Join me on the launch Cathay Pacific New Aria Suite Flight to experience their new Business Class. The Boeing 777 has gone through a complete makeover from the front to the back. I boarded a Cathay Pacific B777-300/ER at Hong Kong International Airport to Beijing. The newly refurbished Cathay B777 has 45 new Aria Suite in Business Class, 48 new Premium Economy seats and 268 Economy seats. After takeoff, I explored all the new features of the Aria Suite which include an added privacy door and some cool technology including a lavatory status monitor and seat customization control on the inflight entertainment screen. It also comes with 4K resolution, wireless charging, and Bluetooth headset. I also looked at Cathay’s new Premium Economy seat design and spoke with several passengers about their experience. Unfortunately, the majority of the improvements are focused on the Premium cabin. Economy Class has only several cosmetic makeovers. During the flight, I spoke with a cabin crew recently joined from mainland China. A quick 2.5-hour flight is not quite enough to experience the full features and the comfort of the Aria Suite. I tried as much as I could. I would love to hear your thoughts and experience too.

What’s bush flying in Africa like? Join me on a fly-in safari to Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park in Kenya and Tanzania. Which country has the best fly-in safari experience? I boarded a Dash-7 of AirKenya Express from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Keekorok in Masai Mara National Park. The short takeoff and landing aircraft was built in 1982 and will be retiring shortly. I filmed the takeoff from the cockpit. On approach, the pilot was alerted of many animals near the runway. I spotted countless wildebeests during the landing. It was an incredible sight as a fly-in safari. Next in Tanzania, I flew on Auric Air Pilatus PC-12 from Dar Es Salaam to Kagotende in Serengeti National Park. I was sitting in the right pilot seat to fly. Captain Navid introduced me to the Pilatus and I could “feel” the aircraft during the flight. We landed on a dirt strip in Serengeti National Park. I saw the incredible animal migration afterward. If you enjoy flying turboprops to the bush and animal safari, Kenya and Tanzania offer excellent options.

What’s it like to fly on a Presidential Boeing 747 private jet? Join me on this VIP flight from London to Beijing. This VIP Boeing 747-400 Combi served Abu Dhabi Amiri Flight, Morocco Government and Dubai Air Wing before being sold off. It was in storage for 2 years and has recently been activated. Engineers share their work on keeping the 747 active before we take off. After takeoff, I tour the VIP 747 interiors from the private bedroom to the “golden” bathroom, the “Majlis” area, the dining/conference area, the rear cargo hold, and the upper deck suites. There is also a communication station on this highly modified VIP B747. Our ferry flight to Beijing took 10 hours and 27 minutes. The routing took us flying over 15 countries over the United Kingdom, EU Airspace, Türkiye, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and China. Enjoy some great sights en-route and a beautiful sunrise. During the flight, I share my feelings on flying this luxurious 747; truly a once-a-lifetime experience!

I flew on the inaugural Emirates Airline flight to Madagascar 🇲🇬. Is the country worth visiting? I boarded an Emirates Boeing 777-300/ER from Dubai to Antananarivo. The flight to Madagascar has a brief stop in Seychelles. All passengers received the inaugural flight certificate and we met with a water cannon salute after landing in Madagascar’s capital; Antananarivo. There are a lot of celebrations at Ivato Airport. The country’s president Andry Rajoelina was there to welcome the Emirates flight. Later on, I met with the President, who spoke about the significance of the new flight to the country. Madagascar is the world’s 4th largest island but the air transport network is less developed. The country has 5% of the world's biodiversity. Domestically, I traveled on Madagascar Airlines ATR72 from Antananarivo to Ansitranana (Diego Suarez) and Nosy be. Join me to explore Madagascar 🇲🇬.

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code SAM for 4 months EXTRA at https://surfshark.com/sam Join me for an exciting flight summiting Africa’s Highest Peak; Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m / 19,341 ft). Later on, I traveled on Air Tanzania for the first time. I boarded a chartered Cessna Caravan flight from Arusha Airport. The flight came with oxygen mask and supplies. We must use oxygen once reaches over 14,000 ft as it is an unpressurized flight. There was a lenticular cloud that covered the top of Mt Kilimanjaro. The view was absolutely incredible at 20,000 ft. Kilimanjaro is the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world. We circled around and managed to see the volcanic peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Before returning, we also looked at Mount Meru (4,562m/14,967 ft), Africa’s tallest mountain before eruption. The view was out of this world. We saw the peak in just an hour by flight compared to a 10-day trek. Next, I flew out of the bush and headed for the beach at Zanzibar and stayed at the newly opened Bawe Island Resort. At the end of my trip, I traveled on Air Tanzania Dash8-400 from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam, which is just 15-minute hop. From there, I flew on Air Tanzania B737 MAX 9 to Dubai. Check out my flight and Air Tanzania Twiga Lounge.

Nigeria has one of Africa's largest GDP and population but commercial aviation in the country is very underdeveloped. I tried out Nigeria’s Ibom Air A220. Can Nigerian airlines succeed and be Africa’s next aviation giant? I flew with Ibom Air new A220 from Lagos to Abuja and back. The new A220 features both Business and Economy cabin. Boarding was smooth and orderly. The pilots explained about the flight operation. Cabin crew serve a snack pack to all passengers during the short flight to Abuja. Deplane was called by row number and very orderly. I did a quick turnaround in Abuja, taking the same flight returning to Lagos that evening. Despite the poor airport experience, my overall experience was encouraging with Ibom Air. But it does leave me wonder how can commercial aviation develop further in Nigeria? There are massive potential but there are so much obstacles in the way….

I flew on a Global Express in ultimate style and luxury across the African continent. It is completely different from flying on the airlines. The private Bombardier Global Express; T7-SMF is managed by UAS International Trip Support. It is on a roadshow for clients to visit the aircraft. We started our journey from Lanseria, South Africa. Our first stop is Maputo, Mozambique. The takeoff was extremely short and powerful. Flight time was just 45 minutes. The pilot introduced the performance of the Global Express. After Maputo, we head for Nairobi. I explored the full luxury features of the large private jet. An executive lunch was served by a private flight attendant. Looking out the window, we flew past Africa’s tallest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro standing at over 5,800m in the distance. After a stop in Nairobi, we continue the journey to Lagos, Nigeria. The private sleeping cabin was put to good use. We’re flying faster and higher than all commercial traffic. Flying on a private charter gives you much freedom, privacy, and convenience. However, it is the aviation experience that I treasured the most.

What’s the Emirates A380 First Class experience of 2024 like? I went personal and revealed how I can fly in First Class. (Be sure to hear me out!) After the chauffeur drive drop-off at Dubai Airport, I visited the Emirates First Class Lounge in Dubai Concourse B, which was under renovation and the new facelift of the lounge would open a day after my visit. Once boarded and settled in the Emirates A380 First Class Suite, flight attendants came to offer all the usual Emirates First Class amenities. A stream of A380 departed one after another, which happens regularly in Dubai. After takeoff, I went personal and revealed how I could fly in First Class. (Be sure to hear me out!) Caviar is an absolute highlight of Emirates First class dining. I spoke with the crew about how much caviar you can have on a flight. After dining, I visited the A380 onboard lounge and experienced some clear air turbulence which all passengers and crew had to be seated. I finished off the flight enjoying Live TV featuring the last day of the Paris Olympic Games and gave my verdict on the Emirates First Class experience.

I follow the Cathay Pacific pilots and cabin crew for flight briefing before boarding the Boeing 777-300/ER to Paris. However, we encountered trouble before takeoff…What happened? I boarded the flight early to film how Cathay's crew prepared for departure. While the pilots were checking, they discovered a mechanical fault on the B777. Engineers were called in for troubleshooting while all the passengers waited. Later, it was determined that the best solution was to change to another aircraft. Luckily, Cathay found another 4 class B777-300/ER so all the catering, baggage, and cargo were moved to the new plane. All passengers and crew had to deplane and our departure was delayed by 2 hours. The efficiency of the airline operations was noted during the recovery process and we managed to depart without further issues or delays. After takeoff, cabin crew started their busy duty on the 13-hour-long flight. They explained their workloads on the overnight intercontinental flight to me. Go behind the scenes to discover the inflight operation.

I was given a rare behind-the-scenes tour of Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. Explore cabin crew service training, operation control center, and B747-8 flight simulation. Inside Cathay City, many new cabin crew are joining Cathay and I joined their training in the aircraft cabin mockup. Many experienced cabin crew members upgraded their skills to serve in First Class. Check out what it takes to be a First Class cabin crew… Next, I toured Cathay’s Integrated Operation Center (IOC) where a team of professionals performed flight watch and made critical decisions to ensure the smooth operation of the airline. Captain Jon Toller explains how Cathay operates during adverse weather conditions like typhoon. Then I went inside a full-motion flight simulator of Boeing 747-8F with Captain Obet. We simulated an engine fire during takeoff and how to fly the B747 back to safety. Check out my landing back in Hong Kong Int’l Airport.

A full review of commercial aviation at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. Join me for all the airshow highlights and flying displays. At Farnborough Airshow 2024, Qatar Airways revealed the Next-Gen Q Suite. The suite on the side can now form a double suite facing each other by pushing the panel aside! The new QSuite is 1.5 inches wider upright and 4 inches wider in bed mode than the current Qsuite. The new furnishing includes black marble top and metallic lumina. Other new features include safety locker and customized color lighting. It will be installed on Boeing 777X and new A350 deliveries. Next, I toured inside Virgin Atlantic's new A330-900neo and Air India A350-900. Airbus has provided an update on its A350 Freighter program. Turkish Airlines has also revealed its new Crystal Business Class Suite at Farnborough. At Boeing, National Airlines signed 4 B777 Freighter order and chairman Chris Alf explained the booming cargo market. At Embraer, I toured the new E190 E-Freighter and the E195 E2 “Tech Eagle” aircraft.

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code SAM for 4 months EXTRA at https://surfshark.com/sam American Airlines is the World’s biggest airline. But my recent experience was MEH 😐…Is American the WORST of 3 major US airlines? Here’s my story… After visiting the airplane graveyard in Teruel, I went to Barcelona, ready to fly to the US. I’ve got a great award redemption ticket from American Airlines AAdvantage flying from Barcelona to Las Vegas via London and Dallas. It cost just 57,500 miles + $80 tax. On my departure day, British Airways canceled the Barcelona to London flight and my travel was disrupted and delayed for 24 hours. It’s really hard to find staff to help when exceptions happen…but I managed to rebook and received food and hotel voucher. The next day I finally reached London Heathrow and got on the American Airlines B777-300/ER. The entire AA premium experience was disappointing to say the least. Welcome drink came in plastic cup, disposable headsets, poorly presented food… There was hardly anything stands out on this flight other than the lie-flat seat. There were just 11 flight attendants onboard compared to the usual 14-15 on B777-300/ER……The workload was much higher with the shortage of staff….so the cabin crew tried to hurry the service and get more rest once everything was done. American Airlines is not known for its service standard but for its extensive network and loyalty program….Have you flown American Airlines on long-haul international flight? How was your experience?

What is happening inside Europe’s largest aircraft storage site? I visited Teruel, Spain to find out more from Tarmac Aerosave. During the peak of the Pandemic, there were about over 150 widebodies stored in Teruel making it the largest aircraft storage site in Europe. Most of them are A340, A380, Boeing 747 and B777 wide-body aircraft. As travel demand returned, there was a shortage of airplane flying. More and more airplanes are leaving the storage and flying back in the sky for a second life! Staff from Tarmac Aerosave showed me how to re-activate an Airbus A380. After completing 5,000 hours of check and maintenance, the Etihad Airways A380 is ready to leave storage and return to service. Next, I visited an A330 with components and parts removed from the airplane. The airplane is being recycled. The Tarmac team showed me how they remove parts and document it before sending it to the owner. Up to 94% of the airplane can be recycled within 12 weeks. It is interesting to see an array of activities in Europe’s biggest aircraft storage site. Tarmac Aerosave provides solutions in aircraft & engine storage, transition, maintenance and green recycling. For more info: visit https://www.tarmacaerosave.aero/

Join me on a “once-a-lifetime” experience to fly with Hajj pilgrims back home on Stage 2 of Hajj Flight. I started my journey flying on an “empty” Boeing 747-400 from Fujairah, UAE to Madinah, Saudi Arabia. This is the beginning of stage 2 of Hajj Flight which takes pilgrims back to their home country after Hajj. It was a “surreal” experience to have the entire Boeing 747 to myself on the ferry flight. After arrival at Madinah, Garuda Indonesia Hajj crew joined our flight and preparation went underway. The temperature in Madinah was too hot for the fully loaded 747 to take off on time. We have to wait for the temperature to cool down. The boarding took over an hour as most passengers were elderly pilgrims who needed assistance. There was a sea of incoming passengers; tired but happy to go home peacefully. We eventually departed 2 hours behind the schedule once the temperature cooled down. Our destination is Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia. During the flight, many Hajj pilgrims changed into their celebration costumes and it is unique to the Makassar culture. Several onboard prayers were also performed. The Hajj tour leader explained what they achieved in their pilgrimage. The pilgrim has a profound feeling of having undergone a life-transforming spiritual experience. Flying with all the pilgrims on their journey home was an absolute honor. A meaningful flight filled with great humanity and joyous moments! It is truly beyond words to describe the feeling when the pilgrims arrived at home.

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code SAM for 4 months EXTRA at https://surfshark.com/sam Over 50 million passengers fly with Emirates Airline every year and over 22,000 flight attendants are working on these flights…What it takes to be an Emirates flight attendant? Let’s go behind the scenes at the Emirates cabin crew assessment day… The day started with 350 locally applied candidates in Dubai. The invited-only session gave vital information about the requirements of Emirates cabin crew and the entire joining process. The applicants were divided into groups for activities and tests. Results were given out on the same day to all candidates. While the cabin crew job may appear glamorous, flying around the world can also be exhausting. Flight attendants perform difficult work from ensuring safety and providing hospitality in a flying environment and all done while wearing a polite smile. I spoke with the Emirates recruiter about some advantages and challenges of the job.

Join me on a Boeing 747 Hajj Flight from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia. Definitely an experience to remember for my whole life! The journey started at Soekarno-Hatta Int’l Airport in Jakarta. 450 pilgrims checked in outside the airport and came directly to the airside waiting to board the Boeing 747. Many of them were first-time flyers. To speed things up, there was no boarding pass, pilgrims were given a seat number with red on the left and blue on the right side of the plane. Once the engine had started, many pilgrims began chanting prayers for a safe flight. Captain Vitaly from Russia and First Officer Anton from Ukraine flew the Boeing 747 flight. Flight time to Jeddah was just over 9 hours. Garuda Indonesia wet-leased the B747-400 from Aquiline International to fulfill the mission. Passengers were extremely humble and quiet during the flight. Many of them never used an airplane toilet before and need crew assistance. The Hajj flight crew were contractors who only worked for 2 months as Hajj cabin crew, nevertheless, they work with pride and honour as Hajj is a national event of Indonesia. They were extremely attentive to the needs of pilgrims ensuring they had a smooth journey. Just before flying over Saudi Arabia, many pilgrims changed into white robes and the group leader started prayer calls at the point of Miqot where the pilgrims commenced Hajj. We arrived at the special Hajj terminal in Jeddah. After landing, it was an emotional moment with most pilgrims thanking the crew for taking good care of them while leaving the plane. It was an absolute honor and privilege for me to join them on the flight. I experienced some of the most amazing human kindness from all the passengers and crew! Most of them waited and saved all their life for this moment; trip of a lifetime! With the completion of our flight, stage 1 of the Hajj has been concluded with over 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims transported to Saudi Arabia making Hajj one of the mighty airlift operations. Video footage credit: Aquiline International and UPG Spotter

We follow Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) on how they handle operations, passengers, baggage, and aircraft at Hamad International Airport, Qatar. At dawn, a Japan Airlines B787 had just landed. Ground handling activities started as soon as the aircraft taxied to the parking stand. This video shows how airport ground handler works with aircraft, operations, passengers and baggage. In just 2.5 hours, the B787 is ready to depart. I was sitting inside the push-back tug with the engineer to push back the 250-ton Boeing 787. QAS services more than 45 airlines at Hamad Int’l Airport. Next, I discover the state-of-the-art baggage handling and sorting system. It is like entering a maze of tracks, all of them are handled by computers and scanners. The inbound baggage gets sorted into short-term and long-term transit. Each bag will go to its respective baggage belt through the 14 km long tracks. Then, I visited the operational control center of Qatar Aviation Service, the supervisor explained how they keep track of everything on ground handling and respond to aircraft emergencies such as shortages of fuel and diversions. I took a deeper look at the centralized load control center to calculate and check the weight and balance of each departing aircraft. Last, I visited the world’s largest airport service depot to see how airport vehicles and tractors are being serviced. Cobus, tugs, tractors and trucks are all periodically checked and serviced under one roof. This video shows an in-depth reveal of airport and ramp services.

I visited Aircraft Interiors Expo 2024 (AIX) in Hamburg. Many new inventions of aircraft seats and products are on display for the first time. Take a look at the full show recap. The new conceptual MAYA from Collins Aerospace and Panasonic is a next-gen Business Class suite with full cinema experience. This immersive suite blows away previous inflight entertainment experiences as you can feel the movie with motion inside the suite. Airline executives from Qatar Airways, Air France, and Cathay Pacific spoke and teased their upcoming new products including the new Qsuite 2.0, new La Premiere (Air France First Class), and Cathay Pacific's new Business Class; Aria Suite. Next, the airspace cabins of A330neo and A321XLR are on display at Airbus. There is also new sustainable overhead bin cover and bulkhead divider design made of lighter recyclable materials. At Delta flight product, the cleverly designed wheelchair space allows wheelchair users to board and stay on the aircraft with their own wheelchair. Boeing displays the full cabin mock-up of 777X and 787 and the “Perch” doorway creates a “third” space for passengers onboard. Aviointeriors; the seat manufacturer from Italy showcased their current mid-tier Economy seat MYA and Premium seat Plus. Stelia Aerospace has debuted a lightweight 65kg Business Class seat called Opera Essential which is mechanical without the heavy motor and screens. Thales, the inflight entertainment company explained about future cabin connectivity and how streaming will be the future of inflight entertainment on aircraft. Starlink will install fast internet across the Qatar Airways fleet in the next 2 years. On the amenities side, I visited Formia, to see the latest inflight amenities from Japan Airlines and American Airlines. Caynova highlighted their heating/cooling seat capability and finally, Chaise Lounge came up with another double-decker design focused on Premium Business Class. 2:21 Collins Aerospace and Panasonic - MAYA Suite 4:55 Cathay Pacific Aria Suite 5:45 Delta - Wheelchair space 7:16 Airbus - Airspace Cabin and Vision 2035+ 10:29 Thales - Inflight Entertainment 12:28 Starlink - Qatar Airways Announcement 12:48 Qatar Airways QSuite 2.0 14:20 FORMIA - Airline amenity kits 15:48 Caynova - Heating and cooling seat 17:04 Stelia - Opera Essential lightweight seat 18:39 Air France La Premiere 19:30 Aviointeriors - MYA and Plus+ 21:54 Boeing - Perch Lounge 24:10 Chaise Lounge - Double-decker seat Emirates B777 Landing Footage credit: Aileron Aviation Films https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8XG2jQrxy2rQRgCLS-Zsg

I flew with Uzbekistan Airways across the Silk Road to discover the country and its latest aviation scenes. My trip to Uzbekistan covers 3 cities; Tashkent, Samarkand and Khiva. My friend Charles and I flew on Uzbekistan Airways B787 Dreamliner from Dubai to Tashkent. During the flight, I discovered the service onboard. The airline serve some of the largest portion of food and even offer horse meat! After landing at Tashkent, we visited the former aircraft factory where Ilyushin IL76 was built, stayed in a soviet era iconic hotel; Hotel Uzbekistan and tried some local food such as plov. The next day we took the Uzbek high-speed rail “Afrosiyab” to Samarkand. We visited the city sights and the new terminal of Samarkand Int’l Airport. New airlines such as Air Samarkand are based there. On the way back, we flew regional airline Silk Avia ATR72 back to Tashkent. We also flew on Uzbekistan Airways A320neo to Urgench, in order to visit the historical city of Khiva, on the west side of the country. While the airport experiences are fairly basic and most airports have little or no jet bridges, the Uzbek hospitality is absolutely wonderful throughout our trip. The potential in Uzbekistan is huge with over 35 million population but the aviation sector is still developing with one state-owned airline and a few privately run airlines. The challenges of these new airlines are limited funding, limited experience in aviation, and difficulty to recruit and sourcing airplanes. Uzbekistan is on the crossroads between East and West so it would be interesting to see how the aviation sector develop itself in the next 5 -10 years.

The flying experience on North Korea’s “one-star airline” Air Koryo is completely different from any other airline! You can fly this airline and visit a museum at the same time! But are they really bizarre and terrible?   I share my experience of flying Air Koryo on their Soviet Ilyushin IL-62, Ilyushin IL-18 and modern Tupolev 204 and Antonov 148 aircraft. It actually has more leg room and the seats are wider than most other airlines, customer service may be better than United or RyanAir. There are free food and drinks for everyone. It is definitely an exotic experience you don't want to miss! The aviation tour to North Korea has given us the opportunity to visit many parts of the country including the sacred Mount Paektu near Samjiyon. I share some of the first hand insights about the country, the tour guide, accommodation and food.   The video also covers North Korea’s first Air Show; Wonsan AirShow. It was the most exotic airshow I've ever attended with a lineup of rare Soviet vintage fleet of Air Koryo and North Korean Air Force, many joy flights on Air Koryo, and the possibility to meet with North Koreans freely at the airshow.

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. Lufthansa unveiled its €2.5 Billion cabin upgrade program "Allegris" last year. There are 5 different seat configurations in Business Class including Suite, Extra Long Bed, Extra Space Seat, Double seat, and standard seat. Different seat will have a different experience! The video covers all seat configurations and new features such as in-seat heating/cooling by Caynova. Lufthansa has invited a special guest; Dirk Nowitzki, a famous basketball player to try out the 2.2m long Business Class bed. Next, I checked out the Lufthansa new Premium Economy seat which comes with a hard shell and slides forward instead of reclining backward. The new floor-to-ceiling First Class suite is still waiting to be certified and therefore not installed onboard. Jens Ritter; CEO of Lufthansa is onboard and gave further information about Allegris. The new product is currently flying from Munich to Vancouver and Toronto. It will be available on flights to Chicago and Montreal in the summer.

I flew on the new Hawaiian Airlines B787 Dreamliner and their first airplane; Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker on the same trip. The 2 planes are 95 years apart which shows aviation has come a long way in Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787s feature a total of 300 seats, including 34 business class suites and 266 economy class seats. My flight is from San Francisco to Honolulu, this is the inaugural Boeing 787 flight into Honolulu with a lot of festivities onboard. Explore the inflight service, soft product, the Leihōkū Suites and extra comfort seat onboard Hawaiian B787. Enjoy a scenic landing into Honolulu Airport with great views of the Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach and Honolulu downtown, followed by a 45-degree turn and a manual landing. My next flight takes me back 95 years, the historical Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker made history by introducing commercial air service to the Hawaiian Islands. The aircraft first launched with a series of sightseeing flights around Oʻahu. It sparked enough curiosity among locals and visitors to convince the Inter-Island Steam Navigation Company board to expand its footprint into aviation. One month later, on Nov. 11, 1929, Inter-Island Airways was inaugurated, which later became Hawaiian Airlines. I am glad to experience this truly historical plane, which still flies high over the Hawaiian skies ninety-five years later. Looking for your dream job in aviation? Visit https://www.aviationcv.com/ Free for all candidates.

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code SAM for an extra 3 months free at https://surfshark.com/sam I flew on 2 very rare aircraft in the Caribbean. Join me flying the World’s last-built Fokker 70 and the World’s smallest 3-engine airplane; Britten-Norman Trislander. The Fokker 70 flight is operated by Jet Air Caribbean from St Maarten to Curacao. Join me in visiting the flight deck of the Fokker 70 and the pilot spoke about the plane's performance. The 27-year-old classic plane has some unique engine sound. We departed Princess Juliana St Maarten Int’l with a quick takeoff and climb. During the flight, I explored the roomy cabin and spoke with the friendly crew. Join the cockpit for landing in Curacao. My next flight is onboard Anguilla Air Services Britten-Norman Trislander. This is the world’s smallest three-engine plane with less than a dozen currently airworthy. My flight was operated by a single pilot; Kyle. The flying time from St Maarten to Anguilla was just 10 minutes with scenic views of both Islands. We did a touch-n-go and flew back to St Maarten with a nice approach over Maho Beach.

I flew on the last B747-SP commercial flight in the world. It was operated by Iran Air from Tehran to Mumbai. The flight took place 8 years ago in April 2016…it was one of my golden memory flight. My flight was off to an excellent start. I was invited to join the crew in the cockpit. The B747-SP took off with a beautiful Pratt and Whitney JT9D engine spooling sound. We climbed straight to 39,000 feet and later cruised at 41,000 feet with a speed of Mach .86. Our takeoff weight was 235 tons which is quite light. I had a chat with the friendly captain about the weather, fuel burn, and longevity of the SP. Iran Air did a good job maintaining it. During the cruise, I went around the entire B747-SP main deck. There were 145 passengers mostly Muslim pilgrims returning to India. The main deck of the SP was massive. The Iran Air crew were some of the most hospitable crew in the world. We flew over Pakistan and entered India from the state of Gujarat. With a final landing in Mumbai, this ends my last commercial B747-SP flight. The last Iran Air B747-SP was operated by registration EP-IAC.

I follow 27 Qatar Airways crew onboard the world’s largest airliner; Airbus A380 to see how they operate a full flight from Doha to Bangkok. There are many things you don’t see as a passenger! My journey started at Doha Hamad International Airport (HIA). I boarded early ahead of other passengers to join the crew briefing and the crew showed me their pre-boarding cabin check. We had a full load of 517 passengers. Captain Fatima briefed the passenger before we took off. She gave the flight details and the emergency briefing. The A380 is huge and felt like a cruise ship in the sky with double deck. There were many activities after takeoff, the crew showed how to prepare the cabin for inflight service. Purser Alex shows us the ‘hidden’ A380 crew rest. With a gorgeous sunrise, we started our approach to Bangkok. Enjoy the A380 landing from the cockpit. After landing, the crew showed us their work before deplaning. Claim Flight Compensation - Get Your Disrupted Flight Compensation Up To €600. Visit https://www.skycop.com/samchui

A rare behind-the-scenes airline operation at Qatar Airways Operation Center (QROC) to see how the crew reports and prepares for their flight. A team of professionals performs flight watch and makes critical decisions to ensure smooth operation of the airline. At 6am in the early morning, it is full of action at Qatar Airways Operation Center (QROC). Thousands of Qatar Airways pilots and cabin crew depart from here for their flights. All Qatar Airways crew checked in here at the building before their flight. I went behind the scenes to see how the crew got briefed before operating their flight. The pilot will meet their flying partner at the pilot briefing area. The cabin crew will meet their team member at the designated briefing room and go through the flight details. A grooming check is also conducted during the briefing. Then, I joined the crew on the crew bus out to the aircraft on the ramp. There were about 100 departures in the busy morning hours at Hamad International Airport. I filmed many of the departures before going back to the Qatar Airways Operation Center. I visited the Integrated Operation Control Center (IOCC) where a team of professionals performed flight watch and made critical decisions to ensure the smooth operation of the airline. The supervisor on duty shared about the weather issue and possible flight disruptions. The commercial team looked after re-booking and re-accommodating affected passengers. The maintenance team deals with “Aircraft On Ground” (AOG) issues. I was given a rare behind-the-scenes on airline operations.

Qantas operated a special charter flight from Sydney to Uluru (Ayers Rock) on its new Airbus A220. I was onboard to experience the new aircraft and for the first time, visited the Australian outback. The first Qantaslink A220, featuring the artwork of Maringka Baker. The aircraft is named after the original artwork, Minyma Kutjara Tjukurpa (the creation story of the two sisters). The aircraft spent two weeks in the paint shop where a striking Aboriginal paint scheme was applied, making this aircraft the sixth to join Qantas’s Flying Art Series since Wunala Dreaming. The Qantaslink A220 has 10 Business Class and 127 Economy Class seats. It was an incredible quiet takeoff out of Sydney with the graduate changing scenery and landscape from green to red enroute. Uluru was very hot with temperature of 44 degrees Celsius. The approach to Uluru was strikingly beautiful with orange earth colors and a lot of bush vegetation. We also saw Kata Tjuṯa from a distance. After landing, a special aboriginal dance and ceremony was held at the brand new aircraft. In the evening, we were treated to an amazing sunset and drone show called ‘Wintjiri Wiru’ by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia. The next day, I saw the sunrise over Uluru and did a walk around it before departing back. It was my first time seeing Australia’s outback despite living in Sydney for 14 years. To end the video, enjoy an air-to-air video of Australia’s newest jet in the country setting.

I traveled on Singapore Airlines’s 17-hour non-stop flight from San Francisco to Singapore to join the Singapore Airshow 2024. This video features all the highlights of the flight and the airshow. My flight was one of many ultra-long haul flights Singapore Airlines operates from the U.S. to Singapore. I documented the current product and behind the scenes on how crew operate such long flight. At the Singapore Airshow, China’s COMAC is showing its new C919, the first time outside of China. I tour the cockpit of the C919 which looks like a combination of some of the world’s best cockpit, you find large screen displays, keyboard, mouse and sidesticks. Another new airplane on display is COMAC’s ARJ21. Indonesia Transnusa is the first foreign operator. They spoke about their experience with the ARJ21. There is also a freighter version of the ARJ21 on display. I didn’t even know such type exists. Next, I visited the Airbus A400M, a military transporter with soft landing capability on gravel and grass. It was also used for troops parachuting. Last, I went onboard Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines A330neo to see some of the latest features. Claim Flight Compensation - Get Your Disrupted Flight Compensation Up To €600. Visit SkyCop.com

Join me on a flight to 2 of the most dangerous airports in the Caribbean; Saba and St Barth. Here, you are not afraid to fly, but rather to land! Starting with some plane spotting action at St Maarten Princess Juliana Int’l Airport. Most beach vacationers gather on Maho Beach and anxiously wait for the plane to fly a few meters above their heads before landing and resisting the jet blast on takeoff. I flew with SXM Airways pilot Jean-Marc Oliver on the Britten Norman Islander (BN-2A-26) from St Maarten to Saba. Saba Airport has the world’s shortest commercial runway at just 400m. The entire island is mountainous and looks like Jurassic Park. Watch our landing and takeoff at Saba, the plane used the entire runway for takeoff and literally “dropped” after leaving the runway! Next is St Barth. As beautiful as the runway on the Caribbean island, the landing is extreme! Located between the mountains and the sea, it is only 640 meters long. We encountered some strong crosswinds and turbulence before “diving” into the airport. It was some of my most exciting flight as I had to stop filming to watch out for the landing. For more info on these flights, visit https://fly-sxmairways.com/

Secure your privacy with Surfshark! Enter coupon code SAM for an extra 3 months free at https://surfshark.com/sam I flew on India’s longest nonstop flight from Bengaluru to San Francisco. This Air India flight covers a distance of 8,701 miles and it is the longest flight operated by a Boeing 777-200/LR and the world’s 9th longest flight. The flight is pretty wild with over 800 mph speed due to strong tail wind. My Journey started at Bengaluru Int’l Airport Terminal 2 with amazing garden setting. It is India’s nicest airport terminal. The non-stop flight to San Francisco is operated by a leased B777 from Delta Air Lines with hybrid decor. It features 28 Suites in Business Class, 48 Premium Economy and 212 Economy seats. We took off with powerful thrust setting with close to maximum takeoff weight. Captain Mohammed Ali Khan explained the routing of the flight and the takeoff performance calculation. He also explained about the “Bump Thrust” feature unique to the B777-200/LR that can provide 5,000 pounds of additional thrust from the engines during takeoff. I checked out the current long-haul service offering of Air India. The flight service included 2 full meals. Business Class passengers receive pajamas, amenity kit, and slippers. Has Air India improved? I gave my verdict at the end of the long flight.

I flew on Air India’s new flagship, the A350-900 inaugural flight. This is the first plane that wears the new Air India livery. It is the first of 470 planes Air India has on order which is worth $70 billion. Can Air India regain its former glory? My Air India A350 flight started from Mumbai to Chennai. The Business Class cabin has 28 fully enclosed private suites. Followed by Premium Economy cabin which has 24 seats and Economy with 264 seats. The crew on this flight wore new Air India uniforms with bright colors. The humanities on these inaugural flights shine! The flight was in celebration mode with many aviation enthusiasts onboard, all wishing Air India well. The new A350 is leaps and bounds ahead, a complete change from the old Air India. Upon landing in Chennai, I remained onboard for the next sector to Bengaluru. The captain has shared that the initial domestic flights were for training purposes before the A350 being inducted for long-haul international flights. The next sector was just 40 minutes but Air India served a meal onboard, it was hot vegetarian biryani.  Air India expects to receive 5 more A350-900s by April 2024. The airline has ordered a total of 20 A350-1000s and 20 A350-900s. Until the end of Feb, the A350 is deployed on domestic flights flying to the cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi. Cover Photo by Utkarsh Thakkar

I visited Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC) which produces 200,000 airplane meals a day for Qatar Airways and all airlines in Doha. This vlog goes into detail on how airplane food is made through all the processes before transport onto the airplane. My first stop is at the hot kitchen. Executive chef Decha showed me around the busy kitchen theatre with a lot of action taking place. QACC uses some automation to prepare food such as a rotating omelet cooker, grill bacon machine and special oil fryers. I also visited the cold kitchen for appetizers, salads and the pastry section. After the food is cooked, it goes into chillers before arriving at portioning and packaging for flight. At the tray build-up area, new trays and portioned food were then loaded onto the cleaned trolley. All catering was then kept chilled before being taken by high-loader truck into the airplane. I follow the catering loading onto a Qatar Airways B777. Last, I tasted some of the Business Class food at the catering center and met Qatari chef Noof Al Marri. She introduced me to her signature chicken machboos dish. At the end of the tour, I was shown how they’re treating all the food wastage from production by turning food waste into water.

Emirates is upgrading its popular A380 fleet! The largest known retrofit program in the industry is well underway at Emirates Engineering. I toured inside the A380 superjumbo during its maintenance. Project Phoenix oversees 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s being refurbished. Concerning the A380, a total of 728 first class, 5,092 business class, 1,608 new premium economy, and 24,000 economy seats are involved in the procedure. The program began in November 2022 and is set to be wrapped up by May 2025. Emirates Engineering explained that every time an A380 comes in for a six-year or 12-year check. All the seats, lavatories, galleys, and monuments are ejected to leave the entire interior bare for floor panel check. When the materials are removed, Emirates Engineering will replace or refurbish them to keep the cabin in pristine condition. After seeing an A380 under heavy maintenance check, I toured a refurbished A380 that is ready in service to see the difference. Next, I visited the cabin interior seat shop where you can find all the seats came in bare skeleton form. The engineer also demonstrated how to inflate safety evacuation slides in just 6 seconds. Last, some of the old seat covers and materials are being turned into collectibles and memorabilia! Emirates is looking to keep at least 90 A380s in the air by the 2030s and plans to fly the A380 until the 2040s.

I hopped on TransMaldivian Airways Twin Otter seaplane flying around the Maldives with some of the best views! However, the sunny weather changed and I encountered some rough weather in paradise. TransMaldivian is the world’s largest seaplane operator with 65 seaplanes from its base in Male, Maldives. Seaplane operation is crucial for tourism in the Maldives. I managed some plane spotting at the seaplane terminal before boarding my flight. The seaplane pilots in the Maldives wear shorts and sandals to fly and earned the nickname “barefoot pilot” My flight was commanded by Captain Saif, who flew us to 3 resorts and back. We took off from the seaplane runway, flew over Male city, headed South and went as low as 500 feet for some beautiful sightseeing. Shortly before our landing at the first resort, the weather changed with rain showers in the area. The turnaround time at each resort was just 5-10 minutes like a bus operation. Our next stop was the LUX resort where we were welcomed by a team of staff. The weather deteriorated rapidly so we have to quickly depart. The visibility was too low to land at our last stop. We had to divert to land in a lagoon and docked on a platform in the middle of the choppy sea. It was a very unexpected experience in paradise! I had never ever imagined I would land on a platform rocking in the sea soaking wet in the heavy downpour…

Get an exclusive Surfshark VPN Holiday Season deal! Enter promo code SAM to get up to 6 additional months for free at https://surfshark.com/sam I arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania to experience a white winter with snow everywhere! First, I visited Avia Solutions Group to learn more about ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) and explored some aviation training opportunities there. Next, I arrived at Vilnius Airport to board the airBaltic A220 flight to Riga. The pilot kindly showed the cockpit of the A220 and discussed the winter operation. Before departure, de-icing procedure was applied to our aircraft. I was able to jumpseat in the cockpit and watched the pilot perform a procedure called “ice shedding” (to remove any ice formed on engine blades) just before takeoff. The workload in the cockpit was heavier due to a short flight to Riga, Latvia. The runway in Riga is wet and the runway-breaking action is crucial for the landing. I transited Riga to Amsterdam and flew with the same cockpit crew. This time I sat back in the cabin and explored more features of the airBaltic Airbus A220. Watch the final landing in Amsterdam from the cockpit!

Japan Airlines (JAL) has taken delivery of its first A350-1000 from Airbus’ delivery center in Toulouse, France. The A350-1000 is set to become the airline’s new international aircraft, I toured their new flagship aircraft. Before the delivery ceremony, I visited the Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) of the A350 with a quick look at the production of the A350. This was followed by the delivery ceremony which showcased the new Japan Airlines A350-1000. In First Class, the new seating arrangement features 6 suites. Just 3 suites per row in a 1-1-1 configuration, each First Class suite features a double seat and bed. In Business Class, there are 54 private suites with doors, and the seat can convert into a bed of 198cm long. The Premium Economy cabin (24 seats) features large partitions to improve privacy significantly. It is also the first Premium Economy Class in the world to introduce electrically operated recline functionality. JAL A350-1000 has one of the most spacious legrooms in Economy Class (33-34 inches pitch). Japan Airlines A350-1000 will be initially flying on the Tokyo Haneda - New York JFK route. It has a total of 13 A350-1000 on order to replace the B777-300/ER fleet.

I tried out Beond Airlines, a new all Business Class leisure airline from the Maldives. Here's how my flight went... I went to the Maldives for a mega aviation trip and flew on the famous seaplane around the islands. On my way back, I flew Beond Airlines from Male to Riyadh. There are 40 all Business Class seats on the A319, which is the first and only plane Beond Airlines operates so far. Before takeoff, the captain briefed us about the flight plan and route. I was able to capture amazing takeoff footage on camera. During the flight, a 3-course dinner was served with individual platting. There is Wi-Fi onboard and the airline uses iPads as inflight entertainment. After dinner, the white leather chair can be turned into a fully flat bed with little privacy. I spoke with the cabin crew about the airline operation before we arrived in Riyadh. Currently, Beond flies between Munich, Zurich, Riyadh, and Male.

Abu Dhabi Airport Terminal A has opened. I visited the brand new terminal that completely changed the travel experience. Covering 742,000 square meters, it is one of the largest airport terminals in the world. The $3 billion building, which is triple the size of the old terminal, is set to double the current airport's capacity and manage up to 45 million passengers per year. It's capable of handling 79 planes at once and 11,000 passengers per hour. Stands at the center of the new terminal at Abu Dhabi airport is Sana Al‐Nour, a unique structure and the largest public artwork in the Middle East. The departure area features 12 check-in rows with self check-in counter. There are dedicated check-in areas for Etihad Business and First Class passengers. At the airside, I visited the new Etihad Airways First Class and Business Class lounge in Terminal A. The impressive new lounge spans three floors of Terminal A’s. Check out all the lounge features in my video. Etihad’s First Class lounge features restaurant-style dining and private rooms. Abu Dhabi International Airport is being renamed as Zayed International Airport, with the official new name to take effect from February 9.

This is the grand finale video of the most extraordinary and largest edition of Dubai Airshow. The Dubai Airshow 2023 features 190+ aircraft on static and flying display, a showcase of over 1,400 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors. I started my visit to the airshow by flying over the entire site onboard a helicopter by Air Chateau. There are many aircraft to visit. First, I visited the Boeing 777X; the world’s largest twin-engine aircraft and received updates from the crew and engineer at Boeing. Then, I went on board the new branding of SAUDIA B787-10. Next, I visited Beond Airlines, all Business Class leisure airline flying to and from the Maldives. The world’s first Passenger to Freighter A320 is also on display with India’s Pradhaan Air as the operator. I interviewed Egypt Air Chairman and CEO Eng. Yahia Zaharia about their latest orders inside the new Egypt Air A321neo. Then I checked out the “Big Twin” which is the world’s first B777-300/ERSF converted freighter. Riyadh Air just released its second livery at the Dubai Airshow while Etihad Airways showcased its new Business Class suite onboard the B787. In the exhibition hall, I visited Strata which builds components for OEMs such as Airbus, Boeing, and Pilatus. Emirates is showing the employee experience through AI and virtual at their stand. Finally, I met up with the 2 UAE astronauts, Hazza and Sultan at the Mohammad bin Rashid Space Center at the airshow. Aviation is back in full swing through the orders and numbers of investments demonstrated at this airshow. The one final element is the humanity displayed at the airshow. It has been an incredible 5 days at the Dubai Airshow 2023. See you next time! 0:00 Introduction 1:01 Air Chateau Helicopter 1:43 Boeing 777X 5:02 Mohammad bin Rashid Space Center 6:10 SAUDIA B787-10 9:28 Beond Airlines A319 11:52 Pradhaan Air A320P2F 12:46 Airbus A350-1000 flying display 13:10 EgyptAir A321neo 15:01 Dubai Airshow 2023 Aircraft Orders 15:20 B777-300/ERSF “Big Twin” 17:38 Strata 19:29 Sam Chui fans meet at The Studio 20:51 Riyadh Air Announcement 23:32 Etihad B787-9 New Interiors 26:36 Emirates For more Dubai Airshow coverage, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/category/dubai-airshow-2023/ EgyptAir photo credit: Simone Chellini/Airways

I flew on SAUDIA A321neo with the airline’s new branding from Riyadh to Al Ula, the new Saudi tourism destination. Throughout the flight, SAUDIA shows its new branding and product onboard. The crew has changed into a new uniform. Let me know what you think of SAUDIA’s new livery and branding? The landscape changed dramatically as we approached Al Ula. Enjoy the cockpit footage of the landing at Al Ula International Airport. The scenery at Al Ula is captivating with strange-shaped stones along the highway. We visited “The Maraya” which is the world’s biggest mirror building standing in the middle of nature with sharp reflections. After a short lunch in the old town of Al Ula, we headed to Hegra; a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was the southern city of the Nabataean kingdom, famed for its spectacular monumental tombs. We ended the day trip at the Elephant Rock before heading back to board the SAUDIA flight to Riyadh. On the way back, I experienced SAUDIA’s regional business class and gave my feedback on the seat and service.

Get an exclusive Surfshark Black Friday deal! Enter promo code SAM to get up to 6 additional months for free at https://surfshark.com/sam Which Airlines has the Best and Worst Economy Class Leg Room? There’s an impression that Economy seats are now more cramped. Seat backs are thinner than they once were. More seats got squeezed in each row. In this video, I listed 10 airlines that have the worst legroom. But you can also find some good Economy seats from this video.   The Japanese carriers really stand out of the pack in Economy Class. Japan Airlines is the world’s only airline to offer 8 abreast on the 787. All other airlines squeeze in one more seat with 9 seats per row on the 787. Over time, Airlines also found ways to squeeze one more seat in each row (10 abreast) on the Boeing 777. In the video, I present a list of airlines that still has just 9 seats per row on the 777 which give you more width.   Air New Zealand and ANA have a pretty unique product to allow you to lie flat in Economy. Air New Zealand also has a future lie flat option called Skynest that provides passenger bunk space to lie flat in Economy.   The A380 – The world’s biggest passenger airliner are passenger’s favorite. There is 1 special seat on the main deck of the A380 that has amazing legroom. Find out more in the video. Asiana, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Emirates (2 class) A380 have Economy on upper deck seating which is quieter and more exclusive. More and more airlines are upselling their economy Class. At the forward section of Economy and at exit rows, you will find Economy Plus or Economy space which has a couple more inches of legroom. At the end of the video, explore some of the best Premium Economy airline products.

19:395:05I visited 2023 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas - the world’s biggest business aviation event. Tour the newest and most innovative business aircraft; Airbus ACJ Two Twenty is making her NBAA-BACE Debut. Let’s walk through this extra large private jet with 6 zones. L-shaped sofa, complete black-out window, California king-size bed and fully stand-up shower. NBAA-BACE is a popular marketplace for buying and selling planes. Expert spoke about their views on how the market is trending. I toured a Boeing 737-700 BBJ which is on sale with immaculate interiors. Many single-pilot jets are popular features at the show. Embraer’s Phenom 100EX made its global debut, and there are updates on Pilatus PC-24 and HondaJet Echelon. New electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles are on display with live demonstration of Volocopter 2X eVTOL. WIsk Aero showing their 6th Gen aircraft and VoltAero from France introduced their hybrid turboprop; Cassio 330 concept aircraft. In the convention hall, I met with Kevin Larosa, an air-to-air stunt pilot and aerial co-ordinator who showcased his CineJet and explained how air-to-air filming was done in the Top Gun Maverick movie. Tennis champions Andre Agassi and Stefani Graf were the guests of NBAA-BACE keynote. They shared their aviation stories with me. Aircraft Featured In this video: 0:00 Introduction 0:56 Airbus ACJ Two Twenty 1:30 Boeing 737 BBJ 3:08 Volocopter 2X 5:05 Kevin Larosa CineJet 9:07 Pilatus PC-24 12:54 HondaJet Echelon 14:31 Embraer Phenom 100EX and 300E 17:14 Wisk 6th Gen Aircraft 19:39 VoltAero Cassio

I visited Boeing factory in Everett, WA and got on the delivery flight of a brand new 777 Freighter of Silk Way West Airlines. In this vlog, I documented the Boeing delivery flight details onboard the world’s largest twin-engine freighter, the Boeing 777F. The delivery flight started with dispatch inside the Boeing delivery center, with pilot briefing on weather and routing. I went onboard the brand new 777 cargo plane, discovering the massive cargo hold with 105 tons of cargo capacity. In front, there are 4 seats for supernumerary, a small galley, and crew bunk. It was different, no cockpit door, no flight attendant here to serve you… Flight time from Everett/Paine Field to Baku was 13 hours and 5 minutes with 4 pilots onboard including a Boeing training captain. We were treated to a full moon rising not long after takeoff. As the sky got darker gradually, we were treated to another phenomenon, the northern light! It was beyond words. During the flight, I chatted with the flight engineer about configuration and their work before delivery. Their work actually started 1 year ago before the plane was built! The pilot told me the new airplane needed to activate Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) in order to fly in the busy airspace. Silk Way’s B777F also needs to acquire ETOPS 180 minutes approval since the airline was only operating 4 engine B747. Before landing, I share about how to get on a delivery flight.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I visited an airplane model factory in Southern China where airplane die cast models were made. The staff walked me through each process from polishing metal to painting and assembly. Just the pad printing process could be 200-300 times due to the fine details of airline liveries. Many processes are manual and require precision. It was an eye-opener to see how airplane models are made! Then I met with Todd, one of the biggest airplane model collectors at The Airplane Shop. He walked me through some of the latest GeminiJets interactive series which feature open nose door on B747, flaps down and side cargo doors. Todd showed me some of his favorite models including American Airlines B747, Air India B747, Cathay Pacific Convair 880 and JAL Disney Sea B747-400. Stephen Koulouthros, one of the biggest airplane model collectors with thousands showcased his collection in Panama. His collection includes a rare 1:3 scale Embraer 195. The video also included other collector’s models at the end to celebrate the hobby.

I took a flight from one of the most spectacular airports; Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo Campinas with Azul Embraer 195. The captain explained about the special operation in and out of Santos Dumont, it required manual precision landing and full power short field takeoff. Watch how my flight departed the airport with just 1,320m long runway! In Campinas Airport, I visited Azul Airlines maintenance and engineering facility. I was shown an Azul A330 on jacks without wheels and going through landing gear maintenance and changes. Mr Jorge, a manager at the facility showed me carbon fiber and composite materials, repairs of interiors and components such as nose, elevator, engine reverser, wiring, batteries and paint hangar. If you’re interested in aircraft engineering, this is the place for you! In the evening, I flew out of Campinas for Lisbon on Azul A330neo with brand new interior. Watch how the pilot flies the A330neo from the camera in the cockpit.

I visited Brazil and flew on the largest plane in AZUL fleet; the A350 from Paris to São Paulo Campinas, then I flew on the smallest plane in the AZUL fleet, a Cessna Grand Caravan to Rio de Janeiro. This vlog is about my flying adventure in Brazil. My first AZUL Airlines flight left from Paris Orly in the evening hours. The Prime Class lounge in Orly provided some good plane-spotting opportunities. The Brazilian cockpit crew explained the flight route, flight time, and flight level (40,000 ft). We took off with 250 passengers and 245 tons of weight. During the flight, I tried out the Business Class product of AZUL and checked out the meals on offer in Economy Class as well. After landing, I traveled by car to São Paulo Congonhas Airport in the city to fly on the Cessna Grand Caravan to Rio. It was a fun and scenic flight. Leaving the massive São Paulo city, it didn’t take long for the green rural scenery to appear and it gets better by the minute. We flew around the coastline towards Rio at 9,000 ft, cruising around 145 knots. The flight took about 1 hour and 20 minutes, and the distinctive landscape of Rio de Janeiro appeared. The weather was so great in Rio, seems the whole town is out at the beach. I took the cable car to the Sugar Loaf for some plane spotting at one of the most spectacular airports; Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

I was invited to the Pokemon Eevee Jet unveil event in Tokyo with a newly painted ANA B777-300/ER featuring Pokemon character Pikachu and Eevee. I was supposedly to fly from Tokyo to London in ANA First Class “The Suite” on the Eevee Jet the next day… ANA flight from Tokyo Haneda to London use the new Terminal 2 International facility. I visited the new ANA Suite Lounge, it was quiet and spacious but I found it lacked privacy. At the gate, there was some disappointing news, the new Eevee Jet went tech and was substituted by a B777 in ANA regular livery. Nevertheless, passengers still received the Pokemon souvenir during boarding. The ANA First Class Suite was impressively wide and came with all the usual First Class amenities such as comfort kit, pajamas and even a cardigan on loan to passengers. Flight time to London was over 14 hours with unusual routing flying North via the Bering Sea, Alaska, Arctic Circle, and Greenland. This is to bypass the Russian airspace due to current restrictions. After takeoff, I went to check out ANA Economy and Premium Economy product offerings. The Japanese airline offers better meals and legroom in Economy. Back to First Class, I enjoyed a five-course dining and went behind the scenes on how the crew prepares Japanese Washoku meal onboard. We flew past some incredible sceneries over the Arctic and Greenland on the way to London. Before landing, I gave my thoughts on the ANA First Class product.

I want to visit my mom in the U.S. but all the flights have been packed. Last minute, I found a seat on ANA. The first flight from HK to Tokyo is in Economy Class. There’s nothing wrong with flying economy class, but once you tried premium class, it is hard to sit back here….I made a mistake by forgetting to do online check-in and it was a full flight, so this time it was my turn to sit in the middle seat! I dozed off a bit during the takeoff. Flight attendants came back for full meal service, and they handed out a menu card with meal pictures for passengers to choose their choice of either ginger pork or chicken. The main course came in a paper container, drinks in paper cups and napkins made of green tea leaves…ANA is going green. We landed at Tokyo Haneda Airport on time in the evening and the terminal was very busy. I proceeded to the ANA lounge and it was crazy crowded. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the food in the lounge. My next flight to San Francisco is on ANA B777-300/ER. This flight features their new Business Class Suite called “The Room” which is the widest Business Class seat out there. The bed is not quite long enough for my height so I settle with a diagonal position which I can stretch fully. ANA provided some good amenities such as latex pillow and mattress for a good sleep in Business Class. Since it was a red-eye flight, the food option was limited.

I made an attempt to fly on China’s former Air Force One - an Air China B747-400 but the plane broke down after boarding. What happened? The former Chinese Air Force One; B-2472 was used until 2020 and returned to Air China’s fleet. It is currently deployed on domestic trunk routes such as Beijing to Shenzhen. I started my journey at Beijing Capital Int’l Airport with a visit to the Air China domestic lounge. Boarding was swift and the B747-400 is showing its age with old recliner seats in Business Class. After pushback and engine start, we returned to the gate due to an unspecified mechanical issue. The delay went on for almost four hours and passengers were finally swapped to an even older B747-400; 28 years old B-2447 which was used by President Jiang Zemin before return back to Air China service. During the delay, passengers were furious with how Air China handle such an unexpected issue. The replacement 747 took off fast and climbed straight to 38,000 ft. I documented the in-flight service and tour around the whole plane. It was nostalgic to be able to fly on one of the last active B747-400 in China. The landing in Shenzhen was an extremely smooth one.

