Mond Ortiz, Manila (2025)

10/10/2025

ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO BECOME A FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Airlines now expect more from flight attendants as roles and standards evolve. Recruiters test more than “why you want the job.” They check if your skills match today’s demands. Based on past interviews, these core skills matter across airlines.

1. Customer service sits at the center of the role. You must meet needs fast, handle complaints with care, and show empathy, patience, and a real desire to help.

2. Strong communication keeps people safe and informed. You must explain safety steps clearly, answer questions, and coordinate well with the crew so no one misunderstands instructions.

3. Teamwork keeps flights running smoothly. You support others, share tasks, and respond as one unit during routine work and emergencies.

4. Time management helps you finish many tasks on a tight clock. You board passengers, complete safety checks, and serve meals while staying organized, setting priorities, and adjusting to changes.

5. Leadership matters, especially for senior crew. You guide and motivate others, make quick decisions in urgent moments, and ensure procedures stay in place.

6. Charisma lifts the cabin atmosphere. You make passengers feel welcome and valued, which improves the whole journey.

At the end of the day, it's crucial to remember that skills can be taught, but attitude is inherent. Both aspects are necessary for success in this industry.

10/10/2025

The College of Saint Benilde School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management launched its refurbished mock cabin for tourism students.
Skyart built this mock cabin to mimic an actual Airbus A320 cabin. In fact, some airlines use the same type of mock cabin for their cabin crew training.

This setup gives students a real feel of the A320, where they can train in basic safety procedures and inflight service.

The mock cabin is equipped with both business-class and economy-class seats.
Congratulations to CSB-SHRIM on unveiling the retrofitted mock cabin and classroom! This will definitely provide a more realistic experience of being a cabin crew.

10/10/2025

Always great to meet followers who I am confident will say "flying with you" soon.

10/10/2025

HAVE YOU SEEN PAL'S A350-1000 BUSINESS CLASS SEAT?

Remember when I mentioned that Philippine Airlines' A350-1000 business class seat would be a game changer for the airline? With features like privacy doors, full flat beds, and direct aisle access, it truly stands out. Here it is: PAL's A350-1000 business class seat is equipped with Collins Aerospace Elevation seats, complete with privacy doors, a 20-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, USB-A and USB-C ports, and AC sockets!

These seats are comparable to those used by Malaysian Airlines on their A330neos and Cathay Pacific's Aria class. This marks a significant upgrade for PAL.

I also have insights about the premium economy and economy class seats on the PAL A350-1000, and I can’t wait to share them! Even though the economy is configured in a 3-4-3 layout, I found the seats to be very comfortable during my visit to Airbus HQ in Toulouse. However, I will hold off on sharing the exact details for now. For the moment, I hope you are as excited as I am about the new business class seat on PAL's A350-1000!

📷: Marc Romyel Difuntorum | Aviation Updates Philippines

10/10/2025

United’s Summer 2026 plan adds Newark/New York nonstop flights to four new cities: Split, Croatia (from Apr 30, 3x weekly, 767-300ER); Bari, Italy (from May 1, 4x weekly, 767-300ER); Glasgow, Scotland (from May 8, daily seasonal, 737 MAX 8); and Santiago de Compostela, Spain (from May 27, 3x weekly, 737 MAX 8).

United also launches Washington Dulles–Reykjavik daily from May 21 on a 757-200 with lie-flat business, Newark/New York–Seoul daily from Sep 4 on a 787-9, and adds four weekly Newark/New York–Tel Aviv flights for 18 weekly; a third Newark–Tel Aviv flight begins Mar 28 on a 787-9. All new flights are subject to government approval and are on sale today.

“United has an unmatched international network, and we pride ourselves on connecting our customers to unique, trendsetting destinations no other U.S. airline serves,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. “With the addition of these new flights and the return of all of our new routes from last year, United now flies to 46 cities across the Atlantic - more than any other airline - and is the clear flag carrier of the U.S.”

United plans nearly 3,000 weekly international roundtrips in Summer 2026 and more than 850 daily flights to and from 150+ international destinations next year, including 41 that no other U.S. airline serves.

United also brings back all nine destinations from its historic Summer 2025 expansion: Ulaanbaatar (Apr 30, 2026), Faro (May 15, 2026), Madeira Island (May 16, 2026), Palermo (May 22, 2026), Bilbao (May 30, 2026), Nuuk (Jun 6, 2026), plus year-round Kaohsiung, Dakar, and Puerto Escondido.

As of August 2025, United carried nearly 1.5 million passengers to Italy, Spain, and Portugal, up 11% year over year. The inaugural to Nuuk, Greenland was the fastest selling inaugural in United Airlines history.

10/10/2025

PREPARE HARDER FOR THE AIRLINE'S CABIN CREW TRAINING

If you believe that passing the cabin crew recruitment process is enough, you're mistaken; that’s only the beginning. The training provided by airlines for cabin crew is more challenging, even for those who have attended a flight attendant training school. In fact, many cabin crew trainees are taken aback by the difficulties they encounter during their training. Expect plenty of studying, sleepless nights, and more.

You will study aeronomenclature: aircraft parts, types, and technical terms. Clear terms help you report issues to pilots and act fast in emergencies. Expect heavy memorization and exams.

Emergency procedures cover water and terrain landings, medical events like choking or fainting, firefighting including lithium battery incidents, survival swimming, and full-scale evacuations in under 90 seconds. You will take written tests and perform practical drills. “Emergency, bend down” is only one command among many.

Some airlines teach civil aviation laws so you know the legal basis for handling passengers with disabilities, unruly behavior, and other regulated cases. Many include safety standards as a lecture-heavy, exam-based module that everyone must pass.

