The Sunday Five (November 23rd-29th)

1. Bombardier Completes Type Certification Test Program for CS100: After 26 months, the Bombardier CS100 has finally completed its type certification flight test program in an important step for the fledgling large regional jet program. Bombardier is awaiting final approval from Transport Canada for the CS100 so that they can begin deliveries, with the first one currently scheduled for 2016. 

2. Allegiant to Say Goodbye to Hawaii and the 757: Ultra low cost carrier Allegiant Air will eliminate Hawaii from its route map in August of 2016 and will also retire five 757-200 aircraft, which mainly flew between Hawaii and the mainland, from its fleet. The carrier will be replacing the venerable 757 aircraft with new A320 family aircraft. 

3. Virgin America to Begin Service to Denver from San Francisco: Flashy low cost carrier Virgin America will begin daily non-stop A320 service to Denver International Airport from its main base in San Francisco in March of 2016. Virgin America has recently embarked on an aggressive expansion program with newly delivered A320 family aircraft increasing capacity by 20%. 

4. Spring Airlines Seeks Permission to Begin Service to North Korea: Chinese low cost carrier Spring Airlines is seeking permission from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to begin 4x weekly service to Pyongyang, North Korea from Shanghai. Most routes from Pyongyang to China are operated by North Korean carrier Air Koryo. 

5. Air Canada Flight Attendants Ratify Proposed Contract: Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have ratified a ten year contract proposal that has already been approved by Air Canada's board of directors.  

                                 

The "What the Heck?" Story of the Week 

A homeless man was able to get past security and board a Southwest Airlines flight with a boarding pass that wasn't his. 61 year old Michael Salata swiped a woman's boarding pass that was left at a check in kiosk and was able to proceed through security and board the plane. After the airline noticed that two people with the same ticket were trying to board the same flight, they called the authorities who promptly arrested Salas who, of course, repeatedly said that the ticket was his and there was only a mistake with the name on the ticket. 

                                                                              

The Video of the Week