The king of the skies - A380 is back at Etihad. I sampled some of the finest First Class premium experiences onboard Etihad A380 from London to Abu Dhabi. Etihad A380s were grounded and stored in Teruel, Spain. Earlier this year, the airline made an announcement that 4 of its A380 will be returning to service flying between London and Abu Dhabi. The Captain gave a thorough briefing of the flight and how the crew has to re-qualify to fly on the A380. Enjoy the takeoff footage from the cockpit. Etihad has 9 First Class apartments in unique seating configurations. The best seat is window seat 4A and 4K with forward facing. During the flight, I sampled their First Class offerings of pajamas, amenities, food, and beverage including caviar and steak cooked to my liking. The ottoman can be converted into a flatbed while you still have space. This unconventional design makes the Etihad First Class apartment stand out. I was even offered a shower at 39,000 feet. Before landing, I have an opportunity to visit The Residence which is a 3-room suite with your own living room, bathroom and bedroom. After the flight, I gave my full verdict on Etihad A380 First Class.

Get ready for an epic journey above the clouds! Join me for a very close encounter with the magnificent A350 and B787 of Turkish Airlines in mid-air. This video discovers how an epic air-to-air photo shoot of Turkish Airlines A350 and B787 is made over the skies of Istanbul. Starting the day at dawn from a hangar at Istanbul Airport, the AirBorneFilms crew were busy preparing for the photo shoot. At 8am, we took off in the chase plane, a TBM 700 and flew above the Bosphorus Strait over Istanbul city. A Turkish Airlines A350 suddenly appeared and flew very close to us side by side. Onboard our chase plane, film Director Eric and the pilot are constantly in touch with the Turkish Airlines pilots for the best photo positions. A gimbal is mounted below the wing of our chase plane to capture 360 degrees of view. In the afternoon, I boarded a Turkish Airlines B787 to participate in the second part of the photo shoot. The pilot flew the B787 in orbits and slowed down to 160 knots for the best filming. The end result was stunning from both shoots. At the end of the flight, the filming crew explains the key to capturing a successful air-to-air photo shoot.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! What’s it like to fly on World’s Shortest 53 seconds flight or fly on the World’s Longest 20 hours flight non-stop?   The shortest flight in the world is between Westray and Papa Westray, the flight distance is just 2 miles. These two islands are part of the Orkney Islands off the shore of Scotland. One way ticket cost 17 pounds for the 2-minute flight. Sometimes it can go as fast as 53 seconds from takeoff to landing, depending on the direction of the wind. What’s the shortest jet flight in the world? Air France uses a widebody 777 to fly 16 miles from Brazzaville to Kinshasa. This is also the world's shortest international flight - A flight that lasts for an average of 14 minutes. The longest non-stop commercial flight in the world happened during COVID in 2020. Air Tahiti Nui operated nonstop flights from Papeete, Tahiti to Paris, covering a distance of 9,765 miles made possible by a crew of four pilots with eastbound tailwinds. Currently, the longest non-stop scheduled commercial flight is between Singapore and New York with Singapore Airlines. The route was launched in 2004 initially flown by A340-500 then it was re-launched in 2018 with A350-900 ULR.  There is no economy class on this flight! The Pilot gave an interesting briefing about the 3 different routes this flight can take… Qantas in 2025 will be launching the world’s longest flight between Sydney and London, covering a distance of 10,573 miles. I was onboard QANTAS project sunrise trial flight in 2019 from London to Sydney with seeing double sunrise. Qantas currently also flies the World’s second-longest flight between Perth and London and third longest flight between Melbourne and Dallas. Research: Sharad Ranabhat

I flew on Emirates A380 from Los Angeles to Dubai. This video features a close look of Emirates Premium Economy and Business Class on this ultra long haul flight. I boarded the long flight and settled in Business Class which has updated interior of white leather seats. The flight had a small delay so I took the opportunity to experience Premium Economy Class. There were just a few passengers taking advantage of the Premium Economy cabin as Emirates has just added Premium Economy on US A380 flights including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and New York. Flight attendant showed me the seat functions and I gave my recommendation of the best seats in Emirates Premium Economy. During the flight, I checked out the meals served and compared those of Premium Economy with Economy Class. I was given some behind-the-scenes tips on how the Emirates crew operated the A380. At the end of the flight, I gave my verdict on flying in both Emirates Premium Economy and Business Class.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I go behind the scenes at Vistara Airlines training center to see how the airline trains its newly recruited cabin crew. Many of them were on their first day of airline training starting with imaging and makeup. The trainer talks about the expectation of the new hires. Then, I visited a recurrent training talking about how to deal with unruly passengers in India. At the training center, I met with Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan. He spoke about the merger plan with Air India and how the airline is still expanding fast despite the merger process. Next, I flew out of Delhi to Bangkok on Vistara A321neo. The airport in Delhi was busy and the Air India lounge left a lot to be desired. There are flatbed seat in Business Class on Vistara A321neo. During the flight, I explored the aircraft, product offering, and food menu.

Riyadh Air made its international debut at the Paris Airshow with a striking purple Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new airline has plans to carry more than 100 million passengers with a network of more than 100 destinations by the end of the decade. It placed a large order with Boeing for 787-9 Dreamliner jets in March, with 39 confirmed orders and 33 options. The airline CEO Tony Douglas recently said more orders for planes were being discussed with manufacturers. The airline is targeting the launch of its first commercial services in 2025. CEO Tony Douglas has mentioned it plans to focus on the needs of the Saudi market rather than trying to compete with its bigger rivals like Emirates and Qatar Airways.

A full detailed review of the Paris Air Show 2023. Join me for all the Paris Air Show highlights and the flying displays in this video. Watch Boeing 777X, Boeing 737 MAX 10, Airbus A321XLR, Embraer E2, Dassault Falcon 6X, Patrouille de France, and many more in flying action. Join me for new aircraft cabin tour given by industry experts including Boeing 777X, Riyadh Air B787, Boeing 737 MAX 10, Qatar Executive A319CJ, Air France A220. In addition, there are demos on how aviation can achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and new EVTOL providers such as Wisk Aero. At the end of the show, I visited the Air and Space Museum (Musée de l'air et de l'espace) at Le Bourget, which houses 2 Concorde and many more interesting aircraft. https://www.museeairespace.fr/en/

I just flew on China’s new airplane COMAC C919 from Shanghai to Chengdu with China Eastern Airlines. It’s been more than 3 years since I last visited mainland China. The flight was a pleasant and modern one for me and many other aviation enthusiasts. Powered by the same CFM leap engines, the C919 shares many similarities with Airbus and Boeing. My flight took almost 3 hours, flying at 34,000 ft with a maximum speed of Mach 0.78. During the flight, I experienced both C919 Business and Economy class seat features, the lavatory and galley. The middle seat width on C919 is half an inch wider to compensate for the shoulder room like A220. I spoke with the operating crew about their training and operation on the new C919. At the end of the flight, I gave my verdict as a passenger on the C919. In short, the C919 needs to prove itself in commercial service that it can meet the economics and the required efficiency. Currently, there are over 500 orders by Chinese airlines and leasing companies but the future success depends on foreign certification of this airplane.

Cathay Pacific is one of the hardest hit airlines by the pandemic……but the recovery of Cathay isn’t smooth. The airline was hit hard by a discrimination incident against mainland Chinese passengers recently. I will talk about the latest Cathay inflight experience and all the issues in this video. I took my mother on a Cathay flight from Los Angeles back to Hong Kong. It was Mom’s first long-haul travel in nearly 4 years. During the flight, I discover the latest Cathay Pacific service and some cost-cutting is evidently showing. Clearly, Hong Kong and Cathay still have a long way to go on the recovery path. On landing, I experienced a powerful go-around from the Boeing 777 due to unclear traffic on the runway. We saw Hong Kong International Airport from above and landed safely on the new third runway of Hong Kong. During my time in Hong Kong, I went on a meaningful flight over the skies of Hong Kong. The Cathay Community Flight 2023 brought 170 underprivileged teenagers, mentors, and volunteers to experience aviation together.

I flew on the Super Decathlon with aerobatic pilot Armando at Sling Pilot Academy for spin awareness flight training and got my first taste of aerobatics! After takeoff, we practiced on some Dutch rolls, power on and off stall before entering my first 360 degrees roll, then a loop in the sky and more aerobatic like hammerhead, and finally some spins. The whole flight is about spin awareness and how to recover from spin situation.

I visited Ambassador’s Sky Chef at Delhi which is India’s oldest flight kitchen that caters to Air India and many other airlines. The unique Indian kitchen setup cooking North and South Indian flavor dishes, samosa, curry, snacks, and sweets. Many thousands of meals were made from this mega airline kitchen. Next, the kitchen presents some new dishes from Air India onboard catering. Chef explains the upcoming food and beverage on Air India which is very different from other airlines.

I met with Air India CEO, Campbell Wilson on the transformation of Air India since the TATA group takeover. We discussed about new aircraft orders, existing aircraft retrofit, all the changes and challenges to revive Air India. Mr Wilson gave the latest update on project Vihaan.AI. (Air India Transformation). The airline is in the process of consolidating four airlines (Air India, Air India Express, Air Asia India and Vistara) into one full-service and one low-cost airline. The CEO reacted to some skepticism about the changes. Then, I attended an Air India cabin crew training class to see it first hand about recruitment. Air India has over 100 batches of new cabin crew recruitment to support the unprecedented growth.

I invited 5 Indian followers to fly with me on Air India Boeing 787 flight from Mumbai to Delhi. Some of them are first-time flyers, engineering students and future pilots. Find out what happened on my Air India Flight! 2 female pilots were in charge of our flight. They spoke about their passion and motivation to fly. India has the highest percentage of female pilots in any country. During the flight, I explored Air India in-flight service offerings. Many passengers also spoke about their latest Air India experience. Next week, I met with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to hear about Air India’s future strategy “Vihann.AI” follow by behind the scenes of Air India's new crew training and India’s oldest in-flight kitchen; Ambassador’s Sky Chef.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! 26th April is a milestone for the new Taiwanese airline Starlux as it launched its first long-haul flight to Los Angeles, CA. The chairperson of Starlux, Chang Kuo-Wei 張國煒 personally flies the A350 flight as the captain. I was invited to fly in Starlux First Class. There are just 4 First Class fully enclosed private suites in the front and 26 Business Class suites on the Starlux A350-900. Check out all the cabin, seats, amenities, food and beverage offerings during the launch flight. I gave my verdict about the entire product at the end of the video. Find out all the details about Starlux Airlines and behind the scenes with Chairman Chang Kuo-Wei 張國煒 flying the plane. He talked about his upbringing in the aviation industry. Starlux Airlines started operation at the beginning of 2020; the worst time in aviation history. The airline persisted and now flies 20 brand new Airbus including 13 A321neo, 4 A330neo and 3 A350-900.

I worked as an “Air-pprentice” onboard Scoot Boeing 787 flight from Singapore to Melbourne. Compare to my usual travel as a passenger, this is a totally different flying experience! Watch how I perform as a cabin crew! Before the flight, I got to attend pre-flight crew briefing, learn the safety aspect of the flight, the operational planning from dispatcher and did some flight simulator training on the Boeing 787 with Scoot pilots. It was a full flight to Melbourne with 372 passengers. On the flight, I performed the pre-flight checks and greet passengers at door 2 left. After takeoff, I serve passenger food and beverage. There was a lot of hard work to deliver services and handle unexpected situations. During the flight, we did “SCOOTITUDE” exercise, which is an engaging exercise to make passengers' experience more fun and enjoyable. At the end of the flight, I was given my performance from the purser and my own thoughts about working as a Scoot cabin crew.

I visited HARS Aviation Museum in Australia and tell my story of flying on the World’s last airworthy Lockheed “Connie” Constellation. It was really something different from yesteryear’s aviation - Smokey start of engines, flames on takeoff, navigator and bunk beds onboard. President of HARS, Bob De La Hunty gave me a detailed tour and explanation of operating the last Constellation. Next, I visited Qantas first B747-400 VH-OJA City of Canberra. It flew into HARS in March 2015 to preserve as part of Australian aviation history. Join me for a tour onboard the 747. HARS Aviation Museum: https://hars.org.au/

I had a sneak peek at how a retired B737-200 is turning into a luxury private jet villa with amazing ocean views from the cliff in Bali. It should be opening later this year for stay. After a great time in Bali, I flew out on Garuda Indonesia A330 to Jakarta. It was a short 1 hour 40 minutes flight but with full service in both Business Class and Economy Class. The usual amenities have returned with the exception of face covering is still required onboard. Garuda Indonesia is well known to have some of the best cabin crew, which reflects Indonesian hospitality. Next, I met up with Garuda Indonesia CEO Irfan Setiaputra. I asked him about the future of Garuda Indonesia and how it can compete with other airlines.

I visited Thai Airways restaurant in Bangkok. A lot of used airplane seats and parts turned into furniture which makes the place unique. The food price was very reasonable too. After lunch, I joined my friend Rena in showing me the airplane graveyard in Bangkok. In the middle of the city, there are 747 and MD-80 abandoned. Unfortunately, when we arrive at the graveyard, the planes were gone! They became the ghost planes of Bangkok! Next, I followed Patee, who is launching a new airline called Really Cool Airlines to another airplane in the middle of the night market. This airplane is a L1011 Tristar from Thai Sky Airlines which I have flown on it once. It is now a restaurant and cocktail bar in the middle of ChangChui market. Next, I visited Routes Asia 2023 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I went behind the scenes to speak with airlines, airports, and tourism authorities about their desire to reconnect in Asia and what’s new in their network strategies. Take a look at the video with many great insights from airlines such as Finnair, Fiji Airways, STARLUX Airlines, Thai Lion Air and airports such as Melbourne Airport, Edmonton International Airport (YEG), and Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority all wanting to expand their Asia presence. The event is hosted by Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT). Cover Image: https://www.instagram.com/ourbackpackjournal/

I visited the world’s largest airline kitchen - Emirates Flight Catering. On an average day, the kitchen produced 225,000 meals and over 1 billion meals since its inception. Join me for the eye-opening behind the scenes tour. My tour started at the end of an A380 flight, over 100 used trollies, leftover food, and dirty items arrived at Emirates Flight Catering for offloading and cleaning. On average, over 3 million items are being cleaned every day by mega washing machines. The cleaned trolley and item are then board on a “monorail” to travel to the other side of the building for packing. The next stop is the hot food kitchen. Emirates has a separate kitchen section for Western food, Asian food, Arabic food and Indian food. Executive chef James Griffith showed me around each section. After the food is cooked, they go into chillers for 4 hours before arriving at portioning and packaging for flight. I witnessed the cooking by specification and weighting of food to ensure consistency. At the tray build-up area, new trays and portioned food were then loaded onto the cleaned trolley. All catering were then kept chilled before being taken by high loader truck into the airplane for passengers. Last, I visited World’s largest vertical farm, Bustanica which produces fresh lettuce for Emirates Flight Kitchen from farm to fork in just 14 hours! The vegetables were grown sustainably without using soil and fertilizer.

The video showcases the latest in aircraft seats, interiors, inflight entertainment and connectivity at Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) 2023. It is where the aviation industry gets together, showcasing the latest products and exploring new bold ideas. At AIME 2023, I tried out the biggest single-aisle aircraft business class by Stelia. ST Engineering presented the “extendable” lavatory for people of determination. There are lightweight Business Class seats, hard shells, and conventional recliners on display by seat makers AVIO Interiors and GEVEN. Then I caught up with Alex from Chaise Economy Lounge who has the “double-decker” economy class concept to provide more legroom and more seats with affordable airfares. Seat interior expert from Perrone explains the latest trend in using leather and synthetic leather as airplane seats. The following aviation supplier appeared in this video: Stelia Aerospace ST Engineering Avio Interiors Chaise Economy Lounge GEVEN Perrone Aerospace Scneller UUDS

I flew on Lufthansa B747-8 from Los Angeles to Germany to see their new "Allegris" cabin product launch. The current Lufthansa Business Class seats have some shortcomings and lack privacy. I flew on the upper deck of the legendary B747. Lufthansa unveiled its €2.5 Billion cabin upgrade program "Allegris". The most impressive product is on Lufthansa First Class which features a floor-to-ceiling double suite in the middle. The suite can convert into a double bed with a 43" TV screen. Lufthansa's new Business Class also features a 2m long bed and suite. There are up to 7 different seat configurations in Business Class. Watch the video for the details. Less impressive are the Premium Economy and Economy, those are fairly standard and without much improvement in my opinion. In the video, I gave my impression, pros and cons after trying out these seats.

What was your worst flight experience? I recently experienced some of the most uncomfortable, expensive, and basic services on my recent flights. I had an uncomfortable flight on Southwest Airlines to Dallas. Nothing really went wrong. Just one of those days you have no shoulder room with 3 big guys in the same row. It was beyond a tight squeeze. Southwest has a free seating policy which is more speedy but has no guarantee of seat and space. The narrower width on the 737 didn’t help of course, I think A320 may be better in my situation with a wider fuselage. Next, I flew on Delta B717 to Atlanta. The flight time was 2 hours and there was only a snack available in First Class. This does not compare well with many international airlines which serve a full meal for the same length of the flight. It reflects the current state of airline service. The fares are much higher now but passengers are not getting more out of it. On my recent United flight from New York to LA, I was served very basic food and the spoon was not even cleaned and checked properly. United has probably one of the worst in-flight catering over the years. I’ve also had some good experiences recently on Bangkok Airways and Korean Air. All passengers on Bangkok Air can enjoy the airport lounge before the flight and receive a full meal on a 1-hour domestic flight. Bangkok Air footage: Jakkrit Prasertwit

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I flew on a Korean Air Boeing 747-8 from Atlanta to Seoul Incheon in First Class. This is the current longest Boeing 747 flight in the world with over 7,100 miles and with 15-16 hours of flying time. Check out the Korean Air First Class Suite (Kosmo Suite II) and its amenities. During the flight, I tried out the Korean Bibimbap, which is served across all classes on Korean Air. I also learned about Korean culture from the Korean cabin crew. For many of us, the journey itself is the most exciting part of the trip. Korean Air B747-8 First Class is one fine example of luxury travel with a fully enclosed private suite, fine dining, amenities and attentive service. The only thing missing is the Wi-Fi connectivity to make the experience perfect.

I traveled on Kuwait Airways recently to witness the transformation of the airline. I flew on their new A330-800neo from Dubai to Kuwait City. It was a night flight with rainy weather in Dubai and fog in Kuwait. During the flight, I explored both Kuwait Airways Business and Economy class products including the seat and food. Kuwait Airways is a dry airline. I visited Kuwait Airways' integrated operational control center (IOCC) to see how an airline operates behind the scenes. Then I visited the cabin crew training center to see how the new crew are joining the airline after the pandemic. Next, I tried out the new inflight food. There’s also a Kuwait Airways museum gallery in their headquarters. I interviewed Kuwait Airways CEO Maen Razouqi on the transformation of the state owned carrier. It is not an easy task to transform. Previously it was functioning like a government department, the culture was bigger than the strategy. The airline needs stability and no political interference to succeed. I wish them luck and hope the blue bird will fly high and proud in the sky. I flew out of Kuwait Airport Terminal 4 and reviewed Kuwait Airways’ Business Class lounge before departing. Have you flown Kuwait Airways recently? What are your thoughts and feedback on them?

The last Boeing 747, a -8F is the 1574th built of a production run that has spanned 55 years. Join me in the final B747 delivery Ceremony at Boeing Everett factory. Listen to Boeing’s current and former CEO honoring the “incredibles”, John Travolta talking about his love of B747 and Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr announcing the upgrade of their 747-8 cabins. I spoke with Charlie Trippe Jr, grandson of Pan Am’s founder Juan Trippe and many Boeing employees who worked on the 747 line with their stories and emotions. The last B747; Atlas Air N863GT departed Everett the next morning at 8:19am. She received a water cannon salute, followed by a quick takeoff with a steep climb out. Then she performed a low flyby to say goodbye! Later, she drew a 747 and a crown in the sky! Over the years, I have been fortunate to fly on the 747 a total of 282 times, with every model from the 747-100 to the 747-8F, from 747-SP to SR to SUD and Combis. There are many memorable ones….I picked some special 747 flights to share with you! 747 Forever Incredible! Air747 Book Giveaway Link: https://gleam.io/Z2Y8t/air747-book-giveaway To buy Air747 Book with special offer: https://shop-theairlineboutique.co.uk/products/air-747-pre-order 747 Quiz Answer 1. Japan Airlines 2. Atlas Air 3. B747-400 4. Lufthansa Cover Image: by Lukas Souza

I flew on Air France's new Business Class seat on their refurbished B777-300/ER from Paris to New York. The weather in New York was bad with rain and low visibility. Watch the exciting landing at JFK. The newly configured Air France B777-300/ER has 48 Business Class suites, 48 Premium Economy class seats and 273 Economy seats. It features a privacy door in Business class. Row 1 and 9 has a massive footwell and extra room due to the bulkhead position. Air France’s new Premium Economy seat comes with a deep recline which is different from the current fixed shell design. 3 refurbished Air France 777-300/ER currently fly between Paris and JFK (AF22/15), Dakar and Rio with this new configuration. 9 more B777 will be refurbished by the end of this year. Before my flight, I visited the Air France Operation Control Center (OCC) to see how my flight was dispatched. A rare behind-the-scenes discovery! The weather in New York was very bad with rain and low visibility. Our plane was on hold for 40 minutes before cleared to ILS approach on Runway 13L. Watch the exciting landing at JFK.

After a 17 hour non-stop flight from New York to Auckland, I continue my journey to Queenstown, in the South Island of New Zealand. Queenstown is one of the best scenic and most challenging airports in New Zealand. I am flying on an Air New Zealand A320neo in the cockpit behind the pilots. Captain Grant explains the multiple challenge factors due to the terrain, wind, low clouds and even snow in Queenstown. Enjoy the scenic ride across New Zealand. My next flight is to the capital of New Zealand; Wellington. The flight time from Auckland to Wellington was just 45 minutes. We flew at 34,000 ft on Air New Zealand A320neo. The pilot told me Wellington is usually very windy, and the runway is very short with just 6,000 ft making it even more challenging. Check out the landing!

Thai Airways was a great airline but started its decline in the early 2000s. Since COVID, Thai has lost about 50% of its fleet as their A380, 747, older 777s and A330 were all grounded. Thai Airways has also stopped flying domestically altogether. As a result, there are no more wide-body flights in Thailand. This is my first Thai Airways flight in nearly 4 years. I started my trip at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. I visited the new Royal Orchid Prestige lounge. There is a good amount of food in the new lounge but many other Thai Airways lounges including the Royal Orchid Spa are still closed. The Thai B787-9 has the new individual pod seat in Business Class. However, Thai’s Business class product is generally one generation behind and with a lot of inconsistency across the fleet. The Economy Class seating on 787-9, however, has decent legroom with a footrest. There are several cutbacks in service; there are no more printed menus, or newspapers and magazines. On regional flights, the cabin crew no longer wears the traditional Thai dress. The food in Business Class is fairly simple. I gave my final thought at the end of my flight.

I continue to discover Ethiopian Airlines operations behind the scenes at Addis Ababa Airport. There are 2 peaks every day, one in the morning and one in the evening with many arrivals and departures connecting at Addis Ababa. Check out the latest Ethiopian Airlines Business Class lounge in Addis Ababa. I boarded a new Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 to Cape Town, it has a new Business Class in 1-2-1 staggered layout. The pilot showed the A350 cockpit and explained the high-altitude operation at Addis Ababa and its limitation on takeoff weight. Flight time to Cape Town is 6 hours from Addis Ababa, flying through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana before reaching South Africa. During the flight, traditional Ethiopian cuisine is served with injera bread. Discover more about Ethiopian Airlines' service and flight operation on the A350 in my video.

I traveled on Qatar Airways First Class from Dubai via Doha to Bangkok using just 50k award miles. The first flight is from Dubai to Doha on Qatar Airways B787-9. I shared my World Cup stories onboard the quick 40 minute flight to Qatar. Once I landed in Doha, I visited the garden in the new terminal expansion at Hamad International Airport. It was an amazing terminal experience and I couldn’t believe this was in the Middle East! My next flight to Bangkok is operated by the double-decker Qatar Airways A380. Very glad to see Qatar Airways brought them back into service. Many onboard products on this flight still feature the World Cup. Find out the Qatar Airways First Class experience and learn how to use miles to redeem the First Class seat.

I flew on an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 from Vienna to Addis Ababa. Find out Ethiopian Airlines latest onboard product in both Business Class and Economy class. The flight was overnight and took 5 hours and 45 minutes. Before landing, a beautiful sunrise greeted all passengers. Join me for landing inside the cockpit of Boeing 787. After landing, I toured the passenger terminal and up to 10,000 passengers in the morning transit at Addis Ababa Bole Airport making it the busiest hub in Africa. I was given a tour of the Ethiopian Airlines Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility where a Boeing 767 is undergoing cargo conversion. Then I went inside an Ethiopian A350 passenger freighter full of cargo in the cabin. Last, I went on a day tour in Addis Ababa city. In next episode, I continue to explore Ethiopia and flew on their new A350 across Africa to Cape Town. Video: https://youtu.be/zf2YuCoQrQg

I boarded a Hi Fly A340 chartered for White Desert Antarctica (Tour Operator) to fly to the seventh continent; Antarctica. The flight time from Cape Town to Wolf’s Fang Runway in Antarctica is 5 hours and 15 minutes. Flying from 33 degrees South to 71 degrees South in latitude. Commander Carlos Mirpuri explained the Antarctic flight operating conditions and requirements. During the flight, the founder of White Desert Antarctica Patrick explained what to expect in Antarctica. As we flew closer to Antarctica, passengers changed to winter clothing and got ready for the exploration. The Antarctic season is from mid-November to early February every year. The weather condition was good with clear visibility for landing at Wolf’s Fang runway. The runway friction index was also sufficient to allow the airplane to stop during braking. Our A340 landed at Wolf’s Fang runway (71º 32’ 00” S 8º 50’ 00” E) around 1930 UTC time. I was lucky to observe the Antarctic landing from the jumpseat. The runway length is 2500 m (8200') long and 60 m (196') wide. Wolf’s Fang Runway is operated by White Desert Antarctica and it’s the only blue ice runway. It takes 22 hours to groom and prepare the runway for every jet landing. After landing, we climbed a nearby Nunatak (small mountain) and were just amazed at the pristine landscape; the white desert! The sun never set during the Antarctic summer. I also visited the newly opened Echo Camp for refreshments before the flight back. Certainly one of "The Greatest Day" in my aviation and travel memory! For more information on Antarctica tour, visit white-desert.com

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I flew on Summit Air Let L-410 from Pokhara to Jomsom to discover what makes this flight one of the most challenging in the world. The flight took just 20 minutes at 10,500 feet and flew through a narrow valley passage around two 8,000m mountains (Annapurna and Dhaulagiri) en route. The video highlights flying in Nepal’s rugged and challenging Himalayan terrain. Jomsom lies on the arid north side of the Himalaya and has operations only in the mornings because of high winds and cloud build-up during the course of the day. The route has seen many fatal accidents, and nearly all due to controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) during bad weather. The elevation of Jomsom Airport is 8,976 feet (2,736m) above sea level. The weather was excellent in the dry season but soon the wind picked up and flight operations between Pokhara and Jomsom were temporarily halted. I managed to explore Jomsom and finally took the last flight back to Pokhara. It was a beautiful mountain flight with the wings flying close to the high mountain terrain.

I flew on La Compagnie A321neo all business class special chartered flights from Paris to Svalbard. Svalbard Airport is the main airport serving Svalbard in Norway. It is 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen on the west coast and is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled public flights. This is not a scheduled flight but a chartered flight for Ponant, a luxury cruise company. The charter was arranged and managed by LunaJets. There are just 76 lie-flat business class seats onboard the La Compagnie A321neo. Take a look at the amazing scenic approach from the cockpit into Svalbard. Once I landed in Svalbard, I explore the isolated airfield and terminal before flying back. More information on charter: https://www.lunajets.com/

This week, I took a flight to Busan, South Korea and visited the Korean Air Aerospace tech center to see how they paint a Korean Air B747-8. Korean Air is the only airline that manufactures Boeing and Airbus parts. I discovered behind the scenes how the B787 wingtip, tail cone, flap support fairing and A320 sharklet are made there. Then, I visited the Korean Air catering center to see how they prepare airplane food. I was shown the popular traditional Korean Bibimbap and Mukbap dish.

I visited the Korean Air Crew Training Center in Seoul and attended their aviation security class. First, the black belt instructor demonstrates how to restrain unruly passengers with a simple hand-twist trick. Then, the crew shows how to use a taser gun as a last resort to target trouble passengers. Next, I was invited to observe the emergency ditching class of Korean Air crew training. The airplane simulated a forced landing on water and passengers had to brace themselves. The crew demonstrates how to inflate the life vest and slide down the airplane in a stressful scenario. Next week, I will visit Korean Air Busan tech center including painting a B747-8, seeing how they manufacture Boeing and Airbus parts, visit Korean Air cargo at Incheon and take a look at the Korean Air catering center.

At the end of NBAA 2022, I hopped on the new experimental Dassault Falcon 6X, the latest Falcon jet transatlantic from Orlando to Paris. It was my first time flying on a private jet across the Atlantic and what an experience it was! The Falcon 6X is in a new category of Business Aviation: the Ultra Widebody business jet. It flies at a top speed of Mach 0.90 and has 5,500nm (10,186 km) range. My flight to Paris was an 8 hours overnight flight. We used just 4,500 ft of runway out of Orlando Executive Airport. The aircraft was extremely quiet with a cabin altitude of just 3,900 ft which is much lower than commercial aircraft. On this factory demonstrator, the rear sofa on each side can turn into a huge super king bed. I experienced a good night of sleep and watched the sunrise in bed with breakfast at 47,000 ft. Enough said for the private jet experience. 3 years ago at Paris Airshow 2019, I saw the Falcon 6X mock-up and today I have flown on the jet itself. The Dassault Falcon 6X is expected to be certified in 2023 and so far 19 examples have been built.

Our helicopter was one of the first to take off at sunrise around 6:20am from Kathmandu Airport. There are many helicopter operators offering tours to see the majestic mountains in Nepal but there’s only a small window of season to do this. I’d recommend going in April or October when the weather is at its clearest and not so cold. Lukla is the gateway to Mount Everest. There is no road so no car can get there. A flight to Lukla is 25 minutes on a fixed-wing airplane or 40 mins by helicopter. We arrived there at 7am. We took off again after refueling and headed to Mt Everest, on the way we passed Namche Bazar, Syangboche airstrip, Khumbu Icefall… Mount Everest is the one with the sharp peak with snow blowing at the top. We were almost at 20,000 ft but Mt Everest stood really tall from where our helicopter was. We were trying to get up to Camp 2 of Mt Everest which is the absolute limit of the helicopter. We eventually landed at Kala Patthar. I was so frantically taking photos and videos and started to use the oxygen supply from the helicopter. Our next stop is the pristine Gokyo Lake. On the way, we saw the world’s highest glacier, Khumbu Glacier. It really amazes me how close we fly to those mountain terrains. After a brief stop on the lake, we headed towards the world’s highest hotel, hotel Everest view for breakfast. The whole trip took about 5 hours. The cost of doing it is about $1200 per person sharing on the helicopter. Helicopters don’t just bring tourists, they also bring cargo and bring down sick and fatigue trekkers from the mountain down on a daily basis. Way Point of our helicopter flight: 1. Kathmandu (4,390 ft / 1,338m) 2. Lukla (9,380 ft / 2,860m) 3. Namche Bazar (11,290 ft / 3,440m) 4. Syangboche (12,402 ft / 3,780m) 5. Khumbu Icefall (17,999 ft / 5,486m) 6. Mt Everest (29,031 ft / 8,849m) 7. Kala Patthar (18,519 ft / 5,644m) 8. Cho La Pass (17,782 ft / 5,420 m) 9. Gokyo Ri (17,575 ft / 5,357m) 11. Hotel Everest View (12,729ft / 3,880m) 13. Lukla (9,380 ft / 2,860m) 14. Kathmandu (4,390 ft / 1,338m)

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I flew on Nepal Airlines A330 from Dubai to Kathmandu as the beginning of my flying adventure in the Himalayas. I met Captain Vijay Lama onboard, he is a local celebrity and YouTuber in Nepal. The flight time to Kathmandu was 4 hours across the Indian subcontinent. Shortly after takeoff, a beautiful sunrise appeared as we fly to the East. Nepal Airlines crew showed me their uniform and food offering on the flight. The weather was good enroute. Before landing, many tall mountains appeared on the horizon. 8 of the world’s top 10 highest peaks are in Nepal. We can see Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Fishtail, Manaslu, and many tall mountain peaks. The landing into Kathmandu is very exciting with mountains and high terrain around. Watch the final approach from the cockpit. Next week, I will share my experience flying to Mount Everest by helicopter. This is a once-a-lifetime experience.

I went onboard the Zero-G Boeing 727 flight to experience Zero Gravity. The Zero-G specially modified B727 has a large open space in the forward fuselage. We took off from Las Vegas, and within 15 minutes we reached our designated airspace. The plane flies in a series of parabolic arcs so everything inside can be in freefall. I followed the instructor’s advice to lie on the floor while the Boeing 727 entered the parabola, you can feel about 1.8G while the plane is on a sharp climb. When the Zero gravity moment happened, you can feel it in your body that you became weightless and began to float and flip. We have fun catching water droplets and catching candy floating around. Each parabola lasted about 30 seconds. We did a total of 12 parabolas on our flight before we returned to land. This is the experience to feel like an astronaut and truly one of a kind experience! Use discount code SAMCHUI5 to receive 5% off your Zero-G flight at https://www.gozerog.com/

I flew a Cirrus Vision Jet G2+ from Atlanta Hartsfield Int’l; the world’s busiest airport to the 2022 NBAA-BACE in Orlando. My Cirrus instructor Joel Mayo showed me all the features inside the Vision Jet. It is the most affordable personal jet out there; costing about $3 Million. We rotated at 85 knots of speed out of the busy airspace of Atlanta. En route to Orlando, I flew several maneuvers inside the Vision Jet such as steep turns and stalls. My instructor also showed me the auto land and parachute features onboard. Watch my landing at Orlando Executive Airport. The jet has GA handling quality and it is easy to fly with the side stick. The new ultra-long-range Gulfstream G800 made its debut at 2022 NBAA-BACE. It has the longest range of 8,000 nautical miles. The test pilot explained the flight test program and the experimental airplane. New electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles are also on display. I met up with many aviators there to see their favorite airplane. A year ago, I toured the Cirrus Vision Jet at NBAA. This year I flew in one to the show! The opportunities created from networking and face-to-face meet at the NBAA-BACE is like no other. It is the greatest Business Aviation event. #NBAA2022 #NBAA #PrivateJet

Bula Vinaka everyone! Fiji is my last stop in the South Pacific. I flew on Fiji Airways Airbus A350 from Sydney to Nadi. The island charm of Fiji started when I step inside Fiji Airways. I was on Fiji Time! Take a look at Fiji Airways new A350 product, meals, and services. The next morning, I traveled domestically from Nadi to Savusavu on a Fiji Link Twin Otter flight. Savusavu is located on the Island of Vanua Levu which has a short landing strip and it is a captain’s landing-only airport. The 1-hour scenic flight allows me to see Fiji from above. Watch the video for the exciting landing there. During my stay in Fiji, I also visited the Sigatoka River safari and went to a local Fijian village to learn about their culture. Lastly, I visited the recently opened Fiji Airways Aviation Academy. I met with trainees of Fiji Airways on safety training and flew a flight simulator.

I traveled on Air Tahiti to explore the beauty of French Polynesian islands. My flight is from Papeete to Bora Bora with a stop at Huahine. I was invited to fly in the cockpit jumpseat on Air Tahiti ATR 72-600. Our first leg from Papeete to Huahine took about 30 minutes flying at 12,000 ft. We had a clear view of Moorea on the way. Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands. Our flight brings in locals, tourists and daily supplies. Flying time to Bora Bora was just 15 minutes, at 4,000 ft. The weather becomes clear and I can see the turquoise-blue ocean and crystal-clear lagoon. The scenery was out of this world and it was one of the most beautiful flights I’ve taken. There are no roads and no cars at Bora Bora airport. The only transportation is by boat to the main center or hotel. My flight back to Papeete was equally scenic, we flew low over some Tahitian overwater bungalow. Aviation plays an important role in transporting travelers and cargo supplies to these islands.

I hopped on an Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Auckland to Papeete, French Polynesia. Air Tahiti Nui 787 is the most colorful and the most exotic 787 I’ve flown. Flight attendants gave out tiara flowers to passengers. The flight was an immersive experience of Tahitian culture. I literally traveled back in time and gained a day by flying from the earliest time zone (New Zealand) to the last timezone (Tahiti) by crossing the dateline on this flight. Tahiti is located in the middle of the South Pacific with isolation. The nearest diversion point is Cook Island. As a nice welcome, Polynesian music was performed after landing at Papeete Faa’a International Airport. I spent a day exploring the island of Papeete by visiting a waterfall and spending some time planespotting. Next week, I will fly on Air Tahiti domestically to explore the Tahitian Islands of Huahine and Bora Bora.

Air New Zealand has just launched non-stop flights between New York and Auckland, New Zealand. I was invited to fly on the inaugural flight which is currently the fourth longest flight in the world. The flight time was 16 hours 35 minutes. The video documents the whole flight experience from takeoff to landing. However, the inaugural did suffer a setback with a storm enroute which required additional fuel for safety so some bags were left behind. The current inward-facing Business Class seat on Air New Zealand will be replaced by a new product in 2024. I visited the new Skynest mock-up in Auckland. For the first time ever, economy class passengers are going to have the option of stretching out for some sleep on actual beds during their flight. There are also some great views of JFK Airport and New York City from the helicopter by ZIP Aviation in this video. https://zipaviation.com/

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) recently launched flights to South Korea. I flew on SAUDIA B787 Dreamliner from Seoul Incheon to Jeddah via Riyadh. It is interesting for me to see who travels on this new SAUDIA flight as the country only recently opened to tourism and transit. During the flight, I reviewed all the SAUDIA in-flight service offerings including an onboard chef cooking fresh eggs for breakfast. SAUDIA is a no-alcohol airline, there is a dedicated prayer area on their widebody aircraft. The transit in Jeddah was easy. Finally, the airport is under one roof. During the transit, I visited the new SAUDIA Al Fursan Lounge. The lounge is the largest lounge in Skyteam airlines, which can accommodate up to 10,000 passengers a day. During each Hajj season, the airline carries over 100,000 passengers within a few weeks in and out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I hope to document it in the next Hajj season.

I traveled to South Korea and flew between Seoul Gimpo and Jeju. There are about 155 daily flights, with over 40,000 passengers flying on this route each day which makes it the world's busiest air route. My flight from Seoul to Jeju is operated by Jin Air B777-200. The staff at Jin Air wear jeans as the uniform. The flight time to Jeju was 50 minutes with the 390-seater B777. Once I landed in Jeju, I visited the island and tasted the famous Korean BBQ. I also did some plane-spotting in Jeju. On the way back from Jeju to Seoul, I flew on Korean Air's new A220. It has all economy seating in a 2-3 configuration. Find out more from my video on why Seoul to Jeju is the world's busiest air route by far?

I flew my first Honda Jet from Paris to Milan. Honda Jet is a light private jet with 4-5 seats and costs around $5 million which makes it one of the cheapest private jets. It is like a Japanese car with every inch of space utilized. It even has a private bathroom. The plane is powered by GE Honda HF120 engines mounted on the pylon above the wings. My flight is arranged by charter broker LunaJets; one of Europe’s leading charter brokers. The flight is operated by JetClub, which allows you to own a fraction of the plane. The owner can even fly in the Honda Jet to build jet hours! A cool concept for pilot training. We climbed to 31,000 ft and crossed the spectacular Alps in great weather. It feels very cozy with just me as the sole passenger. After landing in Milan Malpensa, I rushed off to the main terminal to catch an Emirates A380 to Dubai. This time, I flew in Economy Class. From a private jet to the back of the A380 Super Jumbo. I experienced two unique flying experiences in one day! About LunaJets: https://www.lunajets.com/en About JetClub: https://jetclubgroup.com/

I flew on Turkish Airlines' new A350 from Montreal to Istanbul. I went behind the scenes on flight operations from the cockpit and in the cabin as a passenger to experience the brand-new aircraft. The mask is no longer mandatory on Turkish Airlines unless the destination requires it. Welcome drink, and full meal service have now been returned onboard. The Turkish Airlines A350 Business Class cabin has an understated luxury silver/gray decor with all aisle access. Window seats are even number 2/4/6/8. While the privacy is excellent, I found the seat to be quite narrow for myself. In Economy, the Turkish Airlines A350 feature standard 3-3-3 configuration with seat 28A and 28K have extra leg room with no seat in front. I continued my connection to Izmir from Istanbul. The 50 minute domestic flight in Turkey really impressed me with a full meal served. I traveled by car to Pamukkale to see the famous pools of Pamukkale. It was my first time in a hot balloon and what an experience! Follow Irem Ciray: https://www.instagram.com/iremciray/ #goturkiye #gotürkiye

After 3 days of raw aviation megafun with Buffalo Airways at Yellowknife, NWT. I am “back to the future” and flew out on Air Canada CRJ900 to Calgary. The CRJ even has a Business Class product. An impressive hot meal was served on the 2 hour flight. I stayed overnight in Calgary and flew on Air Canada B787-9 Dreamliner to Montreal the next day. The Air Canada lounge in Calgary has decent food selection. I met with two other Canadian travelers there, and they told me the airfare within Canada is sometimes higher than flights to Europe. My flight out of Calgary was delayed by an hour due to a late inbound flight. Once onboard Air Canada B787, the crew showed me the cockpit and the pilot crew rest area on the B787. A course-by-course full lunch was served onboard with a printed menu and paired wines. The Air Canada B787-9 also features Premium Economy Class. At the end of the 3.5 hour flight, I highlighted two observed issues with aviation in Canada. 1. The airfares are high. I was redeeming miles to fly for better value. 2. If you didn't get a refund but got a voucher instead, given the current high airfare and inflation, the voucher value is unlikely to hold.

It's the wild wild West in Northern Canada. The 1940s made Curtiss C-46 Commando, the world's last flying Lockheed Electra and other classic planes are still flying every day to deliver vital supplies to remote communities. I joined Mikey McBryan at Buffalo Airways to discover their unique operation. Pilots at Buffalo Airways need to roll up their sleeves, not only flying the plane but also loading cargo, refueling and servicing these classic airplanes. It is a full day of action following what these "ice pilots" do there. At the end of the video, pilots talk about the harsh and unique winter operation. It is extreme flying!

I joined my flight instructor Tex, who recently got hired at Aero; a luxury all First Class "semi-private" jet company. We flew together to Aspen, Colorado, known as one of the most challenging and tough airports in the U.S. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is 7,820 ft in elevation. For most aircraft operations, aircraft must land to the south but take off to the north. The Aero Embraer 135 has been fitted with just 16 First Class seats in a 1-1 configuration. It has its own FBO at Van Nuys and you can arrive at the airport as little as 20 minutes before the flight. Find out more about my flight on Aero and the unique approach into Aspen Airport in the video.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! Which Airlines have the BEST First Class in 2022 and what will the future First Class product looks like? I have ranked the top 5 First Class products by breaking down a First Class flight into the following category: * Airport experience - True First Class experience should start before the flight and continue until you arrive at the airport. * Seat - Functionality and Privacy * Food & Beverage * Products (Amenities, IFE, Wi-Fi) * WOW Factor (unique features such as double suite, shower, or extra amenities) Let’s find out which airlines score the highest. I have also included tips to help you to fly First Class for less. At the end of the video, I am going to share with you the future First Class that will be in service in the next few years.

I spent a day behind the operation scenes at one of my favorite airports; LAX - Los Angeles International. I follow Jon, an airport operation superintendent on the runway inspection, we drove on the longest runway at LAX among busy airfield traffic. Jon showed me what airport operations do to maintain airfield safety. We picked up some FOD (foreign objects and debris), escorted a Korean Air B747-8 (Group 6 aircraft), did ground inspection, and visited several airfield construction sites. Then, I visited the new LAX Traffic Ramp tower at Bradley Terminal West. The new tower was opened last year and operated by LA Airport Operation. The ramp tower controls 2 taxiways to the East and 2 taxiways to the West of the new Bradley West terminal due to reduced visibility from the ATC tower. Enjoy some great traffic and plane spotting from the new tower location. The International traffic is bouncing back. I spotted some new airlines such as ITA Airways A350, Zip Air B787, Korean Air B747-8, SAS A350 and many others. Finally, I visited LAX Airport Response Coordination Center (ARCC) where all the departments such as Airport Ops, Fire department, Credit: @chrispzero for timelapse footage

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! The Airbus A340-500 is a very rare airplane. Only 34 were built and delivered. There is only 1 airline that you can still fly on it and that’s Azerbaijan Airlines. This video shows you my flight onboard Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) A340-500 from Dubai to Baku in 2016. It also tells you the current route and how to fly on the last A340-500. 6 years later, I flew on Azerbaijan Airlines A320 from Dubai to Baku again. Find out the seat, service and meal onboard AZAL. I also included some sights from Baku.

2022 summer travel is mad! Long queues, delays, cancellations, and missing baggage. Sharing with you the latest data on the most delayed airlines and airports around the world. Think twice before you travel! Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) had the highest number of flight cancellations in Europe after its pilots went on a strike. The troubled airline has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. Eurowings is another carrier that has cancelled about 8% of their flights last minute. Toronto Pearson Airport saw the most flight delays in North America, followed by Dallas Fort Worth and New York-JFK. 46% of Air Canada flights ran late. In the last 30 days, an average of one out of five flights a day arrived behind schedule in the U.S. I am also sharing some useful tips on how to travel these days. Fly in the morning on non-stop flights, bring only carry-on bags, download airline apps, knowing your rights and being patient are some of the key takeaways to survive delays and cancellations. At the end of the video, an aviation expert talked about when we will expect a smoother travel experience and how to fix the current problem. Claim your flight disruption compensation with AirHelp: https://samchui.com/airhelp 10 useful tips on how to travel these days: https://samchui.com/2022/07/11/10-travel-tips-to-deal-with-flight-delays-or-cancellations/

I flew on one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East - MEA, Middle East Airlines from Dubai to Beirut. The flight is operated by MEA’s new A321neo. Follow captain Maxim on the takeoff from the cockpit. Check out MEA’s in-flight offering and what’s it like to fly onboard. Before landing, enjoy a spectacular approach into Beirut Int’l Airport. After landing, I went plane spotting around Beirut Airport. Watching a few MEA A320 and A330 takeoffs. Lebanon’s economic crisis is obvious, as there is no stable electricity supply. No traffic lights and very little light in the city at night. The difference between the official and black market exchange rates is almost 20 times. It is certainly cheaper for tourists to visit but can Lebanon survive the current economic crisis? Next week, I will share more experiences as a tourist in Lebanon and whether the country is safe to visit. I flew out of Beirut on a MEA A330-200. Full Report on my blog: https://samchui.com/2022/06/26/trip-report-a-trip-to-lebanon-on-mea-middle-east-airlines/

I spent a day behind the scenes on the ramp at Geneva Airport. Sitting inside the push-back tug pushing a 360 Ton Emirates B777-300/ER. Could this be the best airport job? Then, I visited the new observation deck. Geneva airport host a wide array of aircraft activities from general aviation to business jets to commercial airlines and VIP head of state airplanes. In May 2021, both U.S. Air Force One (B747) and Russia Air Force One (IL-96) visited Geneva Airport. This video captured some of the interesting traffic to visit Geneva. After that, I took off on a sightseeing flight from Geneva to Mont Blanc. Our Piper PA-46 Malibu departed Geneva towards Lake Geneva and the Alps. Within 20 minutes, we reached Mont Blanc. It was really spectacular flying over the Alps.

This week, I flew on SilkWay Ilyushin IL-76 transporter from Baku to Erbil, Iraq. The flight was completely different from the Western conventional airplane. It took a strong team of 5 men to operate including 2 pilots, a. flight engineer, a radio controller and a navigator. The flight also carries a loadmaster and 2 technicians. Before takeoff, the captain and loadmaster briefly introduced the cockpit and the cargo cabin. Inside the cabin, it has a crane system and ramp system able to lower to load without infrastructure. This particular IL-76TD-90 has new stage 4 noise compliant engines (Perm PS90 engines) instead of the older and noisier Soloviev D-30 engines. Our flight took 2.5 hours from Baku to Erbil. After dropping off the cargo, we flew back to Baku empty. The view from the navigator seat through the glass nose was amazing. Watch the full video of the entire IL-76 flight and cargo operation. The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose, fixed-wing, four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter designed by the Soviet Union's Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. For more information, visit: https://www.silkwayairlines.com/fleet/il-76td-1/ Cover Image: Andreas Kolbe

Hello from Baku, Azerbaijan. This week, I am flying on Silkway West B747-8 Freighter from Baku to Amsterdam. The B747-8F is fully loaded with 120 tons of cargo with takeoff weight of over 400 tons! Before the flight, Samir from Silk Way Group gave me a special tour of the modern cargo facility in Baku, which features an automated cargo crane system and a dedicated large cold storage warehouse. Silk Way West currently operates 12 B747 Freighters in the fleet. The ramp at Baku was buzzing with activity. Inside the Boeing 747, I met with Captain Rasim, who showed me the advanced loading of cargo inside B747-8F. I was the only passenger onboard this cargo plane. We departed Baku over the city, then headed towards the Caucasus, Georgia, across the Black Sea towards Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, and our final destination Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It was a really unusual first-class experience on the Boeing 747 cargo flight. Captain Rasim served me a meal including Caspian Sea beluga caviar! After food, there is a dedicated rest cabin to sleep. During my journey, I also discovered the tough life of a cargo pilot who spent most of the time flying through restrictions during the pandemic to deliver cargo. They face long periods of loneliness away from their family due to work. The weather in Amsterdam was raining with low visibility. The weather radar was full of colours. Watch how the pilot fully concentrated on the landing there.

I visited EBACE2022 - Europe’s largest Business Aviation conference and exhibition in Geneva this week. Take a look at the latest single pilot and almost supersonic speed ultra-luxury business jets, advanced air mobility and eVTOL aircraft. During EBACE2022, several new aircraft made their global debuts such as Gulfstream G700 and Dassault Falcon 6X. The range on Gulfstream G700 is 7,500 nm cruise at a maximum Mach speed of 0.925. The Dassault Falcon 6X flies at a maximum ceiling of 51,000 ft and flies at top speed of Mach 0.90. Bombardier has unveiled its new long-range flagship Global 8000. With top speed of Mach 0.94, the Global 8000 will be the world’s fastest and longest-range business jet. During flight testing, it set a new supersonic record of Mach 1.015 on a business jet. Take a look at the latest line up from all the manufacturers such as Gulfstream, Boeing, Dassault Falcon, Airbus, Textron, Pilatus, Embraer, and more. The future of aviation is also on display at EBACE, take a look at a flying car from PAL-V, an electric airplane from Lilium, a hybrid airplane from Pipistrel and eVTOL from eHang. EBACE is a great venue for networking, I spoke with Europe’s largest charter broker LunaJets on the current market conditions and forecast of business aviation. Finally, I met up with fellow aviator Zara Rutherford, the youngest female pilot who circumnavigated the world in a light-sport aircraft. Zara was a keynote speaker of EBACE2022. To learn more about the EBACE2022 visit https://ebace.aero/2022/

Join me for an amazing fly-in safari to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya. I flew on the Safarilink Cessna Grand Caravan from Nairobi Wilson Airport. Within 20 minutes of departure, the landscape and scenery changed dramatically; grass became greener and I spotted a group of elephants while flying low over the national park. It is really Africa bush flying! There are a total of 11 active airstrips in the Masai Mara area. My flight made a stop at Kichwa Tempo to drop off tourists before continuing to Mara Serena where I am staying. I spotted some Giraffes on landing at the dirt strip airfield as there is no fence at the airport. After landing, I did an amazing safari and spotted the Big 5 animals. The next day, I flew back to Nairobi on the Safarilink Dash-8-100 seated behind the pilots in the cockpit on the milk run. Thumbnail Photo by Kym Illman: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZqNme_MY-jl_1ziSr2VMjA

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I travelled on Aer Lingus from London to Dublin to visit Ireland. Heathrow was extremely crowded as travel is bouncing back. I visited the Aer Lingus Lounge at Heathrow. Then, to my surprise, I received an upgrade to Business Class onboard the new Aer Lingus A321LR. Flight to Dublin was a short 55 minute hop. After landing in Dublin, I went plane-spotting at Dublin Airport. The next day I drove around the Irish countryside to visit Galway, the Cliffs of Moher and Shannon. The scenery and people are both lovely in Ireland. After 2 days, I flew out of Dublin to Toronto on another brand new Aer Lingus A321LR. Aer Lingus has decent Business Class products and I particularly enjoyed the meal onboard. There are pros and cons of flying the narrowbody A321 Transatlantic. It saves time as a direct flight without connecting at major hub airports but the single-aisle takes longer to board, and may not have as much space as a widebody airplane. The A321LR/XLR will become a regular sight on Transatlantic flights in the near future.

