Divers

✈️ Norse, successor of Norwegian for long-haul flights, struggles with business model consolidation and has a surplus of aircraft. Air Europa previously leased part of the fleet but returned five Boeing 787s. Norse leased six 787s to IndiGo, an Indian airline experiencing rapid growth, under an ACMI agreement. The first Norse aircraft will begin operating for IndiGo next month on a six-month contract, extendable to 18 months. Norse CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen sees IndiGo as a key partner, while IndiGo aims to expand beyond its 600+ short-haul fleet into long-haul routes as it awaits its Airbus order. The economic risk of the new routes is borne by IndiGo, with guaranteed income for Norse.

✈ A Boeing 787 from Japan Airlines collided with the tail of a Delta Airlines 737 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. No injuries were reported, and passengers were evacuated and returned to the terminal. The Delta 737, bound for Puerto Vallarta with 142 passengers, was stationary for deicing when hit. Passengers were rebooked on another flight, while authorities investigate to prevent future incidents.

🏚 Approximately 6,000 people evacuated the Greek island of Santorini within two days due to a wave of earthquakes. Ferries to Athens were overcrowded. Aegean Airlines transported nearly 1,300 passengers on Monday alone via nine flights, five being extra. A 4.9 magnitude earthquake was detected 30km from Santorini on Tuesday at 2:45 am, followed by a 4.7 magnitude quake on Amorgos at 6 am. Schools in Santorini and nearby islands are closed until Friday as a precaution.

💣 Over 3,000 people, including residents, workers, and tourists, fled Santorini, Greece due to heightened seismic activity starting January 24, intensifying with two 4.9 magnitude quakes on a single day. Schools on Santorini and neighboring islands closed until Friday, and airlines scheduled six extra flights to Athens amid high demand. In the past week, the region experienced over 550 earthquakes. The seismic activity is attributed to underwater faults, not Santorini's volcano.

✈ Lufthansa has been operating passenger-less Boeing 747 flights due to fuel supply issues at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Instead of stopping between Johannesburg and Frankfurt, the airline chose to fly over 1,000 kilometers to Namibia for refueling, covering round trips over 2,000 kilometers. This decision followed passenger complaints about initial layovers.

🚀 In Washington, U.S., air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport twice warned a helicopter pilot of a collision risk minutes before crashing into a passenger plane carrying 64 individuals. The pilot replied, acknowledging the plane and maintaining visual separation. Despite the warnings, the collision occurred 12 seconds after the second communication, and 2 minutes after the first alert. Experts suggest the pilot may have been focused on a different aircraft 11 miles behind the one that was hit.

🎫 Youtuber WorldWide Dom shared a video of Iberia's Airbus A321XLR on a Boston to Madrid flight, highlighting features such as the cabin, bathroom, and entertainment options. Iberia launched the A321XLR on November 6, with Boston flights starting November 16. The aircraft will debut on the Washington route with three weekly flights from April 12, 2025. WorldWide Dom praised the potential of the aircraft for making long-distance travel more affordable.

✈️ Álvaro padre e hijo, both pilots at Air Europa, flew together for the first time, marking a momentous event for the airline. The father has an "impeccable" career and serves as an inspiration within the family and among colleagues. This flight represents the beginning of a new era and continues a family tradition. The event symbolizes pride in the legacy and tradition passed down through generations at Air Europa.

🛫 Sunday, passengers on a Volotea flight from Sevilla to Bilbao were diverted to France due to adverse weather at Loiu airport. Strong wind gusts, reaching up to 160 km/h during the week, forced the crew to land in Bordeaux. The challenging conditions have led to numerous diversions to alternative airports and difficult landing footage.

✈ Ryanair's ally in the Spanish government, Transport Minister Óscar Puente, expresses dissatisfaction with the airline's tone in a letter sent by CEO Eddie Wilson on January 21. Puente seeks a reversal to the prior situation, before Ryanair announced a reduction of 800,000 seats at regional Spanish airports. He reminds Ryanair that Spain's transportation policy serves the general interest, not specific companies, and is not subject to airline pressures, potentially violating Law 18/2014 and EU State aid rules.