Airlines are working to become smarter by using big data and analytics in all aspects of their business. But surprisingly, there’s not a whole lot of data about how the inside of the cabin is used. Airbus is trying to fix that with its “Connected Cabin” concept it displayed at the APEX Expo in Boston on …
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American Airlines Considers Ending Ticket Changes If Congress Limits Fees
Written by Stephan Segraves @ Stephan Segraves
From Bloomberg: American Airlines Group Inc. would consider barring passengers from changing nonrefundable tickets if Congress limits what carriers can charge for the adjustments, Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said Tuesday. This is coming from some legislation making its way through Congress: Doing away with changes to nonrefundable fares would make airline flights more like […]
ANA’s A380 Takes to the Skies for the First Time
ANA’s first Airbus A380 is oh so close to being complete. The super-jumbo jet took to the skies for the first time yesterday, successfully completing its maiden flight. The aircraft, registered F-WWSH, flew from Airbus’ Toulouse base to the manufacturer’s facility in Hamburg, Germany, in about 3.5 hours. Right now, the jet’s exterior is still unpainted, …
Read MoreHow Not to Waste Your Delta Regional and Global Upgrade Certificates
Amongst the perks of reaching Delta’s two highest Medallion elite ranks – Platinum and Diamond, which we’ve broken down by value here – are upgrades. Specifically, Global and Regional Upgrade Certificates. Platinum Medallion members can use one of their two Choice Benefits selections to nab four of the Regional variety. Diamonds, meanwhile, have a choice …
Read MoreFlight Attendants Push for Regulations on Cabin Temperature
Calling the current state of airplane cabins an unregulated mess where passengers and crew can be left to cook or freeze, the biggest union of flight attendants beseeched the Department of Transportation to set official guidelines for cabin temperatures. “We’re playing catch-up when it comes to airplanes that are too hot or too cold, and …
Read MoreThis Unknown Startup Airline Just Ordered 17 A350s
A new startup airline has made an ambitious order at the Farnborough Air Show today. Taiwan-based StarLux Airlines placed an order for 17 Airbus A350s in an effort to build out its long-haul fleet. A competitor to the Boeing 787, the A350 went into service in 2015 and is known for its ability to make the …
Read MoreWhat It Takes to Get a Plane Ready Between Flights
Airplanes don’t make money sitting on the ground. That’s why the time from landing to takeoff is an efficiently choreographed dance of people and equipment. Known as a turnaround, or “turn” in industry parlance, it’s an airline’s version of a Formula One or NASCAR pit stop. The goal is to get an airliner back in …
Read MoreA Look Inside the First Airbus A220-300
At a ceremony Tuesday morning in Toulouse, France, Airbus officially introduced its newest aircraft: the Airbus A220. That said, the only new part of this aircraft is its name. Prior to today, the Airbus A220-100 was the Bombardier C Series CS100 and the Airbus A220-300 was known as the Bombardier C Series CS300. Still, when …
Read MoreBoeing Wants to Fly From LA to Tokyo in 3 Hours (One Day)
Imagine flying from Los Angeles to Tokyo in three hours or New York to London in two. Right now, those flights take about 11 hours and 7 hours, respectively. As far-fetched as it may sound, Boeing wants to make that possible. Boeing unveiled its first passenger-carrying hypersonic vehicle concept at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics …
Read MoreJetBlue’s Founder May Start a New US Airline
David Neeleman, who founded four airlines including JetBlue and is now a major investor in TAP Portugal, is raising money to launch a new airline in the US, according to a report from trade publication Airline Weekly. According to the report the airline, dubbed Moxy (incidentally like Marriott’s hotel brand, Moxy), has an order for 60 Bombardier CS300 aircraft …
Read MoreGovernment and Pilots Disagree: How Much Training Does a New Pilot Need?
A growing pilot shortage in the United States is pushing the Department of Transportation to consider reducing the required number of flight hours for new pilots. The American Airline Pilot Association says that reducing that requirement would undermine passenger safety. During a Washington Post Live event last week, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said there needs …
Read MoreThe FAA Is Hurting Lifesaving Drone Technology, Report Says
Drone technology that could save lives, fight climate change and improve the world is in jeopardy because of the Federal Aviation Administration’s outdated rules and attitude, according to a report released this week by a committee of scientists and experts. The government is hurting development by treating drones like manned aircraft, it said. “The lack …
Read MoreHow to Listen to Air Traffic Control, Even on Your Phone
“Speedbird 6 Heavy taxi via Foxtrot, turn left Echo Echo, cross one four left, Golf,” the ground controller commands. Then, a slight pause. “Taxi Foxtrot, left Echo Echo, cross one four left, Golf, Speedbird 6 Heavy,” the English-accented pilot repeats. It’s all in the language of pilots and Air Traffic Control (ATC), and fascinating for …
Read MoreSouthwest Crew Describes Chaos on Board Fatal 1380 Flight
The crew of Southwest Flight 1380 spoke out in its first joint television interview on CBS Thursday. Heroic Captain Tammie Jo Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor, along with flight attendants Rachel Fernheimer, Seanique Mallory and Kathryn Sandoval appeared for the first time together since the flight’s engine exploded and sent shrapnel crashing through a window …
Read MoreDramatic Landing: Airbus A320-200 Skids Off Runway During Windy Approach
An Air Astana Airbus A320-200 skidded off a runway Thursday morning at Astana International Airport (TSE) in Kazakhstan. Two dramatic videos posted on social media show Air Astana Flight 352 approaching the runway during strong wind gusts. Winds reportedly reached about 49 knots due to thunderstorms in the area near the airport. One of the videos, taken …
Read MoreA Tour of Airbus’ New, Quieter H160 Helicopter
Although helicopter travel isn’t our normal beat, we had the opportunity to check out a new piece of equipment that is promising to transform the way helicopters are designed: the Airbus H160, the world’s first civilian helicopter made entirely from composite materials. We checked out the second prototype, one of three currently flying, on display at the …
Read MoreBoeing Gets Regulatory Approval for 777X Foldable Wingtips
Boeing got US regulatory approval to implement partially foldable wing tips on its newest 777 aircraft. The 777X family (777-8 and 777-9) will operate with the largest-ever wings created by Boeing and will feature the foldable wingtip in order for the aircraft to be able to park at existing airport gates. Chicago-based Boeing is in …
Read MoreFinding détente in the airline-GDS cost battle: Air France/KLM and Amadeus make peace, progress
Written by Seth Miller @ Wandering Aramean
Peace is possible between the airlines and GDS platforms! Air France/KLM and Amedeus agreed to waive distribution fees in some cases, benefiting passengers in the near term. But it is the longer term plans around NDC content distribution that hold real…
Finding détente in the airline-GDS cost battle: Air France/KLM and Amadeus make peace, progress
Written by Seth Miller @ PaxEx.Aero
Peace is possible between the airlines and GDS platforms! Air France/KLM and Amedeus agreed to waive distribution fees in some cases, benefiting passengers in the near term. But it is the longer term plans around NDC content distribution that hold real…
US Navy remotely lands F/A-18 Super Hornet on aircraft carrier
Written by Stephan Segraves @ Stephan Segraves
From FlightGlobal – Using the ATARI system, or aircraft terminal approach remote inceptor, landing signal officers demonstrated remote piloting of the F/A-18E Super Hornet while conducting carrier qualifications and flight testing aboard the Abraham Lincoln in March. The officers also demonstrated touch-and-go manoeuvres with the system. It is kind of fitting that the system’s acronym […]