Recently, I visited Boom Supersonic HQ to see their latest development on the supersonic airplane. I met with the Boom Supersonic founder and CEO Blake Scholl who talked about the timeline of supersonic and why we need supersonic. I was given a behind-the-scenes tour of the XB-1 demonstrator that Boom is currently building and testing. After flying on the Concorde at twice the speed of sound, I am really keen to see if supersonic travel can happen in the future in a more sustainable fashion. For supersonic fans, the next to watch is the XB-1 experimental airplane flying in the sky.

I flew on one of the last McDonnell Douglas DC-9 with Astral Cargo from Nairobi, Kenya to Mwanza, Tanzania. Follow captain George for a walk around the 46 year old DC-9-34 Freighter and later he explains the complicated looking classic analog cockpit. We had a long roll on the 45 minute flight due to the high altitude in Nairobi. Once airborne, we cruised at 27,000 ft across Lake Victoria with 14 tons of general cargo onboard. With an uneventful landing, we arrived in Mwanza, Tanzania. I spotted Air Tanzania Dash8-400 takeoff while all the cargo was being offloaded. While we just closed the door and were ready to fly back to Nairobi, suddenly a huge swarm of lake flies (bugs) loom around the airport from Lake Victoria. The flies almost blocked the windscreen and it was hard to look out! We took off from Mwanza Int’l Airport quickly and climbed to 28,000 ft. Captain George explained the lake flies are usually an evening phenomenon from Lake Victoria so it was unusual during daytime. I am really glad to have flown on another classic airplane; the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 in 2022.

I flew on a Finnair A350 from Helsinki to London Heathrow. This flight features the new Finnair Business Class and Premium Economy cabin. The new Business Class seat was a bit odd from the start, there was no recline function so you have to slide down yourself. There’s also no seat back cushion apart from pillows. Later, I found out the seat is one of the lightest in Business Class. I felt quite comfortable being in a “Z” position. The privacy is excellent even without a door. When in full recline, your feet slide into a box. The bed is long enough for me. There are some pros and cons of the new Finnair Business Class seat. I also checked out the new Premium Economy and Economy class during the flight. I also showed the Finnair Business Class lounge in Helsinki and short-haul A320 Business Class flight from Paris to Helsinki in the video.

I flew with Chrono Aviation B737-200 Classic from Montreal to the Canadian Arctic north to experience the unique flight operation and landing on a snow-covered gravel runway. Our first stop is Iqaluit at 63 degrees North. Iqaluit is a technical fuel stop. I got to walk around the airplane during the stop, the weather was freezing and bitter cold for me! ( -30 degrees with wind chill) Our next stop is Mary River at 71 degrees North. Mary River has an iron ore mine operation. The runway is gravel and covered with snow during the winter months. During the flight, the captain explained the unique and challenging flight operations in the high Arctic such as the difference between true north and magnetic north, and the friction index on gravel landing. The Chrono Aviation B737-200 demonstrated strong continuous operation in challenging weather conditions. Unexpectedly, I was offloaded due to overbooking on the return flight, I stayed behind at the Arctic mine for 12 hours. This was another unique experience. I flew out of Mary River on the next flight that evening.

Download App in the Air: https://links.appintheair.mobi/samchui Use the promo code SAMCHUI at checkout to receive 20% off your flights with App in the Air (up to $50). The promo code is only available for in-app bookings in the US and select flights in the UK and EU. I flew on Etihad Airways new A350-1000 inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris on 31 March 2022. The Etihad A350-1000 has 44 Business Class suites and 327 economy class seats. A total of 5 A350-1000 will be entering service with Etihad this year. There are the usual celebrations at the gate before takeoff, aviation enthusiasts and media were busy taking photos and videos of the new plane. The pilot gave the flight briefing and showed the latest touch screen technology on the A350-1000 cockpit display. Enjoy the views from the cockpit during takeoff. After takeoff, I explored the Economy Class cabin. The first 5 rows in Economy have extra space as Economy Space. There are tablet holders and a bluetooth enabled headset connection. I checked out all the seat functions in the new Etihad Business Class suite. It has a sliding door to enhance privacy. During the flight, I interviewed Etihad Aviation Group CEO Tony Douglas about the A350 operation and the future of the Etihad A380. The new Etihad A350-1000 will be deployed to Mumbai, Delhi, Jeddah, Cairo and Istanbul before entering long haul service to New York and Chicago in July. I give my verdict and recommendation on the Etihad A350 at the end of the video. Full Trip Report on my blog: https://samchui.com/2022/04/08/trip-report-etihad-a350-1000-inaugural-flight-abu-dhabi-to-paris/

I flew on Kenya Airways B787 Dreamliner from Nairobi to Dubai. In this video, I will share with you my experience of flying Kenya Airways. I visited both The Simba and The Pride Lounge of Kenya Airways in Nairobi Airport. The Pride Lounge is much bigger and more comfortable in my opinion. The boarding process was not smooth, my flight was delayed due to the late and slow boarding process. Once onboard, the Kenya Airways crew were friendly and attentive. The Business Class is arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seat can go 180 degrees fully flat but with little privacy. After takeoff, a simple and underwhelming dinner is served. At the end of the flight, I give my verdict on flying Kenya Airways.

I visited the Emirates Aviation Training College in Dubai where Emirates train their cabin crew. The new Emirates cabin crew (ab initio) went through an intensive 8 weeks of training and exams to be qualified to fly. I was given a behind-the-scenes tour of Emirates new cabin crew training including safety and emergency procedure (SEP) such as sliding, aircraft ditching, smoke and fire in the cabin. Then I observed First Aid Training (GMT) including CPR and newborn baby delivery. After that, I visited the image and uniform to see how the new flight attendants get groomed to Emirates standard. Last, I went inside the mock-up aircraft trainer to observe the new cabin crew service delivery. Emirates Aviation Training College is the world's largest Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 training facility— including flight simulators, pool for ditching exercises, emergency slides and real firefighting simulators. Mock cabin interiors, specialised training rooms and virtual, game-based training scenarios complete the immersive and realistic training environment. On average, 120 new cabin crew graduate from the Emirates Aviation Training College each week.

I travelled on Astral Aviation B727-200 cargo flying from Nairobi, Kenya to Mogadishu, Somalia. The B727 freighter is 46 years old but still going strong. The aircraft carried 14 tons of food and general cargo to supply the United Nations and various NGOs in Somalia. Watch the amazing 3 man cockpit crew flying one of the last active B727 in the world. Captain Rafael came from Panama, check captain Oscar is from Bolivia. Flight engineer Joachim who has over 16,000 hours on the Boeing 727, explained what flight engineers do on the B727. Captain Rafael made a special briefing before landing in Mogadishu. We must land from the seaside to avoid any attack on the aircraft. Aden Adde Int’l Airport was really busy with a lot of regional and international flights in and out. It is the main hub and the gateway to Somalia. After all the cargo had been offloaded, we returned to Nairobi cruising at 28,000 ft. What a great adventure to fly on the 46-Year-old Boeing 3 engine jet!

Last week, I flew on RwandAir A330-300 to Rwanda. Find out from my video what flying RwandAir is like? The RwandAir A330 has 3 classes; business, premium economy and economy class. During my flight, I checked out the meals, services and seats on RwandAir. Kigali International Airport has a tabletop runway over 5,000 ft above sea level. We had low visibility with less than 1km on landing in the morning. After landing, I travelled to my hotel at the One & Only Gorilla’s Nest. It is one of the best luxury accommodations in Rwanda. The next morning, I hiked in the Volcanoes national park to see gorillas. It was a unique opportunity to watch gorillas from a close distance. Rwanda is one of only three countries in Africa where you can see gorillas. Finally, I took an August 109 helicopter of Akagera Aviation back to Kigali Airport. During the helicopter flight, I saw the many hills of Rwanda. I departed Rwanda on RwandAir Dash8-Q400 to Nairobi. Next week, I will be flying a 46 year old B727 classic in Kenya. Full written review of RwandAir: https://samchui.com/2022/03/13/trip-report-whats-flying-rwandair-like/#.Yi3OsRBBzlw

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! From the airspace closure to rising oil prices, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has rapidly changed the landscape of global aviation. Russian airplanes are blocked from the European Union, Canadian and US airspace. Western countries' airplanes can’t access Russian airspace. This has resulted in hours of detours and led to many flights being cancelled between Europe and Asia. There are serious repercussions on airspace closure. Aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Embraer have pulled back all services from Russia. Russian airlines were prohibited from buying aircraft, spares, and equipment from the West. Sabre, which acts as Russian airline Aeroflot’s booking system, will no longer allow customers to book seats. Will all the sanctions and measures cripple and isolate Russia’s commercial aviation sector? Expert Jon Ostrower and Kurt Hofmann explains in this video. At the end of the video, we pay tribute to Antonov An-225 Mriya which has been unfortunately destroyed during the war. My condolences to those who have lost their lives in this tragedy. I sincerely hope peace will prevail soon. Thanks to following commentator: Jon Ostrower, editor-in-chief, The Air Current: https://theaircurrent.com/ Kurt Hofmann, Aviation Journalist: https://twitter.com/HofmannAviation

This video showcases the latest trends in aircraft seats, interiors, inflight entertainment and connectivity. It is where the aviation industry gets together, showcasing the latest products and exploring new bold ideas. During the show, I explored the new 8 Kg lightweight airplane seat from HAECO. Then, I checked out the new conceptual double-deck economy class seating from a TU Delft student. The future of In-Flight Connectivity was also discussed. Learn how many ways an aircraft can currently connect to the internet. Find out what's the latest trend in In-flight Entertainment (IFE) from industry thought leaders Panasonic. What’s the Latest Aircraft Interior trend? Seat interior expert in AIME 2022 explains the latest trend in using leather and synthetic leather as airplane seats. The following aviation supplier appeared in this video: HAECO Panasonic WingsCraft Perrone ACS TISCA Scneller Creation & Image Latecoere

I tried out Royal Jordanian Airlines B787 Dreamliner from Chicago to Amman, Jordan. We departed just before the winter storm hit Chicago. Once onboard the RJ B787, I was greeted by a flight attendant dressed in a traditional costume, showcasing the country’s tradition. Royal Jordanian B787-8 has 24 business class in 2-2-2 configuration and 246 economy class seats. After takeoff, a fantastic dinner buffet was served in Business Class in front of the guest. I have noticed the airline has restored the pre-pandemic service. There is menu, and even hot towels onboard. A flight attendant told me more about the history of Royal Jordanian and its former name ALIA. After 10 hours of flying, we landed in Amman, Queen Alia International Airport. I transited Amman and visited the Crown Lounge of Royal Jordanian Airlines. My next flight was onboard the ALIA Retro livery on A321 to Dubai. I give my verdict of flying Royal Jordanian at the end of the video.

After arriving at Frankfurt from Dubai on the Lufthansa B747-400, I made my way to Lufthansa First Class Terminal. This is not just a first-class lounge but a completely separate terminal with restaurant dining, a shower and bedroom facility, cigar room, and possibly the world’s largest whisky selection in the bar. I rode a Porsche Panamera as part of the Lufthansa first class lounge transfer to the plane. To my surprise, the Frankfurt to Los Angeles flight is operated by B747-8 in Retro livery (D-ABYT). Once onboard, I received the full Lufthansa First Class treatment in welcome amenities and champagne. After a nice takeoff with an engine view, I sat back to relax and enjoy First Class dining with caviar and a shot of vodka, followed by starters and sea bass as a main course. First Class on the Boeing 747-8 was in the nose area with good privacy. Seat 1A was even in front of the cockpit! Enjoy the nice view over Greenland and Western USA before arriving in Los Angeles. It was a great ride with great service. At the end of the flight, I shared a good tip on how to fly Lufthansa First Class without breaking the bank.

I travelled on Lufthansa B747-400 from Dubai to Frankfurt as part of my Chinese New Year journey to the U.S. The Lufthansa B747-400 made a comeback after months of grounding and uncertainties. Lufthansa has its own lounge in Dubai but it is rather small and basic. After a short stay, I moved to the Dubai Airport Ahlan Business Lounge which has better food selection. Once onboard the Lufthansa B747-400, I have the only solo seat in the entire business class cabin. The solo seat 4D, is in the middle of the 747 nose area. The seat is rather exposed without much privacy but I can get in and out easily. It was an overnight flight so the entire flight was in darkness. I enjoyed a quick snack and breakfast before landing. Overall, I am grateful to be able to fly on the B747-400 again, a proven reliable workhorse for the airlines. This is just the first part of my journey to the U.S. on Lufthansa. Next week, I will share my video inside Lufthansa First Class Terminal and onboard Lufthansa B747-8 First Class from Frankfurt to Los Angeles. Credit: Aileron Aviation Films: https://www.youtube.com/c/AileronAviationFilms SpeedBirdHD: https://www.youtube.com/c/SpeedbirdHDLAX

During Dubai Airshow, I toured the A350 Airspace Explorer testbed aircraft. The specially configured A350-900 MSN002 is fitted with the new Airspace cabin. Airspace Explorer is Airbus’ new dedicated flight test platform for demonstrating new cabin technologies which could be featured in future aircraft cabins. During my tour, I saw several innovative approaches about “smart seat”, bacterial removing surface, Electro-dimmable windows, interactive connected galley, ultra-thin screen display, and an impressive LED cabin wall projection display.

I tried out Pakistan’s private airline Serene Air A330 from Islamabad to Karachi in Serene Plus (Business Class). The A330-200 has a proper 24 lie-flat seat in business class and 275 economy class. Serene Air A330 is currently the only wide-body airplane serving the domestic sector in Pakistan. During the flight, a snack was served on Serene Air in both economy and business class. I enjoyed the Malai Boti snack in Business Class. Aviation in Pakistan has huge potential due to the population but the reality is somewhat different. The airfares remain high and few can afford to fly. Lot of aggressive scheduling causes frequent delays. The country’s domestic market performs poorly in terms of available domestic seats divided by the population. More details are in my video. – Pakistan has about 0.03 seats per person, in comparison with India (0.16), Nepal (0.11) and Bangladesh (0.04). To date, the Pakistani aviation sector has been dealing with a large set of specific challenges: Political instability, security situations, inadequate infrastructure, poor safety culture, inconsistency in state policy, inconsistent tax laws, weak economic growth, poor access to investments and funds, lack of structural reforms and unsupportive economic policies. The Pakistani aviation sector can be described as ‘the large sleeping giant‘, which needs to wake up from the pandemic effects and immediately grab opportunities for a better future. A recent study by Bauer Aviation Advisory on snapshot of aviation in Pakistan: https://samchui.com/2021/11/05/aviation-analysis-pakistan-the-large-sleeping-giant-in-aviation/ Thanks to Bauer Aviation Advisory for the infographic: https://www.baueraviation.aero/ Serene Air cover image by Shajie Hussain: https://www.instagram.com/spotter.pk/

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! It seems really strange for an aviation and travel lover like myself to say this, but I've decided to stop traveling this month due to the pandemic. In this video, I reveal some of the current pain points related to flying and travel. With so many flights canceled, so many countries on the red list, so many PCR tests requirements, and so many apps to download. There’s just so much work before you fly internationally. It begs the question will travel ever be the same again? In the video, I invited 3 experts to talk about how flying will change in 2022. Is there a new normal developing? How can we have a smoother and more consistent travel experience? What’s the outlook of the commercial aviation industry in 2022? Thanks to the following aviation expert commenting in this video: Shashank Nigam, SimpliFlying https://simpliflying.com/ Chris Sloan, TheAirChive https://theairchive.net/ Linus Bauer, Bauer Aviation Advisory https://www.baueraviation.aero/ Footage used: CBS weekend news, Today news, WGN9 News, eMed

I flew to Skardu in the north of Pakistan. This is one of the most scenic and exciting flights in the country. Captain Majid from PIA gave a quick briefing on the ATR-42-500 flight. Soon after takeoff from Islamabad, the plane flew directly over the mountains in the north of Pakistan. It was a clear winter day of flying. The passengers are treated to a ‘one of a kind’ experience – a sky dance of the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges which include some of the highest peaks in the world. You can see Nanga Parbat (8,125m), Rakaposhi (7,788m), and above all, the spectacular K-2 (the second highest peak in the world) towering above all others at 8,611 meters. The approach into Skardu was very tricky and no turning back once past the “decision point”. Pilot need to perform a “Z” shaped bend called a Zulu Bend, flying between a few mountain peaks before the Skardu valley appears. After landing, I was given a quick tour as far as the Shangrila resort in Skardu. Check out the scenery and environment of Skardu. It is a hidden gem and has huge potential for tourism. Skardu airport has recently been upgraded to an international airport status. They’re constructing a new 6km runway. I flew PIA A320 on my way back. We flew past all the tall mountains with a clear view from the cockpit. It is truly the Air Safari.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 4 months for free! After 9 years, I am visiting Pakistan again. This time, I am flying on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) B777-200/LR from Dubai to Islamabad. Find out the latest PIA in-flight service and passenger experience onboard the flight. PIA was the launch customer of the B777-200/LR. I flew on the prototype on my flight to Pakistan. After landing at Islamabad, I met up with PIA CEO Air Marshal Arshad Malik, he spoke openly about all the PIA issues and how he is going to fix the airline. We discussed issues about the EU blacklist, the credibility of the pilots and return PIA to profitability. Chief commercial officer Ali Qasim also discussed the latest fleet strategy and consolidation of European operations. PIA operated many rescue flights out of Kabul, Afghanistan, and flew about 5000-7000 people out. PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan shared with me some of the first-hand details of the challenging operation in Kabul. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, I flew an exciting PIA flight to Skardu in the Northern area of Pakistan: https://youtu.be/SlT9AVa72XA

16 Dec 2021 was a historical and sad day for A380 fans, Airbus has just delivered the last A380 MSN272 to customer Emirates Airline. In total, 251 A380s have been built. The new aircraft, registered as A6-EVS, is Emirate's 123rd Airbus A380 superjumbo jet. It is also the final A380 aircraft to join the Emirates’ fleet. I visited the brand new A380 in Dubai and interviewed Captain Dwayne Walker who flew it out of the Airbus factory in Hamburg. He spoke about the go-around after takeoff to commemorate the occasion. He also spoke about the future operation of the A380 in Emirates. Next, I met up with an engineer Amjad, who showed me all the items the ground engineering team installed while the new airplane arrived in Dubai. I will never forget seeing the maiden A380 departure in Toulouse on 27th April 2005. It is hard to believe that the A380 is now saying goodbye to the Airbus factory, just 16 years later. The A380 has touched the lives of so many passengers by setting new standards in terms of flying and travel experience. Wish the new A380 many more happy landings! Cover Thumbnail: Airbus

I traveled on SriLankan Airlines from Bangkok via Colombo to Dubai. This is a video reporting my latest SriLankan Airlines flight experience. At Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, many shops and lounges are currently closed, many airplanes are parked and the airport is very quiet. SriLankan Airlines Business Class passengers can use the Miracle Lounge before the flight. The flight to Colombo from Bangkok is operated by A321. Flight time was 3 hours. A full lunch was served. Check out the seat, cabin, food, and service on this short sector. I transited Colombo and used the Serendib Lounge of SriLankan Airlines. It has a good amount of food but the lounge is very dated. It needs an upgrade. The next flight to Dubai was on SriLankan Airlines A330-300 with individual Business Class seating. However, the food and service were let down and inconsistent with my previous flight. At the end of my flight, I gave my verdict on my latest SriLankan Airlines experience.

I visited Emirates Flight Training Academy in Dubai, which is not a flight school but a dedicated airline academy. During my visit, I flew their Cirrus SR-22 and Embraer Phenom 100 jet with a professional flight instructor. Check out my takeoff, landing, and the flight. It was my first time flying a jet since I’ve received my Private Pilot License. After the flight, I visited the entire academy. The classroom with interactive teaching, the test room about all the qualifications, the canteen, and student accommodation. The entire airline academy program starts from zero to an integrated ATPL in 2 years. The student will build up 250 flying hours include multi-engine jet hours. The first-year program will be theory-based ground school. The entire cost of the program is approximately $180,000 include accommodation and food.

I visited Expo 2020 Dubai recently. Check out some of the top country pavilions and attractions at the Expo. First, I visited is the Emirates Airline Pavilion, which showcases the future aviation experience 50 years from now. There are interactive questions, explore the future design of aircraft and the VR experience of a flight in the year 2071. Out of 192 country pavilions, I’ve visited the following country pavilions over 2 days: Emirates Airline Pavilion ✈️ UAE 🇦🇪 Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 Germany 🇩🇪 India 🇮🇳 Singapore 🇸🇬 The Netherlands 🇳🇱 Sweden 🇸🇪 Brazil 🇧🇷 USA 🇺🇸 Switzerland 🇨🇭 Indonesia 🇮🇩 Pakistan 🇵🇰 To me, the Expo 2020 Dubai is an experience of art, culture, food, livelihood, innovation, technology, architecture and most importantly, humanities. Have you visited Expo 2020 Dubai? What’s your favorite country pavilion?

This week I traveled on Singapore Airlines from Dubai via Singapore to Bangkok. I haven't flown on Singapore Airlines for almost 2 years. I was able to discover the latest changes onboard both flights. Both of my flights are operated by A350-900 in medium-haul configuration. In Business Class, it features fully flat bed in staggered configuration. There are quite a few changes to the Singapore Airlines experience. Watch the video to find out more. At the end of the video, I gave my verdict on flying Singapore Airlines. I transited Singapore Changi for 4 hours and visited the newly opened SilverKris Lounge. During my time in the lounge, I met 2 friendly Indonesian AvGeek who are traveling on my flight to Bangkok. They shared their travel experience. After arrival in Bangkok, Thailand. I showed my experience of using Thailand Pass on the arrival formalities.

At the Dubai Airshow 2021, I visited the Irkut MC-21. This is the MC-21’s International debut. Check out the airframe, cabin, cockpit and testing station. I interviewed an engineer onboard the MC-21, who revealed that the MC-21 will be entering service in 2022 with Rossiya Airlines. The modern MC-21 cabin resembles that of an Airbus 320 or a Boeing 737. Can the new MC-21 be a serious challenge to the narrow body market dominated by Airbus/Boeing? The Irkut MC-21 (Russian: Иркут МС-21) is a single-aisle airliner, developed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau and produced by its parent company Irkut which is a branch of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) in Russia. Next, I checked out a Sukhoi SuperJet (SSJ) in the VIP configuration branded as the Aurus Business Jet. The interior of Sukhoi is similar to the western counterpart, with tablets to control all the functions of the interior. The price will vary from $39 million to $50 million, significantly cheaper than other private jets in the same category.

Full show review of the Dubai Airshow 2021. Join me for all the Dubai Airshow highlights. Watch a spectacular show opening flypast to celebrate the UAE 50th anniversary. Enjoy the finest flying display action from the Al Fursan flying team, US Air Force F16, Russian Knights, Boeing 777X, Airbus A350, Irkut MC-21, Saudi Hawks, Sarang from Indian Air Force and many more. During the show, I took a specific and detailed look at some new airplanes, which were present at the Dubai Airshow 2021. - Boeing 777X Experimental - Uganda Airlines A330-800neo - Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 - Boeing ecoDemonstrator Alaska Airlines B737 MAX 9 - Irkut MC-21 - Aurus Sukhoi Business Jet - Gulf Air B787-9 - Etihad A350-1000 and B787-10 - Let 410NG I also spoke with several indoor exhibitors about their latest show announcements at Lufthansa Technik, Etihad Engineering and IAI. I met up with 2 UAE astronauts, Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi, to speak about their space exploration experience. Over 120,000 visitors attended the Dubai Airshow 2021, which set a new record despite the pandemic challenge. It delivered a strong message that the airshow represents travel recovery. It is time to meet and travel again. For more Dubai Airshow coverage, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/category/dubai-airshow-2021/#.YZik75Azblw

While at Dubai Airshow 2021 I visited the Boeing 777X. This is the first time Boeing has allowed visitors to get onboard the airplane! Let’s find out what the inside of the 777X is like? It is an experimental airplane, with no fancy interiors but a lot of workstations, terminals and water barrel tanks. I spoke with Boeing’s test engineers, pilots and commercial staff on the 777X testing and certification program. Check out the cockpit, folding wingtip, engine and test instruments inside the aircraft. Boeing expects the B777X to complete certification in 2023. Enjoy the flying display of the B777X at the Dubai Airshow.

On 23rd October, Etihad Airways operated a special sustainable flight onboard their B787-10 “Greenliner” from London to Abu Dhabi. I was onboard this flight to discover what a sustainable flight is all about? I was initially sceptical about these being marketed as “green” flights, but I discovered a few good initiatives onboard. The flight demonstrated several initiatives to reduce CO2 emissions, including using no plastic in-flight products, coordination with air traffic control for optimized flight routing, use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), contrail avoidance technology and airport handling processes. The flight was able to perform continuous ascent and descent from both London and Abu Dhabi, to reduce flight time and emissions. After landing, the flight was powered by one engine only in Abu Dhabi. At the end of the flight, I interview the pilot on the technology deployed, coordination with ANSP and other industry stakeholders.

What's in store for the future of the biggest international long-haul airline in the world? Will Emirates ever go supersonic one day? How's Emirates Airline coping with the current pandemic crisis? I interviewed Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, last month at the Emirates Headquarter in Dubai. We talked about the latest developments in the aviation scene, fleet strategy on the A380 and the B777x, Premium Economy Class installation and the future of Emirates Airline. Sir Tim also talked about his personal aviation career and shared some of his highlight moments. Full interview: https://samchui.com/2021/10/19/sir-tim-clark-president-of-emirates-interview/

I tried out the new JetBlue Mint Business Class from LA to New York then onward to London, all the way across the Atlantic on a single aisle Airbus A321. On my first flight from LA to New York, I was in a regular JetBlue Mint Suite. The seat was facing from window to inside the cabin. The dining concept was different and I could choose 3 plates and 1 dessert. The food both look and taste phenomenal. JetBlue has a great new product on the US Transcon market. In New York, there was no lounge available for Business Class. I boarded my next flight to London. It was operated by A321LR with auxiliary fuel tank. The pilots explained their narrow body transatlantic operation. On this flight, I paid an extra $299 upgrade to sit in JetBlue Mint Studio in row 1. It has extra room with an extra buddy seat and table. I checked out the rest of the JetBlue product in both Core economy and Mint Business Class. At the end of the flight, I gave my verdict whether the JetBlue mint studio is worth the extra money.

I travelled to Tucson, Arizona to visit the Rolls Royce Boeing 747 Flying Test Bed (FTB). This special modified B747-200 classic is mounted with three RB211’s and one Trent 1000 engine. For the first time, Rolls Royce is using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to power their Trent 1000 engine as an experimental flight. Before the flight, I was given a quick tour of the B747 Flying Test Bed. I met with the Rolls Royce engineering team and pilots onboard, they explained to me the test procedure on the Trent 1000 engine during flight. It will perform acceleration, deceleration and re-ignition during the 4-hour flight. After takeoff, I spoke with an expert on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and its current challenges and limitations. After 4 hours, the B747 safely landed back in Tuscon where I met up with the crew again. Can aviation go green? Let's find out!

I attended the 2021 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and checked out the latest luxury private jets of 2021 on display. Cirrus Vision Jet The Cirrus Vision Jet is an odd-looking V tail airplane, with a single-engine mounted to the top of the fuselage. The listed price is $3 Million. I was particularly interested in the Vision Jet, as it is a single pilot airplane with 1,275 nm range. Cruising at 305 KTAS and flying as high as 31,000 ft. The one on display at 2021 NBAA-BACE was the latest G2+ Vision Jet HondaJet 2600 At the 2021 NBAA-BACE indoor exhibition, the Honda Aircraft Company unveiled the "HondaJet 2600 Concept”. Honda Jet is advancing into the mid-size long-range business aviation market, with a single pilot light jet. The proposed HondaJet 2600 has a range of 2,625 nautical miles. It also features a high-speed cruise of 450 knots and a class-leading ceiling of 47,000 feet. Dassault Falcon 10X Dassault Aviation unveiled their all-new Falcon jet 10X this year. During the 2021 NBAA-BACE, a full-size mock-up was presented. The Falcon 10X has a range of over 7,500nm and can fly up to 51,000 ft. Bombardier Global Express 7500 I visited VistaJet Bombardier Global Express 7500. The Global Express 7500 is the current flagship of Bombardier and a close rival to the Gulfstream G700. It has 7,700 nm range and is currently the largest and longest Bombardier Global Express out there. I also visited a Boeing 737-700 BBJ at the show, with unique aircraft designer Warja Borges showing me the concept of the design and its luxury interior. To learn more about the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and NBAA-BACE visit https://nbaa.org

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has always been kind of a mysterious airline to the west and that’s exactly why I found it interesting. It is a major airline in the Middle East, with 150 airplanes, but historically their focus is to serve their customer inside Saudi Arabia. I recently flew on a Saudia B787 Dreamliner from Dubai to Jeddah. The largest country in the Middle East has opened their doors to visitors again. Let’s find out from my journey what’s changed in SAUDIA during the pandemic. During my visit, I was driven for the first time by a Saudi lady. I visited the SAUDIA crew training centre and saw a new batch of Saudi National female cabin crew being trained. A couple of years ago it would’ve been impossible to see a Saudi female driving or serving as a flight attendant. I interviewed Saudia's CEO, Captain Ibrahim Koshy. He mentioned a lot of things are changing inside the 75-year-old airline, with goals to transport 100 million tourists to Saudi Arabia with vision 2030. The airline is at a turning point. In the next 5-10 years it will be interesting to see how Saudia develops itself on the global aviation footprint.

I flew Air France from Nice to Dubai. During online check-in I decided to upgrade my ticket from Business Class to La Premiere, which is Air France's very exclusive First Class. I was escorted to the plane by an Air France agent in Nice. After a non-eventful one-hour domestic flight, I arrived at Paris CDG where I was met by my personal escort and a limo to the Air France Salon La Premiere (lounge). I enjoyed some of the great French food and drink there before I headed off for my next flight to Dubai. The Air France Paris to Dubai flight was a B777-300/ER. I was fortunate enough to be the only passenger in La Premiere. Take a look at the understated luxury design and elegance of the cabin. Combine with great French gastronomy and La Premiere remains one of my favourite all-time First-Class experiences. During the video, I also reveal the best way to fly in La Premiere.

I visited Emirates Engineering in Dubai, which is the world's biggest A380 maintenance facility and can house up to 11 A380’s at one time. It was an eye-opening tour; I’ve seen so many interesting things that we normally wouldn’t have the chance to. First, I was shown an Emirates A380 currently going through a heavy 3C check; with all cabin interiors, seats, panels and bins removed. It is very different from the fully decked-out A380 that we normally fly on. Next, another A380 was being prepared to return to service after storage and was undergoing a gear retraction check (gear swing). The 575-ton A380 was on three jacks, with its landing gear up. The engineer explained all the necessary tasks for the A380 to return to service. Take a look at all the interior work being carried out. Next, I visited the cabin interior seat shop; where you can find all the seats (First, Business and Economy Class) that came off the airplane and were being inspected. It is very interesting to see how engineers paint the panels and put wallpaper on planes. Finally, I visited the paint shop; to understand how they paint and apply special decals on airplanes. I saw the Emirates UAE 50th special anniversary livery in the paint shop too. I would like to dedicate this vlog to all the hard-working engineers, who work day and night to ensure the planes are well maintained and safe to fly.

This is the most exciting flight I've been on this year! I was flying inside two of the four Saudi commercial airliners that participated in the Saudi 91st National Day Airshow 2021. The four Saudi Airliners involved in the formation are: Saudia B787-9 (Call sign: Falcon 1), Saudia B777-300/ER in Retro Livery (Call sign: Falcon 2), Flyadeal A320neo (Call sign: Falcon 3), Flynas A320 (Call sign: Falcon 4). On day 1 of the rehearsal, I flew inside a Saudia B777-300/ER Retro 75th anniversary special livery (registration HZ-AK28). The pilots explained the special flying procedure of the formation. The 4 airliners were flying with just 200 feet separation, which requires precision planning and discipline. On day 2 I flew inside a Flyadeal new A320neo, to film the other formation aircraft. I was treated to some amazing and incredible air-to-air flying footage of Saudia B777 and B787. The 91st Saudi National Day AirShow was held in Jeddah on 20th Sept, Riyadh on 23rd Sept and Damman on 25th Sept. #عرض جوي

I flew on Qatar Airways B787-9 New Business Class Suite from Doha to Istanbul. Before the flight, I visited the Al Safwa First Class Lounge in Doha. I had an interesting Tibetan massage treatment in the spa and spent some time touring around the First Class Lounge. The new Business Class Suite on Qatar Airways 787-9 isn’t the same as their award-winning Q-Suite, It feels more like a junior version. The center seat pair face away from each other and the suite feels narrower than QSuite on B777/A350. We flew over the entire Istanbul city and Ataturk Airport before landing at the new Istanbul International Airport. Enjoy the landing footage. At the end of the video, I give my verdict on the new Business Class Suite of Qatar Airways.

I was in Dalaman, Turkey last week to fly inside an Antonov An-32P "Fire Killer". The pilot and crew demonstrated how aerial firefighting works. The Antonov An-32P has 2 large and powerful Ivchenko Progress AI-20DM turboprop engines and can hold 8,000 Litres of water, contained in 2 external tanks. We departed Dalaman Airport on a training flight. The pilot released the water just 40 meters over the target. It was a precision operation to release the water. Dropping water too high above the target would have resulted in water evaporations. The An-32 did some excellent maneuvering during the flight. It was loud and very hot inside the cargo hold. After the flight, pilot Arytem explained the challenges and dangerous nature of aerial firefighting operations. Thanks to company XENA for providing access.

After viewing the new experimental Gulfstream G700, I was invited to a flight onboard the Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER. Qatar Executive is the private jet division of Qatar Airways. There were a few unexpected surprises in store, outside of the usual splendid luxury onboard a private jet. The G650ER cabin was extremely quiet, much quieter than any commercial airliner. The pilot also flew the jet to draw the letter "QE" in the sky over Doha at 15,000 ft. After a buffet lunch, the G650ER climbed to 50,000 ft which is a higher cruising altitude than all other commercial airliners. It was definitely a personal high for me! (my actual highest altitude was going supersonic on Concorde at 58,000 ft) The Gulfstream G650ER flight not only showed the luxury and privacy of business aviation but also the aircraft's performance. The G650ER was able to fly faster, higher and quieter.

I was invited to an exclusive viewing event of Gulfstream's new flagship, the Gulfstream G700 in Doha, Qatar. Gulfstream introduced the G700 as the industry’s new flagship aircraft. It boasts business aviation’s most spacious cabin and can fly farther, and faster, than any other competitor in the business-jet industry. Equipped with the all-new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, and an advanced high-speed wing design, the G700 is able to fly at a record-breaking speed (Mach .925) and range with outstanding efficiency. The G700 cockpit features the award-winning Symmetry Flight Deck, with active control sidesticks. The cockpit has done away with most buttons and replaced them with a clean touchscreen design on all panels. Qatar Executive, the private jet arm of Qatar Airways, is the launch customer of G700. The executive charter service provider has ordered 10 of the world’s largest business jets, taking delivery of the very first aircraft off the Gulfstream assembly line in Georgia, US in 2022. For more information, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2021/08/31/meet-the-worlds-first-gulfstream-g700/

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! In September 2016, I travelled to North Korea to attend the country's first ever air show; Wonsan AirShow. It was the most exotic air show I have ever attended, with a line-up of the rare Soviet vintage fleet of Air Koryo, the usual off limits of the North Korean Air Force, many joy flights on Air Koryo and the possibility to meet with North Koreans freely at the air show. The air show was an unqualified smash hit! showing off North Korea’s aviation scene and bringing together foreign visitors and locals without hindrance, for the first time in the country’s history. In the video, I also share what's it like to fly on Air Koryo's exotic fleet. From the modern Tupolev 204 to the vintage classic IL-18, IL-62, IL-76 and Tu-154. It is definitely an exotic experience you don't want to miss!

It’s really heart breaking to see what has happened at Kabul Airport. In today’s video, I would like to share 2 real stories of some of the last civilian departures out of Kabul, Afghanistan. My contact, Roman, arrived in Kabul on the morning of 15th August, to pick up a Ukrainian Constanta Airlines An-26 departing out of Kabul. He managed to depart out of Kabul at 12:01, after an hour of holding and waiting at the runway threshold. Just 30 mins after his departure, Kabul airport started to descend into chaos. Listen to Roman’s story about their lucky escape out of Kabul. The next story is from PIA A320 captain Maqsood Bijarani, who was caught during the initial chaos at Kabul Airport with Air Traffic Control out of operation (“ATC Zero”). To avoid further security compromise, Captain Maqsood took his own decision to take-off without ATC assistance or approval. He managed to keep his flight visual amidst low fly pass military traffic and took his passengers and crew to safety. “All I could see was military traffic and unauthorized persons entering the airport. Gunships were dropping flares for their protection. The situation was so unpredictable and I had to keep my passengers calm, for which my cabin crew is to be commended as well as the security staff onboard.” Turkish Airlines Flight TK707 was the last civilian departure on 16th August. Since then, military has taken control of Kabul Airport and the Air Traffic Control. Military transport such as the C-17, the A400M and the C-130 are ferrying evacuees out of Kabul to nearby Air Force Bases and then civilian airplanes are taking them onwards. Full story of PIA Captain Maqsood Bijarani is also available on my blog: https://samchui.com/2021/08/18/make-your-own-decision-one-of-the-last-civilian-departures-out-of-kabul/ PIA Captain Interview Source: https://www.independenturdu.com/

Last week, I flew on an Emirates A380 from Los Angeles to Dubai. Emirates has re-introduced the A380 back to LA. This is currently the longest A380 flight in the world. I was able to experience 16 hours of luxury in Emirates First Class. But is this First Class experience worth the extra price? LAX Bradley Terminal was very busy at check-in. I visited the Duty-Free shop and the Emirates Lounge, which have both now re-opened. I also had a quick tour at the new LAX West Bradley terminal before my flight boarding. There is a tunnel that links it to the original Bradley Terminal. A lot of domestic flights are also using the new Bradley extension. There are good windows for plane spotting opportunities at the new extension. The Emirates A380 took off very heavy out of LAX. Flight time was 15 hours 30 minutes, with almost the entire flight being in daylight as we travelled over the North Pole. Emirates has launched new Bvlgari amenity kits onboard and I was able to check out both the male and female versions. I enjoyed my flight in my private suite with private dining and rest. I also used the Emirates First Class Shower and Spa, to have a shower in the sky to refresh me before landing in Dubai. At the end of my flight, I share some good tips on how to upgrade to First Class on Emirates. I also make my conclusion

2 Boeing 747’s have been given a second life and have returned to the skies after years of storage in the desert. It is quite unbelievable! In this video, I have documented the work behind the scenes. An ex-Eva Air Cargo B747-400BCF has been re-activated out of its desert storage recently. Find out the work undertaken in order to return the B747 to flying condition. In the video, I interview Ferry Pilot Gloyd Robinson. He has shared with me details about the test’s undertaken, such as engine runs, high speed taxi and rejected take-off. It has taken almost 6 months for the B747 to be returned to an airworthy condition, under the FAA’s Designated Airworthiness Representatives (DAR) supervision. This B747, Reg N27063, flew out of Mohave for San Bernardino on 30th July. It flew gear down. When it arrived at San Bernardino, it was put on jacks and performed a “gear swing” to ensure the landing gear was working. The new owner of this B747 is SkyOne FZE, based in the UAE. This B747 is expected to depart in a few weeks for heavy maintenance check overseas. This was not the first B747 to be recently re-activated out of storage, an ex-Korean Air B747-400BCF, registration N570B, recently flew out of Pinal Air Park in Marana, AZ. Instead of ferrying empty to heavy maintenance overseas, it carried 80 tons of medical aid cargo to New Delhi from the US. This humanitarian mission was organized by many partners, including Another Joy Foundation. Long live the Queen of the Sky! For more information: Jet Test International: https://www.jettest.aero/company-information Another Joy Foundation: https://www.facebook.com/AnotherJoy-Foundation-232345283480818/ Cover Image: https://www.instagram.com/west_coast_aviation/

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! Passenger numbers are rising this summer. It is great to see so many flights getting back into the skies! But in the Middle East, the market dynamic has been very different among the ME3 carriers which are Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. The competition has always been fierce in the Middle East; the Persian Gulf carriers rely heavily on connecting heavily, their model is built by carrying passengers between the East and West. There are a few things that are really against the ME3 carriers. In the video, the aviation analyst explains the problem these carriers face. The video gives the latest update and analysis from Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. Etihad will be introducing the A350-1000 into their fleet shortly. At the end of the video, I talk about how I think one airline will do very well out of the current environment. This is Turkish Airlines. Check out the reasons behind my call on Turkish Airlines. For the latest aviation news, please check out my blog: SamChui.com

Last week I finally passed my Private Pilot Checkride, so I am now officially a pilot! But I never believed I could become a pilot! I am not a technical person, just the thought of piloting a plane always seemed way beyond me; I had very little confidence in my physical ability to fly a plane plus I was way too content with flying as a backseat passenger. In this video, I am going to share with you my entire Pilot training journey and how things have changed since I started flying. There are 3 key phases of flight training as a private pilot: 1. Fundamental of flights and solo flight 2. Cross Country flights 3. Exam Preparation To obtain your private pilot certificate, you need to pass a written exam, an oral exam and a practical exam. In this video, I am sharing with you my experience on these pilot exams and some useful tips to help you. Further, I discuss the cost of getting a private pilot license, getting the right instructor and several key factors to help you throughout the training. I have gained an enormous amount of satisfaction throughout my pilot journey. Once you make a good landing or break through a mental wall, the confidence will surge and every step you make is one closer to success! If I can do it, you can too! I am now looking forward to gaining more air time with my fellow aviators! Full Blog Post About Private Pilot Journey: https://samchui.com/2021/07/24/from-passenger-to-pilot-my-pilot-training-journey/#.YPwXWlMzblw Special Offer: Sign up for pilot training with Sling Pilot Academy with $1,000 OFF and a free introductory flight. Use code SAMCHUI Enroll at: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com/enroll-now/

I was on a humanitarian mission inside a National Airlines B747-400BCF, delivering medical cargo aids. I flew from Frankfurt Hahn to Islamabad, Pakistan and over the Himalayas to Kathmandu, Nepal. The flight originated from the USA carrying nearly 80 tons of USAid, destined for Pakistan and Nepal. Our B747 landing into Kathmandu was a thriller! After passing through the last clouds, the entire Kathmandu valley came into sight. Our descent was much steeper than the usual 3 degrees glideslope; it required all the breaks we had to come to a full stop at the end of the runway in Kathmandu, due to high altitude. What a great privilege to be part of the team to send these much-needed supplies around the world, also to be able to document behind the scenes of such a mission! I felt like “an airplane man” staying inside the B747 for 40 hours, from dark to light to dark again! That’s just 2 days in the life of a charter cargo crew! Certainly very different to the passenger airlines. External landing/takeoff into Kathmandu footage: https://www.instagram.com/ktmspotter/

I have been planespotting for over 20 years; during this time technology has evolved greatly to make the planespotter's life much easier, a big contribution coming from that of the flight tracking app. In the video, I visit AirNav Systems, a leading flight tracking company to explore how flight tracking works. Andre Brandao, CEO of AirNav, explains the entire process, from the airplane sending signals all the way to receiving from Radarbox to the server and then finally displaying data in the app. To my surprise, there are currently over 24,000 devices all over the world, including some in the most remote places imaginable, all sharing data to make flight tracking possible. You can also become one of these flight data feeders! Andre also shared with me the current state of aviation recovery with the latest flight data; the number of flights in the sky per day and a region by region comparison. Some of the unique features of Radarbox, such as airport heat map, airplane utilization, Air Traffic Control and Skyvector map, are introduced in the video. For more information, visit https://www.radarbox.com/ Use Code SAVE25 and get 25% off on all Radarbox plans: https://www.radarbox.com/subscribe

I have been wanting to go to Funchal, Madeira airport in Portugal for a long time, as I have heard so much about the scary and challenging landing there. I flew on a TAP Air Portugal A319 from Lisbon to Madeira in the morning. The pilot explained why Funchal, Madeira is a difficult airport to land. The variable wind on the final approach and the draft from the mountain has created tough conditions for planes to land. After landing in Madeira, I went planespotting with local plane spotters. There are a lot of amazing locations to spot planes arriving and departing. I also went underneath the runway pillars, where the runway has been extended. The next day I flew back to Lisbon on a TAP Air Portugal A321neo, with Retro Livery. I met with first officer Patricia onboard and she shared with me her aviation story. Check out her landing into Lisbon. Find out more from the video.

I flew with TAP Air Portugal in their A330-900neo from San Francisco to Lisbon in early June. It was my first time flying with TAP and many had warned me that they didn't have a good reputation. At San Francisco, there was no lounge open at the international terminal. I visited an empty ghost lounge prior to boarding. Onboard TAP, I explored the seat products in both Business and Economy Class. The plane was new and the cabin was fresh. The pilots gave me a great welcome and explained the features of A330neo. After take-off, drinks and dinner were served. I then slept for 4 hours in the new Business Class seat. The seat, although narrow, is long enough for my height (6'1”). After sunrise, passengers were greeted to a scenic arrival into Lisbon International. Most of the passengers were in transit through Lisbon. At the end of the video, I gave my remarks on flying TAP. I think TAP has some of the best airfares for Trans-Atlantic, if you purchase in advance. Therefore, one of the cheapest full-service airlines in both Economy and Business Class.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! Travel is back in the US! growing much faster than anyone anticipated! I’ve never seen such a dramatic swing and recovery. Currently, the number of flights in the US is double that of this time last year. In some leisure markets, such as Hawaii, the flight numbers are even higher than the pre-covid level. There are now a lot of wide-body airplanes flying domestically in the US. American Airlines is using the B777-300/ER and the B787, Delta is using the B767-400 and the A350 and United is using the B777-300/ER and the B787 on major trunk routes in the US. These long haul wide-body airplanes were typically used for flying international routes, so this is the best time to fly on them domestically. I travelled from Los Angeles to San Francisco and was pleasantly surprised to fly on a United B767-300 wide-body. I interviewed fellow YouTuber Jeb Brooks and the United Airlines staff about the current state of airline travel. Long gone are the days of the middle seat being blocked out, expect full flights and crowded airports. I also interviewed Valerie Wilson (TrustedTravelGirl) about her Covid flying experience; she shared some good tips on how to lock in the best fare on air ticket. There are 2 brand new airlines that have started recently, Avelo and Breeze Airways. Fellow journalist Chris Sloan was on both inaugural flights. Avelo from Burbank to Santa Rosa and Breeze from Tampa to Charleston. Take a look at these low-cost flights. Of course, not everyone is back to travelling all around the globe; however, it is really nice to see US domestic travel bouncing back much quicker than expected. Airlines are hiring again and a lot of folks are being called back to work after a horrible year. So, things are looking up! Thanks to the following friends for their footage contribution: Chris Sloan http://theairchive.net/ HNL Ramper https://www.instagram.com/hnlramper/ SpeedbirdHD https://www.instagram.com/speedbirdhd/ Trusted Travel Girl https://www.instagram.com/trustedtravelgirl/ #Avelo #Breeze #AirTravel

I was invited by JSX for a re-positioning flight from Las Vegas to Orange County/John Wayne Airport. During this flight, I reveal how I get access to the cockpit. There are a few ways to get access to the cockpit. I also show you how I mount an insta360 camera in the cockpit to capture the best angles. Buy an insta360 camera with 30% off in the Summer Sale here: https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRNVKT Besides flying the JSX Embraer 145 in the video, I also shared some of my most exciting cockpit flying experiences in the world. Enjoy them! This includes: - flying from Kathmandu, Nepal to Paro, Bhutan. World's Most Dangerous Approach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbLHah4XUwk - flying over thunderstorms on Air Mauritius A350 in Africa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwT_KfLgdcs - flying the An-22, the world's biggest turboprop flight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A84HkqiBBmY - Farewell flight on Hi Fly A380. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-X7L3FBWtU - Farewell flight on EL AL B747-400 by drawing a plane in the sky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJq8YpIUKc

I travelled with JSX from Las Vegas to Dallas last week. JSX is a part 135 charter operator, not an airline. I was able to check-in quickly from their own facility in Las Vegas, in just a few minutes, and there was no invasive TSA security screening. The next moment I was walking onto an Embraer 145 jet on the ramp. The plane was fitted with 1-1 seating configuration, so there is no middle seat, with no seat neighbour to share with. I spoke to the JSX pilots, crew and a few passengers about their experience onboard. The flight time to Dallas was 2 hours 30 minutes through some scenic views of the Grand Canyon. After I landed in Dallas, the checked baggage was first placed on the tarmac before passengers deplaned. I got my bag within a minute and by the next minute I was in a pre-booked car driving away from the private terminal. The whole experience on JSX was swift, much faster than flying into and out of the crowded airport terminal, with no lines of check-in or screenings to deal with. The 1-1 seating configuration is currently served on the JSX Texas route only. West Coast routes are served by 1-2 seating configuration. Lastly, I interviewed the CEO of JSX, Alex Wilcox, on the future expansion plans of JSX and whether more planes will be re-configured to 1-1 seating. Alex also shared with me how he started in aviation, almost 3 decades ago.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! A B747-300 passenger aircraft is back in the sky flying after spending over 5 years in maintenance! Can you believe it? Here is the story: On 15th October 2015, one of their B747-300s, EP-MNE, was involved in an incident on flight 1095 from Tehran to Bandar Abbas While climbing through 7500 feet, the no.3 GE CF6-50E2 engine suffered an uncontained failure. Some parts of the engine detached and struck engine no. 4, as well as damaging the aircraft structure. An emergency landing was declared. The plane was able to land safely and was carrying 441 passengers and crew. Surprisingly, this 747-300 EP-MNE didn't get written off! Mahan Air put in 5 years of work in maintenance on her and she recently completed a heavy C-check. They managed to transfer 2 engines from a retired sister ship, EP-MND, and got this B747-300 back flying in the sky once again. The Mahan Air B747-300 is now the world's last and oldest B747 passenger currently flying. I flew on the Mahan Air B747-300 domestically in Iran a few years ago. I was very lucky to fly on the upper deck of this 747 classic. This video shows my flight experience on now the world’s oldest and last active Passenger B747, from Tehran to Mashhad. With most 747’s having been retired and killed off by the pandemic, it is definitely good news to see a B747-300 back in the sky flying. Thanks to Loran (https://www.youtube.com/user/Chefsalat76), Shahram Sharifi and Charles Kennedy for their input and footage to make this video possible.

Last month, I followed the transportation of seven rescued lions from Ukraine to South Africa by Qatar Airways Cargo. These lions were rescued from captivity by NGO Warriors of Wildlife (WOW) in Ukraine. The long journey involved a three-day trip from Kiev to Doha and Johannesburg, so that the lions could walk on grass for the first time in their lives. All the Lions were in good health when I last saw them. I documented the loading process of 7 lions into the Qatar Airways B777. A short interview to find out the history of these rescue lions, along with the challenges of transporting wild animals, was made during loading and onboard the flight. After 4 hours 20 minutes, we arrived at Doha and the lions were being transported to a transit facility. During the transit, they were fed with food and water. Lionel de Lange from the NGO spoke about the challenge he went through to get them transported. Later, the 7 lions were boarded on another Qatar Airways A350-900 flight to Johannesburg. The 7 lions have since been released into a protected area after arriving in South Africa. They were transferred to a much larger nature reserve, where they will be protected and taken care of for the rest of their lives. Transporting wild animals back to their natural environment for free is a promise made by Qatar Airways Cargo as part of their “Rewild the Planet” initiative, which is also a part of the airline’s WeQare sustainability programme. Contact Warriors of Wildlife: https://www.wowukraine.org/

After a spectacular arrival into Seychelles, I flew on an Air Seychelles Twin Otter from Mahe to Praslin on a day trip to explore Praslin Island. The Twin Otter pilots explained their operations in details. The scenery on this short inter-island flight was spectacular. After arriving at Praslin, I visited Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio; possibly the most beautiful beach in the world with clear water, soft sand and granite rocks. After flying back to Mahe Island, I was given a tour around the island in an open buggy converted from VW Beatles. I did some great plane spotting at Mahe International Airport, from the hill above the airport with spectacular views. I spent an amazing 3 day aviation holiday in Seychelles.

