The End of an Era, But the Start of Another

With only 251 aircraft built, the Airbus 'Super Jumbo' jet has seen its end, ultimately having a short enough production run that, were it any other vehicle, would become a rare limited edition for collectors to fawn over. Unfortunately, Barrett-Jackson doesn't auction off rare jets, so the A380 can only soldier on in commercial service. Dubai's Emirates was the lucky recipient of the last one, which took off from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The event saw no ceremonial fanfare, no sentimental send-off, quietly leaving its birthplace to the note of local aviation photographers. Reportedly, any plans to celebrate the last of the line were quashed in the interest of pandemic prevention.

Senate Hearing on U.S. Airline Industry Sees Talk of Pilot Shortage

The American airline industry faced down Capitol Hill during a U.S. Senate hearing regarding their immense pandemic bailout of $54 billion. The money came with strings attached, being issued in order to preserve airline employees. Airlines were to place limits on executive compensation, eliminate stock buybacks and dividends, and ban involuntary furloughs that were expected to mirror the post 9/11 slump. The money has complicated the relationship, with some wondering whether or not airline execs find themselves beholden to lawmakers in return for the money.