Airlines
According to CFM, defective parts made their way to its own repair facilities
According to Reuters, CFM International, a jet engine manufacturer, stated on Wednesday that the number of engines suspected of containing improperly verified parts from a UK distributor had increased to 126, including 16 inside its own workshops after it unintentionally purchased them indirectly.
CFM, which is owned by GE Aerospace (GE.N) and Safran (SAF.PA) in France, provided the status report after receiving records turned over by AOG Technics on the order of a British judge, and said there had been no complaints of any operational impact so far.
United Airlines Discover Fake engine parts on several aircraft (Opens in a new browser tab)
As discovered by the European Aviation Safety Agency, multiple fake parts were put in the aircraft, potentially jeopardizing the aircraft’s safety. Later, some US planes reported identical difficulties with fake parts, which have yet to be officially verified.
It also provided new information about the items implicated, including some low-pressure turbine blades, but stated that the majority were regular, less important pieces such as nuts and bolts.
Japan Airlines Inflight Compensation Voucher For Defective Seat(Opens in a new browser tab)
It is still reviewing the materials that were delivered on Wednesday.
“CFM is reviewing the documentation turned over by AOG Technics as part of our effort to determine the full extent of their sale of parts with fraudulent documentation,” stated CFM.
Airlines
Virgin Atlantic Sued Over Alleged Age Discrimination: Cabin Crew Seek Justice
Virgin Atlantic finds itself embroiled in legal proceedings as over 200 former cabin crew members launch a lawsuit against the airline, alleging discriminatory practices during the period of the pandemic.
The dispute centers on accusations that the company unfairly targeted older employees for dismissal while retaining newer, less costly hires.
The pandemic’s onset in March 2020 triggered a cascade of challenges for the aviation industry, leading Virgin Atlantic to ground a significant portion of its fleet. In response, the airline swiftly implemented cost-cutting measures, including the reduction of its workforce by over 40%, amounting to the loss of 3,000 jobs.
Additionally, it established a “holding pool” for potentially rehiring redundant staff once normal operations resumed. However, the crux of the legal battle lies in the claim that Virgin Atlantic retained approximately 350 new cabin crew members, some with minimal training periods as short as a week.
While simultaneously letting go of experienced onboard managers, many of whom boasted an average age of 45 years and two decades of service. This perceived discrepancy forms the backbone of the lawsuit, with former employees contending that age became a determining factor in the airline’s decision-making process.
In response, a Virgin Atlantic representative stated: “Virgin Atlantic had to make very difficult decisions following the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the aviation industry.” Regretfully, this meant a 45% reduction in the total number of employees within the company.
Airlines
End of an Era: Qantas Retires Final Boeing 767 Freighter
Qantas has officially bid farewell to its last Boeing 767 aircraft, marking the end of an era that began nearly four decades ago.
The final 767, a dedicated freighter variant registered as VH-EFR, operated its last flight on May 17, 2024. This concluding journey took it from Hong Kong (HKG) to Sydney (SYD) under the flight number QF7526, closing the chapter on Qantas’s use of the 767 after 39 years.
The Australian airline commemorated the occasion with an Instagram post on Friday, announcing the retirement of VH-EFR, their last remaining 767. According to Cirium Ascend Fleet Analyzer data, this aircraft is a little over 18 years old. It joined the Qantas fleet in 2011, having previously served Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) as a cargo plane.
Despite being owned by Qantas, the aircraft was operated by Express Freighters Australia under the Qantas Freight brand.
The Boeing 767 has had a versatile history with Qantas. Initially, the aircraft was used on international routes, flying to destinations in New Zealand, Asia, and North America. Following the 1992 merger with Australian Airlines, the 767s were increasingly deployed for domestic services as well.
Although Qantas is retiring this specific freighter, the Boeing 767-300 freighter model remains active globally. Records indicate that 280 of these aircraft are still operational, serving 14 airlines around the world.
Airlines
United Flight Diverts to Shannon, After Stuck Laptop in Business Class Seat
A United Airlines flight from Zurich to Chicago O’Hare 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 Zürich 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 United’s 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: “United 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.” 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.