The most talked-about aviation moments in 2018

Bigger, busier, longer, safer – but not faster.

This was another record-breaking year for aviation. In 2018, we flew more, but safety records were higher than ever.

The world’s longest flight relaunched, between Singapore and New York, and the first ever direct flight took place between Australia and the UK.

We got excited about the Boeing 777X, with its game-changing folding winglets, and the Beluga XL, with its humpbacked shape and smiling whale livery.

We were wowed by the upcoming Jewel addition to Changi’s Singapore Airport, and can’t wait to book our rooms in the retro-themed TWA Hotel at JFK.

Here are CNN Travel’s highlights from the aviation year.

January

Nearly four billion people flew in 2017, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization, making it the busiest year ever for commercial flights. However, it was also the safest year in aviation history.

Increased traffic doesn’t have to mean a drop in service, either. Latvian flag carrier airBaltic was named the world’s most punctual airline by air travel intelligence company OAG, followed by Hong Kong Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.

Tenerife North, in Spain’s Canary Islands, was revealed to be the world’s most punctual airport, with nine out of ten flights arriving or departing on schedule.

And speaking of departures, January 3 saw the final flight of Delta’s last Boeing 747, which flew from Atlanta to an airplane boneyard in Marana, Arizona. With United Airlines also retiring its 747s, it marked the end of an era for US air travel.

February

Airplane views: Dutch pilot Christiaan van Heijst takes striking photographs of his magnificent view from the plane cockpit. Pictured here: The Aurora Borealis captured from the cockpit.

Solitude and wonder: Van Heijst wanted to capture an aviator's feeling of wonder: "It's like a peaceful solitude just flying high up in the sky away from the rest of the world and the planet," he tells CNN Travel. Pictured here: The Milky Way over Brazil.

Capturing the moment: Van Heijst has been photographing his voyages for almost all of his 14-year career. The pilot got his first job aged 20, flying in Africa and Afghanistan. Pictured here: Pakistan waterways.

Capturing the moment: On these early flights, van Heijst decided to bring his camera to document the experiences. "I needed to capture them because I realized that if I don't take pictures of it, if I don't capture it, it will be gone forever," he says. Pictured here: Afghanistan from the sky.

Dual passions: Van Heijst always wanted to become a pilot: "Whenever I saw an airplane as a boy, I wanted to become a pilot," he says. But it was the experience of photographing these early flights that cemented van Heijst's passion for photography. Pictured here: Mount Rainier, Washington.

Sharing experiences: The pilot started out photographing his travels off-plane. But he soon realized his experiences in the air were also worth capturing. Pictured here: Views of sunrise and thunderstorms from the cockpit.

Broadened horizons: "It started with documenting these adventures back in Africa and Afghanistan, but I broadened my photography to documenting the whole feeling, the total feeling of being high up in the air -- and being in an environment where only a very few people are able to enjoy the views," van Heijst explains. Pictured here: Contrails in the sky.

Pilot privileges: While the view from the cabin can be impressive -- it has nothing on the cockpit panoramas. As van Heijst says, "the whole experience is much more interesting if you have these big windows around you and you're physically controlling the airplane." Pictured here: the Aurora Borealis pictured through the airplane window.

St Elmo's Fire: Alongside the Northern Lights, van Heijst has witnessed other incredible natural phenomena, including St Elmo's Fire, pictured here. "It sometimes happens when you fly through a very electrically charged cloud, let's say a thunderstorm or even snowstorms, where these snowflakes give a little friction to the airplane," he explains. Pictured here: St Elmo's Fire through the window.

Diverse landscapes: Van Heijst's current job takes him around the world in a 747 airplane -- and offers a diverse range of spectacular photo opportunities. "We're flying to all the corners of the world and we fly over all the oceans and all the deserts," the pilot says. Pictured here: Saharan landscape and the Nile.

Safety first: Nevertheless, the process of taking photographs on board is complex. "First of all, flying the airplane has top priority," explains van Heijst. "So I only take pictures when I can." Pictured here: The Northern Lights at sunrise.

Inside the process: The images are usually long exposure shots. Van Heijst leaves his camera on the cockpit's glare shield and uses a wide angle lens to capture as much of the scene as possible. Pictured here: The moon and clouds from the window.

