An Ongoing Passion for Flight & Flying Designs
For over a decade, we have actively pursued our perpetual fascination and awe with the ever expanding universe of flight.
The following portfolio reflects this fascination with the spectacular diversity of airlines, their liveries, history, and aircraft.
Reflecting our passion for local photography, the images in this blog are exclusively captured at Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ), the 2nd busiest international airport in the Americas by passenger count. By way of reference, this equates for 49.5 million passengers per year, just over ten million short of New York’s JFK International Airport passenger volume. Originally named Malton Airport, it received its first passenger flight on August 29th, 1939, bringing it near to its 80 year anniversary. The modern name change occurred in 1984, honouring Lester B. Pearson, Canada’s 14th Prime Minister and a recipient of the Nobel Peace prize in 1957. With two terminals and five active runways, Pearson served close to a whopping half million aircraft movements in 2018. Interestingly, Pearson sports the world’s largest de-icing facility, a quintessentially Canadian feat.
In keeping with out interests, our adventure expands beyond the images; we have included a story behind each plane that highlights the unique history and set of circumstances which bring the planes to YYZ, completing this voyage of discovery.
Enjoy,
Robson and David
*Note, you can visit our resources page on our site at: Aviation References
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-400(M) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a dazzling Saturday morning 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747-400(M) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) on a dazzling Saturday morning 2019. Interestingly, note the unique logo on the fuselage resembling the number "100" with a banner in Dutch colours intertwined, representing KLM's 100th anniversary this year. The airline was founded in 1919 as KLM, denoting the company as the first airline in the world to reach its centennial operating under its original name. Also celebrating another global milestone, Boeing's 747 family of aircraft is commemorating its 50th anniversary since the inaugural flight in February of 1969, a testament to the aircraft's phenomenal capabilities. Colloquially known as the "Queen of the Skies", the 747, with six million parts, is incredibly still in production and will retake its throne as largest passenger airliner still in production once the Airbus A380 is phased out entirely due to its planned production termination in 2021. Coincidentally, the first 25 Boeing 747 orders (747-100 model) were placed on Boeing's 50th anniversary in 1966 by PAN AM Airlines. The variant of the 747 in this image, the 747-400, has been in operation for 30 years now, another remarkable number, since 1989. Importantly, although KLM was not the first airline to use the 747-400 model, they were first at operating the combi (passenger and freight) variant of the 747-400 in the same year. All five of KLM's 747-400s are named after famous international cities, this plane is named after Johannesburg. Also on this plane, KLM's updated livery is on full display, sporting a similar design to its predecessor but with a tweaked fuselage top. Now, the "drop nose" is being used to add flow to the livery instead of a linear and non dynamic design. See the other KLM aircraft in the "Soaring Blog" for the older livery. With its fascinating versatility and history, we implore all to stop and enjoy the sight of the only true iconic jumbo jet. Enjoy!
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Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a thrilling Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on a thrilling Saturday afternoon 2019. Currently, Lufthansa operates a whopping fleet of 32 747s, 13 of which are 747-400s, the rest are 747-8Is. This denotes the company as the largest operator of the Boeing 747-8Is. Although this specific 747-400 has been flying since 1997, the "Queen of the Skies" 747 family has been in operation for 50 years, and the 747-400 variant has been in the air for 30. Apropos of Lufthansa's fleet, the airline has the distinction and honour of receiving Boeing's 1500th 747 ever built, certifying the aircraft as the first ever wide bodied plane to reach the 1500 milestone, a testament to the incredible lasting and useful design of the 747. Indeed, the 747 operates as the most successful jumbo jet on the market, with rival company Airbus terminating production of their closest counterpart, the A380, by 2021 - just over a decade after that plane was unveiled. To note the immense size of the 747, take into consideration the six million parts that are built into the aircraft, three million of which are fasteners, making the plane intrinsically one of the most resilient and structurally robust ever built. Also note the 275 km of internal wiring, further adding to its colossal 183 500 kg (over 700 000 pounds) weight. Requiring 14 crew members and accommodating nearly 400 passengers, Lufthansa's 747-400s are to be retired from passenger service by 2025, replaced with Boeing's latest 777-9s. However, due to the versatility of the 747 family, these planes, even when retired from passenger operations, will likely continue to operate as freight only planes, extending the life of the jumbo jet even further. Despite its impressive record and list of accomplishments, at the heart of the 747s success, by its chief engineer, Joe Sutter, "safety is the prime design objective of the 747... it shall be given first priority in all design decisions", a very admirable and proven statement. On a final note, the 747 has carried millions of people and umpteen tons of cargo to all corners of the earth, across all oceans and over both poles - to the benefit of all. Enjoy!
Emirates Airlines A380-800 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a remarkable Sunday morning 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Emirates Airlines A380-800 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Dubai International Airport (DXB) on a remarkable Sunday morning 2019. Unusually so, this Airbus A380 was Emirates' second aircraft flying into Pearson Airport on this day, Sunday July 21st, 2019, an increase from the scheduled single flight. This was due to safety precautions taken as a result of experienced engine troubles of the previous day on an Emirates A380 returning to Dubai. One of the super jumbo's four engines experienced a catastrophic failure, forcing the flight crew to shut down the engine and return to Toronto just over 20 minutes into the flight. As the damaged engine would require significant time for a replacement, Emirates dispatched another A380, arriving the following day in addition to their regular A380 flight, in order to recover the stranded passengers. This additional A380 is also sporting Emirates' special Dubai Expo 2020 livery, which can be found on 40 of their aircraft. The circular designs located on the mid fuselage are blue on this aircraft but also include green and orange on Emirates' other aircraft sporting this livery. Each colour represent one of the three main themes for the Dubai 2020 Expo: blue for mobility, green for sustainability, and orange for opportunity. Significantly, the logo of the Dubai Expo 2020 is inspired by a ring found at a 4000 year old archaeological site in the UAE. Of which, the logo is located near the front of the fuselage next to the English title. Amazing to have an extra A380 "rescue" plane for the day, don't you think? Enjoy!
