Suites and Lobbies
Video Review: Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner Economy Cabin
I’m excited to share my recent journey flying back to Honolulu from San Francisco International Airport on Hawaiian Airlines’ new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Despite a minor hiccup with terminal information, the travel experience was impressive, especially from my seat in the Extra Comfort section, which offered notably more legroom—a real...
Sam Chui
Trip Report: The New Lufthansa Allegris A350 Flight
I joined the inaugural flight of Lufthansa featuring new Allegris products from Munich to Vancouver. The newly delivered Airbus A350 has a completely new cabin makeover. Video Munich - 01 May 2024 The inaugural flight was LH476 from Munich to Vancouver on 1 May. There was a welcome reception at...
Sam Chui
Dubai Unveil Plans to Transform Al Maktoum Int’l (DWC) to World’s Largest Airport
Dubai has unveiled a groundbreaking plan to transform Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) into the world’s largest airport.  This ambitious project, estimated to cost AED 128 billion ($34.85 billion), is expected to further solidify Dubai’s position as a global leader in aviation and logistics. The new passenger terminals at DWC...
Sam Chui
New DOT Rule: Automatic Cash Refunds for Flight Disruptions & Ban On Junk Fees
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced two new rules yesterday that will help air travelers get refunds for services the airlines have not provided and ban junk fees such as forced fees for seat selection. These rules aimed to simplify the refund process and strengthen passenger rights. Extracts below...
Sam Chui
IndiGo Orders up to 100 Airbus A350s
IndiGo has placed its first-ever widebody order for up to 100 Airbus A350s, including 30 firm orders with options for an additional 70 aircraft. The first of these A350-900s is expected to arrive in 2027. All these aircraft will be fitted with Rolls Royce’s Trent XWB engines.  The deal is...
Sam Chui
LAX is Renaming its Terminals And Gates
Only a few terminals will be renamed. The post LAX is Renaming its Terminals And Gates appeared first on SamChui.com.
Sam Chui
CEO Talks: Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram on Fleet, Expansion and Merger Process
I interviewed Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO. He spoke about the airline's B787 expansion and B717 replacement fleet plan, whether Boeing's delay has hurt or helped the airline and where it stands in the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines merger process. Do you see Hawaiian Airlines as a leisure airline that...
Sam Chui
American Airlines Reveals New Flagship Preferred Suite
The airline's new business and premium economy cabin will debut this year. The post American Airlines Reveals New Flagship Preferred Suite appeared first on SamChui.com.
Suites and Lobbies
A First Class Experience on Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner | Leihōkū Suites | HNL-SFO
Aloha, everyone. On an absolutely gorgeous day in Honolulu, I was ready to board a brand new, Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Its inaugural flight was a success, and today, I’m thrilled to share with you a full review of my experience in the first-class Leihōkū Suites. The Anticipation For...
Sam Chui
Trip Report: Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner Inaugural Flight
I flew on the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines B787-9 from San Francisco to Honolulu. This is a photo trip report of my onboard experience. Video Flight HA11 San Francisco to Honolulu There were some celebrations and festivities at the gate before we board. Passengers were given Hawaiian Lei. (Flower ring) as...
Sam Chui
Ex-Cathay Pacific A330 Destroyed by Fire in Long-Term Storage
An ex-Cathay Pacific Airbus A330 has been completely destroyed by fire at Ciudad Real Airport, Spain. The A330 caught fire while it was parked in long-term storage. The former Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, with registration B-HLH, had been stored at the airport since 2020, as reported by Planespotters. The 28.3-year-old...
Sam Chui
World’s Top 10 Busiest Airports for 2023
The air travel industry witnessed a significant recovery in 2023, with passenger numbers reaching nearly 8.5 billion globally. This represents a remarkable 27.2% increase from 2022 and signifies a near 94% return to pre-pandemic levels (2019). Notably, international traffic played a key role in this growth, surging by 36.5% compared...
Sam Chui
Dubai Airport Flooded – Flight Cancellation and Disruption
Dubai International Airport was struck by heavy rains and flooding on Tuesday, leading to significant flight disruptions. The downpour caused a series of issues, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. The airport, which typically handles over 100 flight arrivals on a normal evening, was forced to suspend operations for around...
Sam Chui
End Of An Era: NASA’s Airborne Science DC-8 Retires After 37 Years
NASA's Douglas DC-8 is about to be honorably repurposed and replaced. Read on for details and the author's visit to the famous DC-8 for OLYMPEX. The post End Of An Era: NASA’s Airborne Science DC-8 Retires After 37 Years appeared first on SamChui.com.
Sam Chui
Airspace Closure in the Middle East + Flight Diversions
Airspace closures through the Middle East have grounded and diverted flights, after Iran reportedly launched drones toward Israel on April 13. Following the drone attack, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon closed their airspace. As many airlines already avoid Iranian airspace, the Middle East region which serves as an overflight region...