Learning process: "I'm still learning and evolving," says van Heijst of the photography process. "Because there is no room in the cockpit for tripods -- I don't use any suction cups, so I just hold the camera there, press it into the corner and just hope for the best." Pictured here: Clouds from the Stratosphere.

Expressions of solitude: Van Heijst has started experimenting with different angles for different effects. "These pictures where you see partially the cockpit and partially the outside world, I think this is one of the few ways I can express in a photograph the feeling of solitude," he says. Pictured here: Moonlight in the cockpit.

Reflections: It's only in recent years that van Heijst has started considering the link between flying and solitude. "For me the drive to take these pictures has always been there, but only recently I started to realize the exact emotion behind it that I try to convey or capture," he reflects. Pictured here: Mount Redoubt in Alaska.

Aurora Borealis: The Northern Lights is one of van Heijst's favorite views he has captured: "The Aurora, that's just always beautiful no matter how often I see it, it's just always fantastic," he says. Pictured here: Northern Lights over Canada and the cockpit.

Spectacular views: During particular stunning Aurora displays, van Heijst says pilots will dim the cockpit lights to enjoy the view. Pictured here: Sunset and shadow.

Private light show: The pilot says he will never forget the first time he saw the Aurora in all its glory. "We were spectators of a massive private show of Northern Lights and this is something that really makes me feel very privileged," says van Heijst. "And yeah, I have to capture that with my camera." Pictured here: Zodiacal light, sunrise.

Insider look: van Heijst's photographs also provide an insight into a side of aviation the public rarely gets to see. "Since 9/11, passengers are not allowed to come into the cockpit anymore," explains van Heijst. "So we as pilots, we find it really difficult to convey the beauty of flying, especially with an industry that has its huge downsides, especially on family life etc." Pictured here: Clouds over Germany.

Capturing the cockpit: As a result, van Heijst's colleagues are grateful he is capturing the world of the cockpit. "They use these pictures to tell their families what it is like," van Heijst says. Pictured here: Stormy clouds in a thunderstorm.

Humans and nature: Despite his supportive co-pilots, van Heijst avoids getting them in the picture. "Even though many of the pilots, they actually don't mind being in the photos, I try to minimize the human elements in the cockpit pictures because sometimes it's just distracting from the actual view," he says. Pictured here: Runway fog in the morning in Curitiba, Brazil.

Contrasts: However, in some photographs, van Heijst enjoys depicting the contrast between "a very technical environment, the cockpit, and the world outside." Pictured here: Storms over Toronto.

Favorite landscapes: Van Heijst says Afghanistan remains one of his favorite landscapes to fly over: "I just fell in love with the country -- even up to today when I'm flying over Afghanistan, I'm just glued to the window enjoying the views," he says. Pictured here: Landing in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Rough landscapes: "Actually there are quite a few areas that I really enjoy - what they have in common is that it's all really isolated and rough landscapes," says van Heijst. He also names Alaska and Greenland as other favorites. Pictured here: Sunset over the Himalayas.

Unpredictable conditions: Of course, flying is inherently unpredictable and van Heijst can never foresee how his photographs will develop: "We're flying in the air which is unstable by nature, sometimes I'm taking a picture - it's completely, completely still - and I take my camera out," he says. "And the moment I place the camera on the pedal stool or on the on the glare shield the turbulence starts!" Pictured here: Thunderstorms from the cockpit.

Painting a picture: "The pictures I take, let's say they are the tip of the iceberg," van Heijst says. "But many of the pictures are either shaky or blurred [...] but I think overall, my pictures, they give a pretty clear image of what it is like to fly." Pictured here: London city lights and clouds.

Second career: van Heijst is delighted his photographs are getting exposure: "I'm now setting up basically my business, because I hope that my photography will become a second job or second career, because I realize that there's so much potential and I realize that so many people, all over the world, are just fascinated by these views," he says. Pictured here: Shooting stars over India.

