Federal Aviation Administration/Airlines&Airplanes

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Federal judge blocks JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion takeover of South Florida-based Spirit Airlines

A federal judge in Boston on Tuesday blocked the $3.8 billion takeover of Spirit Airlines by JetBlue Airways, a ruling that will keep the Miramar-based discount carrier independent for now.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/16/federal-judge-blocks-proposed-jetblue-takeover-of-south-florida-based-spirit-airlines-2/

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Blinken Stranded After Davos By Boeing, His Old Client

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was reportedly stranded at a global elite conference by a malfunctioning aircraft from Boeing, his former corporate client.

https://www.levernews.com/blinken-stranded-after-davos-by-boeing-his-old-client/?

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At United and Alaska airlines, frustration with Boeing’s manufacturing problems is boiling over

The leaders of United Airlines and Alaska Airlines took turns Tuesday blasting Boeing over manufacturing problems that have led to the grounding of more than 140 of their planes, with United’s CEO saying his airline will consider alternatives to buying a future, larger version of the Boeing 737 Max.

https://apnews.com/article/united-airlines-ceo-boeing-manufacturing-problems-4090ea6176ef59e382dd18e9522596bc?

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Airlines Filed 1,800 Reports Warning Regulators About Boeing’s 737 Max

Over the last three years, operators of Boeing’s troubled 737 Max planes have filed more than 1,800 service difficulty reports — more than one per day — warning government regulators about safety problems with the aircraft since the fleet was allowed to resume flying after two fatal crashes. All but roughly 150 of the reports came from Alaska Airlines — the operator of a 737 Max plane that suffered a mid-air cabin breach over Portland, Oregon earlier this month. 

https://www.levernews.com/airlines-filed-1-800-reports-warning-regulators-about-boeings-737-max/?

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🛫 American Airlines reports $53B revenue for 2023

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

American Airlines appears to be on track for a strong 2024, after record 2023 revenue and the lowest number of annual flight cancellations in a decade. Driving the news: The Fort Worth-based airline shared its profit figures for 2023 in its fourth-quarter earnings report yesterday. Why it matters: The airline's $53 billion revenue for 2023 will help offset COVID-era losses as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels. It posted a $19 million profit in the last three months of 2023, surpassing expectations. The intrigue: American Airlines stock surged 10.27% yesterday, per MarketWatch. Details: The airline says it had the lowest number of cancellations last year since merging with US Airways in 2013. The airline had a strong holiday season, with its "best-ever" on-time departures and lowest mishandled baggage rate over the holidays. American Airlines also reduced its total debt by around $3.2 billion last year, trimming $11.4 billion since peak levels in mid-2021. Flashback: The Department of Transportation fined American Airlines a record $4.1 million last year for tarmac delays between 2018 and 2021 that left dozens of domestic flights on the ground for at least three hours, without giving passengers a chance to exit the plane. What's next: This year, the airline hopes to "finally" produce more capacity than in 2019 in part by adding aircraft, chief financial officer Devon May said. The airline plans to get 28 new mainline aircraft this year. On Boeing...

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A man opened an emergency exit and walked on a plane’s wing. Passengers are supporting his action

MEXICO CITY (AP) — At first it sounds like a typical case of bad behavior aboard airplanes.

https://apnews.com/article/mexico-airline-passenger-emergency-exit-rebellion-91e3411716e22bfd8778905860a7850f?

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Six people taken to hospital after American Airlines plane makes hard landing at Maui airport

Six people were injured after an American Airlines plane made a “hard landing” at Kahului Airport in Maui on Saturday afternoon, according to federal officials.

https://local.newsbreak.com/hawaii-state/3315056264382-six-people-taken-to-hospital-after-american-airlines-plane-makes-hard-landing-at-maui-airport?

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Facing scrutiny over quality control, Boeing withdraws request for safety exemption

SEATTLE (AP) — Facing severe criticism after a door plug blew out on a 737 Max over Oregon this month, Boeing said Monday that it is withdrawing a request for a safety exemption needed to certify a new model of the plane.

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-737-max-safety-exemption-door-plug-7bb30166181034fc07750ded8f072d7f?

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AmEx tries to win over grumpy Delta customers with revamped SkyMiles credit cards

NEW YORK (AP) — American Express rolled out several updates to its Delta SkyMiles credit cards Thursday that will give additional benefits to users, part of efforts to soothe sore Delta Air Lines customers who have considered abandoning the airline after last year’s SkyMiles loyalty fiasco.

https://apnews.com/article/american-express-amex-delta-credit-card-skymiles-1fe9e3a78b7cb52b09cfa234db2c77f9?

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The Hole In Boeing’s Inspection Program

For the past 15 years, the government has allowed Boeing to conduct its own inspections related to many manufacturing and safety issues — and during that time, government reports, experts, and whistleblowers have issued more than a dozen warnings that the self-inspection program has led to serious production issues and contributed to two fatal crashes. 

https://www.levernews.com/the-hole-in-boeings-inspection-program/?

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American Airlines is raising bag fees and changing how customers earn frequent-flyer points

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is raising the cost of checking bags and it is making other changes to push customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points.

https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-points-raising-bag-fees-1530a7ba48a0c6685ce2ef7da58a983a?

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Boeing replaces head of 737 MAX program following door plug blowout

Boeing has replaced the head of its troubled 737 MAX program following an emergency blowout involving one of the aircraft during an Alaska Airlines flight last month, according to a memo sent to employees and seen by multiple media outlets on Wednesday.

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/21/boeing-head-737-max-head-door-plug-blowout?

