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News from August 2024
After a week of minimal developments in the fuel sector, significant challenges remain in the quest to replace 100LL aviation gasoline. The three main candidates vying for approval face various obstacles, from technical issues to market acceptance.
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand have announced a new agreement that will allow Virgin Australia customers to book flights directly with Air New Zealand into major cities such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. This move complements Virgin Australia's existing services to Queenstown. The partnership also extends benefits to Velocity members who can earn and redeem points, while eligible members and guests gain access to lounges on Tasman routes.
Florida resident Liliana Goodson, whose pronouns are they/them, was headed to clown school in Sydney. Upon arrival at the airport, they were stopped with a Colt 45 pistol and ammunition in their luggage. They were also carrying squirrel feet, rabbit urine, and a cat spine. The gun was 24-karat gold-plated.
American Airlines is set to introduce business class suites with doors on its new Boeing 787-9 aircraft and retrofit its Boeing 777-300ERs, removing first class in favor of these new suites. This initiative, named Project Olympus, will see bulkhead business class passengers enjoying extra space and enhanced amenities.
The Department of Justice's statutory review period for the Alaska Airlines acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines lapsed on Monday without an antitrust suit. This development was unexpected, as many anticipated a deal where Alaska would guarantee minimum service between the islands of Hawaii.
At the beginning of the week, it appeared that Alaska Airlines' acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines had been cleared by the Department of Justice (DOJ) over antitrust concerns. All that remained was the Department of Transportation's signoff, which seemed likely to come quickly.
Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of Public Enemy, Flavor Flav, handed out snacks on a Southwest Airlines flight. He mentioned that he encountered some flight attendants in Paris during the Olympics, who invited him to participate in the snack distribution and make the landing announcement on his next flight. Coincidentally, they were crew members on a trip he was taking.
Bangkok airport has announced the removal of fast track immigration for arriving premium cabin passengers. This change affects travelers who previously enjoyed expedited processing upon arrival.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.