Universal appeal: Van Heijst's photographs have been well-received on social media. "It's partially people who are pilots themselves, or who love the views we have as pilots," he says. "But more and more it's also people who just have a love for aviation, or even people who say 'I don't even like airplanes, I don't even like aviation in general.'" Pictured here: Cloudy sky over Romania.

Working hard: For pilots and photographers, van Heijst has one message: "If you want to achieve anything in life you always have to work hard, it's super cliché but it's true," he says. Pictured here: Sunrise and thunderstorms over Texas.

Time and effort: "I think if you put enough time and effort and motivation into something, either becoming a pilot or doing something else, it's always reachable," says van Heijst. Pictured here: Sunset over the South Atlantic Ocean.

New opportunities: Van Heijst also encourages young people to consider becoming pilots. "In aviation, I think there will be a lot of job opportunities in the future. There will be a huge demand for pilots," says van Heijst. Pictured here: Thunderstorm over Minnesota.

Persistence in photography: As for photography, van Heijst says it is important to remember your work will improve as you learn. "With the photography part, I think it's -- for example I never did any training, I never did any courses, I'm just completely, completely self-taught," he says. "But this is also a matter of persistence." Pictured here: Views of the ice and mountains of Greenland.

Developing talents: Van Heijst says his photographs have become better over the years. "I've been doing it now for almost 14 years in total. And I've finally now reached a point that my pictures are becoming popular enough," he says. Pictured here: Cloud formations from the cockpit.

Willingness to fail: "It takes a long breath, a lot of effort, and willingness to fail very often [...] you will encounter situations where it's frustrating you couldn't capture it, but persistence, that's the best word to describe it," says Van Heist. Pictured here: Aurora sunrise over Canada.

Pilot's spectacular photos taken from an airplane cockpit

Prev Next

Dutch pilot Christiaan van Heijst talked to CNN Travel about his incredible collection of photos taken from inside the cockpit, capturing phenomena such as the Northern Lights and St Elmo’s Fire.

Jabbrrbox work booths were installed at New York’s LaGuardia Central Terminal B, offering an alternative to the traditional airport lounge. These private windowed booths can be rented to gain access to WiFi, USB charging, flight trackers, audio speakers and mood lighting.

March

Opening date set: Singapore airport officials have announced that the new "Jewel Changi Airport" complex will open to travelers on April 17. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the project is the Rain Vortex, pictured. At over 130 feet high, it's the world's tallest indoor waterfall.

A central hub: Conceived by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie as a new "magical garden," Jewel Changi Airport is first and foremost a central hub, connecting three of Changi Airport's current four terminals. Click on for a selection of previously released Jewel design renderings.

Exterior view: Jewel will have a total of 10 stories -- five above ground and five below -- filled with various attractions, gardens, 280 retail and F&B outlets and a 130-cabin YOTELAIR Singapore Changi Airport hotel.

Steel-and-glass doughnut: The steel-and-glass donut complex it set to become a destination in itself.

Forest Valley: Jewel's two centerpieces are Forest Valley, through which passengers will be able to hike, and Rain Vortex, a gigantic cascade of water from the roof.

Rain Vortex: The Rain Vortex will be transformed by a light and sound show at night.

Canopy Park: The 14,000-square-meter Canopy Park will include gardens, walking trails, playgrounds and restaurants.

Canopy Bridge: Suspended 23 meters above ground, the 50-meter, glass-bottomed Canopy Bridge will be the best viewing point for the Rain Vortex show and the Forest Valley. It's due to open in mid-2019.

Sky Nets: There will be two different kinds of suspended walking nets -- a 250-meter bouncing net and a 50-meter walking net. These too won't open till later in 2019.

Discovery Slides: Also coming later this year, the planned large-scale art piece features four integrated slides and a 6.5-meter-high viewing platform, from which travelers can see the Forest Valley.

Mazes: There will be two mazes, both designed by famous maze designer Adrian Fisher -- including the largest hedge maze in Singapore.

A shopaholic's dream: More than 200 retailers from local and international brands will set up shop in the Jewel.

Al fresco indoor dining: Changi's new leisure complex will have a wide selection of food and drink outlets, some with patios offering views of the waterfall.

