The top aviation highlights of 2018

Larger, busier, longer, safer – but not necessarily faster.

2018 was another year of records in aviation. We flew more, yet safety reached unprecedented levels.

The world’s longest flight resumed, connecting Singapore and New York, while the first-ever direct flight between Australia and the UK took off.

We marveled at the Boeing 777X with its revolutionary folding winglets, and the Beluga XL, with its iconic hump and cheerful whale-inspired livery.

We were amazed by the upcoming Jewel expansion at Changi Airport in Singapore and are eagerly looking forward to booking our stays at the retro-styled TWA Hotel at JFK.

Here are Dinogo Travel's top highlights from the world of aviation this year.

January

In 2017, nearly four billion people flew, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization, making it the busiest year for commercial aviation. Yet, it also marked the safest year in aviation history.

More traffic doesn’t necessarily mean lower service quality. airBaltic was named the world’s most punctual airline by OAG, followed by Hong Kong Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

Tenerife North, located in Spain’s Canary Islands, was named the world’s most punctual airport, with nine out of ten flights arriving or departing on time.

And speaking of departures, on January 3, Delta Airlines made its final flight of the last Boeing 747, traveling from Atlanta to an aircraft boneyard in Marana, Arizona. With United Airlines also retiring its 747s, this signaled the end of an era for US aviation.

February

Dutch pilot Christiaan van Heijst shared with Dinogo Travel his extraordinary collection of cockpit photos, showcasing natural wonders like the Northern Lights and St Elmo’s Fire.

Jabbrrbox work booths were introduced at New York’s LaGuardia Central Terminal B, offering an alternative to traditional airport lounges. These private, windowed booths provide access to Wi-Fi, USB charging, flight tracking, audio speakers, and mood lighting.

March

Skytrax revealed its annual list of the world’s top airports, with Singapore’s Changi Airport securing the number one spot for the sixth consecutive year.

What makes Changi stand out? It boasts a rooftop swimming pool, two 24-hour cinemas showing the latest blockbusters for free, and it’s set to become even more impressive in 2019 with the opening of Jewel Changi, featuring a five-story garden and indoor waterfall.

On the first of his two incredible airborne adventures in 2018, Dinogo’s Richard Quest boarded the Qantas jet for the inaugural direct flight from Australia to the UK.

A 17-hour journey from Perth to London may seem long, but when compared to the original London to Australia flight, known as the Kangaroo service, which had seven stopovers over four days, it’s quite the improvement.

April

Donegal Airport, located on Ireland’s rugged northwest coast, was recognized as the world’s most picturesque airport approach by PrivateFly, a private jet booking platform.

At the start of April, the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 was held in Hamburg. One of the standout innovations was Airbus unveiling new beds for the Airbus A330, allowing passengers to sleep in the cargo hold. These sleeper berths will be available to airlines by 2020.

Another attention-grabber was the SkyRider 2.0 by Italian seat manufacturer Aviointeriors, a ‘standing-up’ airline seat designed to reduce space between rows. Aviointeriors assured that the seats offer 'adequate comfort', though many critics remain skeptical – so far, no airline has adopted the innovative seat.

At the Arabian Travel Market 2018, Emirates unveiled plans to do away with airplane windows entirely. Their Boeing 777-300ER First Class Private Suite boasts floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, plush leather seating, mood lighting, and ‘virtual windows’ powered by fibre-optic camera technology. Yes, that's right – artificial views.

May

Aviation enthusiasts and architecture lovers have been eagerly awaiting the transformation of JFK Airport’s TWA Flight Center into a stylish retro hotel.

Inspired by the 1960s, the hotel is set to open in 2019, but we got a sneak peek mid-year with a preview of a model room.

In October, a 60-year-old TWA-branded Lockheed Constellation L-1649A was transported 300 miles from Maine to New York, where it will serve as a bar in the new hotel.

June

British lawmakers have given the green light to the controversial plan to build a third runway at Heathrow, potentially making the London airport the largest in the world.

The proposal suggests that passenger capacity could rise to 100 million annually. In December, Heathrow also unveiled its vision for carbon-neutral growth, focusing on cleaner aircraft, sustainable aviation fuels, and enhancements to both airspace and ground operations.

In New Mexico, a jet unlikely to win any awards for fuel efficiency was put up for auction: Elvis’s customized 1962 Lockheed JetStar 1329, which had been left to rust on a runway for 36 years.

