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Where Else Could Philippine Airlines Fly Its Airbus A350-1000s?
Philippine Airlines ordered nine A350-1000s back in June 2023. Currently, it operates two aircraft, with the first unit arriving in December 2025 and the second in June 2026. These aircraft currently fly to Toronto and New York. However, at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow, the carrier ordered nine more A350-1000s, which brings the total order to eighteen aircraft: with two already in the fleet, the backlog is sixteen aircraft. Apart from New York and Toronto, where else could it deploy the aircraft with sixteen more on order? Share your thoughts! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.
Will There Ever Be Nonstop Flights Between New Zealand & Europe?
With Qantas flights between Sydney and London launching next year, do you think there will ever be flights from New Zealand to Europe? The A350-1000ULR has the range to fly between New Zealand and destinations in Southern and Southeast Europe, so will there ever be direct flights? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.
Should Aer Lingus Fly Long-Haul To More Destinations Not In The US?
Aer Lingus has recently announced that its flights to Minneapolis/St Paul, Las Vegas and Denver will be ending soon. These routes were among the Irish flag carrier’s worst performing in terms of load factor. On top of this, its route to Seattle will switch to a seasonal service from October. This got me thinking: with all these cuts in America, should Aer Lingus consider operating long-haul flights to non-US destinations? In the past, the airline has served Canada, Barbados and the UAE, but outside the US, its only long-haul offering is Cancún in Mexico. However, Aer Lingus could potentially be successful on a returning route to Toronto or Dubai, or could even attempt something completely new like Delhi or São Paulo. What do you think? Should Aer Lingus fly to more long-haul destinations that aren’t in the USA? And if you think it should, where should it fly to, and on what aircraft? Share your thoughts in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed
Who Is Your Favorite Boeing 767-400ER Operator? Delta Or United?
The largest and longest of the Boeing 767 family, the 767-400ER, is designed for high-capacity medium and long-haul routes. The plane is certified to seat up to 375 passengers (in an all-economy-class configuration), or 247 when in multiple classes. With a cruising speed of approximately 525 miles (845 km) per hour, the plane has a comfortable range of 6,020 miles (9,688 km). The 400ER was exclusively purchased by United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, and only 37 of the units were ever built. If you had to pick between Delta and United, which would be your favorite operator? I've flown on both and would have to pick Delta.
Should Virgin Atlantic Fly To Australia Again?
Simple Flying recently discussed the long-haul routes that Virgin Atlantic has abandoned over the years. One of these was a service to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia, which was the British airline’s longest route and flew via Hong Kong. Should Virgin Atlantic consider picking up this service again? A lot of passengers flying from Great Britain to Australia would use a Middle Eastern airline such as Qatar Airways or Emirates and connect through Doha or Dubai. However, with the conflict in the Persian Gulf disrupting this flow of traffic, now could be a good time to get back into the market. On the other hand, there would be significant competition from Qantas and British Airways’ one-stop Sydney services via Singapore. What do you think? Should Virgin Atlantic fly to Australia again? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.
Who Is Your Favorite Embraer ERJ-145 Operator?
The Embraer ERJ-145 is a popular commuter-style aircraft that has been in operation for 30 years. The plane was first introduced in 1996 and can seat up to 50 passengers, and predominantly flies regional services. Onboard, it has a three-abreast cabin and eliminates that annoying middle seat. With short runway capabilities, it's a popular choice for regional feeder routes, and it is the largest of the three ERJ variants, alongside the ERJ-140 (44 seats) and ERJ-135 (37 seats). A notable callout for this plane is the small overhead bins, meaning that carry-on rolling bags are usually gate-checked. Who is your favorite operator? I've listed my top four below: - Loganair - JSX - CommuteAir (for United Airlines) - Contour Airlines
Hawaiian To Replace Its Boeing 717s With The 737-800: Is This The Right Move?
Hawaiian Airlines announced earlier this week that it would be replacing the Boeing 717-200s that operate its inter-island flights with Boeing 737-800s. These aircraft are larger and offer a more premium experience, with the transition beginning in 2028. However, are you happy with this switch, or would you rather have seen another aircraft type used? On the one hand, I can see that this is a logical decision from an operational point of view, as Hawaiian will simply inherit the jets from Alaska Airlines rather than having to splash out on new ones. However, it does seem, once again, like Hawaiian is being treated as 'second-best' in its relationship with Alaska Airlines by only getting hand-me-downs rather than new jets - I, for one, would have liked to see it fly new Airbus A220s. What do you think? Does this make sense? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!
Which Farnborough Airshow Order Stood Out To You The Most This Year?
As ever, the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow proved to be a hotbed for aircraft orders, with various airlines and manufacturers shaking hands on high-value deals this week. You can read our rundown of all the major announcements here, but which order(s) stood out to you the most, and why? For me, it would have to be Philippine Airlines' pair of widebody commitments. Having bought 15 Boeing 787-10s (plus five options) on Monday, the carrier followed this up on Tuesday with a Memorandum of Understanding for nine more Airbus A350-1000s. For me, these deals signal strong growth intentions, and I'll be excited to see the carrier leverage its new widebodies to become a leading Asia-Pacific airline. What do you think? Which order(s) stood out to you the most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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