Gateway gardens: Four different gateway gardens will feature unique landscape elements. The north, east and west gateway gardens will lead to terminals 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

'Multi-modal transport lounge': Jewel's "multi-modal transport lounge" will offer ticketing and boarding pass and baggage transfer services, as well as early check-in facilities.

The most awesome airport on Earth is about to get more awesome

Prev Next

Skytrax revealed its annual ranking of the world’s best airports – with Singapore’s Changi Airport claiming the number one spot for the sixth year in a row.

What makes Changi so special? Well, there’s a rooftop swimming pool and two 24-hour movie theaters screening the latest blockbusters for free. It’s set to get even more fabulous in 2019, with the opening of its Jewel Changi addition, complete with five-story terraced garden and indoor waterfall.

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180427231446-business-traveller-kangaroo-route-qantas-evolution-a-00013911.jpg?q=x_0,y_0,h_1080,w_1919,c_fill/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180427231446-business-traveller-kangaroo-route-qantas-evolution-a-00013911.jpg?q=x_0,y_0,h_1080,w_1919,c_fill/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="

" data-timestamp-html="" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2018-04-28T03:20:03Z" data-video-section="world" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2018/04/28/business-traveller-kangaroo-route-qantas-evolution-a.cnn" data-branding-key="business-traveller" data-video-slug="Business Traveller Kangaroo route Qantas evolution A" data-first-publish-slug="Business Traveller Kangaroo route Qantas evolution A" data-video-tags="air transportation,airlines,animals,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,celebrities,companies,kangaroos,life forms,mammals,marsupials,qantas,richard quest,transportation and warehousing" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

The Evolution of the Kangaroo Route

07:26 - Source: CNN

On the first of two epic airborne adventures he undertook in 2018, CNN’s Richard Quest boarded the Qantas jet making the first direct flight from Australia to the UK.

A 17-hour trip from Perth to London might sound long, until you consider that the original London to Australia flight – known as the Kangaroo service – involved seven stopovers over a period of four days.

April

The SkyRider 2.0 "standing seat" made headlines in April.

Donegal Airport, on Ireland’s northwest coast, was named the world’s most scenic airport approach by PrivateFly, a booking platform for private jet charters.

The Aircraft Interiors Expo 2018 took place in Hamburg at the start of the month. One of the biggest headline-grabbers was Airbus debuting new beds that will let passengers sleep in the cargo hold. The sleeper berths are designed for Airbus A330 jets and will be available to airlines by 2020.

Another eyebrow-raiser was Italian seat manufacturer Aviointeriors’ SkyRider 2.0, a “standing-up” airline seat designed to reduce space between rows. Aviointeriors promised that the seats maintain “an adequate comfort” but commentators weren’t convinced – so far the innovative seat has yet to be taken up by an airline.

Fake views: Could windowless planes be the future of travel?

Meanwhile, at the Arabian Travel Market 2018, Emirates revealed plans to dispense with airplane windows. Its Boeing 777-300ER First Class Private Suite features floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, soft leather seating, mood lighting, and “virtual windows” enabled by fibre-optic camera technology. That’s right: Fake views.

May

TWA Hotel: The long-awaited TWA Hotel built inside the old Trans World Airlines terminal has opened at New York's JFK Airport, offering passengers a retro aviation-themed stopover.

Classic building: The TWA Hotel is housed in a classic piece of 1960s architecture and includes high end retail shops and restaurants.

Golden age of flying: The old TWA Flight Center was designed by architect Eero Saarinen. It opened in 1962 and closed as an air terminal in 2001.

Interior design: The 1960s-influenced guest rooms feature Knoll furnishings and vintage-inspired décor.

Midcentury marvel: When guests walk into their room at the TWA hotel, they are momentarily transported back to the '60s.

An easy commute: "Glamorous hotel" and "near the airport" are no longer mutually exclusive.

Air style: Models in aviation-inspired uniforms attended the hotel's ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 15.

Cool corridor: The hotel's stylish Saarinen Wing is named after architect Eero Saarinen who designed the TWA Flight Center.

Pool with a view: The hotel has an infinity pool with views over JFK's runways.

Cocktails with Connie: A restored 1958 Lockheed Constellation airplane known as "Connie" has been converted into a cocktail lounge at the TWA Hotel.

