scrapped after having spent just 30 hours in service over 16 flights. The aircraft, originally intended for a Saudi royal, sat on the ground for almost 10 years at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, located at the border between France, Switzerland and Germany."
• British Airways could serve passengers 'digital pill' to monitor in-flight happiness - The Telegraph.
• C919: I flew on China’s answer to the Airbus. Here’s what that was like - "The C919 is China’s answer to the A320. But what is it like onboard? Long touted as a potential game-changer in global commercial aviation, the C919 is COMAC’s answer to the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 - two of the world’s best-selling aircraft types."
• Call Sign - Wikipedia.
• Can the world's largest plane ever fly again? - "Ukraine wants the world's largest plane to fly again. Here's what it will take."
• Celebrity Passengers & Caviar at 55,000 Feet: What It Was Like to Fly Concorde in the '70s - "It wasn't just a jet, it was an exclusive club."
• Cessna 172 - the Most Successful Aircraft In History - "The Cessna 172 is the most successful aircraft in history. The first was built in 1956 and by 2015, Cessna had built over 44,000 of the aircraft. It is still in production today as a light general aviation aircraft, even though production was halted between 1986 and 1996."
• China’s answer to Boeing & Airbus, the C919, takes first commercial flight - "Flying as China Eastern Airlines flight MU9191, the new narrow-body C919 plane left Shanghai at 10:32 a.m. local time. It was welcomed with a water salute after it landed at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:31 p.m."
• Concorde is back with a Boom, if we can bear it - "The speed and convenience of supersonic flight will come at an environmental price."
• Concorde: What it was like to pilot the supersonic Concorde jet - "British Airways and Air France were the only two airlines who operated the aircraft. It’s said that during the aircraft’s 27 years of service, there were more qualified American astronauts than there were British Airways Concorde pilots."
• confessions of an air hostess - The Telegraph.
• Could you land a plane in an emergency? - "It's a nightmare scenario: the pilot of your flight is incapacitated and someone has to get in their seat and land the plane. Could you do it?"
• Crash course: Aviation expert’s guide to surviving a plane crash could end up saving your life - The Sun.
• D.B. Cooper - media epithet popularly used to refer to an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in the airspace between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, on November 24, 1971, extorted $200,000 in ransom, and parachuted to an uncertain fate. Despite an extensive manhunt and an ongoing FBI investigation, the perpetrator has never been located or positively identified. The case remains the only unsolved air piracy in American aviation history.
• Designers hope hydrogen-powered plane will fly halfway around the world without refueling - "The zero-emission aircraft would supposedly match the speed and comfort of current midsize planes."
• Donald Trump’s private jet used to be owned by Danish airline - The Telegraph.
• ‘Doomsday’ plane: Former passenger jets bought by US firm tasked with creating next generation of nuclear ‘Doomsday’ planes - "They could become what amounts to a Pentagon in the sky, taking aboard the US president, secretary of defense and members of the Joint Chiefs among more than 100 other people with the ability to control US forces worldwide from the aircraft. Survivable Airborne Operations Center is the official name of the new Doomsday plane."
• Embraer builds airplanes that passengers love - with no middle seat - "Why these Brazilian airplanes loved by passengers are conquering short-haul flying. One man’s loss is another man’s gain, goes the saying - and as Boeing seems caught in a spiral of bad news, one aircraft manufacturer is quietly powering ahead."
• Fear of flying - fear of being on an aeroplane, or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also referred to as flying anxiety, flying phobia, flight phobia, aviophobia, or aerophobia (although the last also means a fear of drafts or of fresh air). Acute anxiety caused by flying can be treated with anti-anxiety medication.
• Ferry flying - the flying of aircraft for the purpose of returning to base, delivery to customer when new, moving from one base of operations to another or moving to or from a maintenance facility for maintenance, repair, and operations.
• FLIGHT ATTENDANT BLOG - The Flying Pinto. "As a Flight Attendant for a major U.S. Airline with over twenty years experience in the travel industry, I am here to offer advice on making your travels through the friendly skies..... well, more friendly! I will share my experiences with you and offer you a glimpse behind the galley curtain."
• Flight attendants reveal how they stay rested on long-haul flights - "There are some secret areas on widebody aircraft, where the pilots and cabin crew go to rest during long flights. Passengers can't access them under any circumstance and they're well hidden from view."
• Flight attendants share their air travel secrets - "Navigating the world of airports and airplanes at this time can be stressful, but if anyone’s an expert in holiday travel, it’s flight attendants."
• Flights of passion: how the mile-high club became big business - "For those looking for inflight fun, without having to squash into a tiny toilet, a new Las Vegas venture has the answer. But will the idea take off?"
• FLIGHTRADAR24.COM - "Watch Air Traffic - LIVE!"
• Forget Supersonic. This Hypersonic Jet Can Fly From NYC to London in Under an Hour - "The Hermeus jet has a projected top speed of Mach 5.5 - or 4,219 mph - making it the fastest reusable jet on the planet."
• Frankfurt to Dubai in 90 minutes? Europe enters the hypersonic plane race - "It’s now been two decades since the era of supersonic commercial flight ended with Concorde’s final touchdown in an airfield in southwest England. In recent years, numerous pretenders to the throne - supersonic, hypersonic, hydrogen-powered, with anti-boom technology - have been whizzing round, conceptually at least, but many of these projects promising seamless super-fast travel have instead stalled, sputtered out or hit delays. Now a European hypersonic startup is having a go, promising enticing journey times such as Frankfurt to Sydney in 4 hours 15, or Memphis to Dubai in 3 hours 30."
• Futuristic airplane promises greener travel - "Futuristic Her0 Zero airplane concept promises greener travel."
• Gigantic new aircraft design aims to create the largest plane ever to fly - "Meet the WindRunner airplane, whose mission will be to deliver gigantic 300-foot-long blades directly to wind farms. To help the world meet its decarbonization targets, it'll use sustainable aviation fuel and needs only a simple packed-dirt or gravel runway to land on. Radia is banking on research organisation Bloomberg NEF's estimation that up to $10 trillion will be spent on onshore wind through 2050. The development of WindRunner is to enable GigaWind, the XXL turbines made by Radia’s partners, which include five of the world's top six turbine manufacturers."
• globalair.com - "Aviation & Aircraft Resource." Aircraft for sale. Aviation directory. Airport resource.
• ‘Horizon’ plane’s innovative shape promises greener flights & added comfort - "San Diego-based Natilus has joined the race with Horizon, a blended wing aircraft that is also meant to carry about 200 passengers while producing half the emissions and using 30% less fuel than current Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft - the models it’s aiming to compete with."
• How an airplane engine gets made - "Behind closed doors at the UK headquarters of Rolls-Royce Aerospace, machinery whirs, fans hum and blades screech as some 1,000 people go about the complex task of getting an airplane engine off the ground."
• How dangerous is a bird strike? - The Telegraph.
• How does in-flight Wi-Fi work - and why is it so slow? - The Telegraph.
• How low-cost airlines make their money - "Is it worth it to fly an ultra-low-cost airline?"
• How Many Seats Can You Squeeze On A Plane? 460 Is What This Airline Plans - "Flying long-haul in economy class is rarely an enjoyable experience for most of us. Thinner seats, less legroom, and more middle seats as airlines attempt to generate revenue from every nook and cranny possible on an aircraft."
• How the A380 superjumbo dream fell apart - "Airbus A380: The wondrous giant that never quite took off."
• How the next supersonic jets can succeed where Concorde failed - "Supersonic planes halve the time it takes to fly from New York to London, from seven hours down to 3.5 hours, but such airliners were abandoned following Concorde's final flight in 2003. Concorde had become financially unworkable after a high-profile crash in 2000, combined with excessive ticket prices, high fuel consumption, and increasingly high maintenance costs."
• How to Fight Jet Lag (Naps Are Good) - The New York Times.
• How to recycle the world's largest passenger plane - "After its debut in 2005, Airbus ended up building only 251 A380s - far fewer than it originally intended - and production ended in late 2021. Although most of them are still flying, amid a post-Covid resurgence of the aircraft, several have already been scrapped or recycled - way ahead of the usual schedule for a passenger aircraft."
• How to Pack a Carry-On Bag to Avoid Checking a Bag - The New York Times.
• How to Protect Yourself From Sexual Assault on Plane - The New York Times.
• Hyperloops, supersonic jets & electric aircraft - Here’s what transport could look like by 2050.
• Images show destruction of world's largest airplane in Ukraine - "The full extent of the damage to the aircraft, named 'Mriya,' or 'dream' in Ukrainian, was seen by CNN journalists after Russian troops withdrew last week from Hostomel airfield outside Kyiv, which was among the first strategic targets of the invasion of Ukraine."
• is toxic air on planes making frequent flyers ill? - The Guardian.
• Italy reveals its new national airline - "They've long dominated the food and fashion worlds, this year they've dominated sports, and now they're aiming for the skies."
• JETMAN - Yves Rossy.
• JetZero: Groundbreaking ‘blended-wing’ demonstrator plane cleared to fly - "A seismic shake-up is about to take place. An entirely new aircraft shape has been cleared to take off into California skies. The basic design of commercial airplanes hasn’t changed much in the past 60 years. Modern airliners like the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 have the same general shape as the Boeing 707 and the Douglas DC-8, which were built in the late 1950s and solidified the 'tube and wing' form factor that is still in use today."
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• Le Noeud Papillon - since 2007. Silk eye shades.
• Lego’s new $200 Concorde is a fantastic homage to the supersonic passenger jet - "Lower the nose and deploy the landing gear with clever Lego tricks."
• Limiting Aircraft Data Displayed (LADD) - "The LADD program provides aircraft owners the ability to have their flight data filtered from distribution via the FAA System Wide Information Management (SWIM) data feed or filtered from public display by web sites that participate in the program. Vendors who subscribe to FAA SWIM Data feeds are bound by a Data Access User Agreement to filter any LADD participant from public display of aircraft flight data."
• LIST OF AIR CARRIERS OF WHICH ALL OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A BAN WITHIN THE EU - European Union.
• London to New York in 3 hours, 15 minutes? - "How soon will supersonic jets return to our skies?"
• London to New York in 90 minutes? It could be possible - "Why a Mach 5 passenger plane is a crazy idea that might just work."
• Meet The Aircraft Of The Future: Socially Distanced Double-Decker Cabins - "Imagine traveling in a plane which uses the cabin more efficiently, gives passengers more legroom and spaces them physically further apart. Think double-decker cabins where people sleep in bunks above seated passengers. Or two-tier rows of seating, some high and some low."
• Mriya: Restoring a Giant Plane: Ukrainian Resilience or Folly? - "Ukraine, with far more pressing needs, plans to rebuild the colossal Mriya cargo plane, a symbol of pride that was destroyed last year in a battle for its airfield." The New York Times.
• NASA explores ‘quiet’ supersonic flight over land - engadget.
• NASA supersonic passenger jet could fly from NYC to London in 90 minutes - "Oh for the glory days of travel, when the seats were bigger, the food was better, and you could jet across the Atlantic in less than three hours. Since the 2003 end of Concorde, of course, flitting quickly across the Atlantic has been a thing of the past. Flights between London and New York take around eight hours, or closer to seven in the other direction. The record currently stands at just under five hours from New York to London, pushed on by a favorable jetstream."
• NAUTICAL MILE - conversion calculator (nm to km).
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• Nest Ultimate Memory Foam Travel Pillow - "Carefully designed to offer you the best comfort in travel." Exclusive non-slip backing holds pillow in place! The high quality, thermo-sensitive memory foam molds perfectly to the contours your neck and shoulders to help maintain natural alignment while sleeping.
• new Air Force One - "From Presidents Roosevelt to Biden, Boeing airplanes have transported U.S. presidents around the world. The U.S. Air Force announced that it will continue the Boeing tradition with the 747-8, which will replace the two 747-200s that serve as the presidential Air Force One fleet."
• No one wants the middle seat on airplanes. This design could change that - CNN travel.
• No passengers, no cargo: This airline has never been busier - "The team at Jet Test and Transport runs a global airline -- but the planes fly on a one-way trip without passengers or cargo. They are experts in ferry flights, moving empty aircraft around the world."
• On Air Dining - since 2010. "A quiet revolution in business aviation catering has begun... On Air offers a level of cuisine never experienced before in business aviation & travel."
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• Overhead aircraft bins could be an inflight game-changer - "More travelers than ever are opting to cram their belongings into a carry-on bag - many of them bulky, with wheels. Enter French aircraft maker Airbus and its new 'Airspace L Bins'. First revealed in May, these specially shaped overhead compartments promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space than traditional systems. How? Simply by allowing travelers to load their carry-on roller bags vertically instead of having to lay them flat. The bins, which hold bags that are 61 centimeters (height) × 38 centimeters (width) × 25 centimeters (depth), were designed to be retrofitted in three to five days."
• Pacific Island Hopper: The world's most scenic flight? - "That's Honolulu -- Majuro -- Kwajalein -- Kosrae -- Pohnpei -- Chuuk -- Guam."