I travelled on an Air Seychelles A320neo from Seychelles to Maldives (Mahe to Male). The flight connects 2 Indian Ocean paradises. Find out why such flight exists from the video. The flight was flown by Captain Nicole Chang-Leng and F/O Russell Morel. Captain Nicole was the first Seychellois female captain and is currently the chief pilot at Air Seychelles. We took off just before the sunrise and saw the sun rising over the horizon later in-flight. We didn’t fly over any land since we left the runway in Mahe until the runway threshold of Male Airport, Maldives. Captain Nicole shared some great details of the flight. I review the in-flight service of Air Seychelles as well as the seating in both Business and Economy Class of Air Seychelles A320neo. Maldives Air Traffic Control put the flight on an hour holding over the Maldives, due to traffic. This resulted in some amazing scenery below the plane. Male Velana Int’l airport was extremely busy with a lot of long-haul flights and seaplanes. We spent almost 2 hours at the Maldives on the ground, waiting for ATC clearance and a tow truck to start pushing back. On the way back to Seychelles, the pilots shared some very useful information on conducting such ETOPS flight over the Indian Ocean and the challenges of alternate destinations from Seychelles.

Qatar Airways operated the World’s First Fully Vaccinated Flight on 6th April 2021, just few days before the Emirates EK2021 fully vaccinated Flight. The decision to operate the flight was shaped by the Group CEO, wanting to put Qatar Airways in the headlines. Unlike Emirates, it was an invite flight only for staff, travel partners and media. Let’s take a look at Qatar Airways flight QR6421 from Doha to Doha. I had the opportunity to meet with the Qatar Airways Group CEO, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, and we spoke about the current challenges in aviation, how his airline is doing things differently to all the others. He also spoke about the future of the A380 and the Middle East relations. During the flight I interviewed the group medical doctor, journalists and other travellers on the flight, to talk about their feelings regarding the flight. The flight itself was more or less the usual Qatar Airways standard. The flight is a statement of how aviation is responding to the COVID crisis. After more than a year, we are now finding alternative ways to return to the sky safely.

I was onboard the special Emirates EK2021 "Fully Vaccinated Flight" operated by an A380-800, registration A6-EVN, with a special decal "Choose to Vaccinate". All passengers were tested at check-in, before being invited to use the Emirates Business Class lounge. Flight EK2021 made a journey across seven emirates, to celebrate the UAE’s progress in vaccinating its citizens and residents. I think flight EK2021 represents a positive step towards the normality of travel. The flight illustrates the confidence and undiminished excitement for air travel. Aviation has been through an unprecedented crisis in the past 12 months, but we are now seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

Luxury Private Jet Flying Experience. Imagine having the whole plane to yourself without sharing! I flew on a Comlux Airbus A318 Corporate Jet 9H-UEC. The aircraft features luxury interiors, a VIP lounge and a private room with bed and two bathrooms. I enjoyed the open space of the lounge, great views of many windows, Asian-fusion food ordered onboard and a private room for relaxation. The Airbus Corporate Jet has the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet; it can also handle up to 18 passengers, making it ideal for corporate groups and large families. This jet is based in Asia, available for luxury VIP charter. For more details: Visit Comlux on https://comlux.com/ Production: Hafid Mai

This is a video containing some great details about flying on the Airbus A350-1000, with footage from the cockpit. I flew on Qatar Airways A350-1000 from Los Angeles to Doha. The flight time was nearly 15 hours, with a maximum take-off weight of 316,000 kgs. The pilots explained in detail about the A350 cockpit, pre-flight, take-off, landing and what they do during the flight. Watch the exciting 360 camera angles during take-off and landing. The A350-1000 is the largest twin-engine aircraft that Airbus has made to date and it is a rival to the Boeing 777X. The list price of A350-1000 is $366 million. I flew in the luxury Qatar Airways Q Suite. A few passengers with different backgrounds on the same flight shared their stories. One Qatar Airways cabin crew was surprised by the other crew, who celebrated her birthday onboard. I encountered nothing less than a great sense of humanity during my travel. Camera used: Insta 360 One R - Get up to 40% off during Spring Sale: https://store.insta360.com/springsale2021?insrc=INRNVKT

I recently flew with United on their B737 MAX 9 and American on their B737 MAX 8, on domestic flights within the US. This video details the flying experiences of the 737 MAX since its grounding. My United 737 MAX 9 flight was from Miami to Houston. The pilots talked about the cockpit of the 737 MAX, the MCAS and the system in general. I review the MAX passenger cabin and speak about my thoughts on flying the 737 MAX. My American 737 MAX 8 flight was a quick one from Orlando to Miami. I met up with aviation journalist Chris Sloan in Miami. He flew the first 737 MAX flight, since its grounding in the US, on an American B737 MAX 8 from Dallas to Tulsa. He visited American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Centre in Tulsa. Pilots of American talked about how they were trained to fly the MAX with the updated cockpit software and the MCAS system. The engineers talked about how long it takes to update each MAX and re-activate the plane from grounding. Chris also shares his stories from behind the scenes, on how Boeing was rushed by customers to build the MAX instead of a producing clean sheet narrow body airplane. Follow Chris on his site: http://theairchive.net

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! This is a video of two distinct Air India B747 Flying Experiences. First, I flew with Air India 10 years ago from Jeddah to Mumbai via Hyderabad on their B747-400. Later, Anthony Toth re-created the classic Air India B747-200 onboard experience in 2020. I share my trip onboard Air India B747-400 First Class from Jeddah to Mumbai. There are photos of the Air India B747-400 modern-day cabin and its onboard service. Anthony Toth from Pan Am Experience had spent much of his 2020 to re-create the glorious past of Air India B747-200 retro flying experience. Every detail was taken care of in the process of re-creating the experience. The whole B747 was decorated up in the 1970 decor. Wallpaper, seat fabrics, tray liner, glassware, dining-ware, packaging, coaster, menus and everything else resembled Air India in the 1970s. Video of Air India B747-400 landing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRefhG9yung

I recently flew on a Delta B767-400 from Las Vegas to Atlanta. The Delta B767-400 has a refurbished cabin with the Delta One Suite, Premium Select and Comfort + fitted. Before take-off, the cabin was thoroughly cleaned. The Delta pilot gave a briefing about this unique aircraft type; the B767-400 is a stretched B767 with some B777 components and similarity in the cockpit. I discovered the latest service offerings onboard Delta Airlines. They're currently only serving box snacks with limited beverage options (water, beer and wine). During my transit in Atlanta, I discovered the current offering at Delta Sky Club. My next Delta flight was on a B757-200 from Atlanta to Orlando. An incident happened on the jet-bridge during the boarding. An elderly lady was feeling unwell on the jet-bridge and the cabin crew at the door were first to assist, before the paramedics could arrive. The crew did a great job to recover the situation, which could have gone wrong very quickly without a fast and correct response. It is not an everyday situation, but I happened to catch the crew's reaction to the incident. Well done to the crew on handling such situations calmly and professionally. My flight to Orlando was eventless but it is good to see Delta keep their older planes up-to-date. Credit: L1011 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJR1gSW6KZA B767-400 external footage: https://www.youtube.com/user/PhoenixLocal

I am back to flight training to pursue my Private Pilot License (PPL). Currently only 7% of all pilots are female. However the number of female aviators is rising across the flight schools. I flew with 4 female pilots: Jibby, Juri, Tiara and Leslie, at Sling Pilot Academy. Each of them has an amazing story to share about their journey in aviation; especially becoming a woman pilot, more so as a woman of colour and a different background. They all made it with a lot of dedication and hard work. At the end of the video, pilot students Jennifer and Erin share with me what makes them join flight training to become pilots. They share their tips on how to progress in flight training and strongly encourage other women to try out. For more info on flight training, visit: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com/ Follow these talented female aviators: Jibby: https://www.instagram.com/jibbyheaps/ Juri: https://www.instagram.com/mikan_jin/ Tiara: https://www.instagram.com/into.the.headwind/ Leslie: https://www.instagram.com/leslliieex/ Jennifer: https://www.instagram.com/hapapilot/ Erin: https://www.instagram.com/jet_blondie/

This is the latest review on Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Istanbul. What has changed onboard Turkish Airlines? My flight had nearly 300 passengers on it and was operated by a B777-300/ER, registration TC-JJZ. We departed Dubai and were treated to the great city sights. I was not surprised to see that everything provided onboard was sealed and wrapped. The cabin seems thoroughly cleaned. The onboard catering at Turkish Airlines has been changed significantly, breakfast was served in a box in Business Class and in a paper bag in Economy. The rest of the flight was eventless, with a good landing at Istanbul. Enjoy some 360-cockpit action of the pilot flying the B777-300/ER. I met with Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee, İlker Aycı, he provided me with a very engaging and inspirational interview. The interview provides an intriguing insight into Turkish Airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. We touched on topics such as Government bail outs, layoffs, network, catering and cargo operations. Full interview link: https://samchui.com/2021/02/22/an-exclusive-interview-with-turkish-airlines-chairman-ilker-ayci/#.YDczXpMzblw

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! I recently flew with Qatar Airways from Dubai via Doha to Los Angeles. It was my first-time flying Qatar Airways in a long time. They just re-started their service to Dubai in January. My first flight was onboard a Qatar Airways B787 Dreamliner, a short 50-minute hop from Dubai to Doha. We departed with foggy weather in Dubai and the Qatar Airways crew still managed to serve a meal on this short flight. During my transit in Doha Hamad International Airport, I visited the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge. I was given a tour and got to see what’s changed inside the lounge. I celebrated Chinese New Year in the Qatar Airways Lounge. My next flight was onboard a Qatar Airways A350-1000 to Los Angeles. Flight time was over 15 hours flying over the North Pole (87 degrees in latitude). The flight is equipped with the award winning QSuite in Business Class. The entire flight was very light with less than 100 passengers onboard. I discovered the changes in both the QSuite Business Class and Economy Class products onboard. We flew past some great scenery en-route and it was amazing to look out of the window to appreciate nature from 40,000 ft. Don’t miss the amazing tail camera view from the Qatar Airways A350-1000 while landing into LAX.

I travelled on a Turkish Cargo A330-200 cargo flight from Istanbul to London Stansted and back. Inside the cargo plane were 64,000 kgs of fresh flowers for a Valentine’s Day delivery. The flowers came from Kenya via Istanbul to the UK. The flight provided some great insights on how to transport perishable cargo and how cargo operations work in general. On the flight deck, captain Ferihan took charge of a low visibility take-off as the weather was extremely foggy. We had some turbulence during the climb out of bad weather. I had a tour inside the Turkish A330F, including the crew rest area and the galley. It is very different when compared to passenger plane. Breakfast was served during the flight. When we arrived in Stansted Airport. It was a race against time to offload the fresh flowers. Those flowers will go straight to the market from the warehouse on the same day. All 64,000 kgs of cargo were offloaded in less than an hour, we then had another full load of cargo to load onto the flight. A snowstorm was approaching with gusty wind conditions. The ground operation team has to quickly upload the cargo before the storm arrives. One cargo pallet was built slightly too high and couldn’t enter the plane due to the contour of the A330’s fuselage. So, the operation has to fix the problem on the spot to avoid a delay. The video is full of cargo operations and shows the importance of the air cargo industry to deliver the world’s supplies during the pandemic. We flew back to Istanbul Ataturk airport with a beautiful approach over the city of Istanbul at night. To me, the air cargo industry has always been the underdog in aviation. Clearly, this pandemic has highlighted the importance of cargo logistics to keep the world moving. The air cargo industry is always responding to rapidly changing situations or crises. I call it “Crisis Management”. It is all about problem-solving to meet end needs and deliver on-time.

Bahrain International Airport’s $1.1 billion new passenger terminal began operations on 28th January, marking a new era for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s aviation sector. At 207,000 square metres in size, it is roughly quadruple that of the old terminal. The new, expanded, airport will have the capacity for handling about 14 million passengers per year. I flew on a Gulf Air A320neo from Dubai to Bahrain, it was a short 50 minute flight. Find out what’s changed with Gulf Air’s service onboard in the video. We arrived at the new Airport terminal in Bahrain, I had a quick tour airside of the terminal with airport operations director Ali Rashed. He revealed that “The new terminal has opened without a public trial, during a very challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic”. Currently, about 5,000 passengers have been using the new terminal daily; which is about 20% of the usual number. To me the new airport terminal has a modern and boutique feel, just like Gulf Air. I hope it will serve Bahrain well in the future. I also visited the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge and was impressed with the size and offerings.

In 2020, life changed so quickly for so many of us. Many in the aviation industry will never forget how they felt when they received that dreaded email, informing them that they wouldn’t be flying any longer! Last week, I met a few former airline cabin crew members who have persevered during these difficult circumstances; they have shared their stories with me, of how they began their own businesses. In turn, I am sharing their inspiring stories with you here. First we meet with Muhammed, in his Turkish durum restaurant. Then we meet Zoe, with her boutique swimwear brand “The Neod”. Next is Treats by Dhish, she creates aviation-themed cupcakes and treats. Then we meet up with Jasmin in her beauty salon “Giovanni Salon”. Last, we meet up with Weiwei at her home, were she is setting up her own furniture business. Each of them has a compelling story to tell. It is through their passion and love that they have started their new businesses and a new phase of life. I hope you are inspired by their stories, maybe it might give you some motivation to take on a new challenge yourself. It is the passion and love that has propelled these people to start their own business at a challenging time. They have all battled to overcome their different initial start-up challenges, but I am sure there is a long way to go from here. Let's re-visit them in a year's time. Kelsey: https://www.instagram.com/lipstickandluggage/ Muhammed: https://www.instagram.com/durum_dxb/ Zoe: https://www.instagram.com/zoe.gourdon/ Dhish: https://www.instagram.com/treats_by_dhish/ Jasmin: https://www.instagram.com/1arabya/ Weiwei: https://www.instagram.com/ouiouido/

Antonov have made over 22,000 airplanes, which are distributed throughout the world. Apart from the world’s strongest and biggest An-225 Mriya, An-124 Ruslan and An-22 Antei, Antonov have also made over 18,000 propeller airplanes. Many of them are still actively flying, include some of the less well-known models. I have flown the Antonov An-28, An-38 and An-140. These planes are very rare, in the case of An-38 and An-140 there is just one active flying sample in passenger airline service. Both An-28 and An-38 are STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft with impressive short field performance. I travelled on an An-38 from Polyarny, Udachy to Mirny in Siberia with Alrosa Airlines. Then I flew on an An-28 with Siberia Light Aviation (SILA) from Irkutsk to Zheleznogorsk - Ilimsky. My An-140 flight was from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine to Minsk in Belarus. Each of these journeys was unique, with the distinct sound of prop engines. Watch the video to see these unique flying samples of Antonovs.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! This video is sponsored by Surfshark. I travelled to Pakistan in December 2012. During that 3-day trip, I flew 8 sectors across the whole country on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). It was an epic adventure to see Pakistan by air. This is a trip report of flying on PIA A310, B777, ATR-42 and B747-300 in Pakistan. Every flight has a story to tell. Not just aviation, I also got to visit Karachi, Islamabad, Gilgit and Lahore. I saw the country first hand, which has often been negatively portrayed in the media. I saw the vast beauty of the Northern region of Pakistan, the great hospitality of the people to foreigners along with the amazing food and culture. I had a great time in Pakistan and I am hoping to go back soon.

Emirates recently revealed their new Premium Economy seat onboard a new A380. I was invited to take a first look at the new Premium Economy cabin. I interviewed the Chief Operating Officer of Emirates, Adel Al Redha, during my tour of the aircraft. I asked him why Emirates is launching such new product and whether more airplanes in the fleet will feature such a product. Currently, Emirates is not selling Premium Economy seats until they have more airplanes equipped with the new product. For the time being they are giving complimentary upgrades for frequent flyers and full fare paying Economy passengers. More details of the soft product in Premium Economy will be revealed in the future. Not only Premium Economy, the rest of the Emirates A380 cabin has also been upgraded. You can see the new fabric and finishing’s of Business Class and Economy Class. For more information of Emirates Premium Economy Class product, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2021/01/03/first-look-of-emirates-premium-economy-and-upgraded-cabin-on-a380/#.X_loK-kzblw

2020 is a year we want to forget, but we will not forget. This video captures the top aviation moments in 2020. Aviation started the year on a high, we saw the Boeing 777X make its maiden voyage in January. But at the same time, China got hit hard with Coronavirus and it is spreading fast and at an alarming rate. Aviation came to the rescue, with flights to repatriate citizens back home. Then we saw a systematic lockdown across the world, with thousands of planes grounded in an unprecedented way. Many jobs have been lost… With most passengers flights being grounded, it almost broke the logistic chain. The demand for cargo was also unprecedented. We saw every airline flying cargo missions to carry masks, PPE and other medical supplies using passenger planes. Then summer came and things eased up a little. With many countries re-opening I now have the opportunity to fly again, with this I want to record and document what airlines have been doing in response to covid. Many airports have also suffered badly, with drops of up to 90% in traffic the terminal is like a ghost town. Airlines have started to enrol passengers using their biometric data, so your eyes and face became your boarding pass. The Boarding process has also changed; a lot of airlines are providing hygiene and wellness kits onboard to their customers. You can see flight attendants wearing masks and gloves, some are even dressing in full PPE. Initially, airlines resorted to providing only box meals to passengers; this was in a bid to reduce contact, to lower cost and also due to some catering supplies being unavailable at outstations. I am glad to report that most airlines have now returned to their usual service levels, with everything being sealed or wrapped. What’s breaking every aviation enthusiast's heart is the retirement of the 747s. KLM, Qantas and British Airways have all decided to bring forward their retirement dates. COVID also posted an uncertainty on the world’s biggest airplane, the A380, which has also become a casualty of the downturn. At last, some good news. The covid vaccine is being made available. The timely transportation of vaccines will be aviation’s next challenge! 2020 has been a roller coaster year in commercial aviation. Words can’t express the emotions we have been through….I want to thank you for your support and viewership in the past year. Here we hope for a better year ahead.

Hi Fly operated their last A380 flight and I was the only passenger invited onboard this special farewell flight. We departed Beja, Portugal for Toulouse. Immediately after take-off, the A380 performed several fly-bys to bid farewell to her base and the crowd. The A380 flew at very low speed along with high-speed fly-bys and pulled some "Gs" like she was performing at an air show. Then we proceed to the Atlantic Ocean to draw a "heart shape" flight path to say thank you to the A380 before proceeding to Toulouse, France, where she was built 14 years ago. I toured the empty cabin on both the upper deck and the lower deck. The crew served a light lunch before landing. The CEO of Hi Fly, Paulo Mirpuri, explained the meaning behind the special paint "Save the Coral Reef". The weather improved upon arrival at Toulouse, so we flew over the airfield to salute the A380 before a final stop landing. Farewell Hi Fly A380 "Save the Coral Reef". The Hi Fly A380 was significant, according to Captain Carlos Mirpuri, due to the nature of her charter, the Hi Fly A380 flew to many airports that had never received an A380 before. It was the first to land in Wuhan, China, following the coronavirus outbreak to repatriate European citizens. Recently, it completed a round the world humanitarian mission, which lasted four days, starting and ending in Beja, Portugal. It covered 31,047 kms in a flight time of 33 hours and 45 minutes, with stops in Tianjin and Santo Domingo. And it was the first A380 to land in: • Beja (23/07/2018) • Oslo (2/08/2018) • Reunion (25/08/2018) • Diass (14/04/2019) • Antananarivo (30/06/2019) • Cairo (7/07/2019) • Caracas (14/07/2019) • Buenos Aires (23/07/2019) • Dalaman (23/09/2019) • Enfidha (24/09/2019) • Las Palmas (27/09/2019) • Santo Domingo (16/05/2020) For more information about Hi Fly A380 and the retirement, visit my blog (trip report): https://samchui.com/2020/12/18/onboard-special-farewell-flight-of-hi-fly-a380/ Thanks to French Spotter providing the external fly-by footage from Toulouse: https://www.youtube.com/user/Airplanevideosfly

I travelled to the UK to see the Final British Airways 747 flight and landing. During this trip, I was able to see all 3 British Airways 747 Retro Liveries across the countryside in England and Wales. My first stop was Dunsfold Aerodrome, where I visited the Landor livery 747. I was able to go inside and take a last look at the cabin and the cockpit. Then I drove to Cotswold Airport to see the Negus livery 747. Cotswold Airport CEO Suzannah Harvey personally gave me a tour, explaining the work being done to save the 747. My last stop was in Cardiff, Wales where the BOAC livery 747 flew out from Cardiff to St Athan; it was only a short ferry flight but it was a very emotional one nonetheless, as this was the final BA 747 flight. I was at St Athan to watch the Final BA 747 landing. It was a momentous landing with a quick stop on the short runway. After landing, I went inside the 747 to interview the pilots and witness the final power down of the 747. It was the end of an era for the British Airways 747. All 3 BA retro 747 liveries (Landor, Negus and BOAC) will be preserved in the UK. Thanks to British Airways and SpeedBird TV for sharing some great footage: https://www.facebook.com/speedbirdtv

I flew with British Airways on an A350-1000 in the new Club World Suite from Dubai to London Heathrow. The trip was to UK to see the last British Airways B747. During the flight, I discover the latest British Airways product and see what’s changed onboard. Currently there is a travel corridor (air bubble) formed between the UK and the UAE, passengers no longer need to quarantine or self-isolate. This has resulted in a spike in passenger volumes and passenger confidence in travel. My flight was full, with lot of children, families and leisure travellers. I interviewed several passengers about their travel experience. To my surprise the flight time was exactly 7 hours and 47 minutes, which set a perfect tribute for the last flight of the British Airways 747. Video link: https://youtu.be/ggsF7RO4GQ4

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! This video is sponsored by Surfshark. Far East Asia has more Boeing 747s than any of the other continents. Why is the Boeing 747 so popular in Asia? In this video I share some of the finest B747 flying experiences from Asia; from the First Class private suite to the rear of the Economy Class cabin, it covers all aspects of the 747 journey. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, Asiana, Philippines Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Gaurda Indonesia 747s are all featured. I am sharing never before seen and rare footage of these 747 voyages; I hope you will enjoy the journey together with me. The 747 era may have gone, but the memory and legacy will last forever.

Aviation will play a key role in transporting ground breaking vaccines in the fight against COVID-19. From the moment the wheels touch down it is a race against the clock, and the heat, to get the vital supplies to their final destination safely. I was given a tour at the Emirates SkyPharma cold storage facility at Dubai Int’l Airport. I was shown through the logistics process and the required infrastructures in place for transporting vaccines. I was shown specialized containers (like mobile refrigerators) and cool dollies that can keep the temperature sensitive pharmaceuticals and vaccines cool during transit at airport. In case of pharma cargo, which needs to be maintained at very low temperatures such as -70˚C, the manufacturer of the pharmaceutical will provide a passive packaging for the shipment, this will maintain the cargo at the required temperature. The passive packaging normally includes a coolant, such as dry ice. In the video, we also talked about the current challenge of cargo space availability to handle the transport of vaccine.

As an AvGeek, I collect just about anything related to commercial aviation. I have just recently moved house, while doing so I made the decision to share with you some of my aviation collection. I collect airplane models that I flew on as a passenger. Most of my models are GeminiJets, in both 1:200 and 1:400 scale. I have decorated the showcase with models and I have also included some of the flight certificates in the background. I have hundreds of airline amenity kits from my travels, along with many sets of sleepwear. I adore tableware with airline logos, but not the generic ones. I also collect in-flight menus from the flights I have been on. Some of them are rare or one of a kind; such as the inaugural A350-1000 flight on Qatar Airways, the last breakfast menu on EL AL B747-400 and the flight menu from Hello Kitty flights on EVA Air. On my book shelf I have a varied collection of aviation books and this includes my latest book, Air747. Apart from my collection, my new home boasts a great view over Dubai Airport. I can easily do plane spotting from my balcony. Watch the amazing view from the roof top of my building with sweeping view of Dubai city and Dubai Airport. To Win Giveaway, visit the link below: https://gleam.io/C5ILW/air747-book-and-emirates-b78710-model-giveaway

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! It was my 40th Birthday and I decided to treat myself to a special flight. Flying always makes me happy and there’s no better way to celebrate than flying on an Emirates A380 in First Class. I started my journey at Dubai Airport and met my friend Gerome Gardiner (https://airlinerart.net/) who presented me 2 special Emirate’s paintings as my birthday gift. I brought them on-board later to show the crew and have them signed. As I am registered for Emirates Biometric Path, I no longer need to show my passport and boarding pass to enter the lounge or to board the flight. It was that easy. The Emirates Business Class lounge has been re-opened with all the latest food and beverage offerings. There is a dedicated First Class area within the Business Class lounge, with a table dining service and a champagne bar. The timeless spa and shoe shine is also open now. On my Emirates A380 flight to Cairo, all the usual services in First Class have returned to normal levels. This includes table dining service, First Class shower and spa and A380 on-board lounge. At the end of my flight, I felt extremely privileged to celebrate my birthday on-board. It has been a difficult year for everyone in aviation and especially for the A380 aircraft. COVID has made us really appreciate things and taught us not to take things for granted. I believe aviation will reach another peak when the challenge is over.

After some exciting Island-Hopping flights in Greece, I visited Aegean Airlines hangar to see an A320 undergoing a heavy maintenance D check (12-year check). I saw the “naked” airplane with all the seats and panels removed. The engineer explained to me about their maintenance process and showed me the rudder, the horizontal stabilizer, tail, thrust reverser and the engine of A320. Then I visited a brand-new Aegean Airlines A321neo. I was able to power up the airplane and be the first to tour the brand-new airplane. Next, I went back at Athens Int’l Airport to visit the Aegean Airlines Business Lounge. I flew on an Olympic Air Dash8-Q400 to Samos. I had a tour at Samos and saw lot of immigrants and refugees on the island before flying back to Athens during the sunset. The next day I visited the old Athens Ellinikon Airport, there was an Olympic B727, a B737 and a B747 there. I was there at the same site in 2001, just before the old airport closed down. I met Nikolas, who shared with me a story of the Olympic OA411; which came close to crashing in downtown Athens, following an engine explosion while taking off.

I was Island Hopping with Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air in Greece. I flew from Rhodes to Kastellorizo; which is known as one of the most difficult and challenging airports in Greece, due to the short 800-meter runway which often has strong winds and terrain and geographic restrictions nearby. The runway at Kastellorizo is sitting on a hilltop with cliffs on each side. Only the Dash8-100 and only the captain is allowed to land and take-off from there. Next, I flew with Aegean Airlines on an Airbus A320 to Santorini; it was a beautiful flight over Aegean Sea, seeing many nice islands enroute. I was given a tour of Santorini and stayed in a spectacular cliff hanging hotel, which overlooks the Aegean Sea. This is part 1 of 2 episodes of my Greece Island Hopping adventure by plane. Stay tuned for the next episode, a flight to Samos and a maintenance tour of inside a “naked” A320!

Get Wondershare Filmora X for free! Windows Download Link: https://bit.ly/2TaAXfN Mac Download Link: https://bit.ly/3kHyK7u Covid-19 has brought catastrophe to the aviation industry. With fleets grounded and passenger numbers in free-fall, the A380 is now too big and costly to fly. With a price tag of $445 million, the A380 is one of the most expensive and lavish airplanes ever built. It hasn't been the game changer Airbus had hoped. Last month we saw the last A380 assembled roll off the assembly line in Toulouse. Production will end at just 251 A380s produced. I invited Airline Executives, A380 pilots, engineers and consultants to speak about their opinion on the future of the A380. A380 production was already in sharp decline before covid. Smaller next-generation composite wide-bodies, like the Boeing 787 and the A350, offer airlines more flexibility and less risk. In just a few short months, the fortune of the A380 has changed drastically, now the A380 has become a plane that airlines don’t want to talk about it. With all the uncertainty, most airlines don’t even know if they will use the A380 in the future. My prediction is that more than half of the A380s will not return to service. Airlines are not short of planes at the moment, they will only be using their smaller, and more efficient planes, to ride out the storm. The coronavirus will write off most A380s from the airlines balance sheets. The A380 will always be remembered as a great whisper quiet giant, offering incredible comfort for all passengers but proving that it’s profit that really makes an airliner fly. The unforgiving coronavirus has delivered the final blow to the A380. Footage used: FlyRosta: https://www.youtube.com/user/TezkaDrina Ruesch Productions: https://www.youtube.com/user/AndyRuesch ATCpilot: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfosmSC3BCmRfaz9K6hgzLA

The 2020 Super Luxury Private Jet Flying Experience. Imagine having the whole plane to yourself, without sharing with anyone! I was invited to try out the new Comlux 767BBJ in Zurich. The plane, affectionately known as "SkyLady", has recently undergone a major refurbishment and upgrade program. The flight attendant gave me a tour of the large plane. Inside the Comlux 767BBJ SkyLady, the multi-room cabins are divided into 6 independent areas; with a massive ensuite bedroom, a lounge room that can be converted into a second bedroom, a dining and meeting room, First Class, Premium Economy and a crew rest area. It can fit up to 51 passengers. The plane flew around Switzerland and Northern Italy for around 1.5 hours, with some very nice scenery en-route. I experienced the ultimate in private aviation luxury. A multi-course fine cuisine meal was served by Bijoux catering, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also enjoyed the super-fast 2KU band internet connection on-board. Besides its comfort and connectivity enhancements, SkyLady is equipped with an all-new ionisation system; this system improves air quality in the cabin by removing viruses, bacteria and spores in the air and on surfaces, it also works to by eliminate annoying and noxious odours. For more details: Visit Comlux on https://comlux.com/

Use code samchui360 on Amazon to get additional 15% off on Insta360 ONE R camera and a free invisible selfie stick. Select both camera https://amzn.to/2SGEulz and selfie stick https://amzn.to/3iGSaaT in the shopping cart and use code samchui360, Amazon will automatically remove the cost of selfie stick. This is a video of my recent Emirates flight in September 2020. What’s changed onboard an Emirates Flight? I flew with Emirates from Zurich to Dubai and the flight was really empty. The crew showed me what’s changed in First, Business and Economy Class on Emirates. Lot of services have been modified to reduce touch points. Hygiene kits have been introduced. Hot meal services have been retained across all classes. Lots of items are now sealed and wrapped. The crew explained what’s really changed in the airline. I did feel quite sad as there are so few passengers travelling on long haul flights at the moment, due to all the uncertainties, border closures and quarantine restrictions. I hope the government, and all the relevant stakeholders, can work to standardize travel rules and restrictions to enable more people to travel. Inside the video, I have also given 5 hints and tips to help my fellow travellers fly during the pandemic. These tips are not encouraging you to fly, but are more to may help you to prepare better if you must fly. Tip 1 Time and plan your COVID Test in Advance Tip 2 Prepare to Spend More Time at The Airport With Paperwork Tip 3 Many Airlines Are Now Offering Automatic COVID-19 Insurance Coverage Tip 4 Remember The Little Things (face covering in the plane) Tip 5 Entry Rules And Restrictions Are Likely to Change

I visited Zurich Airport and explored the airport with 2 public tours. My first tour started at the recently opened observation deck. I went on the bus tour that shows you around the entire Zurich Airport, with a stop at the intersection of the runways for some close-up plane action. Then I joined the behind-the-scenes airport tour, walking around the ramp with my excellent guide Rene explaining the airport operations in detail. We saw the latest Qatar Airways A350 arriving at its gate. Within minutes, the ramp sprang into action with loading and unloading activities. Then, we went to an empty mid-field terminal E; this terminal has been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a bizarre experience to walk through the entire terminal in total silence. Next, we went to see the baggage belt system, checking out how the bags are delivered to each airplane. The tour gave a rare insight into the Zurich Airport operation. I was amazed at how open Zurich Airport is with these excellently run public tours. For more information on the guided tour and observation deck, visit https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers/experience/experiences/tours-and-guided-tours

This is a video of flying inside the world's largest turboprop – the Antonov An-22 Antei. Join me on this incredible flight from Leipzig to Bremen on the An-22. The plane picked up a special bus shipment in Bremen and we flew back to Leipzig. A total of 20 strong crew operates the Antonov An-22, including 6 cockpit crew. The An-22 is not only the biggest turboprop aircraft in the world but also it was the FIRST WIDE-BODY aircraft in the world! The plane is powered by four Kuznetsov NK-12 engines, each driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers with their unique sound. The An-22 holds a Guinness World record with a max payload of 250 ton (551,156 lb). It is the only widebody freighter capable of operations at airports with unpaved runways or a remote airstrip. For more information, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2020/09/26/flying-the-worlds-biggest-turboprop-antonov-an-22/#.X29j6JMzblw

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 3 months for free! This video is sponsored by Surfshark. I flew with Etihad Airways last week from Abu Dhabi to Athens. It was my first time flying out of Abu Dhabi Airport in over 6 months. Some new technologies have been implemented at the airport, such as touch less elevators, self-sterilization boxes and temperature checks. I checked out the latest offerings from the lounge and then boarded the Etihad A321. The pilot was busy doing take-off calculations and emergency pilot briefings. It is interesting to see their work behind the scenes from the cockpit. After take-off, I explored all the latest offerings from Etihad include a wellness kit with mask, gloves, a black face cloth and sanitizer. I interviewed the crew about practicality of wearing PPE in-flight. The Etihad A321 has new Economy Class slim line seat without a PTV at the seat back. Back in Business Class, I enjoyed a lunch which was all served on one single tray. Nothing has really changed apart from the covers and wrapping on the bread. I took a nap after lunch until we reached Athens. The black face cloth was surprisingly comfortable to breathe through while sleeping.

With so many aircraft being grounded during the COVID pandemic, in this video I discover the answer to how do airlines store and re-activate airplanes? I asked Etihad Engineering about the work required to store an airplane, protect the plane from heat, humidity, sand and dust; I also inquired into the processes involved in bringing a stored plane back to service. Then I took a tour of the Etihad Engineering hangar, observing how the maintenance is carried out. A lot of behind-the-scenes repair and maintenance work goes on in the hangar. Finally, I visited the airline workshop; to see how they manufacture and repair seat covers, engine covers, toilet doors and bulkhead panels. A lot of work is carried out to make sure the planes are well maintained. I asked a few questions on the future outlook of aviation engineering and the entry requirements for a person looking to get into aviation engineering. Finally, I would like to thank all the hard-working ground staff and engineers during the pandemic; their work didn't slow down (it actually increased) making sure that aviation remains safe and that standards are being maintained. You can find out more about Etihad Engineering on https://www.etihadengineering.com/ and follow their latest updates on LinkedIn at http://bit.ly/EYEngLinkedIn

I visited Dynamic Advanced Training in Dubai, a comprehensive learning organisation specialising in aviation safety and security training. My aviation survival skills were certainly put to the test. First, I went into a hydraulic driven airplane cabin simulator; this is used to test scenarios like heavy turbulence, smoke filled cabins, oxygen mask drop-downs and crash evacuations. I was assisted by 3 qualified cabin crew, who are also friends of mine. Next, I experienced survival situations in both jungle and arctic environments. The mock up environments were hyper-realistic. My lunch break was spent inside a private jet mock up cabin, to practice how to serve my fellow passengers with McDonald’s BigMac and fries. Then, I went through firefighting training; to cool off after this, I jumped into the pool for emergency ditching on water practice. Thanks to Dynamic Advanced Training to provide me this valuable aviation training experience. For more info, please visit https://www.dynamic-advanced.com/

This is the worst ever systematic crisis in the history of aviation. There are just so many emotions involved in a time like this; planes are being retired early and/or grounded indefinitely, 1.5 million people have lost their jobs or are on unpaid leave in aviation. This video is about all of us in aviation. It shares the story of why we love aviation, our feelings towards aviation, advice and motivation on getting through the current crisis. I would like to thank every person who has sent in their video and shared their feelings. Feel free to leave me your comments and express your thoughts as well. I firmly believe Aviation has a bright future for all of us.

After a spectacular Lufthansa B747-8 flight in First Class, it turned out that my Lufthansa A330 flight from Frankfurt to Dubai would be a shocking contrast to my previous one. There was no hot food, no pillows, no blankets and very limited drinks on this flight. It didn’t feel like this was a Lufthansa flight at all. Find out what happened during the flight! I also give a comprehensive review of the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt Airport during my transit. The good news is the high-quality food and the showers in the lounge are coming back. At the end of the video, I have shared the Dubai arrival procedures. Watch the video to see all the formalities and requirement in a step by step guide. For more information, here is the up-to-date entry and transit procedures for Dubai and Abu Dhabi: https://samchui.com/2020/08/27/update-on-dubai-and-abu-dhabi-entry-and-transit-procedures/#.X0eBdBMzbOQ

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 85% off and 3 months for free! This video is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. After 5 months in the US I was finally able to fly home, with Lufthansa B747-8 in First Class! This is the first of A 2 part episode that focuses on my Lufthansa First Class flight from LA to Frankfurt. Lufthansa fortunately retained most of their service standards and are still operating the Boeing 747. Check out what's changed in the current situation with international long-haul travel. I discuss whether current air travel is safe inside the video. Is First Class still the same and the best way to travel? You have to wear a mask at all times during the flight, with the exception of when you are eating and drinking.

I was flying Chicago to Denver on a United B777. Before my flight, I met up with my United friend Mike Hanna, who heads up United’s Chicago hub operations. He gave me a tour and showed me around the new measures being taken to make travel cleaner and safer, such as social distancing at the terminal and lounge, temperature checks for all employees, installing of glass shields at check in and the electrostatic spray cleaning of the terminal and inside the plane. He also showed me a HEPA filter and explained how the air filtration system works inside the plane. Then I flew on the World’s oldest active B777, N774UA, an original Boeing 777-200 A model from Chicago to Denver. The plane was 26.0 years old, line number 002 from Boeing. During my flight I met up with fellow passengers, pilots and cabin crew to see what’s changed in air travel. I documented the new boarding procedures, the change in food and beverages being served onboard and everything else. I talked to several passengers about how they feel about flying during this pandemic.

A grand farewell to the Qantas Boeing 747, flying from Australia to Los Angeles and to her final resting place at the Mojave airplane graveyard. Qantas’s B747 is the most iconic plane and has served the Australian airline for nearly 5 decades. I was in Los Angeles and Mojave to witness her final arrival before retirement. It was a bittersweet day to see her final landing on July 24th 2020 in the Mojave Desert, California (Landing by Captain Ewen Cameron, 11:50 local time). After her landing I was able to board the 747, I got the chance to interview the pilots and joined them for a final walk around. There were just so many emotions running through everyone while bidding farewell to the most iconic airplane of all time. A lot of my love towards aviation was inspired from the Qantas B747, in the video I share my stories growing up with her. Not only will I miss the 747, I will also miss the human stories from this plane; sharing the laughter, the passion, different cultures and experiences through the shared love of B747 that brought us together! Onwards and Upwards. Check out https://www.qantas747.com/ for more information and memorable photoprints.

Take a look at my first solo flight with incredible footage from Insta360 ONE R camera. Exclusive viewer offer: Use code SAMCHUI to get a free "invisible" selfie stick when you buy an Insta360 ONE R camera below: https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRNVKT I did my first solo flight as pilot on July 16th 2020 at Torrance Zamperini Field, California. The requirement for my solo flight was to do 3 full stop landings in the traffic pattern. Before being able to take my solo I had to receive a solo endorsement from my flight instructor, pass a medical test and receive a student pilot certificate from the FAA. The airplane I flew my solo in was a 2 seater Sling 2 from Sling Pilot Academy. Take a look how at my flight and see how my landing went! Did I nail those landings? I shared my solo thoughts and invited lot of good pilot friends, such as Kelsey (74Gear), Reza and many Sling Pilot Academy students, to share their solo experiences and talk about how to navigate pilot training during the COVID pandemic. Sign up pilot training with Sling Pilot Academy with $1,000 OFF and free introductory flight. Use code SAMCHUI Enroll at: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com

Back in 2014, I took a really interesting trip to Africa; I am so glad I was able pull off this one: a 4-stop milk run from Dubai to Nairobi via Somalia, onboard African Express. All the take-offs and landings are shot from the cockpit, with some of the best airmen manually flying the plane in unbelievable tough situations. We flew from Dubai via Berbera and Mogadishu, Somalia, on an ex-Alitalia MD-82; then we swap planes in Mogadishu and travel onward to Wajir and Nairobi in Kenya on an African Express 46 years old DC-9-30. Flying into Somalia was an eye opener, we landed on the extreme bumpy runway in Berbera; this runway was once used by NASA as a Space Shuttle emergency landing strip. In Mogadishu the tough security situation forced our plane to land from the sea at the expense of 14 knots of tailwind, to avoid anti-aircraft gun fire on final approach. Then an extra stop in Wajir, northern Kenya to clear immigration and customs; this is a stop that must be made before any Somali arrivals are allowed into Nairobi, Kenya. A trip like this was exhilarating, but infinitely rewarding! More details on my blog: https://samchui.com/2014/06/18/african-express-md-82-dubai-to-mogadishu/

I recently visited one of the world's biggest aviation and airlines memorabilia collector and took a look at his amazing collection. Anthony Toth's airline collectibles include airline uniforms, airline seats and fabrics, airline meal trays and dishes, airline timetable, airline tags, airline sick bags and airline ticket jackets from the 1950s all the way up to today's modern era. Basically, Anthony loves to collect anything with an airline logo on it! He even has his own fabric store to re-produce airline seat fabrics. It is beyond amazing.

I have observed 5 ways that commercial air travel has changed, since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 1. Airlines are retiring 4 engine, less fuel efficient, airplanes such as the B747 and A380. 2. As a result of lower demand and removal of the B747 and the A380, there are less or almost no First Class seats available. 3. Airplanes are cleaner now than ever. There is strong emphasis on the hygiene of air travel at the moment. Does social distancing really work in the air? 4. We are seeing drastic changes in how the in-flight service is conducted. Some airlines are downgrading their in-flight meals significantly. Hot meals and trays are being replaced by sealed and pre-packaged cold snack boxes. I will discuss the different in-flight service standard of British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad. 5. Flying will become a necessity only for those who need to, it won't be for fun any more and will not be as easy as before. A lot of cumbersome paperwork, travel approvals and Covid tests are needed for international travel at the moment. For more info: Pls visit my specific blog post: https://samchui.com/2020/07/04/5-ways-commercial-air-travel-has-changed/ Footage Courtesy of: Turkish Airlines, United, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, ANA, FlyRosta, LA Times

You won’t believe where the World’s Busiest Airport is right now! During the COVID Pandemic, Anchorage Airport has become the World’s Busiest Airport. It was able to achieve the status of number one due to its volume of cargo operations, not passenger flights. With Anchorage’s unique geographic location, it is experiencing a great variety of planes passing by; including the world’s biggest airplane, the Antonov-225, calling into Anchorage six times recently. I visited Anchorage a while back, it was full of B747 cargo, lots of B747-8Fs, B777Fs and MD-11Fs. The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter is also calling into Anchorage on a regular basis. The airplane variety is fantastic at Anchorage! There are also a lot of classic airplanes too, such as DC3s and DC-6s that are still flying daily in to and out of the remote community of Alaska. Listen to those great prop sounds. In normal times, Anchorage is usually the fifth busiest cargo airport in the world and the second busiest cargo airport in the United States.

I am going to become a pilot. It is a decision I am never going back on. The sky is no longer the limit, it is now as much home for me as it is for my fellow aviators. I started my love of aviation as a plane spotter and a photographer, then later as a passenger. The next logical step to advance further in aviation is to become a pilot. You can do this too! Simply sign up for pilot training with Sling Pilot Academy below, use code: SAMCHUI and get $1,000 off and a free introductory flight. Enrol at: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com/enr... Flight training is very challenging but you can see it is totally worth it. There is nothing with as much satisfaction as when you make your first unassisted landing by yourself. You forget all your troubles on the ground, because flying takes up all of your attention and skillsets. There was never a dull moment during my flight training. I am slowly getting there. So far, I have flown 18 hours; learning many techniques to fly the plane such as stalls, forward slips, sharp turns, pattern holding and working on my take-off and landing. I am going to share with you my progress in every phase of my pilot training (PPL). External 360 plane footage filmed by Insta360 ONE R Camera To get 10% off and a free invisible 360 selfie stick, use code samchui https://www.insta360.com/sal/one_r?insrc=INRNVKT

After flying over 2,000 flights and 3 million miles, I am revealing my worst flight experience and scariest flight ever. It was onboard a Siberia Airlines IL-86 from Novosibirsk to Beijing in 2004. Ilyushin-86 is the first wide body airplane from the Soviet Union and it was the second four engine wide body airplane built in the world, preceded by the Boeing 747. The IL-86 is powered by 4 Kuznetsov NK-86 engines, these engines are underpowered and limit the range of IL-86 with full payload. The IL-86 has unique pull down stairs, which eliminates the need for airport infrastructure to board the plane. There are two decks, passengers board and store their luggage on lower deck before proceeding to their seats on the upper deck. There are no overhead bins in the centre, which gives the cabin a more spacious feel. There was a potential bomb threat on my IL-86 flight in September 2004 in Russia. During the boarding, 2 suspicious men went to the bathroom and then requested to leave the airplane after boarding. Russia was in a state of high alert during that period as the flight took place just after the Beslan School siege, in which 300 lost their lives and over 700 more were injured. Security forces came onboard with sniffer dogs to search the plane and passengers were sent back to terminal for additional security and interviews. After 3 hours we were cleared for take-off on the same plane, without the 2 suspicious men onboard. The IL-86 flew below a low weather pressure system over Siberia and shook violently all the way during the 4 hour flight to Beijing. This was probably the only time I wanted to leave a plane early. Footage used in the video from the following channels. Check out their channels: Loran: https://www.youtube.com/user/Chefsalat76 TivatCZ: https://www.youtube.com/user/TivatCZ Report Aero: https://www.youtube.com/user/uueevid Ёжичек: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwKbg4a5DobHJQ8Ec3eBDhQ

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam and enter promo code SAM to get 85% off and 3 months for free! This video is sponsored by Surfshark VPN. Back in March 2008, I flew on Syrian Air B747SP-94 YK-AHB “Arab Solidarity” from Dubai to Aleppo. It was amazing to fly the B747-SP on this short flight, but it was full of drama and chaos. The flight suffered a 12-hour marathon delay in Dubai Airport, due to a broken part. Syrian Air flew in their own mechanic to do the repairs. After boarding, a fight broke out between the Captain and a frustrated passenger. During half way our destination was also changed, from Damascus to Aleppo! Thanks to our lengthy delay we were too late to land at Damascus Airport, as it had been closed for the Arab Summit. I was rather glad to have visited Aleppo city in 2008 before the war broke out later in Syria. It is great to see Aleppo Airport having been re-opened last year and welcoming traffic again. The Syrian Air B747-SP was sent for maintenance in Saudi Arabia, but has not returned to service since the civil war broke out in Syria.

I visited Air Hollywood in LA, which is the world’s largest aviation-themed entertainment studio. It provides a realistic and film-friendly airport, along with aircraft standing sets and props to the motion picture production industry. I was shown how they turn used airplane parts into amazing aviation collectibles and furniture. For example a round table bar made from a 747 engine cowling, a table made from an airplane wing, a wine holder and other art items My tour of Air Hollywood continued on to see where Hollywood films all its plane scenes. There are several narrow and wide body airplanes and even a mock up terminal available for filming. The original cockpit of The Airplane Movie (1980) is also in Air Hollywood as a history piece. There is a fully stocked prop house, which has every type of aviation related item imaginable for rent; from luggage and trolleys to a check-in desk and an x-ray machine. Visit https://AirHollywood.com/ for more details and order custom made aviation collectibles and furnitures.

A few months ago, I visited an airplane graveyard at Victorville, Southern California Logistics Airport. There was a large amount of stored and retired airplanes, include a white Boeing 777 bought by Air Hollywood. I am back to see how they cut the cockpit out of this B777, the cockpit cut is needed to bring it to Air Hollywood studio for a movie set. It is extremely interesting to see how the workers used a chain saw and fork lift to take out the B777 cockpit, in just over an hour. It is also interesting to see the bare interior of a B777. However, it is sad to see the plane without the cockpit. End of the line. Don’t miss the next episode where I follow the cockpit to delivery at Air Hollywood. The owner gave me a behind the scenes tour on how Hollywood airplane movies are made inside Air Hollywood studio.

This video is an example of how aviation is supporting the fight against Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. All of the advertising proceeds from this video will be donated to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. In Los Angeles, a National Airlines B747-400BCF just arrived from Wuhan, China via Anchorage, Alaska. 53,270 Kgs of urgent medical supplies are being offloaded in just 40 mins. This was a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) charter so it was given high priority. I joined the B747 captain for a tour of the B747 BCF. My next mission started at Anchorage to board a National Airlines passenger B757-200. This B757 just flew over the Pacific Ocean from Guangzhou, China via Kansai to Anchorage. The flight continues from Anchorage to Chicago carrying boxes of medical masks. This was also a FEMA charter. The flight departed at 05:00 and I was the only passenger onboard. After take-off, a beautiful sunrise over Alaska could be seen from the window. We arrived in Chicago after a 5.5 hours eventless flight. It was great to see the cargo get immediately offloaded. I am glad to have been part of this cargo mission and able to document how aviation is supporting the fight of COVID-19 pandemic.

How has Air Travel changed post COVID-19? This video examines every single air travel element from airfares, at airports to cabin layouts and in-flight service, things may look very different once we start traveling again. Shall we expect higher or lower airfare? Shall we expect longer than normal process at the airport? What will happen with social distancing onboard an airplane? Will there be the same in-flight food and beverage offerings like before? What will the arrival formalities be like after landing? This video shares the latest aviation industry developments, such as new seating innovations and contactless travel with minimum touch points as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. For more info on the future of air travel post covid-19, pls visit https://samchui.com/2020/05/09/whats-the-future-of-air-travel-like-post-covid-19-2/#.Xrd5rBMzbOQ

I recently flew over thousands of grounded, and stored, airplanes in Victorville, Mojave and San Bernadino in Southern California Airplane Graveyard, on a private Sling 4 TSI airplane with Sling Pilot Academy. The aircraft storage scenes are unprecedented, with many airplanes grounded in Victorville, Mojave and at San Bernardino airport. The same parking scenes can be seen at LA Harbour, where a lot of cruise ships are docked. My Sling 4 TSI plane was flying in formation with a Sling Trainer and twin engine Tecnam P2006T. We met up with our photoship Cessna 172 in mid-air for an epic photo shoot over those blooming desert flowers (Super Bloom time!) At the end of my flight, I reveal my intention to start on own my private pilot license (PPL) with Sling Pilot Academy. You can do this too! simply sign up below using code: SAMCHUI for $1000 off and a free introductory flight. Enroll at: https://www.slingpilotacademy.com

What is it like to fly on a Boeing 707? This video shares my memory of flying on the world's last passenger Boeing 707 flight of Saha Air in Iran. The Boeing 707 is Boeing's first jet, designed in the 1950s, and is almost 70 years old. It was incredibly loud with 4 JT3D turbofan engines. The Boeing 707 left a long legacy for future aircraft design, especially in the cockpit and the cabin. You can still find many similarities in modern airliners today. Flying on the original airliner, the B707 was an absolutely thrilling experience. My last B707 flight took me on an adventure from Tehran to Mashad. We took off with the B707s typical shallow climb. The Saha Air B707 has a simple interior with only open racks, instead of overhead bins. A big group of Iraqi religious pilgrims were sitting behind me, they were chanting Muslim prayers during take-off and landing. Saha Air B707 was originally converted from a tanker and then later, after it was retired from passenger service, it went back into service as tanker again. There are large refuelling observation windows onboard. Enjoy the B707 experience! Thanks to Shahram Sharifi, Alireza Khodakarami, SpeedBird HD and Boeing images for the footage.

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam - Enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 1 month for free! This video was filmed in early March from Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles. This is the longest flight in Etihad Airways network, with a flight time over 16 hours, flying as far North as 85 degrees, known as polar flight routing. Captain Bilal explained the Polar Flight operation and the critical timing of this ultra-long haul flight. Besides the usual Etihad First Class Suite product and amenities, the chef also showed me how to cook a steak to perfection using the onboard oven. I enjoyed great dining and superb privacy in my First Class Suite. After waking up from a nap, I saw the most incredible sights in the sky; our Etihad B777 was just 1,000 feet below an Emirates A380, also heading to LAX. We eventually flew past the Emirates A380, accompanied with some of the most spectacular air2air footage I have ever seen.

This video shares my love of aviation. It is the first of a video series on airports and shows the busy airplane movements. LAX is one of the busiest airports in the world (the third busiest in 2019, behind Atlanta and Beijing). My love of aviation started more than 20 years ago as a plane spotter. I have spent countless hours watching airplanes coming and going at LAX. The video includes rare and incredible "air-to-air" footage, taken from a Helicopter. This video feature some of the best LAX movements, including footage from many A380 operators such as Emirates, Lufthansa, Air France, Korean and China Southern. It also features many B747s, B777s, B787s and A350s showing take-off and landing from close quarters. The video was filmed from various locations and from day to night including the gorgeous SoCal sunset. Air2Air footage shared by SpeedBird HD.

I visited the Rolls Royce Engine factory in Derby, England in January. This vlog takes a detailed look at how Rolls Royce build the XWB engine, the exclusive engine on Airbus A350. We also take a look at the various engine test bed sites, including their latest test site bed 80 which is under construction. In the vlog Rolls Royce explain what went wrong with their Trent 1000 engines on the Boeing 787, also their future plans for the much bigger Ultra Fan Engine.

