Latest news with #AirbusA340
The Age
7 days ago
- Business
- The Age
South African Airways business class review from Perth: Ageing plane still mostly delivers
★★★½ Reviews & adviceAirline reviews August 12, 2025 — 5:00am , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Route Perth to Johannesburg, SA281 Perth to Johannesburg, SA281 Frequency Five times a week Five times a week Aircraft Airbus A340-300 Airbus A340-300 Class Business, seat 1A (window) Business, seat 1A (window) Flight time 11 hours, 15 minutes (on time) The four-engine Airbus A340 flown by South African Airways. Getty Images I've flown to Perth from Sydney with Virgin Australia, SAA's codeshare partner on east coast connections. The international terminal is a short walk from the domestic terminal, along an outdoor walkway. The layover in Perth is two hours, 20 minutes, and check-in isn't busy yet – I'm first in line at the priority check-in desk. Business class passengers can use the airport's Air New Zealand lounge. In business class, two checked pieces weighing 32 kilograms each and two carry-on items up to eight kilograms each. Loyalty scheme SAA Voyager, part of the Star Alliance network. Members of Virgin Australia's Velocity program can also earn points with SAA. The seat Business class seats are in a 2-2-2 configuration, which means you'll have to clamber over your neighbour if you're in a window seat. 1A in a 2-2-2-configured cabin. The seat beside me is empty, but the pull-out screen would offer some privacy if necessary. The cabin of this older plane isn't as plush as those on glossier carriers; however the absence of cubicle-style structures frees up so much space it's positively commodious. The seat has a pitch of 72 inches (185 centimetres) and width of 23 inches (60 centimetres). A small storage space is tucked beneath the armrest and there's a pocket on the bulkhead; non-bulkhead rows have shoe-storage cubbies on the seats in front of them. My backpack-tormented back is soothed by the lumbar massage function. Seats recline fully flat, and the padded seat cover, pillows and duvet transform them into comfortable beds. Note that if you're in a window seat with a neighbour beside you, you'll need to step over their flatbed when getting up. Entertainment + tech Each seat has a power port, USB plug and noise-cancelling headphones. The swing-out TV screen emits retro vibes with its somewhat faded entertainment selection; better to access comprehensive, up-to-date content on the Airscape app, downloadable onto your personal device using the barcode supplied on the plane (see I whet my appetite for the forthcoming journey by flipping through the in-flight magazine, Sawubona , which SAA has also sent me in digital format on WhatsApp. Service Seats convert to a flat bed. This is where SAA really takes off. Such genuine warmth and tactility is uncommon on other carriers, and I delight in the languages smattering flight attendants' conversations: English, Afrikaans, isiZulu and Sotho. Methode Cap Classique (sparkling wine) is served with peanuts once I'm boarded; biltong is offered as a boarding snack on the return leg (make sure to eat it all – travellers are prohibited from bringing the cured meat into Australia). Food The menu is crafted by celebrity chef and restaurateur Reuben Riffel and Benny Masekwameng, a judge on MasterChef South Africa and Ultimate Braai Master . I have crab, mushroom and polenta canapes followed by a rich tomato and capsicum soup, juicy barramundi served on a bed of spicy noodles and a tub of Bulla vanilla ice-cream (dishes are more authentically South African on the return leg – seafood curry, lamb with creamy pap). Excellent South African wines accompany the meal; Amarula liqueur makes the perfect nightcap. Sustainability Passengers who offset carbon emissions with online bookings help support Ghana's Gyapa stoves project, which reduces pollution and deforestation.* One more thing The tomato-red, canvas-style amenities bag is a keepsake filled with Aigner products. At OR Tambo Airport, in Johannesburg, staff place priority luggage on a red welcome mat. On the return flight, passengers can make use of the airport's new SAA's premium lounge. The price From about $7100 return from Perth and about $7150 return from Sydney. ** Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.
Global News
01-08-2025
- General
- Global News
Survivors recall frantic escape 20 years after Air France crash in Toronto
Lisa Platt was returning to Toronto with a French exchange student on Air France flight 358 on Aug. 2, 2005. At 15, Platt hadn't travelled by air very much at that point and was enjoying the trip. 'We were all excited, wearing headphones, listening to the same music. It was a great day,' said Platt. Eddie Ho, age 19, was a business student from South Africa attending Queen's University in Kingston. He also said the trip from Paris was memorable. 'The service was great, the food was great, it was actually a very enjoyable flight,' Ho said. But it was a flight that ended with the plane going up in flames after a disastrous landing, even though it initially appeared to passengers that the pilots would be able to stop on the runway 24L at Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Story continues below advertisement 'I felt a huge impact like you were on a roller-coaster,' said Platt. 'The plane was making its way down the runway and everybody started clapping. Nobody knew what was going to happen after that,' said Ho. View image in full screen Lisa Platt and Eddie Ho are pictured in downtown Toronto in July 2025. Sean O'Shea/Global News According to the aviation investigation report by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, weather conditions for the landing included 'very dark clouds, turbulence and heavy rain.' 'The runway was covered with water, producing a shiny, glass-like surface,' the report continued. The Air France Airbus A340 touched down '3,800 feet down the 9,000 foot runway' and was not able to stop, crash investigators concluded. 'It departed the end of the runway at a groundspeed of 80 knots (148 kilometres per hour) and came to rest in a ravine,' the TSB report said. Story continues below advertisement Seconds after the plane came to a stop, fire was observed out the left side of the aircraft and smoke was entering the cabin, the report said. For passengers, including Ho and Platt, it was clear they needed to get out of the plane immediately. 'Some people were reaching up for their bags and others who were in the middle of the plane, they knew what was going on, and they were climbing over seats pushing people out,' said Ho, who was seated in the economy cabin just behind the business class section. When Ho went to the nearest exit to get out, he discovered that the emergency evacuation slide hadn't deployed. He faced a choice: jump to the ground and risk injury or look for another way out. 'I decided not to risk the jump; I ran to the front to the first exit on the left,' he said. At the second emergency exit, Ho said he faced another challenge. 'The chute came out, but it did not inflate. But at that point I had no other choice,' said Ho, who jumped and sustained minor injuries. 'There were passengers near me who broke their hips, broke their legs, had much more serious injuries.' Story continues below advertisement Platt, seated with her friend toward the rear of the plane, had an easier time escaping. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'My shoe popped off. I remember grabbing my shoe with my hand thinking, 'I'm going to need this,'' Platt said. After descending on the escape slide, Platt observed a passenger concerned about what he left behind. 'I remember a guy in a brown suit worried about his luggage at the bottom of the chute, and I thought, that's not the right time to worry about your luggage,' Platt said. View image in full screen Police survey the site where an Air France Airbus A340 jet slid off the runway and crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005. All 309 passengers and crew aboard the Air France jet survived the crash Tuesday afternoon. David Duprey/AP via CP Ho, Platt, and others made it out of the plane, but weren't out of danger yet. 'My first thought was, we have to get away from the plane because it's going to explode,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'We need to get away.' Ho said he and another man assisted an injured passenger lying on the ground. '(We were) carrying him, just trying to drag him away from the plane,' said Ho. About the same time, Ho pulled out his Canon Powershot digital camera and quickly grabbed a few frames of the burning airplane as he moved away. At the time, smart phones hadn't been invented and few people carried cameras every day. 'I remember taking a couple of shots, I didn't aim or do anything, I just took it out and snap, snap,' said Ho. One of his pictures was awarded the 2006 Canadian Press Picture of the Year in the news category. Eventually, Ho was transported to the Pearson air terminal where he joined other plane crash survivors who were grouped together. 