BIGGEST AVIATION NEWS OF 2013?

What do you reckon was the biggest news for the aviation industry in 2013? Was it: Qatar Airways joining Oneworld, Dubai Airport opening the A380 concourse, or SIA unveiling its new seat products? Or other? ...Or was it Michael O’Leary saying he’d make his airline more user-friendly? Oh no, that was a joke. In their own way, they are doing a few things that deliver on Michael O’Leary’s promise.

Etihad quietly forming partnerships around the world was pretty significant, in a very understated way. 1 - Merger of US Airways and American Airlines (AA). 2 - US Airways leaving Star Alliance to join Oneworld. 3 - Qatar Airways joining Oneworld.

Unfortunately, the teething problems that have beset the B787 and, on a brighter note, the phenomenal route expansion by Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Heathrow extending its lead as Europe’s top hub (and the third-largest globally) for A380s.

In addition to First Traveller’s point: Interesting that all of these three involve Oneworld. You could also have added the inclusion of Malaysian Airlines and LAN Colombia in 2013 into the alliance, and the announcement of the upcoming inclusion of TAM and SriLankan Airlines. Oneworld’s star really does seem to be on the ascent (and Star Alliance’s somewhat on the wane).

I would argue, in no particular order: The US Airway and AA merger creating another US-based mammoth. another US-based mammoth. The B787 Dreamliner issues, and the FAA consequently grounding an entire class of aircraft for the first time since the 80s. The continued, massive growth of Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, including the single-largest aircraft order ever in terms of value placed by Emirates this past autumn.