In the last few weeks, due to the increase of COVID-19 cases, unique and unusual repatriation flights have been carried out all over the world. Aviation is in a race with time to bring back stranded citizens and to send urgent medical supplies to save lives. People working in aviation right now are really showing the BEST of Humanity. The video starts with footage from EL AL on a repatriation and rescue flight from Peru to Israel. Then I interview the Chief Cargo Officer of Qatar Airways and Chairman of National Air Cargo Inc on the current status with the air cargo industry. They explain why Air Cargo has been so busy and why there is the need to operate more cargo flights, even using passenger planes. The video covers more repatriation and urgent cargo flights bringing medical supplies and equipment. This freight is being supplied by United, Delta, Austrian Airlines, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, Bamboo Airways, Nepal Airlines, Air India, Garuda Indonesia, Ethiopian Airlines and many more airlines not mentioned here. I am making this vlog to highlight the importance of these missions and pay tribute to the people who work in this critical time to serve and save the world. #Clapsforourcarers #Aviation #Repatriation

DiecastJets.com is offering up to 25% off retail and free shipping, use code SAMCHUI at checkout! At such a depressing time like now, with the COVID-19 pandemic in full effect, I have turned to my hobby of die cast model airplane collecting to keep my spirits up! Earlier this month, I visited my friend Elliot at Gemini Jets HQ in Las Vegas, NV. I take a look at the entire Gemini Jets collection in 1:200 and 1:400 scale on display. These special die-cast model aircraft include a Qantas B787 100th,a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, a Thai Royal Barge 777-300, a Lufthansa 747-8, a Emirates A380, a British Airways B747 and a KLM B747. I also look at a model airport set up and the warehouse of Gemini Jets. The 1:200 A380 in Gemini Jets weighs 3.8 lbs, that's a lot of weight for a model airplane! Are you a model airplane collector? If so, share with me your favourite model airplane. For more info, please visit https://samchui.com/category/gemini-jets/

This video takes a closer look at the current state of aviation during the COVID-19 crisis. How is Aviation fighting for survival during COVID-19? Take a guess at just how many flights are currently in the sky on an average day? The number of flights in the sky have fallen more than half recently and the number is continuing to drop all around the world. The sky is getting empty! Take a look at all the airplane grounding footage from all over the world. Airports are emptying, so are airline lounges and the flights themselves. In the video, we discuss the implications of social distancing inside airplane. While passenger flights and passenger numbers are falling, air cargo operations are increasing; playing a crucial role in these times of crisis, delivering lifesaving medical supplies and materials. Lot of airlines are now using their passenger planes to carry cargo only. We examine these cargo operations closely. It is not all bad news however during this COVID-19 pandemic. Private aviation is booming! with high demand for private flights for charter, repatriation and transportation for medical equipment. Qatar Airways have recently increased 10,000 seats and have deployed an A380 on route to London, Paris and Frankfurt due to increase in demand as other airlines have suspended their operations. We also see a 51-year-old DC-8 from the Samaritan’s Purse (a US Aid Organization) that recently flew to Verona, Italy. This latest mission saw the aircraft perform a flight to Verona in Italy, where it unloaded a 68-bed field hospital. To end the video, I hope the sky will soon return to normal. Enjoy the time-lapse footage from London, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Start your risk-free, 100 day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases, at http://www.awaytravel.com/sam20 This video is sponsored by Away Travel Last month, I visited the LAX Air Traffic Control Tower. After some amazing plane spotting from the tower, I flew with Air New Zealand All Blacks on their B777-300/ER from Los Angeles to London. Air NZ have been proudly serving this route for 40 years but will be discontinuing their London service in October, citing that it cannot compete effectively. This flight is currently the longest one stop flight in the world, originating in Auckland, New Zealand and travelling to London via LA. During my flight, I checked out the Air New Zealand current Business Class product including the seat, food and beverages, amenity kits and the bedding. I also checked out the Air New Zealand Skycouch product in Economy, which is a first in the airline industry. The 3 seats can be converted into a flatbed, for yourself or to share with children. The UK based Air NZ crew were very friendly and took pleasure in showing me their finest food and beverages onboard. I even made some friends on the flight, due to the outward herringbone seating in Business Class. After landing, I was allowed in the cockpit to have a quick briefing from the captain. We flew for 9 hours and 40 minutes from LA to London. This trip and vlog were made in February. I strongly advise against all non-essential travel for the time being.

In this video we take a look at the current state of aviation with a focus on airlines, airplane manufacturers and the broader travel community. Airport, borders and even countries are closed! Thousands of flights are being cancelled in light of travel bans in an attempt to fight the Coronavirus. Demand is drying up in ways that are completely unprecedented. Airlines are fast running out of cash, as hundreds of thousands of fleets are grounded; as they battle to survive travel restrictions and country lock downs, that have engulfed the aviation and travel industry in crisis. IATA have warned that the lost in revenue for airlines due to Covid-19 could be up to $113 billion.

Last week Etihad Airways showed me how they clean and disinfect their Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Abu Dhabi. The cleaning crew and I changed into a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) outfit which covered us from head to toe. The cleaning started from the rear to the front of the plane, top to bottom using a cleaning and disinfecting agent called Bacoban and a disposable cloth. Etihad Cleaning manager Anthony Foreman explains how the airline handles the cleaning and disinfecting after flying to a high risk area. I was shown how the cleaning is performed in all the cabin, the galley, the toilet and the cargo hold. I was also shown how they change the air filters inside the airplane. It was explained to me how the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing) system works to ensure that the air circulation is of the same standard as that of an operating theatre in hospital. This video shows the deep cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Only planes that have been on the ground for over 4 hours or that are being flown to/from a high-risk area are treated to such a thorough cleaning procedure. Planes with a tight turnaround will only receive a routine cleaning.

I visited Mojave, California which is a famous airplane graveyard in the desert. More than 100 planes are stored here and it is end of the line for most planes that arrive in the graveyard. I went inside an ex Thai Airways B747-400 to take a look at the interior, much to my surprise the interior had been kept intact. Then I step inside an ex-Qantas B747 and found my way to walk on the 747 wing! I could almost touch the winglet! Then we drove to Victorville to meet up with an airplane scraper Huy, Huy gave us a tour and explained how they tear down airplanes using an excavator. The useful parts, such as the engines, the avionics and the interior, are usually stripped out for sale . We went inside an ex United B747-400 and ex Singapore/VIM B777-200 to take a look. Talaat Captan, owner of Air Hollywood, and Anthony Toth, co-owner of the Pan Am Experience, appear in this video as tour guides of the airplane graveyard storage.

I attended the First Aeroflot A350-900 delivery ceremony at the Airbus HQ in Toulouse, France yesterday. Aeroflot Russian Airlines is the launch operator of the A350 type in Eastern Europe and the CIS. Aeroflot’s A350-900 features a distinctive new livery, embracing its almost 100 year heritage. Flight attendants dressed up in retro Aeroflot uniforms, dating back to the 1960s, during a unique ceremony which included ballet dancing. The plane is named after the famous Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. I went onboard to check out the new interior, featuring an all new Business Class Suite. The Aeroflot A350 has 28 Business Class Suites, 24 Comfort (Premium Economy) and 264 Economy Class, making for a total of 316 seats. A brand new A350 delivery should come with the best product. In my view, this is definitely a huge step up from the current Business Class offerings at Aeroflot. Aeroflot will operate their A350-900 from Moscow to a number of destinations including: London, New York, Miami, Osaka and Beijing. Aeroflot has a total of 14 A350-900 aircraft on order. The Russian airline plan to take delivery of 11 A350s in 2020. For more information, check out my blog https://samchui.com/ Beginning footage from Airbus

What was flying a Pan Am B747 in the 1970s like? In Los Angeles, you can re-live the magic of flying onboard a luxurious Pan Am B747 at Air Hollywood. I arrived at the 1970 airport terminal to check in on my Pan Am Experience Flight. Retro dressed Pan Am stewardesses offered cocktails, prop cigarettes and magazines. They served classic dishes such as caviar and chateaubriand exactly what Pan Am served back in the 70s. The menus, seat covers and china served were all original Pan Am items. During the flight, there are fashion shows with flight attendants dressed in all the Pan Am uniforms from over the years and assorted international airlines uniform. It was great retro fun and the memories will linger in my mind for a long time to come! For more details, visit my blog https://samchui.com/2020/03/01/the-pan-am-experience/#.Xlv7mZMzbOQ

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam Enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and 1 month for free! I got to try out the LAX Private Suite (PS) which includes a BMW Limo pick up directly from the plane to take me to the Private Suite. The PS is for total privacy as you do not share the suite with anyone else. I enjoyed a massage, some food and beverage in privacy before my next flight on British Airways B747-400 to London. I was picked up by Limo which dropped me off directly at the plane. I chose seat 14K on the lower deck of BA B747-400. It is a reverse facing Club World Business Class seat, looking straight into the Rolls Royce RB211 engines and the B747 wing. During the flight, the best entertainment was looking out the window. I had a tour of the entire BA B747-400 looking in on every seating class. I also review the seat and food served on BA B747. This BA 747 has 86 Club World seats and was given the name “Super 747” within BA. After landing at Heathrow T5, I visited the British Airways Arrival Galleries Lounge. This arrival lounge provides shower rooms, breakfast and the Elemis Spa. Finally check out the BA B747 painted in retro BOAC, Negus and Landor livery. Although my flight was not operated by one of these BA retro 747s, I was lucky enough to film them during my stay in Heathrow.

I went on an INCREDIBLE ride inside the Volga Dnepr An-124 Ruslan Cargo Transporter from the East Midlands, UK to Toulouse, France. There is nothing quite like the An-124! Designed in the late 1970s and capable of carrying 120 tons of oversized cargo. The An-124 is one of the biggest cargo aircraft in the world. It was an important means of national transport and a prestige object for the Soviet Union. Forty years later, it is still highly sought after in the transport sector. 6 cockpit crew and 7 cargo loadmasters accompanied me on my AN-124 flight. There are built in cranes and equipment inside the aircraft for the An-124 to operate in any remote airfield, without ground support. Watch the complex loading exercise before a flight inside the “hidden” passenger compartment of the An-124. I mounted a GoPro camera to capture the 6 men cockpit action during the flight. Loadmaster Vladimir explains all the characteristics and operations of the An-124. Flying on the Antonov 124 is unlike any other flight experience I have had in the past. It is RAW Aviation and really brings the “AvGeekness” out in me. For more info on Volga Dnepr Group, please visit their site https://www.volga-dnepr.com/en/

In this video we discuss and analyse how the aviation & airline Industry has been affected by, and how they are responding to, the Coronavirus outbreak. Governments around the world have responded to the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China by sending rescue flights to take their citizens home. This vlog focusses on these rescue flights operated by Japan, South Korea, US, UK, EU, Russia, Canada, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Jordan and more. The second part of this video discusses the impact of the coronavirus on aviation and the airline industry. Airlines around the world have responded to the coronavirus outbreak by suspending flights to and from China, severely disrupting travel in one of the world's busiest aviation markets. Statistics from FlightRadar 24 have shown that more than 70% of the flights in China are cancelled. The air traffic, from the top 25 Chinese airports, has fallen from over 10,500 flights per day, to just 2,951 in just 2 weeks. Special thanks to Sky News, Russia State Media, Global News, Weibo, Sheikh Imran for providing valuable footage. Cover image: Sri Lankan Airlines.

I travelled on a KLM B747-400 Combi from Amsterdam to Mexico City with a behind the scenes tour inside the KLM B747. First, I visited the newly renovated KLM Crown Lounge. The 2nd floor is a paid restaurant and bar with open terrace and good plane views. The first floor has the usual free buffet, drinks, shower rooms and a nice bedroom. I recommend lounge users to go to 2nd floor for more space. On the KLM B747-400 Combi flight, senior purser Eline gave me a behind the scenes tour on the many unique features inside the KLM B747; such as the long galley, the elevator inside the plane, the crew rest and the cargo deck behind the passenger compartment. To my surprise there were 10 horses travelling in the aft cabin, with their own horse groom, along with other cargo. This makes the B747 Combi a distinct aircraft, as it is able to carry such a mixed load of passenger and cargo at the same time on the main deck. This video pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Boeing 747s first commercial flight, on 21st Jan 1970 with Pan Am from New York to London.

I was in the Boeing Everett Factory waiting for the Boeing 777-9 first take-off. However, due to strong wind and inclement weather, the first flight was to be postponed by 2 days. The Boeing 777-9, registration N779XW, finally took off on 25th January 2020 at 10:09, under the command of Captain Van Chaney. It flew in the air for 3 hours and 51 minutes before returning to land at Boeing Field at 14:00. This video shares with you all the things you need to know about the B777x. The orders from the nine customers around the world, the specifics, the cockpit, the cabin design and the test record of the Boeing 777x. The Boeing 777x is powered by the GE9X engine, which recently set a world record of generating 134,000 lbs of thrust. For more information, please go to my blog: https://samchui.com/category/777x/#.Xi4TbRczbOQ

This is the first vlog in a series that will explore the sustainability in aviation. I travelled to Amsterdam to learn how KLM is taking a leading role in creating a more sustainable future for aviation. In the video, I was shown how an airline can recycle plastic bottles onboard to create useful tools by 3D printing. I also learn about the challenge of developing sustainable aviation fuel. The KLM cabin crew showed me how they are recycling and reusing plastic materials in the food tray. A pilot also explained many ways they could reduce fuel burn. I travelled to the Technical University of Delft to see the design of the Flying V, a futuristic V shape aircraft. I was shown the mock up model, which should have its first test flight later this year. I was also shown many interesting future cabin design ideas, such as a flat bed in economy and staggered seating.

Amsterdam is Europe’s busiest airport, in terms of movements and top 3 in terms of passenger numbers. In 2018, it handled over 70 million passengers, with over 500,000 movements. I visited the Air Traffic Control Tower and Radar Centre in Amsterdam, to find out how the air traffic is managed in one of the busiest European Airports. The ATC tower controller explains all the working positions, runway configurations and movements inside the ATC tower at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. I was given a behind the scene tour and enjoyed some awesome plane spotting views up in the 101m tower. Then, I visited the LVNL Radar Centre. A controller explains how the radar controls work. In fact, once the plane leaves the gate it will remain in contact with the tower and many different area controls until it lands and arrives at the gate. The visit gave me a great insight as to how Air Traffic Control works in today’s crowded skies. To find out more about ATC in The Netherlands, visit https://en.lvnl.nl/

This is a flight I took when leaving Saudi Arabia for Europe. Saudia use low density refurbished A320s on longer haul flights to Europe. These A320s have been refurbished with flatbed Business Class seats, seat back IFE in all classes and have Wi-Fi on-board. In the beginning of the video, I am sharing with you the key things you need to know and expect when flying Saudia. The flight from Jeddah to Geneva uses the new Jeddah Terminal 1. Check out the flight amenities, food and beverages and service onboard Saudia’s signature Business Class. It was very scenic over the Red Sea and European Alps enroute to Geneva. For more information on Saudia, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/category/saudia/#.XhmWwxczbOQ

I visited Bhutan last year. It was an extremely interesting country that no mass tourism has invaded yet. Watch my vlog to get a glimpse into their daily life and learn some of the interesting facts about Bhutan. - The landing into Paro, Bhutan is one of the most thrilling ones in aviation (it is also the Most Dangerous Airport to land at in aviation and as such only a handful of local pilots are qualified to land there) - Bhutan measures Happiness over Wealth. - All citizens of Bhutan have to wear national dress - Bhutan is the only Carbon Negative Country in the World - Bhutan has no traffic lights - Bhutanese believe the phallus protects them from evil - The Visa cost to visit Bhutan is $250 per person per day

I traveled on Japan Airlines JAL B787-8 from Moscow to Tokyo Narita in May 2019. This video shows JAL B787-8 Business and Economy Class details. Despite the flight was great in terms of seating, food and service. There was one terrible design that made me couldn't sleep. Find out in the vlog. Japan Airlines is the only airline in the world that have 2-4-2 (8 abreast) economy seating on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The standard economy seating is 3-3-3 (9 abreast) For more information, visit my blog https://samchui.com/2020/01/05/jal-b787-business-class/#.XhHghxczbOQ

2019 has been a great year for me creating unique aviation contents you’ve never seen before! 130 flights, 300,000 miles travel, 75 Youtube videos with 180 million views. This video showcases the greatest aviation moments of my vlogs in 2019. Celebrating my 2019 vlog award with following category: Best Record Flights 2019 (The World’s Longest Flight, The World’s Shortest Flight, World’s Highest Commercial Airport, Most Nationalities onboard, Shortest A380 Flight, First Ballet in the Air, Drawing a 747 in the air) Best New Airports 2019 Best Airshows 2019 Top 5 Flights of 2019 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again. None of this would be achieved without your support. We made it happen together!

I flew on EL AL B787-9 Dreamliner Business Class from Hong Kong to Tel Aviv. This is a video review of EL AL B787 Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class products. The video shows behind the scenes on EL AL B787 operation from the cockpit and interview with cabin crew. EL AL B787 represents the Israeli airline's best long haul flying experience. All the food served on EL AL is Kosher. EL AL is also well known as the most secure airline with additional security measures such as interview and baggage screening. I flew to Tel Aviv in order to get on the last EL AL B747-400 to Rome and back. Don't forget to check out the last EL AL B747 videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIZkMKNvtrY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAJq8YpIUKc

I flew with Xiamen Air from Amsterdam to Xiamen, China. My flight was operated by a B787-9 in special "In Support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals" livery. I used KLM New Crown Lounge before flight. During my flight, I was surprised by all the sustainable theme and tips decorated on the overhead bins. Xiamen Air support United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is a video review of the latest Xiamen Air's inflight product. I was introduced to some of the new features such as sommelier, tea service and a library on-board. It is nearly Christmas time, so I brought some Christmas decoration and helped the crew to decorate up the trolley to surprise and make the flight more memorable. It was nice to see the smile on the littler traveler's face!

Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.com/sam - Enter promo code SAM for 83% off and 3 free months! This is my third vlog in Saudi Arabia focus on the aviation sector. I had a quick tour of Riyadh Airport include ramp access to film the commercial and private aviation scenes. I visited the Saudia Al Fursan Lounge at Terminal 5 of Riyadh before boarding my Saudia B787-9 Dreamliner flight to Jeddah. It was a quick 1.5 hours domestic flight but interesting to see a dedicated prayer area and the service provided on-board. Once arrived in Jeddah, I met up with Tour Guide Abir to explore the city, the Sea Mosque and Old Jeddah City. Then I tried out Saudi Low Cost Carrier Flyadeal from Jeddah to Abha, it was an interesting experience to see the popularity of Low Cost Airlines rising inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Abha is an interesting city with green mountains and different landscape. I met fellow vlogger Eva zu Beck and Nara and we've discussed about how tourism is changing the country. #السعودية المملكة العربية# السعودية #SaudiArabia

I have recently visited the Jeddah King AbdulAziz Int'l Airport New Terminal 1, which has partially opened for flights. The video shows you both the exterior and interior, in both landside and airside of the new terminal. There is a large green garden in between the terminals to provide nice greenery and peace for travelers. I also visited Saudia new Al Fursan Lounge on the domestic side. On arrival, there is a large unique aquarium which house over 2,000 fishes. The new terminal connects directly to the train station which will run direct service to Makkah and Medina. The official is stating that by Q1 next year, all existing flights from South Terminal will moved to the new Terminal 1. No date given from other airlines in North Terminal. King AbdulAziz International Airport (KAIA) New Terminal has a total area of 810,000 square meters and a capacity for handling 30 million passengers a year. It will be able to accommodate up to 70 aircraft simultaneously, including the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet. The new terminal has 46 gates, 84 boarding bridges. The 136 meter-high air traffic control (ATC) tower with its 9-meter antenna is the second tallest in the world after Kuala Lumpur Int'l. For more info of the terminal, please visit my blog https://samchui.com/2019/12/14/jeddahs-new-airport-terminal-saudi-arabias-latest-landmark/#.XfUMaJMzbOQ #مطار جدة

For more info on Away: Pls visit https://awaytravel.com/sam20 This is part 1 of 3 vlogs of my visit to Saudi Arabia with the recent opening of E-Tourist Visa. In the first episode, I flew on Saudia A330 in Business Class from Dubai to Riyadh. A lot of behind the scenes filming from the cockpit, the crew and service delivery on the flight. Once arrived in Riyadh, I was shown a tour of the city's market, fort, museum and "Edge of the World". Throughout my tour, I seek explanation and the truth to some stereotype conception about Saudi Arabia. The goal of this trip is to give you a realistic view on tourism in a country that was closed to non-religious travelers. The video does not endorse Saudi Arabia but merely showing my own experience there. My videographer and I were given permission to film on-board Saudia. This was not a paid content by Saudi Arabia. We will explore more aviation and the new Jeddah Terminal in next video. Our Tour Guide: Mr Mateb Almahmoud www.amazingtours.com.sa #السعودية المملكة العربية# السعودية #SaudiArabia

Emirates operated a one off historic A380 flight, marking the 48th UAE National Day and the UAE Year of Tolerance. 145 nationalities, over 500 passengers and a kaleidoscope of cultures came together to make history on Emirates flight EK2019. Flight EK2019 flew across all 7 Emirates from Dubai over Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Abu Dhabi. The Emirates A380 flew low over the 7 Emirates at just 7,000 ft. Just before descent, an official adjudicator from the Guinness World Records, officially announced that the flight was a new Guinness World Record title for most nationalities on an aircraft (145 nationalities).

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is unlike any plane I've seen before! A state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom and recovery room – all housed on board an MD-10-30. I am delighted to follow Orbis on a trip to Ghana to see first hand how the Orbis team transform lives by preventing blindness and restoring eyesight. This amazing aircraft has been an example of the marriage between medicine and aviation! This third incarnation of the Flying Eye Hospital can fly nearly twice as far as its predecessor and requires only two pilots rather than three. There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing this beautiful world in your own eyes. It was one of the most meaningful week in my life. The smile on the patient's face when they regain eyesight was one of the best memories ever! I will be donating all of the video advertising proceeds to Orbis to help prevent blindness and restore eyesight for those less privileged. Donate via https://donate.orbis.org/ today to fight the Crisis in Sight! Together we can make a difference!

A full detail review of the Dubai Air Show 2019. Join me for all the Dubai Air Show highlights and the flying displays in this video. Watch Al Fursan flying team, Airbus A330-900neo, Boeing 787-9, Airbus A380, F-16, F-22, F-35, Kawasaki C-2, Patrouille de France and many more in their finest flying action. I was given behind the scenes inside the Air Traffic Control Tower at Dubai Air Show to take a look at the daily Flying Control Committee (FCC) briefing. This video is in co-operation with Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans). During the show, I take a specific and detailed look at six particular new airplanes which were present at the Dubai Air Show 2019. Let's check out their interior. - Saudia B787-10 - Fiji Airways A350-900 - Egypt Air A220-300 - Etihad Manchester City livery B787-9 - Emirates B777-300/ER and A380 For more Dubai Air Show coverage, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/category/dubai-airshow-2019/#.Xdjc1jIzbOQ

An in-depth trip report on-board Qantas Project Sunrise London to Sydney non-stop research flight QF7879. Check out all the unusual flight details, research, well brings and the secret of double sunrise on the World’s Longest non-stop flight. The flight is not a typical passenger flight; it is a delivery flight and a research flight. The brand new Boeing 787-9, VH-ZNJ painted in Qantas special Centenary livery operated this history making flight in just 19 hours and 19 minutes from London to Sydney non-stop covering over 17,000km! (10,500 miles) Qantas has named its endeavor “Project Sunrise” after the airline’s historic ‘Double Sunrise’ endurance flights during the Second World War, which remained airborne long enough to see two sunrises. This flight is a prove of overcoming the final frontier of aviation, linking non-stop flights from East Coast of Australia to London and New York. For more details, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2019/11/15/qantas-project-sunrise-london-to-sydney-non-stop-research-flight/#.Xc9zCpIzbOQ

EL AL is ending the service of their Boeing 747, after 48 years of operation. This video is part 2 of 2 featuring the final EL AL B747 Flight LY1747 from Rome to Tel Aviv on 3 November, 2019. The 747 flight took a one-time flightpath to create the 747 shape commemorating El Al's final commercial 747 flight. The final flight flew low over the Mediterranean, south-west of Cyprus to fly and “draw” in the shape of 747 jumbo jet; a complex two-hour manoeuvre revealed in real-time by flight tracking apps such as FlightRadar24. Watch the video how the pilot drew the 747 in the sky before returning to Tel Aviv for an emotional farewell. Don’t miss the Part 1 video of Farewell EL AL 747 on flight LY1744 from Tel Aviv to Rome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIZkMKNvtrY EL AL Water Cannon Salute Photo by Ido Wachtel

EL AL is ending the service of their B747, after 48 years of operation. The Israeli airline celebrated their "Queen of the Sky" with 2 special flights from Tel Aviv to Rome and back to Tel Aviv last weekend. This video is part 1 of 2 featuring flight LY1744 from Tel Aviv to Rome on 1 November, 2019. A reception was held at the gate which displayed a lot of EL AL B747 pictures and unforgettable moments. The Boeing 747 plays an important role in EL AL history, including carrying over 1,100 Ethiopian Jews to Israel on a single B747; which is still the World Record. Many passengers shared their deep connections and emotions with their beloved B747. There were husband and wife purser team on-board, also father and daughter team to operate the last B747. I sat behind the pilots to observe the last takeoff of EL AL B747 out of Tel Aviv. Watch the video for the highlight of this celebration flight of EL AL B747. The 2nd part (coming this weekend) will feature the return sector from Rome to Tel Aviv with a very unique drawing of a 747 Jumbo Jet in the sky!

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam Enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and one month free! This video is sponsored by SurfShark VPN. Explore China’s new $17 Billion Mega Airport - Beijing Daxing Airport A complete traveler review of the new Beijing Daxing Airport. This video covers the transportation, the terminal (landside and airside), lounges and provide useful tips for traveler using Daxing Airport. I took the Chinese High Speed Train from Beijing West Station to Daxing Airport in just 28 minutes with top speed over 200km/h. At Daxing, the first International flight to arrive was British Airways BA39 from London on 27 October 2019. I met up with Cristiano Ceccato, from Zaha Hadid architecture firm which designed Daxing Airport arrived on this flight. Cristiano provided an in-depth discussion and introduction about the architecture and design philosophy of Daxing Airport. There are several great advantages and features of Daxing Airport shown in this video. At the end of the video, I compare Daxing with new Istanbul Airport, which both opened this year. Enjoy the video! For more Daxing Airport Information and Complete review, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2019/10/13/beijing-daxing-international-airport/ Drone video footage credit: Dan Chung via Zaha Hadid Architects, British Airways Arrival GoPro footage

A close up look of the interior and exterior of the Boeing 747-400 Dreamlifter (Large Cargo Freighter). Boeing Dreamlifter staff explained the design and operations of the Dreamlifter. The Boeing Dreamlifter is designed to transport B787 parts from suppliers to Boeing Everett and Charleston plant. Take a look how it carry all the Boeing 787 components to build the B787 Dreamliners. Boeing 787 factory footage provided by Boeing. Dreamlifter landing footage provided by Sky Gate TV https://www.youtube.com/user/rjaanrt/

I traveled on Embraer E195-E2 demonstrator from Ft Lauderdale to Kennedy Space Center Shuttle landing facility. Check out all the new features on the new generation E2 Jet from the cockpit to the cabin. Step inside the E-Jet with an all new concept interior design. Watch how the pilot fly the Embraer E-Jet. After landing on the long 15,0001 ft space shuttle landing runway, I visited NASA Kennedy Space Center with a former astronaut, Winston Scott. Winston explained how it feel walking in Orbit and gave some great advice to young aspiring aviators.

Join me for an action and fun packed vlog flying Air Mauritius A350-900 from Mauritius to Paris. This video includes takeoff and landing inside the cockpit. The pilots explained the advanced feature of the Airbus A350. We also encountered a spectacular lightning show half way during the flight. Don't miss the vlog! I enjoyed awesome plane spotting in Mauritius SSR Airport. I also discovered the beautiful island of Mauritius in this video. I visited Casela with animal safari, lion walk and Chamarel 7 colour earth.

I flew on a private Boeing 747-SP VIP Jet from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada to Marana, AZ, USA. I was the only passenger traveling inside this $200 million flying palace private 747 jet. Check out the luxurious interior of this ex head of state airplane in the video. Sit inside the cockpit and watch how the pilots fly the B747 classic. It was just an exhilarating and unbelievable experience flying on a B747-SP VIP plane in 2019. For complete story of my flight, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2019/10/13/flying-on-a-vip-boeing-747-sp/#.XaKcL5MzbOQ For more information of this airplane, visit http://www.csdsaircraft.com/

This video shows you what is it like flying on Russian and Soviet built airliners such as Tupolev, Ilyushin and Antonov. The video also features two of the largest built transporter, the Antonov 124 and Antonov 225. These jets once were flying in the competing universe of aviation to the West but now disappearing fast in the sky. In the video, you will see rare footage from the cockpit flying Russian and Soviet built jetliners such as Tu-154, Tu-134, IL-62, IL-76, An-12 and An-74. You will also see the difference of cabin interiors of these Soviet planes. They are very different to the modern planes we travel on. I have a vast commercial airplane interest not limited to Boeing and Airbus. I love to fly on rare aircraft types. Do you know I've flown more than 60 times in Soviet built airplanes? This video will bring you to a different level of aviation experience! Enjoy! If you’re interested in more Russian/Soviet Airliners video, please visit my playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssW2KuEa6Uw&list=PLZ7RU2M5hf2yWVIkQcZRhPgld93tAWgf4 Tu-154 video footage credit: https://www.youtube.com/user/FILINVIDEOS An225/An124 video footage credit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TezkaDrina

I have flown my first Airbus A330-900neo with Air Mauritius from London to Mauritius. During the flight, the pilot explained the difference between A330neo and the older A330 (A330ceo). There are new features and technologies on the A330neo. We flew over Mount Blanc and the Alps before heading South towards Africa. I was able to record a beautiful sunrise from the cockpit and a smooth landing into Mauritius. Check out the seating, food and service on-board Air Mauritius. The A330-900neo on Air Mauritius was a beautiful flying experience indeed. This is the first episode of two. I will be exploring Mauritius and flying their A350 in next episode.

I've visited Turkish Airlines Flight Training Center and observed their B787 pilot training inside a full motion B787 simulator. Here are the B787 pilot training scenarios in this video: 1. Engine Fire on takeoff, Fuel Jettison, Go Around with one engine only 2. Cross wind landing with one engine off 3. Rejected takeoff during low visibility 4. Auto land during very low visibility (75m)

Air France has taken delivery of their first A350-900. Registration F-HTYA, it is the first of 28 on order. Join me on this video to see some of the highlight of the Air France A350 delivery including insights from the Airline Group CEO Benjamin Smith and Air France CEO Anne Rigail. The Air France A350 delivery flight is the shortest delivery flight I’ve taken with just an hour of flying time from Toulouse to Paris. On arrival at Paris CDG, the brand new plane received a grand welcome by the waiting crowd. The Air France A350 aircraft features a three class layout with 324 seats, including 34 full-flat Business, 24 Premium Economy and 266 Economy Class seats. Air France's A350 is powered by 2 Rolls Royce XWB-84 engines. The first Air France A350 schedule flight to Abidjan on October 7th.

Discover some of the best hidden gems in Istanbul. Watch this Istanbul vlog and follow my Turkish host Irem Ciray to show us some of the best place in the Grand Bazaar, how to make Turkish coffee, cheapest scenic ride and enjoy best Turkish Hamam. Istanbul can be enjoyed on any budget. It is a charming city full of surprises.

ANA All Nippon Airways have launched their new Business Class "The Room" on their new B777-300/ER. I took this flight from Tokyo Haneda to London Heathrow to experience "The Room" New Business Class of ANA. The new ANA Business Class is the widest Business Class seat with flexible doors for privacy. Check out all the features and whether you'd agree this is one of the Best Business Class product out there?

I visited Turkish Airlines Crew Training Center to see how the Turkish Airlines cabin crew get trained on aviation safety and emergency procedures (SEP). During my visit, the following training was showed: Restrain Unruly Passenger CPR (Heart Attack) Rescue Cabin Decompression Cabin Fire (Smoke) Hard Landing Evacuation Cabin Fire Fighter Training I hope these behind the scenes cabin crew routine trainings can provide valuable insight to the general public and aspiring aviators/crew. Thanks to Turkish Airlines providing access for content filming.

Get $20 off an AWAY suitcase at https://www.awaytravel.com/sam20 use code "sam20" This video is sponsored by AWAY. Join me on a Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Istanbul on the new B787-9 Dreamliner. This video shares detail review of the new Turkish Airlines B787 in Business Class and its product and services. There are also bonus footage from the GoPro mounted in the cockpit with ATC dialogue. After a beautiful parallel landing over Istanbul, I arrived at the new Istanbul Airport. During my transit there, I was given a tour of the new Turkish Airlines Business Class lounge. There are much to discover in the new lounge from all the Turkish food to sleeping suite!

I traveled on Qatar Airways Cargo B747-8F from Hong Kong to Doha. This video shares a rare insight into the airline cargo business. I documented all cargo loading and operation activities in Hong Kong before flying on the Qatar Airways 747-8 cargo plane to Doha. In the video, all the cargo operation activities were highlighted and you can see how cargo flight differ to the passenger flight. After landing in Doha, I got to visit the Qatar Airways Cargo facilities. For more information on Qatar Airways Cargo, visit their LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/qatar-airways-cargo

In the first part of this vlog, I tried out the new Citilink Dining Experiences from Jakarta to Bali which include fine dining in the sky, airport meet and assistance, fast track, extra leg room seat and arrival assistance. The Citilink Dining Experiences package cost 550,000 IDR ($40). From Bali, I visited the Garuda First Class lounge before flying to Tokyo Narita in Garuda Indonesia First Class onboard B777-300/ER. I was one of only two passengers in Garuda First Class. I was treated like royalty with the 5 star cabin crew of Garuda. But you have to watch my final verdict to see what I've thought of Garuda First Class!

Get Surfshark VPN at https://Surfshark.com/sam Enter promo code SAM to get 83% off and one month free! This video is sponsored by SurfShark VPN. I flew with Batik Air A320 Business Class from Singapore to Jakarta. During the flight, I discovered all the features and made a video review of Batik Air. I had a fan meeting in Jakarta with my Indonesian followers. During the meeting, I shared my passion of aviation and some unknown stories in early days of my travel to Indonesia. I also answered many questions from followers about how I became an influencer, how I afford to go on so many flights etc.

I traveled on Oman Air in July to try out their new Boeing 787 in First and Business Class from Dubai to London via Muscat. It was an amazing experience on both flights with excellent product and service. Oman Air crew is wearing their new uniform on-board as well. During my transit in Muscat, I visited Oman Air First Class Lounge. The lounge is total luxury and feel extremely intimate. Have you flown Oman Air in premium class?

Join me on this Super Exciting journey onboard NOLINOR B737-200 Combi equipped with Gravel Kit to far North Canada. We are flying 4 sectors from Montreal Mirabel via Val-d'Or and onward to Meadowbank Gold Mine and back. The landing and takeoff at Meadowbank is on gravel so it is spectacular to watch! The pilots explained all the features on this 37 years old B737-200 Combi with unique gravel kit installed. There are lot of good flying action in this video with primary focus on the operational perspective. Hats off to the hard working crew and those people work in remote places on Earth. NOLINOR Aviation's B737-200 Combi is one of a few B737-200 equipped with EFIS (Digital) display in the cockpit.

British Airways operate an all Club World Business Class service on their sole A318 between London City and New York JFK. This is possibly the World's Smallest Commercial plane flying Trans-Atlantic. BA1 flight has the BEST service on any British Airways flight, most passengers are high net worth individual and treated like flying private jet. The outbound route from London City requires a tech stop at Shannon, where passengers are pre-cleared for US immigration and customs, before arriving at New York JFK. Perhaps saving the best till last, it took me just 5 minutes from walking outside the plane to the street at New York JFK!

In this video, join me for a stay at the iconic TWA Hotel and explore all the amazing features in this AvGeek friendly hotel. It has some of the coolest aviation feature include the best JFK airport spotting location. TWA Hotel is a hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York that opened on May 15, 2019. It utilizes the headhouse of the TWA Flight Center airline terminal, designed in 1962 by the architect Eero Saarinen. For more information and full written review: https://samchui.com/2019/08/10/review-twa-hotel/#.XU8hFZMzbOQ

I joined British Airways A350-1000 inaugural flight from London to Madrid on August 5th 2019. First in the video, the BA Chairman and CEO, Alex Cruz gave some insight of why BA selected the A350 and where it will fly to. Join me to explore the new Business Class cabin (Club World Suite), Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) and Economy (World Traveller) on the flight to Madrid. I traveled back in Economy the next day on the BA A350-1000 from Madrid. This video will show you from both perspective of what’s flying the new British Airways A350-1000 like. Giveaway Link: https://gleam.io/55fHQ/british-airways-a350-model-giveaway

Welcome to London Heathrow! This video documents my 20th year plane spotting at London Heathrow. Heathrow is one of the busiest International Airport in the world with 80 million passengers passing through every year. There are endless stream of planes arriving and departing with 1,400 flights and 220,000 passengers per day. Indeed, the World comes to London Heathrow. In the video, I received a rare visit to London Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower. I am also showing you various good spotting location around Heathrow. Renaissance London Heathrow and Premier Inn T4 Heathrow is also featured in this video.

British Airways have just received their first brand new Airbus A350-1000. Let’s take a look of the new cabin interiors. The BA A350 features new Club World Suite with direct aisle access and full door for privacy. It also features enhanced World Traveller Plus and World Traveller (Premium Economy and Economy). The BA A350 arrival event was full of changes and surprises. The A350-1000 arrived a day late due to ATC issues and it landed on a different runway resulted some disappointment from the waiting aviation enthusiasts. Finally, she was showcased to the media on a sunny Monday afternoon. The British Airways A350-1000 has a capacity of 331 passengers in three class layout including: 56 Club Suites, 56 World Traveller Plus and 219 World Traveller Economy seats. #BritishAirways #A350-1000 ----- Join me in this video from London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom where I and a group of other av geeks take great pleasure in getting a first look at and welcoming in the brand new British Airways A350-1000 aeroplane! You won’t want to miss these exclusive first shots of the inside of the business, premium economy and economy cabin sections of this latest British Airways aircraft – everything looks so shiny and new and it’s just a real pleasure to be one of the first to step on board. I was initially hoping to see the aeroplane on Friday 26th July 2019 but the heatwave that the south East of the UK experienced on the previous day caused serious problems at NATS (National Air Traffic Services, the main air navigation service provider in the UK) and these air traffic control issues prevented the British Airways A350-1000 plane, a ferry plane from Toulouse, from flying over and landing, as aircraft containing passengers had to be prioritised for safety. I had to wait one more day to see the aeroplane for the first time, on 27th July, but it seems that luck was not on my side as, due to another aeroplane arriving five minutes late, the new A350 landed on another runway unexpectedly and so I wasn’t positioned underneath the plane on its approach but never mind – you can’t win them all! The slight delay in seeing the aeroplane was more than made up for though on Monday 29th July, when I took the media bus to the hangar and finally got to see the new aeroplane up close and walk around inside. I and the other visitors are treated to an interesting and informative speech from Sajida Ismail, the head of inflight products, about the aeroplane which was three years in the planning. The new British Airways A350 has a 331 seat capacity with 56 club suites (business class), 56 world traveller plus seats (premium economy) and 219 world traveller seats (economy). The club suites are laid out in a 1:2:1 configuration, permitting direct aisle access for these seats. The aeroplane also contains the “club world kitchen” which contains a lovely area for the chilled display of premium wines and champagnes and a buffet area. British Airways are very enthusiastic about this new aeroplane and currently have 18 A350s on direct order. The plane features cleaner, filtrated air with 100% of the cabin air being renewed every two to three minutes. The design of the plane was inspired by the natural design of birds and is arguably now the world’s most modern, wide bodied air-craft – known as the “Hushliner” it is the quietest of any twin-aisle craft, featuring a 40% noise reduction and a 25% reduction in fuel consumption compared to previous models. In early August, the aeroplane will take its inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Madrid and initial routes thereafter will fly to Dubai, Toronto Tel Aviv and Bangalore. There’ll be plenty on board to keep all those flyers comfortable and entertained with 16.7 million different ambient lighting variations available for flyers to choose from, HD screens for all passengers and USB and computer power sockets in every cabin. I was so honoured to be invited by British Airways to see this brand new A350-1000 aeroplane for the first time. Let me know what you thought guys of the whole experience down in the comments section below and, as always, thanks for watching!

8am in the morning, the daily Singapore Airlines A380 just arrived in Zurich. I was filming the busy unloading and loading catering into the plane. They have only 1 hour to finish loading and cleaning of the SuperJumbo jet. Then I was given a backstage tour inside Gate Gourmet flight kitchen in Zurich to see how airplane meals are made. All the meals are made in precision to recipe, with the same portion and quality. I flew out of Zurich the next day, on Singapore Airlines A380. I have a choice of both Western and Asian cuisine designed by the chef at Gate Gourmet. I chose my favorite dish after seeing all the meal options on-board. This video gives an insight from menu design to cooking, execution, delivery and finally tasting on-board! For more information visit gategroup: https://www.gategroup.com/ Visit Instagram of Gate Gourmet and gategroup https://www.instagram.com/gategourmet/ https://www.instagram.com/gategroup_official/ ------ In this exclusive fly on the wall documentary and behind the scenes special, I investigate what goes in to making sure that every on-board meal served by Singapore Airlines on their super jumbo-jet Airbus A380s is fresh, tasty, filling and consistent. I film and work alongside the Swiss airline catering company Gate Gourmet as they use sophisticated methods within their factory in Zurich to produce restaurant quality cuisine for the hundreds of passengers aboard these flights and also as they prepare the environment of the A380 for such brilliant dishes! I start by experiencing what it’s like to work on board the Gate Gourmet catering trucks. These special trucks are equipped with a nifty little on-board elevator to bring the prepared food up to the level of the aeroplane’s passenger entrance for simple, level loading of the food. Gate Gourmet have just one hour to load everything on board but everything is ordered within the truck for a logical and seamless disembarking of the dishes. After witnessing this masterclass in aeroplane preparation, I head to the Gate Gourmet factory in the Swiss capital to see where all of this food comes from and how Gate Gourmet ensure that hygiene is maintained from start to finish. At the start of the food preparation factory tour, I see the cataloguing, washing and storing of all of the raw ingredients which are received from vegetables to meats to spices and the intensive and meticulous washing of the dishes, cutlery and metal trolleys and trays used in food service aboard the flight. None of the washing of the dishes is done by hand – instead, all of the dishes are washed in a huge dishwasher at high temperatures and with antibacterial chemicals, which sees a whopping 14,000 glasses cleaned at the factory per day. The Gate Gourmet facility produces in the region of 65,000 aeroplane meals a day. To maintain consistency across that many dishes, the factory makes use of its own invented coordinated recipe assembly procedure, with all of the ingredients pre-weighed, cut and segregated for the chefs to be able to work their magic and cook and prepare things such as chicken breasts and delicious rhubarb crumbles in their in-house patisserie and bakery – it is a great source of pride for Gate Gourmet to have their dessert production completely in-house. In the final assembly of the meals, regular sampling ensures that the weights of the meals comply with strict consistent weight rules set by Singapore airlines – each meal must weigh the same as all of the others of its type to the gram. Back at Zurich Airport, I take a flight out of Switzerland with Singapore Airlines aboard one of their A380s which has been stocked, loaded by Gate Gourmet. I am lucky enough to get a bulkhead seat with unlimited leg room and, during the meal service on board, I am delighted to try both the Western and Asian main meal offerings of Gate Gourmet on this particular flight and you can see footage of me having fun in the development kitchen of Gate Gourmet with chefs Dennis Puchert and CK trying to make both. Let me know whether you think you would have preferred the Asian or the Western dish in the comments!

Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.com/sam, Enter promo code SAM for 83% off and 1 FREE month! Air France present its passengers a total surprise in the air! For the first time in history, Opera de Paris performed a ballet and dance in the air during flight AF117 from Shanghai to Paris. The performance was during their way back to France after a successful tour in China. Enjoy the show at 35,000 ft and my flight on-board Air France Business Class. Even better, there are cockpit takeoff and landing footage in the video. Part 1 Ballet - Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky Part 2 Dance - Four season by Vivaldi ----- Join me for this extraordinary flight from Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France with Air France. If you’re a fan of classical music and concerts or if you love the ballet, you won’t want to miss my footage of the first ever ballet performed in the air by the Paris Opera Ballet. The dancers’ stunning grace and rhythm will leave you stunned! Before beginning this flight, whose memory I will always treasure as one of those really special moments up in the air, I have breakfast in the VIP 39 airport lounge at Pudong International. I treat myself to some Xiao Long Bao, or XLB for short, which are delicious steamed dumplings filled with meat and a tasty vinegar – it’s just the sort of tasty thing to fill you up in the morning and it gets me ready to enjoy the great excitement of the ballet ahead! The 39 Lounge serves really high quality food and the lounge has a European air about it. I take the flight with Air France in business class and the complimentary slippers that they provide are very welcome! I also enjoy the on-board meal that is provided from the Shanghai end, with shredded chicken and spices. There is also smoked duck breast with a mango skewer, tomato tartare, grilled beef and sautéed shrimp amongst other dishes on offer. After dinner, it’s time to enjoy the centrepiece of the flight! The dancers dance to Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky in the first part which, if you didn’t know, is about a princess called Odette who is transformed in to a swan after an evil spell is cast on her. Although the dancers are in the cramped aisles of the plane, they still do not fail to deliver an awe-inspiring performance which receives a vigorous round of applause from all on board. The second part sees the dancers dance to the beautiful piece of classical music, Four Seasons by Vivaldi, which is just as impressive. I’d like to thank you for watching this video and sharing this special moment with me. Please do leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of the whole experience – do you like the ballet or classical music? Should this sort of thing be offered more often as on-board entertainment for the higher aviation classes? Let me know! Thanks again for watching and see you in the next one.

There's nothing like The Residence in commercial air travel. The Residence is above First Class; with a living room, separate bedroom and en-suite shower room, it is the only three-room suite on a commercial airline in the world. It is indeed the World's Premiere Flying Experience. I hadn't flown The Residence in 2 years and I was very keen to re-live this fantastic experience, so I decided to dress up for the occasion. This flight was Etihad's inaugural A380 service from Abu Dhabi to Seoul Incheon. On the return flight from Incheon to Abu Dhabi (next episode), I will be back in Economy to see the differences in travel experience on the same plane. ------- Join me for my third, spectacular experience in Etihad Airway’s The Residence! The Residence is completely out of this world within the field of luxury, commercial passenger aviation, far surpassing any first class service that you might care to mention. It is unique in so many ways from providing the only, true double bed in a public, commercial aviation setting within your cabin to the provision of your own personal butler whilst in The Residence lounge and also whilst up in the air, trained in the prestigious Savoy Hotel in London. I take the inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi international airport to Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea at the invitation of Etihad Airways, celebrating the launch of this new route in The Residence. I will be making the return journey in economy class in my next video guys, so watch out for that one! If you’d like to see my first and second Residence experiences, you can see these in my videos here: https://youtu.be/1R2sOr6vZqo https://youtu.be/Ss1XRl5dcMw The Residence flying experience provides a home from home on the ground and then in the sky where any need or desire you could think of is expertly and carefully taken of. The Residence experience starts with being chauffeur driven in a luxury car (typically Audi, BMW or Mercedes) to the first class, VIP terminal of the airport where you are met by your personal luggage carrier, butler and chef. Whilst waiting for your flight, you are housed in your own little palace with access to a spa (I opt to have an extremely relaxing and very nice and pleasant foot massage) and even a smoking room, lavishly decorated and stocked with the finest cigars, including Cuban, from around the world. Your own personal chef is on hand to deliver a Michelin Star level of dining experience, with each dish being hand crafted to your requirements and set in front of you with an explanation of each of the components of the dish before you begin eating. There are a wide variety of premium wines, spirits, beers and champagne to choose from. Within your Residence lounge, there is a large, wall-mounted television and library. The Residence on the ground experience is absolutely sublime and a true masterpiece of comfort and service for the passenger. At the gate to the aeroplane, I am met by the person who is to be my butler in the air. He introduces himself and up in the air, it’s clear that he cares – that’s what’s so great about Etihad Airway’s The Residence – the personal touch. They have researched my background before the day and present me with a number of aviation magazines to read and enjoy on the flight, as well as a framed photo of myself and a certificate to commemorate my travelling on this inaugural flight with Etihad in The Residence. I am extremely impressed with the food I receive on the flight, with a delicious steak and chips being put before me as the main course and delicious little Asian sandwiches with succulent meat as a starter. I am also treated to Bellini Cipriani wine and a wonderful post-dinner digestif of Cellar 28 Remy Martin – greater opulence you couldn’t imagine, honestly! After dinner, I can sprawl out on my double bed and watch TV in private, after taking a very relaxing and refreshing shower in my private bathroom on board. After sleeping, I rub my eyes to see my personal butler bringing a luxurious and mouth-watering breakfast of waffles and raspberries, served with champagne to get me in the mood to face a new day before we land. Overall, I am once again bowled over by Etihad’s provision for me within The Residence class on board and I hold Etihad Airway’s The Residence in the highest regard. Would did you think of the whole fantastic experience? Let me know in the comments – as always, I am very pleased to share these gems of an aviation experience with you, my audience, and I thank you for watching.