Emirates Airlines A380-800 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a sensational Sunday morning 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Emirates Airlines A380-800 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Dubai International Airport (DXB) on a sensational Sunday morning 2019. Founded in 1985, Emirates has grown explosively in size, financial success, and prestige. Currently, Emirates owns over 250 aircraft, denoting it as the largest airline in the Middle East, and, astonishingly, well over 100 of these are Airbus A380-800s, the largest passenger airplane in the world. Apropos of the super jumbo, the airline's inaugural A380 flight to Toronto was in 2009, making its ten year anniversary 2019 - when this image was captured. Additionally, the UAE's largest airline operates a current fleet of only Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, despite its massive size, with more diverse orders placed, allowing them to fly to all six inhabited continents. In 2014, the company was named the World's most valuable airline brand. Subsequently, 2016 brought with it the naming of Emirates as the World's Best Airline by SKYTRAX, one of the most prestigious awards in the airliner community. Emirates also received this recognition in 2013. Interestingly, Emirates is not the national flag carrier of the UAE - this is reserved for Etihad Airways, the airline of Abu Dhabi. Emirates is instead recognized as the national airline of Dubai, one of the seven Emirates of the UAE. The company's standard livery was created by Negus & Negus and consists of "Emirates" written in Arabic calligraphy as well as Engligh on the fuselage. Also, the vertical fin sports an intriguing design of the Emirati flag. and the logo, found on the engines, is of also two parts and languages: Emirates written in Arabic calligraphy and English beneath. With their current motto "Fly Better", can you Emirates ask for any more? Enjoy!
Air Belgium Airbus A340-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a sunny July afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Air Belgium Airbus A340-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a sunny July afternoon 2019. This is not an Air Belgium flight, however. This aircraft, though flying Belgium's colours, is wet leased (leasing the entire aircraft and operations including pilot and cabin crew) from Air Belgium to British Airways for their BA93 flight en route from London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) to Toronto Pearson. But why? Well, this is due to the ongoing global issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, mandating the forced inspection of all engines and subsequent grounding of any aircraft using it. Consequently, British Airways, which operates a fleet of 787-9 aircraft utilizing this massive piece of engineering, has been forced to rearrange their long haul flights. To reduce the inconvenience, the Heathrow-based airline has decided to lease additional aircraft for these routes. This includes its LHR-YYZ flight (one of two daily), now using Air Belgium's Airbus A340-300 + cabin and crew. Enjoy!
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Air France Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Air France Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon 2019. France's national carrier flew into operation in 1933 following a merger between five significant companies, with one specific member, Compagnie Générale Transaérienne, having the distinction of being the oldest air transport company in France (1909). Significantly, June of 1945 brought the nationalization of the airline, when it became the state owned flag carrier of France. A few decades later, in 1974, Air France moved its principal operations to the brand new Charles de Gaulle Airport, the same airport in which the airlines finds its modern hub. Additionally, in 2000, Air France became a founding member of the SkyTeam Alliance, one of the world's largest airline networks, promoting "high quality and seamless service". Interestingly, shortly thereafter, Air France merged with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, effective 2004, which became known as the Air France-KLM Group and effectively privatised the airline once again - adding to Air France's already impressive history of air company mash-ups. The otherwise simplified eurowhite livery of 2009 retains a seahorse, to be found on the engine, from Air Orient, one of the company's five founding members. The plane pictured is just one of 70 Boeing 777s in Air France's fleet and was delivered to the airline approximately 17 years ago, which, as it flies over our cameras, brings literal truth to their slogan "France is in the Air". Enjoy!
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Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a phenomenal Saturday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Boryspil International Airport (KBP) on a phenomenal Saturday afternoon 2019. This route, currently operated as PS241, was recently launched, offering a unique direct flight to Ukraine's capital, Kiev - the airline's headquarters. Formerly Ukraine's national carrier and now privatised, UIA commenced operations in November 1992, following the fall of the Soviet Union. The 777-200(ER) wide-body long-haul aircraft pictured above, acquired by the airline in mid 2018, is one of three of the same model in a total fleet of 45 planes. These 777s are being used to replace UIA's older 767 model aircraft, with an aim to increase on board passenger comfort and fare value. Note UIA's livery, which incorporates an abstract bird in yellow surrounded by blue, representing Ukraine's national colours. Welcome to Toronto, Ukraine International!
AeroLogic Boeing 777-FZN arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an impressive Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
AeroLogic Boeing 777-FZN arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Frankfurt Main Airport (FRA) on an impressive Saturday afternoon 2019. Founded in 2009 as a joint venture with an unique 50/50 split between Lufthansa and DHL, the latter of which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, Aerologic is currently celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Within DHL’s 50% split, AeroLogic is part of the DHL group of six aviation companies, all members of the mammoth Deutsche Post DHL company - the world's largest logistics company, moving over one billion parsecs per year and employing over one half million workers in all divisions. AeroLogic operates one of the world's most modern freighter fleets with eleven advanced Boeing 777-F cargo aircraft. Logistically, this airline splits operational use between the two partners (DHL and Lufthansa) at different times during the week. Lufthansa retains the use over the weekends on behalf of Lufthansa cargo, typically flying to America - or Canada in this case - and DHL Express's network to Asia is served during the weekdays. The livery is a simple design: printed is Aerologic's title, half of which is coloured yellowish-orange - a colour that both parent companies sport in their respective liveries. Not just passenger planes arriving but some great freight operators and their planes too. Enjoy!