Long journey: "Connie" was towed to the airport last year. This particular aircraft has a storied past as an Alaskan bush plane and a drop plane used by marijuana dealers in South America.

Stylish bar: The Constellation's refitted interior is considerably more comfortable than a standard airplane.

Old news: A display of retro magazine titles mimics an old fashioned airport newsstand at the new TWA Hotel.

Cheap calls: The new TWA Hotel's throwback stylings include 10 cent payphones.

Check in: Guest Billie O'Hagan, a flight attendant at Alaska Airlines, checks in at the front desk in the new TWA Hotel.

Fashion flashback: The newly opened hotel has a display of vintage flight attendant uniforms.

TWA Hotel: It's almost time for check in! The retro-inspired TWA hotel is open as of May 15, 2019.

Collectibles: The hotel's in-room Dopp kits can be purchased online even if you're not a guest.

Work it: This desk is more stylish than your office.

Red-y and waiting: TWA's red-and-white color scheme is used throughout.

A soft landing: Even the room keys reflect the midcentury vibe.

A look inside: The only airline terminal you'd actually want to spend time in.

Powder your nose: The TWA Hotel's bathrooms are also right on brand.

Don't look back: The iconic TWA (Trans World Airlines) Flight Center designed by Eero Saarinen was transformed into the heart of the TWA hotel.

Up close and personal: This view shows off Saarinen's iconic design.

Ready to go: Here, you can see the former entrance to the airport.

Inside the TWA Hotel

Prev Next

Aviation fans and architecture buffs alike have been very excited about the transformation of JFK Airport’s TWA Flight Center into a retro-fabulous hotel.

The 1960s-inspired hotel won’t open until 2019, but mid-year we got a preview of a model room.

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

June

Restoring Elvis' private jet will require a heap of cash and a hunk of burning love.

British lawmakers granted approval to controversial plans to build a third runway at Heathrow, which means the London airport could be transformed into the world’s biggest.

Under the proposal, passenger capacity could jump to 100 million a year. In December, the airport revealed its plans for carbon neutral growth, focusing on cleaner aircraft technology, sustainable aviation fuels and improvements to airspace and ground operations.

And in New Mexico, a jet that won’t be winning prizes for fuel efficiency came up for auction: Elvis’ private jet, a customized 1962 Lockheed JetStar 1329 which had been quietly rusting on a runway for 36 years.

July

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180719185318-03-beluga-plane.jpg?q=x_2,y_0,h_898,w_1596,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/180719185318-03-beluga-plane.jpg?q=x_2,y_0,h_898,w_1596,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="" data-timestamp-html="" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2018-07-20T18:23:06Z" data-video-section="travel" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel-play/2018/07/20/beluga-xl-test-flight-orig.cnn" data-branding-key="" data-video-slug="beluga-xl-test-flight-orig" data-first-publish-slug="beluga-xl-test-flight-orig" data-video-tags="business, economy and trade,business and industry sectors,transportation and warehousing,air transportation,aviation and aerospace industry,aircraft,companies,airbus sas" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

The Beluga XL 'flying whale' takes off

01:01 - Source: CNN

Airbus completed the first test flight of the Beluga XL, or “Flying Whale.” The distinctly cetacean vibes given off by this cargo plane’s humped shape and bottle nose are further enhanced by a quirky smiling-faced livery.

Airbus also wrapped up “route-proving flights” in the United States for its new wide-body airliner, the A330-900neo. It features new engines, a re-designed cabin and curved wingtips called sharklets that cut wind resistance and save fuel.

Like all sharks, the Embraer E190-E2 just has to keep moving. It went on a five-month world tour.

Another plane with a sealife-themed livery, the Embraer “Shark” E190-E2, kicked off a five-month tour with an appearance at Farnborough Airshow in the UK.

And completing the trio of aircraft with funny names, designs for the luxurious interior of the Airlander 10 “Flying Bum” were also unveiled at Farnborough.

The hybrid helium airship’s 46-meter-long cabin will boast plush en suite bedrooms, an on-board bar and glass flooring providing horizon-to-horizon views.

