Tag: airline

American Airlines Loses Fight Over Delta Airport Slots

LUXEMBOURG—American Airlines, which gave up rights to two airport slots to Delta Air Lines’ in 2013, on Thursday lost a court appeal to have the European Union cancel them for lack of use. American gave up the takeoff and landing rights at Heathrow and Philadelphia airports to get antitrust approval for its merger with US…


Qantas Plans Full Throttle Expansion

Australia’s largest domestic and international airline will hire more than 30,000 frontline workers over the next 10 years, purchase state-of-the-art aircraft and establish a new academy. The hiring spree is considered Qantas’ most significant move to fill in the gaps after it slashed thousands of jobs during the pandemic. The major Australian airline on March…


Backlog of 38,000 Air Complaints Facing Canadian Transportation Agency, Senate Committee Hears

A Senate transport committee meeting on Feb. 15 was told that the Canadian Transportation Agency has a record backlog of up to 38,000 air complaints. “The Canadian Transportation Agency has reported about a 38,000-complaint backlog that they are working through,” Craig Hutton, associate assistant deputy transport minister, told the federal committee. He said that 97…


Pilot Shortage Puts Pressure on Airline Operations

GOODYEAR, Ariz.—Until last summer, Ashley Montano had never flown. Now she was preparing to land a small plane with three passengers after a previous touch-and-go that had been rough. “The plane is a bit heavy, so give it just a little more power to make a smooth landing,” flight instructor Jason Fink told her. There…


‘Friendly Skies’? Interview With an Unvaccinated Pilot Suing United Airlines

Commentary The first thing I asked Tom Floyd was whether there was truth to the rumor that the wealthiest 1 percent who were heading for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, were looking for unvaccinated pilots to fly their private jets. The idea was that the—some might call them hypocritical—WEF attendees were aware of…


Qantas Flight Forced to Head Back to Sydney Following Potential Mechanical Problem

A Qantas flight to Fiji has been forced to turn back to Sydney due to a possible mechanical issue, a day after a service from Auckland issued a mayday call. QF101, a Boeing 737 bound for Nadi, took off at Sydney Airport at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday and spent almost two hours circling over the east…


CEO of Major Airline Warns of More Travel Disruptions as Carriers Struggle With Pilot Shortages, Outdated Tech

The CEO of United Airlines warned on Jan. 18 that outdated technology and a shortage of pilots and workers could see other airlines canceling and delaying flights for passengers this year. CEO Scott Kirby made the comments during a call with analysts and reporters to discuss the company’s fourth-quarter financial results. The CEO said that airlines that…


Government Looking at Tougher Penalties for Poor Airline Service: Transport Minister

The government is aiming to toughen penalties for poor airline service this spring, said Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, who appeared before a parliamentary committee on Jan. 12 looking into whether current fines are too modest or applied too sparingly. “We’re going to keep our eye on the ball,” Alghabra told reporters in a Jan. 12…


Delta Airliner Goes Off Icy Taxiway in Minneapolis Snowstorm

MINNEAPOLIS—A Delta jet went off an icy taxiway after landing in a snowstorm in Minneapolis but no passengers were injured, the airline said. The Airbus A320 landed safely Tuesday night on a flight from Los Cabos, Mexico, Delta said in a statement. But the nose gear of the plane “exited the taxiway while turning toward…


Bipartisan Group of 37 AGs Urging Stronger Protections for Airline Customers

A bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general are requesting the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) improve protections for airline customers. The coalition, led by Democratic Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, sent a letter on Monday urging Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to adopt proposed rules for airline ticket refunds and other protections. It stated appreciation for…