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News from September 2024
Brian Sumers, in his subscription newsletter, interviewed former American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja and shared a story about American Airlines canceling its order for Airbus A350 widebody aircraft. The account sheds light on the unconventional approach taken by Raja.
Roughly seven months before Qantas is scheduled to receive the first of 28 two-class Airbus A321XLR aircraft, the Australian carrier has unveiled renderings of what passengers can expect in business and economy class. The new images indicate that Qantas is maintaining a consistent approach to its domestic passenger experience.
Passengers have expressed frustration over the issue of unused overhead bin space on flights, leading to forced gate checks and delays in retrieving their luggage. Several individuals took to social media to voice their complaints.
Two women flying Delta from Los Angeles to San Francisco experienced a dispute on Monday after missing their flight. Upon arriving at the LAX gate, they found a gate agent closing the boarding door.
The prototype of the future Loyal Wingman uncrewed fighter flew for the first time last week with test pilot Brian Maisler at the controls. The Scaled Composites Model 437 Vanguard took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California for a local flight, and Maisler did not report any issues.
When it leaves the International Space Station next Friday, Boeing's troubled Starliner crew capsule may not be going quietly into the night. The spacecraft started making a noise on Saturday shortly after it was announced that Boeing would attempt to return the vehicle autonomously to Earth on Sept. 6. Astronaut Butch Wilmore, who rode Starliner to the ISS three months ago on an eight-day mission with Suni Williams, heard a strange pulsing noise coming through a speaker that he played for mission control.
United Airlines is offering aviation enthusiasts a unique opportunity to claim a free paper copy of the final issue of its Hemispheres magazine, which will no longer be available in print. This move marks the end of an era for the publication.
Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., visited Aims Community College’s Flight Training campus at Northern Colorado Regional Airport (KFNL) in Loveland on September 3. The college offers two-year degrees in professional pilot careers, air traffic control, and unmanned aircraft systems. It plans to add a degree program in airframe and powerplant maintenance, with classes set to start in 2026 at a new Aircraft Maintenance Training Center.
Cathay Pacific, the flagship carrier for Hong Kong, has grounded its fleet of Airbus A350-1000s for inspection after identifying faulty engine components in 15 out of 18 aircraft. According to a report on September 3 by Channel News Asia, Cathay Pacific Flight CX383 departed from Hong Kong en route to Zurich, Switzerland but returned shortly after takeoff due to a failure in an unspecified component of one of its Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. The twin-aisle Airbus landed safely 75 minutes after takeoff following two holding circuits to burn fuel.
As an aviation design enthusiast, I appreciate airlines that express their identity uniquely. However, when design overshadows passenger needs, it becomes problematic. Complexity can render a product inaccessible, especially for neurodivergent travelers.
Air New Zealand is set to resume its seasonal service between Auckland and Seoul, starting on October 28, 2024. The airline plans to operate three flights per week in each direction until March 29, 2025, providing nearly 40,000 seats over the season.
On September 4, 2024, a report emerged detailing an incident at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg where Platinum members of Marriott's Bonvoy loyalty program were denied their reservations. A reader recounted his experience of being turned away despite presenting his ID and credit card upon check-in. The hotel staff acknowledged his Platinum status but then summoned security to inform him that he was being "walked."
Frank Lorenzo, a notable figure in the airline industry, has authored a book set for release next week. The book details his acquisition of Continental and Eastern Airlines, his sale of the Eastern Airlines Shuttle to Donald Trump, and his eventual disqualification by the Department of Transportation (DOT) from running an airline.
JetBlue’s seat back entertainment map now displays the Palestinian territory in "significantly larger text" than Israel, overlaying much of what is internationally recognized as Israel. This change has raised concerns among some passengers and observers.
Vasu Raja has been giving interviews after being let go as American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer. American’s financial results have been poor, and at some level either he needed to go, or the CEO did. It’s not surprising which decision got made.
Raytheon Technology Corp. (RTX) has been fined $200 million for violating export laws related to the exchange of information on U.S. combat aircraft with prohibited countries. The violations pertain to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. According to the U.S. State Department, RTX improperly classified and controlled exports of defense articles, including classified material.
Avflight, the FBO arm of Ann Arbor, Michigan-based fuel supplier Avfuel, has announced it now offers sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Falcon Field (KFFZ), Mesa, Arizona location. The first truckload of SAF arrived at KFFZ on August 28.
A passenger flying from Helsinki to Copenhagen on Monday faced discomfort due to an oversized neighbor who did not fit into their seat. The flight, reportedly a Norwegian Boeing 737, became the center of attention when a fellow passenger shared their experience, expressing sympathy for both the large gentleman in the aisle and the person next to him in the middle seat.
American Airlines has announced the addition of five new routes to its summer 2025 Europe schedule. The airline will operate daily flights on the following routes:
A Baltimore man was detained after allegedly attempting to steal an aircraft at Martin State Airport, according to Maryland State Police.