Department Of Transportation Is Breaking The Law With Flights At Washington’s National Airport

Oct 05 2024

In the legislative fight over five-year reauthorization for the FAA, airlines and other interests had a Christmas tree of of wish lists items they worked hard to get. It’s a $105 billion bill that more than doubles subsidies for small community air service, and makes it harder to track private planes belonging to wealthy individuals. Among many other things, in a victory for Delta over United (which operates a competing hub at Washington Dulles airport) it included 5 new “beyond-perimeter” slot pairs at Washington National airport, that permit flights farther than 1,250 miles. The authors of the bill didn’t just say there could be more flying, and to destinations currently reserved for Dulles airport, they outlined who should get those flights. They had to go to existing big airlines, and couldn’t be given to new…

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Passengers Left Standing As Iberia Pilot Pushes Back In Miami—Does Cabin Video Show Major Safety Breach?

Oct 05 2024

The pilot of an Iberia flight from Miami to Madrid pushed back the Airbus A330 despite “DOZENS of passengers still waiting to find their seats and stow their bags.”

One passenger, filming the cabin, noted that flight attendants seemed “unconcerned” and wanted to report this to government authorities. In fact, one crewmember is distributing predeparture beverages in the aisle and overhead bins remain open as well.

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‘We Want To Be Real Police’: Scandal-Ridden Air Marshals Push To Break Free From TSA

Oct 05 2024

Federal air marshals have gotten together and they want out of the TSA. They want to be real police, and as long as the air marshal service is part of that agency they “feel like they are not performing law enforcement duties.” Instead, they want to be a standalone law enforcement agency with the Department of Homeland Security or, if need be, the Department of Transportation.

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Spirit Airlines’ $3.3 Billion Debt Crisis: Can Planned Bankruptcy, Route Cuts, And Shedding Aircraft Keep It Flying?

Oct 04 2024

Spirit Airlines is in talks with bondholders about a pre-packaged bankruptcy that would allow the airline to reduce debt in exchange for equity. This move would potentially allow the carrier to reject leases on aircraft grounded due to engine problems. Twenty one Airbus narrowbodies are currently in storage (or heavy maintenance) out of 94 with Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines, according to Cirium fleet tracking data.

Out of $3.3 billion in debt, one third of that comes due in under a year, and it must refinance or extend the debt by October 21 under covenants with its credit card processor agreement.

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