AvTalk Episode 391: A critical path faces its greatest challenge yet

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, flights in Saudi Arabia are facing intense disruption following a series of strikes by the Houthi’s on Saudi aviation infrastructure. Riyadh Airport is closed until at least 18 October after a strike on a terminal building killed at least 12 people and injured hundreds more. Airports like Jeddah and Dammam have also faced disruptions and airports in the southwest of the country have been closed this week.
Elsewhere, Israel is banning airline crews from a long list of countries from flying to/from Israel, leaving some airlines in the lurch.
Retirement flights
Austrian airlines is preparing to retire its 767 fleet at the end of next month. The airline has operated the type across five decades and this week we’re joined this week by two people who know the aircraft better than most. Pilot Christian Flatschart and Purser Thomas Lechner share their stories from their time on the 767. Join the farewell journey in the airline’s official WhatsApp group and join the final fan flight on 1 December.
And this weekend, Lufthansa will operate its final A340-600 flight. LH419 from Washington-Dulles to Frankfurt will depart on 18 October. We’ll have full report from onboard next week.
 

Check back soon for a transcript of this week’s episode.