Simple Flying Press & Events
Simple Flying is the online authority for aviation news, delivering unparalleled coverage of the latest developments in the industry. As a trusted source for enthusiasts and professionals alike, we provide insightful, up-to-date reports on a wide range of topics.
Throughout the year, our team attends a variety of industry events, including airshows, conferences, and inaugural flights, ensuring our audience stays informed with firsthand insights and comprehensive analyses. Join us at Simple Flying to stay at the forefront of the aviation world.
For partnerships or event opportunities, contact us at pr@simpleflying.com.
Burbank Airport Visit
Simple Flying’s Senior Editor Channing Reid visited Hollywood Burbank Airport for a preview of its new $1.3 billion terminal ahead of its opening on October 13. The new facility, which is a complete replacement of the current terminal, will feature 14 gates large enough to accommodate the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and Airbus A321. One notable feature is that the new terminal will not have jetways, which is consistent with the airport's longstanding tradition, according to officials.
300th Podcast Episode
The Simple Flying Podcast released its 300th episode. During the episode, hosts Tom and Channing took a look back at some of the top episodes from the last 300, along with the usual top stories of the week.
Farnborough Airshow 2026
Managing Editors Tom and Sumit were joined by Cabin Expert Alejandro at this year's Farnborough Airshow. The team covered press conferences, interviews, and aircraft tours, making sure the Simple Flying audience was always the first to know what was happening at the show!
Rolls Royce Media Briefing
Simple Flying Managing Editor Sumit Singh recently had the opportunity to visit Rolls-Royce's headquarters in Derby, UK. During the media visit, he received updates on the company's Civil Aerospace business, attended an executive deep dive into the progress of the Trent 1000 XE program, and toured Rolls-Royce's manufacturing facilities for a behind-the-scenes look at how its world-leading aircraft engines are built.
IATA AGM
Channing recently attended the IATA AGM in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. As part of the event he sat down with prominent leaders from the aviation industry for one on one chats about the state of the industry, and what to expect from their respective airlines.
Air Canada A321XLR
Simple Flying's Victor Jamet-Larsen had the incredible opportunity to step on board Air Canada's brand-new Airbus A321XLR for an exclusive, first-look tour. The A321XLR is a massive game-changer for narrowbody, long-haul travel. Getting a firsthand look at how Air Canada is configuring this aircraft to balance efficiency with top-tier passenger comfort was spectacular.
Simple Flying Launches Its Own Flight Tracker
Simple Flying has launched its very own flight tracker, built with avgeeks in mind. Track over 13,000 aircraft in real time, get alerted to unusual activity, follow military and government flights, and explore NOTAMs in one place. It’s free, it’s live, and it’s only just getting started!
NATO Tiger Meet 2026
Simple Flying journalists Victoria Agronsky and Antonio Di Trapani attended the NATO Tiger Meet 2026 airshow at Araxos Airport in Greece, covering static displays of several tiger-themed special liveries and one of the newly opened F-16 simulators at the Hellenic Air Force Museum near Athens.
Lufthansa's 100 Year Anniversary
Simple Flying's Tom Boon spent Easter Monday attending Lufthansa's centenary celebration, an event highlighting a century of aviation innovation and strategic foresight. From water cannon salutes to yodeling and historic postcards, it was a day of fun and celebration all around!
United Elevated
Channing attended United Airlines’ two-day Elevated event in Los Angeles where the carrier operated a demonstration flight with Starlink WiFi. The flight represented the carrier’s push to equip the rest of its fleet with the fast and free internet service. United also announced a slew of new enhancements and aircraft passengers will soon get to experience, including its new Polaris business class suites, economy class couches, Coastliner Airbus A321neos, and the Bombardier CRJ450.
easyJet Opens Its Newcastle Base
Managing Editor Tom Boon flew from London to Newcastle with the CEOs of easyJet and easyJet Holidays. The short flight was used to promote the opening of the airline's base, as well as a deal to buy new seats for hundreds of aircraft!