Join me to fly the World's Shortest A380 Flight from Dubai to Muscat on Emirates. I was invited to fly on the inaugural Emirates A380 flight from Dubai to Muscat on July 1st. Discover all the amenity, the service and what you can do inside the A380 on such a short flight. Also watch the whole flight in timelapse replay at the end! Giveaway Link: https://gleam.io/HkLoJ/emirates-a380-1400-model-giveaway ----- Join me for a very memorable and exciting flight from Dubai to Muscat, Oman, on the very first flight between these two cities taken aboard an Airbus A380. With the introduction of the Airbus A380 on to this route, this automatically becomes the world’s shortest A380 flight, lasting just 40 minutes. Despite the short flight time, however, in classic Emirates style, there’s still plenty to enjoy, taste, see and do in a very comfortable and luxurious environment. Due to the flight’s short duration, the altitude of the flight is much lower than normal, at only 19,000 feet and the speed is lower too, at 270 knots. The Dubai to Muscat route used to be run using a Boeing 777-300 ER and you might initially wonder why the decision has been taken to switch to a super jumbo jet like the Airbus A380 for such a short flight. However, when you see the crowds in the airport for this particular flight, you’ll realise that the primary motivation for this change of aeroplane model is simply to fit everyone on board! I start the day bright and early at Dubai Airport at 6 AM, which is peak time in the air terminal building, with a large number of Airbus A380’s congregated on the tarmac ready to take a large number of people to destinations all over the globe from Dubai. I have a long walk to get to my flight gate – a 20 minute walk within the terminal building for a 40 minute flight! I’m therefore glad that the breakfast is so good in the Emirates First Class Lounge, with a perfect mix of Indian, Asian, Arabic and Western foods on offer. As has been a running theme in recent videos, I opt for something nice and spicy to kick off my day and wake me up – the spicy masala omelette, and I am even handed some extra chilly powder by a kind fellow passenger in the lounge, just in case it wasn’t hot enough already! Before boarding, I am delighted to bump in to Lays Laraya, a fellow Av geek on Instagram, who made her 143rd Emirates A380 flight with me. She very kindly hands out thank you cards and gifts to all 27 of the Emirates staff during the flight – hats off to her; she’s very dedicated. I also have the pleasure of meeting Cherag Dubash who also takes the flight with me – he is a passionate aviation enthusiast. Once we’re up in the air, I take the opportunity to inspect the famous on-board first class shower and spa. The flight’s only 40 minutes long so you might think that there’s not much time for that, but the shower’s wet when I check it, so someone certainly took the opportunity to freshen up! What I love about Emirates is their attention to detail and your comfort – despite the short duration of the flight, they still lay on a tray full of tasty food with fruit, bread, croissants, cheese, meat and a hot drink all available. You just need to finish up quick! I was able to get a 1:400 model of the Airbus A380 Green Dubai Expo 2020 aeroplane from the Emirates duty free shop at Dubai airport, which is a wonderful souvenir of this niche, inaugural A380 flight between Dubai and Muscat. The celebration ceremony when we arrive at Muscat airport makes it all the more special, with dignitaries cutting a special cake cut to celebrate the occasion. Overall, it was a very memorable and enjoyable flight and I was so pleased to be able to share this special moment with the Emirates airline staff who are always so kind and friendly. Did you enjoy the experience? Let me know in the comments section down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

I traveled to Kirkwall in Scotland to try to fly on the World’s Shortest scheduled passenger flight between Westray and Papa Westray. Flights on the route are scheduled for one and a half minutes with actual flying time is closer to one minute. The record was set at 53 seconds. After a few amazing inter island flights on LoganAir Britten-Norman Islander the day before, I had a dramatic change in the weather and suffered a set back. Throughout my inter-island flights, I’ve learnt these flights are crucial to support the remote community in Scotland. I also traveled on Logan Air Saab-2000, the world’s fastest turboprop from Aberdeen to Kirkwall. -- Hope you all enjoyed the video and thank you for your continued support of my channel. Subscribe for more trip report and flight review videos. - Sam Chui -- Join me for an exciting look into the short flights between the different constituent islands of the Orkney Islands in Northern Scotland. These island hopping flights are a real lifeline service for the inhabitants of these tiny Scottish islands and are subsidised by the British government to ensure that residents of the islands are not dependent upon a ferry service which only operates once a week and is vulnerable to being cancelled due to the frequent bad weather which plagues the area. It’s a real treat to be able to meet the local pilots who make it all possible and to hear from passengers about how much these flight services mean to them. Some of the Orkney islands have less than 100 inhabitants, but these essential flight services ensure that these small communities and their unique culture can continue well into the future. I start in Aberdeen International airport, from where I travel to Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney islands. The flight is operated by Loganair and takes 25 minutes to complete at an altitude of 14,000 feet. At the last minute, there is a pleasant surprise when the flight is seemingly upgraded from the Saab 340 to the Saab 2000 aeroplane. The difference between these two is very noticeable indeed with the former being far less powerful with only 1750 shaft horsepower in each engine whereas the Saab 2000 has a huge 4100 shaft horsepower on either side which incidentally makes the Saab 2000 the world’s fastest turboprop passenger aeroplane. The Saab 2000 is also much more comfortable – despite the small size of the aeroplane, there is surprisingly more leg room with each individual seat than you would find with the likes of the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A320 – brilliant! Upon arriving at Kirkwall, I meet a senior pilot who has been flying these short flights between the Orkney islands for years and he outlines the tour of the Orkney Islands which we will be taking by air. I travel with him in the cockpit as we start by flying to North Ronaldsay, which is 25 nautical miles away and takes 15 minutes. From there, it’s on to Papa Westray which takes 8 minutes and then we go back to Kirkwall which takes a further 12 minutes. We also fly between Sanday and Stronsay which takes between 3 and 4 minutes and is therefore probably the second shortest scheduled airline flight in the world. The flights have a really lovely homely and local communication touch and feel to them, with one couple even getting the pilot to check on the well-being of their dinner in the hold (a pie, I’m told!) The weather back in Kirkwall is pleasant – even in June the temperature is around 11 degrees but the sun is out and it’s not raining so you can’t complain! Our final flight was to be the world’s shortest scheduled airline flight, at just two minutes (though it can be done in less than 60 seconds if the wind is blowing in the right direction) between Westray and Papa Westray. This flight is operated as a round trip between Westray, Papa Westray and Kirkwall and is run for the benefit of those in Westray who need to get to Kirkwall. Unfortunately, the changeable British weather scuppers my plans, with thick fog rolling in severely reducing visibility and forcing the operators to cancel the flight four hours after it was due to take off. It’s a shame as I had really wanted to get my Orkney Inter Island Air Service certificate for taking the world’s shortest flight but it wasn’t to be on this occasion. Never mind though – I’ll definitely be back and hopefully the weather we will be better then. What did you think of the whole Orkney Island hopping experience? Let me know in the comments section down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

Get $20 off an AWAY suitcase at https://www.awaytravel.com/sam20 use code ​SAM20. This video is sponsored by Away Travel. Join me on this very fun Sichuan Airlines A350 "Panda One" flight from Beijing to Chengdu. This is my first full video in my mother tongue, Mandarin (Chinese). During my flight on Sichuan Airlines A350, I discovered many unique element to this Panda themed aircraft. Check out the amazing food and beverage offered. -------- Join me for this very exciting and very cute video detailing my trip within China between Chengdu and Beijing on Sichuan Airlines’ panda route! If you love the docile panda, then this video is for you! The flight is only two and a half hours long but that’s more than enough time for me to enjoy panda heaven in the sky aboard one of two Airbus A350’s used by Sichuan Airlines for this special domestic route, each painted in a cute, cartoon panda livery. I depart from terminal 3 of Beijing airport with four good friends from the Yitiao Media company who accompanied me on this journey. It’s great to be able to take them along on such a fun themed flight and show them what I do on my in-flight reviews. They’re all armed with their cameras and so, after passing through the strict Chinese airport security (and checking out Beijing airport’s cool karaoke bars!), we’re all set for a panda party in the sky! After waiting in the exclusive VIP lounge at Beijing airport (with brilliant white walls and deep red carpets) for a little while, my flight is ready to board and I’m overwhelmed by the warm welcome given by the cabin staff. If you thought this was just a regular flight with a light association with pandas, then you’d be very wrong. The panda theme is reinforced everywhere you look with head-rest covers with cartoon pandas on them, members of cabin staff wearing panda badges and panda aprons in the kitchen! To help me drift off to sleep, I’m given a hot steam eye mask which, of course, has panda eyes on the outside to make everyone wearing them look just adorable. Sichuan Airlines have even gone as far as to adopt a panda called “Youyou,” who resides at the Chengdu zoo and who is the official mascot of their panda route. The on-board experience is extremely pleasing. I am welcomed on board with a special Chengdu tea, which contrasts strongly with the typical welcome drinks of Western airlines like orange juice and champagne – it’s certainly much healthier! I normally drink coca cola during my flight but it’s a good opportunity to give my body a detox with regular sips of Chinese tea throughout the flight. Even though this is a short domestic flight, the amount and variety of food on offer is both very impressive and very satisfying. Economy class have a choice between pork and bean paste with chilli chicken and rice or the traditional noodle fare with a surprise sauce. For dessert, there’s the cutest, sweet panda buns you ever did see! I have a wide variety of sides and meals to choose from with fruit, noodles, vegetables, panda rice and fish in a hot chilli sauce all being put before me. I can barely bring myself to eat the dessert – a cake with a cute, icing sugar panda face staring back at me! My meal is finished off nicely with the famous covered tea of Sichuan which symbolises good luck and harmony. The daily panda route between Beijing and Chengdu has been really well received and Sichuan airlines are reportedly even considering introducing an international panda route between Chengdu and Boston, United States, in the not too distant future. I feel that Sichuan airlines have really worked hard to make this panda route a fun and engaging flight from start to finish with a lot of attention paid to detail to ensure that the panda theme runs from check in all the way to arrival – they even have panda shaped cushions in the airport lounge! What did you think of the whole panda route experience? Let me know in the comments section down below and, as always, thanks for watching.

I attended the Skytrax World Airline Award ceremony 2019 in Paris. In this video I am sharing my thoughts on the Skytrax Award. Whether Skytrax award ranking is fair? What made Skytrax the benchmark of the airline awards and how to improve the credibility of these awards? At the end of the video, I share with you of my vision on future Youtube Video review. The end goal is to be more transparent, and more exclusive behind the scenes to a wider range of audience. ----- In this video, I share the highlights of my experience at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2019, which took place on day two of the Paris Airshow 2019. 71 awards were given out in total in a very diverse range of categories including best airline for first class catering, best airline for premium economy class and also, of course, overall best airline of the year which was awarded to Qatar Airways. In second place this year was Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways came third. Skytrax, which started out in life with the much less exciting name “Inflight Research Services,” is based in the United Kingdom and runs a website which reviews both airlines and airports using several sources of information including surveys given to international travellers about such things as the quality of lounges, cabin staff and in-flight entertainment and catering and information from Skytrax’s own forums, where customers post opinions about their own experiences using the world’s airlines and airports. Skytrax has received a mixed reception since its inception with some concerns over its independence and impartiality, given that many airlines have benefited greatly from Skytrax’s mentioning of them as a form of marketing and also because, unlike competitor review websites such as Trip Advisor, Skytrax does not carry out secret/unannounced reviews and ratings of the airlines that it monitors. There have also been concerns that customer reviews posted on Skytrax have been doctored to remove critical content. Furthermore, in this year’s Skytrax awards, there were jaws on the floor after EasyJet, a UK budget airline, was promoted to a four star airline but Turkish Airlines was demoted to a three star airline. Lufthansa was also promoted to a five star airline but other, smaller Swiss and Austrian airlines, in my opinion, often provide a better service and have not been given five stars. Having said all of this, Skytrax reassures visitors to its Air Travel review website that it is an independent customer forum and that the website does not have a financial link with any airline or airport which it mentions. Skytrax is also undeniably world renowned in the aviation industry for its quality excellence and star ratings. Skytrax needs to work on its representation of the smaller airlines within its awards and stars scheme and also, going forward, needs to be very careful to maintain its independence which is the jewel in its crown that allows its awards and ratings to be respected and valued. It may also need to streamline its awards ceremony - I was quite shocked that 71 awards were given out and feel that this could be regarded as overkill, with too many awards risking diluting the value and impact of each one. It was interesting to see the different ways in which airlines received their Skytrax awards. As you will see, Eastern and Asian airlines tend to be much more enthusiastic and proud, sending over a whole team of cabin staff and managers to receive their awards whereas Western Airlines might only send a single representative. What do you think of Skytrax? Let me know in the comments section down below – I look forward to reading your opinions and thanks as always for watching!

A full detail review of the Paris Air Show 2019. Join me for all the Paris Air Show highlights and the flying displays in this video. Watch Airbus A330-900, Airbus A350-1000, Boeing 787-9, Beriev-200, Embraer E195-E2, Embraer KC-390 and many more in their finest flying action. There are many new aircraft cabin tour visit in the show including Silver Airways ATR72-600, Air Tahiti Nui B787-9, Thai Air Asia X A330neo, La Compagnie A321neo, Mitsubishi SpaceJet M100 mockup, Dassault Falcon 6X mock up. The tour were given with industry expert commentaries. For more Paris Air Show coverage, visit my blog: https://samchui.com/category/paris-airshow-2019/#.XQ7jktMzbOQ ------ Join me for this exciting video detailing the 53rd Paris Air Show of 2019 from Paris-Le Bourget Airport! The Paris Air Show is quite simply the largest air show event in the world and has been held every other odd year since 1949. It attracts all of the major aircraft makers and representatives of the world’s major military forces. This year’s event occurred between 17th and 23rd June 2019. Enjoy a stunning collection of footage with me of a diverse range of aircraft taking off and landing at the airshow including the Airbus A350-1000, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the Airbus A330-900, the Profit Hunter Embraer E195-E2 and Embraer Preator 600 and the Beriev BE-200. I am also proud to share with you footage of a number of exciting military helicopters and aeroplanes including the Turkish Aerospace T129 Atak, the Embraer KC-390 and even a Pakistani fighter jet! After this montage, I take a specific and detailed look at eight particular aeroplanes which were present at the Paris Air Show 2019: 1. The ATR72-600 aeroplane of the US airline Silver Airways (although it is not silver, but rather painted in a bright pink livery!) This plane is the world’s best selling turboprop aeroplane and I take great pleasure in exploring its insides with its great storage space and comfortable, 18 inch wide seats. Compared with competitors like Bombardier, ATR’s turboprop plane has the widest cabin space and also uses 40% less fuel than a comparable plane running on a jet engine. High wings ensure great “native in-flight entertainment” or as you probably know it better, passenger views! I also take the opportunity to make use of a simulator which demonstrates the astounding utility and function of the ATR ClearVision ETS system. This system compliments the real vision of the pilot with added synthetic information in real time so that the pilot can clearly see the surrounding terrain or runway when landing, even when there’s low cloud or fog! 2. The Air Tahiti Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. I am interested to learn that this aeroplane has the largest passenger window of any commercial aircraft and the windows let you see outside, even when it’s dark! Air Tahiti celebrate local art and I am treated to a viewing of the painting “Tahitian Women on the beach” by famed French painter Paul Gauguin, painted in 1891. I also meet with Boeing’s chief Boeing 787 test pilot and see the cockpit of the plane and its advanced LCD information screens and head up display. 3. The Air Asia Airbus A330-NEO. I see the fully flat, black and red seats of premium economy and the “hot seats” of economy class with extra leg room. I also see the crew rest area and the extensive rear galley for food preparation. 4. The Airbus A321-NEO of the French airline La Compagnie. This plane is single aisle and all 76 seats on board are business class. It is used for trans-Atlantic flights between New York and Paris. 5. The Airbus Vahana – A very high-tech plane which is the flying of the future! It is capable of vertical take off and landing and is 100% electric. It is a “personal air vehicle” for one, which is envisioned to be used by everyday commuters instead of cars or trains. Did I mention that it flies itself? Very cool! 6. The Mitsubishi SpaceJet M100. 7. The Airbus A350-1000 of Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways have recently introduced the “Qsuite” on these aeroplanes. Exclusive to business class, these pods allow a group of four people to interact in comfort, whether that be a two adult and two children family or four businessmen discussing their latest venture. I see the beautiful economy class of this aeroplane and the advanced cockpit – it’s no wonder Qatar Airways were crowned Skytrax airline of the year 2019! 8. The Dassault Falcon 6X – A corporate, long range private jet with an eye-watering price tag of $47 million US dollars. For this, you get stone and marble floors and the largest cross section in a business private jet ever – 104 inches wide and 6ft 6 in tall. A lounge and comfortable dining area await, with the lounge containing long seats which can join together to make a bed. I had such a great time at the Paris Air Show and the weather was great too! Let me know what your favourite aeroplane was down in the comments and, as always, thanks for watching!

Get Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.com/sam Enter promo code SAM for 83% off and 1 FREE month! This video is sponsored by Surfshark Join me to fly to the World's Highest Airport - Daocheng Yading Airport in China. Daocheng (DCY) airport is in the Western part of China at 4,411m (14,472 ft). Daocheng is the highest commercial airport in the world. Sichuan Airlines fly to Daocheng from Chengdu regularly on their A319. I was able to go to the cockpit to interview the captain about the difficulties of flying into this high altitude airports. The crew require to wear oxygen masks during flight critical times (takeoff/landing) at Daocheng. Currently 6 out of World's top 10 airports is in China. ----- Join me for a very exciting video detailing my journey from Chengdu Airport in China to the world’s highest civilian airport, Daocheng Yading airport, in the Daocheng County of Sichuan, China with Sichuan Airlines. As you’ll see throughout the video, I am so proud to have been able to make it to this flagship airport of the world and I am not left disappointed by the stunning views offered by this remote airport, which is a staggering 4,411 metres above sea level. Daocheng Yading airport was approved for construction in April 2011 and cost $255 million to build. It was officially opened in September 2013 and made the journey between Chengdu and Daocheng much better, reducing it from a two day bus trip to a one hour aeroplane journey. The airport features a single runway 4,200 metres long and its terminal building spans over 5000 square meters, with capacity for handling 280,000 passengers a year. After a traditional and filling Chinese breakfast at Chengdu, including such delicious delicacies as duck and rabbit, and receiving a little reassurance from a Tibetan man taking the same trip (I confess, I was a little nervous regarding the potential high altitude sickness) I board the aeroplane and I discuss with the captain the serious nature of the challenges which flying to such an extreme airport poses. He tells me that the hazards posed by the airport are so serious that flights there are composed of two captains, rather than a captain and a first officer, and that only the most experienced pilots may make the journey, the airport being classified by Sichuan airlines as in the top tier of three for experience required. Although the approach to the airport is relatively straightforward, the low temperatures for much of the year (as cold as -30 degrees Celsius in winter) causes hazardous ice to appear on the runway, along with low freezing fog and thick cloud which seriously impairs visibility. Due to the altitude, both passengers and pilots have the option of breathing oxygen from bottles stored on the flight for the purpose. My flight is quite sparsely populated, with only sixty people on board – even at this time of year, at this altitude, the temperature is still too low for most tourists, although things do get busier in high summer. I am entertained by the soft, plush toys shown to me by the air stewardesses of the aeroplane and a number of pandas. Recently, Sichuan airlines have been doing a lot of panda related things. In September 2018, Sichuan airlines even launched a special “Panda Route,” which made use of an Airbus A350 covered in a cute panda livery and with air staff wearing panda themed uniforms and serving panda themed food. Look out for the air stewardess wearing a panda jumper in this video! After arriving at Daocheng Yading airport, I watch the aeroplane depart and take the time to admire the beautiful airport terminal building. From the outside, it looks very modern, almost like a UFO or spaceship and everyone looks like they’re having a great time, posing for photos by a special rock which dedicates the airport and reminds people of its altitude. It’s the best feeling to be this high up on the Earth and I am so grateful to the very kind Sichuan Airlines staff who made my journey there and back so comfortable and enjoyable. I hope you enjoyed the experience and please let me know your thoughts and comments beneath this video. Thank you very much for watching!

Japan Airlines (JAL) took its very first Airbus A350 delivery from Airbus in Toulouse on 13 June 2019. It is also the very first Airbus plane ever ordered and delivered to JAL. There was a grand ceremony to send off the brand new A350 to Japan. Watch the amazing low flypass after departure as the new JAL A350 wave goodbye to the crowd. In the video, Airbus and JAL official also explain why the new airplane will be used for domestic route only. The new JAL will start flying from Tokyo to Fukuoka from September 1st. More information: https://samchui.com/2019/06/13/japan-airlines-takes-delivery-of-first-a350-xwb/#.XQNfTtMzbOQ ---- Join me for an exciting video from Toulouse, France at the Airbus Delivery Center on 13th June 2019, where I celebrate and witness the delivery of the very first Airbus A350-900 to Japan Airlines. At the beginning of the video, I recall the historical announcement of Fabrice Bregier, president and CEO of Airbus, back in October 2013, in which he stated that Japan Airlines had placed their first ever order with Airbus for 31 A350 aeroplanes, with options for up to 25 more. The deal was worth $9.5 billion dollars at the time and was a major victory for Airbus over their competitor Boeing, whose Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplane was the main competitor in the market for an aeroplane that focused on fuel efficiency, something which had become very important in an era of highly volatile global fuel prices, which was damaging the profitability of airlines. Fast forward almost six years and, right on schedule, the first A350 aeroplane delivery ceremony is upon us! At the ceremony, Dominic Horwood, Rolls Royce’s Chief Commercial Officer expresses his pride at the fact that this will be Rolls Royce’s first opportunity to power one of Japan Airline’s fleet. Then, Yoshiharu Ueki, Japanese Airlines’ representative director and chairman expresses his delight too and reminisces about his former days flying on European routes as a pilot and the massive changes in technology which have occurred in aeroplanes over the years, meaning that he would now have to be completely retrained to be able to fly the A350 jet! Christian Scherer, Airbus’ Chief Commercial Officer, also gives a wonderful and detailed insight in to why the Airbus A350 is absolutely perfect for Japan Airlines’ vision. Japan Airlines does not plan to use its A350’s on international routes but on domestic flights – flights between Tokyo and Fukuoka on the A350 are expected to commence on 1st September 2019 – and aeroplanes which are used on domestic flights tend to use more fuel and require more maintenance because of the greater frequency of taking off and landing. But the A350 is 25% more fuel efficient than the model it is replacing and has a take-off weight more than 200 tons lighter, which means that the strain on the engines caused by the provision of acceleration for take-off will be significantly reduced, in turn greatly reducing the maintenance costs of the A350’s running on these shorter, domestic routes as well as giving reduced fuel costs. After the dramatic unveiling of the plane, preceded by piano music and dancing, I meet with MC Miho to hear her thoughts on the new JAL A350. She is really enthusiastic about the new aeroplane and thinks that the Japanese will love it. In particular, she loves the beautiful, curved shape of the tips of the wings. The interior of the new plane is expected to be unveiled in Tokyo on 20th June. As I watch the aeroplane take off on its ferry flight to Tokyo and watch it fly away, I am more excited than ever to check out the interior in a few days time. What did you guys think of the new A350? I’m super excited to hear what you thought of it all, so please leave a comment down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

A special flight on the Chinese made ARJ21-700 on Chengdu Airlines from Chengdu to Linfen and back. Check out the interior of the Chinese made ARJ21. Watch the takeoff and landing performance of ARJ21. Enjoy commentary from the crew and myself about the ARJ21. Join me for an incredible sight-seeing trip to Hukou waterfall in China, which flows quickly and forcefully into the Yellow river. I take an internal flight within China from Chengdu Shuangliu international airport, which is the major international airport that serves Chengdu, the capital of the Chinese province Sichuan, to Linfen Qiaoli airport in Shanxi aboard the first ever aeroplane made in China, the ARJ21. I use Chengdu airlines but there are another two airlines which make use of the ARJ21 aeroplane – Urumqi Air and the Mongolian Genghis Khan airlines. The placing of the engine right at the rear of the aeroplane makes our seat at the back very noisy and one of the major disadvantages of flying on the ARJ21 is the general noisiness and din overall; even sitting at the front, it’s hard to ignore the sound of the heavily labouring engine! It’s also frustrating that the ARJ21-700 has to fly so low as this makes the aeroplane vulnerable to the weather. As I hear in my interview with the captain, the ARJ21 is not able to fly in heavy rain! This aeroplane is not certified by either the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), however, the larger, more able C919 jet is beginning to gain popularity in China, as the captain tells me, and this can only be a good thing, since the C919 is able to carry many more passengers (the ARJ21 is limited to only 90 passengers, which is a problem in a country with more than a billion people in it!) and also more cargo. The ARJ21 jet was commissioned by the Chinese government in 2002 and the first aeroplane entered service in 2015 with Chengdu airlines. It is a twin engine, regional get which is made by the Chinese company Comac. ARJ itself stands for: Advanced Regional Jet. After being given the emergency information (I am seated with extra leg room in a seat by the emergency door, but the price I have to pay is that I get extra safety tuition and am in charge of opening the emergency door for other passengers – I’d best pay attention!), I’m up in the air. The food could be better – I initially go for the congee but it’s so bland that I switch to the chicken noodles. There is an unexpected bonus though – a free breakfast with yummy red bean paste bread, a Chinese delicacy. The sight of Hukou waterfall itself is astonishing – keep watching to the end to see it in all its glory. I feel that I had a very enjoyable day out and, as a further bonus, I was able to enjoy a number of the hi-tech comforts at Linfen airport before taking my flight home, including automatic massage seats and even a karaoke booth! Who knew that China could be so scenic? Let me know what you thought of the whole trip on the ARJ21 aeroplane in the comments section down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

This is easily the most exciting and crazy flight experience I've ever done! I flew with a Pilatus test pilot aboard the new Pilatus PC-24 "Super Versatile Jet" over Switzerland. During the test flight we did several extreme G force banking, stall demo with gear down, acceleration demo, dutch roll demo, touch and go, missed approach and sharp descend into Sannen/Gstaad Airport which is well known of the short runway. Join me for a highly educational and instructional video with a professional Pilatus test pilot who knows all the tricks of the trade, as we take a flight within Switzerland aboard the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Private Jet. In this video, I have the pleasure of travelling with professional test pilot Matthew Hartkop and being given a demonstration of several basic (and not so basic!) flight manoeuvres, with the beautiful Swiss Alps as the setting for this highly enjoyable insight in to professional flying. Before I set off, the pilot checks all the exterior features of the Pilatus PC-24 jet to ensure that she is air-worthy and I get a look at the angle of attack probe, which measures air flow and the probability at any given moment of an engine stall (more about that later), and probes for dynamic and static pressure which are heated to extreme temperatures to prevent any ice build-up, especially at higher altitudes. The tyres of the aircraft are also checked, which are specially designed and toughened to allow for landing on not just traditional tarmac runways, but also fields, grass and dirt. Inside the aeroplane, and before take-off, Matthew shows me some of the highlights of the sophisticated and advanced information display of the aircraft which shows all sorts of useful information for the pilot including the flight vector, altitude, terrain description and engine performance. There is also a navigational display showing our flight plan. After a very interesting take-off (crossing a road and a herd of cows!), we’re finally up in the snowy Alps, initially at a height of 10,000 feet. During the flight I have the thrilling experience of briefly taking control of the plane, adjusting the angle of the nose and witnessing the PC-24’s intelligent systems automatically adjusting the throttle. I also get a demonstration of the anti-stall feature, with the aeroplane acting to correct a too steep angle of attack to prevent an engine stalling event. My pilot demonstrates the Dutch roll, a flight manoeuvre almost like swimming, with rolling and moving from side to side at the same time. I also feel the squeeze as I am exposed to high G forces created by the touch and go manoeuvre and higher banking angles. All in all, it was a terrific treat to be able to take this tranquil flight within Switzerland and learn so much at the same time. I’d like to thank Matthew for all of his useful instruction. What did you guys think of the video? Let me know what you thought of the experience down in the comments section below and, as always, thanks for watching. The Pilatus PC-24 was developed from the PC-12 model, with work starting in 2007 and the first aeroplanes being delivered in February 2018. The aims for this new PC-24 model were increased range and speed but with the retention of the aircraft’s key ability to land on uneven and unusual terrain. The aeroplane is powered by two Williams FJ44 turbofan engines. The aeroplane can accommodate up to eight passengers and can be flown with either a one or two man crew. The plane is about 55 feet long and has a swing span of almost 56 feet and can cruise at a maximum of 506 mph with a range of about 2,200 km with a 2,500 lb payload. As of April 2019, the fleet of 25 Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Business jets has logged more than 4000 flight hours with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Swiss airline Premium Jet AG and American Plane Sense and Western Aircraft all making use of the aeroplane.

Join me for another exciting video on the All Nippon Airways Airbus A380 Flying Honu First Class flight from Honolulu in Hawaii, United States to Tokyo, Japan. After having taken business class in my previous video going the other way, I live it up in first class by checking out the finest luxury that ANA have to offer in the sky. You won’t want to miss it! As always, thanks for watching and do leave a comment down below letting me know what you thought of the whole experience. -- You can learn more about using your points and miles to fly onboard the Flying Honu here: https://samchui.com/2019/05/31/redeem-ana-a380-flying-honu/ Sign up for the Chase Sapphire Preferred here: https://oc.brcclx.com/t?lid=26659499 Sign up for the The Platinum Card® from American Express here: https://oc.brcclx.com/t?lid=26659625 Advertiser Disclosure: SamChui is part of an affiliate sales network and may receive compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. -- Following on from my previous video where I took a highly enjoyable flight in business class aboard ANA’s Flying Honu A380 from Tokyo to Honolulu, it’s now time for me to head back to Tokyo, but this time in first class, after having enjoyed all that Hawaii has to offer, including its superb beaches, rich surfing culture, dancing and entertainment. At Honolulu airport, I take the opportunity to examine the lounges available to ANA customers. I take the Wiki bus shuttle as the lounges are at the opposite end of the airport from check in and I don’t fancy a 15 minute walk – when you’re flying first class, the key is relaxation; there are other more appropriate times for furious exercise! The first ANA airport lounge that we examine at Honolulu airport is the ANA Suite Lounge. You are eligible to enter this lounge if you are a first class or diamond member of the ANA mileage club. The food, in particular, offered by the ANA Suite Lounge is sublime with a range of authentic Japanese cuisine on offer, including a number of very fine soups and broths. We also examine the Main lounge which is open to Star Alliance gold members and American Express gold and platinum card holders. The décor of the lounge makes for a very relaxing and natural feel, with the lounge dominated by a decorative tree, whose branches merge in to the ceiling. There’s even a children’s creche area so that you can relax without having children running around you. After boarding the flying Honu, it’s time to enjoy everything that ANA first class has to offer! The seat is very wide and the first class cabin features a very useful, nifty little pull-out clothes rail, so that you can store your shirt or trousers without creasing them during the flight. I am presented with a large selection of complimentary comforts to choose from by the highly professional ANA flight attendants including lip balm, socks, eye masks and even a heavy organic cotton blanket! Their signature amenity kit has an exterior which looks like a miniature suitcase – so cool! The first class bathroom certainly does not disappoint with a state of the art, automated Japanese style bidet system and complimentary energising skin lotions. There’s even a pull down platform which you can use to assist in getting changed – ANA really think of lots of little clever ways to make your time in first class rewarding, refreshing and relaxing. Although the food service itself does take time (and I feel sorry for the airline attendants who have to work in what I consider to be a rather cramped galley for serving eight first class customer meals simultaneously), the quality of the food itself is absolutely excellent. I am treated to caviar, a truffle and cream tart, ahi tuna tataki and corn soup and that’s just for starters! The real show stopper which really bowls me over is the veal cheek with foie gras. The dessert is lovely and a real palette cleanser – a sorbet designed by the Four Seasons Lanai Resort. I do not go thirsty either with champagne, orange juice, special apple juice wine and a premium selection of carefully selected white and red wines all being served. After a nap to digest all of that (and after a curry and a cheeseburger – well, it was a long flight!), I share some tips with you regarding the best way to fly in premium classes such as business class and first class with ANA which I believe is by using air miles. I think it’s very good that ANA have promised that seats will be available to freedom flyers who fly with clubs such as United Airlines Mileage Plus and the Virgin Flying Club. See my links in the description for the best way to earn these points, which I believe are the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and the American Express platinum card.

ANA All Nippon Airways have started flying their Airbus A380 "Flying Honu" between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu on 24 May 2019. I was among the first passengers to fly on the inaugural flight. There were lot of good celebrations at the boarding gate and on-board. This is a detail trip report of the first ANA A380 “Flying Honu” themed flight in Business Class. Throughout the video, I also looked into other unique features on this ANA flight including ANA Couchii, economy class and premium economy. In next video, I will review ANA A380 First Class from Honolulu to Tokyo. See my other videos on the ANA A380 Flying Honu: ANA A380 Delivery ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkQACO74up8 ANA A380 Cabin Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmziY4tYm4E Subscribe to my channel, Sam Chui, for more aviation, trip report and flight report videos. ------------ On 24th May 2019, following on from my video exploring the delivery of All Nippon Airway’s first, brand new Airbus A380 Flying Honu aeroplane, decorated in a spectacular, lively and bright blue sea turtle themed livery, I took the A380 Flying Honu’s first ever, inaugural flight from Narita International Airport, close to Tokyo, Japan in the Chiba district to Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States in ANA business class. It was a very enjoyable flight and experience and even before I boarded, I had the honour of witnessing the ceremony to mark the inaugural flight of the Flying Honu with music, dancing and a set of very cute, life-sized plush turtles, each one representing one of the blue, green and orange ANA Flying Honu liveries – look out for these guys later in the video, as they feature in what has to be the world’s cutest pre-flight safety video you’ve ever seen! Before flying, I meet the designer of the blue, sea turtle aeroplane livery and I also meet Yuji Hirako, the CEO and president of ANA, who gives out free gifts to myself and all the passengers, including a special fold up bag and fun, souvenir Honu ANA Hawaii t-shirts! On board, I have the opportunity to examine the on-board facilities and service. The aeroplane is very geared towards looking after families with young children. Its Couchii section in economy class provides an area for young families where children can lounge and lie across multiple seats – groups of four seats have cushions which, when lifted up, form one long seat to lounge back on as if you were in business class! It’s great for young children to be able to take a nap when they need it and it promotes a more relaxed atmosphere for young families, with children who may find it hard to be restricted to a single seat for the whole flight, especially on a long haul flight from Japan to the United States like this one. The child friendly facilities don’t end there – I take the chance to assess the nappy changing room on board, which has been designed with baby’s needs in mind from start to finish, and I also look at the dedicated baby food and even baby cutlery provided on board – All Nippon Airways new flying Honu is definitely an aeroplane that you can trust to get you and your children from A to B in comfort and in an environment which is a home from home. The inaugural flight of the flying Honu is the perfect time for me to check out the on-board catering. I go for the Japanese option which consists of a large number of smaller items including beef, fish, other seafood, rice and fruit – the appetiser, the starter (soup), the main meal and the dessert are all served together on one tray so that you can eat it at your leisure – the service was a little slow, but I’m sure this will improve in time; the quality of the food, however, was excellent. I have a lie down after my meal – the sleeping arrangements in business class consist of a long bed with plenty of room; just watch that you don’t get your feet stuck! Throughout the video, I have the chance to discuss this special, maiden flight of the ANA Flying Honu with fellow aviation enthusiasts and people who people who live and breathe the Airbus A380. It’s great to hear other people’s opinions on this maiden flight and I want to hear your opinion too – let me know what you thought of the whole experience down in the comments section below and, as always, thanks for watching!

I flew Emirates A380 economy class from Dubai to Zurich. In the video, I gave 8 good tips on how to survive or how to enjoy economy class flying. I am sure you will benefit from some of the tip I gave! The video also shows you the children's kit and meal on Emirates. Also Ramadan Iftar boxes are shown in the video. Enjoy the magnificent forward wing view with engine on the A380! -------- Join me for a relaxed and fun flight from Dubai to Zurich with Emirates. I travel aboard the Airbus A380 aeroplane in Emirates economy class and I reveal eight tips and tricks on how you can enjoy and get the most out of your economy class flight. We can’t all experience the luxury of flying first class but this video aims to show that it certainly isn’t impossible to have a very enjoyable, relaxing and comfortable flight in economy class with just a little prior planning, research and thought. In this video, I also specifically examine some of the comforts offered by the Emirates airline within their economy class to help their customers. One thing we focus on is Emirates’ provision for children and we examine the complimentary items including blankets, bibs, baby wipes and colouring in books which are given out to families with young children. Tip #1 – Even if you’re flying in economy class, try and access a credit card lounge before the flight to make yourself more comfortable and prepared for boarding. You’re more likely to start the flight in a better mood and in a more positive state of mind, especially if you’ve had to wait at the airport for a while, if you’ve had something to eat, had a comfortable seat to sit on and been in relaxed and more quiet surroundings. If you are not eligible to enter one of these lounges, consider paying for entry; it is likely to be well worth your investment as one of the biggest reasons why people do not enjoy their flight in economy class is because they were not in the right frame of mind to begin with. Tip #2 – Use a website such as expertflyer.com to see where clusters of empty seats are on the flight that you wish to take. By using this website, you may be able to purchase seats from the airline’s website which are in a quieter spot, with less people surrounding you. expertflyer.com can show real time seat maps for your flight up to one hour before the departure of the flight, letting you make an informed decision as to the best seat location for you in economy class. Tip #3 – Use a website such as seatguru.com to get to know the layout of the economy class on your flight better so that you can select more advantageous economy seats with views over the engines, or, perhaps most importantly, with more leg room. There’s almost always a few economy seats with much, much more leg room than others because of the free space that has to be left in front of the aircraft’s mid-placed emergency exit. Furthermore, after coming on board, if there’s a very favourable seat which is vacant and unsold, grab it before anybody else does! Tip #4 – If you can, travel in the low season when fares are lower and when planes are less crowded. Low season months are February, May and November. During my flight in Emirates economy class, I was able to move around to a large number of different seats as, travelling in May, it was low season. I was also able to lie down over a complete row of four economy seats and get a quality rest as if I was in business class, but without business class prices! If you can, it certainly pays dividends to travel in economy class when it’s less busy in the low season. Tip #5 – Always bring a bottle of water with you to stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol consumption which can dehydrate you. Additionally, always bring an eye-shade with you so that you can get quality rest whenever you need it; these are provided on some longer haul flights but it’s always best to have your own, just in case. Tip #6 – Wear something loose and comfy to promote good well being and also good blood circulation whilst you’re up in the air. This is especially important when the flight is crowded and/or there isn’t a lot of leg room and movement is restricted. This follows on to… Tip #7 – Wherever possible, stretch your limbs and walk around the cabin – it doesn’t just help keep your blood circulating in what can be a cramped economy class but it keeps your mood happy too. Feeling confined and restricted in economy class is a big source of uncomfortable economy class flights. Tip #8 – Stay smiling and stay positive whenever travelling in economy class. Don’t forget to bring your headphones with you to listen to some of your favourite tunes whilst you’re in the sky! I really want to hear your opinion – do you have any thoughts about what makes for a good trip in economy class? Is there anything that you swear by? Leave your comments down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

In this video, I take a trip to Calgary, Canada, at the invitation of the Canadian airline WestJet’s guest experience team, to enjoy a flight from Calgary to London aboard their brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplane. This video will feature not only WestJet Business Class, but also look into Premium and Economy cabin. Moreover, I share some behind the scenes product development story on the WestJet 787. I fly in to Calgary on one of WestJet’s Boeing 737’s and before I go on my voyage on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with Westjet, I take the opportunity to visit the stunningly beautiful Banff national park in Alberta. Banff national park is located within the Canadian Rocky mountains and is a UNESCO world heritage site and also Canada’s first, and flagship, national park, established in 1885. It is west of Calgary and covers an area of more than 6000 square kilometres. I see the beautiful, bright turquoise blue lakes of the park, fed by rushing streams and rivers which are in turn fed by glacial melt water. Banff national park is a real jewel in the crown of Canada and I highly recommend a visit! After my visit to the park, I get back to the aviation side of things and start my journey from Calgary to London at the international terminal of Calgary airport, making use of the Aspire lounge for international departures. I take my flight in business class, which consists of sixteen individual private pods with lie-flat seats which can convert in to a bed. There are also 28 premium economy seats on the WestJet Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a further 276 economy seats spread across two cabins within the aircraft. I am given a warm welcome in to the WestJet Boeing 787 Dreamliner with a personalised introduction to the facilities afforded by my business class pod by a member of the flight attendant team. I am shown the large, touchscreen 4K entertainment screen, which offers a variety of in-flight games, television programs, films and music and am given complimentary, noise cancelling headphones. I am also shown the adjustable arm-rests of the seat and the storage bins where I can tuck away my belongings. My welcome is capped off with the WestJet signature drink – a lovely refreshing mix of green tea and cranberry juice – and also the provision of a complimentary Matt & Nat amenity kit. My flight from Calgary to London on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with WestJet is over eight hours long and takes me to a maximum altitude of 36,000 feet, but before I can get in to the air, the cold, snowy weather in Canada means that the wings of the aircraft have to be de-iced but to WestJet’s credit, their staff work very well in the adverse weather conditions to keep everything running on time. Up in the air, I enjoy some exceptional, restaurant quality WestJet cuisine. The service in premium economy and business class is as in a restaurant, with each dish being taken to the customer individually, rather than being given from a trolley, and on special non-slip trays to reduce accidents. WestJet have paid great attention to detail by integrating reminders of Canada’s fabulous nature in to their food service – the food trays of economy are bright, turquoise blue just like the lakes of the Banff national park and the salt and pepper pots in business class are made in the shape of the Rocky mountains. In premium economy, customers enjoy a rice and curry dish, refreshing and authentic draft Canadian beer and a salad complete with goat’s cheese. The vegetarian option is extraordinary – a vegetarian shepherd’s pie, the signature dish of Canadian chef Bill Alexander. In business class, I am able to choose from lots of smaller dishes rather than having just one, big main meal. I enjoy Italian antipasto, smoked salmon mille-feuille, alberta beef short ribs and sour cherry pie. There are also Ravioli dishes – each one unlike the other with irregular pasta cuts, representing the nature of Canada. I think that high praise is due to WestJet for the phenomenal quality of their airline food, which I think has really put them on the map as a major international airline and shows their considerable development from their start as a low cost, budget airline. The meal is rounded off nicely with the serving of some special, Canadian Ice wine – one frozen grape yields only one drop of the very sweet wine – before I get some quality sleep and land at London Gatwick. All in all, I highly enjoyed my trip with WestJet on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner aeroplane and my hat is off to them for their food. What did you think of the beauty of the Banff national park and the flight itself? I'd love to hear from you in the comments section down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

Flying out of Paro, Bhutan on Bhutan Airlines A319 to Kathmandu, Nepal all the way in the cockpit. Watch the exciting departure out of Paro by climbing out of many mountain surroundings. The flight is just 40 minutes across the Himalayas but it is one of the most challenging flight to operate with many restrictions and flow control. Watch this video to see the challenge out of Bhutan and flying into Kathmandu. Enjoy the exciting cockpit footage on takeoff and landing. --------- Join us for this special video, the third in a series highlighting the perils, delights and excellent views experienced flying between Nepal and Bhutan, making use of Kathmandu Airport and also the famous Paro airport, where only trained captains are permitted to take off and land due to the challenging geography of the airport, which sees Paro airport at the bottom of a deep valley surrounded by the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalayas. See part one of the series, our amazing flight from Kathmandu airport to Paro airport here: https://youtu.be/SbLHah4XUwk See part two of the series, consisting of an extended and highly enjoyable plane spotting session at Paro airport here: https://youtu.be/JyovSoqsxwY In this video, we fly back to Kathmandu airport from Paro airport on Bhutan airlines. Before saying goodbye to Paro in Bhutan, we take a moment to admire the very beautiful and unique decoration of the passenger terminal of the remote Paro airport with its polished, wooden check in counters each with a different, intricately patterned artwork attached – the passenger terminal building was constructed back in 1999 and retains, to this day, a lot of unique and aged character which you won’t find anywhere else in the world. We also take the opportunity to explore the business class lounge of Paro airport; despite the airport’s remote location, there is still a fantastic selection of food and drink available. Up in the air, we are once again in the hands of an expertly trained captain, the highly competent Captain Senga, letting us relax and enjoy the stunning views of the mountains and clouds. We also have the opportunity to sample the onboard hospitality of Bhutan airlines, with a free hot towel and provided snack, some delicious hot sausage rolls, to keep us ticking over on our short flight. Particular viewing highlights in the video include a breath-taking view of Mount Kangchenjunga, which stands at 8,586 metres tall, the third tallest mountain in the world, and a magnificent view of Paro airport shortly after departure, showing how it is deeply sunk in to its surrounding valley. We have a little bit more time to admire the view as we are held circling in the air, 50 kilometres south of Kathmandu airport due to traffic congestion. Kathmandu airport only has nine parking stands for 42 international airlines and has only a single, bumpy, concrete runway meaning that traffic congestion at the airport is often a problem. There is also no instrument landing system available at Kathmandu airport (also known as Tribhuvan International Airport) and we have an in-depth discussion and educational insight from the Captain surrounding the consequences of this - when flying in to Kathmandu airport, it is necessary to make use of the VOR or RNAV (RNP) approach system. The Kathmandu viewer has a non-precision approach, with the required visibility at the airport normally being a minimum of 3000 feet. Between December and February, visibility coming in to Kathmandu airport is often less than this, making things extra challenging for pilots trying to land there. We hope you enjoyed the flight from Paro to Kathmandu – let us know what you thought of the whole exciting journey in the comments below and as always, thanks for watching!

Join me for a cabin tour of the ANA A380 Flying Honu. In this video I will show you the 5 unique cabin zones of the ANA new A380. Check out the 5 unique cabin zones starting with Economy Class, ANACouchii, Premium Economy, Business and First Class on the new ANA A380. The first flight of the ANA A380 Flying Honu will be on 24th May from Tokyo to Hawaii, I will be on-board to cover the event and making a special vlog of the flight. --------- Following on from our exciting video celebrating the delivery of All Nippon Airways’ first new A380, the flying Honu, (which you can catch here: https://youtu.be/fkQACO74up8), we examine the interior of this new, very large and fun aeroplane, painted to symbolise the sky in a lively blue colour with a cute painted design making the exterior of the plane represent a sea turtle. In this video, the interior of All Nippon Airways’ new Airbus A380, the flying Honu, which is currently based at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, is revealed and we look at what each of the classes has to offer individuals, families with young children and people on business. We are given the honour of being the very first to be seated in All Nippon Airways’ new economy class aboard the A380. The economy seats have good leg room, with the seats having a 34 inch pitch, and a full length foot rest for both feet. The entertainment screens built in to the back of each economy seat provide more than enough to keep you occupied with a vast array of films, music and TV on offer in several languages. Unusually for economy class, there are also free soft drinks provided for economy passengers on board ANA’s new A380 through a self-service bar which we think is a very nice touch. At the rear of economy class, which occupies the lower deck of the plane, we find the ANA Couchii class which contains rows of economy seats in sets of four, which have cushions which are able to rise and form one long bed-like seat spread across the four seats. We discuss the origins of, and the ideas behind, this new ANA Couchii class through an exclusive discussion with the manager of cabin configuration at All Nippon Airways. He explains that the Couchii class is aimed at families with young children, who may well be going to Hawaii for a well earned break, who wish to relax and spend quality family time together – the Couchii class allows children to lay down and rest on the long flight, rather than being confined to their seats. The Couchii class is designed to provide some of the comfort of business class for families with young children, without the inherent segregation of business class which is not ideal for aiding the interaction of young children with their parents. The interior decoration of economy class, with sky blue and clouds painted on the walls, helps families and children to relax and is reflective of the bright and fun blue livery on the exterior of this flying Honu A380 aeroplane. We really got the sense that All Nippon Airways have made great efforts to make their new economy class aboard the A380 very child friendly. After our thorough examination of All Nippon Airways economy class aboard their new Airbus A380, we move on to look at the premium economy, business and first class sections which occupy the upper deck of the plane. Premium economy offers an extended 38 inch seat pitch with the ability to recline your seat further. There are also additional storage bins for ANA premium economy customers. There are 73 premium economy seats altogether. Business class is composed of 56 individually segregated seats with the ability to convert in to a single bed with an entertainment screen at the end of each unit. We also take a look at the exclusive first class section of the new Flying Honu A380 which contains eight private suites. Like business class, first class comes with complimentary bed clothes but also comes with a complimentary toiletry set. A special, bright blue cocktail is available to be served to business class and first class customers, again symbolic of the bright blue outer livery of the plane. Let us know what you thought of the interior in the comments – we’d love to hear from you! We anticipate posting a full review of the flying Honu’s maiden flight in late May. As always, thanks for watching!

Join me for some of the World's Most Extreme plane spotting action from Paro Airport, Bhutan. Watch how plane dive over the mountains and maneuvering to land and takeoff in Paro, Bhutan. Paro Airport is situated in the Paro Valley between many tall mountains at 7,400 ft above sea level. Getting in and out of Paro on a plane is one of the most exciting ride out there. Currently there are 2 airlines serve Paro; Royal Bhutan Airlines (Druk Air) with A319 and ATR-72 and Bhutan Airlines (Tashi Air) with A319. ---------- Following on from our recent video detailing our awesome flight from Kathmandu airport to Paro airport, which you can see here: https://youtu.be/SbLHah4XUwk , join us for an extended plane spotting session at Paro airport in Bhutan from three unique viewing points in the breath-taking natural beauty of the hills and snow capped mountains surrounding the airport. Paro airport is only served by two airlines – Royal Bhutan airlines, also known as Druk Air, and Bhutan airlines, also known as Tashi air. However, on the day of our plane spotting there is no shortage of action as ten separate landings and take offs are scheduled to and from the challenging and secluded airport. We start very early so as not to miss any plane spotting action, at 6:30 AM, with our first scheduled sighting of an aeroplane being an arrival from Bangkok. Particular highlights of the plane spotting session at Paro airport include views of the wonderfully curved take off trajectories of the aeroplanes, as they take immediate action to steer well clear of the dangerous hills and mountains which surround the airport which make landing there and taking off so difficult. We also see aeroplanes making use of the special turning points built in to the ends of the single runway at Paro airport, which is 6,445 feet long. The hills next to the airport provide a lot of different stations for plane spotting. On our third and final view, we take up a special position directly opposite one of the ends of the runway and enjoy unparalleled, head on views of the backs and fronts of Royal Bhutan Airlines’ and Bhutan Airlines’ planes. When plane spotting at Paro airport, you have to be patient, as there can be very large time delays between planes arriving or taking off and there is the added challenge of never quite knowing which side of the runway an aeroplane might use, but we’re all equipped to rise to this immense plane spotting challenge at one of the world’s most extreme airports for plane landings and take offs. Paro Airport started life in 1968 when it was constructed by the Indian Border Roads Organisation as an air-strip intended for use by the Indian army for helicopter flying, on behalf of the Bhutan government. Bhutan’s first airline, Druk Air, was launched in 1981 and made use of the airport thereafter. Druk Air had its first scheduled, commercial flight from Paro in early 1983. Back then, when Druk Air first started its commercial flights, Paro airport consisted just of the runway, an air traffic control building with just two rooms and a departure lounge. Druk Air had to maintain and operate the airport’s infrastructure prior to Bhutan’s Department of Civil Aviation being established in 1986. It was in 1990 that the runway at Paro airport was lengthened by almost 2000 feet to its current length and strengthened to be able to cope with heavier aircraft. A hangar was also constructed at this time and a terminal building followed in 1999. From humble beginnings, Paro Airport has risen to be Bhutan’s sole and well-run international airport and is a favourite with aviation enthusiasts all over the world for its unique geography, extreme hazards, dangers and challenges and its unique plane spotting opportunities amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. What did you think of what you saw? Don’t forget to leave a comment and, as always, thanks for watching.

24 April 2019 – United Airlines unveiled its brand-new livery today in Chicago. I was invited to be there to see their new livery! Watch the video for the exciting ceremony and thoughts from United staff and the management. Towards the end of the video , I share my thoughts about the new United livery. -------- In this video, we examine the new, blue livery of United Airlines and witness the unveiling ceremony of this striking, new, somewhat electric livery which took place at the O’ Hare international airport in Chicago recently. Before the unveiling of the new livery, we hear inspiring and informative speeches surrounding the history of United Airlines liveries, their designers and the design process from Mike Hanna, vice president of O’ Hare operations and the CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz. We are reminded of the legendary saul bass livery which adorned the outside of United Airlines fleet for 19 years between 1973 and 1984, consisting of the infamous United Airlines tulip logo and red, orange and blue stripe pattern on the fuselage and the “summarise and symbolise” philosophy of Saul Bass, which has underpinned the design of this most recent, new, blue United Airlines livery. We also hear from the vice president of marketing at United Airlines Mark Krolick, in a documentary film broadcast at the unveiling ceremony regarding the specific design elements of the new United Airlines livery including the blue globe, new blue cheat line, the new billboard style “United Airlines” lettering on the outer fuselage and the new slogan – Connecting people, Uniting the world. There is also a discussion of the derivation of the specific shades of blue used in the design from nature. After the unveiling moment, we speak further with other United Airlines employees regarding the new livery and also have a detailed discussion with Mark Krolick in the flesh regarding the new design and the rationale behind keeping things simple and the exclusive use of the colour blue. Finally, we give our own honest and open opinion about the new United Airlines livery and consider how this new livery will play a part in United Airlines mission to become the number one, premier US airline. Livery has always been a subject of emphasis and even of controversy throughout the history of United Airlines. It was in 2010, when United Airlines merged with Continental airlines, that the globe aspect of the logo and livery was inherited by United from the latter. The globe replaced the tulip logo which caused many to take to social media to demand the reinstatement of the tulip – professional graphics designers at the time criticised the removal of the tulip aspect of the livery, citing it as a much stronger source of brand recognition than the new globe. It was also revealed that this new livery of 2010 had been thought up exclusively by the CEO at the time, Jeff Smisek, and the CEO before him, Glenn Tilton, without any help or input from anybody else. What did you think of the new livery? What has been your favourite design of United Airlines livery so far? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for watching!

Join me on a flight with Bhutan Airlines (Tashi Air) A319 from Kathmandu to Paro, Bhutan. Paro Airport is situated in between mountains and valleys at 7,332 ft above sea level. The approach is well considered as one of the most dangerous and most spectacular in the world. Check out the amazing landing footage. In addition, the flight also flew across many top 10 mountains in the world include Mt Everest. ------- Join us for a spectacular and thrilling, up close, documentary look at the world’s most dangerous airport landing at Paro airport in Bhutan. Make sure you watch all the way to the end of the video to catch the sped up, bird’s eye view of the fabulous and graceful twisting and turning of the aeroplane on its approach to the landing strip of Paro airport, the sole international airport of Bhutan located six kilometres from Paro in a very deep valley on the bank of the river Paro Chhu, and how the runway suddenly appears from nowhere. It takes a real aviation expert and a very steady hand to make a safe landing at Paro airport! In this video, we fly from Kathmandu airport in Nepal to Paro airport in Bhutan using Bhutan airlines. After a brief look inside Kathmandu airport’s executive airport lounge, we board our flight and meet the chief pilot of Bhutan airlines – we’re in safe hands; only a handful of trained captains are qualified and certified to land at Paro airport and it takes a minimum of eight to ten years of intensive training to become a captain. We examine the runway at Kathmandu airport which is very bumpy and, interestingly, has no taxiways to the main runway, necessitating the use of some tricky manoeuvres and, needless to say, keen attention paid to air traffic control. The flight is only forty minutes long but the flight is still packed with events and sights. In the video, we see most of the top ten highest mountains in the world within the Himalayas including Mount Makalu, Mount Lhotse and the tallest of all, Mount Everest. We also see the mountains of Bhutan within the Himalayan mountain range including Jomolhari and Jitchu Drake. The pictures of the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas are breath taking and we hear the captain’s opinions of why he thinks there is less snow now than there was in previous years. We also enjoy lunch with champagne on board and we enjoy sharing a specially made cake with the Bhutan airlines crew to celebrate our travelling with them to the legendary Paro airport of Bhutan. Paro airport is surrounded by mountains as high as 5500 metres and only has a single runway of length 1964 metres. Its single terminal was constructed in 1999 and it is a hub for two airlines: Bhutan airlines and Druk Air. Paro airport is such a difficult airport to land in that it can only be used in visual meteorological conditions and operational hours are restricted to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset. You really won’t want to miss this video focusing on the world’s most challenging airport to land at. Let us know in the comments what you thought of the scenery and the whole experience and, as always, thanks for watching!