'They actually thought it was a terrorist attack, so they didn't let any passengers out,' Ho said. Even though Ho and Platt had abandoned their belongings in the aircraft, that fact didn't prevent customs officers from wanting to know what they had brought back from Europe. 'I still remember the customs folks, CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) came out and asked me multiple times: 'Do you have anything to declare,'' and insisted he sign a declaration card. Story continues below advertisement 'I had nothing to declare,' Ho said. Platt said she, too was asked to make a declaration. 'They were just doing their jobs,' she said. With news of the Air France crash making headlines around the world, Platt wanted to let her family know she was all right. She reached her mother by telephone. 'I was like, 'Mom, it's me, it's Lisa,' recalling how her mother appeared surprised and probably relieved to hear her voice. Late that evening, Platt and others were allowed to leave after the airline had accounted for all the passengers and crew members. 'We were pretty sure there were fatalities,' said Ho, recounting what he felt in the hours after the crash. View image in full screen Lisa Platt shows a tattoo on her ankle of AF 358, the number of an Air France flight that crashed at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Aug. 2, 2005. To the surprise of many who were onboard, all 297 passengers and 12 crew members had made it out safely. Story continues below advertisement Everyone survived. But quickly, many passengers would start dealing with the aftermath. 'It was exhausting, I think it was the next day when it all hit me,' said Platt. In the months and years ahead, the survivors would come to terms with what they had gone through that afternoon in the driving rain and lightning at the end of the runway. Ho and Platt experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sought help from therapists for about a year. 'I remember I started to get nightmares, and I slowly didn't like to be on buses, I didn't like to be in cars,' said Platt. To this day, Platt says she must be the one driving a vehicle in a rainstorm. At the end of her counselling sessions, Platt says her therapist would hold her feet for about five minutes, encouraging her to stay grounded. Platt later had the Air France flight number, AF 358, tattooed on her ankle, a daily reminder of what she had survived. Air France provided a free, return trip to every passenger on the ill-fated flight. Platt chose to travel back to Paris and to return to Toronto exactly one year later on the same day and flight. Story continues below advertisement 'I cried and you grip harder than you normally grip,' she said, referring to holding to the armrests. Years later, Platt went on to pursue a career that might be considered unusual for an air crash survivor. 'I thought, 'I want to be a flight attendant, I want to get on these planes and I can do this,'' Platt said. After initially working as a customer service representative, Platt got a job as a flight attendant with Porter Airlines. She spent almost ten years with the company flying in and out of Toronto before pursuing another career. Eddie Ho finished his university education and became a chartered professional account in Toronto. He says he took first flight a year after the crash but it took about five years before he stopped thinking about the crash when he boarded plane. As a frequent flyer for work, Ho says he tried to put other jittery flyers at ease when he can. 'Sometimes it's a passenger next to me and they're afraid of flying,' said Ho. ''I'll give them support right away, don't worry, it will be fine,' he tells nervous passengers. Ho holds something back, however. Story continues below advertisement 'I don't tell them that I've been in a plane accident. I usually tell them afterward,' said Ho. Ho lets people know that crash survivors don't get free perks beyond that initial free flight. 'The stories that you get free, unlimited travel for the rest of your life or free elite status for the rest of your life, no, that doesn't happen,' he said. Ho said the crash has influenced how he approaches life. 'I have a mindset of — how can I help others?' and says he does not hold grudges as a result of the crash. Similarly, Platt recalls how fortunate she is to have escaped death 20 years ago. 'I have a lot of gratitude. I am very thankful we made it out okay,' said Platt. 'For me, things may have been different if we didn't all survive.'
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iranian Government Aircraft Make Mysterious Dash To Oman
Iran's primary presidential plane and two other government airliners have touched down in the Omani capital Muscat. The highly unusual arrivals come amid reports that the regime in Tehran is looking to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel, as well as growing speculation that the United States may be about to directly enter the fighting in a major way. Where exactly the Iranian aircraft, a pair of Airbus A321s and an Airbus A340, originally departed from is unclear. The trio of aircraft used the callsigns JJ25, JJ26, and JJ28. At the time of writing, there has been no official word about the purpose of the flights or who might be on them. The 3 aircraft that have left Iran and landed in Muscat, Oman are 2 x A321 and 1 x A340. — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 18, 2025 שלושה מטוסים ממשלתיים של איראן המריאו בשעה האחרונה מדרום המדינה ונחתו במסקט בירת עומאן. אחד מהם הוא המטוס הנשיאותי, אשר שימש עד לאחרונה את הנשיא מסעוד פזשכיאן. מטרת הטיסה לא ברורה: האם הגיעו לשיחות תיווך בעומאן, או שמא מולטו מן המדינה ועליהם נוסעים. — avi scharf (@avischarf) June 18, 2025 Publicly available air traffic control recordings suggest that a fourth aircraft from Iran may be inbound to Muscat. However, there does not appear to be any clear indication of this yet from available online flight tracking data. Per @liveatc JJ25 advising Muscat Ground that there are going to be a total of four aircraft coming from Iran? What's going on? — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 18, 2025 As noted, the Iranian A340, which carries the Iranian registration code EP-IGA, has been used to transport Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in the past, including to the United States for the main annual United Nations General Assembly meeting last year. Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) used the Airbus A340-313X aircraft (Serial 5-8405, registration EP-IGA) to carry the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to the New York's John F. Kennedy aircraft (MSN:257) was part of the fleet of Air Canada (C-GDVV),… — FL360aero (@fl360aero) September 23, 2024 There are several possible reasons for the arrival of the Iranian aircraft in Oman. A major Iranian delegation could have arrived in Muscat for new negotiations around ending the current conflict with Israel. Iran and Oman have solid diplomatic ties, and the latter has often served as an intermediary between the regime in Tehran and the West. Oman had just recently been facilitating talks between the United States and Iran over the latter country's nuclear ambitions. Iran has been reportedly reaching out to foreign partners about the possibility of a deal to end the current crisis, though publicly the regime in Tehran remains defiant in the face of ongoing Israeli strikes. 'They want to negotiate. I ask: why didn't they negotiate two weeks ago,' U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters today, while also raising the prospect of an Iranian delegation visiting the White House. 'It is very late to be talking.' Trump on the Iranians: "they even suggested to come to the White House"Says it's "very late" to be talking, "there's a big difference between now and a week ago" (these bits are in a different clip) — Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) June 18, 2025 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do,' Trump also said when asked about whether the U.S. military might begin to launch its own strikes on Iran. When asked it the US would strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Trump said: 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do"Trump also asked what his message is to the Supreme Leader of Iran and said: 'I say good luck.' — Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) June 18, 2025 There remains no clear evidence of American forces taking a new offensive role in the conflict, though a major U.S. build-up is continuing, as you can read more about here. Online flight tracking data today did show two U.S. Air Force KC-135 aerial refueling tankers flying eastward over Israel and then up along the Jordanian-Iraqi border, the purpose of which is also unclear. Pair of tankers working just south of the Syrian border over Jordan. KC-135R 58-0069 #AE04F6 KC-135R 63-7985 # — Evergreen Intel (@vcdgf555) June 18, 2025 Two U.S. KC-135R Stratotanker planes are flying over Israel . — ILRedAlert (@ILRedAlert) June 18, 2025 In response to Trump's remarks, Iran's mission to the United Nations made a post on X publicly rejecting the possibility of a White House visit and negotiations while 'under duress.' Israeli authorities have also rejected talk of a diplomatic resolution to the current conflict. Iran mission to UN not surprisingly rejects Trump's apparent idea for the Iranians to come to the White House — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) June 18, 2025 If the Iranian aircraft touching down in Oman are not tied to a diplomatic mission, they could also be carrying individuals seeking to escape the current conflict. Israel has notably been striking Iran's capital Tehran, as well as other locations across western Iran, with virtual impunity for days now. Similarly, the movement of the aircraft could be about keeping them safe from expanding Israeli strikes on Iranian air bases in the event that they might be called upon to help senior regime officials evacuate in the future. As an interesting comparative case, during the Gulf War in 1991, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered much of his country's air force to flee to neighboring Iran, despite the historical enmity between the two regimes, to escape destruction by the U.S.-led coalition. A number of Iranian airliners, including ones belonging to Mahan Air and Fars Air Qeshm, which have been linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were previously tracked leaving Tehran over the weekend. As TWZ noted at the time, those flights were already risky given Israeli air activity. Out of Tehran now — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) June 14, 2025 Fars Air QeshmBoeing 747-281F# — 360°Radar (@wipljw) June 14, 2025 TWZ has reached out to the White House and the U.S. State Department for additional information. In response to our queries, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) also directed us to contact the White House. With Iran's main presidential plane and other government-operated airliners now in Oman, more details about why they have made the trip may now begin to emerge. Howard Altman contributed to this story. Contact the author: joe@