Finnair Annual Press Conference
Tom visited Finnair in Helsinki for its 2026 annual results conference. Following talks from the CEO and other C-suite executives, there was the opportunity to learn about the latest from different departments at the airline before visiting the maintenance and catering facilities.
Tom Attends Airbus' Annual Press Conference
Simple Flying Managing Editor Tom Boon visited Toulouse to participate in the company’s annual press conference, coinciding with the release of its FY25 results. Tom was able to ask a question of Airbus CEO, Guillaume Faury, during the Q&A portion of the event.
Simple Flying's Seat Maps Feature Goes Live
Simple Flying piloted Seat Maps late last year, and after taking into account valuable user feedback, the new feature officially launched with 100+ maps in January 2026.
Lufthansa's "100 Year" Boeing 787 Lands In Germany
Simple Flying's Tom Boon was on site in Frankfurt to witness the landing of Lufthansa's newest Boeing 787 — the first of six aircraft in the German flag carrier's fleet that will wear the scheme commemorating the airline's centenary.
American Airlines Previews New Airbus A321XLR Ahead Of Debut
Channing attended a preview of American Airlines' brand new Airbus A321XLR at New York-JFK Airport. The aircraft, which is the first of 50 planes to be delivered, will transform the carrier's passenger experience with new Flagship Suites, Premium Economy, seatback entertainment and Bluetooth connectivity. American will deploy the aircraft on transcontinental routes before Philadelphia-Edinburgh this Spring.
Tom Attends Dubai Airshow 2025
Managing Editor Tom Boon attended the Dubai Airshow, where he covered several large orders, interviewed airline executives, saw flying displays as well as the nighttime drone show, and got the scoop on flydubai's new Boeing 787s.
Sumit Joins easyJet's 30th Anniversary Celebrations
Simple Flying Managing Editor Sumit Singh joined easyJet at Luton Airport to celebrate the low-cost carrier's 30th birthday. The airline marked the event with a special flight to Glasgow operated entirely by 30-year-olds.
Tom Joins Condor On The Airline's Final 757 Flight
Simple Flying Managing Editor Tom Boon joined Condor on the airline's final 757 flight from Frankfurt to Vienna and back to Frankfurt. He live-blogged the momentous occasion, which included a speech by the pilots, a special food menu, and glow sticks to light up the cabin.
Navitaire Customer Conference: AI & The Cloud In Aviation
Navitaire hosted its annual Customer Conference October 14-16 in Las Vegas, and for the first time in the event’s 20-plus-year history, media were invited to participate. Simple Flying's Annie Flodin attended the conference, which provided attendees (primarily airline customers) with the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in AI and cloud-based technology, and how they benefit airlines and passengers.
Pittsburgh Airport Nears $1.7 Billion New Terminal Debut
Channing visited Pittsburgh International Airport to get a first-hand look at the airport’s highly-anticipated $1.7 billion terminal. To commemorate near-completion of the facility, the airport hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Although the terminal is not officially open, Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis said it is on track to open later this fall.
Routes World 2025: Cathay Pacific's CEO on Global Growth
James is Simple Flying’s route analyst and journalist. Between September 24 and 26, he attended Routes World in Hong Kong. Thousands of managers from airlines and airports worldwide were there to discuss new route opportunities.
United Airlines Celebrates 35 Years Of Flying To Germany
Tom was invited to Frankfurt Airport to celebrate 35 years of United Airlines flights to Europe. During the event, he caught up with Thorsten Lettnin, Director Sales Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa, India & Israel at United Airlines.
Ask Us Anything: Simple Flying’s Managing Editors Are Taking Your Questions
On August 27, Simple Flying's Managing Editors, Tom Boon and Sumit Singh, hosted a special Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on the website using the threads functionality. Tom and Sumit answered questions about all things aviation, as well as the editorial process at Simple Flying.
Virgin Atlantic's Game-Changer: Free Starlink WiFi & Massive Cabin Upgrades
Virgin Atlantic hosted an exclusive Summer Showcase In London where Managing Editors, Tom and Sumit, alongside Senior Editor Channing were in attendance. From Starlink WiFi, to upcoming Boeing 787-9 cabin retrofits, the carrier unveiled a range of passenger experience improvements that will be introduced over the next few years.
SAS Places Firm Order For 45 Embraer E195-E2s
SAS revealed an order for up to 55 Embraer E195s at Copenhagen Airport on July 1st. Managing Editor Tom Boon was in attendance along with the CEOs of SAS, Embraer, and Copenhagen Airport to celebrate the news.
Paris Air Show 2025: As It Happens
The Paris Air Show 2025 featured major deals in commercial and defense aviation, with Airbus leading big orders and advances in electric aircraft. Dillon was on-site, covering all the latest updates live.
BBC Interviews Simple Flying About Air India Crash
Simple Flying's Dillon Shah appeared on BBC News in the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight 171. Simple Flying's thoughts are with all those affected by this accident.
Wizz Air's 1st Airbus A321XLR Delivery
Tom popped to Hamburg for the day to see the delivery of Wizz Air's 1st Airbus A321XLR, which was also the first A321XLR to be delivered with an all-economy cabin and Pratt & Whitney engines. The event also saw executives from both Wizz Air and Airbus giving comments and exchanging gifts.
Eva Air Facility Visit
Sumit had the pleasure of visiting EVA Air's facilities in Taiwan. He met with executives and crew of the carrier to learn more about how the Taoyuan International Airport-based carrier caters to a growing demand for transoceanic business travel. He also went behind the scenes to see how pilots and flight attendants train and keep up to date with the ever-changing requirements of the aviation industry.
AIX with Air Canada
Tom was invited to visit the Aircraft Interior Expo with Air Canada where Simple Flying learned all about the airline's plans to be the launch customer for XL bins on the Airbus A220. We also got to step inside the shell of the airline's 1st A321XLR on the final assembly line with VP of Network Planning and Scheduling, Alexandre Lefèvre.
United Next In San Francisco
Channing visited United Airlines’ event that celebrated its commitment to San Francisco International Airport. As it works to re-establish its main West Coast hub as a global gateway, the airline brought out a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus A321neo, and Archer Aviation’s eVTOL aircraft for up close and personal tours. CEO Scott Kirby was also in attendance, and recognized that United’s employees are the “secret sauce” to its route network strategy and overall success.
Airbus Summit
Dillon attended the 2025 Airbus Summit in late March where the company showcased the latest technology related to sustainability and efficiency. It also revealed details about its future single-aisle aircraft and hydrogen aircraft project. Finally, Simple Flying also got the chance to speak to Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson at the sidelines of the event.
Amadeus Altitude 25 Conference
In February, Dillon headed to Lisbon for the Amadeus Altitude25 conference. From new payment platforms and distribution capabilities to the use of biometric technology at airports, the conference had plenty of interesting aviation content on offer.
Boom's 1st Supersonic Flight
Channing Reid covered Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 demonstrator aircraft reach supersonic speeds for the first time. The aircraft serves as the testbed for the Overture, which will bring back commercial supersonic flights since Concorde retired over two decades ago. Channing met Chief Test Pilot Tristan “Geppetto” Brandenburg after he made history in the skies over Mojave, California.
Flying on Emirates' 1st Airbus A350
Managing Editor Tom was invited to be one of the first to experience the Emirates Airbus A350 on a flight between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI). Tom got to experience the brand new cabin, and also tour all of the aircraft's new features at 39,000 feet.
Welcoming Icelandair's 1st Airbus aircraft
Dillon attended the Icelandair A321LR delivery event, marking the first Airbus delivery for the airline in its history. The new aircraft features a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system and was greeted by a water salute under rainy skies in Iceland. Our coverage includes interviews with the Icelandair CEO and the company's Director for North America, as well as with Panasonic and Airbus representatives.
Welcoming Emirates' 1st Airbus A350
Emirates invited Simple Flying to attend the unveiling of its 1st new aircraft type since 2008. The airline showed off the cabin of its brand new Airbus A350, which will start flying between Dubai and Edinburgh next January.
The world's 1st Airbus A321XLR flight
In November 2024, Simple Flying was invited to fly on the world's 1st Airbus A321XLR flight, traveling between Madrid and Paris. We got the chance to sample the economy and business products for our readers.
NASA & SpaceX Europa Clipper Launch
It was an honor to attend the NASA/SpaceX Europa Clipper launch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I had the pleasure of joining an official NASA pre-launch press teleconference. I enjoyed an exciting day at KSC Launch Complex 39A and having a front-row seat for the historic launch. Witnessing the incredible work done by NASA and its partners first-hand was more than an unforgettable experience; it was the thrill of a lifetime.
Qatar Airways' 1st Starlink Flight
Managing Editor Tom Boon got the chance to fly on Qatar Airways’ first ever commercial StarLink-enabled flight, putting the speeds to the test at 36,000 feet from Doha to London.
NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition
Justin attended this year’s annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (BACE) in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had the ability to speak with a wide range of private jet operators, including SkyShare, flyExclusive, and Wheels Up.
Behind the ccenes at Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines invited Simple Flying to visit their Istanbul headquarters for a look behind the scenes at what goes into running Europe’s 5th busiest airline. The trip focused on training, maintenance, and cargo handling.
Emirates opens London travel store
We had the opportunity to celebrate the launch of Emirates' new experimental travel store in London. At this new site, passengers can try out what it would be like to sit in premium economy and first class seats on the Dubai-based carrier's aircraft. Travelers can even witness an Airbus A380 bar in the middle of the capital of the United Kingdom! During the festivities, Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, spoke to Simple Flying about how important the UK and US market is to the airline.
World Aviation Festival 2024
Tom visited the world Aviation Festival in Amsterdam where he got the chance to interview a number of aviation CEOs including David Neeleman of Breeze Airways, Patrick Roux of SkyTeam, and Güliz Öztürk of Pegasus Airlines.
Routes World, Bahrain
James attended Routes World in Bahrain in October. Routes events provide the go-to forum for the subject. They are attended by thousands of airlines, airports, tourism bodies, journalists, and more. James attends various Routes events annually to listen to senior airline figures and to discuss networks and developments with people from companies worldwide.
RECARO Factory Visit
Tom visited Dr Mark Hiller, CEO of RECARO at their factory in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. During the tour Tom visited the assembly line to see how aircraft seats are manufactured, before seeing the company’s crash test facility.
Visit of Singapore's Airlines SilverKris Lounge at London Heathrow Airport
It was a pleasure to be invited to see the refurbished Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at London Heathrow Airport a day before its reopening. I had the unique chance to witness what guests would expect on their travels at the airport’s Terminal 2B. After speaking with Singapore Airlines GM of the UK and Ireland, Mohamed Rafi Mar, we finally got to meet in person and talk about his airline’s plans for the European market. He and his team then gave a tour of the impressive facilities, where we tried out a specially prepared selection of the lounge’s finest dishes. The airline definitely stands out when it comes to premium service!
Farnborough Airshow
First held in 1948, the biennial Farnborough Airshow has turned into one of the industry's largest events. The lively event is a trade show for the aerospace and defense industries that displays civilian and military aircraft to potential customers and investors.
Embraer Media Days
Going behind the scenes at Embraer's factories was phenomenal. Seeing how the E-Jets are brought to life along the production line was eye-opening, particularly hearing about all the efficiency improvements the company has made. It was also a great opportunity to get some face time with executives and ask all those burning questions. But my absolute highlight was flying out to Gavião Peixoto to see the final assembly line for the C-390 onboard a C-390! I've never flown in a military aircraft before; it was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.