Hello and welcome to the 128th iteration of Simple Flying’s ‘Sunday Reads’ weekly digest! That’s right, it’s that time of the week once again when we like to take a look back at some of our most notable stories from the last seven days.
Air France-KLM Group To Acquire Non-Controlling Stake In SAS
The Air France-KLM Group has purchased 19.9% of Scandinavian flag carrier SAS as part of the airline’s restructuring efforts. SAS is now owned by a consortium led by American private equity firm Castlelake (32%), Lind Invest, and the airline group, which together will invest $1.175 billion. With AF-KLM stepping in, SAS plans to leave Star Alliance and begin commercial operations with the French-Dutch giant, paving the way for the carrier to move to the SkyTeam alliance
Ural Airlines Is Preparing To Fly An Airbus A320 Out Of A Field
Ural Airlines is preparing to fly an Airbus A320 out of the field in which it made an emergency landing last month. It will be the first time that any such recovery has been tried, yet many questions remain about how it ended up in the field to start with and whether the recovery operation can be successful.
Photo: Ural Airlines
United Airlines Announces Huge 110 Aircraft Order With More Boeing 787s & Airbus A321neos
United Airlines has revealed the exercise of 50 of its 100 existing options on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, alongside a new firm order for 60 A321neos. The jets will be delivered between 2028 and 2031. In addition to that exciting news, United further announced it is adding options for more 787 Dreamliners, to the tune of 50 more widebodies, which can be exercised between 2028 and 2031.
SkyTeam Announces Sustainable Flight Challenge Winners
In an awards event held this week at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta, global airline alliance SkyTeam has announced the seven winners of its Sustainable Flight Challenge 2023. The Sustainable Flight Challenge started last year and exists to challenge the aviation industry by stimulating and accelerating innovation along the pathway to zero emissions flight. You can find out more about this initiative here.
Korean Air Announces Worldwide Winter Network Expansion
Korean Air is expanding operations over the forthcoming northern winter season in response to a resurgence in travel demand. Frequencies will increase to several cities across the Asia-Pacific region, in addition to Las Vegas in North America.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
Emirates Celebrates 10 Years Of 5th Freedom Milan-New York Flights
UAE-based Emirates is celebrating a decade of services between its Italian fifth freedom outpost, Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Since its launch in 2013, the route has carried over 1.8 million passengers and 37,000 tonnes of cargo across 6,000 flights, strengthening the Northern Italian fashion hub’s connection with the United States.
Photo: Davide Calabresi | Shutterstock
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What was your favorite story this week? Let us know what you think in the comment section.