Different Airliners at Sydney International Airport, 2007

Upon my request, my relatives in Australia captured the photos of planes of different airlines at Sydney International Airport in August, 2007 before their trip to New Zealand. Here I should thank them for the photos which have been frozen in my computer for 6 long years, not forgotten, but difficult to find.

Air Canada planes at that time have tail fins each with a maple leaf in a black background. In 2009, when I went to Vancouver, the maple leaf at the tail fin of an Air Canada plane stood out in a white background.

As far as I know, Jet Star Airline provides cheap flights with airbuses A320 (capacity: 180 passengers) and internationally A330 (capacity: 303 passengers).

Royal Brunei is the flag carrier airline of the Sultanate of Brunei, headquartered in the RBA Plaza in Bandar Seri Begawan. It is wholly owned by the government of Brunei. Royal Brunei Airlines now operates a fleet of 10 aircraft to 14 destinations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia. Its B787 Dreamliner service from Brunei to Melbourne is due to commence in the 2nd quarter of 2014.

Etihad Airways is the National Airline of United Arab Emirates. As of September 2013, Etihad serves 96 passenger and cargo destinations across Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australasia from its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad Airways, along with British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Korean Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways and United Airlines, is one of the few carriers to have services to all six inhabited continents.

Virgin Atlantic uses a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body jets with an average age of 9.1 years as of July 2013 and operates between the United Kingdom, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia from its main base at Gatwick with secondary bases at London Heathrow and Manchester. The airline has operated domestic flights within the United Kingdom since 31 March 2013. Virgin Atlantic has orders for Boeing 787–9 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft for delivery beginning 2014 and 2018, respectively. The A380 was expected in service in 2006, but was delayed until 2009 because of problems within Airbus. Virgin then deferred its order to 2013, arguing that it wanted the aircraft to prove itself before it began to operate them. In July 2013, Virgin announced it was delaying the delivery of its A380s until 2018, primarily due to studies as to whether it is a suitable aircraft for the airline.

The order for 16 Boeing 787-9s, with options on eight more and purchase rights on 20 more, was announced on 24 April 2007. The aircraft will replace Virgin's older A340-300s. Virgin has listed Seattle, Vancouver, Bangkok, and Melbourne as possible destinations for the aircraft, saying the 787 would make possible nonstop operations from London to Perth, Australia and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Last time when I flied to San Francisco, I boarded a Boeing 747 of United Airlines. The plane was much older than I expected. Films were projected on a screen lowered from the ceiling. The light was dim and whatever films were on, it seemed that it was always in the night-time. I strongly remember that at mid-night (Hong Kong time), the air attendants served us with cup noodles only soaked in hot water. I think very soon these planes should be put into museums.

Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia. It is named after the mythical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology. Garuda Indonesia is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta. The airline operates flights to a number of destinations in Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia from its main hub, Soekarno–Hatta International Airport as well as other hubs at Ngurah Rai International Airport, (Bali); Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, (Makassar); and Kuala Namu International Airport, (Medan).

In 2009, a new branding initiative was launched through a new image, developed once again by brand consultant Landor Associates, a new spin of the idea called "nature's wing". Garuda has since replaced the old logo painted on its fleet vertical stabilizer with this new "nature's wing" graphic of blue and aqua shades. The "nature's wing" graphic was inspired by the wings of tropical birds as well as the ripples of waves upon the water. The iconic bird symbol designed by Landor 24 years earlier is still maintained as Garuda Indonesia's logo, however the logotype is changed completely. The new look is expected to be able to "Capture the Spirit of Friendliness and Professionalism of Indonesia".

Emirates is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The airline is wholly owned by the government of Dubai. It is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating nearly 3,400 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 150 cities in 74 countries across six continents.