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an enthralling Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) on an enthralling Saturday afternoon 2019. Founded in 1989, Hainan Airlines has matured to become the fourth largest airline in China by fleet size (behind the "China Big three"), the largest independent airline in mainland China, and has received phenomenal recognition for nearly unmatched quality in all aspects. In 2019, Hainan received the SKYTRAX World's 5-Star Airline rating for the ninth consecutive year, and the airline has placed 7th in the SKYTRAX "World's top 10 Airlines" list for both 2018 and 2019, cementing its place as a global Airline of superlatives. Historically, Hainan took its first name as Hainan Province Airlines, denoting its headquarters and founding location on Hainan Island, southern China, before rebranding to the modern Hainan Airlines in 1996. Of note, this 787-9 Dreamliner was delivered to the company in late June 2019, weeks before this image was captured, and, on this subject, Hainan has on order an additional eight Boeing 787-9s, balanced by a further nine A350-900s from Boeing competitor Airbus. From their motto, 'Fly your Dreams", this beautiful Dreamliner completes their colourful livery. Enjoy!
Westjet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an awesome Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Westjet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Calgary International Airport (YYC) on an awesome Saturday afternoon 2019. Though Westjet currently operates a majority fleet of 737 aircraft, the airline has made significant progress towards global expansion through the acquisition of long range aircraft. In 2015, Westjet began operating four 767-300(ER) aircraft as an interim step, and in early 2019, Westjet begins acquiring Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliners to eventually replace the older 767-300(ER)s. The dreamliner in this image was delivered in January of 2019, months before this image was captured. Furthermore, to be delivered in 2021 and 2022 respectively (pending updates on Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 groundings and setbacks in Canada), Westjet will also gain 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 aircraft, bringing further modernization to the fleet and route expansion possibilities. As this Dreamliner is a new aircraft for the airline, it sports Westjet's new livery, unveiled in May 2018. Most notably, this new version tweaks the "Westjet" text on the fuselage and includes in smaller text "The Spirit of Canada" (on the port side - our side) and "L'esprit du Canada" (on the starboard side), with a modernized maple leaf displayed on the tail. With their slogan "Love where you're going", we look forward to to where Westjet chooses to fly next and on which aircraft they use to get there. Enjoy!
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Westjet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a superb Saturday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Westjet Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Calgary International Airport (YYC) on a superb Saturday afternoon 2019. Though Westjet currently operates a majority fleet of 737 aircraft, the airline has made significant progress towards global expansion through the acquisition of long range aircraft. In 2015, Westjet began operating four 767-300(ER) aircraft as an interim step, and in early 2019, Westjet begins acquiring Boeing's 787-9 Dreamliners to eventually replace the older 767-300(ER)s. The dreamliner in this image was delivered in February of 2019, months before this image was captured. Furthermore, to be delivered in 2021 and 2022 respectively (pending updates on Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 groundings and setbacks in Canada), Westjet will also gain 737 MAX 7 and 737 MAX 10 aircraft, bringing further modernization to the fleet and route expansion possibilities. As this Dreamliner is a new aircraft for the airline, it sports Westjet's new livery, unveiled in May 2018. Most notably, this new version tweaks the "Westjet" text on the fuselage and includes in smaller text "The Spirit of Canada" (on the port side - our side) and "L'esprit du Canada" (on the starboard side), with a modernized maple leaf displayed on the tail. With their slogan "Love where you're going", we look forward to to where Westjet chooses to fly next and on which aircraft they use to get there. Enjoy!
Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a sensational Sunday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Dublin international Airport (DUB) on a sensational Sunday afternoon 2019. Founded in 1936 with a standard livery in use as of the post-war 1940s, we find Aer Lingus' livery to be one of the most recognizable among the aviation world. In 1949, the green livery was first used but in a different form than we see today. Today's green top was introduced in 1956, and in 1965, the large green shamrock was launched on the vertical tail fin. The next significant lasting change was in 1974, when a new livery brought a combination of blue and green colours (both still in use) and the elimination of the "international" from the airline's title. This A330-200 aircraft is expected to be repainted into Aer Lingus' updated livery (unveiled in January 2019) by 2021 along with the rest of their fleet of 51 aircraft. The new livery includes a somewhat controversial eurowhite design (appreciated by us) with teal replacing green as the primary colours. The famous shamrock is not thrown away, however, and is still shown predominantly on the tail fin, a nod to its significance and use for 80 years as part of Aer Lingus's look. Smart liveries, smart looks, and smart routes, Aer Lingus follows true to their slogan "Smart flies Aer Lingus". Enjoy!
Air Italy Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B., Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a glorious Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Air Italy Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a glorious Sunday afternoon 2019. This flight, IG923, is a newly launched (as of summer 2019) non-stop route from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Toronto Pearson, operating six times weekly. Air Italy itself is a recently founded airline too, established in February 2018 and in business as of March. Air Italy, now Italy's second largest airline, was created to eventually replace Alitalia as the country's future flagship carrier due to Alitalia's ongoing issues with insolvency. Note Air Italy's intriguing logo on the vertical fin and engines - Maroon and Mint Green colours incorporate a specially designed letter "Y" to look similar to a bird. Enjoy!
