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The Up Front
@theupfront.media
680 followers 43 following 300 posts
In-depth, independent aviation journalism for the digital age — up front with what we write, how we write it, and the way we operate.

Read and subscribe for more: https://theupfront.media
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theupfront.media
Your weekend read: the Up Front Update!

Philippine Airlines marks A350 3-4-3 shift and creates fab new safety video, BA's in hot water over hot breakfasts, a new Mexican mega-LCC — and notes from the road on the European leisure market aboard sort-of-Iberia.

theupfront.media/update-28-pa...
Update #28: PAL’s A350 and safetynovela, BA’s breakfasts, Viva x Volaris, and premium Euro-leisure
Philippine Airlines marks A350 3-4-3 shift and creates fab new safety video, British Airways is in hot water over hot breakfasts, a new Mexican mega-LCC, and notes from the road on the European leisur...
theupfront.media
January 10, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
We're back — and our first feature of the year is a meticulous dissection of "Jetway Jesus", the "airport wheelchair miracle", and the people who perpetuate this insidious and persistent myth.

theupfront.media/disabled-pas...
Disabled passengers, airport wheelchairs and the pernicious myth of “Jetway Jesus”
Clickbait hacks aside, perpetuating inaccuracies about disabled passengers and wheelchair users is wrong — and counterproductive for aviation
theupfront.media
January 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by The Up Front
florarenz.bsky.social
Having literally been one of those passengers today I really appreciate this article. I can hobble around in an airplane but if I had to walk through Heathrow and then Hong Kong airport today I would be spending the next week pretty much immobilised from pain and various injuries.
January 5, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by The Up Front
moved2italy.bsky.social
I pinned 📌 this earlier and have now had time to read the whole series of excellent, well researched articles by Gareth Edwards. I’m amazed that they never made a movie as it’s the classic story of American can-do spirit & civilian heroes! It’s not too late Hollywood. 😏 Enjoy this…

CK approved! 😎😉
theupfront.media The Up Front @theupfront.media · Oct 31
In December 1941, Pan Am flight 18602 was trapped the wrong side of the Pacific by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

To get home, her civilian crew would need to do the near-impossible: circumnavigate the world in commercial seaplane.

In our new series, we tell tell their remarkable story.
The Long Way Round: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 1
In 1941, the Japanese attacked Hawaii, leaving Pan Am flight 18602 trapped the wrong side of Pearl Harbour, To get home, its civilian crew would have to do something incredible: circumnavigate the wor...
theupfront.media
December 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
theupfront.media
We're back — and our first feature of the year is a meticulous dissection of "Jetway Jesus", the "airport wheelchair miracle", and the people who perpetuate this insidious and persistent myth.

theupfront.media/disabled-pas...
Disabled passengers, airport wheelchairs and the pernicious myth of “Jetway Jesus”
Clickbait hacks aside, perpetuating inaccuracies about disabled passengers and wheelchair users is wrong — and counterproductive for aviation
theupfront.media
January 5, 2026 at 11:05 AM
theupfront.media
Happy New Year to you!

Did you enter our fiendishly difficult Christmas Quiz?

Find out whether you placed on our top-ten leaderboard, what that answer you missed was, and who came out on top!

theupfront.media/our-2025-chr...
Our 2025 Christmas Quiz: the results and the answers
The answers are in… how did you do in our 2025 Christmas Quiz?
theupfront.media
January 2, 2026 at 10:41 AM
theupfront.media
OUT NOW: The Up Front Update!

Lufthansa crosses its fingers for 787 Allegris business next May, why Finnair is flying to Australia, what JAL’s A350 JFK fenderbender means for the industry, trends around temporary lounges, and a fantastic throwback 1977 video!

theupfront.media/update-27-lu...
Update #27: Lufthansa 787 Allegris update, Finnair to Melbourne, JAL’s A350 IROPS, temporary lounges and air travel in 1977
May 2026 hopes for Lufthansa 787 Allegris business, why Finnair is flying to Australia, what JAL’s A350 prang means for the industry, trends around temporary lounges, and a fantastic throwback 1977 vi...
theupfront.media
December 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
thatjohn.bsky.social
"Nerdily entertaining" is absolutely what we were going for with the @theupfront.media seat-spotting Christmas Quiz, and only too delighted by the @lonrec.bsky.social comparison!

theupfront.media/the-up-front...
December 19, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
Feeling festive? Break out the mince pies and seasonal beverages — it's time for our first annual airline seat Christmas Quiz!