Boeing ousts head of 737 jetliner program weeks after panel blowout on a flight over Oregon

SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing said Wednesday that the head of its 737 jetliner program is leaving the company in an executive shake-up weeks after a door panel blew out on a flight over Oregon, renewing questions about safety at the company.

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-737-quality-ed-clark-fafcceb3a58aaded9c3afe96cf7a9fce?

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JetBlue and Spirit are ending their $3.8 billion merger plan after a federal judge blocked the deal

JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines are ending their proposed $3.8 billion merger weeks after a federal judge blocked the deal, saying it would hurt consumers who depend on Spirit’s lower fares.

https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-spirit-merger-court-airline-2d9a640e7f7ecb87d5f60c1cbffbc163?

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Delta Airlines is hiking checked-baggage fees 17% following similar moves by United and American

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In case you needed yet another incentive to cram all your travel items into a carry-on, Delta Airlines just boosted the cost of your first checked bag by 17%. The increase adds $5 to the previous, and not-exactly-insignificant, $30 fee for domestic flights.

https://apnews.com/article/delta-checked-baggage-bags-fee-increase-bc426d2d8eac8bda1150f09c5cf005bc?

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Boeing promises changes after getting poor grades in a government audit of manufacturing quality

Responding to a U.S. government audit, Boeing said Tuesday that it would work with employees found to have violated company manufacturing procedures to make sure they understand instructions for their jobs.

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-safety-quality-faa-audit-fc3a23505363800e1c6d4debd98c4d74?

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Boeing CEO will exit in broad management shakeup as manufacturing issues plague storied plane maker

Boeing CEO David Calhoun will step down from the embattled plane maker at the end of the year as part of a broad management shakeup Monday after a series of mishaps at one of America’s iconic manufacturers.

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-ceo-calhoun-0abff1ccc6262ffb03f97c6a619bd1ec?

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Boeing 727 loses control and crashes during landing in 'terrifying incident'

A Safe Air Boeing 727 plane has crashed while landing after the pilot lost control and the cargo plane careened into a previously crashed plane.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3387115289306-boeing-727-loses-control-and-crashes-during-landing-in-terrifying-incident?

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An engine on a Southwest Airlines jet caught fire before taking off from Texas

DALLAS (AP) — Federal officials are investigating a reported engine fire that forced a Southwest Airlines plane to cancel takeoff and return to the gate at the Lubbock, Texas, airport on Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-plane-engine-fire-texas-c8ef3fdf15f431bfaa16f5aa6f061457?

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Boeing faces scrutiny in back-to-back hearings on its safety culture Sam Salehpour, an engineer at Boeing, said Wednesday that the aircraft company is taking manufacturing shortcuts that could lead to jetliners breaking apart. Salehpour was testifying about Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, hundreds of which are in use, mostly on international routes, while another Senate committee held a separate hearing on the safety culture at Boeing. Read more.

Why this matters: The dual hearings were a sign of the intense pressure on Boeing since a door-plug panel blew off a 737 Max jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The company is under multiple investigations, and the FBI has told passengers from the flight that they might be victims of a crime.   Boeing says claims about the Dreamliner’s structural integrity are false. Two Boeing engineering executives said this week that in both design testing and inspections of planes there were no findings of fatigue or cracking in the composite panels. They suggested that the material used in the panels is nearly impervious to fatigue.   The dual hearings added to criticism that has been heaped on Boeing – now pushed into a crisis that has seen a management shakeup and a CEO resignation. The Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates airlines and aircraft manufacturers, was also heavily criticized during Wednesday’s hearings.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Boeing pushes back on whistleblower’s allegations   A look at past crashes and safety issues involving Boeing   With all the recent headlines about panels and tires falling off planes, is flying safe?

 

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Douglas C-54 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane carrying two people crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday and burst into flames, authorities said. No survivors have been found.

https://apnews.com/article/alaska-plane-crash-fairbanks-5a19fc01efdb055c1b538dffaeff5d06?

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Airlines will now be required to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights

The Biden administration issued final rules Wednesday to require airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for things like delayed flights and to better disclose fees for baggage or canceling a reservation.

https://apnews.com/article/airlines-junk-fees-baggage-delays-c4a93f9ee9a2bf7d9ee07394183a0374?

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Commercial jet maker Airbus is staying humble even as Boeing flounders. There’s a reason for that

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — In the latest round of their decades-long battle for dominance in commercial aircraft, Europe’s Airbus established a clear sales lead over Boeing even before the American company encountered more fallout from manufacturing problems and ongoing safety concerns.

https://apnews.com/article/boeing-airbus-airline-safety-manufacturing-8a7c361e379285c87c9a84638faf9302?

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Boeing plane carrying 85 people catches fire and skids off the runway in Senegal, injuring 10

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A Boeing 737 carrying 85 people caught fire and skidded off a runway at Senegal’s main airport, injuring 10 people including the pilot, the country’s transport minister said Thursday.

https://apnews.com/article/senegal-dakar-plane-crash-boeing-ca40060696eaedfb69324d9110a55c60?

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US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.

https://apnews.com/article/airlines-sue-biden-administration-junk-fees-346ad8ad06335587ba8a67240c5cda32?

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Five-year FAA bill clears U.S. House, boosting flights into Washington, D.C.

The U.S. House voted 387-26 Wednesday to clear a bill to reauthorize $105 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration for the next five years — and to finalize a hotly debated deal adding flights at busy Washington Reagan National Airport.

https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/05/15/five-year-faa-bill-clears-u-s-house-boosting-flights-into-washington-d-c/?