Alitalia Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a splendid Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Alitalia Airbus A330-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Rome Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) on a splendid Sunday afternoon 2019. Today's Alitalia has operated since 2009 with roots from more than 70 years ago. Italy's former flag carrier entered into bankruptcy in 2008, fortunately, a consortium of investors stepped forward and bought the Alitalia brand and select assets, relaunching as a new "Alitalia". The brand derives its name from the Italian words "ali" and "Italia" ("wings" and "Italy" respectively). The newest livery design is from 2016, sporting a strong "A" on the tail in the colours of the Italian flag and a similar "A" on the fuselage as part of the word "Alitalia". Interestingly, the company Landor, which created the original logo in 1969, is responsible for the newest incarnation of this famous livery, a clear indication of their affinity for conceiving memorable and meaningful designs. Additionally, a series of white lines can be seen extending towards the tail, inspired by F1 racing cars on the pearl-white fuselage. Although the airline is facing renewed financial challenges, its iconic name in flight along with a rich history and a tenacity for success, Alitalia is truly a "Dream it, Live it" testimonial. From Toronto to Alitalia, mille grazie! Enjoy!
Condor Airlines Boeing 767-300ER arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a spectacular Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Condor Airlines Boeing 767-300ER arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a spectacular Sunday afternoon 2019. As part of the European Thomas Cook Group, Condor Airlines finds its place with Thomas Cook Scandinavia and Belgium airlines. The 767 model pictured above is Condor's designated long-haul airliner, allowing Condor to travel to leisure destinations such as the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Founded in 1955 and now part of the previously mentioned Thomas Cook Group, it has adopted the unified colours for its livery. Apropos of the logo, the Sunny Heart symbolises the unification of airline brands for the whole airline group. With Condor's slogan "born to fly", enjoy the image and Heart!
Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a stunning Satirday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Flair Airlines Boeing 737-400 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a stunning Satirday afternoon 2019. Operating as a Canadian low cost, low fair airline out of Edmonton International Airport (YEG), Flair serves charter flights to northern oil industries, government customers, and world tours, as well as the everyday passenger. This Flair Airlines 737-400 jet (out of a total fleet of 8) is an outdated varient of Boeing's 737 series of aircraft, delivered to Alaska Airlines (the plane's previous operator until late 2017) in 1998. Flair is currently in the process of retiring these aircraft, to be phased out completly by 2020. They will be replaced by Boeing's newer 737-800 model. The plane pictured above is one of a few left retaining the red and purple name and logo, now both updated in February 2019 to better align with Flair Airline's slogan "Plane and Simple", planely a good move. Enjoy!
Avianca Costa Rica Airbus A320-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a fabulous Saturday 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Avianca Costa Rica Airbus A320-200 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from El Salvador Oscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (SAL) on a fabulous Saturday 2019. To understand why this aircraft was en route from San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, and not Costa Rica (as would seem from the airline's name), it is important to note Avianca Costa Rica's parent company, Avianca. Avianca is a group of eight Latin American flagship airlines, each of which uses the "Avianca" title followed by the flag country of the airline for their names. Due to the close ties these airlines share, we expect that the fleets may be dived up among the individual parties as Avianca and its subsidiaries essentially act as one brand. Hence, this aircraft, although operated by Avianca Costa Rica, could be serving on an Avianca El Salvador route. Historically, the modern Avianca group was created in 2009 when TACA, the leading airline in South America at the time, and Avianca Colombia merged, forming a new pan-Latin American Avianca. Interestingly, Avianca Colombia, the national carrier of Columbia when in operation, was formed one hundred years ago this December 5th as SCADTA, making Avianca, due to the merger in 2009, the second oldest airline in the world behind KLM. The livery of Avianca Costa Rica is shared between the other airlines in the Avianca group, and the design is of 2013, a result of the merger between Avianca Colombia and TACA. The new logo is rooted in the bird symbols of both airlines, a condor, long associated with the Latin Americas, in the case of Avianca. Also, it appears that the logo is a map of the Americas, denoting the region from which the modern group soars. From Avianca's slogans "With Pleasure" and "It's for You"; to see a piece of Latin America fly into North America is always a pleasure. Enjoy!
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China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an outstanding Sunday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) on an outstanding Sunday afternoon 2019. Note that China Eastern Airlines is one of the "China Big Three", the three largest airlines in the country; Air China, China Southern Airlines, with China Eastern Airlines as the second largest behind China Southern. Interestingly, and a switch from thirty years ago, these airlines are projected to overtake the U.S. "Big Three" (Delta, United, and American Airlines) in fleet and occupational size in the coming years and decades. Indeed, China Eastern Airlines has grown immensely in influence as well as size, now recognized as one of China's top 50 most valuable brands. Their livery and logo, on the other hand, incorporates a famous swallow design by Bang Strategic Brand Design. This swallow was designed with a great degree of care, with the wings of the bird (the red) depicting a sky bridge and the tail (the blue) resembling the Huangpu River that flows by Shanghai - the airline's principal hub and headquarters. Furthermore, the wings and tail of the swallow together roughly form the China Eastern initials: C.E. As vibrant and dynamic as China Eastern Airlines is, never do they lose their focus as "World-Class Hospitality with Eastern Charm", or so the reviews say. Enjoy!
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Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 777-200LR arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a magnificent Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777-200LR arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a magnificent Sunday afternoon 2019, en route from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport (KHI) - the airline's headquarters. Formed in 1946 as Orient Airways, PIA has a long and rich history. The airline became known as Pakistan International Airlines in 1955, becoming the flag carrier of Pakistan in the process. Of note, PIA was Boeing's first launch customer for the 777-200LR aircraft in 2006 (this image is of that same aircraft in new livery - meaning this was the world's first commercially operated 777-200LR). This accomplishment also benefited Boeing as it positively influenced the success of the Chicago-based company's 777-200LR model. Today's livery was created in 2010, sporting a large Pakistan national flag on the tail and the text "Pakistan International" in gold underneath the large "PIA" on the fuselage. Enjoy the image from "Great People to fly with", PIA!
