Jonathan Hendry

Special aircraft liveries are one of the most exciting parts of airplane spotting for many Simple Flying readers. The past twelve months provided plane spotters with a range of new aircraft paint jobs, from exceptional looks bearing the Olympics logo to retro throwback paint schemes. My favorite was JetBlue's stunning purple look of its Airbus A220 "Taming Of The Blue," registered N3241J. A close second was the Condor Airlines Airbus A320 with pink strips in the airline's iconic 'Beach towel' pattern as part of its "FlyPink" campaign. What were some of the best paint jobs to roll out on aircraft worldwide this year? Let us know your favorite in the comments below. 

As tributes pour in from around the world for the late President Jimmy Carter, one of the recurring themes was the kindness exemplified in his later years. US carrier Delta Air Lines, which is based in President Carter's home state of Georgia, posted a video of President Carter greeting fellow passengers onboard a Delta flight after leaving the White House.  In response, social media users flooded the comments with stories and photos of themselves meeting the late President onboard a commercial flight in the years since his term. Have you ever met President Carter (or any president) onboard a plane? Let us know your favorite memories in the comments below. 

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in California is one of the busiest airports on the West Coast. It serves as a hub for Star Alliance carrier United Airlines and a vital gateway for many other carriers.  This year, the airport opened the final phase of Harvey Milk Terminal 1, including two new lounges: an Alaska Airlines lounge and The Club SFO. In addition, the airport features lounges from Air Canada, Air France/KLM, American Airlines, American Express, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic.  With so many options, which ones are the best, and why?

Breeze Airways is reportedly considering launching flights to Hawaii once it secures the required ETOPS certifications, which will enable it to fly the required distance over the Pacific Ocean. While a spokesperson told Simple Flying that the airline is "looking at several potential routes," nothing is set in stone yet, but San Francisco has been rumored to be a potential departure point.  Several US cities, including Phoenix, San Jose, and Oakland, have seen a drop in flights to Hawaii compared to last year, and following the recent merger of Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines, there are bound to be even more changes to schedules.  This opens up a unique opportunity for carriers like Breeze to increase capacity to Hawaii and connect it to unserved or underserved markets. Which US cities do you think would benefit from flights to Hawaii next year?

United States President Joe Biden landed in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands this week for the final vacation of his term. The visit is expected to boost the island's economy and profile, and the arrival of the Queen of the Skies, commonly known as Air Force One, is a highlight for many aviation enthusiasts.  Several presidential planes have been used over the years, with the current fleet featuring two modified Boeing 747s. Retired models can be found at locations such as the Museum of the United States Air Force, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and the Pima Air and Space Museum.  Have you ever spotted one of the iconic presidential planes flying or on display? Let us know your favorite Air Force One memories in the comments below.

The holidays can often be a stressful time to travel as people across the world take to the skies to spend time with loved ones and enjoy a few days off work. This year, the AAA projected 119.3 million people will travel between Saturday, December 21st, and New Year's Day. This represents a slight increase over the previous record set in 2019 and a jump of three million travelers this holiday season compared to last year.  Of those traveling, 7.85 million passengers are expected to fly, up from the previous record of 7.5 million air travelers last year. Airlines and the FAA said they were prepared for the surge, and of the major airlines, only American Airlines faced significant technical difficulties.  Did you travel this holiday season? Which airlines handled the extra passengers well, and what are some of the ways you saw carriers and airports innovate to ensure a pleasant travel experience during this busy time?