Enter now and win FABULOUS PRIZES, feature on our leaderboard for WORLD RENOWN, and have a bit of fun with the fiendishly difficult ones…

theupfront.media/the-up-front...
Enter now: The Up Front Christmas Quiz 2025
Win fabulous prizes and world renown by entering the first version of what is sure to become a beloved and cherished tradition — our Christmas Quiz!
theupfront.media
December 18, 2025 at 10:10 AM
theupfront.media
Feeling festive? Break out the mince pies and seasonal beverages — it's time for our first annual airline seat Christmas Quiz!

Enter now and win FABULOUS PRIZES, feature on our leaderboard for WORLD RENOWN, and have a bit of fun with the fiendishly difficult ones…

theupfront.media/the-up-front...
Enter now: The Up Front Christmas Quiz 2025
Win fabulous prizes and world renown by entering the first version of what is sure to become a beloved and cherished tradition — our Christmas Quiz!
theupfront.media
December 18, 2025 at 10:10 AM
theupfront.media
OUT NOW: Why Safran is selling its IFE unit, the genuinely baffling Lufthansa Group “new” brand, some juicy details about ANA’s new The Room FX seat, more information about American’s A321XLR, and how three new lounges are moving the needle in different ways.

theupfront.media/update-26-sa...
Update #26: Safran sells SPI/RAVE, Lufthansa Group “rebrands”, ANA’s 787 The Room FX, American’s A321XLR, and three interesting new lounges
Why Safran is selling its IFE unit, the genuinely baffling Lufthansa Group “new” brand, some juicy details about ANA’s new The Room FX seat, more information about American’s A321XLR, and how three ne...
theupfront.media
December 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
The final part of this incredible long-read from @garius.bsky.social is genuinely epic.

Out now for all to read for free — but you can support our work bringing you more incredible stories like this by subscribing for the price of a couple of coffees a month!

theupfront.media/bringing-her...
Bringing her home: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 5
The crew of the California have to deal with their biggest challenges yet: African rivers, and a flight longer than their flying boat was ever designed to make.
theupfront.media
December 9, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by The Up Front
glynnstewart.com
Just an incredible story told incredibly well.

Well worth reading all five parts.
theupfront.media The Up Front @theupfront.media · Dec 9
The final part of this incredible long-read from @garius.bsky.social is genuinely epic.

Out now for all to read for free — but you can support our work bringing you more incredible stories like this by subscribing for the price of a couple of coffees a month!

theupfront.media/bringing-her...
Bringing her home: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 5
The crew of the California have to deal with their biggest challenges yet: African rivers, and a flight longer than their flying boat was ever designed to make.
theupfront.media
December 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
theupfront.media
The final part of this incredible long-read from @garius.bsky.social is genuinely epic.

Out now for all to read for free — but you can support our work bringing you more incredible stories like this by subscribing for the price of a couple of coffees a month!

theupfront.media/bringing-her...
Bringing her home: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 5
The crew of the California have to deal with their biggest challenges yet: African rivers, and a flight longer than their flying boat was ever designed to make.
theupfront.media
December 9, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
Also, find out what our award-winning workshop from last week's RedCabin summit — we are genuinely chuffed at the recognition! — was all about.

(Hint: @thatjohn.bsky.social's mother's holiday photos from her trip to Japan last year at 84 are very much related.)
An award in a frame: RedCabin Trinity Award / WINNER 2025 / Best of RedCabin presented to / Design Disasters by John Walton, Stephanie Faulk, Richard D'Cruze", signed by Monica Wick, founder & CEO RedCabin GmbH
December 8, 2025 at 5:28 PM
theupfront.media
OUT NOW: our weekly roundup explains what's going on at the boundaries of premium economy and business class — including changes from TAP Air Portugal and Lufthansa's Eurowings — plus lessons from the A320 avionics and IndiGo meltdowns, and much more…

theupfront.media/update-25-ta...
Update #25: TAP’s “premium economy”, Eurowings’ Berlin boost, A320 avionics and IndiGo’s meltdown, airport wheelchair “scams”, and airline design disasters
What TAP's new cabin means for the rest of premium economy, why Eurowings’ Berlin "Capital Express" is growing, what the industry can learn from the A320 avionics issue and the IndiGo meltdown — and w...
theupfront.media
December 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
theupfront.media
The conclusion to the remarkable story of the California Clipper's WW2 circumnavigation is now up on our website for subscribers!

