AP Images of a bloodied man being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight in Chicago drew widespread condemnation in China, where state media fueled the public’s anger with reports that noted the unidentified victim was an “Asian passenger.” Video of the violent incident posted on China’s popular Twitter-like microblogging service Weibo had been viewed more than 210 million ...
Read More »Aviation
US airlines receive better grades for on-time schedules, service
DALLAS / AP The airlines are getting better at sticking to their schedules and are losing fewer bags. Their customers seem to be complaining less often. Those are the findings of an annual report on airline quality being released on Monday by researchers at Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The researchers use information compiled by the US ...
Read More »KLM calls for Brexit compromise
Bloomberg Dutch national carrier KLM said it favours a ‘liberal’ Brexit deal that would maintain maximum access for UK and continental airlines, after announcing plans to double flights to London City airport starting next month. KLM has held talks with the Dutch government about the split and made clear the importance of safeguarding UK operations, Chief Executive Officer Pieter ...
Read More »Qantas gains from Cathay’s loss amid cheap Chinese airfares
Bloomberg The flood of cheap Chinese airfares that’s undoing Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. is proving a boon for Qantas Airways Ltd. Hong Kong-based Cathay posted its first loss in eight years last month, overwhelmed by pricing competition from mainland rivals including China Eastern Airlines Corp. and China Southern Airlines Co. For Qantas, it’s doing the opposite — bringing a ...
Read More »Storm woes force delay of 275 Delta flights
Bloomberg Delta Air Lines Inc., the second-largest airline in the U.S., canceled about 275 flights and warned that more could be scrapped after severe thunderstorms stymied travel out of the company’s largest hub this week. The airline extended a travel waiver to help customers change flights without fees if their travel plans are flexible, according to a statement posted ...
Read More »Laptop ban raises risk of plane battery fires
Bloomberg The US order prohibiting passengers from carrying laptop computers and other electronics into the cabins of some overseas flights is raising concerns about a risk unrelated to terror: the potential for those devices’ lithium-based batteries to catch fire in the baggage hold. The Flight Safety Foundation, a non-profit funded by airlines and other groups to reduce the risk ...
Read More »Ryanair to embrace connecting flights
Bloomberg Ryanair Holdings Plc will offer customers the ability to connect from one flight to another for the first time, taking another step away from its pure focus on no-frills point-to-point travel. The move brings Ryanair a step closer to conventional airline operations after decades focused solely on out-competing rival network carriers with bargain basement fares. The new policy, ...
Read More »BA unveils new investment plans to up earnings
Dubai / Emirates Business British Airways (BA) on Thursday launched its investment plans for customers, focusing on excellence in the premium cabins and more choice and quality for all. The investments include: £400 million in Club World (long-haul business class), introduction of Club Europe on UK domestic services, new lounges, First Wing direct security and lounge access at Heathrow, ...
Read More »Boeing and JetBlue tie-up to fund startup for electric airplane
Bloomberg Boeing Co. and JetBlue Airways Corp. are investing in a startup developing an electric-powered aircraft with the potential to transform short-haul flights. Zunum Aero is designing and building 10- to 50-seat planes for trips of 700 miles initially and as much as 1,000 miles by 2030. The aircraft would fill a “vast regional transport gap†and reduce travel ...
Read More »Lufthansa bets A350 can turn Munich hub profitable
Bloomberg Deutsche Lufthansa is banking on Airbus Group SE’s latest A350 wide-body jet to shore up its Munich hub, where the deployment of less efficient planes means normally lucrative long-haul flights are losing money. The first 15 of 25 A350s ordered by Lufthansa are to be based in the Bavarian city, with the composite-fuselage, twin-engine model providing a 25 ...
Read More »