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SEATTLE — Taiwanese startup Starlux Airlines officially added Seattle to its route map on August 16, marking its third North American destination. The new route to the Pacific Northwest also initiated a strategic partnership with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, a move that Starlux hopes will be pivotal for its success in the U.S.
Electric aircraft propulsion company magniX has acquired the use of a rare four-engine turboprop airliner as part of the next phase of NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program. Eventually, the De Havilland Dash-7 will have two of its four engines replaced with magniX electric motors, reducing fuel consumption and emissions by 40%. "Integrating our game-changing electric powertrains into a regional airliner such as the Dash 7 represents a major step forward in bringing electric solutions into the business of aviation," said magniX CEO Reed Macdonald.
MGM Resorts International has introduced a $51 fee for phone bookings, causing significant backlash among guests and industry observers. Heather Benson, a guest who experienced the charge, tweeted: "This guest booked 3 nights x $15 +Tax fee for call center booking = Extra $51.03 just to have a reservations agent book your room for you. TOTAL NONSENSE, MGM!"
A Marriott Bonvoy member has utilized 2.4 million points to choreograph the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. According to MGM Collection, Mr. Krupa, a long-time elite member of the Marriott Bonvoy program with a passion for music, lighting, and the arts, exchanged his points for the opportunity to take over the show.
Many couples traveling together book an aisle seat and a window seat, hoping the middle seat will remain empty to gain extra space. However, this strategy often fails as planes are frequently full, and the middle seats tend to be occupied.
NASA has decided it is too risky to send test pilot astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that took them to the International Space Station (ISS) in June. What began as an eight-day shakedown mission for the two veteran astronauts has now turned into an eight-month odyssey. They will replace two of the four astronauts scheduled to travel to the ISS on a SpaceX Crew Dragon vehicle in September for a planned six-month stay. Williams and Wilmore are expected to return home in February at the end of this extended mission.
News and notes from around the internet have highlighted several issues in the airline industry, ranging from hygiene concerns to political influences on flight delays.
India's largest budget carrier, IndiGo, appears ready to make permanent a trial that allows women to pick seats beside other female passengers. IndiGo officials report positive feedback on a program that shows women passengers a different seating map than the one accessible to men. Female passengers, who must state their gender when booking a flight, see a map that highlights available seats in pink if they are next to another woman. Male passengers receive the standard seat map.
A Frontier Airlines passenger reported that his leg and "120 dollar Hokas" shoes were urinated on during a flight. He described the incident, stating that he felt something while his eyes were closed, then opened them to find "urine steadily flowing from the seat in front of" him onto his "shoe and leg." The passenger who caused this had an accident.
A special charter flight by Air New Zealand took off from Christchurch on Saturday, providing 50 children associated with Koru Care a memorable experience. The flight offered a scenic tour over the South Island, an initiative aimed at giving these children, who have serious medical conditions or disabilities, an opportunity to enjoy flying.
Malaysia Airlines is temporarily reducing its operations until December 2024 to address supply chain and technical issues, following a string of flight delays and cancellations as well as recent aircraft diversions and emergency landings.
Hyatt has finalized its acquisition of Standard International, expanding beyond its initial talks to acquire only Standard Hotels. This broader deal includes not just the hotels but also Bunkhouse Group properties in Austin and Jo’s Coffee locations.
A woman was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight in Orlando and pleaded with an officer for forgiveness, citing her loneliness on Valentine’s Day. She reportedly offered to do “anything” if the officer would let her go.
When boutique Taiwanese carrier Starlux first debuted its long-haul premium cabins in 2022, and positive reports started surfacing, I knew I had to find a way onboard.
American Airlines Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Brian Znotins, expressed enthusiasm for the carrier’s first Airbus A321XLR. The 'extended long range' version of the largest Airbus narrowbody aircraft is anticipated to bring significant changes to American Airlines' route planning.
American Airlines has recently initiated efforts to recognize inflight customer milestones, potentially signaling a renewed focus on their Million Miler program. This follows United Airlines' established practice of acknowledging significant customer achievements such as million-mile milestones.
A Spirit Airlines passenger found her front-row seat, 1A, occupied by another traveler upon boarding. The seat in question is a "Big Front Seat," which the airline plans to market as a 'real' first class starting next week.
American Airlines has begun notifying customers that their AAdvantage frequent flyer accounts will be closed unless they show activity within the next month. This initiative is part of an effort to purge long-dormant accounts.
Lufthansa Group carriers have utilized the fuel-saving AeroSHARK surface technology on various jets over recent years, with 17 aircraft in the Group fleet already fitted, including all 12 of Swiss International Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ERs. This winter, four Boeing 777-200ERs operated by Austrian Airlines will also be equipped.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a proposal to eliminate the longstanding regulation requiring no-smoking signs that can be turned on and off by flight crews. This regulation, codified as 14 CFR § 25.791(a), has been in place for nearly three decades despite significant changes in airline smoking policies.