Len Varley

In a move that raised eyebrows, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, visited Boeing's facilities in San Antonio, Texas, in December 2024. The purpose of his visit was reportedly to review the progress of the new Air Force One aircraft. The newly formed 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE) saw the appointment of Musk to assess government wastage and inefficiencies. The new Air Force One aircraft is currently under development by Boeing, and is now three years behind original schedule. Boeing has overrun the budget for the new aircraft by approximately $2.7 billion dollars. Air Force One Project: A History of Delays and Budget Overruns Delays and budget overruns have plagued the new Air Force One project. The project, originally scheduled for completion in 2024, now faces a completion date of 2027. It now has a projected cost of $5.3 billion, a significant increase from the initial estimate of $3.9 billion.…

Spirit Airlines, known for its budget-friendly fares and no-frills approach, has recently updated its dress code policy, sparking debate among travelers and industry observers.

An easyJet flight operating from London to Malaga, Spain diverted to Madrid after reporting smoke in the cabin on 23 January 2025. EasyJet flight U28069, operated by an Airbus A320-200, was en route from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP). easyJet U28069 London-Malaga The aircraft was in cruising flight, passing to the north-west of Madrid, when flight crew reported the presence of smoke in the cabin. An emergency was declared with squawk code 7700 and a diversion was conducted to Madrid. The flight was able to land without further incident on runway 32L Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD). [xyz-ips snippet=

A Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound for Marseille made a precautionary return to Bucharest after reporting smoke in the cockpit shortly after departure on 24 January 2025.

A British Airways Boeing 787-10 inbound from Lagos, Nigeria has declared a emergency approaching London.

Emirates will restart services to Beirut, Lebanon from 1 February 2025 with a daily flight. The airline will also reinstate daily services to Baghdad in Iraq on the same day.

Lufthansa is set to launch its first Airbus A380 service to Denver, Colorado, starting 30 April 2025. The world's largest passenger aircraft will connect Munich with the Rocky Mountain city, marking Denver as the sixth A380 destination in Lufthansa's network. Airbus A380 in Denver, Colorado Lufthansa will deploy its largest passenger aircraft on a direct route connecting Munich with the vibrant Rocky Mountain city. This will mark Denver as the carrier’s sixth A380 destination. The planned daily flight schedule offers convenient travel times: Outbound Flight LH480: Departing Munich at 11:15am, arriving in Denver at 1:45pm local time Return Flight: Departing Denver at 4:15pm, landing in Munich at 10:50am the following day Heiko Reitz, Lufthansa Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer, gave comment on the newly announced route.

Norse Atlantic Airways has expanded its transatlantic network with a new non-stop route linking Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Athens International Airport (ATH). The new service reinforces the airline's commitment to the North American air travel market, and further boosts its current Los Angeles connections. Route Inauguration in June Set to launch on 3 June 2025, the new route will operate four times weekly using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Travelers can secure tickets starting at an attractive $269 or 259 EUR, with fare options available across economy and premium cabin classes. This makes international travel more accessible to a broader range of passengers. [xyz-ips snippet=

Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK) concluded 2024 with record revenues of $11.7 billion and a strong GAAP pretax margin of 4.6%. Despite the challenges posed by the Hawaiian Airlines acquisition and fleet grounding earlier in the year, the company anticipates an adjusted full-year pre-tax margin of 7.1%. Alaska Air Group: 2024 Performance The company achieved record revenues of $11.7 billion, driven by strong demand across both its Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines brands. Despite the challenges of integrating Hawaiian Airlines and navigating operational hurdles earlier in the year, Alaska Air Group expects to deliver an adjusted full-year pretax margin of 7.1%. This figure anticipated to be among the highest within the industry. [xyz-ips snippet=

A United Airlines flight en route from Lagos to Washington, D.C. was forced to make an emergency return to Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 24 January 2025, following a “technical issue.”