Aircraft familiarization teaches you to operate cabin equipment, find and use safety and medical kits, run galley ovens and chillers, and manage lavatories. You must tell aircraft variants apart, such as A320ceo vs A320neo and A321ceo vs A321neo.

Grooming training covers uniform wear, makeup for women, skincare, hair, and overall presentation. You represent the airline and must look confident and professional.

Service training teaches meal and beverage delivery, clear communication, issue resolution, and efficient teamwork. Content varies: full-service airlines feed all passengers; low-cost carriers focus on pre-ordered meals.

Supervised line experience places you on real flights to observe or assist the crew. The check ride follows. You work as active crew while a checker evaluates you. Some airlines require one check ride; others require up to five.

Training is hard, and flying demands even more. The effort pays off if you commit fully.

09/10/2025

British Airways will add a third daily London Heathrow–Delhi flight in 2026 (subject to regulatory and capacity approval) and backs UK–India ties after flying ~130 UK CEOs and ministers to Mumbai on a charter for a trade mission led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways, said: “I am delighted to take part in this important trade mission… We’ve been steadily increasing capacity… now operating 56 direct services to five Indian cities each week.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “British Airways has been connecting the United Kingdom with India for more than a century… our national flag carrier will play a critical role in strengthening trade links with India, boosting UK growth and helping deliver on our Plan for Change.”

BA will restore First on Mumbai flights this month and roll out Club Suite on select flights across all five Indian routes by end-2026. A free Meet and Assist service from India to the UK has supported ~5,500 customers since March with staff fluent in Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, and Tamil.

BA’s £7B transformation includes 900+ upgrades, new short-haul seats, free Wi-Fi messaging, and refreshed lounges.

09/10/2025

Reminder lang again. There is no prize for whoever gets off the plane first. Do not unfasten your seatbelt and stand up to get your luggage while the fasten seatbelt sign is on and plane is still taxiing.

09/10/2025

BECOMING A FLIGHT ATTENDANT MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

There are really a lot of myths and misconceptions on becoming a flight attendant, to the point that these create false expectations from new cabin crew. Hence, allow me to clear the air of some of these misconceptions and myths on becoming a flight attendant.

1. Cabin crew work as safety professionals first. Travel is a benefit, not the purpose. The role demands discipline, training, and commitment. In emergencies, crews must evacuate an aircraft in under 90 seconds and manage medical events or security threats. It is not as glamorous as one thinks. The job also includes tough tasks such as cleaning lavatories and handling difficult passenger behavior.

2. Serving food and drinks forms only one part of the work. Safety is always the priority and flight attendants are highly trained safety professionals. During takeoff and landing, crews focus fully on safety and run mental checklists for any event. They train for fires, decompression, and unruly behavior. Meal service itself requires coordination so all passengers receive proper service, which makes teamwork essential.

3. Stowing passenger bags is not their job, but lending assistance to those who genuinely need help is. In fact, some airlines forbid it. Able-bodied passengers must stow their own luggage. Crew may help people who need assistance, such as seniors, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, shorter passengers, and parents with small children.

4. Standards are high for safety, not to exclude people. Height and reach rules ensure access to emergency equipment. Airlines also hire within limits set by operations. A single intake can see 5,000 applicants for only 50 slots, so recruiters choose the best fit.

5. Looks do not decide hiring. Beauty is subjective. Airlines expect cabin crew to be well-groomed, confident, and professional. It is a total package from grooming to confidence to character to attitude. “Pretty” or “handsome” does not replace competence.

09/10/2025

HOW OFTEN DO PILOTS GO ON FLIGHT SIMULATOR TRAINING?

In this photo, I am inside a Class-D Airbus A330 simulator at Alpha Aviation. In my previous posts, I have consistently emphasized that pilots undergo rigorous and regular training to ensure their competency. This is why I urge you to trust your pilots; they know what they're doing, especially during emergencies. So, how often do pilots participate in simulator training?

Firstly, pilots do not train in just any simulator. They must use a Class-D full flight simulator specific to the aircraft type they are qualified to fly. But what exactly is a Class-D simulator?

It is a full-motion training simulator designed to replicate the cockpit of the actual aircraft. It has to give the pilot a complete feel of flying the actual aircraft. This includes replicating the sensations of real flight, including acceleration, turns, and turbulence. It must feature a 180-degree high-definition visual display that accurately depicts the external environment—airports, terrain, and weather—under any lighting condition, day or night. The simulator also reproduces authentic cockpit sounds, such as engine noise during takeoff, system alerts, voice callouts, and warning signals, to create a realistic flight experience.

In essence, the simulator must provide the same experience as a real aircraft.

So, how frequently do commercial airline pilots undergo simulator training?

Based on my understanding, though it can depend on a country's civil aviation regulations, pilots usually undergo training every six months for licensing purposes, as well as to refresh their skills and airmanship. During these sessions, they face various flight scenarios, including routine flights and emergencies like bird strikes, engine failures, compressor stalls, and other potential in-flight situations. They also practice handling different weather conditions.

I am sharing this information to emphasize the importance of trusting your pilots. They are skilled professionals who regularly undergo training to maintain their competency. This training is not only essential for their skills but is also mandated by law for licensing purposes.

09/10/2025

Why do student pilots get doused with water after their first solo flight? It is not only a welcoming rite; it is a tradition.

09/10/2025

AND ANOTHER A330NEO FOR CEBU PACIFIC

This is a Cebu Pacific Airbus A330-941N with MSN 2108, soon to be registered as RP-C3912. It is currently undergoing throttle and brake testing in Toulouse. This aircraft will be the airline's 13th A330neo and the third one to be delivered this year. Cebu Pacific aims to receive a total of four A330neos in 2025.

📷: Aircrafts Toulouse Airbus France | Facebook

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