News and notes from around the interweb:
- The FAA has taken steps to delay the introduction of electric air taxis by years by introducing an unexpected, new certification process for eVTOL aircraft.
United, along with Mesa Airlines, also ordered 200 electric air taxis from Archer Aviation. These vertical takeoff and landing planes, flying up to 150 miles per hour for up to 60 miles, were promised as a way to commute from downtown to United’s hub by 2026. The estimated cost for the trip from Manhattan to JFK by air would be about $50.
Archer is in advanced talks to… hire the current head of the FAA. (Paywall)
- American Airlines and Alaska Airlines apps will allow check-in for each others’ itineraries
- Original partnership discussions between American Airlines and JetBlue included JetBlue joining oneworld.
In April 2020, before American and JetBlue publicly announced their partnership, an internal memo about the planned deal included the benefit: "Oneworld membership".
By July, they told DOJ JetBlue wouldn’t join oneworld. What changed? pic.twitter.com/HXUqBEpso8
— Will Horton (@winglets747) May 25, 2023
- The New Jersey state assembly has passed a bill that limits the ability of hotel chains to impose brand standards on individual properties. It’s a sop to hotel owners. As it is, there’s not enough enforcement of brand standards.
- New super cheap domestic first class dessert from United
- Air Canada’s new Airbus A321XLRs will have flat seats in a 1-1 configuration no word on whether they’ll offer doors the way that American plans to in their XLRs.
Electric air taxis were never going to fly in 2026. Look at how long certification has taken for the 777x, which is basically an updated version of an existing aircraft. The idea that an entirely new type of aircraft, using a never-before-used propulsion system (for passenger aircraft) and flying entirely new types of routes would be quickly approved was nonsense from the beginning. It would be surprising if the certification process itself is even developed before 2026, and it will be many years after that before these things are flying passengers.
There will be mishaps with flying taxis as there are with all modes of transportation. The ground is very unforgiving. I just don’t see this happening anytime soon. Perhaps decades.
I’m not surprised in hearing JetBlue and AA were planning on them to attempt to join OneWorld. I do think that JB ran afoul of AA when it went off at tried to buy Spirit so desperately, then the pilot shortage/on time issues, and European expansion. Would have been a great feeder for JFK/BOSTON OW partners. That’s about it. I predict the Spirit merger will not happen and Alaska will purchase JB on the cheap before 2030.
@BenjaminbG Guttery, Alaska wouldn’t dare attempt in buying Jetblue. Are you out of your mind right now? Also, Jetblue will now be allowed to complete their buyout of Spirit, now that Jetblue/American Airlines are being forced to end their Northeast Alliance partnership. It’s not a merger, it’s an acquisition.
When did JetBlue possibly joining oneworld become a felony? Even without the NEA, there’s nothing preventing JetBlue from joining the alliance. Both the DOJ and the judge apparently signaled that a codeshare and slot lease arrangement between JetBlue and American would “fly” (pun intended).
Can someone tell me why there’s no schedule for JetBlue for September/October. Trying to do our annual non stop Around trip from ANU to JFK. Schedule is empty!! Just for those two months!