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News from August 2024
Charlotte Airport's B concourse experienced flooding this morning, primarily affecting Gates B1 through B4. The airport attributed the incident to "a construction project incident," although passengers reported toilet water as the cause.
Signature Aviation, the world's largest fixed-base operator (FBO) chain, has introduced a new membership discount program for small- and medium-sized turbine aircraft operators.
Last fall, Hyatt launched a short-term rental booking platform called Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt, similar to Marriott Homes & Villas. Unlike Airbnb, Hyatt sources short-term rentals and markets them for a commission, rebating some of that revenue to customers in the form of points and stay credit. Points can also be redeemed at modest-low value against these stays.
A New York politician was denied boarding on an American Airlines flight after leaving the gate area to purchase a Chick-fil-A sandwich, resulting in a missed opportunity to attend the Democratic National Convention.
Newly released documents reveal that the government has been conducting experiments related to UFOs and invisibility cloaks. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) has made 1,500 pages of UFO-related documents available through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. These documents include reports on the biological effects of UFO sightings on humans, studies on advanced technologies such as invisibility cloaks, and plans for deep space exploration and colonization.
Chase has announced that its largest-ever offer for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card will end on September 5, 2024, at 9 a.m. Eastern. The card now offers 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Several aviation stakeholders are addressing a significant cabin accessibility issue: wheelchair users cannot currently remain in their own mobility devices onboard aircraft, and there is a risk of their chairs being damaged in the cargo hold.
Fractional and charter operator Wheels Up Experience has announced the departure of its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Todd Smith and Chief Legal Officer Laura Heltebran. According to the company, Smith is leaving to assume a new role elsewhere, while Heltebran will "pursue other opportunities."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) introduced changes to its cybersecurity standards for new aircraft and equipment in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) issued Wednesday.
Between customers getting fined before even picking up their vehicles, charging customers who rent Teslas for failing to refill the gas, and sending innocent customers to jail, it is surprising that Hertz remains operational. Some customers consider themselves fortunate if they only receive a $500 bill from the company's toll-tracking system.
Nelson Medina, a Long Beach, CA-based employee of transportation company Savage Services, has filed a federal lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), challenging its structure as unconstitutional. Represented by National Right to Work Foundation attorneys, Medina argues that the NLRB's composition violates separation of powers doctrines in Article II of the U.S. Constitution by shielding NLRB officials from presidential removal.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has announced that its 2024 NBAA Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) will feature three leading contenders in the advanced air mobility (AAM) sector. The event, set to take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from October 22-24, will showcase Electra.aero, Joby Aviation, and Lilium within the Emerging Tech Pavilion on the convention display floor. Additional representatives from the AAM industry are also expected to participate.
The U.S. Air Force is exploring options for a new long-range/endurance drone for its Task Force 99, based in Qatar at El Udeid Air Base. Established in October 2022, Task Force 99 performs intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as experimenting with new technologies.
The LAX Presents performance series has announced its artist lineup for the summer and fall 2024 season. The series, now in its ninth year, will feature 18 artists from various genres.
The FAA reported Wednesday that it had sent 43 cases of passenger incidents to the FBI over the past year. This is out of 1,240 cases airlines reported to the FAA, which may seem significant but is relatively minor considering approximately 820 million domestic passengers were carried in the U.S. last year. Notably, the number of incidents has decreased by 80% compared to 2021 when there were fewer passengers.
Chase is considering significant changes to its Southwest Airlines credit card portfolio, influenced by Southwest's planned move to assigned seating. These potential modifications include raising annual fees, eliminating anniversary points, and introducing a percentage discount on redemptions. Additionally, there may be new benefits related to early boarding or seat upgrades replacing the current Early Bird and Upgraded Boarding credits.
RGN Premium: Pressed by airlines to go direct
Southwest Airlines is initiating redeye flights and exploring premium seating and assigned seats. The airline, known for its gradual approach to changes, faces increased pressure from an activist investor pushing for faster reforms. Among the potential changes being considered is the elimination of free checked bags for all passengers, a core element of Southwest's value proposition.
A Vancouver-based film company and its drone operator have been fined $30,000 for unlawfully flying a drone too close to endangered killer whales in 2021.
International cargo carrier Atlas Air announced on Monday, August 19, that it has formed a partnership with Spartan Education Group to create the Atlas Cadet Academy at a dedicated facility in West Chicago, Illinois. The program is designed to train pilots for Atlas’ fleet of Boeing 747, 767, and 777 widebody freighters. According to Atlas, it is the only program formulated to specialize in cargo operations.