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News from 2024
Battery thermal-runaway incidents on aircraft reached a five-year high in 2023, with e-cigarettes leading the causes, according to a report by the nonprofit UL Standards and Engagement (ULSE). The findings were reported by the Tobacco Reporter.
Technology entrepreneur and space/aviation enthusiast Jared Isaacman launched Tuesday, September 10, on the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission. Powered by a Falcon 9 rocket, Polaris Dawn is the first of three privately funded flights. Isaacman is joined by fellow crew members Scott “Kidd” Poteet, a close friend and retired USAF pilot, along with SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon.
United Airlines has announced plans to deploy Starlink internet across its entire fleet, offering the fastest in-flight internet service at no additional cost to passengers. Initial tests are scheduled for early next year, with the first passenger flight featuring the new technology expected later in 2025. Over the next few years, United will roll out Starlink on both mainline and regional jets.
American Airlines is set to introduce an Admirals Club at San Antonio International Airport, marking the first addition to its lounge network since Houston Intercontinental in 2017. This new development follows a previous announcement in fall 2021 regarding an Admirals Club in Austin, which has yet to materialize due to leasing and construction delays.
United Airlines has announced a significant upgrade to its in-flight connectivity services by equipping its entire fleet with Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service. This move aims to enhance passenger experience by providing faster and more reliable internet access during flights.
The Lufthansa Group is extending its collaboration within the framework of a wet lease partnership with its long-standing partner airBaltic for a further three years beyond the summer of 2025.
With the arrival of longer-range narrowbody aircraft like the Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX, and the imminent launch of the extra-long-range A321XLR aboard Iberia, there is ongoing discussion about what “longhaul” really means.
On September 13, 2024, a video surfaced that sparked debate over the ethics of accepting a first-class upgrade while leaving a partner in coach. The video features a woman who received an upgrade and chose to film her husband's reaction from his seat in coach. His displeasure was evident.
Starting November 8, American Express cardholders will need to pay with an Amex card to utilize their Uber credits. This change affects those who previously used the funds from Platinum or Gold cards while paying the remaining charges with higher-earning cards such as the Sapphire Reserve.
United Airlines has selected SpaceX’s Starlink Aviation inflight connectivity solution to provide free Wi-Fi on its entire fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft, including both mainline and regional planes. This significant deal will replace multiple incumbent in-flight connectivity (IFC) providers such as Panasonic Avionics, Viasat, and Intelsat.
When a flight is canceled and passengers are stranded overnight, airlines might provide hotel accommodations. This often depends on whether the delay is deemed within the airline's control, such as mechanical issues or crew shortages, or due to uncontrollable factors like weather or air traffic control problems.
American Airlines is set to remove seat-back video screens from its Airbus A319 aircraft, which were ordered before US Airways management took over. These planes will undergo modifications to include more seats and larger overhead bins. Aviation watchdog JonNYC reported that the first aircraft will enter prototyping for the new cabin configuration in spring 2025.
American Airlines has significantly reduced its operations in Austin, a city that has seen rapid airport growth over the years. The airline had previously expanded its presence there, although Southwest Airlines remained the dominant carrier. Now, American Airlines is scaling back to hub flights and limited leisure services to Mexico.
In light of United Airlines' decision to roll out Starlink internet across both its mainline and regional fleet, providing the fastest, best-performing Wi-Fi in the sky and making it free for customers, questions arise about whether American Airlines will follow suit. Delta and JetBlue already offer free Wi-Fi, while Southwest and Alaska charge significantly less than American.
In a startling incident at New York’s JFK Airport, a man went on a destructive rampage at the JetBlue check-in area, reportedly after being denied a ticket to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Onlookers were stunned as he shouted and caused significant damage to the airline’s kiosks.
I checked into the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. Or, more accurately, I attempted to check in. There was a long line at the desk but no line for elite check-in. However, there was nobody working elite check-in either.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to implement a regulatory crackdown on scheduled charters like JSX, driven by pressure from competitors American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, along with the Air Line Pilots Association. The FAA aims to fast-track this action, with a proposed rulemaking expected this year and a final rule next year.
Southwest Airlines is set to move away from its first-come, first-served boarding process in favor of assigned seating, a decision that has sparked varied reactions among travelers. The airline asserts that the majority of passengers prefer assigned seats, though some loyal customers express regret over the impending change.
A South Carolina man is facing felony charges after allegedly making terroristic threats at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on September 9, 2024. The incident occurred when Jared Peeler, frustrated by the lack of direct flights from Las Vegas to South Carolina, reportedly threatened to blow up the airport and made political remarks supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
The NTSB and FAA are investigating a runway incursion at Nashville International Airport that occurred on Thursday. An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crew rejected its takeoff at approximately 130 knots when a Southwest 737-700 crossed the far end of the runway it was using. Both aircraft had been cleared by controllers, and the Alaska crew decided to apply the brakes, flattening at least two main gear tires. The proximity of the two aircraft remains unclear.