Divers

✈ British Airways cancels winter flights operated with 787 aircraft due to lack of Trent 1000 engine parts from Rolls Royce. 15% of its 787 fleet is grounded, affecting routes from London Gatwick to New York and Doha, suspended until April next year. Flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur may also be suspended or not resume until 2025. Rolls Royce acknowledges the issue, with delays potentially extending to 2026, noting the Covid pandemic is no longer to blame.

📍 Spotter Jandrovigo captured an A321 Vueling leaving a remarkable condensation trail during landing at Vigo Airport. Condensation trails form when planes pass through moist layers and can persist as cirrostratus clouds for minutes or hours, depending on atmospheric conditions. These clouds can reflect sunlight into space and trap significant heat, leading to a net warming effect. [Source: Preferente]

🚀 Iván Gutiérrez , fleet chief of Boeing 787 at Air Europa, thanked Enaire's air traffic controllers for their assistance during the critical flight UX194 from Bogotá to Madrid on October 2nd. Their rapid response allowed an expedited arrival, crucial for a passenger requiring medical attention. Gutiérrez highlighted the team's professionalism and commitment to safety and passenger well-being.

🏖️ Rosario Sánchez, Secretary of State for Tourism, at the III Ágora de Turismo Sostenible in Madrid, expressed Spain's sustainability goal to be "the world's most sustainable tourist destination". The unanimously approved CONESTUR declaration supports responsible tourism and prioritizes economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The government sees tourism as an engine to tackle climate change and inequality, with new technological tools aiding destinations to meet their regulatory duties.

🛫 Qantas, between May 21, 2021, and August 26, 2023, sold tickets for flights scheduled from May 1, 2022, to May 10, 2024, affecting 86,000 passengers. The airline knew these flights wouldn't operate and delayed notification of cancellations. They face a $100 million fine for this "unprecedented deceitful conduct" during the Covid period.

✈ Binter modifies flight schedules between Madrid and Canary Islands, offering new times from the second half of November to better serve business passengers. Flights from Gran Canaria depart at 7:00, 10:00, 15:30, and 19:05; from Tenerife Norte at 6:45, 9:55, 15:30, and 19:05. Departures from Madrid-Barajas to Gran Canaria and Tenerife follow the same time slots for improved coordination. Changes follow June's Flexiplus fare adjustments for penalty-free same-day flight changes via app, website, phone, or airport.

🛩 Due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, air traffic controllers and airlines had to find alternative routes overnight, avoiding areas affected by the conflict. Before Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1st, two heavily used air corridors passed over Iran and Iraq, as seen in a Flightradar24 image from September 28. By October 5th, airspace over Iran and Iraq was nearly empty, reflecting the risk of further missile launches.

✈ Thousands of passengers across Europe will be impacted by Easyjet flight cancellations and delays on October 27 due to a strike by pilots from Italian bases. This coincides with the Northern Europe school holiday week, with higher traveler volume expected. The strike primarily affects flights to and from Italy, especially impacting Milan (Linate and Malpensa airports), Venice, and Naples. Compensation for affected passengers may be available. Previously, Easyjet employees in Portugal also went on strike for wage improvements.

🚀 In Brindisi, Italy, a Boeing 737 Ryanair flight experienced engine fire during pre-takeoff, leading to the evacuation of 184 passengers via emergency slides. The airport temporarily closed, affecting other flights and airline operations. No injuries were reported, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause. Ryanair is assisting passengers with rebooking and support.

✈ On Tuesday, around 80 airplanes were impacted by the closure of airspace due to missiles launched from Iran, affecting routes to the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, and the Far East. Flights were diverted across the region, particularly over Istanbul and Antalya, Turkey, leading to congestion. Airlines such as Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar were among those affected. Eurocontrol had warned of a worsening conflict, with Israel under emergency alert. Jordan's airspace was the first to close, followed by Iraq and then Cyprus. By Wednesday morning, all affected airspaces reopened, but instability continues with ongoing cancellations at Tel Aviv and Beirut airports.