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News from August 2024
Dubai, UAE, August 20, 2024: dnata Travel, a long-standing travel provider in the UAE, reports a significant increase in demand for international trips as travelers seek to escape the summer heat. Bookings for August and September 2024 have risen by over 50% compared to the same period last year.
A New York Times documentary examines the mental health issues impacting the aviation industry, highlighting the story of an Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to crash a plane last fall. Capt. Joe Emerson was in the jump seat of an E175, hitching a ride to San Francisco from Oregon, when he tried to pull the engine fire extinguishers. The pilots flying managed to prevent him from fully deploying the fuel cutoff switches and restrained him.
Boeing has suspended certification flight testing of its new flagship 777X airliner after discovering problems with the engine attachments in all three test aircraft, according to a report by The Air Current. A thrust link, which helps secure the engine to its mounting structure, was found broken after a flight from Kona, Hawaii, to Seattle. Subsequent inspections revealed cracks in the thrust links on the other two aircraft, leading to the grounding of the fleet.
Sikorsky’s modified presidential VH-92A made its operational debut as "Marine One" on August 19, transporting President Biden from O’Hare International Airport to the parking lot adjacent to the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, the site of the Democratic National Convention. The development program that led to this helicopter's entry into service has experienced two decades of delays in replacing the previous Vietnam-era helicopters assigned to the presidential mission.
Delta Air Lines is offering 10,000 miles in compensation to passengers who had to sit next to a vomiting passenger infected with COVID-19. The incident occurred on a flight from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where the affected passenger reportedly vomited throughout the entire 12-hour journey. According to an account from another passenger, "The FA’s did nothing about the situation – I think I counted the passenger vomiting at least 10 times on the floor and she refused to clean up after herself." The reporting passenger...
Employees at Ford dealerships in Petaluma, CA, and Dover, OH, have successfully removed unwanted International Association of Machinists (IAM) union officials from their workplaces. This development follows a significant petition drive led by employees at both locations.
As the Athletes' Village opens today, August 21, 2024, Air France, the official partner of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, will experience a peak in arrivals of Paralympic athletes on its flights today and tomorrow.
Two passengers were arrested at Miami International Airport after refusing to deplane an American Airlines flight bound for Las Vegas on Tuesday. Eugenio Ernesto Hernandez-Garnier, 27, had a bleeding head wound and blood-soaked bandages.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has received the final train cars for its Automated People Mover (APM) project, marking a significant milestone in the airport's ongoing transformation. John Ackerman, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, stated, “Receiving the final train cars for the APM signifies a major milestone for this project and our airport’s transformation. The APM will enhance the travel experience at LAX and set a new standard for sustainable transportation. As we move this project forward, we remain dedicated to delivering a state-of-the-art solution that...
Traveling business class in Europe typically offers access to lounges in both the Schengen and non-Schengen zones. The Schengen area allows for travel between EU member countries without border controls, often resulting in shorter flights. Consequently, some Schengen lounges offer lighter amenities, raising the question of their value.
United Airlines is evaluating potential changes to their United Club offerings, including increased membership costs and restricted benefits. The airline is also considering providing some customers with priority access to lounges, assistance with bookings, and seat availability, inspired by Delta Air Lines' Sky Clubs.
The Associated Press reported today that a proposed merger of Alaska Air and Hawaiian Airlines has taken a step forward. The U.S. Department of Justice has decided not to challenge the $1 billion deal, and the DOJ review period expired at midnight last night following several extensions. Both carriers say the merger “will create a company better able to serve travelers.”
The FAA issued an airworthiness concern sheet (ACS) after a cockpit power lever fractured on a Cirrus SR20 as the pilot advanced the throttle for takeoff. The pilot cut fuel to the engine and safely aborted the takeoff. Follow-up visual and dye-penetrant examinations by the training fleet operator revealed cracks in 24 more aircraft. The original failure and the cracks discovered in the remaining aircraft were all located near the section of the power levers with the smallest cross-section. The ACS covers all SR-series Cirrus models, including the SR20, SR22, and SR22T.
John Wayne Airport has released its monthly statistics for July 2024, showing a decline in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year. The total number of passengers in July 2024 was 970,828, representing a 9.7% decrease from July 2023's figure of 1,075,535. Year-to-date figures also show a decline of 5.5%, with total passengers at 6,507,273 compared to 6,886,256 in the previous year.
Hip Hop star Juvenile (Terius Gray) was removed from American Airlines' first class on an overbooked flight, while his wife was allowed to stay. Rather than accept a seat in the main cabin, he chose to leave the aircraft, asserting his celebrity status and claiming the airline made a mistake.
According to a CNBC report, the pandemic-driven bump in private aviation has begun to level off. Compared to a peak in 2022, private jet charter flights dropped 15% over the first half of this year. The report cites “waning demand and a new competitive landscape for high-end travel.”
Several Jewish graduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have successfully challenged the financial demands of the MIT Graduate Student Union (GSU), affiliated with the United Electrical (UE) union. The students, represented by National Right to Work Foundation staff attorneys, objected to the GSU's support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
Bally Sports reporter Michaela Bennett has expressed frustration with United Airlines after discovering her jewelry was missing from her checked baggage. This incident marks the second consecutive problematic trip she has experienced with the airline.
Virgin Australia has been ordered to reinstate flight attendant Dylan Macnish after an Australian employment tribunal ruled his February 2024 dismissal was unfair. Macnish had violated the airline's policy requiring abstinence from alcohol within eight hours of duty by drinking at a Christmas party. He claimed to have checked a breathalyzer before reporting for work.
New data from the Department of Transportation (DOT) reveals that U.S. passenger and cargo airlines now employ more than 1 million people, marking it the largest workforce in nearly 23 years.