The incident occurred early in the morning of June 20, 2024. 

The activists, identified as Jennifer Kowalski and Cole Macdonald of British environmental activist group Just Stop Oil, gained access to the private airfield at around 05:00 local time.

Just Stop Oil recorded how the two activists managed to get into the airport and pull off their stunt, and shared it on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

The video shows the activists using an angle grinder to cut through the metal fence that leads to the private runway. They then cover at least two parked private jets with orange paint, before hugging each other in front of the camera.

Just Stop Oil captioned the post, 鈥淛ust Stop Oil paint private jet hours after Taylor Swift lands鈥�. 

The group said that it is demanding an 鈥渆mergency treaty鈥� to end fossil fuels by 2030.

However, a Stansted Airport representative told media outlets that Swift精东影业 private jet was not at the airport when the incident occurred.

In a press release by Just Stop Oil, Kowalski, a former sustainability manager, said that she felt she had to take 鈥渄esperate measures鈥� to be heard. 

Kowalski is quoted as saying: 鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e had to realize that even working in sustainability provides me with essentially no ability to make the necessary changes to prevent the complete collapse of our natural systems. I have to take desperate measures to make my voice heard.鈥� 

The pair were later arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use or operation of national infrastructure.

Climate activists paint private jet orange at Germany精东影业 Sylt Airport: video

• Aircraft
• Airport

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-06-07

The incident occurred on December 26, 2023 during the busy holiday season. The man, identified as Craig Sturt, 46, allegedly tailgated unsuspecting passengers through several security checks at LHR airport精东影业 Terminal 5.

Sturt was able to sneak through the British Airways boarding gate without a passport or boarding pass by also sneaking behind other passengers. He was able to find a seat on the fully-booked flight because some passengers had missed their flights due to the chaotic travel period.

Sturt behaved normally during the six-hour transatlantic flight, so no suspicions were raised.

However, his tailgating tactics no longer worked when he arrived at JFK Airport where he failed to present travel documents to airport authorities. 

Sturt was then detained and subsequently charged with fraud and offenses under the Aviation Security Act. He was sent back to London on a chartered flight. 

Sturt was due to appear at a magistrate精东影业 court in January 2024, but failed to show.

A warrant for his arrest has since been issued and a missing person alert has been posted and circulated by the Thames Valley Incident Alert Facebook page.

Sturt is described as 182 cm tall and was last seen in Reading, but is from Slough. He also has links to Heathrow and the Tottenham Court Road area in London.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for LHR told 精东影业: 鈥淎ll people who go airside are subject to security screening, including the individual involved in this case. We are supporting the authorities with their ongoing investigation.鈥�

Passenger manages to go through airport security with boarding pass found in trash

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-08-09

In May 2022, Khan flew to the US for a five-day mission trip. One of the goals of the trip was to promote London as a place to visit and invest in.

The complaint, lodged by Caroline Russell, a London Assembly Member and Councillor for Highbury East Ward in Islington, claims that the trip lacked 鈥渢ransparency鈥� over Khan精东影业 failure to declare that the flights were gifted by an airline.

United Airlines flew 10 members of Khan精东影业 office, along with journalists, in business class to the US in exchange for 鈥減romotional opportunities鈥�. 

During his trip, Khan posted social media updates with captions promoting United Airlines. 

Air fares for the group精东影业 journeys to New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and back to London were covered by United Airlines. Only fees and taxes were paid by Khan精东影业 team.

The mayor精东影业 office had previously said that the deal was not a 鈥渇ormal partnership鈥� and that Khan would 鈥渕ake no apologies鈥� for 鈥渟aving taxpayers money on the flights鈥�.

鈥淚t精东影业 actually very straightforward – London’s mayor is bound by the principles of public life outlined in the Code of Conduct, and I am concerned the integrity of his office has been tarnished by what appears to be the endorsement of a product that actively harms the very people he was elected to serve,鈥� Russell said in Facebook post, where she also announced that she has made a formal complaint regarding Khan.

On December 21, 2023, however, it was revealed during the Mayor精东影业 Question Time that the grounds for the complaint were rejected and will not be taken further.

United Airlines launches direct flights from San Francisco to Christchurch, NZ

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-12-13

The low-cost carrier flew its first planeload of snow-hungry travelers from the Essex airport to the slopes on December 16, 2023, using an A320neo (registered HB-AYE) operated by its Swiss subsidiary, easyJet Switzerland. 

EasyJet operates three flights per week to Geneva with flights departing on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The outbound flight (flight number EZS1295) arrives at Southend from Geneva at 10:30 local time and departs for Geneva as EZS1296 at 11:30.  

