Airlines

STARLUX Airlines orders A350F and more A330neo widebodies

Taiwan’s STARLUX Airlines has put in a formal order for three additional A330neo widebody aircraft and five brand-new A350F freighters. Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus’s Commercial Aircraft division, and KW Chang, Chairman of STARLUX Airlines, signed the deal during the Singapore Airshow.

With this purchase, STARLUX will fly the next-generation A350F widebody freighter, making it the first airline from Taiwan to do so. With its unparalleled fuel burn, CO2 emissions, and economic efficiency, the A350F offers substantial energy savings and carbon reduction advantages in an era of climate change. It complies with client demands for carbon reduction and supports STARLUX’s ESG goal of zero emissions by 2050. The three new A330neos will also increase our fleet advantage and give passenger operations more flexibility.

STARLUX Airlines now flies the A350-900, A330neo, and A321neo as part of its all-Airbus passenger fleet. STARLUX Cargo will fly the A350F on some of the busiest cargo routes in the world. The A350F, which is still in development, will be able to travel up to 4,700 nautical miles or 8,700 km and carry a cargo of up to 111 tonnes for a substantially cheaper price than any other freighter on the market. STARLUX Cargo will be able to service all heavy cargo markets globally with the A350F.

Equipped with the most recent Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, the aircraft is at least 20% more efficient than its rival and will result in a 40% decrease in fuel consumption and carbon emissions when compared to the older 747F.

With its fuselage length and capacity built around the industry standard pallets and containers, the A350F boasts the largest main deck cargo door in the business. The airframe weighs 46 tonnes less at takeoff than the rival variant because more than 70% of it is constructed of cutting-edge materials. Additionally, starting in 2027, only the A350F will be able to fully comply with the ICAO’s higher CO2 emissions criteria.

STARLUX Airlines will continue to construct one of the most cutting-edge and effective passenger fleets, providing the highest standards of in-flight comfort, thanks to the further order for the A330neo. With the additional order, the airline would have seven A330neos instead of just four. These aircraft have a luxurious two-class cabin with 28 business class seats and 269 economy class seats.

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.

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 £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 airline’s “rebook me” function if needed. The spokesperson apologized for the delay and inconvenience, assuring that customers would receive EC261 compensation of £520 per person and be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses incurred.