BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet on virus travel slump

[Anti Federalist]

BA retires entire Boeing 747 fleet on virus travel slump

https://www.breitbart.com/news/briti...-travel-slump/

AFP 17 Jul 2020

London (AFP) – British Airways on Friday retired its Boeing 747 jumbo jets, hastening s withdrawal of the ageing plane after the coronavirus pandemic crushed demand for air travel and carriers began switching to greener jets.

BA parent group IAG, which was already phasing out the iconic aircraft by 2024, said in a statement that the entire fleet had been retired “with immediate effect” owing to “the downturn in travel caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic”.

The airline will operate more flights on modern fuel-efficient aircraft such as Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, as it seeks to both slash costs and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The carrier has 31 Boeing jumbos, more than any other airline, while the dwindling number of airlines continuing to fly the 747 include Air India, Korean Air and Lufthansa.

In Australia meanwhile, Qantas on Friday carried out a farewell flight for its last remaining 747.
‘Heart-breaking decision’

“This is not how we wanted or expected to have to say goodbye to our incredible fleet of 747 aircraft. It is a heart-breaking decision to have to make,” said BA Chief Executive Alex Cruz.

“We have committed to making our fleet more environmentally friendly as we look to reduce the size of our business to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation. As painful as it is, this is the most logical thing for us to propose.”

US aerospace titan Boeing launched the 747 in 1970, with the 400-seater jet dominating international air travel and cargo over the following decades.

“It’s the end of an era for the queen of the skies,” independent aviation analyst John Strickland told AFP on Friday.

Production of the A380 superjumbo ceases next year — a decision taken by European planemaker Airbus before the pandemic struck.

“The virus certainly expedited” BA’s retirement of the 747, Strickland said, noting that the airline had already decommissioned almost half of its fleet that once stood at 57 aircraft.

But COVID-19 hastened BA’s latest move, with the virus battering the air transport sector and decimating demand, sparking bailouts and tens of thousands of job cuts at airlines.

COVID-19 has killed nearly 600,000 people, according to an AFP tally.

The United States is the worst-hit country with 138,360 deaths.

“The global air market is… in tatters, not least the US market,” Strickland said.

British Airways is shedding 12,000 staff, while Boeing has confirmed 16,000 layoffs.

American Airlines has announced 45,000 job losses and Lufthansa — which received a nine-billion-euro state bailout — has removed 22,000 posts.
‘Key to adapting’

The pandemic is pushing the aviation sector to more quickly embrace modern fuel-efficient aircraft which help carriers save precious cash and survive, according to London-based aviation analyst Alex Macheras.

“Airlines concluded just weeks into the pandemic that larger and inefficient aircraft would hinder any efforts to break even,” Macheras told AFP.

He said older aircraft had “too many empty seats to fill and too much fuel required, or in some cases like the 747 — both”.

Macheras added: “Newer, lighter, smaller, and more economically and environmentally efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A350 are key to airlines adapting to fit the ‘new normal’ — and we are seeing these replacement decisions taking place at airlines around the world.”

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

[Danke]

Just heard 24% of Southwest pilot are taking Early Outs or Voluntary Furloughs!

[sparebulb]

The Whale is going to be dead in passenger service before long.

The future is in nondescript large twin-engined brand A's or brand B's with all the style and luxury of a Brezhnev-era apartment building.

The next generation after that will be a single-engine tube with no windows.

[Anti Federalist]

The Whale is going to be dead in passenger service before long.

The future is in nondescript large twin-engined brand A's or brand B's with all the style and luxury of a Brezhnev-era apartment building.

The next generation after that will be a single-engine tube with no windows.

yup...

[Anti Federalist]

[Anti Federalist]

[Anti Federalist]

[sparebulb]

Back in the day, I used to occasionally get to see TWA 1 Heavy takeoff from STL nonstop to Honolulu in an ancient 747 Classic.

An ass in every seat.

No matter whether it was hot or cold, it used ALL the runway and always barely cleared the airport fence.

Word on the street was that often there weren't many revenue seats sold....but the remaining seats occupied by company employees traveling on passes and frequent flyer redeemers.

Not a great business plan.

[Danke]

I miss it, great plane to fly.

[Danke]

The Whale is going to be dead in passenger service before long.

The future is in nondescript large twin-engined brand A's or brand B's with all the style and luxury of a Brezhnev-era apartment building.

The next generation after that will be a single-engine tube with no windows.

Single engine is a passenger aircraft? Everyone get trained in an ejection seat and water survival?

[phill4paul]

Single engine is a passenger aircraft? Everyone get trained in an ejection seat and water survival?