Ataturk Airport at Istanbul is the busiest airport in Turkey with 68 million passengers travel through in 2018. This video shares activities of the last days of Ataturk Airport before the new Istanbul Airport took over the operation on 6th April 2019. Join me to watch the amazing plane spotting actions from Ataturk Airport and an emotional farewell to it. This airport is well known to its amazing plane spotting photos and locations to all the aviation lovers (AvGeeks) in the world. ------- Join us for a tribute and farewell video to the old Istanbul Ataturk airport, which has now ceased to operate commercial passenger flights in Turkey as this function has passed to the brand new Istanbul airport. The last ever commercial flight at the airport, Turkish Airlines Flight 54, left Istanbul Ataturk Airport in the early hours of the morning on April 6 2019 destined for Singapore. We engage in a very enjoyable and thorough plane spotting session during the last few days of Istanbul Ataturk airport’s commercial passenger flight operations with fellow plane spotting enthusiasts, including Turkish airlines pilots, who share their nostalgic and fond memories of the airport with us. Our plane spotting reveals the enormously diverse range of types of plane and airlines that have made use of Istanbul Ataturk airport with large, public passenger planes, cargo planes and private jets all being seen. In this video, we see aeroplanes from the flag carriers of a number of nations including Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Singapore (Singapore Airlines) as well as Etihad, Gulf Air, Star Alliance, Meraj airlines, Aegean Airlines, Onur Air and Kalitta air. We even see the Libyan airlines A320 which is a real treat. As of April 6 2019, Istanbul Ataturk airport remains open but now only primarily for cargo, private jet and state/diplomatic aircraft flights. All commercial, public, passenger flights have moved to the new Istanbul airport – check out my last video giving an exciting look in to the new Istanbul airport here: https://youtu.be/m-_-qa7DtW4 The Istanbul Ataturk airport first opened in 1912 but back then, it was a military airfield and had a different name: Yesilkoy Airport. It was only in the 1980s that the airport was renamed in honour of the first president of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In 2017, it was Europe’s fifth busiest airport and processed more than 63 million passengers that year. The airport features two, linked passenger terminals, as well as a dedicated cargo terminal, which interestingly is equipped to handle radioactive freight. Within the airport grounds are the headquarters of Turkish Airlines and Onur Air. The airport will surely be remembered for its long history of processing commercial passenger flights. It has earned accolades including Air Transport News’ 2013 Airport of the year and being on the “fifty works in fifty years” list, created by the Turkish chamber of Civil engineers to celebrate some of the most prestigious civil engineering projects in Turkish history. As always, thanks for watching and be sure to leave us a comment on any fond memories you may have of Istanbul Ataturk airport and your thoughts on the new Istanbul airport too!

The World's Biggest Airport - New Istanbul Airport is fully operational from 6th April 2019. All existing flight operations from current Ataturk Airport will be moved to the new Istanbul Airport. Let's take a quick peek inside the new Istanbul Airport. The airport took just 42 months to build and represent over 10 billion Euros of investment. Once fully complete it will have capacity for 200 million passengers annually. Check out the massive (biggest airport terminal building) and its impressive facilities in the video. Thanks to IGAirport for the drone footage. https://www.igairport.com/en ------- Join us for a first glimpse and tour of the brand new, lavish Istanbul airport, which has now replaced Istanbul Ataturk airport as the airport in Turkey for the processing of all commercial passenger flights, leaving the Istanbul Ataturk airport processing mainly only cargo flights. The new Istanbul airport is situated on the European side of the city in the Arnavutkoy district of Istanbul and is the third international airport to be built in Istanbul. The first stage of the airport’s construction, which has now been completed, has seen the creation of the airport’s main terminal which is now officially the world’s largest airport building under a single roof, spread over a colossal area of a mind boggling 1.4 million square meters. The airport is expected to handle and process 90 million passengers a year to start with in its current form but there are very ambitious plans to make the airport considerably larger – at the second stage of development, there are plans to add a third independent runway to the airport and the third stage will involve adding a second passenger terminal with a capacity for 60 million more passengers a year, bringing the airport’s capacity to 150 million people per annum and adding a fourth runway. The final stage of development will involve bringing the number of runways to six and adding satellite terminals providing an extra 50 million passengers a year capacity, bringing the airport to its maximum and fully developed capacity of 200 million passengers a year. Completion of the airport in its entirety is expected to be finished in 2027, at a cost of 10.2 billion euros. In the end, the airport will have four terminal buildings, interconnected with specially built railway access and will be spread over 3.2 million square meters, with a 6.5 million square meter apron consisting of aeroplane parking for 500 aircraft, VIP lounges, parking for 70,000 cars and even a state palace! It really is an extremely ambitious project and will provide a world-renowned airport for Turkish airlines and other airlines to travel to and from. In this video, we meet Stephan Schwolgin and also Imbat Boyar, customer experience manager of the airport, for additional insights in to the world’s largest airport and see the 566 check in counters and 228 passport control points, all waiting for the flood of passengers to come. The airport is truly a colossus – it would take you eighteen minutes to walk from end to end of the main terminal building. Thanks for watching and let us know what you thought of the brand new Istanbul airport in the comments below. We can’t wait to bring you further videos featuring the airport in future, showing the insides in more detail and monitoring the airport’s continued development.

This video is dedicated to all the hard working airline ground staff who often have to resolve last minute passenger and operational issues to ensure on-time flight operation. In this video, I follow Air France multicultural team agents to see how they conduct their daily work. How they work with other ground staff to help passengers who have language difficulties during their transit time at Paris CDG Airport. The first half of the video is in Chinese as I follow Jenny, a Chinese speaking agent of Air France to assist passenger departing to Shanghai and arriving from Beijing. Then I follow Lofti, an Arabic speaking agent to assist passenger departing to Amman, Jordan. Get an inside look at charles de gaulle airport terminal and the job that the airport ground staff have to do each day. ----- Join us for a very enjoyable, fly on the wall, in depth documentary look at a day in the life of Air France’s multicultural team at terminal 2E of Charles De Gaulle airport. Air France’s multicultural team consist of a set of highly skilled, multilingual ground staff who offer support and assistance to foreign travellers passing through Charles De Gaulle airport with a whole range of things including problems and enquiries to do with luggage, seating and last minute flight upgrades. In this video, we meet Jenny who is responsible for assisting Chinese passengers. We see her first assisting outbound Chinese passengers at the gate, dealing with a mother and young baby and a Chinese family with two children who wish to pre-board before the main boarding session for the children’s safety. She also assists with a disabled customer and introduces us to the Chinese speaking in-flight interpreter, who will continue the same great assistance for Chinese customers on board the flight. Next, we see Jenny helping a set of inbound Chinese customers and directing them to the right gates to catch their connecting flights, using her special iPad gadget which lets her scan customers’ boarding passes and see in an instant all the details associated with their journey. We also meet Lofti, who speaks Arabic and deals with customers coming and going to and from the Middle East. We see him assist outbound customers off to Jordan and hear about some of the challenges particular to dealing with Middle Eastern flights, including non-24 hour border opening times. So come with us and meet the smiling faces of Charles de Gaulle airport who work hard day and night to ensure that all of their foreign visitors receive a very warm welcome and stellar service. This video is all about giving credit to the professional ground staff of Charles de Gaulle airport and all major international airports, so let us know in the comments – what great things have ground staff at airports you have travelled through done for you? As always, thanks for watching! Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest international airport in France and is also the second largest airport in Europe. It is named after the President of France who ruled from 1959 to 1969 and is located a short distance North East of Paris. It is the main hub for Air France and ranks number ten on the list of the world’s busiest airports. Terminal 2E of Charles de Gaulle Airport, featured in this video, is split in to two halls L and M and you can see the convenient little internal train within the airport that connects these two halls within this video too. Air France has a long history of looking after its international customers. Recently, it has begun to pay special attention to its Japanese customers, integrating the culture and traditions of Japan in to its service through Japanese in-flight meals including miso soup, Kobachi starters, Dainomono and Konomono pickles and through the celebration of cherry blossom season (Hanami) by having its multicultural team dressed in traditional Japanese clothing at the boarding gates and distributing pink sweets to its customers. This celebration of Hanami is expected to continue until April 15th 2019.

I took 4 lucky giveaway winners for a flight on-board Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner. These winners are really passionate about aviation but have never flown once in their life before. I am glad to offer them this opportunity to enjoy the latest aircraft of Biman Bangladesh; the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We flew from Dhaka to Chittagong and had a day out. Later we returned by Biman Dash8-Q400 back to Dhaka with cockpit night takeoff and landing footage. The next day I flew out of Dhaka on Biman B787 Dreamliner again to Muscat in Business Class. I was met by very nice surprises from the crew and able to film some great cockpit takeoff and landing footage. --- In this trip report video, we enjoy flying with Biman Airlines on board their most modern and most recently purchased plane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We have some of you guys on board for company too, letting us know what you think of the upgraded and modern entertainment systems and other features. We were pleased to make, what was for some of you, your very first flight very special. See inside the 787 Dreamliner cockpit and watch as we examine the sophisticated entertainment touch screens of economy class, before receiving a surprise upgrade to business class, courtesy of Biman airlines, where we examine the reclining and lie flat nature of these more premium seats. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner first entered in to actual commercial service in October 2011 with Air Nippon Airways and delivers the significant advantage of being 20% more fuel efficient than its predecessor the Boeing 767. The model is highly complex and advanced, being the first ever airliner to have its core structure composed primarily of composite materials, having almost entirely electrical flight systems and even having special noise reducing technology in its jet engines, the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and the General Electric GEnx. The plane typically seats 234 when business, premium economy and economy classes are provided and, Biman Airlines being no exception, most airlines choose to arrange the seats in three columns of seat rows with each row containing three seats. Our first flight is a short 30 minute journey from Dhaka to Chittagong, arriving in Shah Amanat international airport. After a highly enjoyable and fun tour of Chittagong, including a great visit to the beach and friendly interaction with the Bangladeshi locals, we head back to Dhaka on our second flight in the Bombardier Q400, naturally also with Biman airlines. Having finished our extended tour of Bangladesh and our focus on Biman airlines, we head to Muscat, Oman in business class. Before going on this third and final flight of the video, there is just time to examine the Biman Maslin executive lounge and all of the tasty food it has to offer for travellers. Up in the air, we enjoy examining the traditional sari print decorations on the inside walls of the plane, sampling a wide variety of entertainment, including music videos and live television, before a surprise well-wishing celebration by Biman staff, complete with cake! Join us for this final instalment of our very special, three part series focussing on Biman airlines and Bangladeshi aviation and don’t forget to check out the other two videos in the series (links below) and also to leave a comment about what you thought of the whole amazing tour! Part 2: https://youtu.be/5pE91RRFV4k Part 1: https://youtu.be/np1if0hc_30

This video follows my first video on-board Biman B777-300/ER from London to Dhaka. After I arrived in Dhaka, I was greeted by the crazy street scenes and i took time to explore around. I was given a behind the scenes tour of the facilities of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. I visited Biman Bangladesh Airlines catering center, gaining an insight of their catering process. Then I visited Biman Bangladesh Airlines hangar, seeing how maintenance is done first hand. Full description: In this trip report video, part two of our adventure in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka and continuing on from our fabulous Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on the Boeing 777-300ER from London to Dhaka via Sylhet, we take an exclusive and up-close look inside the on-the-ground Biman meal catering facility and factory as well as experiencing Bangladeshi culture, speaking with Biman flight engineers and, most importantly, meeting with you guys in a special Bangladeshi aviation enthusiasts’ meet and greet. We experience the busy, chaotic and crowded nature of Dhaka, with its many market stalls, jostling crowds, crammed roads and huge clothing factories churning out millions of garments a year. We also take a fun ride in a human powered rickshaw and see some of the development that is taking place in Dhaka, especially the laying of brand new roads. Inside the Biman flight catering center complex, which produces a staggering ten thousand meals and four hundred kilos of chicken curry a day, we take a fly-on-the-wall and in-depth look at each stage of the production of an in-flight meal. We visit the huge storage warehouse filled to the rafters with hundreds of litres of soft drinks and many tonnes of rice, flour, vegetables and other staples. Our first stop after this is the bakery where all of those delicious in flight bread rolls, Danish pastries and sweet desserts are produced. We also see the enormous food preparation area where mountains of diced vegetables await being expertly combined in to beautiful salads. After this introduction, we see the main engine room of the catering facility, the hot kitchen, with drums boiling 150 litres of water at a time and pots and pans fit for a giant’s kitchen! You’ll be wishing you could reach in to your screen and taste for yourself as you see the endless trays of curry and rice. We then see the final stages of the production line, with expertly disciplined staff portioning off the food to strict weight requirements, before the food is fast chilled, labelled and ready to be transported by truck to the next group of hungry Biman airline customers! Our stomachs full, we enjoy a generous helping of plane spotting at Dhaka airport and meet one of the large group of female Biman engineers who take care of the aeroplanes in Biman’s huge hangar, constructed back in 1990, before moving on to the fan meet and greet with you guys – you really feel the love out in Bangladesh and I was so excited to be able to meet you all, to share in your passion for aviation and to make this great video celebrating Biman Airlines and Bangladesh aviation – thanks for everything! A treat for the eyes (and the stomach!) we hope you enjoyed this two part Biman Bangladesh Airlines special!

ANA took delivery of the first A380 in a stunning livery called "Flying Honu". I was invited to the delivery ceremony. It was such a momentous day to see the most special A380 livery called "Flying Honu" (Turtle) flying in the sky! Watch the video to enjoy the special delivery ceremony and all the on-board products from First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class which also feature a unique ANA COUCHii seating. ANA will reveal the real interior of their A380 in a later date in Tokyo. The ANA A380 will be operating exclusively on Tokyo Narita to Honolulu route with special menu, amenities on-board as explained and shown in the video. -- In this video, we celebrate and examine the delivery of All Nippon Airways’ first ordered A380 and what makes the set of three A380’s ordered by Japan’s largest airline, also known as Zennikkū, extra special. Each of the three Airbus A380’s ordered by ANA will be painted in a striking, bright and fun livery with eyes and a nose and mouth painted on to the front of the plane, ultimately depicting sea turtles native to Hawaii. The first delivered plane’s blue livery is dubbed “Flying Honu” and symbolises the sky. The other themes will be the ocean and sunset, focusing on the colours turquoise/green and orange respectively – the green liveried plane is expected to emerge from the factory in Hamburg on 25th March 2019. The liveries are some of the most elaborate ever attempted by Airbus – the first blue plane alone has taken 21 days to paint, making use of 16 unique shades of colour. Flying Honu is scheduled to fly from Japan to Hawaii in the United States three times a week from late May 2019, departing from Narita international airport in Tokyo and arriving at Honolulu international airport. During the delivery ceremony of the first A380 to ANA, Yutaka Ito, the executive vice president of ANA, remarked that the introduction of the Airbus A380 in to their arsenal was “something that the entire team at ANA is very excited about.” And with very good reason. The new aeroplanes will feature four different cabins spread out over a staggering 520 seats between the upper and lower decks, catering for first, business, premium economy and economy classes as well as a fifth unique class introduced by ANA – “COUCHii,” which will feature seats with extendable leg rests that convert in to a bed. First class passengers will be treated to massive 32 inch televisions and modernised, secluded suites with sliding doors and on-board novelties will include an All Nippon Airways exclusive bright blue Hawaii cocktail and a menu for economy class designed by Australian chef Bill Granger. There are even plans to build a dedicated A380 lounge at Honolulu international airport, providing separate entrances for premium passengers that connect straight to the exclusive upper deck of the aircraft. With so much space and luxury, and the solid and reliable power of the Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines behind them, these new A380’s are likely to be the new jewels in the crown for Air Nippon Airways. What do you think of the unique A380 liveries? Which is your favourite? Leave a comment down below and be sure to check out my recent video about the Airbus A380 more generally, The rise and fall of the A380, at https://youtu.be/HmHjI9Z_vbI

Follow me on a colourful journey from London to Bangladesh on-board Biman Bangladesh Airlines B777-300/ER. This is their flagship route from London to Dhaka with an immediate stop in Sylhet. During this trip report video, I will show you both Business Class and Economy Class service and seating. Watch out of many fun Interactions with many Bangladeshi passengers and crew! This is the first part of 2 mega vlogs. Stay tuned for the next episode where I was given a tour at Biman Catering Center and hangar. I took 4 lucky winners and first time flyers to fly Biman Boeing 787 Dreamliner. -- From one bustling metropolis to another by air – immerse yourself in an exhilarating flight from London to Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on board the Boeing 777-300ER with the national flag carrier of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airlines. We go via the Bangladeshi city of Sylhet, making use of Osmani International Airport, the third largest airport in Bangladesh after those in the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong. Our flight is delayed in taking off by a few hours but that gives us all the more time to experience the executive Plaza premium lounge! On board, we examine the economy and business classes of Biman and enjoy the personal and delicate hospitality provided by Biman Airlines air crew. Due to the currently closed Pakistani air-space, this flight took a few hours longer than normal but this delay also works to our advantage, giving us more time to savour the famous and exquisite Biman Air curry and enjoy a well earned nap as we look at the sleeping arrangements on board Biman. Whilst Biman operates internal flights between Sylhet and Dhaka which arrive from major international destinations such as London and Abu Dhabi, interestingly it is currently impossible to take a direct flight from Sylhet to an international destination; one must go through Dhaka first. This apparent contradiction is caused by the runways at Osmani International not being adapted for heavier aeroplanes to take off from and is set to be rectified within two years in a 63 million US dollar upgrade project. Biman comes from humble roots, having been founded in 1972 as a government owned entity and initially only operating internal flights between Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore and Sylhet using a single Douglas DC-3 aeroplane borrowed from India. It enjoyed a monopoly on air travel within Bangladesh until the dawn of competition in 1996 and was privatised in 2007. Since then, it has signed deals with Boeing for several new aircraft, including the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and has greatly increased the scope and quality of its on board amenities, investing heavily to bring internet, telephone and television services on board its new Boeing aeroplanes.

For $20 off a suitcase, visit http://awaytravel.com/sam and use the promo code ‘SAM’ during checkout. This video is sponsored by Away Travel. In this video, I traveled on Air Belgium A340 operating for British Airways flight from Dubai to London in Business Class (Club World). Find out how this interesting mega hybrid experience fare. Is the Air Belgium product better than British Airways one? I also gave some hints and tips on this flight. Let's fly together by watching the video! Owing to recent problems with the Rolls Royce engines of the British Airways 787 Dreamliner aeroplane, we took this British Airways flight on board the Air Belgium A340. It was an interesting hybrid flying experience, with the crew and aeroplane being from Air Belgium but the food, pillows, accessories and decoration being supplied by British Airways. So you see, we weren’t kidding, we really did fly with ABBA! Before take-off, see inside the British Airways Dubai lounge and all of the tasty food they have to offer, as well as the exclusive first class, Concorde bar section. During the flight, we examine the sleeping arrangements provided by British Airways as well as the quality of the on-boarding catering, including the provision of main meal, dessert and snacks, and the on-board entertainment system. We also speak with the, as always, extremely diverse range of air crew hailing from everywhere from Belgium to China to Mauritius and we find out what makes them excited to provide a first class service to passengers on board. We also meet the friendly Belgian pilot, and briefly discuss the impact that the day’s strong head-winds had on our flight. Relax and enjoy the flight and be sure to leave a comment down below on what you thought of it all!

Following the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash on March 10th and the Indonesian Lion Air 737 MAX 8 crash on October 29th 2018, I discuss the safety of the Boeing 737 Max plane. I also speak with a pilot who shares his insights about the airplane's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Learn more about the build process of the Boeing 737 Max along with it's interior and cockpit features in this video. Special thanks to The Air Current for providing images. -- The tragic demise of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on 10 March 2019 has sent shockwaves around the world and made headline news. The horrific accident has claimed the lives of 157 people; 149 passengers and 8 crew. It is the deadliest aviation incident that Ethiopia has ever experienced and has once again called in to question the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, for which this is the second fatal accident, the first being the crashing of Lion Air Flight 610 in to the Java Sea, just 12 minutes after take-off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 29 October 2018. We must wait for the results of the official investigation but there is already speculation that the MCAS – Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System – may have been at least partially to blame. Both the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airline flights showed unstable and erratic vertical altitude shortly before crashing and it is possible that the sensors on the side of the plane fed false information to the flight computer, indicating wrongly that the angle of attack of the plane was too steep and causing the flight computer to automatically try to compensate by adjusting the back, horizontal tail, lowering the nose of the plane and fighting against the pilots trying to keep the aeroplane in the air. The short gap between these two incidents, of only about five months, has led to calls for the grounding all of all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft and the Civil Aviation Administration of China have already ordered all their domestic airlines to cease using the aircraft pending the results of the investigation in to the incident, already grounding almost 100 aircraft. The Cayman Islands and Morocco have taken similar action. The financial consequences for Boeing are likely to be severe. The share price of Boeing has fallen by more than 10% in the immediate aftermath of the event and the Boeing 737 MAX 8 generates almost one third of Boeing’s annual operating profit. Chinese Airlines accounted for 20% of 737 MAX deliveries across the world in January of this year and big Chinese airlines such as China Southern Airlines, with 34 of the planes on order, may very well consider cancelling their order as fear and concerns surrounding the safety of the aircraft grow, leading to multi-billion dollar losses for Boeing in what is another terrible reputational hit to the aeroplane manufacturing firm. Boeing are preparing to send their own team of experts to Ethiopia to assist in the investigation of this latest incident and the launch of the new Boeing 777X has been postponed. Since the aeroplane in question was delivered brand new to Ethiopian airlines in November 2018, making the aeroplane four or five months old at the time of the crash, a similar age to the age of the aeroplane involved in the Lion Air crash, Boeing will be intent on showing that there is not an innate fault with one of its most popular aircraft models; the reputation of one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers is well and truly at stake.

I flew on the supersonic Concorde in 2003 from New York to London in just over 3 hours at twice the speed of sound. This video shares with you the ultimate flight of my life; on-board the supersonic Concorde. Watch with a detail explanation of the Concorde cockpit's unique features plus a ride in the Concorde simulator. Several Concorde Pilots and cabin crew members spoke about their feelings about the Concorde. Special thanks to Brooklands Museum in Surrey England for the permission to film. They open year-round for visitors to enjoy the Concorde experience: https://www.brooklandsmuseum.com/ Concorde Drone Footage by John Carter/J2 Production Services -- In this video, we pay homage to and celebrate the extraordinary service life of the supersonic Concorde jet whose inaugural flight occurred 50 years ago on 2nd March 1969. Re-live the extraordinary and exciting 50th anniversary celebrations held at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey, England, which houses the only Concorde simulator in the world, and see for yourself why this aeroplane will always be on another level compared to all others. The Concorde jet was a miracle of engineering in many ways – a flight from London to New York could be completed in three and a half hours, allowing wealthy businessmen to, astonishingly, fly to New York for a meeting and return home the same day. The aeroplane’s top speed of just over twice the speed of sound – Mach 2.04 or 1,354 miles per hour – meant that time travel was no longer confined to the realms of science fiction; flights could take off in darkness in London in the evening and arrive in day-light in the early afternoon in New York the same day. Even today the aeroplane looks extremely futuristic which is a testament to how far ahead of the curve Concorde was at the time. In this video, we take a look at the internal features of this aeroplane which made it unique, including its fighter jet like cockpit with analogue controls, smaller than average windows to protect against decompression and cooling and heat protection system to deliver the plane from the effects of friction with the air, magnified many times due to the plane’s supersonic speeds. We also see the famous drooping nose and accompanying visor of the Concorde jet, giving greatly enhanced landing and take-off visibility when down and supreme aerodynamic efficiency when raised. The Concorde jet was developed jointly by Sud Aviation, now Aerospatiele and Airbus, and the British Aircraft Corporation, now BAE systems. Sadly, the production run of Concorde was much smaller than anticipated due to massive overruns in both time and budget – the original program cost of Concorde was estimated at £70 million but ended up being £1.3 billion. With so few planes, British Airways and Air France could never recoup the cost of the aeroplanes and so this was absorbed by the British and French governments respectively but their high ticket prices – a round-trip from London to New York typically cost $8,000 – still made Concorde highly profitable for the airlines, apparently ensuring that Concorde would race along the skies for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the sonic boom of Concorde, was not welcome in populated areas and so Concorde was restricted to flights over the ocean. The fatal event for Concorde, however, came in July 2000 when Air France Flight 4590 crashed after take-off, en route to New York, before even leaving France, killing everyone on board. Subsequent reductions in ticket sales meant that the decision to retire Concorde was taken in April 2003 and attempts by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic to purchase the British Airway’s Concorde fleet were not successful. Sadly, fate cut short the service life of Concorde but she will always be remembered as the lightning bolt of the skies; able to go higher, faster and louder than any other commercial aeroplane. Her legacy survives in the likes of the Boeing 777, which make use of the electronic fly-by-wire acceleration systems that were first introduced in Concorde.

Try Dashlane here: https://www.dashlane.com/sam Get 10% off now with promotion code "sam" on Dashlane premium! Watch this video for the World's Top 10 Airline Cabin Crew by Sam Chui. Enjoy the flight attendant interaction with Sam and other passengers. You will see flight attendant working in galley and their crew rest area. Count down from Number 10 to 1 for the best airline flight attendants, watch out for many surprises! Note: The ranking is strictly based on personal experience and preference. Cover Image by A Fly Guy https://internationalflyguy.com/ 12:07 Follow Cherag https://www.instagram.com/cheragdubash/ 13:47 Follow Mayur https://www.instagram.com/mayurkashyap17/ 16:15 Follow Skywardfreak https://www.instagram.com/skywardsfreak/ This video is sponsored by Dashlane -- Enjoy an informative, nostalgic and personal insight in to my top 10 favourite airlines in this video based on the superb on-board customer experience that they provide. Meet the airline stewards and stewardesses who make it all happen and see the hectic activity that goes on backstage in the aeroplane’s galley to make sure that your pillows are plumped, your privacy is protected, your food is tasty and hot and that cocktail is sublime! In this video, we meet the kind and friendly staff of South African Airways, the vibrant staff of Philippine Airlines and the fun, loving and outgoing staff of Air Asia, as well as the more reserved staff, but certainly no less professional and courteous, of Qantas, Qatar Airways and Emirates. We also meet the staff of Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Eva Air and recall special, unforgettable moments spent in the air with this group of airlines at times such as Christmas, as well as seeing the little personal touches that all the airlines in this video provide that make them worthy of inclusion in this top 10. You’ll be astonished at the lengths that the airline staff in this video go to in order to ensure a hospitable and comfortable flight, both in business class and economy class, and their ability to adapt to the specific challenges presented by the different models of aeroplane they fly in such as the A350 1000 of Qatar Airways, the Boeing 777 of Emirates and the SQ21 of Singapore Airlines. Which airline has your loyalty and is your number 1? Let me know your opinions in the comments and thanks as always for watching.

The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger and most expensive airliner in the world. Last week, Airbus announced it will end production of the A380 in 2021. How the once promising Airbus superjumbo went from airline status symbol to reject in just 10 years? Let’s take a look at the rise and fall of the A380 in this special documentary video. For plane spotting, trip reports, daily aviation news and deals update, follow me on social media: Blog: https://samchui.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samchui/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamChuiPhotos Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samchuiphotos Music by Tunes Beat: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Eh2Hhv9poD5rrOqe8HhOw -- The Airbus A380 will hold a special place in many aeroplane enthusiast’s hearts considering its status as the world’s largest passenger airline and its sophisticated, luxurious and spacious first class suites, complete even with an entire bathroom and shower. However, it is undeniable that this aeroplane did not successfully challenge the Boeing 747’s dominance in the long haul flight market, as was Airbus’s aim, and was something of a commercial failure – not only did delays in the development of the model cause much higher than projected development costs, but Airbus have admitted that they are unlikely to be able to recoup the full staggering 25 billion euro price tag on bringing this model to market. This video sheds light on went wrong for this giant of the aeroplane industry, the super jumbo jet. The Airbus A380 was aimed at airlines operating from airports with high levels of aeroplane congestion. With its two deck layout with space enough theoretically for 853 passengers, it seemed like the perfect plane to aim at airlines performing long haul flights with limited timeframes during each day to take off to make for a convenient arrival time at the destination. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the airline Emirates was the biggest purchaser of this model of plane, as it seemed perfect for their business model which has always involved funnelling a large volume of flights through Abu Dhabi airport. However, the 20th century, four engine design made the cost per seat for the airline very high and despite the extra money that customers were willing to pay to travel with increased room and comfort, and the promise by Airbus that these planes would be the answer to the highly time-slot constrained nature of major international airports such as London Heathrow, significant orders from airline giants such as British Airways never materialised. Though the Dubai base of the Emirates airline became a swarm of A380’s, other major international hubs like Paris, Amsterdam and Istanbul were instead thriving on smaller aeroplanes, with Airbus’s smaller A350 emerging as the apparent major future workhorse for these airports. Production of the A380 is set to cease in 2021, after the biggest customer for these super jumbo jets, Emirates, cancelled its most recent order for 39 of them but we can expect to see the Airbus A380 still touching down and taking off well in to the 2030’s, especially as airlines will want to get the most out of these expensive and large aeroplanes, which are not expected to have great second-hand value. The Airbus A380 is evidence that, at least in the aviation industry, bigger is not always better but the aeroplane will still be forever cherished as that great and luxurious whale of the skies.

This video celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Boeing 747, queen of the sky! Watch the rare 747 roll out and first flight footage from 50 years ago. I pay tribute to my favorite airplane with selected footage over many 747 flights throughout the years. From the rare cockpit takeoff and landing footage on the 747 classic to the modern luxury 747-8 interior and everything in between, this video is a must for every 747 and any aviation fans! Note: 747 historical footage are used under the approval by Boeing. ------- The Boeing 747 was ubiquitous as the world’s “Jumbo jet” with a powerful quad-jet engine and a 150% greater passenger and cargo capacity than its predecessor, the Boeing 707. The aeroplane had its first commercial flight in 1970, taking off from Dulles international airport after a special ceremony to christen the plane involving First Lady Pat Nixon, with the airline Pan American World Airways and held the record for maximum passenger capacity for an astonishing 37 years. The aeroplane has been regularly used by the prestigious likes of British Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air and Atlas air. The distinctive shape of the upper deck made the aeroplane versatile, with this feature permitting an exclusive first class lounge, as seen in this video, whilst also facilitating the forward thinking commercial ideas of Boeing, who actually saw the aeroplane’s long term use being in cargo carrying – the rounded shape allowed the plane to be easily converted to a cargo carrier by removing seats and installing a front cargo door. The Boeing 747 surpassed all expectations – its production figures were not expected to exit the hundreds but by 1993, production of the aeroplane had surpassed 1000 units as the predicted dominance of supersonic aeroplanes failed to materialise. The Boeing 747 has enjoyed one of the longest runs of service of any model of aeroplane and select aeroplanes are still in use today, including the Boeing 747-200 and Boeing 747-400. A number of these wonderful aeroplanes have found homes in museums all over the world upon their retirement, for future generations to admire and appreciate the genesis of the marvel that is the Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

I traveled on United new Boeing 787-10 from Los Angeles to Newark in Polaris Business Class. This is a video review of United new 787-10 focus in Polaris Business Class and Premium Plus, United's new Premium Economy Class. This video also showcase the new United Polaris Lounge at Newark. Watch the video as it unfolds a few touching stories include a retirement of United mechanic after 32 years and a flight attendant sharing her life stories.

Watch this video to learn how to fly Japan Airlines First Class really cheap using Alaska Air miles. After flying JAL domestic first class from Sapporo to Tokyo, I traveled in style on Japan Airlines B777-300/ER in First Class from Tokyo to San Francisco. I also reviewed Japan Airlines First Class lounge in Tokyo Haneda with surprises! Music by Tune Beats https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Eh2Hhv9poD5rrOqe8HhOw/featured Subscribe to my channel, Sam Chui, for more luxury travel & aviation content including trip report and flight report videos!

Watch the BEST Plane Spotting action from some of the best airport locations in Asia; Phuket, Thailand and Sapporo Chitose, Japan. I will show you where these locations are and the best time to do so in the video. These hidden gem locations offer the best variety and quality of plane spotting. Enjoy the non-stop plane spotting action! Cover image by Will Thanat https://instagram.com/will_thanat?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=1o8v4ayhwf183

This video features the MEBAA Middle East Business Aviation Show which showcase the latest top of the line private jets. Watch the video for a tour inside the latest Gulfstream G500 and Gulfstream G650ER, Airbus ACJ 319, Boeing 757 BBJ, Sukhoi Superjet RRJ95, Bombardier Global 7500 and Vista Jet Bombardier Global Express 6000. Which one do you prefer?

This video shows you the full Japan Airlines JAL Domestic First Class experience include Lounge to seating to service and food. Pay just 8000 Yen ($70) on the day of departure at the airport for an upgrade from Economy to First Class on Japan Airlines Domestic Flight. I've recently got upgraded from Sapporo to Tokyo on Japan Airlines flight. This video also show you how to just pay 1,000 yen ($9) to be upgraded from Economy to Business Class on Japan Airlines domestic flight! Subscribe to my channel, Sam Chui, for more travel & aviation videos including trip report and flight report videos.

In 2018 I traveled on all 3 US Major carriers International Long haul flights. Let's have a detail look of the lounge, seating, food and beverage, service, sleeping amenities and ground experience on US Airlines international flight offering currently. I also compare the travel classes including American airlines business class vs United Polaris Business Class. Check out which one is my favourite and why. Flights: American B777-300/ER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhWygfT5zsw American B787-9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5MCfsIyicU Delta One A350 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3yUhEjzVcc United Polaris B777-300/ER https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE3dbYKJfP8 Music used by Tune Beats https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Eh2Hhv9poD5rrOqe8HhOw

Exclusive look and access to the World's Busiest International Airport Air Traffic Control Center at Dubai Airport. Check out behind the scenes of Dubai Air Traffic Control (ATC). Thanks to the invite and organization of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) My dream came true! I visited the Dubai Int'l (DXB) Air Traffic Control tower and Dubai Al Maktoum (DWC) Air Traffic control unit. This video shows behind the scenes of Air Traffic Control in Dubai, the busiest International airport in the world. It will show you all aspect of Air Traffic Control. For more information, please visit http://www.dans.gov.ae/

Try Dashlane for free for 30-days here: https://www.dashlane.com/sam Get 10% off now with promotion code "sam" on Dashlane premium! Welcome to my last VLOG of 2018! I flew with Emirates Airlines A380 from DubaI to Barcelona on Christmas eve. This is a very special and unusual flight as I celebrated Christmas and the festive season together on-board with Emirates cabin crew and passengers. It felt like a MEGA PARTY on-board! Also don't forget to watch behind the scenes at the end of the video! Enjoy the festive season in this vlog together! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This video is sponsored by Dashlane.

2018 have been a huge and busy year for me. I've made over 70 vlogs alone. This is the year end recap video showing you the BEST of Sam Chui in 2018. Enjoy the 10 minute special recap! I would like to sincerely thank you for your support in 2018. You have kept me going better and stronger to deliver the BEST aviation travel experience. My goal is to share my real experience with you every time when I fly. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

During MEBAA show (Middle East Business Aviation Association) I have a tour of the top of the line Embraer Executive Jet, the Lineage 1000E which cost over $54 million! Check out the double shower, private bedroom, 5 zones on-board, crew rest, 3 bathroom and private galley. Christmas Giveaway - Enter here: https://gleam.io/rrY7Y/christmas-giveaway

I was invited to view the Airbus Corporate Jet A340-500 from Las Vegas Sands by Citadel Completions at the MEBAA business jet airshow in Dubai. The interior is beyond amazing. It is the most opulent and luxurious one I've seen. It cost more than $100 million for the interiors alone!

For more information on AirHelp and get up to $700 in flight compensation, visit https://samchui.com/2018/12/13/delayed-flight-get-up-to-700-in-compensation-with-airhelp/ I've flown with Alitalia from Tokyo to Rome in Class Magnifica (Business Class) on their B777-200/ER. The video shows you my experience on Alitalia with fine food, fine wine and fine Italian fashion and crew engagement. For more information on Alitalia flight and its lounge https://samchui.com/category/alitalia/

I was the ONLY passenger on-board Asiana Airlines B747-400 from Taipei to Incheon in First Class so I have the whole cabin to myself and felt like my own private B747 jet! Check out the video to see what it feels like flying a B747 alone! To enter my Christmas Giveaway! Visit link below. Good Luck! https://gleam.io/rrY7Y/christmas-giveaway You can also enjoy 30% off shopping of all my merchandise using coupon code "samchui" at check out https://samchui.com/shop/

For $20 off a suitcase, visit http://awaytravel.com/sam and use the promo code ‘sam’ during checkout. This video is sponsored by Away Travel. Check out the brand new EVA AIR B787-9 Dreamliner in this video. I flew EVA AIR from Taipei to Tokyo Narita on-board their latest B787 Dreamliner. Cabin was so beautiful with amazing food and service. Don't miss out the XiaoLongBao challenge and see if i can eat it properly using chopstick! #samchui #EvaAir #EvaAirB787 #EvaAirDreamliner

In May this year, I visited the Delta Air Lines museum in Atlanta. This is the BEST AIRLINE MUSEUM I've ever been. It houses the first B747-400 in the world, B767-200 Spirit of Delta, the original Delta Dust Cropping plane, a shiney silver DC-3 and many interesting items. After the tour of museum, I visited the Delta Tech Ops and Operation Center to see first hand how the operation is conducted.

I flew the amazing sweet and cute EVA AIR HELLO KITTY Flight from Singapore to Taipei. Check out the video to see what are the hype and differences on this Hello Kitty special flight. It was such a joyful flight with many kids together. I am pretty sure you will love it and find your childhood times back! For more information on EVA Air Hello Kitty flights: http://www.evakitty.com/en/index.html

Surf Air has a very different membership model that enable members to fly as much as they can in any given month. I tried out Surf Air flights between Las Vegas and LA and later LA to Bay Area with my mother. I've also flew Surf Air with influencer Ayla Woodruff. Check this video out to see how Surf Air is like and how my mother enjoy her flying with his son. During our flight we saw crazy wild fire across California. For those who are interested about Surf Air Membership, please go to https://www.surfair.com/us/

Last week, I flew American Airlines B787-9 from Los Angeles to Beijing in their Business Class. It was a total different experience to my American B777-300/ER experience. It was very fun and enjoyable. Subscribe to my channel, Sam Chui, for more travel & aviation content including trip report and flight report videos.

I was invited by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to share my life story to the student in Hong Kong last month. During the talk, I shared my earlier life, the reason why I am so into aviation. How I started create contents and monetize my contents? How I later turned this into a full time job and still loving it? What it takes for other to follow the same footstep? This video should answer many of your questions and curiosity about me. Sharing is Caring. It is time to share my aviation experience together with my followers. This is my biggest giveaway! I will fly with you to enjoy the flight experience together. There will be 5 winners in total in this giveaway. Good Luck and let’s enjoy aviation together! To enter the giveaway: https://gleam.io/QnrsK/sam-chui-aviation-experience-giveaway

It was my first time flying American Airlines long haul International flight! I flew on American Airlines Flagship B777-300/ER from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. I was pleasantly surprised by the product offerings on American Airlines Business Class! I am very used to the high standards on Asian and Middle Eastern carriers but AA did not disappoint on my international flight. On arrival at LAX, I checked out the AA flagship lounge and flagship dining.

The real Hong Kong scenes where I grew up. My love of aviation began in Hong Kong. I visited the Old Kai Tak Airport after 20 years of closure. I went to the current Hong Kong Int'l Airport for some amazing plane spotting and caught the most beautiful sunset. Sound Track by Ikson (Sunshine) https://soundcloud.com/ikson

I've flown with Cathay Pacific A350-900 from Hong Kong to Singapore in Premium Economy and return on Cathay A350-1000 from Singapore to Hong Kong in Cathay Economy Class. This video is a detail review of Cathay Pacific Premium Economy and Economy Class. Also it covers Cathay Pacific Premium Lounges (The Pier) in Hong Kong and Singapore. In this video: 0:20 Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong 3:19 Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge The Pier Hong Kong 5:10 Hong Kong Airport Tour by golf cart 5:40 Cathay Pacific A350-900 Hong Kong to Singapore in Premium Economy 10:12 Singapore Changi Airport T4 10:54 Cathay Pacific Singapore Changi Lounge 11:30 Cathay Pacific A350-1000 Singapore to Hong Kong in Economy

This is my first destination vlog. Followed by the Emirates A380 First Class flight to Morocco, I explored around Marrakech. There were so many unique sights in the old town but also lot of scams on tourist. Watch the vlog to find out all the scams. I have a great time flying Heliconia Eurocopter AS350 over Marrakech and the green Atlas Mountain. In the video: 3:36 - AS350 Helicopter Flight over Atlas Mountain

I traveled with the popular Emirates A380 First Class flight from Dubai to Casablanca, Morocco. Apart from enjoyingh all the First Class amenities, I tried out the Emirates Shower and Spa at 39,000 ft in the sky. I was able to sit down to have a hammam on myself inside the shower. Watch the video to see how does it feels! In this video: 1:21 - Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai C concourse 2:18 - Emirates EK751 Dubai to Casablanca A380 5:22 - Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge 9:53 - Emirates First Class Shower & Spa

Trying Out brand new Boeing 737 MAX 9 on COPA Airlines from LA to Panama then onto Punta Cana. Check out the new interior of COPA Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9. In this video: 0:18 - Star Alliance Lounge LAX 1:18 - COPA Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 tour 2:24 - Pilot walking around plane 3:54 - COPA Airlines Flight CM362 LA to Panama 9:28 - COPA Club at Panama City 10:38 - COPA Airlines B737-800 CM568 to Punta Cana Music Track by Ikson https://soundcloud.com/ikson #Copa #CopaAirlines #SamChui #Boeing737max

I was the first passenger to fly the Brand New Embraer Praetor 500 private jet from Punta Cana to Ft Lauderdale ahead of the new jet launch at NBAA 2018. Check out all the features of the new Embraer Praetor 500 mid-size jet in the video. For more information: https://samchui.com/2018/10/16/introducing-embraer-latest-business-jets-praetor-500-and-praetor-600/#.W8nYphMzbOQ #SamChui #Embraer #EmbraerPraetor #Praetor500

Join me to fly the World's Longest Flight SQ21 from New York/Newark to Singapore on Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR. (Ultra Long Range) This video shows everything about this Ultra Long Haul Flight. I was genuinely interested to see how the premium economy class is on this ultra long flight. Watch the video to see how I survive on the World's Longest Flight! In this video: 0:10 - Airbus footage of building A350ULR 1:25 - Cabin Tour of Singapore Airlines A350ULR 2:28 - Virgin Atlantic Club House Newark 2:35 - Gate Ceremony at Newark before departure 4:43 - The World's Longest Flight from NY to Singapore 12:38 - Captain's briefing of the flight 19:13 - Behind the scenes celebration For more of trip details, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2018/10/13/the-worlds-longest-flight-singapore-airlines-newark-to-singapore/

United invited me to try out their new Polaris Business Class on their B777-300/ER. Opinion and views are my own. I flew United new B777-300/ER from Hong Kong to San Francisco. I also visited the United Arrivals Lounge and the new United Polaris Lounge at SFO. In this video: 1:03 United Club Hong Kong 2:11 United B777-300/ER Polaris Business Class flight to San Francisco 11:14 United Arrivals Lounge San Francisco 11:52 United Polaris Lounge San Francisco More About United on my Blog: https://samchui.com/category/united/ United old B747-400 photo credit: Andrew Hunt https://www.airliners.net/user/andyhunt/profile/photos

Who's the best airlines in Africa? Watch this video to decide! I have a pleasant flight on South African Airways from Harare to Johannesburg on their A320 in Business Class then catching Ethiopian Airlines A350 to Addis Ababa and B737-800 onto Dubai. Check out both airlines Business Class product offering. In this video - 0:01 South African Airways Lounge Harare 0:36 South African Airways A320 Business Class 4:45 South African Airways Premium Lounge Johannesburg 7:00 Ethiopian Airlines A350 Business Class 12:15 Addis Ababa Transit Experience 13:38 Ethiopian Airlines B737-800 Business Class I've redeemed 35,000 Avianca Lifemiles to fly between Africa and Middle East in Business Class. This is a great sweet spot to use Lifemiles to fly!

This video is about my Air Zimbabwe B767-200 and B737-200 flying adventure inside Zimbabwe. Is flying Air Zimbabwe really dangerous? In the video: 0:57 Flying Air Zimbabwe B767-200 Johannesburg to Harare 5:46 Flying Air Zimbabwe B737-200 Harare to Bulawayo to Harare 11:42 General Sights of Harare, Zimbabwe.

For $20 off a suitcase, visit http://awaytravel.com/sam and use promo code "sam" during checkout! This video is sponsored by Away Travel. A tour to the world's most luxurious VIP Airport Terminal in Dubai South. Check out the amazing facility of JetEx and one of a kind duty free shopping such as BMW and Rolls Royce sports cars! This video gives you an insight how the rich and VIP travels. Special thanks to Dubai South and Private Jet Media's full support in making this video.

After my non-stop UK to Australia flight with Qantas, I flew Qantas B747-400 (QF63) from Sydney to Johannesburg in Business Class (Old First Class). I also visited the amazing Qantas First Class Lounge in Sydney. On the flight I've met South Africa Rugby team (Springboks) and saw some amazing iceburg during flight over the Antarctic Rim at 63 degrees South! Qantas flight to Johannesburg is one of the most isolated flight in the world. In this video: 0:20 - Qantas First Class Lounge Sydney 2:36 - Qantas B747-400 Sydney to Johannesburg 11:25 - Crossing 63 degrees south with some iceburg in-sight 16:12 - Great Qantas B747-400 landing

This video is about the new Qantas non-stop service between UK and Australia. I flew Qantas B787 from London to Perth and onward to Sydney in Qantas Business Class. In this Qantas London to Australia video: 1:04 - Qantas London Heathrow Lounge 3:06 - Qantas B787 London to Perth non-stop flight 14:45 - Qantas Perth Transit Lounge 16:16 - Qantas A330 domestic Perth to Sydney flight

This video shows you inside North Korea and their one-star airline; Air Koryo. (only one star airline in the world by Skytrax rating) You get an idea what's it like to fly on Air Koryo.

This video is about flying the New Gulf Air B787 and A320neo in Business Class from Dubai to London via Bahrain. An in-depth complete review of Gulf Air and its Golden Falcon Lounge. In this video 0:15 - How Boeing build the Gulf Air B787 1:55 - Gulf Air Lounge Dubai 2:08 - Gulf Air A320neo Dubai to Bahrain 3:41 - Gulf Air Golden Falcon Lounge Bahrain 4:36 - Gulf Air B787 Bahrain to London

Join me for a tour of Boeing's Renton factory where they build their best selling airplane; the Boeing 737 MAX As of now Boeing has sold over 5100 737 MAXs. This video shows how the Boeing 737 MAX is built.

A behind the scenes video of the World's BEST Airline - Singapore Airlines service and training. Video of how Singapore Airlines train the crew and deliver best service. Also watch Sam to challenge and learn how to deliver the Singapore Airlines Service standard.

I visited Boeing Seattle in June and joined the Emirates Airlines team to visit a Brand New Boeing 777 await delivery. Check out the inside of a Brand New Emirates B777!

Follow me on Mahan Air A340-600 from Kuala Lumpur to Tehran Imam Khomeini Int'l Airport. Find out what's the Business Class is like on an Iranian Airline. A tour of the CIP Terminal at Tehran Imam Khomeini Int'l and another flight of Mahan Air A340-300 to Dubai. In this video: 0:40 - Coral Lounge at Bangkok Don Muang 1:08 - Air Asia A320 Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur 2:27 - Mahan Air A340-600 Flight Experience 7:58 - Tehran CIP Terminal Visit Access to CIP Lounge, please visit https://samchui.com/2018/08/24/cip-terminal-at-tehran-imam-khomeini-international-ika/ Music Used Voyage by LEMMiNO https://soundcloud.com/lemmino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/2D9ri6EkI7s

Thanks for watching my Nepal Flying Adventure 2, I've bought a ticket to fly on the last Nepal Airlines B757 Combi to Bangkok but my flight has changed at the boarding gate! Watch how I dealt with this shocking situation as an AvGeek! Since the flight has changed, this video reviews Thai Airways Business Class (Royal Silk Class) product!

My flying adventure in Nepal. Flying Himalaya Airlines A320 from Dubai to Kathmandu. Beautiful landing in Kathmandu from the flight deck. Next, I flew on Nepal Airlines MA-60 and Y-12. We can see the amazing Mt Everest during the flight. Nepal is a landlocked country, flying is not a luxury but a necessity. There were so many planes crashed in Nepal. So what is flying really like in Nepal? Is it really dangerous? For written blog, PLEASE VISIT: https://samchui.com/2018/08/18/my-nepal-flying-adventure-nepal-airlines-ma-60-y-12/

Check out the Future of Aviation Cabin Experience through virtual reality provided by Neutral Digital. Explore Air Canada B787 and B737 MAX 8 cabin through the Oculus Rift! (head mounted display) Neutral Digital is an end-to-end boutique creative agency and digital production studio. More info on https://neutral.digital/

Video of my flight on Saudia B777-300/ER from London to Riyadh in First Class. A visit to Al Fursan First Class Lounge in Riyadh and flying a new A330-300 to Dubai in Saudia Business Class. Join my Youtube Channel Membership for exclusive contents and interaction (coming soon!) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfYCRj25JJQ41JGPqiqXmJw/join

Join me for an amazing and unforgettable aviation tour in Ukraine. We visited several aviation museum and factories including Antonov Bureau, Kiev Aviation Institute and Hangar, Ukraine State Aviation Museum, Poltava Aviation Museum and Kryvyi Rih Aviation Museum. In this video I flew on Antonov-24, Yak-40, Antonov-2 soviet aircrafts. Check out what's it like to flying on Soviet built airplanes!

Video of Malaysia Airlines A350-900 flight from the cockpit and behind the scenes. Documentary video of the entire Malaysia Airlines A350-900 delivery flight from flight operations point of view.

Air India B787 Business Class Review by Sam Chui. Is Air India really as terrible as many have claimed? Sharing my experience on Air India Business Class flight from Dubai to London via Mumbai. This video also review the GVK lounge in Mumbai. Dedicate this video to my fans in India as they have long requested a vlog of airlines from India. I found a reasonably good fare of $1,300 on Air India last minute from Dubai to London via Mumbai.

This video is sponsored by Bombardier. A tour of Bombardier Global 6000 private jet, Delta Airlines CRJ900 and Ethiopian Airlines Q400 plane display at the Farnborough AirShow 2018.

Best flying footage of the Airbus A330NEO, A350-1000, A220-300, A400M, Boeing 787-8, B737 MAX 7, B727, Mitsubishi MRJ, Embraer KC-390 and more at the Farnborough Airshow 2018. I also had a tour on new aircrafts such as Embraer E190-E2, Boeing 737 MAX 7, Boeing 787, Bombardier Q400, CRJ900, Qatar Airways B777, A350, G500, B747-8F and more! Music Used: That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs

This video features the first Airbus A350 delivery flight of Philippine Airlines. I traveled on the delivery flight of Airbus A350 from Toulouse to Manila. Check out the latest Philippine Airlines Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy class product.

An inside look at the Boeing Customer Experience Center which features the new B747, B787 and B737 mock up cabin designs. The director at Boeing gave a detailed explanation about the philosophy of Boeing's cabin and interior design. Let me know in the comments what you think of these mock up cabins for the Boeing 747, Boeing 737 and Boeing 787 planes. Special thanks to Boeing for inviting me to their Customer Experience Center.

Watching the World Cup 2018 LIVE on Emirates First Class B777 flight from Dubai to Seattle. I got upgraded on this oversold flight and enjoyed the Emirates First Class (Boeing 777-300ER) Suite and all the amenities and in-flight services. Emirates First Class Pajamas and Amenity kit bag GIVEAWAY. Link to enter: https://gleam.io/cmhfC/emirates-first-class-pyjamas-and-amenity-kit-bag

Oman Air has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9, registration A4O-SF, with a brand new tri-class interior including new First Class Suite. This video document my delivery flight experience with Oman Air, flying the brand new B787-9 from Boeing Everett factory to Muscat in 15 hours 30 mins. For more details: https://samchui.com/2018/06/30/oman-air-new-b787-9-first-class-suite/ To win a Oman Air First Class PJ and Amenity Kit. Giveaway Link: https://gleam.io/axGoj/oman-air-first-class-pyjamas-and-amenity-kits-giveaways

My Hainan Airlines Business Class experience on their 0.5 years old A330-300 from Sydney to Haikou. In-depth review of Hainan Airlines business class service and products.

