For over a decade, I’ve been keeping note of which airlines go out of business each year. Do you recognise any of these? Air BelgiumBelgium. Founded: 2016. Commenced: 2018. Passenger operations ceased: 2024 (bankruptcy). Passenger flying had already stopped following the 2024 insolvency. After that, it was limited to wet‑lease and cargo work. In 2025, it finally vanished. Aerolínea Lanhsa Honduras. Founded: 2009. Commenced: 2010. Ceased: 7 April 2025. Aimed to connect the Hondouran capital, Tegucigalpa, with coastal and island destinations such as Roatán and La Ceiba using three turboprops. On 17 March 2025, Flight…
Airline News (Friday)
Category Archives for Airline News (Friday).
Very Frequent Flying: My best and worst of 2025
One hundred and one flights in 2025, bringing me to 1782 lifetime flights. Flew to or from twenty-seven countries. Five continents. From the midnight sun grazing Helsinki’s summer sky to the crisp air of Hobart’s harbour, 2025 took me 213,054 kilometres (132,386 miles) around our planet. Roughly five times over. My lifetime total? 102 full circumnavigations of the earth. The only continent I missed in 2025? Antarctica. Next time, penguins. Next time! This year earned a 93% of flights I was happy with. This is my highest score since 2001. Not because I’ve gone soft…
Air Japan exits after Just Three Short Years
I am heading to Japan from Bangkok in December, and I always like to keep my options open for flying. ANA Group’s subsidiary, Air Japan (NOT JAL Japan Airlines), has been strongly marketing itself as a key carrier at Bangkok Airport, operating several times a week from Bangkok to Narita International Airport. However, this consideration of Air Japan was tempered by the very recent news that ANA has announced Air Japan will cease all flight operations after March 2026. The original plan for Air Japan, launched in 2022, was to rapidly expand its fleet and…
Seconds After Takeoff – Air India Crash, the First 787 Disaster
I am shocked and dismayed to hear news that Air India AI 171, operating from #Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), was involved in an accident after take-off on Thursday, 12 June 2025. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs (local time) with 242 passengers and crew on board. The passengers included 217 adults, 11 children and two infants. There were 169 Indian nationals, 53 #British nationals, 7 #Portuguese nationals, and 1 Canadian national. Air India flight AI 171 broadcast its last signal at 13:38 51 local time, at an altitude of just…
Skyward No More: The Airlines We Lost in 2024
Each year, I reflect on the airlines we lost over the past 12 months. While I much prefer writing about thriving airlines, examining closures offers insight into the industry’s harsh realities. Most airlines that ceased operations in the past year were small-scale ventures. Some, like ČSA Czech Airlines, LIAT, and Air Malta, carried historic names and legacies, while others were new players with big ambitions. Several carriers sought to disrupt markets or introduce unique business models. For instance, HumoAir dreamed of connecting 60 destinations within a year, and Bonza promised affordable airfares tailored to Australians.…
Two weeks in the Air: My Best and Worst Airlines of 2024
Last year, I spent almost two weeks of the 366 days in the air with 29 different airlines. My 99 flights covered 124,000 miles (ca. 200,000 km), taking me to 65 airports across 28 countries. Some trips were memorable for their exceptional service that was so good, I (almost) didn’t want to get off the plane. Others highlighted air travel “challenges”. In my life, I have now logged 3.8 million kilometres in the air (2.4 million miles) with 128 airlines. As I have logged everything, including a rating of every airline, flight, and aircraft I…
Goodbye Rex, the latest Fall of a Notable Australian Airlines- here’s the Aussie failure list!
Regional Express Airlines (REX) is now insolvent and has entered voluntary administration after a disastrous attempt to compete with Qantas and Virgin Australia. If you are a ticket holder on their intercity routes, you are best advised to contact Virgin Australia (13 6789), who are accommodating REX passengers. It is possible that Virgin might end up taking over REX completely, absorbing their regional flights, or entering into a close partnership. It is rare for an airline to succeed anywhere in the world, and especially so in Australia. It is sobering to think that almost every…
Stranded? What To Do When Your Airline Collapses
Question: “How do you create a small airline?” Answer: “Buy a big one and wait for a couple of years.” Boom boom! The airline industry is very volatile, as many thousands find out every year. I have flown 125 airlines since 1968. Of those, 41 do not exist anymore. Names such as Air Berlin, Alitalia, Ansett, Malev, and Pan Am no longer grace the skies. This year: Last year, we saw the demise of Aeromar, Air Moldova, Flybe, Flyr, Go First, MYAirways, Niceair, and Viva (full list and background information at link). If you or…
Maximising Qantas Double Status Credit deal to my Benefit
Being an Aussie based flyer, almost one-third of my 1585 flights have been with the Australian carrier, Qantas. In addition I have flown every current and past One World carrier! This volume of flights means that I have achieved Qantas Gold for Life status (equivalent to One World Sapphire) in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. I have also been Qantas Platinum (One World Emerald) for nine of the last ten years (I slipped one year). This status earns me a level of One World Priority benefits, which includes priority check-in, airport lounge access, priority boarding,…
A Rank of the Qantas Safety Videos Over the Years
With Qantas dropping a new safety video, I have had a nostalgic journey over some of the previous videos from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 and have ranked them below. And where do I rate this year’s safety video? Sorry Qantas. It slides into fourth place. My Ratings of Qantas Previous Videos Ranking Year Theme 1st 2018 Meet the Aussies sharing the spirit of Australia in stunning Australian locales 2nd 2020 Centenary Safety Video 3rd 2016 Showcasing Australia as an amazing place to visit 4th 2024 Fave places around the World 5th 2017 16 locations…
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