Lol. No $#@!. Had a friend of a friend that took me up in a single engine Cessna. I said I was worried about it being only a single engine. He cut off the engine and we kept flying. He said he could land it without the engine. He said "but I wouldn't try that in a commercial jet. It's never ended well."

[sparebulb]

I miss it, great plane to fly.

Indeed.

The future of 747 flying involves climbing into the cockpit on a ladder.

[sparebulb]

Single engine is a passenger aircraft? Everyone get trained in an ejection seat and water survival?

Single engine IFR Part 135 was approved quite a few years ago.

Justified with statistical hours between engine failures and such rot.

I thought 120 minute ETOPS was insane years ago and I knew that the statisticians would abuse the data to get more.

What are we up to now? 330 minute ETOPS?

B737's venturing out over the water from the mainland to Hawaii doesn't impress me.

Especially with the single engine drift down performance that I remember from the -800's.

[Danke]

Single engine IFR Part 135 was approved quite a few years ago.

Justified with statistical hours between engine failures and such rot.

I thought 120 minute ETOPS was insane years ago and I knew that the statisticians would abuse the data to get more.

What are we up to now? 330 minute ETOPS?

B737's venturing out over the water from the mainland to Hawaii doesn't impress me.

Especially with the single engine drift down performance that I remember from the -800's.

ETOPS is for two engines, and you if lose one...

Hence, redundancy. I don't envision only have one non redundant system as vital as an engine on a passenger aircraft. Your mentioning basically a small light weight aircrafts that can glide at a slow speed mostly over land. I won't fly those at night as it would be difficult to find a surface that I could land on and walk away.

ETOPS criteria is very Strict WRT maintenance. Before every flight, a lot of checks need to be performed. And engine data is continuously being downloaded to maintenance. Any little hiccup, and the pilots are notified. If it warrants, we are instructed to land ASAP.

[Anti Federalist]

[Anti Federalist]

Do Not Fly Spirit.

They should weave each other alone.


Boyfriend Desperately Tries to Protect His Girlfriend as Couple Beaten by Mob Inside Airport

https://summit.news/2020/07/17/video...nside-airport/

Another incident of black on white violence caught on camera.

Published 10 hours ago on 17 July, 2020 Paul Joseph Watson Video Screenshot

A shocking video filmed inside an airport shows a couple being viciously beaten by a mob as the boyfriend desperately tries to protect his girlfriend.

The video is going viral on Twitter but it has yet to be established at which airport the incident took place.

The clip begins with a young white woman involved in a verbal spat with a group of young black women. The white girl smacks her own backside as the black girls yell violent threats.

The video then cuts to a disturbing scene of the boyfriend on top of the luggage belt desperately trying to shield his girlfriend from an attack as the mob tries to beat her.

The black women punch the young man in the head while trying to drag him away so they can get to the girl.

Respondents pointed out that airport employees appeared to be standing around doing nothing to intervene, with one even stood recording on their phone.



The clip then shows the young man trying to reason with the mob as he stands in front of his girlfriend.

The video ends with the young man lying on the floor trying to protect his girlfriend’s head as the mob rains down more kicks and punches.

“This is SICK,” tweeted Jessica Fletcher. “Watch the man lay on top of his white girlfriend to protect her from being kicked in the head by a group of black women. I’ve predictably seen no national media cover this.”

This is SICK. Watch the man lay on top of his white girlfriend to protect her from being kicked in the head by a group of black women. I've predictably seen no national media cover this. https://t.co/mjs0cXOcbv

— Jessica Fletcher (@heckyessica) July 17, 2020

“It’s cowardice. Do not call it otherwise. A man is protecting his woman, NOT hitting his female attackers who are in fact, cowards. the man is a hero putting his body in danger,” said another respondent.

“Always in a pack. It’s always 5 on 1. Just a bunch of cowards,” remarked another.

This is not the only violent incident to have been caught on camera inside an American airport this week.

After a Philadelphia-bound flight from Fort Lauderdale International Airport was delayed, another black female mob began attacking Spirit Airlines employees while also hurling bottles and other objects.

[Danke]

[Danke]

[Danke]

[RJB]

Mark Dice is correct. The mob of people should only attack the pilots.

[Danke]

Mark Dice is correct. The mob of people should only attack the pilots.

And a lot of us carry,

But where did Mike say that?

[oyarde]

BA ? They still in business ? They'll all be belly up soon

[Danke]

BA ? They still in business ? They'll all be belly up soon

Looking to "pick something up?"

[oyarde]

Looking to "pick something up?"

Think BA has anything good ? They transporting any gold shipments ?

[Danke]

Think BA has anything good ? They transporting any gold shipments ?

They have a lot of flight attendants looking for work. Gold diggers, perhaps?