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160323100940-airlander-10-getty.jpg?q=x_0,y_250,h_1368,w_2431,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/160323100940-airlander-10-getty.jpg?q=x_0,y_250,h_1368,w_2431,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="

" data-timestamp-html="" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2016-03-23T09:19:55Z" data-video-section="travel" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/aviation/2016/03/22/worlds-biggest-aircraft-airlander-10-sdg-orig.cnn" data-branding-key="future-of-aviation" data-video-slug="world's biggest aircraft airlander 10 sdg orig" data-first-publish-slug="world's biggest aircraft airlander 10 sdg orig" data-video-tags="air transportation,business and industry sectors,england,europe,london,northern europe,transportation and warehousing,united kingdom,aircraft,aviation and aerospace industry,business, economy and trade" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

World's largest aircraft prepares to take off

01:59 - Source: CNN

Elsewhere, X-ray scanners were trialled at airports including London Heathrow, New York’s JFK and Amsterdam Schiphol which could one day spell the end of having to remove items from hand luggage when passing through security.

The new scanners use 3D imagery, allowing security staff to see contents of bags from all angles.

August

Half-built Antonov AN-225: A gigantic hangar outside the Ukrainian capital Kiev contains the unfinished pieces of one of the most spectacular legacies of Soviet aircraft engineering, an Antonov AN-225. Click through the gallery for more photos:

One of a kind: Only one AN-225 was finished. It first took flight in 1988 and has been in service ever since. It's the largest successful airplane to take to the skies. Known as Mriya, it attracts crowds of fans wherever it flies.

Unfinished business: What's less known about the AN-225 is that production was begun on a second aircraft in 1989, but following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was never completed.

Ukraine airplane factory: The AN-225 program was devised to create an airplane capable of carrying Russia's answer to the US Space Shuttle. Aircraft manufacturer Antonov, in Ukraine, was assigned the mission.

Space race: The AN-225 made its maiden flight in 1988 and successfully carried the Soviet Buran spacecraft to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Victim of history: The Soviet space program fell apart after 1991. Work on the second AN-225 halted in 1994. With no spacecraft to carry, there was little demand for another huge airplane, let alone the two others that were planned.

Giant hangar: And so the second AN-225 is languishing in a huge workshop west of Kiev, awaiting the investment needed to complete the project.

Big plane, big price tag: Gennadiy Silchenko, Antonov's AN-225 program director, says the plane requires investment of $250 million to $350 million to be completed. He says it's 70% finished.

Chinese interest: China expressed an interest in taking on the project in 2016, but difficulties transporting the pieces of the AN-225 to Chinese soil thwarted the deal. Antonov now insists it must be completed in the Ukraine.

Good as new: Despite being mothballed for decades, it would be like new when fully built, Antonov's Silchenko insists. He's confident it will one day take to the skies.

Giant jigsaw: When attached, the AN-225's wings have a span of 88.4 meters (290 feet) -- the largest of any airplane currently in service.

Record breaker: The AN-225's operational sister holds a mind-blowing 240 aviation records, including transportation of the heaviest commercial cargo and carrying the largest single piece of cargo. Here the airplane can be seen dwarfing a smaller aircraft behind it.

Big lift: Powered by six turbofan engines, the completed version has a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes. Its payload can be carried inside or outside the fuselage.

Ready to roll: All the essential components of the second AN-225's superstructure have been manufactured, including the fuselage, wings, nose gear and tail.

Looking to the future: Once the investment is in, Silchenko says the existing parts will be connected, the control panel developed and the horizontal stabilizer finished. Then a second AN-225 will be ready for conquering the skies.

Build it and they will come (eventually): Recent interest in space exploration, particularly from the private sector, could generate a market for the second AN-225. "When there is a need to solve such a problem, there will be a demand for the completion of the second aircraft and the investors will appear," says Silchenko.

See a half-built aviation giant, the Antonov An-225

Prev Next

CNN Travel was granted an exclusive tour of the world’s biggest unfinished cargo jet, an Antonov An-225 which languishes in a hangar on the outskirts of Kiev.

A sister craft to the world-famous Mriya, construction of the second – and last – Antonov An-225 began in 1989, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, history intervened and it never took to the skies.