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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an exceptional Sunday morning 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) on an exceptional Sunday morning 2019. Note that KLM stands for "Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij", which unsurprisingly translates to 'Royal Dutch Airlines". KLM is the flag carrier of The Netherlands, using the Schiphol Airport as its hub, and was founded in 1919. This makes it the oldest airline in the world still in operation, nearing its 100th anniversary as of October 2019. Furthermore, during its establishment, the airline received the royal blessing and status by then Queen Wilhelmina, providing the airline with the emblem of the crown and cross on its logo/livery and the rare "Royal" component to its full name": KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The livery also uses the well known "Dutch Blue" colour, which flows in linear fashion along the upper fuselage, despite some calling this livery design "dated". In 2004, KLM merged with Air France, resulting in the world's largest airline group. Interestingly, the phrase "The Flying Dutchman" (located on the rear of the fuselage) was KLM's former frequent flyer's program and shares its name with a famous old sailor's legend. From avid plane spotters worldwide to KLM, congratulations for 100 years fulfilling your slogan "Journeys of Inspirations". Enjoy!
Eurowings Airbus A330-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a stellar Sunday morning - Photo by Robson Smith
Eurowings Airbus A330-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a stellar Sunday morning 2019. Despite the livery, this is actually Brussels Airlines flight SN551 originating from Brussels Airport (BRU) en route to Toronto Pearson. It is important to note that Brussels Airlines and Eurowings are both part of the Eurowings Group, which is itself a subsidiary of the larger Lufthansa Group. As part of this arrangement, Brussels Airlines has been chosen as the long-haul competency partner, responsible for all long-haul flights of this group. Consequently, Brussels Airport will become the hub of all future long-haul flights for the Eurowings Group, and as the Brussels-Toronto route is considered a long-haul destination, Brussels Airlines is the registered operator of this Eurowings aircraft. Enjoy the image!
Korean Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a lovely Sunday morning 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Korean Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) on a lovely Sunday morning 2019. As the current flag carrier of South Korea, with roots going back to the establishment of Korean National Airlines (KNA) in 1946, Korean Air Lines was founded in 1962 through the nationalization of KNA by the South Korean government. In 1969, 50 years ago, the airline was fully privatized and remains so to this day. Of note, The airline's name was changed from "Korean Air Lines" in 1984 to the modern and well recognized "Korean Air". The logo is a reflection of their national heritage through the red and blue colours of the South Korean flag, also present throughout the livery of their aircraft. The round design also incorporates the yin and yang concept with a white dividing section representing a turning propellor. Celebrating 50 years of flight with a vision to become "a respected leader in the world airline community", a goal to fulfill the "Excellence in Flight" reputation, and, as the "Wings of the People", the future of Korean Air is clearly focused on becoming the 'Wings of the World". Enjoy!
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EgyptAir Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a delightful morning - Photo by Robson Smith
EgyptAir Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Cairo International Airport (CAI) on a delightful morning 2019. Established in 1932 as Misr Airlines, EgyptAir has been subject to numerous name changes throughout almost 90 years of operation. In 1949, when the Egyptian State became the sole shareholder of the air company, the title was changed to Misrair for just under a decade. In 1958, upon the formation of United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria), Misrair was renamed United Arab Airlines (UAA). Finally, in 1971 as the country changed its name to Arab Republic of Egypt, the airline followed suit and was rebranded to the modern EgyptAir. Note the falcon on the the fuselage and tail, a unique logo rooted in Egyptian mythology, taken from Horus, "the winged god of the sun". From their motto "Enjoy the Sky", enjoy the image!
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Etihad Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an astounding Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Etihad Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on an astounding Saturday afternoon 2019. Etihad, the airline pictured which acts as the national flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, operates a 777 fleet of 19 aircraft, with each capable of carrying 412 passengers and flying a range of some 15,900km (9,880 miles). Etihad's fleet is further supplemented by a cargo fleet of six 777-F freighters, each with a reduced range of 9,000km (5,590 miles) but the capacity to carry in excess of a whopping 100,000kg (220,000 lbs) of cargo. Powered by General Electric's superlative GE90 engines (specifically, the -115b model), Etihad's 777-300(ER)s and 777 freighters are at the helm of some of the most advanced pieces of hardware available to the aviation industry. At the time of their release in 2009, the GE90-115bs were proposed-designed to fly the 777-300ER and boasted the highest thrust capabilities on the market. Moreover, these remarkable feats of engineering had the distinction of being one of the quietest in their class per pound of thrust with superior fuel efficiency and lower overall emissions compared to previous designs. Although the above specs of the GE90-115b engine are dated by a decade, some or all may still stand today, denoting its impressive ahead-of-the-game engineering. Also in 2009, the engines reached over two million flight hours, a testament to their phenomenal and proven capabilities. Note, while the 777s fuselage is 620cm (244 inches) wide, the GE90-115b is some 340cm (128 in) in width - equating to over half the diameter of the aircraft it serves! However, the engine doesn't halt here; the nacelles, or aerodynamic coverings, for the power unit brings the total diameter to an astounding 420cm (166 inches), augmenting the footprint to about three quarters of the diameter of the 777's fuselage. Unsurprisingly, this engine holds the title as the largest in history, only to be superseded by GE's future successor and derivative, the GE9X. In fact, the engine is so large that, unless the large fan blade is removed, it cannot fit into a 747 freighter, one of the largest aircraft in its class. Historically, GE's outstanding hardware has broken numerous records and has accomplished extraordinary feats. The engine is rated for 115,000 lbf (pounds of force), allow it to power a Boeing 747-100 in actual flight for three hours (test!). It also held the record for the highest thrust ever recorded for a commercial engine at 127,000 lbf, only marginally surpassed by the GE9X in 2017. However, all of this means nothing is is not safe. IFSD (in-flight-shutdown-rate) is a mere one in one million flight hours, of which the GE90 series has accumulated more than 50 million, with over eight million on-off cycles in its twenty years of history. Now, that's engineering in flight, Enjoy!
