The One Where Dan Flies Riyadh Air (Behind The Scenes)

In Episode 25 of On-Air with Dan and Alex, Dan sits down with Heart Aerospace CEO Anders Forslund in Plattsburgh, New York, for an inside look at the Heart X1, the world's largest electric aircraft and the technology demonstrator behind the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional airliner. They break down the ES-30's range, cost per flight, certification timeline, and how electric aviation could reshape regional air travel and hub feeder routes. Then Dan and Alex recap the Farnborough Airshow, discussing a surprisingly quiet showing for commercial aviation, Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB-97 engine updates, and why defense sales are dominating airshows. The episode also covers frequent flyer etiquette, Star Alliance Gold queue confusion, and the overtourism driving Euro summer travel trends. On Air with Dan and Alex is heading into a summer break and returns with a new season in September, with more aviation news, airline reviews, and travel industry insight for frequent flyers and avgeeks alike.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on On-Air, Dan and Alex dedicate the full episode to listener Q&A, aviation news, and travel stories. It starts with real flight drama: a passenger caught vaping mid-flight to Riyadh, a chaotic hotel poolside incident, and a drunk passenger meltdown during EasyJet boarding. Then a family loyalty points disaster, after an aunt quietly burns through 300,000 shared airline miles.The Q&A covers major aviation topics: Concorde versus the A380, the most iconic airline liveries in history (including BA's retro World Tails and Qantas's Wunala Dreaming), and reactions to Starlux's bold new Sorayama-designed livery. Dan and Alex also debate whether Singapore Airlines' reputation still holds up in 2026, why airlines fly red-eyes and park aircraft on remote stands all day, SAS's record-breaking A330neo order, and whether India is poised for major aviation growth. They close with the UK CAA's warning on lithium battery risks onboard.New episodes every week. Submit your questions on Instagram @onairwithdanandalex.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today On-Air, Dan and Alex answer the question they get asked more than any other: how did you actually build a career in aviation, and what's the advice for anyone trying to follow the same path? They break the myth that success in the industry requires family connections, sharing the real story of two middle-class kids who turned an obsession with planes into a job. Topics include Alex's early days emailing aviation conferences as a teenager, meeting Captain Peter Burkill (BA38), talking airlines into filming their first YouTube business class reviews back in 2015, and why leaning into passion beats over-strategizing your career. They also cover networking in the aviation industry, dealing with imposter syndrome, dream jobs like air traffic control, and the friendships built at Airbus and Boeing deliveries over the years. A candid, practical episode for anyone dreaming of a career in aviation.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of On-Air, Dan and Alex cover a packed week of aviation news. They revisit the 737 MAX crisis, tracing the timeline from the Lion Air crash to the Ethiopian Airlines accident and how it reshaped Boeing's reputation. They discuss why airlines retire flight numbers after tragedies, including Singapore Airlines and SQ321, and why fireworks near airports remain a hidden risk, following a Delta A319 struck by a firework on approach to Chicago Midway. They break down the disappearance of a K2 Cargo Boeing 737 over the Arabian Sea, GPS jamming across Middle East airspace, and the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict's impact on flight paths. The conversation turns to Condor's surprising partnership with Etihad on a new Abu Dhabi to Bangkok route, takeover speculation involving Gulf carriers, EasyJet's £5.5 billion takeover bid from Castlelake, and the chaos EES (Entry/Exit System) is causing at European airports this summer.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of On-Air, Dan and Alex break down the viral Boeing 777 low pass over Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas, the Jetran aircraft destined for Qatar Airways Cargo that flew within feet of the ground, and why the FAA is now investigating. They also compare US airlines versus European airlines in 2026, discussing Delta's LAX lounge and the shifting balance of cabin quality.The conversation moves to Ryanair's family seating fee reversal following a UK CMA probe, new EU261 compensation rules, and mandatory carry-on legislation in Europe. A public service announcement covers the rising risk of lithium battery and power bank fires on aircraft, including CAA data on overheating incidents.Q&A covers Japan Airlines' infant seat map feature, why Riyadh Air exists separately from Saudia, and Air Zimbabwe's resumed Harare to London Gatwick route after a 14 year absence. Aviation news, airline reviews, and travel industry analysis from Nonstop Dan.