Blog #8: 01/20/23: Aviation Blog - Opinion - Airlines I Will Never Fly
Good evening! Tonight’s blog is a more personal touch - in light of current political crises I am giving a brief overview of airlines I will never fly; Welcome back to another episodic blog of Brooke In The Air!
Today’s (01/20/2023) blog features an opinion piece!
Eight airlines I will never fly:
Iran Air: The flag carrier of the Islamic Republic of Iran and another sanctioned airline; similarly, until the current crises in Iran is resolved, and women have their rights restored I will not consider traveling aboard Iran Air.
Iran Air, Airbus A330-200
A330-200 taking off of from Tehran
(credit: By Mark Harkin - EP-IJB-3, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65002863)
Aeroflot: The flag carrier of the Russian Federation; until the conflict with Ukraine is resolved, I will never consider flying this airline which is also under international sanctions.
Airbus A321 of Aeroflot
Aeroflot Airbus A321, newly delivered, holds short of a runway at the Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport (central hub)
(credit: By Dmitry Zherdin - http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aeroflot---Russian/Airbus-A321-211/1492800/L/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17050999)
Saudia: Flag carrier of Saudi Arabia; while anyone can fly Saudia, non-Muslim women are openly discriminated against in the Middle East.
Saudia Airlines 777-200ER over Mediterranean Sea
(credit: By Ercan Karakas - https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/6846114, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17565449)
El Al: Flag carrier of Israel: even as a Jew, with extreme right-wing orthodox politicians in power, I am not safe nor are other women. We are not considered true or actual Jews, if we are not orthodox.
El Al Boeing 737-800
Boeing 777-200ER taking off from Don Muang International Airport of El Al, flag carrier of Israel
(credit: By Mark Tang - http://www.airliners.net/photo/El-Al-Israel/Boeing-777-258-ER/0875273/L/, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18004722)
Iraqi Airways: National flag carrier of Iraq, only travels domestically within Iraq and to regional close destinations, they also do not exactly instill confidence or trust in the wake of the ending of the Iraq War, despite being the second-oldest airline in the Middle East.
Iraqi Airways’ Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 (737-8NG) at Munich International Airport during takeoff, the flag carrier of Iraq
(credit: Eduard Heisterkamp - https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7989195 )
Syrian Air: (sanctioned) Flag carrier of Syria; until the Syrian Civil War is concluded and the Islamic State is under control, I do not feel safe nor secure in flying Syrian Air.
Syrian Air’ Airbus A320
Airbus A320 of the Syrian flag carrier, Syrian Air. Circa 2022
(credit: By Raimund Stehmann - Gallery page http://www.airliners.net/photo/Syrian-Air/Airbus-A320-232/0639406/LPhoto http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/0/4/0639406.jpg, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28499556)
Air China: Flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China; unfortunately, when visitors enter China, they have been known not to have an easy time getting out. Until the COVID situation within China, and their president Xi Xinping is under control regarding his dictatorial dreams, and the Taiwan situation, I will not be flying the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China. The same can be said for other Chinese airlines: China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, other CAAC - Civil Aviation Authority of China.
Air China Airbus A350-900
A350-900 of the flag carrier of the People’s Republic of China, circa 2022.
(credit: By N509FZ - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80927601)
North Korean airlines / Air Koryo: Flag and only carrier of North Korea. Known commonly as the world’s only 1-star airline. I am not flying anywhere towards or within the Hermit Kingdom for good and obvious reasons.
Tupolev Tu-204 of Air Koryo
Tu-204, a decades-old Cold War-era passenger aircraft still in use by North Korea’s flag carrier, Air Koryo
(credit: Own Work. P-632@PEK (20180303094933)
Until next time, this is Brooke from Brooke In the Air, and I’ll see you in the air! Remember to visit my YouTube channel for travel videos, and like, comment, subscribe!
