A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight was grounded in Johannesburg’s airport in South Africa on Tuesday following a bomb threat. The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) confirmed it received a call from someone claiming that there was a bomb on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ478, which was scheduled to fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Tuesday morning. “The aircraft landed at OR Tambo (International Airport). Emergency services were activated, along with fire and rescue and the South Africa Police Service,” it said. Acsa added that the police with K-9 units swept through the aircraft, and did not find any bomb. In response to queries from The Straits Times, a SIA spokesman said: “All 58 passengers and 15 crew disembarked the aircraft safely, and supplementary security checks were conducted. SIA also assisted the authorities with their investigations.” The aircraft was declared safe. It left Johannesburg at 12.37pm local time and arrived safely in Cape Town at 2.29pm, about five hours behind schedule, the SIA spokesman added.<br/>
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Air China has promoted vice president Wang Mingyuan to its new president, executive director and vice chairman. The move, announced 13 March, comes after former president Ma Chongxian vacated his post to become airline chairman. The appointment comes effective immediately, says the state-owned carrier. Wang first joined the aviation sector in 1988 after graduating from Xiamen University. He has held positions in various Air China units, including Shandong Airlines from 2006, Air Macau from 2007, as well as Tibet Airlines since 2020. At Air China, Wang held the position of vice president since 2011, and was chairman of the airline’s development unit in Hong Kong. Wang’s predecessor Ma was appointed as airline chairman in late-September 2022, replacing Song Zhiyong who joined the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The leadership reshuffle comes at an important time for the Chinese aviation sector, which is ramping up capacity after Beijing eased much of its ‘zero-Covid’ policies. Air China, along with compatriots China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, are expected to post record losses for 2022, a result of China’s now-scuppered Covid-19 restrictions.<br/>
From a cabin concept that completely eradicates the middle seat to a swanky design that takes single-aisle aircraft business class to a new level, this year’s Crystal Cabin Awards shortlist offers an exciting glimpse at aviation’s potential future. Every year the Crystal Cabin Awards showcase innovative ideas that reconceptualize the airplane cabin experience. There are eight categories, with awards spotlighting everything from eco-friendly innovations – such as an AI-based food waste app idea from German airline Lufthansa – to next generation concepts straight from the university classroom. Julia Grosser, a spokesperson for the Crystal Cabin Award Association, says this year’s shortlist suggests aviation is turning a corner after the uncertainty of the peak pandemic years. “Airlines, manufacturers, and suppliers are heavily investing in their onboard products again,” Grosser says, pointing to the “significant innovation visible even in economy class – from bunk beds to better connectivity.” Among the shortlisted cabin innovations is Air New Zealand’s “Skynest” concept, which envisages bookable sleeping pods made up of six lie-flat bunk beds, designed to give economy long-haul passengers the opportunity to get some proper shuteye. “Being a small country at the bottom of the world, long-haul travel is vital to keeping us connected and allowing tourists to visit our beautiful country,” Kerry Reeves, Air New Zealand’s head of aircraft programs, tells CNN Travel. The motivation behind SkyNest is Air New Zealand’s belief that passengers should be able to “get a good rest, no matter the cabin,” as Reeves puts it. The pods are arranged like bunk beds, made up of two rows, each containing three beds, bookable for approximately four hours. Air New Zealand has been working on SkyNest for several years, with the concept first revealed back in 2020. Work’s now firmly underway to make the project a reality – Reeves says the airline is currently “working through the in-depth certification and engineering detail of having the Skynest on our new 787 aircraft.”<br/>