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Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a tremendous Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) en route from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport (HKG) on a tremendous Saturday afternoon 2019. Cathay Pacific, which derives its name from an alternate historic English name for China, "Cathay", operates routes to over thirty countries from five continents, with three million passengers carried in June 2019 (including Cathay Dragon, their regional subsidiary). On the livery, note the Oneworld airline alliance trademark, of which Cathay Pacific was a co-founding member from its inception in 1998. Moreover, the Cathay Pacific logo carries a design called the "brushedwing" on both the body and the tail. A Swire Group flag is also located in small print towards the rear of the aircraft, denoting their importance as an early and continuously significant investor in the airline. This is Cathay’s slightly tweaked modern livery design. To see their older livery, view the second Cathay Pcific 777-300(ER) (specifically the vertical stabilizer) in our “Soaring Blog”. To credit their slogan "Move Beyond", Cathay, with a modern fleet of over 150, has come a long way since their one Douglas DC-3 twin-engined propeller prop aircraft used in 1946. Enjoy!
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Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a striking Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok International Airport (HKG) on a striking Saturday afternoon 2019. The plane pictured in this image is of the 777 family, the first entirely new Boeing airplane model in over a decade when released in the mid nineties. The plane was the first ever Boeing "fly by wire" aircraft, allowing it to operate exclusively through "computer mediated controls". As a bonus, the 777 project was the first ever jetliner to be designed 100% digitally and was also "preassembled digitally" - no model mockups were required whatsoever, a first for the commercial aviation industry. At the time, as the next largest aircraft to the 747, another Boeing design, the 777 could seat upwards of 380+ passengers and in subsequent models could reach up to an astonishing range of some 9,400 miles or 17,400km. Although the 777 family is celebrating its 25th year anniversary (since the release of the 777-200 in 1994), the proven plane continues to evolve, pushing boundaries in manufacturing, technology, efficiency, and comfort. In the soon to be released 777X, Boeing sports composite wings and the latest in integrated technologies. In our image, the model is a 777-300(ER) and was delivered to Cathay Pacific in 2015. However... Cathay's history with Boeing goes back much further - as far back as 1970. The company was the first launch customer for the 777-300 in 1998, and, throughout their relationship, Cathay Pacific has also been the launch customer for two other significant Boeing aircraft: the iconic 747-400 and the 777-200. The success of the 777 has been without peer, with more than 60 customers, over 1600 deliveries, and a whopping 2030 orders to date, making this the most popular wide bodied aircraft ever produced by any company, surpassing that of even the 747. Moreover, of eight possible models, the most popular variant is the 777-300(ER), with over 800 deliveries and shown above proudly arriving in Toronto. Enjoy!
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China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a marvelous Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
China Southern Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ), on a marvellous Sunday afternoon 2019, from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) - the company's headquarters and principle hub. China Southern Airlines is one of the "China Big Three", comprising the three largest airlines in the country; Air China, China Eastern Airlines, with China Southern Airlines as the largest. China Southern is currently riding on record growth; with plans to operate 1000 planes by 2020 (hundreds more than their present ~750 aircraft), this represents some 33% growth in fleet size in under three years. In addition, China Southern's Vice Chairman and President Tan Wangeng has gone on record stating plans to manage a fleet of 2000 jets by 2035 (equaling a three fold increase in just over 15 years), a testament to China's phenomenal growth. Indeed, China and its aviation industry demonstrate unprecedented expansion, with Chinese airlines predicted to purchase well over 7500 new aircraft worth over $1.2 trillion throughout the next 20 years. Note: on the livery, the Kapok flower (located on the blue tail) is the city flower of Guangzhou, which adds beauty to their slogan "Fly into your dream". Enjoy!
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Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a majestic Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Istanbul Havalimani Airport (IST) on a majestic Sunday afternoon 2019. Founded in 1933 as Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines has shown phenomenal growth, morphing into one of the largest and most significant airlines in the world. Turkish now operates routes to approximately 304 destinations, the most of any airline when ignoring subsidiaries. The Istanbul-headquartered airline also flies to over 120 countries, which, again, tops the chart. The livery is composed of three significant components. The white fuselage with blue lettering "Turkish Airlines" is referred to as "Eurowhite" livery. The abstract grey tulip towards then rear of the aircraft is significant as the history of the tulip as well as its name (derived from the Ottoman Turkish word "tülbend") is a strong component of Turkish history. Lastly, a striking red tail includes the company logo, which depicts an artistic greylag goose, also located on the belly of this plane. Clearly, Turkish Airlines' motto "Widen Your World" is a prefect fit. Enjoy!
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Philippine Airlines Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) during a warm sunset 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Philippine Airlines (PAL) Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila, (MNL) during a warm sunset 2019. Since its inception in 1935 and formal operations as The Philippines' national flag carrier in 1941, Philippine Airlines has secured numerous accomplishments. In 1947, the airline became the first South East Asia airline to fly to Europe. The two flights, heading to Rome and Madrid respectively, each took two days to complete and required stops at Calcutta, Karachi, and Cairo, at the time, a remarkable testament to the rapid technological advancements in flying. Philippine Airlines also became the first Asian carrier to fly into China on two new routes to Beijing and Canton in 1979. Closer to home, PAL launched its first ever non-stop flight to the North American east coast in 2012 on a route to Toronto, Canada. The now regularly scheduled flight was inaugurated using another 777-300(ER). The current "Eurowhite" livery has the name "Philippines" on the fuselage, indicating that PAL is the primary flag carrier of the Philippines. The tail and the winglets sport the PAL logo, which incorporates two triangles (blue and red) representing sails with a yellow sunset superimposed on top. Welcome to Toronto, Philippine Airlines, promoting itself as "The Heart of the Filipino". Enjoy!
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LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) on a beautiful Sunday evening - Photo by Robson Smith
LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) on a beautiful Sunday evening 2019. As with many of our national carriers, LOT's history brings us back numerous decades and includes multiple points of interest. Based in Warsaw and established in 1928, LOT Polish is one of the oldest airlines still in operation. Serving over 130 destinations through over 80 aircraft, with the majority departing from their home hub Warsaw Chopin Airport, LOT further manages to spread its wings throughout the world. The Dreamliner in this image was acquired by the airline in spring 2019. Interestingly, the airline's first Dreamliner received in 2012 also brought with it LOT's new livery and logo as seen on this aircraft. In particular, note the logo on the tail that depicts a flying crane. The original logo design by Tadeusz Gronowski in 1929 shows a similarly designed crane flying away from the aircraft. The new version amends this to position the crane in a way that shows it flying forwards, among other changes. With their slogan "You chose the direction", we thank LOT for choosing Toronto. Enjoy!
Air Belgium Airbus A340-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an elegent Saturday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Air Belgium Airbus A340-300 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from London Heathrow International Airport (LRH) on an elegent Saturday afternoon 2019. As a quick recap, this Air Belgium A340 (OO-ABB) is flying to Toronto under British Airways. The British national carrier uses the leased jetliner to minimize the disruption to their long haul flights resulting from procautionary inspections on the Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines equipped for their 787-9 aircraft, a global safety mandate by the engine manufacturer. Air Belgium, a new airline founded in 2016, took to the air in March of 2018 with with a fleet of four Airbus A340-300s. Currently, two of these planes are wet leased to other airlines - LOT Polish Airlines and, of course, British Airways. The airline has to date been unsuccessful as a scheduled and charter airline, hence the availability and mututually beneficial arrangements between Air Belgium and the companies it leases to. Behind this colourful livery, there is a neat story with an unorthodox ending. At the turn of 2018, Air Belgium had received four used A340-300s from their previuos operater, Finnair, and these four engined jets were being sold by Airbus, the manufacturing company, in full white livery. Prior to flying as an airline, Air Belgium understandably wished not to fly with these nondescript white liveries. However, time is paramount for launching airlines, and the company was unable to find the adequate combination of time, space, and livery specialists for the painting jobs. Consequently, they went to an inovative supplier, the BCO Aviation Team, who offers a new type of aircraft livery, using an ultra high performance, micro-perforated adhesive film in lieu of standard aviation industry paint. This film would be compoased of vinyl with a special coding and varnished treatment to alllow for long term extream operations and environments. And, best of all, the BCO Aviation Team was able to complete the job in under 30 hours, down from days for standard painting, and in the hangars where the planes were stored - no transportation was required. Thus, this plane does not sport the typical (and perhaps boring) hyper accurate paint job we've come to expect - it uses "stickers". In closing, we hope Air Belgium is able to surpass its current issues, but, in the intrum, it is a pleasure to welcome them to Toronto. Enjoy!
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Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a terrific Sunday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on a terrific Sunday afternoon 2019. Comparatively, this is a new airline, with a founding date just under two decades ago in 2003. Since then, however, Etihad has not failed at maturing into one of the busiest airlines, flying over 1000 flights a week, as well as one of the world"s most renowned. The company has consistently scored in the top ten by the SKYTRAX World's top airlines ranking over the past decade and has received nearly universal praise for their luxurious and opulent in flight experience. And if "Remarkable" is the airline's concept, their livery does not fall short in the slightest. Presented with an award or two, the design pictured above is Etihad's updated variant, sporting a colourful tessellation of gold and brown on the tail fin and golden hues present throughout the fuselage. Created by global leader in brand design Landor, this design is inspired by Emirati patterns, desert colours, and grains of sand. With their slogan "From Abu Dhabi to the World". a remarkable aircraft is brought to Toronto. Enjoy!
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British Airways Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a captivating Saturday sunset 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
British Airways Boeing 777-200(ER) arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) on a captivating Saturday sunset 2019. Unsurprisingly, British Airways, the flag carrier, is one of the oldest operating airlines in the world, approaching its centennial next month (August 2019), and requires an in-depth look at its history for full appreciation; starting on August 25th, 1919, when Air Transport and Travel (AT&T) launched the world's first scheduled commercial international service from Middlesex, UK, to Paris. However, this company later shut down in 1920 and was consequently merged with Daimler Aviation, who in turn merged with three other air companies in 1924 to form Imperial Airways. In 1940, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), which would serve destinations that were, well... overseas to Great Britain, was created to take over the same Imperial Airways and British Airways Limited. Please take note of another two companies that were formed later in the decade. British European Airways (BEA), flying to European and domestic cities, was formed in 1946. Simultaneously, British South American Airways, or BSAA, was launched to fly to South American and the Caribbean, augmenting Britain's already impressive global reach in air travel. Also note that in 1946, London Heathrow Airport opened, and the facility is still in operation to welcome this 777-200 back on the returning flight, BA98. Following the mid 1940s, BSAA merged with BOAC for all overseas destinations. Finally, in 1974, the British Airways we all know and respect was created through the merger between British Overseas Airways and British European Airways, closing the complex early chapter of British air history. On a tangent, the colour scheme is of 1974 with a stylised Union Jack on the tail fins, named the "Chatam Dockyard Union flag". Here's to a hundred years of "To Fly. To Serve". Enjoy!
Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a picturesque Saturday sunset - Photo by Robson Smith
Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Munich International Airport (MUC) on a picturesque Saturday sunset 2019. Lufthansa was founded in 1953 and quickly grew in size and reputation to become the famous airline it is today, awarded the exclusive Skytrax 5 star certificate for excellence. Though this is an Airbus A350 model, Lufthansa has historically used a multitude of Boeing aircraft too. In 1967, the airline became the first foreign launch customer of a Boeing airliner. The aircraft, a 737-100, was the first commercially available 737, making Lufthansa the world's first customer to receive a 737, the world's most successful airplane ever. Germany's national carrier is also credited as being one of the five founding members of Star Alliance in 1997 - the second largest airline alliance in the world by passenger count (750m+ in 2018). Furthermore, the airline finds itself as part of the Lufthansa Group, which includes Brussels, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and others for a whopping combined fleet of over 700 aircraft, designating the group as one of the largest global fleets. Interestingly, Lufthansa has a tradition of naming most of their aircraft after cities, towns, and federal states, the far majority being German. This A350 is named "Bonn", after the large western German city. In fact, the relevance of the route or plane type flown roughly equates to the size, importance of the city from which it takes its name. The livery depicted is a pre-2018 version, which continues the stylised crane in a yellow circle, from the 1918 design by Otto Firle. Their slogan says "Say Yes to the World", and we say "Thank You, Lufthansa, for saying yes to Toronto". Enjoy!
El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a fantastic Sunday afternoon 2019 - Photo by Robson Smith
El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) on a fantastic Sunday afternoon 2019. Formed in 1948, El Al Israel Airlines initially operated a wide range of aircraft models and makes, however, the airline transitioned in the 1970s with a final goal of utilizing a modern fleet of solely Boeing aircraft, of which they have accomplished. Of course, this does not affect their relatively new fleet of 43 aircraft with an average age of approximately 10 years. The 787-9 in this image is one of 11 Dreamliners in El Al Israel's fleet (currently all -9 models) and was delivered to the airline in October 2018. There is one other 787-9 on order for the airline along with four 787-8s as of July 2019. Interestingly, the Israeli national carrier has a tradition of placing the name of a city in Israel on the nose of the majority of their planes. The size of this city is meant to correspond with the size of the aircraft on which it is placed. The city on the front of this plane's fuselage is Be'er Sheva, the eighth most populous city in Israel with roots dating back 4000 years, even though this aircraft has yet to be in service for one. In addition to the classic blue stripe running along the aircraft fuselage and the distinctive flag of Israel remaining prominently displayed on the tail fin, El Al has retained their classic logo with minor tweaks near the front of the aircraft, denoting the airline as one of only a few airlines that do not include an English title on their liveries.
LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on an extraordinary Sunday afternoon - Photo by Robson Smith
LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) on an extraordinary Sunday afternoon. As part of LOT's 787 family of aircraft (model eight and nines), this Dreamliner was delivered to the company in June of 2017 and is one of eight 787-8s in a total fleet of 14 Dreamliners - the other six are 787-9s. Furthermore, the bulk of LOT Polsih Airlines’ fleet is comprised of primarily Boeing 737 aircraft for short haul flights, with the entirety of their long haul fleet originating from American manufacturer and designer Boeing. In regards to the Boeing Dreamliner, it is noteworthy that the tail height, 17 metres, and wingspan, 60 metres, is shared between all models of the aircraft (787-8s, 787-9s, and 787-10s), despite significant variance in size and passenger capacity throughout. Of note, LOT Polish Airlines has the distinction of being the first European operator of the 787-8 Dreamliner, which provides a range in excess of 13 600km to the airline, allowing the company to fly round trip from Poland's capital to Toronto... almost. With the nine and eight models of LOT's Dreamliners in our collection, we eagerly look forward to adding the balance of LOT's other fleet members in the future. Enjoy!
Azores Airlines Airbus A321neo arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport on a lovely Saturday evening - Photo by Robson Smith
Azores Airlines Airbus A321neo arriving at Toronto Lester B. Pearson International Airport (YYZ) from Ponta Delgada International Airport (PDL) on a lovely Saturday evening 2019. Interestingly, the A321neo aircraft pictured above was delivered to the airline in July of 2019, the same month as this image was taken. Operating out of the São Miguel island of the autonomous archipelago of the Azores, Azores Airlines is the international carrier for the region. Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the airline is known by their slogan "The Atlantic in You". Note the very interesting and well thought out logo, which was updated from an older variant concurrent with the rebranding of the company in 2015, on the tail and engines of this aircraft. An intriguing design comprised of nine differently shaded geometric shapes (representing the nine islands of the Azores) forms the outline of a sperm whale tail. The significance being that the Azores archipelago is recognized as a whale sanctuary. The special "Magical" livery on this plane includes a QR code, directing you to www.azoresairlines.pt - a smart 21st century twist!