It'll be free for all readers on Monday.

theupfront.media/bringing-her...
Bringing her home: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 5
The crew of the California have to deal with their biggest challenges yet: African rivers, and a flight longer than their flying boat was ever designed to make.
theupfront.media
December 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
OUT NOW: @theupfront.media Update: what you need to know about #PaxEx this week.

Iberia and Air Canada make A321XLR (and MAX) moves, Air Canada swaps planes with Rouge, Lufthansa's new livery and new FRA first class area, and we're back to "civility" on board…

theupfront.media/update-24-ne...
Update #24: New transatlantic narrowbodies, Air Canada’s big fleet rejig, more Lufthansa news, and the airline civility debate…
Iberia and Air Canada make A321XLR (and MAX) moves, Air Canada swaps planes with Rouge, Lufthansa's new livery and new FRA first class area, and we're back to "civility" on board…
theupfront.media
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
theupfront.media
OUT NOW: @theupfront.media Update: what you need to know about #PaxEx this week.

Iberia and Air Canada make A321XLR (and MAX) moves, Air Canada swaps planes with Rouge, Lufthansa's new livery and new FRA first class area, and we're back to "civility" on board…

theupfront.media/update-24-ne...
Update #24: New transatlantic narrowbodies, Air Canada’s big fleet rejig, more Lufthansa news, and the airline civility debate…
Iberia and Air Canada make A321XLR (and MAX) moves, Air Canada swaps planes with Rouge, Lufthansa's new livery and new FRA first class area, and we're back to "civility" on board…
theupfront.media
November 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
JUST OUT: our in-depth analysis of @safran-group.com's plans to offshore the manufacturing of thousands of seats a year from France and the US to the new D33 aviation manufacturing cluster in Dubai.

What's going on, why — and what will Safran's French unions think?

theupfront.media/safran-plans...
Safran plans to outsource Emirates seat production from France, US to Dubai as part of UAE manufacturing cluster push
Outsourcing 1000+ seats a year to a new line in Dubai’s aviation manufacturing cluster is a big move — and a risky one — for Safran
theupfront.media
November 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM
theupfront.media
JUST OUT: our in-depth analysis of @safran-group.com's plans to offshore the manufacturing of thousands of seats a year from France and the US to the new D33 aviation manufacturing cluster in Dubai.

What's going on, why — and what will Safran's French unions think?

theupfront.media/safran-plans...
Safran plans to outsource Emirates seat production from France, US to Dubai as part of UAE manufacturing cluster push
Outsourcing 1000+ seats a year to a new line in Dubai’s aviation manufacturing cluster is a big move — and a risky one — for Safran
theupfront.media
November 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
thatjohn.bsky.social
this tweet definitely not written by an A340-600
November 24, 2025 at 2:27 PM
theupfront.media
JA BITTE.

Lufthansa's fantastic 100th anniversary livery will be painted on SIX aircraft types — the 787, 747-8, A380, A350-1000, A350-900 and A320neo.

More of this please.
Rendering: Those 6 aircraft types with the white crane on dark blue aircraft livery already announced for the 787
November 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
theupfront.media
Also out today: part 4 of 5 of @garius.bsky.social's remarkable history of the California Clipper, the feat of commercial aviation that brought a Pan Am flying boat the wrong way around the world from Auckland to LaGuardia.

This time: it's Christmas in Sri Lanka.

theupfront.media/christmas-in...
Christmas in Sri Lanka: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 4
The crew of the California Clipper are forced to spend Christmas in Sri Lanka. While there, their thoughts turn naturally to home.
theupfront.media
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by The Up Front
catkimbriel.bsky.social
I went looking for this episode, and then my month became weird, so two installments of @garius.bsky.social's tale of the California Clipper tonight.

Trapped by Pearl Harbor, forced to fly home the long way around--which had never been done before by a commercial plane.

We want a movie!
theupfront.media The Up Front @theupfront.media · Nov 14
In 1941, Pan Am's California Clipper had to do something no commercial flight had done before: circumnavigate the world.

In Part 3 of our series looking at her journey, the crew must work out, mid-air, how to fly her on regular gasoline. Something her Wright Cyclone engines were never designed for.
Into the unknown: The remarkable journey of the California Clipper, Part 3
Unable to source military-grade aviation fuel, our crew are forced to cross the Indian Ocean using regular gasoline. Something no Boeing 314 has ever flown on before.
theupfront.media
November 23, 2025 at 2:12 AM