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dan is recovering from a mysterious illness that sent him spiraling through AI diagnoses, hospital visits, and an emergency hotel stay, while Alex shares hard-won food safety lessons from decades of globe-trotting. Then the conversation shifts to airline catering: how it works, why it sometimes fails, and the current crisis at American Airlines forcing double catering out of Heathrow. The episode also covers Dan's emotional farewell to the Airbus A340-600, including the shocking discovery that the exact aircraft he flew as a child was later destroyed by a missile strike in Iran. Plus: Somalia's viral new airline Rayan Air operating a 36-year-old Fokker 50, Africa's smart legislation forcing better aircraft on their routes, airline consolidation targets in Europe, Emirates equipment swaps amid post-war schedule uncertainty, and a hypothetical Alaska/Hawaiian/JetBlue merger that could reshape US aviation.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dan is fresh off the inaugural Riyadh Air domestic flight from Riyadh to Jeddah — one of the first people in the world to fly the airline since it launched operations. He and Alex break down the full experience: the stunning cabin aesthetics, the dense seat configurations, the dry airline policy, and what it all means for the airline's future competitiveness against Emirates and Qatar Airways. They also cover Qantas Project Sunrise — the confirmed Sydney to London nonstop route launching October 2027 on the A350-1000ULR, and what 19+ hours in the air actually means for passengers. Plus: airline alliance politics, the Oneworld vs StarLux drama, updated Middle East travel advisories, Emirates and Etihad's new conflict travel insurance products, and whether airfare prices will drop following the Gulf peace deal. Essential listening for aviation enthusiasts and frequent flyers.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Alex is live from Rio de Janeiro at the 2026 IATA AGM - the world's biggest annual gathering of airline CEOs and aviation leaders. In this episode: what it's actually like navigating Brazil as a first-timer, the chaos of São Paulo's domestic terminal, LATAM's surprisingly impressive onboard experience, and the biggest takeaways from the airline industry's most important conference. Jet fuel shortages, rising airfares, Philippine Airlines joining Oneworld, Willie Walsh's exit from IATA, Etihad's unsustainably low fares, Boeing's progress under new leadership, and next year's AGM in Xiamen, China. All the aviation news you need in one place.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Boeing 777X delayed again, EES chaos at European airports, and your summer travel questions answered - this week on On-Air with Dan and Alex. We break down the latest Boeing 777X certification setback, now pushed to late 2027 or early 2028, and what it means for new Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Lufthansa cabin launches. We cover the Iranian drone strike on Kuwait Airport Terminal 1 and what the fragile Gulf ceasefire means for travelers. Then it's all about summer travel tips: morning flights vs. evening delays, fast-track security, EES entry/exit queues at European airports, secondary airports vs. major hubs, Air Tag your luggage, and why the last flight of the day is the riskiest. We also explain the airline no-show rule, the hidden city loophole, and whether wearing shorts in first class is acceptable. Plus: Thai Airways government pressure and Lufthansa's last domestic flight.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are flight fares actually rising 20% this summer? Is travel insurance worth it? And what does the Air France 447 verdict mean for aviation today? In this episode of On-Air with Dan and Alex, we dig into the biggest travel and aviation stories of the week -- Lufthansa's 20,000 flight cancellations, why no one's flying to the US for the World Cup, and the geopolitics reshaping global air travel. We also cover Gulf carrier staff bonuses, the future of airline loyalty programs, and the destination wedding dilemma every frequent traveler knows too well. Subscribe for weekly aviation and travel insights.Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.Contact for sponsorship: [email protected] Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy