Airlines
American Airlines announces largest-ever winter schedule to the Caribbean and Latin America
American Airlines has released its winter 2023 itinerary for the Caribbean and Latin America, giving travelers wishing to escape the cold this winter more options. American will maintain its position as the top airline operating nonstop flights between the United States and Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America with the addition of two new routes and increased frequencies on 21 existing routes.
Air India places order 800 LEAP engines(Opens in a new browser tab)
In winter 2023, American will operate more than 2,250 weekly flights to 90 destinations in the region, marking a 10% increase in seat capacity compared to winter 2022.
Starting Dec. 5, American will expand service on 10 routes from Charlotte (CLT) operating through the winter. Customers will have more options to choose from with 40% more seats available from CLT to Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Destination | Service Notes |
---|---|
Belize City, Belize (BZE) | Expanded to daily service |
Cancun, Mexico (CUN) | Increase to five daily flights |
CuraƧao (CUR) | Expanded to daily service |
Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) | Expanded to daily service |
Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD) | Expanded to daily service |
Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) | Increase to four daily flights |
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP) | Expanded to daily service |
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) | Increase to four daily flights |
San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) | Increase to four daily flights |
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX) | Expanded to daily service |
Beginning on December 9, American will offer new nonstop flights from Cincinnati (CVG) and Nashville (BNA) to Cancun, Mexico (CUN). Through March, service from BNA and CVG will be available on Saturdays. With the most recent announcement of a second daily service from Austin, Texas (AUS), beginning Nov. 5, these additional routes will supplement the airline’s more than 35 peak-day flights to Cancun.
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Additionally, America intends to add more than 50 daily departures from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to seven well-liked Mexican cities. This winter, American will increase departures, further solidifying Miami’s (MIA) position as the main entry point between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. With more than 140 daily flights to 70 locations, American provides travelers with an industry-leading schedule and destination choice so they can experience everything the area has to offer.
More connectivity to the Caribbean from Miami
Destination | Service Notes |
---|---|
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (POS) | Increase to two daily flights |
Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI) | Increase to two daily flights |
Tortola, British Virgin Islands (EIS) | Increase to two daily flights |
Airlines
United Flight Diverts to Shannon, After Stuck Laptop in Business Class Seat
A United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago OāHare was forced to make an emergency diversion to Shannon, Ireland.
On Saturday afternoon after a passenger got their laptop wedged in a Business Class seat aboard the Boeing 767-300. Operating as United Flight 12, the aircraft departed from Flughafen ZĆ¼rich at 9:46 a.m. local time and took off at 10:08 a.m.
The captain decided to divert the flight not because the passenger couldn’t access their laptop, but because any device powered by lithium-ion batteries that becomes inaccessible could pose a significant safety risk.
Such devices, if damaged or overheated, could lead to a thermal runaway event, potentially causing a fire on board. The Boeing 767-300, featuring Unitedās relatively new Polaris business-class cabin, landed safely at Shannon Airport in County Clare at 1:43 p.m. IST (Irish Summer Time) and reached the gate at 1:51 p.m.
In a statement, United Airlines acknowledged the diversion: āUnited flight 12 scheduled from Zurich to Chicago landed safely in Shannon to address a potential safety risk caused by a laptop being stuck in an inaccessible location.ā This situation led to the cancellation of the flight, and the airline is working to reroute the 157 passengers who found themselves unexpectedly in Ireland.
Frequent flyers are often reminded in airline safety videos not to move their seats if they lose mobile phones or other gadgets powered by lithium-ion batteries within the seats. Attempting to retrieve such items by moving the seat can damage the battery and potentially cause a dangerous situation.
Airlines
Air India Flight Collides with Tug Tractor, at Pune Airport
An Air India flight bound for Delhi faced an unexpected hurdle during its taxi towards the runway at Pune Airport on Thursday, May 16th.
The aircraft, carrying 180 passengers, encountered a collision with a tug tractor, though fortunately, no injuries were reported among the passengers or crew. The incident, while causing significant damage to the aircraft, triggered swift emergency protocols, ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.
Upon the mishap, passengers were promptly disembarked from the plane, and alternative arrangements were made for their accommodation as they found themselves stranded at the airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the collision, according to ANI reports.
Preliminary findings suggest that the tug truck, utilized for maneuvering the aircraft on the ground, inadvertently struck the plane during the taxiing process. Despite the incident, airport operations continued with minimal disruption. However, the affected aircraft was temporarily withdrawn from service for comprehensive inspection and necessary repairs.
Air India, in response to the situation, assured passengers of full refunds and complimentary rescheduling. The airline’s statement conveyed, “There was an incident related to one of our aircraft, which was to operate Pune to Delhi, at the time of its pushback. The aircraft was held back for checks, all passengers were offloaded safely, and the flight was cancelled.”
Passengers affected by the cancellation were provided with refunds and the option for rescheduling their travel plans without additional charges. The damage to the aircraft, primarily located near the belly where the pushback tug made contact, underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Airlines
After Flight Cancellation, Virgin Atlantic Passengers Told to Arrange Own Hotels
Ian Field and his partner Jane, both residents of the London area, faced an unexpected and costly ordeal while on a trip to St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
The couple, who had flown out from Heathrow on Virgin Atlantic flight VS221 on May 5, discovered upon arrival that their May 15 return flight was canceled for “operational reasons.” Despite Virgin Atlantic’s explanation, Field suspected the cancellation was due to a lack of passengers, as the airline is set to cease the route after May 19.
Stranded on the island, Field and Jane were left to fend for themselves for two additional nights. Both Virgin Atlantic and their travel agency, Blue Bay Travel, failed to provide assistance or accommodation, forcing the couple to pay over Ā£400 out of pocket for their hotel stay.
Virgin Atlantic advised those without sufficient funds to seek financial help from family members, which added to the couple’s frustration. “We feel completely abandoned and let down terribly,” Field expressed to The Independent.
The lack of response from Virgin Atlantic and the unhelpful attitude of the travel agent exacerbated their distress. Although Field and his partner could afford the unexpected expense, he expressed concern for those who might not be in a similar financial position.
In response, a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson stated that all affected customers were rebooked on alternative flights and could amend their bookings through the airlineās “rebook me” function if needed. The spokesperson apologized for the delay and inconvenience, assuring that customers would receive EC261 compensation of Ā£520 per person and be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred.