Fewer Flights And International Border Restrictions Put Travelers In Limbo When Things Go Wrong

by Gary Leff

united plane
Aug 19 2020

United Airlines flight UA79 was delayed three hours on Sunday due to a crew scheduling issue. Flight delays happen all the time, and a three hour delay of an international flight isn’t usually devastating during normal times.

However with limited air service, as a result of depressed demand during the pandemic, and international border restrictions a small delay can turn much more challenging for travelers – especially those trying to connect between secondary cities.

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Boeing Rebrands The 737 MAX

by Gary Leff

Aug 19 2020

Boeing announced the sale today of two 737 MAX aircraft. That’s a big deal because the MAX, in service only since fall 2018, has been grounded since March 2019 – and because airlines generally are conserving cash rather than spending money to buy planes.

The announcement, though, is most notable for the verbal jujitsu Boeing uses as they give the plane a new name: 737-8, which is either not meant to be confused – or meant to be confused – with the older 737-800.

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What The Interior Of Jeffrey Epstein’s Boeing 727 “Lolita Express” Is Like

by Gary Leff

Aug 19 2020

The plane, with registration N908JE, is owned by JEGE, Inc. It flew to Georgia in July 11, 2017 from West Palm Beach and has sat there ever since. It’s got Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines and is an ex-TWA bird originally delivered July 7, 1969.

According to an aviation consultant who toured the plane in March on behalf of a potential buyer, here’s what the interior is like.

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Driver Crashes Onto Portland Airport, Heads Under Plane To Evade Police

by Gary Leff

Aug 19 2020

A 24 year old man crashed his car through a perimeter gate at the Portland airport on Sunday. His wife and two children were in the vehicle with him. He told police they were being chased by trucks, and wound up on the airport grounds as an evasive maneuver.

Then the man took off, with one of his kids in tow, and drove underneath the wing of a taxiing commercial flight. There’s video of the arrest.

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The Only Honest Case For Another Round Of Airline Bailouts Comes From Ben Baldanza

by Gary Leff

Aug 18 2020

Former Spirit Airlines CEO is a JetBlue board member and naturally thinks more of that sweet, sweet taxpayer cash ought to flow to airlines. He lays out what he calls misconceptions about government aid to airlines as he makes the case for the second government bailout of the industry this year.

Baldanza’s piece is a breath of fresh air though because it honestly talks about government subsidies as more than just an unemployment program. He takes seriously government support as an airline bailout, ensuring airlines are providing capacity to the economy, and doesn’t offer the fiction that it’s only about supporting the workers.

Now we have serious arguments worth answering.

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Managers Delayed An Ethiopian Airlines Flight In Houston For 8 Hours – So They Could Scalp Tickets

by Gary Leff

Aug 18 2020

Ethiopian Airlines ran a repatriation flight this weekend from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria. There were more people who showed up at the airport than seats. The $1500 one-way flight had a waiting list, and numerous people were looking to get on.

After boarding local Nigerian officials identified no shows and empty seats and started to auction those off, reportedly pocketing an extra $250 apiece for themselves. But it took six hours to get the seats sold at the higher price, especially since the delay meant some of the passengers started getting off the plane – more seats for the officials to sell at a markup.

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