Airlines

Southwest Airlines employee charged in $1.9M voucher-selling scheme

A former Southwest Airlines customer service employee has been charged with fraud after it was discovered that allegedly created and selling travel vouchers worth close to $1.9 million.

Federal prosecutors claimed on Tuesday that DaJuan Martin filled up the vouchers with fictitious identities while employed at Chicago’s Midway Airport, then sold them to others, including a co-defendant named Ned Brooks, for less than face value.

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Martin, 36, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, was charged with 12 counts of wire fraud in an indictment released on Monday. Four counts of wire fraud were brought against Brooks, a 46-year-old Chicago resident. The maximum sentence for each count is 20 years in jail.

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Between November 2018 and June 2022, Martin worked for Southwest. He had the authority to give out vouchers to clients who had service issues because he was a customer service agent. According to the indictment, Brooks and other individuals would text Martin to request vouchers. Attorneys are asking for the confiscation of about $1.9 million from Martin, $732,000 from Brooks, over $27,000 in cash, and a 2021 Land Rover.

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Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.