Shortest International Flight Canceled via Conde Nast Traveler

When it launched in November, an eight-minute flight from St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland to Friedrichshafen, Germany set records for both shortest jet flight and shortest international flight, with tickets costing $45 each way. The thinking was that the route would avoid the traffic and hassle of driving 40 miles from St. Gallen, around Lake Constance and over the Austrian border, just to get to Friedrichshafen, on Germany’s southern edge—and the other side of the lake. A lakeside train ride, while no doubt pleasant, takes two hours.

Interested in taking the current shortest international flight in the world? You’d better act quickly. According to The Local, the Austrian People’s Air Group announced it would be retiring the flight come April 14, citing high costs and the fact that the route had only “haltingly increased” since it was launched. (The company had hoped to fly 40,000 people annually.) As the flight was supposed to be the first leg of a route that continued north to Cologne, Germany, the airline will also cancel the flights between Friedrichshafen and Cologne-Bonn and St. Gallen and Cologne-Bonn.

Source: The World’s Shortest International Flight Has Been Canceled | Conde Nast Traveler

Avianca Brasil to Add Miami-Sao Paulo Flights June 2017 via One Mile at a Time

When it comes to Central and South America, there are two “powerhouse” airlines — Avianca and LATAM. Both airlines have hubs in several countries. One of Avianca’s quickly growing operations is Avianca Brasil, which is based in Brasil, as the name suggests.

Up until now the airline has primarily operated domestic flights, and they have a fleet of nearly 50 aircraft. However, over time they’re planning on adding longhaul routes, as they have a total of 16 A330s and A350s on order.

Avianca Brasil will be inaugurating their longhaul flights in a couple of months.

Source: Avianca Brasil Is Adding Flights Between Miami & Sao Paulo As Of June 2017 | One Mile at a Time

11 Airplane Facts You May Not Know via Travel+Leisure

Planes have changed a lot since the days of the Wright Brothers (or, perhaps more accurately, Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos). Those first wood-and-cloth contraptions are an entirely different species than the sleek Boeing Dreamliners of today.

With the continual advancements in aerospace technology, it’s hard to keep up with all the amazing things planes today are capable of doing (and withstanding). Below, 11 things you didn’t know about airplanes and air travel.

Source: 11 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Planes | Travel+Leisure

Delta to Connect NYC and Rio via Travel Pulse

While the new route is still subject to United States Department of Transportation approval, the proposal will help Delta Air Lines and its partner GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes extend service in Brazil to 23 destinations through connections at Rio de Janeiro’s Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport.

Delta’s New York-to-Rio route will utilize a Boeing 767-300 aircraft featuring 35 Delta One full flat-bed seats, 32 Delta Comfort+ seats and 143 seats in the Main Cabin. Some of the amenities available on the flights include oversized personal entertainment screens, an expanded on-demand in-flight entertainment system, Latin-inspired food options and expanded Wi-Fi service.

Source: Delta to Offer New Route from New York City to Rio | Travel Pulse

Frankfurt Airport Offers Airside Transit Hotel via One Mile at a Time

For a while I’ve been hearing rumors about a transit hotel opening at Frankfurt Airport (I first heard about it in Daniel’s interview with Frankfurt Airport’s director of operations).

Well, it looks like that airside transit hotel at Frankfurt Airport has recently opened. The new hotel is called MY CLOUD (yes, in all caps… apparently), and it’s located at Terminal 1, near Gate Z25. It’s on Level 3, and can be reached airside using the SkyLine from Terminal 2.

The transit hotel has 59 rooms, including:

• Inward facing single rooms
• Outward facing single rooms
• Inward facing double rooms
• Outward facing double rooms

The rooms look small but functional, and really that’s all you need for an airside transit hotel.

Source: Frankfurt Airport Now Has An Airside Transit Hotel | One Mile at a Time

Next-Gen Goals for Aviation Engine Makers via Aviation Week

Commercial aerospace engine-makers from Pratt & Whitney to GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce each have their own products and services, but there is more alignment than might be apparent when it comes to where the industry is headed over the next decade.

According to several representatives from engine OEMs at this year’s International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Americas conference in San Diego March 5-7, power providers may have placed near-term bets on different engine architectures, but practically all of them are open to a competitor’s approach as new-generation commercial aircraft are designed next decade.

“The important thing is to work together with the aircraft manufacturers to understand what type of products they need,” says Simon Goodson, senior vice president for lessor customers at Rolls-Royce. “It is also reasonable to assume that all of the engine manufacturers are working on all of the technologies all of the time. It is just a question of how we get to the final solution.”

Source: Engine-Makers Ponder Next-Gen Architectures and Business Models | Aviation Week

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U.S. Ban on Electronics Larger than Cellphone on Flights via Travel+Leisure

The airports included in the ban are in Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar, and the order will affect Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways.

Royal Jordanian first broke news of the ban in an announcement to passengers on Monday, although the airline incorrectly stated the rule also appied to flights from the U.S.

Source: U.S. Bans All Electronics Larger Than a Cellphone on Flights From 9 Countries | Travel+Leisure

Skytrax Announces Annual List of World’s Best Airports via Travel Pulse

On March 14, Skytrax announced the winners of its annual Skytrax World Airport Awards, says a report on CNN. And for the fifth year in a row, Singapore took home the top prize.

The Changi Airport was named “world’s best airport,” once again — which doesn’t come as a surprise to frequent travelers who often praise the facility for its shopping, activities, food selections and more.

“Among the amenities spread through its three terminals are two 24-hour movie theaters screening the latest blockbusters for free, a rooftop swimming pool and a butterfly garden,” notes CNN’s Karla Cripps.

Source: Where Are the World’s Best Airports? | Travel Pulse

British Airways to Add 2 Rows to Short-Haul Flights via Conde Nast Traveler

To borrow a very British phrase, British Airways has quite a “posh” reputation. It’s the airline that sends jet-setters like the Beckhams and the Queen all around the world, and offers afternoon tea service on long-haul flights. The airline is going through a bit of a identity crisis, however, and Ryanair, the budget carrier famous for $9.99 flights, will soon surpass British Airways on short-haul seat pitch in economy class.

This latest move, announced yesterday, was intended to raise awareness of cheaper fares on flights from London Heathrow, but for now is mostly creating headline-grabbing math. By adding two rows onto its short-haul intra-Europe Airbus A320s and A321s next year in order to lower seat prices, the carrier will reduce the gap between seats from 30″ to 29″ of pitch, equaling the lowest numbers offered by any European discount carrier. (Comparably, legacy carrier Air France offers 32″ of pitch in their short-haul economy cabin.) British Airways flies to nearly 80 short-haul destinations within Europe, defined by the airline as flights five hours or less.

Source: British Airways Legroom Will Soon Be Worse Than Ryanair’s | Conde Nast Traveler

Trump Budget and Privatizing ATC via General Aviation News

President Donald Trump released his first budget proposal March 16, 2017, which calls for spinning off Air Traffic Control from the FAA to an independent non-government organization.

The proposal mirrors that of a report released recently by the Eno Center for Transportation’s Aviation Working Group.

“The purpose of spinning off air traffic control from the federal government is to create a safer and more efficient system with the potential to continue the growth of America’s aviation industry. If the FAA was freed of its role of directing air traffic, it would be able to focus on its core mission as the aviation safety overseer.” said Eno’s President and CEO Robert Puentes.

Source: Trump budget calls for spinning off ATC | General Aviation News

Additional reading: Debate over privatizing ATC: Us vs. Them? | General Aviation News