• Pan Am Boeing 377: The luxury airplane with beds in overhead compartments - "The airplane speeds through the sky on its way to London as you dine on tender beef and caviar. Afterward, you make your way to the lower lounge to socialize with other passengers aboard the plane while sipping on a refreshing drink. As the evening winds down, you head up to the main cabin, climb into your overhead compartment bed, and travel across the Atlantic Ocean safely tucked away under soft sheets."
• Parking in a pandemic: Grounded planes scramble for storage space - "At any given time -- pre-coronavirus era -- there were usually as many as 20,000 planes swirling around the planet at altitude. The system isn't designed for that amount of planes to be anywhere else apart from in the air -- the only place they generate revenue. Parking at airports is also pricey. Major European hubs can charge in the region of $285 an hour."
• Passenger airplanes might soon have just one pilot. Here's why - "Why airplanes might soon have just one pilot. If you boarded a passenger plane in 1950 and peeked into the cockpit, you would have seen five people in there (almost certainly men): two pilots, a radio operator, a navigator and a flight engineer."
• PASSENGER SHAMING - "Are these assholes serious? Photos taken by anonymous flight attendants & passengers from all over the world. Don't end up here."
• Plane battling winds at Heathrow nearly topples over - "As storms buffet the UK, footage has emerged of a pilot pulling off a particularly challenging landing - but not before the plane appeared to nearly topple over and scrape its tail on the runway. British Airways flight 1307 traveled from Aberdeen to London on Monday - but the 80-minute flight had a bumpy ride at the end."
• Qantas Dreamliner completes longest ever commercial flight - "Airline hails achievement after 19-hour New York-to-Sydney flight carrying 50 passengers and crew."
• Qantas reveals economy seats for 19-hour NYC-Sydney ultra long-haul flights - "As Qantas counts down to the 2025 launch of its record-breaking passenger flights connecting Sydney to New York and London direct, the airline has revealed what economy class will look like on the ultra long-haul flights. At a press conference in New York on Thursday, the airline revealed it will offer passengers more leg room and more space to move around the cabin on the 12 specially designed Airbus A350 planes that will operate the routes."
• Quiet supersonic jet maker Aerion abruptly shuts down - "It had partners like Boeing and GE."
• RED BULL AIR RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - aka "Formula 1 of the Sky." Established in 2003 and created by Red Bull, is an international series of air races in which competitors have to navigate a challenging obstacle course in the fastest time.
• Red-eye flight - is any flight departing late at night and arriving early the next morning. The term red-eye, common in North America, derives from the fatigue symptom of having red eyes, which can be caused or aggravated by late-night travel. The red-eye flight usually flies eastbound. The flight is usually four to six hours, less than seven-hour full sleep, but due to time differences, a red-eye flight that departs around midnight arrives around 6am or 7am. Westbound flights that depart around midnight and arrive in the early morning are also colloquically called red-eye flights, despite the fact that those flights are significantly longer than seven or eight hours.
• Revisiting the luxury & glamour of Concorde - CNN style.
• Richard Branson: ‘Aviation can be carbon neutral sooner than we realise’ - "The relentlessly upbeat entrepreneur believes efficiency and electricity could stop airlines worsening the climate crisis."
• Safest seat on a plane? - "Expert reveals the safest seat on an airplane. We asked an aviation expert. We rarely book a flight with hopes of getting one of the middle seats in the last row. Well, guess what? These seats are statistically the safest ones on an airplane."
• SAS Business Class To Copenhagen Reflects The Danish Spirit Of Hygge - "Denmark is the place to go this summer, especially now that SAS, with its excellent business class offerings, is launching new nonstop flights from the US."
• Schedule padding: Is this why air travel is getting slower? - "British Airways, Easyjet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic claim it’s taking longer to get from A to B."
• science behind making your holiday last longer - The Telegraph.
• Scientists turn CO2 into jet fuel - "It could lead to net zero emissions for air travel."
• Seat Guru: Airline Seat Maps, Flights shopping & Flight Information - "The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities, flights shopping and airline information."
• Shanghai to New York in two hours? China joins the hypersonic flight race - "Beijing-based Space Transportation (aka Lingkong Tianxing in China) aims to make this prospect a reality with the development of a passenger-carrying vehicle that can hurtle across the skies at one mile per second - over twice the speed of Concorde."
• SINGLE-PILOT PASSENGER PLANES COULD SOON TAKE TO THE SKIES, SAYS BOEING - "The change could also address a chronic shortage of pilots. Aircraft manufacturer also working on hypersonic jet to fly passengers from New York to Tokyo ‘for lunch’."
• Skincare must-haves for long-haul flights - The Telegraph.
• 
• Soarigami armrest divider - end to armrest wars? The Soarigami divider aims to end all in-flight armrest battles on planes by creating space for two elbows.
• The aircraft interiors of the future - The Telegraph.
• The challenges of designing airplane evacuation slides - "Gone in 90 seconds: The evolution of the airplane evacuation slide."
• The epic attempts to power planes with hydrogen - "During the Cold War, both the US and USSR researched liquid hydrogen as a way to fuel aircraft. Could this cleaner fuel finally be around the corner?"
• The most heroic airline pilots of all time - The Telegraph.
• The plane that's become a Covid-19 hero - "Queen of the skies: The Boeing 747 is playing a hero's role during Covid-19 crisis."
• The plane wing design that changed flying - "Why modern airplanes have winglets."
• The real reason you're told you put your mobile in flight mode - The Telegraph.
• The secret to picking the perfect plane seat - The Telegraph.
• The windowless cabin design that could be the future of air travel - "Looking out the cabin window and seeing cities and oceans from above is, for many of us, one of the joys of flying."
• The world's longest flights - The Telegraph.
• The world's most spacious airplane seats revealed - "How to find the world's roomiest airplane seats. One of the greatest luxuries when we fly is space: the space to stretch out, relax, work and sleep while flying seven miles above the Earth at nearly the speed of sound. These days, that's international business class, with fully-flat beds longer than most people are tall. But some are roomier than others. So which airline will give you the biggest bang for your buck?"
• This is a great time to be an airline. It's the worst time to be a passenger - "US airlines just had one of the most lucrative quarters in history. Passengers are suffering for it. The record revenue many airlines reported in April, May and June came via very high airfares and packed airplanes. A series of service disruptions caused by staffing shortages has made flying even worse."
• This solar-powered plane could stay in the air for months - "Skydweller Aero aims to produce the world's first commercially viable 'pseudo-satellite' - a solar-powered airplane capable of staying in the sky for months at a time."
• TIGHAR | The International Group for Historical Aircraft Recovery - non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting responsible aviation archaeology and historic preservation.
• Travel gear - "From packing cubes to toiletry bags, compression socks, backpacks and more, our team is always testing the newest travel essentials to help you find the best products needed to get to your destination comfortably, well-organized, and with room in your bag to spare." CNN Underscored.
• Travel guru Rick Steves never checks a bag. Here are the 25 things he always packs in his carry-on - "Steves spends four months out of the year traveling Europe for work, and he only brings a carry-on bag. Steves' must-haves include hemp shorts, Bose headphones, Patagonia pants, and bags he designed."
• Travel Sentry - "The Global Standard for Travel Security." Company that develops and licenses standards used in travel security, including a standard for luggage locks that can be opened by aviation security agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration.
• 
• TSA accepted locks - in the United States the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires access to luggage without the passenger being present; to allow travelers to lock their luggage they have accepted certain locks which they can open and relock. The TSA recommend that TSA accepted locks be used, as luggage locked using other methods must be opened by force in order to be inspected.
• ULTIMATE AVIATION LINKS
• Ultra-wealthy travelers are ditching traditional private jets & buying airliners - "See inside 2 airliner-turned-private-jets from Airbus and Boeing. Airbus and Boeing are selling their planes to ultra-high-net-worth individuals in addition to airlines. In 25 years of operation, Boeing has sold 250 of its Boeing Business Jets to the likes of royal families and wealthy individuals."
• United Airlines aims to revive Concorde spirit with supersonic planes - "Company places order for 15 Boom Overture jets capable of travelling twice as fast as modern airliners."
• Unruly passengers were a problem before the pandemic. Now they’re even worse - "IATA classifies unruly behavior incidents into four levels. Level 1 is 'minor' (IATA’s 'Cabin Operations Safety Best Practice Manual' suggests this could be argumentative behavior or non-compliance with safety regulations). Level 2 is 'moderate' (physically aggressive behavior, for example). Level 3 is 'serious' (i.e. dangerous behavior, an 'intent or threat to injure,' as IATA puts it). Level 4 is 'flight deck breach' (which IATA classifies as 'credible threat of death')."
• US airline passengers aren't happy. Here's why - "The airports are crowded, the flights are packed and air travel in the US is back in full swing. But the return to the skies in the wake of the pandemic hasn't been entirely smooth: passengers seem more badly behaved than ever, flight cancellations feel increasingly commonplace and airlines are hiking fares as fuel prices soar."
• Virgin to fly 'net-zero' transatlantic Boeing 787 - "The aircraft will hit the skies in 2023 fueled entirely by what's known as sustainable aviation fuel."
• What is a chicken cannon & how does it keep planes safe? - "The cannons keeping airplanes safe, one chicken at a time. Birds may be the undisputed masters of the air, but they've been at the losing end of airborne collisions since the dawn of aviation in 1905, when pioneer pilot Orville Wright reported the first bird strike."
• What it was really like to go Mach 2 on Concorde - The Verge.
• Where planes go to die: extraordinary aircraft graveyards - The Telegraph.
• Why are aircraft painted white? - "What are the benefits of painting an aircraft white? How much paint does it take to cover a large aircraft? Which airlines break the mould? White is a color that reflects sunlight, which has the result of keeping the aircraft cool. This benefit comes into its own at high speed, where friction from the air can heat the skin of an aircraft to extreme temperatures."
• Why Business Class Poses a Unique Fire Hazard - The New York Times.
• Why Cockpit Doors Are Open During Boarding - "Overall, cockpit doors need to be kept open due to the number of people that need to enter and exit the flight deck prior to departure. For instance, the First Officer is required to leave to conduct an external walk-around preflight before returning. Along with this, keeping the door open allows the Captain to monitor the boarding procedure. Additionally, many ground staff members are also meant to keep in continuous contact with the pilot. These include technicians, fueling staff, and those responsible for cleaning and catering the aircraft."
• Why Jet Lag Can Feel Worse When You Travel West to East - The New York Times.
• Why passenger jets could soon be flying in formation - "Birds are the undisputed masters of aerodynamics. No matter how many supercomputers and wind tunnels scientists throw at solving flight's thorny calculations, they'll never match the perfection of airborne avians."
• Why the sky is still full of empty 'ghost' flights - "In fact, more than 100,000 'ghost flights' will sail over European skies this winter, according to recent analysis from Greenpeace. The climate damage, claims the environmental group, is 'equivalent to the yearly emissions of more than 1.4 million cars.'"
• Why you should ALWAYS throw away your luggage tags once you’ve used them - Express.
• Will flying ever be sustainable? - "As passenger numbers continue to grow, making air travel sustainable presents huge challenges." BBC Ideas.
• world's 10 shortest flights - The Telegraph.
• World’s best airline for 2024 named by AirlineRatings.com - "Qatar Airways: The state-owned flag carrier of Qatar has been named the world's best airline for 2024 by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency AirlineRatings.com. When planning a trip, you can’t guarantee your flight won’t be delayed, your bag won’t go missing, or you won’t have a nightmare neighbor. But you can lighten your unease when things go wrong by choosing an airline brand you trust. Singapore Airlines won Best First Class, Qatar Airways picked up Best Business Class, Emirates scooped Best Premium Economy and Air New Zealand was awarded Best Economy Class."
• World's best airlines for 2018 - CNN travel.
• World's Best Airlines of 2023 - "Singapore Airline is named the World’s Best Airline at the 2023 World Airline Awards, with Qatar Airways ranked 2nd and ANA All Nippon Airways in 3rd place." SKYTRAX.
• World's fastest passenger jet goes supersonic in tests - "The in-development Global 8000 will be 'the world's fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet.'"
• World's largest airplane destroyed in Ukraine - "The world's largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225, has been destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials, generating alarm and sadness among the aviation world in which it occupies almost cult status."
• world’s most eco-conscious airlines 2023 - "Air travel is toxic for the planet. But some airlines are better than others."
• world's shortest scheduled airline service - "The journey, made two to three times daily, connects Westray, an island on the edge of Scotland's northerly Orkney archipelago, to the smaller, even more remote island of Papa Westray. This, according to Guinness World Records, is the world's shortest scheduled airline service, a trip that covers just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) in less time than it takes most passenger airplanes to reach cruising altitude. On a good day, with favorable winds and light luggage, it takes 53 seconds."
• WORLD'S UGLIEST AIRCRAFT LIVERIES - The Telegraph.
• 'Worst' airlines revealed in survey - "The 'worst' airlines for long and short-haul flights named by Which?"
• You can now fly the largest aircraft ever built in 'Microsoft Flight Simulator' - "Proceeds will go toward rebuilding the An-225 Mriya that was destroyed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