Complete Review of the NEW Cathay Pacific A350-1000 aircraft. Check out the new Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class of Cathay A350-1000. Video of the Cathay Pacific A350-1000 delivery flight from Toulouse to Hong Kong on 19 June 2018 by Sam Chui. For more details, please visit: https://samchui.com/2018/06/19/introducing-cathay-pacific-new-a350-1000/

A full review of Delta Air Lines A350. In-depth review of Delta One Business Class cabin and Delta Premium Select (Premium Economy Class) onboard Delta A350. Music used: Voyage by LEMMiNO https://soundcloud.com/lemmino Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/2D9ri6EkI7s

Follow my journey onboard Swiss B777-300/ER First Class from Zurich to Hong Kong. The video also include a visit of the luxury Swiss First Class Lounge in Terminal E at Zurich. For more information on cheap Lufthansa/Swiss flight: https://samchui.com/2018/04/20/amazing-cheap-lufthansa-swiss-first-class-fare/

An invitation to visit Kazakhstan by Air Astana. My review of their Business Class product on board their Boeing 767 and Boeing 757. Air Astana is the winner of BEST airline Central Asia and India 2017 World Airline Awards. This is a complete flight review video of Air Astana. I hope you enjoy the in-flight experience throughout the video. To take advantage of Astana $1 stopover program: https://airastana.com/global/en-us/Plan/Stopover-Holidays?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Stopover-Holidays

Join me on this unique Delta Air Lines Fashion Flight to celebrate their new uniform launch on May 29th in Atlanta, Minneapolis and LA. I also interviewed the famous designer Zac Posen during the event.

Discover KLM B777 World Business Class from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta with me. This is currently the cheapest way to sample KLM Business Class for less than 150 Euros! Music used: That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs ––– • Contact the artist: http://www.hooksounds.com/ https://twitter.com/HookSounds https://www.facebook.com/HookSounds/ ––– • F.A.Q: How to use music https://goo.gl/zNKFGu ––– • Main Playlists: Artists: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8... Genres: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8... Moods: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8...

Get one free audiobook and a 30 day free trial of Audible at: http://audible.com/samchui or text ‘samchui’ to 500-500 Follow me for my visit in Garuda Indonesia Training Centre to see how the Garuda crew is trained! Watch my first emergency drill and jumping onto the slide from airplane!

Join me to travel from Singapore to Hong Kong in style and luxury in Singapore Airlines brand new Airbus A380 first class suite. This video is a complete review of Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Suite. Blog Post: https://samchui.com/2018/05/12/review-singapore-airlines-new-first-class-suite/ Music That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs ------- Join us as we travel from Singapore to Hong Kong in style and luxury in Singapore Airlines’ brand new Airbus A380 first class suite. We start at the exclusive first class check in area of Changi airport in Singapore and we’re bowled over by the professional and courteous nature of the staff who work seamlessly and efficiently to get us through check in and immigration control and in to the first class lounge in less than five minutes! Changi airport has been rated as the best airport in the world by Skytrax for seven consecutive years since 2013 and with the service we received, it’s not surprising to see why! We receive an exclusive invitation to the private room which is the flagship first class lounge of Singapore airlines. It is ultra exclusive and private with top class, restaurant style a la carte and buffet dining, large screen televisions and extremely comfortable seating. It even has a shower suite for first class passengers to freshen up before their flight! Come with us and see inside the magnificent Singapore airlines private room and all it has to offer – we also examine the exquisite food, and the service to go with it, provided in the private room. We’ve already been pampered and enjoyed significant luxury but what lies in store for us on board the Airbus A380 of Singapore Airlines is incredible! Our first class suite on board the aeroplane is very spacious and we are greeted with a choice of vintage champagnes – Krug 2004 or Dom Perignon Vintage 2009. The first class suite is so big and so private that you don’t even have to go to the bathroom to get changed in to your complimentary, soft pyjamas and slippers! We take an in depth look at the long haul amenity kits provided by Singapore airlines, which are handcrafted by Lalique in men’s women’s and unisex varieties. We see the great attention to detail that has been paid with perfumes, hand creams, moisturisers and lip balm all being provided as well as a precious Lalique glass ornament to keep and cherish. We also take a good look at the sophisticated food and drink served on board, brought directly to us at our own personal table within the first class cabin, expertly laid at our request by the stewardess. We are treated to a selection of exotic fruits as an appetiser, iced milo, lobster thermidor and for dessert, a scrumptious and expertly presented mont-blanc cake with ice cream. The first class cabin’s furnishings are no less impressive with movable lights, a seat which wouldn’t look out of place in Stat Trek, giving complete control over all of the cabin’s functions, including the blinds and a bed with proper mattress and super soft linen and padding. Overall, as we arrive in Hong Kong, we are well rested, well fed and ready for a lot more fun in Hong Kong, which is where I, Sam Chui, first developed my love of aviation and I discuss this with the cabin crew during the video. Stepping off the plane, we are greeted by the Silver Kris Lounge of Hong Kong international airport and in case you didn’t have enough to eat on your flight, you won’t be wanting with the fabulous choice of both western and Chinese food available including the famous Wonton noodle soup. So come with us from Singapore to Hong Kong on the A380 with Singapore airlines and enjoy all they have to offer – what, in your opinion, was the best part of the trip? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for watching!

A complete review of the new Malaysia Airlines A350 from London to Kuala Lumpur. My in-depth review of Malaysia Airlines First Class, Business and Economy Class onboard A350 showcasing the Malaysian Hospitality. Don't miss the many behind the scenes fun!

In this week's travel hack tutorial video, let's explore the following: 1. Amazing cheap Lufthansa/Swiss First Class airfare 2. How do you get a Free Upgrade? 3. How do you value an Upgrade? Blog Post: https://samchui.com/2018/04/20/amazing-cheap-lufthansa-swiss-first-class-fare/

This is a new series of travel hack tutorial video to help you find the lowest airfare for travel in First and Business Class. We explore ways to find the lowest ticket price to fly on Qantas B787-9 between UK and Australia, beat the official airline website price on Garuda First Class and learn where to credit the frequent flyer miles. The website introduced in this video are: 1. https://www.expertflyer.com/ 2. https://www.momondo.com/ 3. https://www.wheretocredit.com/ My Blog Post about getting lower air ticket: https://samchui.com/2018/04/20/smart-travel-find-cheapest-qantas-business-class-fare/ https://samchui.com/2018/04/20/amazing-cheap-lufthansa-swiss-first-class-fare/#.WtoGaohubIU

Join me on my first orientation flight with Alpha Aviation Group on a Cessna 172 around the Philippines and later fly in a A320 Full Flight Simulator. For more information about flying training: https://samchui.com/2018/04/14/first-flying-lesson-alpha-aviation-group/#.WtGudohubIU

A tour of Boeing South Carolina factory which it manufacture the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. I will show you the Dreamlifter operation, final assembly, midbody operation, aftbody operation and interior responsibility center of Boeing at North Charleston, South Carolina. Blog Post: https://samchui.com/2018/04/06/inside-boeing-south-carolina-b787-factory/

Singapore Airlines is the world’s first airline to operate the Boeing 787-10, which is fitted with the airline’s latest regional cabin products. This video showscase my nearly 24 hours on-board the world's first Boeing 787-10 delivery flight from Boeing South Carolina to Singapore via Osaka. This video also showcase Singapore Airlines new Regional business and Economy Class product demo, 2 race/competition on-board and other interesting interview content. Blog Post: https://samchui.com/2018/03/28/new-singapore-airlines-boeing-787-10/#.Wr4d-NNubOQ Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGx_FATyasQ Buy Singapore B787-10 T shirt by Skyshirts: http://www.skyshirts.com/singapore-c-28_77.html

For $20 off a suitcase, visit http://awaytravel.com/sam and use promo code "sam" during checkout! I love my AWAY suitcase, it has done at least 10 trips globetrotting with me! I reckon it is the best value hard suitcase you can get! This video is sponsored by Away Travel. Flight review of Philippine Airlines A330 Business Class from Manila to Dubai.

Part 2 of my flight with Turkish Airlines. Flying from Los Angeles to Istanbul. I discover Turkish Airlines economy Class and interact with fellow other passengers. I also learnt how to make Turkish coffee and how to cook fresh eggs onboard! Music: The Aries Project ariesonthe.net

Take the pilot's seat in an Emirates A380 I recently experienced the thrill and challenge of piloting the world's largest passenger aircraft; A380 in a simulator of Emirates at Dubai Mall. I got to select the airport of my choice for departure and arrival. In my case, I selected Dubai to Hong Kong! You can even pick any weather condition, day or night flight setting! Check out how I pilot the A380 and whether I made a safe landing! I am giving away (2) Free session tickets of The Emirates A380 Experience. Please use the link below to enter the contest! Link to the Giveaway Contest: https://gleam.io/ShsX5/emirates-a380-experience-tickets

Join me for a trip onboard the Dassault Aviation flagship Falcon 8X business jet from Abu Dhabi to Paris. I was invited by Dassault Aviation on this VIP demonstration flight. Details: https://samchui.com/2018/03/04/flying-dassault-falcon-8x-private-jet/ Music By Ikson https://www.soundcloud.com/ikson

Follow me for a tour onboard the MOST LUXURIOUS Boeing Business Jet (B737) own by Royal Jet. Thanks to Royal Jet allowing me to make the video during Abu Dhabi Air Expo. I hope the video shows the luxury content to those who couldn't see it personally. The video content is not sponsored and my intention is to present everything I saw of this private jet to raise public and their brand awareness. My Blog: https://samchui.com/2018/03/03/worlds-luxurious-boeing-business-jet-royal-jet/ For more information about Royal Jet: http://www.royaljetgroup.com/en Music used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sadzro9JhQ

Qatar Airways is the World's first launch customer for A350-1000 series. This video document the first flight of Qatar Airways A350-1000. Check out the LARGEST Airbus twin engine plane made to-date with the spectacular Qsuite, a First in Business and the spacious economy class. I was able to interview Qatar Airways Group CEO, H.E. Akbar Al Baker during the flight. Also featured in the movie, a spectacular fly pass over Doha and Hamad Int'l Airport! Blog Post: https://samchui.com/2018/02/24/onboard-qatar-airways-new-a350-1000/ That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs ––– • Contact the artist: http://www.hooksounds.com/ https://twitter.com/HookSounds https://www.facebook.com/HookSounds/ ––– • F.A.Q: How to use music https://goo.gl/zNKFGu ––– • Main Playlists: Artists: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8... Genres: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8... Moods: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCht8...

Emirates B777-300/ER NEW BUSINESS and ECONOMY CLASS Complete Review. After my spectacular New First Class ride on Emirates to Brussels, I flew back in their NEW Business Class. During the flight I also get to find out the NEW enhanced Economy Class seat! This video shows a lot of details from the cockpit to how the meals are prepared and as usual with a lot of crew interaction. My video isn't sponsored or representing any airline's view. It is aim to show you a lot of behind the scenes such as preparing food inside the plane, the hard and soft product and lot of fun as always! Opinions are always subjective so I will leave you as the judge of the product! Emirates New First Class video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSOG99qClU8 Music Track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpRy6YGs90Q

Sam Chui latest 2018 interview. I've shared important update of my life, my Youtube evolution, airline marketing and give tips on how to get an upgrade. I also shared my advice to my youth audience. Last, I've answered some of my fans questions. Hope you enjoyed the interview. Follow Liz on her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/living_theflylife/?hl=en

Explore all the new amazing features of the new Emirates "Game Changer" First Class Suite on their new B777! The new Emirates First Class Suite is fully enclosed for total privacy. It is quite hard to believe I am actually not in a 5 star hotel but on a plane! Watch out for the surprise upgrade onboard and I did my first little dance in this video! For full information, please visit my blog https://samchui.com/2018/02/03/review-emirates-new-first-class-suite-b777-300-er/ Music used: Ikson - Alive https://soundcloud.com/ikson https://www.youtube.com/user/Iksonmusic Cool by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu Jim Yosef - Eclipse [NCS Release] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WP_YLn1D1c https://soundcloud.com/jim-yosef ------- In this video, we take an in depth look at the new first class cabins offered by Emirates aboard a very relaxing and pleasant flight from Dubai to Brussels on the Emirates Boeing 777 aeroplane. The first class suites offered by Emirates are so versatile, with the functions of a lounge, hotel, restaurant, cinema and even disco all facilitated within each individual cabin, so come with me as we eat, drink, sleep and even dance our way from the United Arab Emirates to Belgium! We were very lucky to have the entire first class shuttle bus to ourselves as we made our way to Dubai International Airport on board the COBUS 3000. Emirates provide this special bus exclusively for first class travellers with comfortable and wide leather seats and a pleasing, bright interior. We were in for a real treat once we boarded the plane – our first class cabin is a completely enclosed, floor to ceiling suite ensuring total privacy whenever you need it. Within the cabin, a massive 32 inch high definition (HD) television and a smaller display closer to the seat are able to display live footage of the surroundings of the plane, received directly from the aeroplane’s exterior cameras, allowing you to watch the take off and touch down of the Emirates flight and everything that happens in between. We examine and discuss the aeroplane’s exterior cameras further with the aeroplane’s pilots in our visit to the cockpit of this fabulous Emirates Boeing 777 plane. We weren’t just the only passenger on the first class shuttle bus, but also the only passenger in first class on the flight! This gave us the perfect opportunity to test what is a world first on board service – facilities for requesting room service and cabin service via video call, which can be activated and used without even leaving your seat! Come with us and watch as we make full use of this brand new service to keep thirst at bay with great mimosas and even vintage Dom Perignon 2009! As you would expect, Emirates go all out for their first class customers to ensure that every little detail is taken care of. From soft and comfy slippers to hydra active pyjamas which keep your skin moisturised as you sleep to powerful binoculars that let you survey all that can be seen from the windows, there are little surprises and treats in every little corner of these new Emirates first class cabins. We are even able to make use of the bespoke lighting control system within each cabin which means that we can set the lights to whatever intensity and colour best fits our mood. The food served in Emirates first class is particularly amazing – see the mouth watering dishes laid before us including canapes and caviar and Arabic mezze for starters, delicious stir fried pawns for the main and cheese and crackers, pear and chocolate crumble and ice cream for dessert. Once we’re all fed, it’s the perfect time for a nap to digest all of these gastronomic delights and the curtains and blinds which can be brought down and over on the windows give a real cosy and comfortable bedroom in the sky feeling which makes us feel right and home and relaxed and able to drift off. You won’t want to miss this Emirates first class cabin documentary and all of its delights. What did you like best? Leave a comment down below and, as always, thanks for watching!

Complete review of Business Class experience onboard Turkish Airlines long haul flight from Istanbul to New York. Watch out the many surprises onboard Turkish Airlines! This video also gives a detail review of the Turkish Airlines award winning Istanbul Business Class lounge Music Used: Ikson - Alive https://soundcloud.com/ikson https://www.youtube.com/user/Iksonmusic

I've paid $341 for a Premium Flat Bed seat on Thai Air Asia X flight from Bangkok to Seoul Incheon (5 hours flight). Can I get more than what I've paid for flying on Air Asia X? Don't miss out those behind the scenes footage onboard!

A collection of Boeing 777, Boeing 747-SP and Boeing 747-200 series cockpit takeoff and landing footage by Sam Chui. This was filmed around 2013-2014 with less sophisticated technology and skills, so apologies for the lower res.

Out of my 120 flights this year, I would like to show you my Top 10 flights of 2017 in this video! Let's count down together! 2017 have been a huge year for me in terms of aviation. I've experienced a lot of luxury flights such as The residence on Etihad A380, QSuite on Qatar Airways and many private jet on B727 and Gulfstream! I've also flown plenty of classic flights onboard Tu-134, Tu-154, DC-3, DC-4 and IL-14. I have had the pleasure to tour on new airplanes such as the Airbus A350-1000 and taking delivery of Singapore Airlines new A380. Music used: Good For You by THBD https://soundcloud.com/thbdsultan Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/-K_YSjqKgvQ That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs QUEEN OF THE SKIES by Nicolai Heidlas Music https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1StjgRTfJg4

Join me to experience the new Singapore Airlines A380 product on a brand new A380 delivery flight from Airbus factory in Toulouse, France to Singapore. Join me on this video to have a in-depth review of Singapore Airlines new product in First Class Suite, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. Music by That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs ––– • Contact the artist: http://www.hooksounds.com/ https://twitter.com/HookSounds https://www.facebook.com/HookSounds/ ––– In this video, we travel on board the delivery flight (ferry flight) of Singapore Airlines’ brand new Airbus A380 aeroplane, travelling from Toulouse to Singapore, and thoroughly examine the features of each of the four classes offered on board – first class, business, premium economy and economy. The particular model which Singapore Airlines takes delivery of, and which we have the honour of travelling on, is the Airbus A380-800. We were specially invited by Singapore Airlines to travel on this flight and we also get the honour during the video of speaking with and enjoying the company of Anthony from Airbus’ social media team. It was great to be in the audience for the magnificent and dramatic delivery ceremony of Singapore Airlines’ new A380 and we’d like to thank them sincerely for their invitation. On board, we travel business class, contained within the top deck of the Airbus A380 along with the first class cabins, and examine the unique sleeping arrangement afforded by the unique structure of each seat and speak to fellow passengers about what they think of this – let us know in the comments; would you be happy to sleep diagonally? Economy class actually brings rather more benefits to passengers that you might expect. We examine the directional head rests provided in economy class, which provide expert head support when sleeping to ensure that you get a comfortable rest on board. These head rests are able to move freely in any direction and also have built in neck support. The 11 inch entertainment and information screens built in to the back of each seat in economy class offer greatly increased usability and convenience with all controls now operated through the touch screen rather than the seat’s arm rests. With a reading light, foot rest and even power sockets, the economy class on board Singapore Airlines’ new A380-800 won’t leave you wanting and we enjoy trying out all of these useful features during the flight. Premium economy is also no disappointment, with couples able to move their arm-rests to be closer to one another, sophisticated, multiple setting foot rests and plenty of leg room and also the ability to even recline slightly. First class is truly a wonder to behold with both single and double suites available, sporting comfortable, full sized beds and wide, comfortable seats containing integrated controls within their arm-rests which let you even change the angle that the wide, wall mounted television make with the wall letting you get the best view. There’s plenty of storage space and hidden, fold out tables that let you take control of your routine and activities on board, providing you with the freedom to either work on your laptop or enjoy your dinner as if you were sitting in your dining room at home! We also examine the bathroom facilities of first class, which even come with Lalique toiletries! Upon arriving in Singapore, we have the honour of being received by the arrival ceremony, attended by a number of Singapore school children. Let us know down below in the comments what you thought of it all, especially the provisions of economy class, and we look forward to flying with you again soon!

A tour inside the Largest Twin Engined Airbus A350-1000XWB with Airbus test pilot Frank Chapman providing commentary. The A350-1000 has received EASA certification in Mid November and set to enter commercial service by the end of 2017 with Qatar Airways

I get to fly on Qatar Airways QSuite Business Class on my birthday! Take a look at this video of why I think QSuite is the World's BEST Business Class! For Full Story on my Blog: https://samchui.com/2017/11/10/review-qatar-airways-qsuite-a-first-in-business/ Music Used Qatar Airways Music (Old one) & That Feeling by HookSounds http://www.hooksounds.com/ Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/nRRDmrJ8YTs Nostalgia by Tobu https://soundcloud.com/7obu Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/03AKy9bhOMU ––– • Contact the artist: http://tobumusic.com https://soundcloud.com/7obu https://twitter.com/tobuofficial https://www.facebook.com/tobuofficial

A tour inside the one and only Emirates Executive Private Jet A319ACJ. Sorry about the audio quality as the film was made inside the plane during airshow with engine on and fighter jet screaming loud outside. I'd appreciate if you can suggest a good microphone for me going forward! For further Black Friday Deals, please go to https://www.picodi.com/ae/inspirations/black-friday?utm_source=Sam%20Chui&utm_medium=Youtube

Join me for a tour of the World's First and Only BBJ Boeing 787 Dreamliner in VVIP Configuration operated by Deer Jet. This Private Boeing 787 was opened for display during the Dubai Air Show 2017. It is managed by UAS International Trip Support, the exclusive global charter management of the “Dream Jet”. For full information, please visit my blog: https://samchui.com/2017/11/14/inside-worlds-private-dreamliner-bbj-b787/ What do you think of this private VVIP Boeing 787 Dreamliner "Dream Jet"? Music: Good For You by THBD https://soundcloud.com/thbdsultan Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/-K_YSjqKgvQ ––– • Contact the artist: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/thbds https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoXf...

Dubai, UAE, 12 Nov 2017 – Emirates has unveiled completely refreshed interiors for its Boeing 777 aircraft, including its highly anticipated new First Class private suites. Follow me for a tour of this amazing First Class Suite. The World's first fully enclosed private suite with sleek design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Emirates’ new suites takes luxury and privacy to the next level. Let me know what you guys think of this product? New First Class B777 will start service to Brussels and Geneva from December 1st 2017.

This special report pays homage to United's most recognizable aircraft as it flies into the sunset. Join me on the last United B747 International flight, UA892 from Seoul Incheon to San Francisco on October 29, 2017. This video is my longest video to date, with 32 minutes footage of the United Queen of the Sky, from gate activities to pilot interview, cockpit footage to engine wing view of landing with ATC voice transcript and many more! It has been a really bittersweet day for many of the United B747 fans that flew in from all over the world to make this flight. Watch the video to see all the excitement and thrills onboard United last B747 international flight. Full written report: https://samchui.com/2017/10/31/last-united-b747-international-flight-ua892-incheon-san-francisco/#.Wf7SbROCyqA Special thanks to Kevin Lau provided takeoff and landing footage from his seat 7K and ATC from SFO. Dedicate this video to all the United B747 fans! Cover Image by Shu Kishida Music Used: Music: Tobu - Nostalgia http://youtube.com/tobuofficial QUEEN OF THE SKIES by Nicolai Heidlas Music https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b... Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1StjgRTfJg4

Singapore Airlines today unveiled its highly-anticipated new cabin products of First Class Suites and Business Class which will be fitted to its Airbus 380 fleet starting from next month, following an extensive four-year development programme. The new cabin products were displayed for the first time today at a media launch in Singapore Suntec convention center. For Full Write Up Story: https://samchui.com/2017/11/02/singapore-airlines-new-first-class-suite-unveiled/#.Wf6W7miCzIU Join me for a tour to look at the real product from today's launch. Please take a look of Phoebe Lee's (Little Grey Box) channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDk2qIKoE7bVht4GeQ8Lg Music: Good For You by THBD https://soundcloud.com/thbdsultan Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/-K_YSjqKgvQ

In January this year I flew a Gulfstream IV private jet on a scheduled charter flight by Jetsmarter from London Luton to Dubai DWC. This is a video of the 6.5 hours inter-continental private jet flight and you get to see the difference to commercial flying.

Join me flying on this vintage and restored Ilyushin IL-14 (made in 1957) in Russia. The flying include several EXTREME low passes and sharp turns. Later I was in a Romanian made chase plane flying closely together with the IL-14! For more information about IL-14 http://www.il-14.ru/----c5sv

In this video I will reveal the Top 3 most underrated Business Class that offer amazing values to travelers. See how you can afford the luxury these airlines offer in their Business Class product!

Join me flying Eva Air from Shanghai to Taipei with their last B747-400 just few days before she retired from service. Enjoy the nice B747 takeoff footage! In Taipei, let's explore the Eva Air Infinity Lounge for Business Class customer. Finally, I boarded my flight to San Francisco on Eva Air B777-300/ER Business Class. This is a beyond AMAZING Business Class product. You can see why on the video. I was so impressed by the friendly service and luxury product provided by Eva Air! I think this is one of the BEST Business Class!

Get $20 off an Away suitcase at http://bit.ly/AWAYsam - use promo code SAM! This video features 2 Finnair long haul Business Class flights, on both the A330 and A350. Flight AY10 from Chicago to Helsinki on A330 Flight AY89 from Helsinki to Bangkok on A350 It also showcase the Business Class and Premium Lounge of Finnair with a Finnish Sauna inside! This video is sponsored by Away Travel. For more information and a full review: https://samchui.com/category/Finnair/

In this video, I am sharing with you my experience on 2 Asian Airlines; MIAT Mongolian Airlines and Hainan Airlines with the focus on the latter. I flew with MIAT Mongolian Airlines B737-800 in Economy Class from Ulaan Baatar to Beijing. Then I flew on Hainan Airlines B787-9 "Kung Fu Panda" plane to Shanghai in Domestic First Class. This was part of my journey from Ulaan Baatar to Las Vegas. Stay tuned for the 2nd part of my journey from Shanghai to Taipei then to San Francisco with Eva Air!

On 1 August 2017, Emirates’ newly revamped A380 Onboard Lounge has made its operational debut on a flight to Kuala Lumpur. I flew on their 96th and latest A380, reg A6-EUX to try out the new onboard lounge. I've became the bartender in the lounge serving lovely customers and fans of Emirates and later I took part of a competition to try to become a full time staff of Emirates! We also celebrated a birthday of one of the crew member onboard! Watch the full movie to find out my fate and enjoy behind the scenes! I would like to dedicate this movie to the entire crew of EK342 and EK343 for their hard work and amazing hospitality! For more details, please visit https://samchui.com/2017/08/31/the-new-emirates-a380-onboard-lounge/

Join me on a flight with Aero Mongolia Fokker 50 from Irkutsk across Lake Baikal to the beautiful Mongolia. On arrival, I met with my tour guide and started sightseeing around Ulaan Baatar and the next day we went to the countryside to explore further. Follow my video for a quick 36 hours tour of Mongolia! Places I visited: Chinggis Square, Zaisan Memorial, Ulaan Baatar night street, amazing countryside, the biggest Chinggis Khan statue, Turtle Rock and Ariyabal Monastery. In addition to the amazing scenery around, I also explored Gur, Mongolian houses and tried out various Mongolian dishes.

Join me on Flying the Soviet Russian Trijet - flying the Alrosa Tupolev-154 to Siberia. This video reviews the whole flying experience on one of the last active Tupolev-154 in Russia, flying into deep Siberia inside the cockpit of Tu-154. It also include many great in-flight service footage.

This video is sponsored by Skillshare. The first 100 to click this link will get a free 2 month trial of Skillshare http://skl.sh/samchui This video shows behind the scene on the ramp at Paris CDG turning around a Boeing 787-9 of Air France. It features cargo loading, baggage loading and push back of the B787. I would like to dedicate this video to all of the staff working on the ramp. They are truly the unsung heroes who works day and night, rain or shine to ensure the flight operation is normal and the flight can depart on-time. Thank you Air France for providing such unparallel access.

Last weekend, my wife and I drove to Oman (5 hour drive) from Dubai. We went to a very unique mountaintop resort, which is the highest 5 star resort in the Middle East at Al Jabal Al Akhdar mountain in Oman. This video is a collection of my experiences during my stay in the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar resort, which include my first drone flight (DJI Spark) and undertaken a few resort activity such as village walk and rock climbing. Hotel website: http://jabal-akhdar.anantara.com/ My full review on my blog https://samchui.com/2017/07/21/highest-5-star-resort-middle-east-anantara-al-jabal-al-akhdar/

Join me onboard Etihad Airways A380 flight in The Residence from Abu Dhabi to Paris. Sample the most luxurious way to travel in the commercial aviation. I was so impressed and blown away by my first Residence flight last December so I decided to do a much longer flight to Paris, with my favorite butler Leanne and other cabin crew. Watch the video to experience the most exclusive and luxurious commercial flight in the world. Thanks to Etihad Airways for filming my journey in The Residence. My flight and opinion is NOT sponsored by Etihad. (Etihad videographer just filmed my flight) Blog review and more pictures can be found in the link below: https://samchui.com/2017/07/14/my-most-luxurious-flight-20000-residence-in-the-sky/ In case you missed my first Residence flight, you can view it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R2sOr6vZqo ------- Join us for the most incredible, first class in-flight experience you will likely ever see, taken in absolute and astounding luxury from start to finish aboard the inaugural Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris on board the A380 super jumbo jet in Etihad's The Residence suite. The heavenly aviation luxury starts even before arrival at the airport, with Etihad’s tailored and exquisite VIP travel concierge and chauffer service to the airport in a sleek and professional looking saloon Audi. When we arrive, the red carpet is well and truly rolled out for us as we are greeted by our very own, personal assistant at an exclusive and private entrance to Abu Dhabi airport and taken to the first class lounge and spa to await our flight – this is the Etihad airways residence on the ground. We don’t have to do a thing as a whole group of attendants fuss around us in the background, even collecting our luggage and bringing it in for us. As we enter the Etihad airways first class lounge, we are greeted by our very own personal and professional butler (trained at the Savoy hotel, London) to facilitate our every need within the sumptuous and spacious home-from-home lounge area. Our butler outlines the fabulous food and drink available, including great and imaginative mocktails with aviation inspired names. Within the first class spa, we enjoy a professional French style shave (our destination was Paris after all!) before dining on artistic and extremely well presented food prepared by our own personal chef including one very tasty lobster! To top it all off, and to round off the meal and relax us before departure, we enjoy a specially selected and curated cigar in our own dedicated and furnished smoking room, prepared and lit for us by our butler. Already, we have been treated like royalty but this is only the beginning – now it’s time for the flight! After boarding the A380 and being warmly greeted by all the staff, we enjoy a tour of the whole aeroplane, taking in and briefly examining the Etihad economy and business class studio sections, as well as seeing the dedicated bar and food preparation areas. The abundant space of the Airbus A380 aeroplane affords even a very pleasant and enjoyable experience in economy class. Once we’ve spoken with the Etihad airways pilots and seen the cockpit of the A380, it is finally time to be taken to our private, three room suite in the sky, the Etihad residence. It is an astonishing, self-contained unit with large sliding doors and split in to a luxurious lounge/living room area, private bathroom and bedroom. The living room is complete with a full set of touch screen controls, mini bar and 32 inch television and it made for an extremely comfortable and pleasant environment to relax and also interact with the cabin crew. We are able to get a great night’s sleep in our very own double bed, covered in specially made, luxurious Italian linen and the breakfast in bed, prepared by our very own in-flight personal chef and served by our personal butler, makes for a very pleasing start to the day before we take the opportunity to freshen up in our full size shower and slip in to a super soft, personally initialled bath robe! Nothing is left to chance and everything you could think or dream of is taken care of – there’s even a professional shoe shining service available - the whole experience makes the journey an absolute joy and allows you to arrive at your destination fully refreshed and completely ready to conduct your business. The Etihad residence is the only three room suite on board a commercial airline and can comfortably cater for an individual or a couple. It is a wonder to behold and we really hope you enjoyed this magnificent experience with us – let us know in the comments what you thought and how you might choose to spend your time in Etihad’s residence!

Video Blog about my flight on the brand new B777-300/ER of Kuwait Airways from Kuwait to Delhi. See the new First and Business Class of Kuwait Airways B777-300/ER. Also feature the Dasman Lounge and the horror of Kuwait Airport.

Follow me onboard the Emirates A380 to discover many things that have not been shown on camera before! I wanted to give a great insight to the flight operation, and fun that the flight attendants have. This was Flight EK19 to Manchester in Emirates Business Class. What video do you want to see next from me? Let me know which airline I should review next, along with any questions you may have - I will answer in my next Q&A! Follow me on Instagram for behind the scenes content: http://instagram.com/samchui

Join me to see the Airbus Beluga flight operation in Airbus UK factory at Broughton, Wales. The Airbus Head of Media Relations explains the activity of Beluga. This video shows the loading and unloading activity within a 90 minutes turnaround window. It also include a flight deck visit inside the Beluga. Follow me on Instagram for behind the scenes access at http://instagram.com/samchui

On a recent trip in Russia onboard Rossiya Airlines B777-300, I was interviewed by Ksenia Albrant about my life, my passion, my job and how am I able to afford to travel so much in luxury. I hope I am able to answer some of your question and if you got further question, I am happy to answer it in another video in the future! Just ask in the comment section! Follow me on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/samchui Follow Ksenia Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiw0QIUg2Bn7LDwVsnZoF3Q Instagram: Laborantksenia

Join me for a flight onboard the luxury VIP Boeing 727 (Super 27) used by celebrities and head of state. As a group, we chartered this jet to enjoy several low flying passes and a touch N go inside the Boeing 727! YOU can also be the lucky one to fly on this and other VIP aircraft, keep an eye on my regular aviation tour on my website: http://www.SamChui.com This airplane is also the last 727 to roll off the Boeing production line which has been upgraded to a Boeing Super 27! For full story and more information, go to https://samchui.com/2017/05/20/flying-the-presidential-vip-boeing-727-private-jet/

The Complete Review of Emirates Airline A380 First Class. I flew on Emirates EK131 from Dubai to Moscow in First Class. Before the flight, I experienced the Emirates First Class Lounge. Once on board, I was given an introduction to the First Class Suite, First Class amenities, on-demand dining, and onboard lounge (Bar). Later, I even took a shower at the onboard shower and spa at 40,000ft. Amazing hospitality from all the Emirates crew.

To get an exclusive 7-day free trail of VideoBlocks, please visit: http://videoblocks.com/SamChui_0417 This video is sponsored by VideoBlocks, the largest online video stock library - The Future of Creativity. Phuket Plane Spotting video feature footage from Thai Airways B747-400 landing into Phuket over Andaman Sea and Nai Yang Beach plus 18 minutes of non-stop plane spotting footage from Phuket Air Traffic Control Tower. Featured: Thai Airways B747-400 Emirates B777-300/ER Thai Air Asia A320NEO Etihad B777-300/ER Aeroflot B777-300/ER Rossiya B747-400 "Tiger" Finnair A330-300 Thai Airways A330-300, B777-200, B777-300 and B777-300/ER Asia Atlantic Airlines B767-300 Sunday Airlines B767-300 RoyalFlight B757-200, B767-300 Jetstar Asia A320 Silk Air B737-800 Nok Air B737-800 Malaysian Airlines B737-800 Malindo Airlines B737-800 Thai Lion Air B737-900 Thai Viet Jet A320

Join me for an exclusive and private Air France Airbus A380 tour in their hangar. I have the opportunity to look around the Super Jumbo jet in close details from the bottom to the top of its tail (24m high). There are lots to see! Also in the video is an interview with the hangar business unit manager of Air France. Background music by Invisible Hands

Air France is my favourite European Airline. Join me on my flight from Paris to Dubai with Air France to see the wonderful gastronomy, elegantly designed new Business Class cabin and good personal touch of French service and surprise! Thanks to Air France for the kind permission to film inside the cabin. For full review, please view https://samchui.com/2017/03/04/flight-review-air-france-new-business-class/

Onboard flight SQ494 from Singapore to Dubai in the New First Class Suite with only 4 seats in the cabin. Experience the amazing Singapore Airlines service from the check-in to landing!

Singapore Airlines A350-900 New Business Class Dusseldorf to Singapore Flight Review by Sam Chui. For full written report and more info, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/12/26/review-singapore-airlines-new-business-class-a350-900/

Complete review of Etihad Airways A380 The Residence from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai. This is a truly unique and bespoke travel experience. The epitome of luxury commerical travel in full privacy. This video feature an in-depth review of the exclusive Residence Lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport, in-flight service and product offering with the Residence. For complete review, please visit my website http://samchui.com/2016/12/22/review-etihad-a380-the-residence-abu-dhabi-to-mumbai/ This is NOT a sponsored video. Making travel experience video is a passion of mine.

Flight review of Korean Air B747-8 First Class from Hong Kong to Seoul Incheon onboard flight KE614 In-depth video review of the Skyteam lounge used in Hong Kong, ground service, First Class seats and facility, Business Class seats on both main deck and upper deck, engine view, takeoff view ouf of Hong Kong, First Class 7 course cuisine and landing view of Incheon. This is the Korean Air video you can't be missed. For more information, please visit my website: http://www.SamChui.com Music provided by Invisible Hands http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/

Flying Mahan Air B747-300, Iran Aseman B727, Pouya Air An-74, Kish Air Show, ATA Air MD-83 Highlight of Iran Aviation Tour 2016 November with Iran Air Show at Kish Island. 7 days of unlimited Aviation Megafun combined with amazing sightseeing. For more information, please see http://www.SamChui.com/iran Music by Invisible Hands http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/

Complete flight review of brand new A350-900 of Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Dubai. In-depth video footage of Royal Silk (Business) Class and Economy Class.

Complete review of China Airlines A350-900 flight in Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class on inaugural A350-900 flight from Taipei to Hong Kong. October 30, 2016 Music by Invisible Hands http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/ For more info please see: http://www.SamChui.com

A flight on the DC-4 Skymaster with South African Airways Museum operate by SkyClass Aviation from Johannesburg Rand Airport to Waterkloof AFB. Rare footage from the cockpit and over wing. For more info, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/10/12/review-flying-dc-4-skymaster-south-africa/

Step aboard an era when flying was an elegant affair... Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R2000 radial piston engines, ZS-AUB is one of the very few passenger-licensed Douglas DC-4 Skymasters operating in the world today. Join me on a flight from Waterkloof AFB to Johannesburg Rand Airport in South Africa onboard this vintage plane. Footage include a spectacular 200 feet above ground fly pass over Waterkloof AFB and cockpit takeoff and landing footage. For full story: http://samchui.com/2016/10/12/review-flying-dc-4-skymaster-south-africa/

Currently, Air Koryo is the only 1 star airline on Skytrax. I want to review their flight to see are they really the worst airline in the world? Business Class Review of Air Koryo Tu-204 from Beijing to Pyongyang For full report please see: http://samchui.com/2016/09/30/review-air-koryo-really-1-star-business-class-beijing-pyongyang/

Flight review of Ethiopian Airlines A350-900 from Dubai to Addis Ababa in Cloud Nine Business Class. Ethiopian Airlines is the first airline to receive A350 in Africa. This video presents both Business and Economy Class cabin seating, in-flight service, takeoff and landing footage and cockpit features. For more information, please visit http://www.SamChui.com

Flying highlights of First Air Show in North Korea held at Kalma Airport at Wonsan on September 24-25, 2016. Feature aircraft type: DPRK Air Force Mig-29, Mig-21, Su-25, Mil-17 Air Koryo An-24, IL-18, IL-62, IL-76, Tu-134, Tu-154, Mil-17 General Aviation, Sky Diving and Model Aircraft display. For full highlight of the air show please visit http://samchui.com/2016/09/29/wonsan-air-festival-highlights/ For more information, please visit http://www.wonsanairfestival.com/

Flight review of Air France First Class La Première from Dubai to Paris on B777-300/ER. Private First Class cabin for just 2 passenger with excellent service, dining, and full privacy for resting. Full Flight Detail: http://samchui.com/2016/10/15/air-france-first-class-review/#.WAO3MPl97IV

Flight Review of Royal Air Maroc B787 Dreamliner Business Class from Casablanca to Doha by Sam Chui. Look at the strange seating configuration when the seat goes full flat in Business Class! Great onboard service, catering and many details. For more details, please see http://samchui.com/2016/09/07/review-royal-air-maroc-ram-b787-business-class/

A rare review of Royal Air Maroc RAM sole passenger B747-400 flight in Business Class from Montreal to Casablanca by Sam Chui. For more details, please visit my website http://samchui.com/2016/09/02/review-royal-air-maroc-business-class-b747-400-montreal-casablanca/

Video collection of Qatar Airways Business Class Flights onboard A319, A320, A340-600, A350, A380 and B787. Qatar Airways Business Class Flight Review For more Qatar Airways Post, please visit my website http://samchui.com/category/qatar-airways/

Salalah is one of very few places in the Arabian peninsula that experiences a monsoon season, which is called Khareef and lasts from July to September. Khareef means “autumn” in Arabic but it refers to monsoon when describing Salalah. During this time, the brown landscape of Salalah and its surroundings is completely transformed to a beautiful and lush green, and locals and tourists alike flock to Salalah. This Video include following tourist attractions: Wadi Darbat Anti Gravity Point Al Mughsayl Beach Marneef Cave and Blowhole For a full review, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/07/25/destination-salalah-oman/

Oman Air Business Class Boeing 787 Review Muscat to Bangkok by Sam Chui. For a full written report, please see: http://samchui.com/2016/07/07/oman-air-business-class-review/ Music Provided by Invisible Hands Music http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/

Etihad Airways New First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi reopens at the end of May 2016. A detail look into the refurbished lounge with many unique features such as fine dining and a stylish bar, relax and recline, a gym, spa, style and shave and children's area in Etihad Airways home base Abu Dhabi. For a full review of the lounge, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/07/06/etihad-abu-dhabi-first-class-lounge/

One of the last few months of Cathay Pacific B747-400 operation before retirement. Join me for a flight with their legendary B747-400 from Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong with view of Mt Fuji enroute! For more of this flight review, please visit my website http://samchui.com/2016/06/09/cathay-pacific-first-class-b747-400-tokyo-haneda-to-hong-kong/

A rare glimpse into Antonov-26 An-26 cargo flight with complete cockpit takeoff and landing footage inside Belarus from Minsk to Minsk as part of the Belarus Aviation Tour 2016 More details on my flight please visit http://samchui.com/category/belarus-aviation-tour/#.V2wxjbh97IU

Qatar Airways A380 First Class 5 star experience Bangkok to Doha. This is an overnight flight with just 2 passengers in the First Class cabin. A short video showing the excellent cabin ambience and product onboard. For more information on this trip, please check http://samchui.com/2016/06/10/qatar-airways-a380-first-class-bangkok-to-doha/

A detail view of one of the Best First Class lounge in the world, Air France Salon La Premiere in Paris CDG For detail review please go to http://samchui.com/2016/05/20/air-france-salon-la-premiere-first-class-lounge-paris-cdg/#.V2wyy7h97IU

Etihad A380 First Class Apartment Full Video in-flight experience from Abu Dhabi to London Flight EY019 takeoff and landing footage, in-flight service, food and beverage footage plus a tour of First Class apartment. For more information, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/05/27/etihad-a380-first-class-apartment-abu-dhabi-to-london/

My finest inflight experience with Air France La Premiere First Class. Stylish, elegant and amazing gastronomy onboard from Paris to Tokyo For more details, please visit http://samchui.com/2016/05/20/air-france-la-premiere-b777-300er-paris-to-tokyo/

Flying Ruby Star Aviation An-12 with exclusive GoPro Cockpit footage of takeoff and landing. Bonus cargo door off during flight. More details on my flight please visit http://samchui.com/category/belarus-aviation-tour/#.V2wxjbh97IU

Flying Motor Sich Airlines Yak-40 UR-88310 on a aviation charter flight from Minsk to Minsk. Exclusive footage from the cockpit on takeoff and landing. More details on my flight please visit http://samchui.com/category/belarus-aviation-tour/#.V2wxjbh97IU

Iran Air Boeing 747-SP Tehran to Bombay full journey experience by Sam Chui. Enjoy unparallel access to cockpit, with pilot's briefing, cabin tour , cockpit takeoff and landing view plus engine view! For more details, please visit http://samchui.com/category/iran-air/

Onboard Iran Air Flight IR810 from Tehran to Mumbai. Takeoff footage from the Boeing B747-SP cockpit. Full HD video and audio. For more details, please visit http://samchui.com/category/iran-air/

British Airways Boeing 787-9 First Class London to Muscat via Abu Dhabi For more information, please visit http://samchuiphotos.com/wp/2016/02/21/british-airways-b787-9-first-class-london-to-muscat-via-abu-dhabi/

Onboard Iran Aseman Airlines B727-200 Flight EP609 from Mashhad to Tehran. Takeoff footage from cockpit To view the complete trip report http://samchui.com/category/iran/

Cockpit landing onboard Antonov An-74 Pouya Air into Tehran Mehrabad To view the complete trip report http://samchui.com/category/iran/

Complete cockpit takeoff footage in HD of Antonov An-74 Pouya Air from Ilam, Iran. To view the complete trip report http://samchui.com/category/iran/

Watch the cockpit action on one of the last Boeing B727 operate by Iran Aseman Airlines on a flight to Mashhad. To view the complete trip report http://samchui.com/category/iran/

Experience the new Etihad Airways Business Class onboard re-configured A340-642 (F8C32Y276) from Abu Dhabi to Munich with good engine views. For more Etihad trip reports, please see http://samchui.com/category/etihad/

Flight attendant shows me how to eat famous Korean dish, Bibimbap on a recent Korean Air First Class flight from Hong Kong to Incheon.

Experience the 45 minutes short hop onboard Qatar Airways First Class B787-8 Dreamliner from Doha to Dubai and back with stunning scenery and sights, not to mention the award winning onboard services. For more trip details, please see http://samchui.com/category/qatar-airways/

Onboard old school Kuwait Airways 20 year old A340-300 from Colombo to Kuwait city. No music is included this time to enhance the sound of the A340. Flight was delayed over an hour with no explanation as usual. Entertainment none, blanket none, but at least decent food (Paratha with chicken mince)

Enjoy Skytrax 5 star airline Qatar Airways A340-600 new Business Class flight from Colombo to Doha For more trip details, please see http://samchui.com/category/qatar-airways/

Discover the best First Class lounge in the world at Doha, Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge. A sense of tranquility and surrealness await you to discover, view the video and find out why this is the BEST First Class Lounge in the world! For more trip details, please visit http://samchui.com/category/qatar-airways/#.V2w1H7h97IU

Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan and Mashhad Flying Bae-146, ARJ85, ARJ100, An-74, A300, B727 and B747-SP aircraft A unique aviation combined with sightseeing tour. Join me in just 15 minutes to see highlight of the 5 days tour! For more details, please see http://samchui.com/category/iran/#.V2w1frh97IU

Onboard Iran Aseman Airlines Boeing 727-200 EP-ASA from Tehran to Mashhad to Tehran with pure beautiful sound and sight. Dedicate this video to all Boeing 727 lovers. There is also footage of pilgrims chanting islamic prayer onboard! For more details of the trip, please see http://samchui.com/category/iran/#.V2w1frh97IU

Onboard Antonov 74 cargo converted passenger flight inside Iran. Pouya Air An-74 flight from Tehran to Mashhad to Tehran include cockpit landing footage. For more details of the trip, please see http://samchui.com/category/iran/#.V2w1frh97IU

Fly Singapore Airlines Suites from Delhi to Tokyo via Singapore. 2 sectors on the A380 First Class Suite

Complete footage of landing and takeoff from Barra onboard LoganAir (FlyBe) Twin Otter

Flying Hahn Air Cessna CJ4 business jet between Dusseldorf and Luxembourg

Onboard Royal First Class of Thai Airways from London to Bangkok Flight TG917 B747-400 HS-TGZ

Join me for a flight on the exclusive Qatar Airways all Business Class flight from Doha to London onboard A319

Enjoy one of the most spectacular beachside landing in the world

Etihad Airways B787-9 Dreamliner Inaugural Dusseldorf to Abu Dhabi in luxury First Class Suite

Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Inaugural Flight from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf in First Class Suite

First Class Apartment experience onboard Etihad Airways from London to Abu Dhabi on brand new Airbus A380

Onboard the inaugural commercial service of Airbus A350-900 with Qatar Airways from Doha to Frankfurt on 15 Jan 2015

Excellent service, amazing food and beverage onboard and a bonus landing inside the cockpit into Dubai.

First airline outside Norway to land during Polar Night into Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen in complete darkness at 2pm afternoon. Event organised by Airevents to celebrate new year eve in Spitsbergen.

Takeoff and landing view from the cockpit onboard the B747-SP Special farewell sightseeing flight of Iran Air For more details of the trip, please see http://samchui.com/category/iran/#.V2w1frh97IU

Onboard Iran Air B747-200 classic landing into Tehran Imam Khomeini International. Part of the video is filmed by security guard/inflight marshall

Onboard TG600 from Bangkok to Hong Kong in seat 31A on takeoff and landing over wing and engines.

The last of North Korea Aviation Tour 2014 series featuring Tu-154-B2 and Mil-17, include a formation of 2 Mil-17 over countryside of North Korea. For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Day 6 of JTS North Korea Aviaiton Tour, flying Air Koryo Soviet Giant and Premier intercontinental plane IL-76 and IL-62 For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Enjoy the Soloviev D-30 symphony! Extra: Pyongyang Metro Ride and City sights For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

From Samjiyon to Pyongyang on IL-18, then Pyongyang to Pyongyang onboard latest aircraft of Air Koryo, An-148 For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Day 3 of JTS North Korea Aviation Tour, flying IL-18 to Samjiyon, ramp tour, lunch and presentation at the airport follow by sightseeing around sacred Mount Paektu (birthplace of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il) For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Join me for a flight onboard Air Koryo Business Class from Beijing to Pyongyang with their Tupolev 204-100 For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Onboard Emir of Kuwait's special B747-400 (leased to Kuwait Airways) to London. A very unusual B747 with flying hospital and VIP configuration on upper deck.

PIA Pakistan International Airlines B777-200/ER flight PK788 London to Karachi from the flight deck

Japan Airlines First Class flight between Tokyo and London onboard B777-300/ER JAL Suite. JAL, like Japan is famous for its ultra efficiency, attention to details, polite and humbleness. This is the best First Class flight I have for a long while. I simply didn't want to leave! The amazing yet adorable JAL service "from the heart" won me over! You have to experience it to understand the Japanese understated luxury.

From Wajir to Nairobi whole way inside the cockpit of a 1968 built DC-9-32

Nairobi to Kisumu and back onboard FLYSAX/FLY540 DC-9-14 5Y-XXA This airplane is currently the oldest passenger jet in service (over 50 years old)

Landing view from inside the cockpit into Berbera, Somaliland

Onboard African Express Airways MD-82 landing into Mogadishu

Landing in the evening from the cockpit into Buenos Aires Ezeiza International onboard A340-200 from Sydney. A bonus footage of lightning sky.

Exclusive video from cockpit with pilot explaining the significance of the Transpolar flight from the airline who pioneered in Southern transpolar route.

Sam Chui last time onboard DC-10-30 KUL-DAC and B777-300/ER DAC-DMM in Maslin Executive Class

First Class from Beijing to Frankfurt onboard the latest generation of Jumbo Jet in luxury

Join me to discover what Mahan Air First Class (Business Plus) has to offer!

Landing views from the cockpit onboard Iran Air B747-SP-86. This is the world's last flying passenger B747-SP model as of Dec 2013

2013 Aviation Travel Highlight from January to May 2013. Visiting Japan, USA, Caribbean, Europe, SE Asia, Australia and North Pole!

Video Trip Report onboard soon to be discountinued nonstop flight from Singapore to Newark in 18 hours!

Saudi Arabian Airlines B747-400 Manila to Riyadh (First) Business Class service review

Join me for a trip across the Pacific on United Airlines Island Hopping from Honolulu via Majuro, Kwajalein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Guam and Koror to Manila in Business Class

Video from the cockpit while landing and takeoff from Denpasar Bali onboard Sriwijara B737-500

Onboard the soon to be retired Garuda Indonesia B747 Jumbo Jet

Spectacular landing into Rio de Janerio Santos Dumont Airport + takeoff from Sao Paulo GRU under heavy shower onboard TRIP/AZUL Embraer 190

Onboard Air Berlin A330-200 from Berlin to the North Pole and return. Special sightseeing flight "PolarFlug". April 2013

Follow Sam Chui on discover the joy of flying Biman Bangladesh DC-10-30 to Sylhet, Dhaka, Chittagong and Abu Dhbai

From Mashhad to Dubai onboard Aseman B727-200/Adv. A story of Iran Part 2 by Sam Chui

11 minutes of Saha Air B707 flight journey by Sam Chui. Filmed in February 2013

Exclusive videos of PIA aircrafts on takeoff and landing from the cockpit.

A rare video of PIA B777 landing into Dubai from the cockpit

Onboard Pakistan International Airlines mountain flight from Islamabad to Gilgit and return travelling inside the cockpit

PK214 from Dubai to Karachi inside from the cockpit

See the start-up, takeoff, landings and a tour onboard the Qatar Airways B787 Dreamliner from Dubai to Doha and back. See a much more detailed photo trip report onboard Qatar Airways B787 Dreamliner : http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/230421/

Flying the ATI DC-8-62 Combi from Sacramento to Long Beach and back in May 2012. Organised by Jet Classic Tours

Flying Air Koryo Tu-134 Pyongyang to Sondok and return. A go around on approach into Pyongyang. More sightseeing in North Korea For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Flying the IL-76 Cargo plane plus visit varios types of Air Koryo fleet include IL-14 and An-24 For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Flying the IL-18 to Orang from Pyongyang and return in October 2012. In addition, sights of Pyongyang plus metro ride. For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Flying Air Koryo IL-62 from Beijing to Pyongyang, a walk around Pyongyang, Dinner Show in Beijing and visit DMZ For more details on this trip, please visit http://samchui.com/category/north-korea/#.V2w2C7h97IU

Footage from airplane landing and takeoff from Lukla, Nepal

Visit of the cockpit of Iran Air B747SP on IR841 from Kuala Lumpur to Tehran, April 2012. You can see cross traffic underneath our plane in this video.

Last B747 flight of Singapore Airlines. Inflight photos and videos

Onboard the B747-286BM. Sole passenger in Business Class

702 Morning Show interview with Sam Chui

Infight windo view of Connie Super Constellation VH-EAG

Flames out of engine!

Flight attendant Vinod serving Dessert on the World's First A380 flight from Sydney to Singapore.