Cranky Flier
JUNE 13, 2024
The news that activist investor Elliott has taken a greater than 10 percent stake in Southwest Airlines has been the talk of the town this week. The more discussions I’ve had with people about this — and there have been so many — the more I’m convinced that the cynical take on this whole thing is the right one. Elliott is not here to actually fix Southwest.
Aerotime
JUNE 13, 2024
The executive aviation industry is currently facing a paradox. On the one hand, demand for private flying remains strong, propelled by the rise in the number of high-net-worth individuals around the globe. While on the other hand, the industry is increasingly being questioned by the public, the media, and politicians over its environmental credentials.
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AV Web
JUNE 14, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier of fuselages for Boeing and wings for Airbus, are investigating counterfeit titanium found in recently manufactured jets. According to The New York Times , who first reported the news, falsified documents were used to verify the material’s authenticity—prompting concerns about the structural integrity of the airliners.
Simple Flying
JUNE 14, 2024
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating an issue involving the authenticity of titanium used in Airbus and Boeing jets after a supplier discovered holes in the metal due to corrosion. This has raised suspicions that a supply chain partner may have falsified documentation, much like the AOG Technics scandal uncovered last year.
Cranky Flier
JUNE 11, 2024
There is no LUV for Southwest Airlines management this week as activist investor Elliott has taken more than a 10 percent stake in the airline and wants to fire Chairman Gary Kelly and CEO Bob Jordan. If you thought Carl Icahn’s investment in JetBlue was going to be a big fight, you ain’t see nothing yet. This is going to get ugly. So far, I am not impressed by Elliott’s take, but if this does push Southwest to act more quickly, then everyone wins.
Aerotime
JUNE 13, 2024
Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard has a new innovative aviation project up his sleeve. Together with his co-pilot André Borschberg, Piccard made headlines in 2016 after completing a global circumnavigation on the solar-powered Solar Impulse aircraft, a journey that took more than a year to complete in multiple stages. In a continued exploration of alternative, more sustainable technologies to propel the future of flight, Piccard aims to fly around the world again, but this time on a hydrogen-power
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 13, 2024
The Aviation Herald reports on an incident that a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX recently encountered, which is now being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This incident was so serious that the plane was flown to Paine Field in Washington after the incident for Boeing to investigate, and the jet hasn’t flown a passenger flight since.
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Cranky Flier
JUNE 10, 2024
It’s been awhile since I’ve taken a look at airline operational data, and with the summer season beginning, this seemed like a good time. There’s been a lot of interesting movement as of late, but some of it is clearly temporary. See, Texas weather in May did not play nice, and any airline with a hub in the state had a rough month.
Aerotime
JUNE 11, 2024
May 2024 proved to be consequential for airBaltic on the financial front. The Riga-based airline not only posted its highest profit ever (€34 million) for 2023, but it also managed to successfully place the largest corporate bond in the history of Latvia. Although the 14.5% interest rate has raised some eyebrows, the €340 million airBaltic has raised this way will allow the airline to save a rather critical financial match-ball.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 13, 2024
While it remains to be seen with which timeline this will happen, Turkish Airlines has revealed the next markets in the United States that it hopes to expand to. Turkish Airlines outlines US growth plans This week, Turkish Airlines launched its newest flight to the United States, as the airline began nonstop service between Istanbul (IST) and Denver (DEN).
Simple Flying
JUNE 8, 2024
Dublin-based Aer Lingus has celebrated the completion of the refurbishment of two Airbus A330-300s that it acquired from Qatar Airways. The two aircraft had spent time in Bordeaux to be treated to the interior, which we can expect onboard the Irish carrier. EI-EIK was ferried to Bordeaux for refurbishment in February and returned on May 22, and EI-EIL was ferried to Bordeaux for refurbishment in April and returned on June 7.
Cranky Flier
JUNE 8, 2024
Frontier’s pricing-display strategy and what it means – The Folo podcast by Travel Weekly It’s a short list this week, but if you have the time, here’s nearly 37 minutes of chatting about Frontier’s new pricing plan. It’s a good discussion.
Aerotime
JUNE 14, 2024
Passengers on a Qatar Airways flight had to endure being stuck for hours in stifling cabin heat as the aircraft sat on the tarmac without air conditioning. On June 10, 2024, flight QR 204 was scheduled to depart Athens International Airport (ATH) in the early afternoon, bound for Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha. However, due to a technical issue, the B777 aircraft had to be grounded in temperatures that came close to 40 degrees Celsius, amid a heatwave that enveloped Greece throughout
Airline Geeks
JUNE 8, 2024
Ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant is once again delaying its Boeing 737 MAX entry into service, this time by nearly three months into Q4 2024.
Simple Flying
JUNE 14, 2024
On April 11th, 2024, Southwest Airlines Flight 2786 was inbound on an approach to its destination, Lihue Airport (LIH), when it experienced a severe drop in altitude, descending hundreds of feet in mere seconds before recovering just 400 ft above the oceans surface.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 14, 2024
Hey, you’ve gotta hand it to United’s network planning folks for their creativity and willing to try to new things… United plans more intra-Asia flights with 737s Brian Sumers at The Airline Observer has a fascinating interview with Patrick Quayle, United’s SVP of Global Network Planning and Alliances. Quayle shared an interesting new area of the network that the airline is focusing on, to optimize profitability.
Aerotime
JUNE 11, 2024
Lufthansa is preparing to make additional concessions to the European Commission to secure European Union approval for its planned investment in Italy’s state-owned ITA Airways , according to a report published by the Politico website. This latest maneuvering by the German flag carrier is being seen as a way to diffuse growing tensions over the deal that could be facing an EU veto – a move that the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Salvini, has described as a “serious attack on Ital
Airline Geeks
JUNE 11, 2024
Air Mauritius CEO, Charles Cartier, said that the airline favors the Airbus A350 aircraft for its growing widebody operations.
Simple Flying
JUNE 10, 2024
Since the Airbus A350 first entered commercial service in early 2015, over 600 of these magnificent aircraft have been delivered to operators across the world. It has rapidly become the flagship of leading airlines such as Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Cathay Pacific, and Air India, and is the second best-selling Airbus widebody of all time, lagging only the A330, which had a 20-year head-start.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 8, 2024
We know that Southwest Airlines is planning some major changes to its business model. While nothing is set in stone yet, I have some insights as to what could be changing at the airline, and it represents a major departure from the way the company currently does business. Why Southwest Airlines is changing its business model Historically, Southwest Airlines has been known for its unconventional business model among US airlines.
Aerotime
JUNE 10, 2024
An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320-200 aircraft sustained severe damage during a hailstorm on its approach to Vienna Airport (VIE). The aircraft, operating flight OS434 from Palma de Mallorca (PMI), was about to land in Vienna on June 9, 2024, when it traversed a supercell, an area of extremely active thunderstorms and turbulence. Images taken right after landing show the aircraft had been heavily impacted, losing part of the nose cone, which left the aircraft weather radar exposed.
Airline Geeks
JUNE 11, 2024
The collapsed airline’s administrators have terminated all employee contracts and canceled future flights, according to 9 News Australia.
Simple Flying
JUNE 9, 2024
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is now the worlds busiest airport, at least regarding departures. The title isnt official and can change at any time, but it highlights how important the airport is to the US and Texas.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 13, 2024
Ultra low cost carriers in the United States are in a tough spot. At the start of the pandemic, the legacy carriers got better at competing with ultra low cost carriers, both in terms of their routes (point-to-point leisure service), and in terms of their product offering (more compelling basic economy options). Lately, we’ve seen Frontier Airlines increasingly expand into business markets , attacking legacy carriers at their hubs.
Aerotime
JUNE 12, 2024
Cathay Pacific has just flown its last remaining plane stored in the Australian outback to Hong Kong. The airline had placed much of its aircraft fleet into storage at various locations around the world following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-300 registered B-HLV, left Alice Springs Airport (ASP) in Australia’s Northern Territory and headed home to Hong Kong via a stop in Darwin on June 6, 2024.
Airline Geeks
JUNE 10, 2024
Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) revealed on Friday that the country’s flag carrier would begin operating flights connecting the city with London Gatwick.
Simple Flying
JUNE 14, 2024
The naming rights American Airlines has to a popular sports and entertainment venue in Dallas, Texas, have reportedly been the center of confusion for more than two decades. Employees at American Airlines Center (AAC) the arena home to the Dallas Mavericks say several phone calls received at the venue are from people seeking customer service regarding their flight.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 12, 2024
Often buying points strategically can be a good value , and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is one of my favorite programs to buy miles from, both thanks to the frequency with which the program sells miles, and what a good deal award redemptions can be. Alaska Mileage Plan has just launched its newest promotion on purchased miles, and it has the potential to be a good deal.
Aerotime
JUNE 14, 2024
Airbus has revealed that its A330-900neo test aircraft, registered F-WTTN, has recently successfully completed a special series of ‘hot and high’ tests in Mexico and Bolivia. The test flights, performed over two weeks during March 2024, were designed to prove aircraft and engine performance in high-altitude, warm, and humid airport environments. The test program took place in two locations specifically chosen for their unique ‘hot and high’ credentials – Toluca in Mexico, followed by La P
Simple Flying
JUNE 11, 2024
Everyone knows New York JFK is the USA's number one gateway to Europe. Examining all schedule data using OAG shows between 112 and 126 daily passenger departures to Europe (double for both ways) between June and September 2024. Approximately 30 airlines operate, with 39 European destinations served non-stop, although its network is not quite at a record level.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 10, 2024
An activist investor has just taken a big stake in Southwest Airlines, and hopes to push for changes that will improve the carrier’s financial performance. The big question is what those changes would look like, as they almost certainly wouldn’t be good for consumers. Investment firm takes $2 billion stake in Southwest The Wall Street Journal reports that Elliott Investment Management has taken a nearly $2 billion stake in Southwest Airlines.
Aerotime
JUNE 14, 2024
It has been known for the last few weeks that Iberia is set to be the launch customer for the long-awaited Airbus A321XLR. However, some key details are yet to be officially announced – specifically, when Iberia will schedule the world’s longest-range narrowbody aircraft to take its first long-haul flight. But it appears that the answer has finally arrived with the first Iberia A321XLR long-haul tickets going on sale.
World Airline News
JUNE 9, 2024
Ethiopian Airlines has announced the reinstatement of its daily passenger flights to the historic city of Axum as of today, June 9, 2024. Ethiopian is resuming its flights to the city of Axum following the successful completion of extensive maintenance work on both the airfield and terminal facilities, with contract amount of 290 million Ethiopian Birr (ETB).
Simple Flying
JUNE 10, 2024
Emirates will use the A380 between Dubai and Bahrain to meet the higher demand due to the religious festival of Eid. It will temporarily be the shortest double-decker quadjet service by distance, block, and flight time.
One Mile at a Time
JUNE 11, 2024
Air France is opening a pop-up restaurant this summer during the Paris Olympics. As an aviation geek, I love this concept, and am (almost) sad I won’t be in Paris for the Olympics… Air France’s restaurant at Palais de Tokyo in Paris The Paris Olympics will be taking place in late July and early August 2024. Air France is one of the sponsors, as of course this is a huge event for the airline.
Aerotime
JUNE 12, 2024
NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams will spend a few more days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after it was announced that the earliest Boeing Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth has been rescheduled for June 18, 2024. It had been expected the Boeing CST-100 Starliner would return at the earliest from June 14, 2024, but will now be delayed so a spacewalk can be carried out and engineers have more time to “complete system checkouts”. “@NASA and @BoeingSpace
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