Airline Frequent-Flyer & Loyalty Programs

• 
• AIRLINE ALLIANCE - Wikipedia.
• AIRPORT LOUNGE - Wikipedia.
• Chinese billionaire paid $170 million for famed Modigliani nude with his American Express card so he could get the frequent flyer miles - Daily Mail.
• FlyerTalk - the world's most popular frequent flyer community. An interactive community that provides up-to-date information on travel-related loyalty reward programs. It's the hub that brings everyone together - from leisure travelers to mileage junkies - to converse about programs, get the latest program buzz or discuss how to maximize points or miles.
• Frequent Flier Miles Are Kaput - The Game’s About Credit Cards Now - Wired.
• FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM - Wikipedia.
• How to Earn Miles & Points Without Leaving Home - The New York Times.
• List of frequent flyer programs - Wikipedia.
• LOYALTY PROGRAM - Wikipedia.
• 
• most popular plane ever built - Cessna 172 Skyhawk.
• New Rules to Know for Your Carry-On Luggage - The New York Times.
• One Mile at a Time - "Beginners Guide To Miles & Points: What’s The Point?"
• Points.com - "Points.com helps you get the most from your loyalty programs - from your airline frequent flyer miles to your hotel points, from your credit card rewards to your gas and drugstore cards."
• Plastic trays at security are the worst virus carriers in the airport - even worse than the TOILET - "THERE’S one place to avoid at the airport if you want to stop yourself getting sick - the plastic trays at security that stuff is piled into before it is scanned. They are the worst culprits for carrying viruses such as the common cold and flu."
• The Cost of Sharing Frequent Flier Miles - The New York Times.
• The Points Guy - "Maximize Your Frequent Flyer Miles & Travel Points."
• The surprising definition of a near-miss in the skies
• 'There's no ****ing way I eat on planes' - Gordon Ramsey.
• This is all you need to do to get an upgrade on a plane - Mirror Online.
• TRAVEL RISK MAP 2016 - Global health & travel security risks review.
• Up in the Air: Meet the Man Who Flies Around the World for Free - Rolling Stone.
• What happens when you don't put your phone on airplane mode on an airplane? - Quora.
• What’s in a Boarding Pass Barcode? A Lot - Krebs on Security.
• What's the best way to sleep on a plane? - The Telegraph.
• What is it like to fly on a small plane compared to a big plane? - "Many misconceptions and preconceptions abound. Some people swear they only get airsickness on small planes, while others insist the on-board experience is more personalized. A small plane is one with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)."
• when is it okay to switch plane seats? - BBC.
• Why airline seats have to go up ahead of take-off & landing - The Independent.
• Why Do All Airplane Windows Have A Tiny Hole In Them? - IFLScience.
• 
• Why superbusiness minisuites are the future of luxury flying - "After a long, golden sunset of being installed on fewer and fewer aircraft, the retirement of older aircraft caused by the Covid-19 pandemic means that when air travel resumes, international first class will be very nearly a thing of the past. Its replacement is a new generation of superbusiness minisuites, more spacious than regular business class, and with a privacy door to create your own space, but without the over-the-top luxury of first class."
• Why tomorrow's aircraft will be hybrid - Forbes.
• world's best airline for 2022 named - "Skytrax, a UK-based airline and airport review and ranking site, conducted more than 14 million customer surveys in more than 100 countries between September 2021 to August 2022 to find out the world's current favorite airline. This year's winner was no stranger to the podium. The newly crowned Qatar Airways has won the top prize a total of seven times since the awards were introduced in 1999."
• World's best airlines for 2021, ranked by AirlineRatings.com - "The Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency compiles its Airline Excellence Awards based on criteria including age of fleet, passenger reviews and product offerings. This year, the team of global editors threw airlines' Covid-19 responses into the mix too."
• World's best airlines for 2022, ranked by AirlineRatings.com - "Qatar Airways' decision to remain operating through the pandemic meant that it became the world's largest international airline and posted a huge profit - the only major airline to do so. Hot on the heels of Qatar Airways is Air New Zealand, an airline that's topped AirlineRatings' list six times in recent years, and last year also came in at number two."
• World's busiest passenger air routes - Wikipedia.
• World's longest nonstop flight - "Singapore to New York."
• world's most expensive aircraft - "B-2 Spirit: The $2 billion flying wing."
• American Airlines AAdvantage - "Frequent Flyer Miles. Travel Awards." Voted best airline affinity program in the Americas by FlyerTalk members. American also won for best airline program benefit.
• British Airways Executive Club - "Seven million Members know the benefits of belonging." Joining the Executive Club is free for everyone and the benefits start the minute you become a Member. You can collect Avios, the Club’s currency, every time you travel with us and our oneworld airline partners.
• Delta Skymiles - "Get up in the air with Delta's frequent flyer program, Delta SkyMiles. Manage your account, earn miles and redeem reward points. Go farther."
• EXPERT FLYER - "Empowering the frequent flyer." Designed to meet the needs of the frequent flyer, the airline mileage program "elite tier" passengers, professional travel managers, and the occasional air traveler looking for the best values.
• IAPA | INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE PASSENGERS ASSOCIATION - "Frequent Flyers count on us." Provides travel insurance, seating plans & other planning tools for all travelers. Over 300,000 frequent business travelers in 175 countries already enjoy the many benefits that IAPA membership brings.
• Jet Airways JetPrivilege - JetPrivilege is Jet Airways' global frequent flyer programme in which members have access to unique privileges across five membership tiers: Blue, Blue Plus, Silver, Gold and the exclusive Platinum. If you are a member of frequent flyer program with Jet Airways, you qualify for online account access, additional baggage allowance, tele check-in, web check-in, and much more.
• KVS AVAILABILITY TOOL - "The most powerful Tool for frequent flyers since 2004." Global flight availability, award availability, fares, timetables, seat maps.
• ONEWORLD - the third largest airline alliance in the world. Founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Canadian Airlines and Qantas Airways. "Choosing to fly with oneworld has never been so rewarding for frequent flyers. Because as a member of a oneworld airline's frequent flyer programme, you earn credits towards your tier status every time you travel on an eligible oneworld flight."
• PRIORITY PASS - since 1992. "Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program. Membership offers great value for money and allows you to use any of 1300+ airport lounges (600 cities across 148 countries) whenever you travel."
• SKYTEAM - "One program has you covered." The second largest airline alliance in the world partnering eleven carriers from four continents.
• SR-71 Blackbird: The Cold War spy plane that's still the world's fastest aircraft - "During the Cold War, this plane could fly higher and faster than any other -- and 55 years after its first flight, it still does."
• STAR ALLIANCE - founded in 1997. "The Way the World Connects." The world's first and largest airline alliance. As the world's first airline alliance, we work behind the scenes to constantly improve your travel experience. Bringing you benefits to make your journey smoother and more relaxing. Extending our network to fly to new places where you’ll do business tomorrow. And creating ways to earn and redeem your miles, including our Star Alliance Upgrade Awards.

