FEATURES

PHOTO: ROB FINLAYSON

Air New Zealand: Aotearoa Aspiring

by John Wegg

“We acknowledge the fact that we are a polluter,” declares Rob Fyfe, CEO of Air New Zealand. “Rather than be defensive, we embrace it as an opportunity and are doing everything possible to minimize our impact on the environment.”

    A refreshing attitude—and not only for the airline industry—and one that is strengthening Air New Zealand's image and leading to more passenger bookings in a strategy of attracting business through innovation.

    We explain what measures Air NZ is taking to be the world's most sustainable airline.

PHOTO: KEN DONOHUE

Latin America’s busiest airport needs new home

by Ken Donohue

Aeropuerto International de la Ciudad de México, also known as Licenciado Benito Juárez International Airport (IATA: MEX/ICAO: MMMX), is conveniently located a mere 13km (8mi) from the center of Mexico City with its population of more than 19 million. Yet, hemmed in by dense residential neighborhoods, MEX has long outgrown its ability to expand beyond its current boundaries.

PHOTO: PAUL HOWARD

Beavers on the Barrier Reef

by Paul Howard

In Australia’s Far North Queensland region, a turn toward land around False Cape will lead to Trinity Bay and thence into Trinity Inlet, the shipping channel that services the port city of Cairns, official gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Today this haven is home base for Cairns Seaplanes, a DHC-2 Beaver floatplane outfit.

PHOTO: ANDREAS ROHDE

Buffalo Soldiers on with the Commando

by Andreas Rohde

Grab your work boots and step inside the cavernous cabin of the mighty Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando for a cargo trip in Canada's Northwest Territories on one of the only seven C-46s left in commercial operation—thanks to Buffalo Airways.

PHOTO: MANX2

Manx2 Has a Tale to Tell

by David C Forward

Proving that small can be good in the airline business, Manx2.com is the ultimate 'niche player', what could be called a ‘virtual’ airline, responsible only for marketing, pricing, and what the owner calls “putting bums on seats.” 

 TWA TriStar Returns Home

by Ann Meili

On Saturday, January 30, 2010, the Airline History Museum located at Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) in Kansas City, Missouri, received one of the last TWA L-1011s, the only airworthy example of the 36 delivered to TWA, all the others having been written off, parted out, or decaying in terminal storage.

PHOTO: GUY VAN HERBRUGGEN

Sleeping with a French Lady

by Guy van Herbruggen

Less known than the recently opened 747 Jumbo Hostel at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport—which is currently offered for sale—aviation enthusiasts also have the opportunity to stay in a Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle anchored at Moyenpal in the French Vosges.

PHOTO: RON KUHLMANN

Swiss to SFO: An Airline Marketing Tale

by Ron Kuhlmann

On June 2, 2010, Swiss International Air Lines adds San Francisco to its network with six weekly Airbus A340-300 flights from Zürich. The service has been under consideration for some time, but its implementation was delayed by the 2008 economic collapse.

    This is not the first time a Swiss flag carrier has served the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1998 Swissair began flying McDonnell Douglas MD-11s to the city, and operated that route until the airline declared bankruptcy late in 2001. This is not only the inside story of how that first flight came to be, but also how an airline chooses and develops a new route.

PLUS

Psychic Psychedelia—or ’Plane Crazy?

by Nuala Galbari

 DEPARTMENTS

Both Sides

Clayton Taylor takes you on a voyage to Paris.

Business & First Flyer

Robert Harris criss-crosses the North Atlantic between new York and London on British Airways.

Stan Solomon offers a varied selection of anecdotes from the Airways.

Mailbag

Our global forum for our readers’ opinions, feedback, and contributions.

News from the Airways

Colorfully illustrated highlights of the major news developments from North America and around the world, including fleet changes, new airlines, and new paint schemes.

Reviews

Chris Sterling looks at the latest commercial aviation books of note.

View from the Cockpit

Rand Peck compares the journey to the Boeing 757 from the  Piper Cub.

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