Economic Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Mystery in the skies: Iranian government planes make sudden dash to Oman, fueling speculation
Could Iran be preparing for secret negotiations? Live Events Per @liveatc JJ25 advising Muscat Ground that there are going to be a total of four aircraft coming from Iran? What's going on? — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) June 18, 2025 Is this an evacuation plan? FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel There is something strange going on in the skies. Three Iranian government planes landed in Oman for unknown reasons, leading to rumours about secret talks or possible an official statement, people have come up with a wide range of ideas, from peace talks to emergency plans. The movement of the planes comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran are at an all-time Omani capital, Muscat, has seen the arrival of Iran's main presidential aircraft as well as two more government aircraft. The Iranian aircraft included two Airbus A321s and an Airbus A340. The callsigns of the three aircraft were JJ25, JJ26, and to publicly accessible air traffic control recordings, there may be a fourth Iranian plane arriving in Muscat. But based on the flight tracking data that is currently available online, there doesn't seem to be any conclusive evidence of atypical arrivals coincide with reports that the Iranian regime is seeking to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict with Israel, as per a report by President Masoud Pezeshkian has previously been transported by the Iranian A340, registered under the Iranian registration code EP-IGA, including last year when he travelled to the United States for the major annual meeting of the United Nations General arrival of the Iranian aircraft in Oman could have been caused by a number of factors.A sizeable Iranian delegation might have travelled to Muscat for fresh talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Israel. Strong diplomatic relations exist between Iran and Oman, the latter of which has frequently acted as a go-between for the Tehran regime and the had been also helping the US and Iran have discussions about Iran's nuclear planes landing in Oman might also be transporting people trying to flee the ongoing conflict if they are not connected to a diplomatic mission. Notably, Israel has been attacking Tehran, the capital of Iran, and other places in western Iran for days with essentially no to this, the aircraft's movement may be intended to protect them from further Israeli strikes on Iranian air bases in case they are ever asked to assist in the evacuation of top regime the Tehran regime publicly remains defiant in the face of ongoing Israeli strikes, Iran has reportedly been contacting foreign partners about the possibility of a deal to end the current crisis, as per a report by mission to the UN publicly rejected the prospect of a White House visit and negotiations while "under duress" in a post on X in response to Trump's exact reason is unknown, but possible explanations include secret peace talks, emergency evacuation preparations, or protecting key planes from Israeli is no confirmation, but Trump has hinted at a possible Iranian visit to the White House. Iran has publicly rejected the talks "under duress."
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Transatlantic passengers heading for Miami had a 4-hour flight to nowhere, ending up back in Zurich
A Swiss International Airlines flight to Miami landed back in Zurich after a four-hour journey. The Airbus A340 had "an irregularity with an engine," the airline said. The flight changed directions a couple of times over the ocean before circling Zurich for an hour. Passengers expecting to travel transatlantic ended up on a four-hour flight-to-nowhere. Swiss International Airlines Flight 64 on Monday was supposed to be a 10-hour journey from Zurich to Miami. Passengers were already in for some disruption as it departed around an hour later than scheduled, per data from Flightradar24. Things went smoothly until an hour and a half into the journey, when the Airbus A340 started to turn around. The plane had not long started flying over the Atlantic Ocean before deciding to head back. It appeared to be going toward Switzerland, then turned toward Spain, before returning to its original path. After three hours in the air, the A340 was back in Swiss airspace. However, it then had to circle around Zurich a few times before it could land. An airline spokesperson told Business Insider that the plane returned due to "an irregularity with an engine." The four-engined plane involved in the incident, HB-JMH, is 21 years old. "As a precautionary measure, the crew decided to return to the home airport in Zurich, where we have the best maintenance facilities," they added. This is often the case in so-called flights to nowhere, where returning to a hub airport also makes it easier to re-route passengers. Those on the Swiss flight were rebooked on the fastest possible alternatives. "We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers," the airline spokesperson said. Similar incidents have seen flights as long as 10 hours before returning to their original take-off point. For example, last November, a British Airways flight U-turned when it was halfway across the Atlantic. And after a plane crash at Toronto Airport in February, two transatlantic flights to nowhere were among dozens of planes that diverted. Read the original article on Business Insider