September

Pakyong Airport: India's new Pakyong Airport is a breathtaking piece of engineering on the roof of the world.

More accessibility: Set in the Himalayan mountains at a height of over 1,400 meters (4,593 feet), it serves a remote area of Sikkim state.

India's 100th airport: As the country's 100th operational airport, it also marks a milestone for Indian aviation.

Pakyong Airport terminal: The airport's 2,380-square-meter terminal can accommodate up to 100 passengers.

An engineering marvel: "This airport was built at a cost of $68.7 million and showcases our engineers, workers and their potential -- how the mountains were cleared, the ditch was filled, the heavy rains they dealt with," said Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, during a speech at Pakyong's opening ceremony.

Runway construction: An 80.38 meter-high embankment was built to accommodate the 1.7-kilometer-long and 30-meter-wide runway, which is enclosed by deep valleys.

Daily routes: The airport will enter commercial passenger service on October 4. Low-cost carrier SpiceJet is launching two daily routes to Pakyong Airport via Kolkata and Guwahati.

On top of the world: Bordered by Bhutan and Nepal, the northeastern state of Sikkim is known for its scenic Himalayan landscapes. It's home to 28 mountain peaks -- including India's highest mountain -- as well as 21 glaciers and more than 200 lakes.

Tourism boost: "Once the airport becomes operational, the number of tourists is going to go up," said Modi. "The new airport will also provide employment for the youth and in turn, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, tour guides and so on."

Pakyong arrival hall: Before the opening of Pakyong, the nearest airport to Sikkim's state capital of Gangtok was Bagdogra, in West Bengal -- a five-hour drive.

New gateway: Pakyong Airport is 30 kilometers south of Sikkim capital Gangtok.

Book the window seat: The airport's dramatic mountain setting ensures plane passengers will enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes.

Long-awaited: The airport took nine years to construct and is Sikkim's first airport.

See India's amazing Pakyong Airport carved into the mountains

Prev Next

It’s not just the 1,400 meter-altitude that might cause you to catch your breath at India’s newly opened Pakyong Airport in the Himalayas; the engineering’s pretty impressive too.

The $68.7 million airport opens up tourism to the scenic state of Sikkim, which borders Bhutan and Nepal and boasts 28 mountain peaks, 21 glaciers and more than 200 lakes.

Elsewhere, CNN Travel took a deeper look at Hong Kong International Airport’s $18 billion expansion plans and Turkish Airlines revealed some very glamorous new cabin crew uniforms.

The world’s first Boeing 777 retired to an aviation museum in Arizona and, on another Boeing 777, Cathay Pacific made a rather embarrassing spelling mistake on the livery.

October

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/181011143731-amazing-facts-world-longest-flight.jpg?q=x_2,y_71,h_1206,w_2143,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/181011143731-amazing-facts-world-longest-flight.jpg?q=x_2,y_71,h_1206,w_2143,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="

" data-timestamp-html="" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2018-10-11T20:41:08Z" data-video-section="travel" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2018/10/11/amazing-fact-longest-flight-in-the-world-lon-orig-io.cnn" data-branding-key="" data-video-slug="amazing fact longest flight in the world lon orig io" data-first-publish-slug="amazing fact longest flight in the world lon orig io" data-video-tags="air transportation,asia,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,continents and regions,singapore,southeast asia,transportation and warehousing,aviation and aerospace industry,companies,singapore airlines,travel and tourism,business travel" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

Amazing facts about the world's longest flight

02:09 - Source: CNN

In 2018 Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline by both Skytrax and AirlineRatings.com, and it further cemented its reputation when it relaunched the world’s longest flight: SQ22, a 17-and-a-half hour trip between Singapore and New York.

CNN’s Richard Quest was on board the inaugural flight, delivering live updates throughout the journey.

Turkey’s new $12 billion Istanbul Airport was inaugurated at the end of the month, but the hotly anticipated Norman Foster-designed airport for Mexico City was scrapped halfway through construction, following a public vote.

Indonesia’s deadliest air crash in nearly 20 years took place on October 29 when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed shortly after taking off from Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, killing all 189 passengers and crew.