Airliners & Aircraft Manufacturers

• 1st Chinese-built passenger jet completes maiden flight - The Guardian.
• 5 Most Produced Commercial Aircraft In History - "In the last century, thousands of commercial aircraft have been built and delivered to customers all over the world. But which are the most produced aircraft? We take a look at the most produced commercial aircraft in history with our top-five rundown."
• 10 of the world's largest aircraft - CNN travel.
• 18 most important aircraft of all time - The Telegraph.
• 747 might be having her finest time - "Queen of the skies: The Boeing 747 is playing a hero's role during Covid-19 crisis."
• Air transports of heads of state and government - Wikipedia.
• AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION - Wikipedia.
• Airliner - Wikipedia.
• As the 747 Begins Its Final Approach, a Pilot Takes a Flight Down Memory Lane - New York Times.
• Boeing 737: How world's most successful airplane became its most troubled - "Over the course of its long history, the Boeing 737 has acquired more nicknames than any other commercial aircraft. Among them are Baby Boeing, Tin Mouse, Light Twin, Guppy, Bobby, Rudder Rotor, as well as a few less flattering ones, such as Fat Freddy and Dung Beetle."
• Boeing 777X: World’s largest twin-engine jet completes first flight - "Boeing has successfully completed the first test flight of the world's largest twin-engined plane, the 777X."
• Boom's supersonic jets will pick up where the Concorde left off - engadget.
• China to take on Boeing, Airbus with homegrown C919 passenger jet - CNN.
• Club Concorde - "The only Concorde Captains' website." Concorde memorabilia & signed photos.
• Concorde - 40 fascinating facts.
• Concorde Will Fly Again, Says Group With Massive War Chest - Flight Club.
• Forget Supersonic. This Hypersonic Jet Can Fly From NYC to London in Under an Hour - "The Hermeus jet has a projected top speed of Mach 5.5 - or 4,219 mph - making it the fastest reusable jet on the planet."
• How an airplane engine gets made - "Behind closed doors at the UK headquarters of Rolls-Royce Aerospace, machinery whirs, fans hum and blades screech as some 1,000 people go about the complex task of getting an airplane engine off the ground."
• How Airbus Went From Boeing Wannabe to High-Flying Legend - Wired.
• How Much Fuel Does A Jet Aircraft Use During A Typical Flight? - "A jet aircraft uses a phenomenal, almost incomprehensible, amount of fuel. For example, a Boeing 747 burns up to one gallon of fuel every second. Yes, every second! That means that during a five-hour flight, a Boeing 747 will burn 18,000 gallons of fuel."
• 
• 
• Inside the superyacht of the skies! £400 Million personalized Boeing 747-8 aircraft - completed by Greenpoint Technologies of Kirkland, Washington. Its incredible 4,786 sq. ft. of space features a stateroom, lounges, an office, and a massive dining room.
• Is Boeing about to call time on the 747? - The Telegraph.
• List of aircraft manufacturers - Wikipedia.
• List of regional airliners - Wikipedia.
• Lockheed Martin's hypersonic aircraft plans are taking shape - Its Mach 5-plus tech is becoming seamless and relatively affordable.
• Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 chopped up and recycled into coffee tables - "The afterlife of a decommissioned airplane can take many forms nowadays. Some are dismantled and used as parts, others simply end up in aircraft graveyards, while a select few are reinvented as modern restaurants or hotels."
• NASA explores ‘quiet’ supersonic flight over land - engadget.
• new Air Force One - "From Presidents Roosevelt to Biden, Boeing airplanes have transported U.S. presidents around the world. The U.S. Air Force announced that it will continue the Boeing tradition with the 747-8, which will replace the two 747-200s that serve as the presidential Air Force One fleet."
• 'New Concorde' could be in skies as early as next year - The Telegraph.
• new Concorde? NASA approves plans for quieter supersonic passenger jets - The Telegraph.
• Pan Am Boeing 377: The luxury airplane with beds in overhead compartments - "The airplane speeds through the sky on its way to London as you dine on tender beef and caviar. Afterward, you make your way to the lower lounge to socialize with other passengers aboard the plane while sipping on a refreshing drink. As the evening winds down, you head up to the main cabin, climb into your overhead compartment bed, and travel across the Atlantic Ocean safely tucked away under soft sheets."
• Regional airliner - Wikipedia.
• Romanian dictator's airplane listed for auction at $30,000 - "The Rombac 1-11, which was used for the dictator's official flights between 1986 and 1989, is to be put up for auction on May 27 with a starting price of €25,000 (around $30,000)."
• Where planes go to die: extraordinary aircraft graveyards - The Telegraph.
• Why passenger jets could soon be flying in formation - "Birds are the undisputed masters of aerodynamics. No matter how many supercomputers and wind tunnels scientists throw at solving flight's thorny calculations, they'll never match the perfection of airborne avians."
• Wide-body aircraft - Wikipedia.
• World's largest aircraft floats in giant hangar - The Telegraph.
• World's longest nonstop flight - "Airbus A350-900ULR set to enter service."
• world's safest airline for 2022 revealed - "This year, Air New Zealand has come out on top on the annual safety table, which monitors 385 carriers from across the globe, measuring factors such as the airlines' crash and serious incident records, the age of their aircraft, as well as Covid-19 protocols and operational innovation."
• AIR FORCE ONE - (call signs SAM 28000 & 29.000) is the air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States.
• AIRBUS - produces around half of the world's jet airliners.
• 
• Airbus A321 - "The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step from the A321LR which responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm - 15% more than the A321LR and with 30% lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft."
• 
• AIRBUS A350 - "Shaping efficiency for the future of air travel."
• 
• Airbus A350 XWB - the first Airbus with both fuselage and wing structures made primarily of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. It can carry 250 to 350 passengers in a typical three-class seating layout, or maximum seating of 440 to 550 passengers, depending on variant. The A350 is positioned as a successor to the A330 and A340, competing with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and 777 series.
• 
• AIRBUS A380 - world's largest commercial airliner.
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• Airbus Beluga | A300-600ST - a version of the standard A300-600 wide-body airliner modified to carry aircraft parts and oversized cargo. It was officially called the Super Transporter at first, but the name Beluga became popular and has now been officially adopted.
• ALENIA AERONAUTICA
• ANTONOV - since 1946. Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company. Antonov's particular expertise is in the fields of very large aeroplanes and aeroplanes using unprepared runways.
• 
• Antonov 225 Mriya, the successful Soviet Cargo Plane with five facts - "The Antonov 225 Mriya is mostly known for its size. It is the largest aircraft ever made, with a wingspan size of a football field. By comparison, it dominates the double-decker Airbus A380 and still inspires crowds who watch its takeoff and landing. Antonov 225 Mriya, which means “Dream” in Ukrainian is a cargo aircraft that was designed by the Antonov Design Bureau in the Ukrainian SSR within the Soviet Union during the 1980s under the leadership of Russian engineer, Viktor Tolmachev."
• ANTONOV AN-225 - since 1985. World's largest airplane. It is powered by six turbofan engines and is the heaviest aircraft ever built, with a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes (710 short tons; 630 long tons). It also has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in operational service. The single example built has the Ukrainian civil registration UR-82060.
• ATR - (Aerei da Trasporto Regionale or Avions de Transport Régional). "Propelling Tomorrow's World." French-Italian aircraft manufacturer. Its primary products are the ATR 42 and ATR 72 twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliners.
• BOING - since 1916. "If it's not Boing, I ain't going." World's largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems.
• Is Boeing about to call time on the 747? - The Telegraph.
• 
• BOEING 707 - produced 1958–1979. Developed as Boeing's first jet airliner.
• Boeing 747 - (1968-). Wide-body commercial jet airliner and cargo aircraft, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. Its distinctive "hump" upper deck along the forward part of the aircraft makes it among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and it was the first wide-body produced.
• Boeing 747-400 - (1988-).
• BOING 747-8 - (2008-). "The First Class and Business Class sections of the 747-8 enable airlines to offer passengers the most private and premium accommodations in the sky. So it's no surprise that on high-volume routes the 747-8 offers premium revenue potential. And with more than 400 seats available, this new 747 creates a unique opportunity to maximize the bottom-line potential of any high-volume route. It's premium value, delivered, for operators and passengers. That's a better way to fly."
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• BOEING 777 Family - since 1993.
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• BOEING 777X - since 2020. World’s largest twin-engine jet.
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• BOEING 787 DREAMLINER - since 2007.
• BOING AEROLOFT - located above the main cabin of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) 747-8 between the upper deck and tail of the airplane. It boasts eight private sleeping berths and a changing room providing a comfortable rest area during flight.
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• BOING C-17 GLOBEMASTER III - world's biggest airplane.
• BOING E-4 Advanced Airborne Command Post - aka the 'Doomsday Plane' operated by the United States Air Force.
• BOMBARDIER - "The evolution of mobility."
• C-130 HERCULES - four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed.
• COMAC | Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd.
• CONCORDE - (1969/1976-2003).
• Concorde Mark 2: Airbus files plans for new supersonic jet - The Telegraph.
• de Havilland Aircraft Company - (1920-1964). Responsible for producing the first passenger jet and other innovative aircraft.
• DESERT AEROSPACE
• EADS | EUROPEAN AERONAUTIC DEFENCE AND SPACE COMPANY
• EMBRAER - third-largest commercial aircraft company in the world.
• FOKKER AIRCRAFT
• FOKKER 50
• FOKKER 70
• FOKKER 100
• GLOBAL HAWK - RQ-4 Global Hawk is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
• ICON AIRCRAFT - sport aircrafts.
• ICON 100 - light sport aircraft.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN
• MARTIN AIRCRAFT COMPANY - the Martin Jetpack.
• NORTHROP GRUMMAN - "A Leader in Global Security."
• ROLLS-ROYCE CIVIL AEROSPACE
• ROLLS-ROYCE DEFENCE AEROSPACE
• SAAB
• 
• Spike Aerospace - since 2012. "Fly Supersonic. Do More."
• SUKHOI
• SUPERJET INTERNATIONAL
• TUPOLEV
• WYLE'S AEROSPACE GROUP

Airport Lounges

• 
• AIRPORT ANGEL - "Airports are often perceived as a frenetic element of a journey, frequently thought of as noisy, busy, hectic and stressful places. Our Airport Lounge service aims to diminish some of this stress by offering somewhere away from the hustle and bustle to wait and relax before boarding a plane."
• AIRPORT LOUNGE - Wikipedia.
• How to get in to an airport lounge - The Telegraph.
• PRIORITY PASS - "Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program. Membership offers great value for money and allows you to use any of 700 airport lounges (300 cities, 100 countries) whenever you travel."
• 
• Admirals Club Lounge - "Within the airport, a quiet, relaxing oasis awaits you." American Airlines, Miami International Airport, FL, U.S.A.
• ALASKA AIRLINES BOARD ROOM - Sea-Tac Airport International Airport, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
• ASIANA LOUNGE - Incheon International Airport, Seoul, Incheon, South Korea.
• Clubhouse - Virgin Atlantic, Heathrow Airport, London, U.K.
• Diamond First Class lounge - Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
• 
• DILMUN LOUNGE - Bahrain International Airport. "The multi-awarded Dilmun Lounge which is also operated by BAS, offers an oasis of relaxation to premium-class passengers and has achieved numerous awards among them being the highly prestigious “Lounge of the Year - Middle East & Africa” award for the past six consecutive years."
• Dubai Airport Lounges - Emirates, Dubai International Airport, Dubai, U.A.E.
• FINNAIR LOUNGE - Terminal 2, Helsinki, Finland. Priority Pass Lounge of the Year 2011.
• Galleries Lounge - British Airways, Heathrow Airport, London, U.K.
• 
• JFK Clubhouse - Virgin Atlantic, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Terminal 4, New York, U.S.A.
• l´Espace PremiÈre Lounge - Air France, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France.
• Millennium Lounge - Istanbul Ataturk International, Turkey, Turkey.
• Premium Lounge - Lufthansa, John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY, U.S.A.
• Red Carpet Club Lounge - United Airlines, San Francisco International, CA, U.S.A.
• 
• SilverKris Lounge - Singapore Changi International Airport, Singapore. "Whether you just want to relax over a drink or attend to urgent business before you begin your journey, you can enjoy world-class comfort and service in our SilverKris Lounges at Singapore Changi International Airport."
• SUMAQ VIP LOUNGE & BUSINESS CENTER LOUNGE - Jorge Chávez International Airport, Callao, Lima Peru. Priority Pass Lounge of the Year 2010.
• 
• Swiss Lounge - at Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport, Saint-Louis, France.
• Terraces Lounge - British Airways, John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY, U.S.A.
• 
• The Private Room - Singapore Airlines, Terminal 3, Singapore Changi Airport. Meant for Singapore Airlines Suites and First Class passengers.
• 
• The Wing Lounge - "The World’s Most Exclusive Balcony." Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong.

Airports

• 
• 3 secrets to make your airport experience less stressful - The Telegraph.
• 10 reasons why Munich Airport is the best in Europe - The Telegraph.
• 14 ways you're being ripped off at the airport - Telegraph.
• 23 things all men do at airports - The Telegraph.
• ACI | AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL - "The Voice of the World's Airports." ACI has 575 members operating over 1633 airports in 179 countries and territories.
• AIRPORT - Wikipedia.
• AIRPORT GUIDES - detailed guides to almost 300 major airports around the world.
• Airport novel - represent a literary genre that is not so much defined by its plot or cast of stock characters, as much as it is by the social function it serves. An airport novel is typically a fairly long but fast-paced novel of intrigue or adventure that is stereotypically found in the reading fare offered by airport newsstands for travellers to read in the rounds of sitting and waiting that constitute air travel.
• AIRPORT RANKING - Skytrax.
• AIRPORT REVIEWS - Skytrax.
• Airport Survival Guide for Thanksgiving Travel - The New York Times.
• Airports, Designed for Everyone but the Passenger - The New York Times.
• ATRS | AIR TRANSPORT RESEARCH SOCIETY - annual global airport benchmarking reports, excellence awards.
• Can you name the airport from its three-letter code? - The Telegraph.
• Cruise airport on top of a piece of motorized luggage - engadget.
• Danish Airport is Best for Business - European Business Air News.
• Fabulous airport style - The Telegraph.
• How to Stay Safe at the Airport - The New York Times.
• IATA | International Air Transport Association airport code - three-letter code designating many airports around the world.
• ICAO | International Civil Aviation Organization airport code - four-letter alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world.
• IFLY.COM - "The Web's Best Guide to Airports." Airport guides, flight tracking & status, airport parking, maps & more.
• Kim Jong Un Inspects Terminal of Pyongyang International Airport - Rodung Sinmun.
• LIST OF WORLD'S AIRPORTS - Wikipedia.
• Los Angeles airport to build special terminal just for celebrities - The Guardian.
• SKYTRAX - the world's largest airline and airport review site - over 625 airlines and 660 airports. Passenger trip reports, flight reviews, airline seat and lounge reviews. Check airline standards in the Official Airline Star Ranking guide.
• The Guide to Sleeping in Airports - online since 1996. Airport Reviews.
• THE MOST DELAYED AIRPORTS - Forbes Magazine.
• The strangest items confiscated at airports - The Telegraph.
• The world's most convenient airports - The Telegraph.
• Using Apps to Ease the Headache of Navigating Airports - The New York Times.
• WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS - Skytrax: the passengers' choice.
• WORLD AIRPORT CODES
• WORLD'S 30 BUSIEST AIRPORTS
• world's busiest airport? You'll never guess - Telegraph.
• world's busiest airports - Dubai overtakes Heathrow - The Telegraph.
• World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic - Wikipedia.
• world's most beautiful airport terminals - The Telegraph.
• world's most convenient airports - The Telegraph.
• world's most inconvenient airports - The Telegraph.
• world's most scenic airport approaches - 2016 - The Telegraph.
• world's scariest airport landings & runways - Telegraph.
• Abu Dhabi International Airport | AUH | OMAA - the airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the world in terms of passengers, new airline operators, and infrastructural development.
• Al Maktoum International Airport | DWC | OMDW - major airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates that opened on 27 June 2010. It will be the main part of Dubai World Central, a planned residential, commercial and logistics complex scheme. World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with most transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment.
• Athens International Airport | ATH | LGAV - the airport has become increasingly popular as a gateway to Asia and the Middle East.
• Amsterdam Airport Schiphol | AMS | EHAM - the world’s 3rd largest by international passenger traffic as well as Europe’s 5th and the world’s 14th busiest by overall passenger volume.
• BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Suvarnabhumi Airport | BKK | VTBS - international airport serving Bangkok, Thailand.
• Beijing Capital International Airport | PEK | ZBAA - the main international airport of Beijing, China. Terminal 3 became fully operational on March 26, 2008 and is currently the second largest airport passenger terminal building of the world.
• Berlin Tegel Airport | TXL | EDDT - main international airport in Berlin, Germany.
• Brussels Airport | BRU | EBBR - international airport located in Zaventem, northeast of Brussels, Belgium.
• BUENOS AIRES Ministro Pistarini International Airport | EZE | SAEZ - located 22 km (14 mi) south-southwest of Buenos Aires or Capital Federal, the capital of Argentina.
• Cairo International Airport | CAI | HECA - the busiest airport in Egypt.
• Charles de Gaulle Airport | CDG | LFPG - also known as Roissy Airport (or just Roissy in French), in the Paris area, is one of the world's principal aviation centres, as well as France's main airport.
• Copenhagen Airport | CPH | EKCH - the largest airport in the Nordic countries.
• 
• Dubai International Airport | DXB | OMDB - "Connecting the World." International airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai and the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic.
• DUBAI WORLD CENTRAL | Al Maktoum International Airport | DWC | OMDW - major airport in Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates that opened on 27 June 2010. It will be the main part of Dubai World Central, a planned residential, commercial and logistics complex scheme. World Central is the world's first truly integrated logistics platform, with most transport modes, logistics and value added services, including manufacturing and assembly, in a single bonded and Free Zone environment.
• FRANKFURT AM MAIN AIRPORT | FRA | EDDF - known in German as Flughafen Frankfurt am Main or Rhein-Main-Flughafen is a major international airport located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of the city centre. It is by far the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany, the third busiest in Europe and the ninth busiest worldwide in 2009. It serves the most international destinations in the world and is the busiest airport in Europe by cargo traffic.
• HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | ATL | KATL - (Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.). World's busiest airport by passenger traffic, serving 90 million passengers per year.
• Hong Kong International Airport | HKG | VHHH - the main airport in Hong Kong. It is colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport.
• Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | HYD | VOHS - international airport near Shamshabad, about 22 km (14 mi) from the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
• 
• Ian Fleming International Airport | OCJ | MKBS - airport located in Boscobel, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Ocho Rios, in northern Jamaica. The airport provides service to the United States and to other Caribbean islands. It is named for Ian Fleming, the creator of the James Bond novels, whose Goldeneye estate is located in St Mary parish.
• Incheon International Airport | ICN | RKSI - the largest airport in South Korea. Since 2005, it has been consecutively rated as the best airport in the world by the Airports Council International.
• JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | JFK | KJFK - international airport located in Queens County, New York in southeastern New York City about 12 miles (19 km) from Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States.
• KING FAHD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | DMM | OEDF - (Dammam, Saudi-Arabia). The largest airport in the world in terms of land area (780 km2), thus making it larger than the nearby country of Bahrain.
• KUALA LUMPUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT | KUL | WMKK - (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). One of Southeast Asia's largest airports. It was ranked as the 13th busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic, and is the 7th busiest international airport in Asia.
• Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport | FCO | LIRF - also commonly known as Fiumicino Airport, is Italy's largest airport and the first international air gateway.
• LONDON CITY AIRPORT | LCY | EGLC - single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, 6 NM (11 km; 6.9 mi) east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. In 2011 London City was the fifth busiest airport in terms of passengers and aircraft movements serving the London area after Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton and the 15th busiest in the UK.
• London Heathrow Airport | LHR | EGLL - the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic. It is the world's second busiest airport in total passenger traffic and the United Kingdom's largest and busiest airport.
• Los Angeles International Airport | LAX | KLAX - the primary airport serving Los Angeles, California, the second-most populated metropolitan area of the United States. It is often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX.
• Madrid-Barajas Airport | MAD | LEMD - the main international airport serving Madrid in Spain.
• Malpensa Airport | MXP | LIMC - Milan's largest airport.
• McCarran International Airport | LAS | KLAS - the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States.
• Mexico City International Airport | MEX | MMMX - Mexico's and Latin America's busiest airport.
• MOSCOW Domodedovo International Airport | DME | UUDD - international airport located 22 km south of the centre of Moscow, Russia. It is one of the three major Moscow airports along with Sheremetyevo International Airport and Vnukovo Airport. Domodedovo is the largest airport in Russia in terms of passenger and cargo traffic.
• Narita International Airport | NRT | RJAA - handles the majority of international passenger traffic to and from Japan.
• 
• Nice CÔte d'Azur Airport | NCE | LFMN - the principal port of arrival for passengers to the Côte d'Azur. Located 3.2 NM (5.9 km; 3.7 mi) southwest of Nice, in the Alpes-Maritimes départment of France. It is the third busiest airport in France and serves as a focus city for Air France and an operating base for easyJet.
• O'Hare International Airport | ORD | KORD - major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
• OR Tambo International Airport | JNB | FAJS - the primary airport for domestic and international travel to/from South Africa and is Africa's busiest airport.
• 
• Palm Beach International Airport | PBI | KPBI - since 1936. Public airport three miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is direct from I-95, Southern Boulevard, and Congress Avenue. The airport is bordered on the west by Military Trail.
• Rio de Janeiro-GaleÃo International Airport | GIG | SBGL - is Rio de Janeiro's major international airport.
• SAINT PETERSBURG Pulkovo Airport | LED | ULLI - international airport serving St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport | PVG | ZSPD - a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the East Asian region, and is the primary international airport serving Shanghai of the People's Republic of China.
• 
• Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport | SZX | ZGSZ - located near Huangtian and Fuyong villages in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. The airport also serves as an Asian-Pacific cargo hub for UPS Airlines. The airport is undergoing major expansion with a new terminal under construction. A second runway was also recently completed. It is one of the three largest airport hubs serving southern China, alongside Hong Kong International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The airport also has direct ferry routes to Hong Kong International Airport, where passengers can transit without going through immigration and custom checks, akin to transit between two flights. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport Terminal 3 is set to be the first airport terminal certified to the National Green Building Star Label in China.
• Singapore Changi Airport | SIN | WSSS - a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the Southeast Asian region, and is the main airport in Singapore.
• Sydney Airport | SYD | YSSY - the busiest airport in Australia.
• TEMPELHOF AIRPORT BERLIN - sightseeing.
• Tokyo International Airport | HND | RJTT - one of the two primary airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. It is commonly known as Haneda Airport. Handles almost all domestic flights to and from Tokyo.
• Venice Marco Polo Airport | VCE | LIPZ - airport located on the Italian mainland north of Venice, Italy, in Tessera, a frazione of the commune of Venice nearest to Mestre.
• ZÜrich Airport | ZRH | LSZH - Switzerland's largest international flight gateway.