July

Airbus successfully completed the first test flight of the Beluga XL, also known as the ‘Flying Whale.’ With its humped body and bottle-shaped nose, this cargo plane certainly evokes cetacean imagery, further emphasized by its playful smiling livery.

Airbus also finished its route-proving flights in the United States for the new A330-900neo. This wide-body airliner features upgraded engines, a redesigned cabin, and sharklet wingtips that reduce wind resistance and enhance fuel efficiency.

Another aircraft with a marine-inspired design, the Embraer ‘Shark’ E190-E2, kicked off a five-month tour starting with its appearance at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK.

Adding to the collection of aircraft with quirky names, the Airlander 10, affectionately known as the 'Flying Bum,' unveiled its luxurious interior designs at Farnborough.

This hybrid helium airship features a 46-meter-long cabin, complete with plush en suite bedrooms, a bar, and glass floors offering panoramic horizon-to-horizon views.

In other news, airports including London Heathrow, JFK in New York, and Amsterdam Schiphol tested X-ray scanners that could eventually eliminate the need to remove items from hand luggage during security checks.

The new X-ray scanners employ 3D imaging, enabling security personnel to view the contents of bags from all angles.

August

Dinogo Travel was granted a private tour of the world's largest unfinished cargo plane, the Antonov An-225, currently resting in a hangar near Kiev.

A sibling to the legendary Mriya, construction of the second and final Antonov An-225 began in 1989. However, the collapse of the Soviet Union halted its progress, and it never flew.

September

Pakyong Airport, perched at 1,400 meters in India’s Himalayas, offers a breathtaking altitude and impressive engineering feats.

The first-ever Boeing 777 has been retired to an aviation museum in Arizona, while a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 was spotted with an unfortunate spelling error on its livery.

October

In 2018, Singapore Airlines was recognized as the world's best airline by both Skytrax and AirlineRatings.com. It solidified this title further by relaunching the world’s longest flight: SQ22, a 17.5-hour journey between Singapore and New York.

Dinogo’s Richard Quest was aboard the inaugural flight, providing live updates throughout the epic journey.

Tragedy struck on October 29 when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, killing all 189 people on board, making it Indonesia’s deadliest air disaster in nearly two decades.

A preliminary investigation into the disaster indicated that the pilots struggled to override an automatic safety system on the new Boeing 737 MAX 8, but many unanswered questions still linger.

November

Anticipation grew throughout the year for the Boeing 777X, which is set to take its inaugural flight in 2019.

In November, the 777X hit a significant production milestone as its major fuselage sections – including the nose, midsection, and tail – were successfully joined together.

One of the plane’s most remarkable features is its folding wingtips, a design innovation that allows the massive aircraft to navigate standard airport gates. The wings are crafted from lightweight, ultra-durable carbon fiber, boosting the aircraft’s fuel efficiency.

Other notable aircraft making waves this month include the Airbus A220-100, the first completely redesigned large single-aisle jet in nearly 30 years, and the MIT-designed ion plane, a revolutionary aircraft that uses no moving parts and operates without a conventional engine.

Munich Airport revealed its custom-built hangar doors, specifically designed to fit the enormous 73-meter Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

Fifteen years after Concorde’s final flight, supersonic air travel made a comeback this year with projects like Boom Technology and NASA’s X-59 QueSST supersonic jet. However, the economic feasibility of these projects remains uncertain, meaning it may be some time before we’re flying from Shanghai to L.A. in under five hours.

December

Dinogo Travel explored Beijing Daxing International Airport, the massive new transport hub set to open next September in China’s capital.

Designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid, this futuristic airport will feature four runways and a terminal spanning the size of 97 football fields.

Boeing introduced the BBJ 777X, a business jet variant of the Boeing 777X, offering ultra-long-range capabilities, enabling wealthy travelers to fly non-stop between any two cities worldwide.

At Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, the first fully biometric terminal in the United States opened. In September, the airport was once again crowned the world’s busiest.

Using facial recognition technology, passengers can swiftly move from curb to gate without a passport, boasting a success rate of 98%.

International airports like Singapore’s Changi, Amsterdam’s Schiphol, and Aruba International have already implemented biometric check-in and boarding at various gates and terminals.

As December came to a close, 2018 ended with a dramatic headline when thousands of passengers were stranded at London’s Gatwick Airport due to two drone-related incidents.

Here’s hoping 2019 brings smoother flights and safer journeys for all.