A preliminary report into the disaster revealed that the pilots repeatedly fought to override an automatic safety system installed on the brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane, but many questions remain.

November

Fully built Boeing 777X: US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has taken the wraps off its long awaited 777X, the world's longest passenger jetliner, at its wide-body manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington.

Low-key launch: Originally planned as a celebration of the new plane, the launch event was simplified to respect the recent loss of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Record-breaking: The 777X-9 version of the new jetliner has the widest wingspan of any aircraft in Boeing's history: 235 feet, five inches.

Game-changer: It's set to shake up commercial travel. In fact, the US Federal Aviation Administration had to draft new regulations just for the 777-9 and its sister craft, the 777-8.

Under construction: The aircraft's journey to completion has been followed closely at every step by aviation enthusiasts.

Boeing 777X: Boeing's new 777X jetliner will have innovative folding wings which give the plane extra lift.

Photos: Boeing's new 777X jetliner

Prev Next

Excitement was building all year for the Boeing 777X, which will fly for the first time in 2019.

In November, it reached a production milestone when its major fuselage sections – the airplane’s nose, mid and aft sections – were brought together.

The plane’s standout feature is its innovative folding wingtips, which will allow this XL plane to fit through regular airport gates. The wings are also made of lightweight super-strong carbon fiber, making the plane more fuel-efficient.

Other planes creating buzz this month were the Airbus A220-100, the first newly designed large single-aisle airliner in nearly three decades, and the MIT-engineered ion plane, which has no moving parts and doesn’t need an engine to fly.

Plane too big for your hangar? Not a problem.

Munich Airport shared photos of its custom-made hangar doors, specially designed to accommodate the 73-meter-long Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane.

15 years after Concorde’s last flight, supersonic travel was back on the agenda this year with projects such as Boom Technology and NASA’s X-59 QueSST supersonic jet. The economic viability of these new innovations is still in question, so it could be a while before we’re jetting from Shanghai to L.A. in five hours.

December

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/181119110958-beijing-daxing-2.jpg?q=x_0,y_0,h_1080,w_1919,c_fill/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/181119110958-beijing-daxing-2.jpg?q=x_0,y_0,h_1080,w_1919,c_fill/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="" data-timestamp-html="" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2018-12-07T00:12:54Z" data-video-section="travel" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/travel/2018/11/19/beijing-daxing-mxb-lon-orig.cnn" data-branding-key="" data-video-slug="beijing-daxing-mxb-lon-orig" data-first-publish-slug="beijing-daxing-mxb-lon-orig" data-video-tags="air transportation,airports,asia,beijing,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,china,continents and regions,east asia,transportation and warehousing" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

Beijing Daxing: The world's next largest airport?

01:15 - Source: CNN

CNN Travel took a look at Beijing Daxing International Airport, the Chinese capital’s new mega-hub that’s due to open next September.

Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, it’ll have four runways and a terminal the size of 97 soccer pitches.

Boeing unveiled the business jet version of the Boeing 777X, the BBJ 777X, with ultra long-range capabilities which the company says will allow elite travelers to fly nonstop between “any two cities on Earth.”

Deliveries began for the Bombardier Global 7500, the $70 million private jet that is set to challenge the Gulfstream G650’s dominance of the luxury market.

And the United States’ first fully biometric terminal opened at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, which in September was once again named the world’s busiest airport.

Facial recognition technology allows travelers to breeze through from curb to gate without using their passport and has a 98% success rate.

Outside the US, airports such as Singapore’s Changi, Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Aruba International Airport are reported to already offer biometric check-in and boarding capability at some gates and terminals.

And as December rolled to a close, 2018 had at least one last aviation headline up its sleeve when thousands of passengers were grounded in and out of London’s Gatwick Airport following two incidents involving drones.

Here’s to clearer skies and happier landings in 2019.

Olivia Camerini, Pavlo Fedykovych, Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Steven Jiang, Tara John, Sheena McKenzie, Euan McKirdy, Barry Neild, Jon Ostrower, Thom Patterson, Rob Picheta, Richard Quest, Miquel Ros, Howard Slutsken, Kate Springer, Francesca Street and Maggie Hiufu Wong contributed to this report.