Airshows

• 
• AIR SHOW - Wikipedia.
• List of air shows - Wikipedia.
• ALBERTA INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW - hosted by Lethbridge County Airport. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
• BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW - in association with Farnborough International.
• Bournemouth Air Festival - since 2008. Europe's largest free annual airshow held on the Bournemouth seafront. It takes place over the course of four days each August and attracted around 1,300,000 spectators last year.
• DUBAI AIRSHOW - biennial show since 1989. International Aerospace exhibition. The fastest growing air show in the world's fastest growing region.
• FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW - one of the world's most iconic global aviation events held biennially in Hampshire, England. Week-long event that combines a major trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries with a public airshow. The event is held in mid-July in even-numbered years at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, England. The first five days (Monday to Friday) are dedicated exclusively to trade, with the final two days open to the public.
• ILA Berlin Air Show - since 1909. Combines a major trade exhibition for the aerospace and defence industries with a public airshow. It is held every even year at the new Berlin ExpoCenter Airport near Schönefeld, Brandenburg 18 km southeast of Berlin, Germany.
• International Airshow Air14 Payenne - took place at Payerne AFB military airfield of the Swiss Air Force north of Payerne in Switzerland, located approximately halfway between Lausanne and Bern, on August 30 to September 7, 2014.
• MAKS - since 1992. "International Aviation and Space Show") is an International Air Show held near Moscow, Russia on Zhukovskiy LII air field. MAKS is an important event in Russian business. Although it started mainly as an entertainment event, the show soon became a marketplace where Russian airplane manufacturers could find export contracts and Russian air carriers could find foreign contacts. The whole event became important through CIS and neighboring countries, due to similarities of the market.
• PARIS AIR SHOW - Salon international de l'aéronautique et de l'espace, Paris-Le Bourget. Established in 1909. The world's oldest and largest air show. Since 1953 held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France.
• RAF Waddington - Wikipedia.
• Royal International Air Tattoo - the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July, usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust. The show typically attracts a total of 150,000 to 160,000 spectators over the weekend.
• SINGAPORE AIRSHOW - "Asia's Largest Aerospace & Defence Event."

