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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
RGN Premium: Pressed by airlines to go direct
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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."