Aviation

Why did France release a Romanian airplane that was suspected of human trafficking?

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office reported on Saturday that French authorities had grounded a passenger plane carrying 303 Indian citizens, including 11 unaccompanied minors, at the Vatry airport on suspicion of human trafficking.

The aircraft, which belonged to Romania-based Legend Airlines, was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua when it made a supply stop at Vatry airport, about 150 kilometers east of Paris, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. The aircraft was taken by French authorities on December 21 following the arrival of an anonymous tip.

A special French investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group resulted in the arrest of two passengers. According to the local government, several others applied for asylum in France. Eleven passengers were placed under special administrative care, according to the prosecution, because they were unaccompanied minors.

The prosecutor stated on Sunday that a decision regarding the next course of action was anticipated overnight. The hearings were suspended in the middle due to a disagreement over the protocol used to prevent the Indians from entering the airport.

The prefecture stated that the French Civil Aviation Authority then started working to secure the required authorization for the aircraft to take off again, to have them in place “no later than Monday morning.”

Attorney Liliana Bakayoko of Legend Airlines told that the airline hoped the aircraft could arrive in Mumbai, India, on Monday “with as many passengers as possible.

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.