Commercial Airlines

• 
• 3 Airfare Hacks for the Committed Penny-Pincher - The New York Times.
• 5 reasons why you should fly with the world's 'worst' airline - The Telegraph.
• 
• 6 of the Best First & Business Class Amenity Kits - Flight Centre.
• 10 best airlines you've never heard of - The Telegraph.
• 10 MOST DANGEROUS AIRLINES - AskMen.com.
• 10 things you never knew about being an air hostess - The Telegraph.
• 10 Ways to Be a Greener Traveler, Even if You Love to Fly - The New York Times.
• 10 ways to boost chances of surviving a plane crash - CNN travel.
• 16 ways to feel like you’re in first class - when you’re actually flying economy - The Telegraph.
• 17 biggest secrets of air travel - The Telegraph.
• 2014 World Airline Awards - Skytrax.
• 2015 was the safest year in aviation history - The Telegraph.
• 2015 World's Safest Airlines - Airline Ratings.
• 2016 set to be the safest year in aviation history - The Telegraph.
• AIR TRAVEL OUTLOOK FOR 2016 - "Mining 2015 data to understand when to buy, expected ticket prices, and fare differentials."
• AIRFAREWATCHDOG - since 2009. "Cheap Flights, Airline Tickets & Deals." Airfare deals & money-saving tips from our airfare experts. Get Lowest Fares and Top Hotel Picks.
• AirHelp - "Get your money back." If you've been on a delayed or cancelled flight or been denied boarding within the last three years you could be entitled up to US$800 from the airline.
• AIRLINE - Wikipedia.
• AIRLINE RANKING & RATING
• AIRLINE REVIEWS
• AIRLINE SEAT PITCH GUIDE
• AIRLINERS.NET - "The Best Airplane Information, Aviation Photos and News."
• AIRLINES of the WORLD (1)
• AIRLINES of the WORLD (2)
• Airlines could soon shrink the size of luggage you’re allowed to carry on - The Washington Post.
• Airlines to Address Carry-On Bag Dilemma - IATA.
• AIRPORT RANKING - Skytrax.
• AIRPORT REVIEWS - Skytrax.
• AMERICAN WAY - since 1966. Free, inflight magazine available across the entire American Airlines fleet and Admirals Clubs premium lounges.
• Are flights really cheaper on Friday the 13th? - The Telegraph.
• Are these the world's best budget airlines? - The Telegraph.
• ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN AIRLINES | AEA
• best (and worst) in-flight meals, by the man who’s eaten them all - The Telegraph.
• Boarding Area - "Required reading for frequent flyers." The blogs you will find on BoardingArea are the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the cat’s meow… you get the idea. Each blog in the BoardingArea network has been hand selected by our team for its quality of content, its timeliness and, last but not least, for its entertainment value.
• Boeing's self-cleaning lavatory is a germophobe's dream - The Verge.
• Boom's supersonic jets will pick up where the Concorde left off - engadget.
• British Airways could serve passengers 'digital pill' to monitor in-flight happiness - The Telegraph.
• Commercial aviation - Wikipedia.
• confessions of an air hostess - The Telegraph.
• DANGEROUS AIRLINES - on the EU black list.
• emergency codes you're not supposed to know about - The Telegraph.
• Emirates Spends 500 Million Dollars On Wine Program - One Mile at a Time.
• Etihad rolls out bed-and-bath airline suites - USA Today.
• EXPEDIA TRAVEL - airline tickets, hotels, car rental, airfares & vacations.
• FaceCradle Travel Pillow - Upgrade to Sleeping Class! - Kickstarter.
• FLIGHT ATTENDANT BLOG - The Flying Pinto. "As a Flight Attendant for a major U.S. Airline with over twenty years experience in the travel industry, I am here to offer advice on making your travels through the friendly skies..... well, more friendly! I will share my experiences with you and offer you a glimpse behind the galley curtain."
• FLIGHT ATTENDANT CONFESSIONS - YouTube 6:29.
• FLIGHT AWARE - free flight tracker, IFR flight status, flight planning.
• FLIGHT STATS - "Global Flight Tracker, Status Tracking and Airport Information."
• FREQUENT FLYER BONUSES - guide to the most frequent flyer guest bonus offers.
• HOTWIRE.COM - discount airfare, hotel reservations, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises.
• How to Fight Jet Lag (Naps Are Good) - The New York Times.
• How to Protect Yourself From Sexual Assault on Plane - The New York Times.
• IATA | INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION - IATA is an international trade body, created over 60 years ago by a group of airlines. Today, IATA represents some 230 airlines comprising 93/ of scheduled international air traffic.
• In pictures: The golden age of plane food - The Telegraph.
• Italy reveals its new national airline - "They've long dominated the food and fashion worlds, this year they've dominated sports, and now they're aiming for the skies."
• Kicked Off a Plane? Here’s How to Handle It - The New York Times.
• 
• Le Noeud Papillon - since 2007. Silk eye shades.
• LIST OF AIR CARRIERS OF WHICH ALL OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A BAN WITHIN THE EU - European Union.
• LIST OF AIRLINES - Wikipedia.
• Mapped: The world's most frequent fliers - The Telegraph.
• MILEAGE CALCULATOR - find the air mile distance between two locations using this air mileage calculator.
• MILEHAVEN.COM - the leading provider of route-based frequent flyer promotions. The MileMaven.com database contains more than 300 airlines and frequent flyer programs, hundreds of offers, and millions of route combinations.
• MONKEY CLASS - definition & explanation.
• new Concorde? NASA approves plans for quieter supersonic passenger jets - The Telegraph.
• NO FLY LIST - list, created and maintained by the United States government's Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), of people who are not permitted to board a commercial aircraft for travel in or out of the United States.
• Oh No! My Boarding Pass Has the Dreaded SSSS! - Frugal Travel Guy.
• PASSENGER SHAMING - "Are these assholes serious? Photos taken by anonymous flight attendants & passengers from all over the world. Don't end up here."
• Passenger Shaming humiliates inconsiderate travellers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - The Independent.
• Revealed: The cheapest airlines per mile (and Ryanair's not where you'd think) - The Telegraph.
• SEATGURU.COM - "The ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities, and airline information. More than 700 airplane seatmaps from nearly 100 different airlines."
• SEATPLANS.COM - "Honest, Independent advice." Wherever you are flying, SeatPlans.com helps you find the best seat for your journey.
• Skyscanner - passenger flight search engine that allows users to browse for flights via price and location. Additional tools such as fare graphs, allow users to compare flight prices of any given route over a month period, or the price of weekend flights from any given city.
• SKYTRAX - the world's largest airline and airport review site - over 625 airlines and 660 airports. Passenger trip reports, flight reviews, airline seat and lounge reviews. Check airline standards in the Official Airline Star Ranking guide.
• 
• Soarigami armrest divider - end to armrest wars? The Soarigami divider aims to end all in-flight armrest battles on planes by creating space for two elbows.
• STAR ALLIANCE - the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach with 17,000 daily flights to 916 destinations in 160 countries.
• The aircraft interiors of the future - The Telegraph.
• THE MOST DELAYED AIRPORTS - Forbes Magazine.
• The most heroic airline pilots of all time - The Telegraph.
• The real reason you're told you put your mobile in flight mode - The Telegraph.
• The secret to finding cheap flights - The Telegraph.
• The secret to picking the perfect plane seat - The Telegraph.
• The world's scariest in-flight announcements - The Telegraph.
• This is all you need to do to get an upgrade on a plane - Mirror Online.
• This woman has been dubbed the most irritating airline passenger in the world - Independent.
• TRAVEL RISK MAP 2016 - Global health & travel security risks review.
• Travel Sentry - "The Global Standard for Travel Security." Company that develops and licenses standards used in travel security, including a standard for luggage locks that can be opened by aviation security agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration.
• 
• TSA accepted locks - in the United States the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires access to luggage without the passenger being present; to allow travelers to lock their luggage they have accepted certain locks which they can open and relock. The TSA recommend that TSA accepted locks be used, as luggage locked using other methods must be opened by force in order to be inspected.
• ULTIMATE AVIATION LINKS
• Up in the Air: Meet the Man Who Flies Around the World for Free - Rolling Stone.
• WEBFLYER - the frequent flyer authority.
• What happens when you don't put your phone on airplane mode on an airplane? - Quora.
• What’s in a Boarding Pass Barcode? A Lot - Krebs on Security.
• What's the best way to sleep on a plane? - The Telegraph.
• Which airline slogans do you know? - The Telegraph.
• Why airline seats have to go up ahead of take-off & landing - The Independent.
• Why Business Class Poses a Unique Fire Hazard - The New York Times.
• Why Do All Airplane Windows Have A Tiny Hole In Them? - IFLScience.
• Why do planes still have ashtrays? - The Telegraph.
• Why you should ALWAYS throw away your luggage tags once you’ve used them - Express.
• WORLD AIRLINE AWARDS - "The world's most respected airline rewards."
• World's best airlines for 2018 - CNN travel.
• World's busiest passenger air routes - Wikipedia.
• AIR ASIA - world's best low-cost airline.
• AIR BERLIN - low-cost airline.
• Air France - USA Official site. International flights.
• AIR JAMAICA - discounted flights to Jamaica, Caribbean, USA, Canada and London.
• AIR MAURITIUS - leisure airline.
• AIR NEW ZEALAND - offers world's first economy class bed-seat: "Skycouch".
• AIR SUNSHINE - the only direct connection to Guantánimo.
• AMERICAN AIRLINES - world's largest airline in passenger miles transported and passenger fleet size.
• ASIANA AIRLINES - voted 2010 Airline of the Year by Skytrax.
• BRITISH AIRWAYS - the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations.
• CATHAY PACIFIC
• CONTINENTAL AIRLINES
• DELTA AIR LINES - the world's largest commercial carrier.
• EASYJET - low-cost airline.
• EMIRATES - "Hello Tomorrow." The national airline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Super First Class cabins available.
• ETIHAD AIRWAYS - the flag carrier airline of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Super First Class cabins available.
• ICELANDAIR
• JAL | JAPAN AIRLINES - the flag carrier of Japan.
• JET AIRWAYS - "India's finest international airline."
• JETSTAR AIRWAYS - low-cost airline.
• KINGFISHER AIRLINES
• L'AVION
• LAN AIRLINES
• LUFTHANSA
• MALAYSIA AIRLINES
• MEXICANA AIRLINES
• PAN AM - (1927-1991).
• PET AIRWAYS - a pet-only airline dedicated to pet-friendly travel.
• QANTAS AIRWAYS
• QATAR AIRWAYS - named the World's Best Airline in 2012 at the World Airline Awards held at Farnborough Air Show.
• RYANAIR - low-cost airline.
• Scandinavian Airlines | SAS - since 1946. The flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and the largest airline in Scandinavia.
• SINGAPORE AIRLINES - Super First Class cabins available.
• SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS
• SWISS - flying to 90 destinations around the world.
• Swissair - since 1931. Switzerland's former national airline ceased operations in 2002. SWISS from 2002 onwards.
• THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL
• TAM - Brazil's flag carrier. The Southern Hemisphere's busiest airline (in terms of passengers enplaned and flights operated).
• TWA - (1925-2001).
• UNITED AIRLINES
• VIRGIN ATLANTIC - since 1984.
• VIRGIN BLUE - low-cost airline.

First Class Cabins & Suites

• Airbus’ New Jet Concept Features Swappable Spas & Cafes - Wired.
• Amazing first-class air cabins - CNN.
• British Airways B747: Club World business-class review - The Telegraph.
• best airlines for 1st class, biz class & economy cabins - The Telegraph.
• First class (aviation) - Wikipedia.
• First Class and Business Class Awards to Europe with Frequent Flyer Miles - TravelSort.
• Game of Thrones - "How airlines woo the one per cent."
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• Le Noeud Papillon - since 2007. Silk eye shades.
• Most Expensive Luxury Airline Suites - The Most Expensive Journal.
• Naomi Campbell's amazing airplane ritual - "'Clean anything that you could possibly touch,' she says, before wiping down every inch of her seat, seat belt, tray table, TV screen, remote control and window. Even the overhead controls get a thorough clean."
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• Plemo Upgraded Sleep Mask - "100% Pure Silk Eye Cover with Reusable Ice Pack for Hot & Cold Therapy, Comfortable & Super Soft Eye Mask With Adjustable Strap."
• Singapore Airlines - "New Business Class." When you’re travelling for business, everything must go as planned. Like the meal you reserved with Book the Cook, and the uninterrupted sleep you’re looking forward to on your fully-flat bed. So you’re wide awake, refreshed and ready for business as soon as you land.
• Singapore Airlines just unveiled new suites for its Airbus A380 - CNBC.
• Singapore Airlines Suites - "How close is too close? You’ll never have to know."
• The aircraft interiors of the future - The Telegraph.
• The best airline first-class lounges - The Telegraph.
• The Most Luxurious First Class Cabins - Condé Nast Traveler.
• Top 10 First Class Seats 2016 - since 1989. Skytrax.
• Worlds Best Airlines in First Class 2019 - "Singapore Airlines is named as the world's best first class airline by customers for a second year, as their First Class Suites score a success with travelers."
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• World’s Best First Class 2019 - "Whether you’re flying on the Emirates A380 or our game-changing Boeing 777, you’ll experience the World’s Best First Class 2019. Discover why our customers voted for us in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards."
• 'Zero gravity' and private suites: Emirates' new Boeing 777 first-class cabin revealed - The Telegraph.
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• Air France La PremiÈre Suite - "A personal space tailored to your needs."
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• American Airlines Flagship Suites - on Boeing 777-300ER. "The only true First class experience."
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• British Airways First Suite - "Haven of style and comfort." First is our most luxurious way to experience flight. From your own stylish suite, to exclusive access to spa treatments, fast-track security, and excellent service, it’s the finest way to travel.
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• Emirates Airbus A380 - "From Private Suites and Shower Spas in First Class, to flat-bed seats in Business Class, to extra room and custom lighting in Economy Class and inflight Wi-Fi throughout the A380."
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• Emirates' Boeing 777 first-class cabin - "Emirates has unveiled completely refreshed interiors for its Boeing 777 aircraft, including its highly anticipated new First Class private suites. With floor to ceiling sliding doors and sleek design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Emirates’ new suites takes luxury and privacy to the next level. Offering up to 40 square feet of personal space each, these spacious, fully-enclosed private suites are laid out in a 1-1-1 configuration."
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• Etihad Airways "The Residence" - onboard the A380. "The world’s most luxurious living space in the air." Our pioneering spirit and traditions of hospitality, drawn from our home Abu Dhabi, have been harnessed to create contemporary living spaces in the air, and provide all guests with unparalleled comfort and service with your own living room, bathroom & bedroom. Designed for up to two guests travelling together, it has been created by leading interior designers and hospitality experts who understand the discernment and sophistication expected by the private traveller. The Residence is a haven of tranquility, reflecting an exclusive lifestyle that offers the ultimate in high-end luxury.
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• Lufthansa First Class - "As individual as you could wish for." It’s often the details and the little things that can turn a moment into something really special. Being greeted by a personal assistant at your destination airport, culinary highlights above the clouds or the personal space on board: moments that linger in the memory. In Lufthansa First Class, we shape your travel experience with great attention to detail and with your personal wishes in mind. Enjoy excellent comfort and service and experience your very own special moments in Lufthansa First Class.
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• Singapore Airlines New Suites - on board the A380 aircraft 2017.
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• Singapore Airlines Suites - "A world of your own." Exclusively on board the A380 aircraft, provide the distinguished few with their very own haven of tranquility.
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• Swiss First - "Your home above the clouds." As a First Class passenger, you will enjoy the highest possible level of comfort. Take off relaxed, travel in comfort and land feeling refreshed. And only when you feel completely satisfied will we have done our job.
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• Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite - "Je ne sais quoi. Defined." Experience the next level of luxurious travel. Whether you're with us for business or pleasure, travelling in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class makes your journey something to look forward to.

Space Travel

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• A beginner's guide to space tourism - "What to expect when you're expecting to go into orbit."
• Affordable space tourism 'in 10 years', predicts NASA astronaut - The Telegraph.
• Astronaut - Wikipedia.
• Astronaut Requirements - NASA.
• Blue Origin says when it will sell tickets to space, may challenge SpaceX - Business Insider.
• Champagne in space: High-tech bottle gets test flight - "Future space tourists may be sipping champagne in orbit if a uniquely designed twin-chambered bottle with 'egg cup' glasses proves a success."
• How to watch space launches as they happen - "Track the future."
• Jeff Bezos unveils Moon lander concept - "Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos has unveiled a mock-up of a new lunar lander spacecraft that aims to take equipment and humans to the Moon by 2024."
• List of private spaceflight companies - Wikipedia.
• List of Space Tourism (Personal Spaceflight) Companies - Ranker.
• MOJAVE AIR AND SPACE PORT | IATA: MHV | ICAO: KMHV - also known as the Civilian Aerospace Test Center. Located in Mojave, California, at an elevation of 2,791 feet (851 m). It is the first facility to be licensed in the United States for horizontal launches of reusable spacecraft, being certified as a spaceport by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 17, 2004.
• Paul Allen's Stratolaunch is reportedly shutting down - "The space company might sell its assets and IPs, Reuters says."
• Richard Branson eyes Apollo 11 anniversary for his first trip to space - "Richard Branson said his birthday this summer coincides with the anniversary on July 20. The plan at Virgin Galactic is to carry six passengers at a time into space for four minutes of weightlessness. The price tag right now is about $250,000."
• Richard Branson plans to visit space in 'months' - engadget.
• Richard Branson steps up his astronaut training as first space flight is 'just months away' - The Telegraph.
• Richard Branson unveils new Virgin Galactic passenger spaceship - The Telegraph.
• SPACE TOURISM - Wikipedia.
• Space tourism is coming. These are the companies that are making it happen - Verdict.
• SpaceX may finally land one of its rockets on the California coast later this year - The Verge.
• Stephen Hawking urged us to leave our planet - here are 11 ways to do so - The Telegraph.
• STRATOLAUNCH, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AIRPLANE, TAKES FLIGHT - "Airplane with world's longest wingspan take flight, beating Spruce Goose record. Stratolaunch jet, brainchild of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, may be used to launch small satellites into space."
• The Rich Are Planning to Leave This Wretched Planet - The New York Times.
• The ultimate getaway: a complete guide to space tourism - "What are your options for getting into orbit?"
• Top 10 Space Travel Companies to Watch in 2017 - DisruptorDaily.
• Virgin Galactic completes first powered test flight since 2014 crash - engadget.
• Virgin Galactic is going public to fund its expensive tourist spaceflights - "It'll keep the company running until commercial launches begin."
• Virgin Galactic launches SpaceShipTwo to the edge of space - "Spacecraft launched on Thursday in test mission became first commercial US flight beyond the atmosphere since 2011."
• Virgin Galactic plans to launch customers to space from a future Italian spaceport - The Verge.
• Virgin Galactic poised to start its new spaceship's test flights - engadget.
• Virgin Galactic spaceplane reaches space with first passenger on board - "Astronaut trainer Beth Moses tagged along for the ride."
• Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completes second glide flight - engadget.
• VIRGIN ORBIT JUST DROPPED A ROCKET FROM A BOEING 747 - Wired.
• VIRGIN ORBIT’S PLAN TO LAUNCH SATELLITES FROM A JUMBO JET - "What it takes to fly Virgin Orbit’s huge plane that launches rockets into space."
• We once marvelled at Neil Armstrong. Now space is a playground for the rich - "Nasa’s greatest feats were a triumph for mankind. History will be less kind to today’s space pioneers."
• Arca - founded in 1999. Aerospace company based in Las Cruces, New Mexico that builds space rockets and other manned and unmanned aircraft intended for space exploration. It was founded in 1999 as a non-governmental organization in Romania by Dumitru Popescu and other rocket and aeronautics enthusiasts. Since then ARCA launched two stratospheric rockets, four large scale stratospheric balloons including a cluster balloon and was awarded two governmental contracts with the Romanian Government and one contract with the European Space Agency. ARCA Aerospace is currently developing a single stage to orbit rocket designed to be cost effective rather than re-usable.
• Bigelow Aerospace - founded in 1999. American space technology startup company, based in North Las Vegas, Nevada that is pioneering work on expandable space station modules. Bigelow Aerospace was founded by Robert Bigelow and is funded in large part by the fortune Bigelow gained through his ownership of the hotel chain Budget Suites of America. "For countries, companies, or even visiting individuals that wish to utilize SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon capsule, Bigelow Aerospace will be able to transport an astronaut to the Alpha Station for only US$26.25 million. Using Boeing's CST-100 capsule and the Atlas V rocket, astronauts can be launched to the Alpha Station for US$36.75 million per seat. In stark contrast to the short stays of a week or so aboard the ISS that we have seen wealthy individuals pay as much as US$40 million for, astronauts visiting the Bigelow station will enjoy 10 - 60 days in orbit."
• BLOON - founded in 2009. "The Near Space experience of a Lifetime." In the bloon you will enjoy a totally new way of being one with your home planet. Imagine your most graceful and pleasant journey. Imagine you are flying near space through the ozone layer and beyond till the edge of our atmosphere, bluish and thin - a delicate protection from the harshness of the Cosmos, but all caring for it. The most amazing views of our planet in her true glory from the edge of our world. You can already book your flight! The ticket price is €110,000.
• Blue Origin - founded in 2000. Privately funded aerospace company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. "Reliable, cost-effective human access to space. We're working to lower the cost of spaceflight so that many people can afford to go and so that we humans can better continue exploring the solar system. Accomplishing this mission will take time, and we're working on it methodically."
• Excalibur Almaz - founded in 2005. Private spaceflight company which plans to provide a variety of deep space crewed exploration missions, micro-gravity science, payload delivery and tourism.
• Galactic Suite Design - founded in 2007. Barcelona based company, which creates oportunities around technology and people to promote a private access to Space. Founded in 2007 by Xavier Claramunt, the company creates and promotes cutting-edge concepts to foster alliances and help creating relationships among companies and research centres. Planned private space station intended for use as an orbital hotel. Packages start at £2.8m per person.
• SPACE ADVENTURES - founded in 1998. "Fly Around the Moon. " The only company in the world to have arranged for private citizens to fly to space. The world’s premier private space exploration company and the only company currently providing opportunities for actual private spaceflight and space tourism today.
• SPACE X - founded in 2002 by former PayPal entrepreneur and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk. Space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. Founded with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. It has developed the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 launch vehicles, both of which were designed from conception to eventually become reusable. SpaceX also developed the Dragon spacecraft, which are flown into orbit by the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, initially transporting cargo and later planned to carry humans to the International Space Station and other destinations.
• Starchaser Industries - founded in 1992. Privately owned company based in the UK whose principal aim is to become a viable business in space tourism.
• STRATOLUNCH SYSTEMS - founded in 2011 by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is developing an air-launch platform to make access to space more convenient, reliable, and routine. We believe that normalizing access to low Earth orbit (LEO) has the potential to redefine our lives by creating more opportunities for commercial, philanthropic and governmental organizations to collect rich and actionable data and drive advancements in science, research, and technology from space.
• VIRGIN GALACTIC - founded in 2004. Spaceflight company within the Virgin Group / Richard Branson. On Monday 7th December, 2009 Virgin Galactic unveiled SpaceShipTwo to the world at Mojave Spaceport, California, U.S.A. "This is your first step to becoming an astronaut! All seats to fly to space are US$250,000 and deposits are refundable. The sooner your reservation is made, the sooner you will be traveling to space! The full payment is due at time of booking and will guarantee the earliest available seat. You will be joining our community of over 600 future astronauts which has become one of the most exclusive clubs in the world! Once confirmed, you're given priority access to a variety of Virgin Galactic events. Our future astronauts have visited Necker Island with Sir Richard Branson, completed G-force training, celebrated milestone powered test flights in the Mojave Desert and much more."
• ZERO G | Zero Gravity Corporation - founded in 1993. "The weightless experience." Float like an Astronaut and fly like a superhero in weightlessness. A ZERO-G Experience is the only one of its kind. US$4,950 + 5% tax: Weightless flight to include 15 parabolic maneuvers creating 20-30 seconds of weightlessness each. Includes ZERO-G merchandise, pre and post flight catering, professional photos of ZERO-G Experience®, video of weightless experience and certificate of weightless completion.