“We are really pleased to be launching another route from London Southend to Geneva this winter,鈥� said Ali Gayward, easyJet精东影业 UK country manager, announcing the return of the route in July 2023. 鈥淚t will be popular with those hitting the slopes on winter ski holidays, exploring the mountains, but also as a global hub, it will appeal to those traveling for business too. We now offer more choice and great value for customers traveling with us by further expanding our services at Southend.鈥� 

鈥淲e are delighted to be serving our customers a wider range of destinations this winter, all with low fares and the warm welcome our crew are famous for,” he added.  

easyJet is now offering flights to seven destinations from Southend Airport which is located 40 miles (64km) from central London and is London精东影业 sixth largest airport behind Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), Luton (LTN), and London City (LCY).听听

The carrier has been reaffirming its presence at the airport throughout 2023 and now operates services on routes to Malaga (AGP), Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Faro (FAO), Amsterdam (AMS), and Paris (CDG).  

The carrier精东影业 decision to add Geneva to its growing network from Southend derives from the fact that the carrier has operated a large ski season program to the Swiss airport from many UK airports for many years and that these routes have always proved popular.   

Between 2013 and 2020, a total of 570,000 passengers flew with the airline between London Southend and Geneva, with 2019 (the last full year before the pandemic) representing the peak year with 94,000 passengers.聽

In February 2024, easyJet will launch services to another major ski destination with the French destination of Grenoble (GNB) being added to its list of services from Southend. These flights will operate just once weekly on Sundays from February 4, 2024, and the service will mark the first time the French airport has been served directly from Southend.

easyJet swings into profit as demand for leisure travel soars聽聽

• Airlines
• Aviation
• Aviation Economics & Finance

byLuke Peters

2023-11-28

Flight vouchers worth $1,200 will be up for grabs on December 13, 2023, with Wizz Air providing clues to their location through its Instagram page.  

In total there are three vouchers available to be won which are valued at $420 each but where they are located remains a closely guarded secret.  

鈥淎s a little festive treat, on 13th December we鈥檒l be hiding 拢1000 worth of Wizz Air vouchers around London! 馃嚞馃嚙 Make sure you stay tuned on our Instagram page for more clues as they fly in! Hint, you鈥檒l find them in popular commuter spots,鈥� Wizz Air wrote on its .听听

The scavenger hunt will begin at 11 am with participants needing to solve a clue to find the flight voucher location.  

Once they arrive at the secret location, they will need to find the Wizz Air representative and give them the correct password that will also be unveiled on Instagram on December 13, 2023.  

According to Wizz Air, clues and hints will be posted on its Instagram page from December 10, 2023, with the vouchers possibly located in popular commuter spots from central London to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Luton Airport (LTN). 

鈥淚t精东影业 the season of giving so we鈥檙e excited to be bringing some festive cheer with the Wizz Air scavenger hunt. The lucky winners will have the choice to visit one or more of our 70+ destinations, whether a solo trip, romantic weekend away or family holiday. We wish everyone a happy festive period and look forward to welcoming them onboard,鈥� Wizz Air精东影业 Communication Manager, Zsuzsa Trubek, said. 

The scavenger hunt is open to those 18 years of age and above. The voucher is valid until December 12, 2024. 聽

Japan Airlines unveils JFK and Dallas as first routes for new A350-1000 aircraft

• Airlines

byMiquel Ros

2023-12-11

Under revised immigration rules introduced following the United Kingdom精东影业 exit from the European Union, a British passport must be less than 10 years old on the day of travel and have at least three months remaining on the intended day of return. 

The passenger involved in the incident, Mark Starkey, was booked on Ryanair精东影业 06:00 departure from Luton to Alicante, Spain on December 8, 2023. His UK passport was issued on December 11, 2013, and has an expiry date of July 11, 2024. Given the dates, Starkey精东影业 passport met both conditions of travel listed above. 

However, notwithstanding this, a ground services supervisor at the airport insisted the document was ineligible and refused Starkey to board his flight to Spain.  

According to the Independent newspaper, Starkey passed through airport security and passed the departure gate passport check without an issue.  

鈥淭he ground staff lady noted that I only had three days left on my passport from the day it was issued for the 10-year rule,鈥� Starkey said.  

鈥淚 said that I knew and this was my last trip of the year before I got my passport renewed. She waved me through, and I started walking towards the plane. She then called me back and said that she wanted to double-check with the immigration people at Ryanair,鈥� he continued.  

He added: 鈥淪he called them and gave them my details but was stating 鈥業 don鈥檛 think he can fly鈥�. She then put down the phone and said that my passport was not valid. I said that I disagreed and asked to speak with a manager. She said she was the supervisor and the person in charge. I asked to speak with the Ryanair immigration person, but she refused saying that only she could do this and they had said that my passport was not valid. 

鈥淚 was stunned that I was completely stonewalled. I then had to try and get back through the airport.鈥�  

Starkey subsequently returned to his home in Buckinghamshire and traveled to Spain the following day on easyJet, having confirmed that his passport was valid to use for travel.聽 聽

Ryanair has since issued an apology to Starkey for the treatment he received from its staff at Luton.  

鈥淲e sincerely regret that this passenger was incorrectly denied travel by the handling agent at Luton airport, who wrongly believed that this passenger精东影业 passport was not valid for travel to the EU,鈥� said a Ryanair spokesperson. 

In the Brexit negotiations, the UK requested that British passport holders be treated as third-country nationals, meaning that the rules covering the validity of non-EU passports are applied to UK passports as well.聽 聽

Ryanair to recruit 150 new cabin crew at two UK bases聽

• Airlines

byLuke Peters

2023-11-28

This is what Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, wrote on his blog before he boarded Virgin Atlantic精东影业 Flight 100, the first-ever transatlantic flight by a commercial airline to be powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). 

Branson is joined on the flight by UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper, who told Sky News that the flight is a big step forward in paving the way for ordinary people to fly cost-effectively 鈥渋n a way that is consistent with protecting the environment鈥�.

鈥淭his Government has backed today精东影业 flight to take-off and we will continue to support the UK精东影业 emerging SAF industry as it creates jobs, grows the economy and gets us to Jet Zero,鈥� Harper said in a press release.

Flight VS 100 departed London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) at approximately 11:30 local time, and is estimated to arrive in New York精东影业 John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) at 14:22 local time on the same date. 

The historic flight was flown on one of the carrier精东影业 Boeing 787, which is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

According to Virgin Atlantic, the fuel used on Flight 100 is made from waste products, delivers CO2 lifecycle emissions savings of up to 70%, while performing like the traditional jet fuel it is designed to replace.

The SAF used on Flight100 is a unique dual blend consisting of 88% HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) supplied by AirBP and 12% SAK (Synthetic Aromatic Kerosene) supplied by Virent, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. 

The HEFA is made from waste fats while the SAK is made from plant sugars, with the remainder of plant proteins, oil and fibers continuing into the food chain. SAK is needed in 100% SAF blends to give the fuel the required aromatics for engine function. 

鈥淰irgin Atlantic has been challenging the status quo and pushing the aviation industry to never settle and do better since 1984. Fast forward nearly 40 years, that pioneering spirit continues to be Virgin Atlantic精东影业 beating heart as it pushes the boundaries from carbon fiber aircraft and fleet upgrades to sustainable fuels,鈥� Branson said in a press release.

Branson added: 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be prouder to be onboard Flight100 today alongside the teams at Virgin Atlantic and our partners, which have been working together to set the flight path for the decarbonisation of long-haul aviation.鈥�

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also took to social media to express his support and 鈥渆xcitement鈥� over Flight 100.

鈥淥ur government made up to 拢100 million available to support the project, and right now, it精东影业 taking off. Today精东影业 Virgin Atlantic flight to New York will be entirely fuelled by SAF made primarily from waste oils and fats. Not only will SAF be key in decarbonizing aviation, but it could create a UK industry with an annual turnover of almost 拢2.5 billion, which could support over 5,000 jobs,鈥� Sunak said on his Instagram account.

VS 100 safely lands

After a flight time of 7 hours and 16 minutes, flight VS 100 safely landed in JFK airport at 14:13 local time, 37 minutes earlier than expected.

While Flight 100 is the first SAF-powered transatlantic flight to be conducted by a commercial airline, long-haul flights have previously been carried out using blended SAF. 

The most recent was Emirates in early November 2023, using 315,000 gallons of blended SAF provided by Shell Aviation, for a Dubai Airport (DXB) to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) flight.

On November 19, 2023, US aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace became the first organization worldwide to complete a transatlantic flight powered solely by SAF using a Gulfstream G600 aircraft.

Gulfstream Aerospace completes world精东影业 first transatlantic 100% SAF flight

• Aviation in North America
• Sustainability

byLuke Peters

2023-11-20

Dubbed 鈥楥oncorde on the Thames鈥�, the group behind the project are trying to raise funds to revive the supersonic jet to its former glory and exhibit the aircraft on a platform that hovers above the River Thames.  

According to the campaigners the Concorde at London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) has been totally stripped inside and is desperate for a new lease of life so the public can enjoy the incredible aircraft.听听

The group are trying to raise 拢1 million ($1.2M) to cover three planning applications that are needed to ensure the jet has the right paperwork and expertise in place to be moved. 

The aircraft at LHR, known as Concorde Alpha Bravo, has been sitting at the airport since August 2000. 

The team behind Concorde on the Thames hope to galvanize support from politicians, business leaders and the global Concorde fraternity. 

The plans for the exhibit in Central London, close to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, include a twin-deck platform, allowing visitors to enter from the riverside on the lower deck with the Concorde positioned above.  

A mock-up photo of what the exhibit would look like shows people walking around at the foot of the Concorde.  

As well as seeing the aircraft from the outside, visitors would be able to step inside and sit down as if they were about to take off for a supersonic flight to New York.  

It is not the first time that a project has been launched to move a Concorde to Central London and sadly previous attempts have ended in failure, but with a new band of aviation enthusiasts taking up the mantle, anything is surely possible.听听

To donate to the project visit the team’s page.

LEGO sets the release date of epic 2,083-piece supersonic Concorde set

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2023-08-10

(BFRS) first received calls regarding a car fire on level three of the multi-storey car park just after 8:45 pm local time on October 10, 2023.听听

At 9.38 pm the fire brigade declared a major incident due to the ferocity of the blaze and risk to human life.  

In the latest update from Luton Airport on October 11, 2023, passengers were told to not travel to the airport and that all flights would be suspended until at least 3pm.听听

鈥淭he safety of our passengers and staff remains our main priority. We have therefore taken the decision to suspend all flights until noon on Wednesday 11 October,鈥� the airport said. 

BFRS confirmed that firefighters are currently at the scene dampening down what remains of the fire.听听

Efforts are still ongoing to extinguish a serious fire at Luton Airport. We are continuing to protect surrounding airport infrastructure, vehicles and the Luton DART. For anyone whose travel plans may be affected, please refer to the advice being provided by London Luton Airport.

— Beds Fire and Rescue (@BedsFire)

The severity of the fire caused significant structural collapse and all vehicles in the car park have subsequently been damaged due to the blaze.  

East of England Ambulance Service also attended the fire and confirmed that four firefighters and one member of airport staff were taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital. One other patient was discharged at-scene.聽

The aftermath of the Luton Airport fire. You can see where the car park has completely collapsed inside.

Early indications are that it was a car fire that spread. As many as 1,200 vehicles were in the car park at the time.

— Matthew Thompson (@mattuthompson)

Firefighting operations were undertaken to control the blaze and protect nearby buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and the Luton DART. 

At its peak there were 15 rescue pumps, three aerial appliances and over 100 firefighters on the scene.聽

Major airlines cancel flights in and out of Israel after government declares war

• Airlines
• Civil Aviation

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-10

Recently it seems that love is most certainly in the air after stories emerge of unsuspecting flight attendants and a passenger receiving marriage proposals at airports and inside an aircraft cabin at 30,000 feet.

Passenger participation level: 100

What do you commonly see when you open the aircraft lavatory door in the middle of a flight? Most of the time you will be greeted by a bored passenger waiting their turn. 

But when Minita Tanner exited the aircraft lavatory she was not expecting to be greeted by the sight of her now-fianc茅 down on one knee holding a ring, and all passengers behind him ready with phone cameras. 

In true rom-com fashion, four participating passengers were holding up separate signs that read 鈥淲ill you marry me?鈥�

Tanner said yes, and the passengers erupted into an applause.聽

Tanner told 精东影业 that they were on an Delta Air lines flight DL 1964 from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Cancun International Airport (CUN).

Love in the airwaves: an ATC controller falls for a first officer

• Aviation

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-02-14

A Tayto-approved proposal

Dublin Airport精东影业 T1 arrivals area looked like a scene from Love Actually when a Ryanair cabin crew member was greeted by a surprise proposal from her boyfriend.

The boyfriend was waiting with a bouquet of flowers, and later and later pulled out a ring box from his shoulder bag.

He got down on one knee and popped the question. The teary-eyed cabin crew member cried 鈥淵es!鈥� amid cheers from the airport crowd. 

The newly-engaged couple also received the blessing from Ireland精东影业 much-loved Mr. Tayto, the mascot of Ireland精东影业 iconic potato chip snack, as the proposal occurred in front of a Tayto wall ad. 

Mr. Tayto was so impressed with the proposal that he shared the love and gave out free packets of chips to passengers at Dublin Airport the following day. 

Loved-up Luton

London精东影业 Luton Airport became a scene of love and romance when a well-crafted proposal took place in its arrivals area. While the bride-to-be shared her love story on social media back in February 2022, it was recently picked up by People (June 26, 2023).

London-based Wizz Air flight attendant Debora Delcheva was returning home from a Vienna flight when she saw red rose petals strewn on the floor of the arrivals hall. 

The petals, along with friends and family holding up red balloons, led to her partner Atanas Dimitrov, who was down on one knee in front of block letters that spelled, 鈥淢arry me鈥�.

The couple then got into a teary embrace after Delcheva said yes.

Anca and Simone精东影业 story: a chance meeting at 30,000 feet leads to love

• Aviation

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-02-14