Aviation

Alaska Airlines returns 737 MAX 9 involved in mid-air blowout to Boeing

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Alaska Airlines has confirmed the return of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft that was involved in a mid-air door panel blowout earlier this year.

Aircraft’s registration has been changed

According to a spokesperson from Alaska Airlines, the plane has been handed back to Boeing, with its registration officially changed. The incident, which occurred in January, involved a door panel blowout during flight, prompting safety concerns and investigations.

Alaska Airlines has placed an order for a new Boeing 737-10.

In response, Alaska Airlines has not only returned the affected aircraft but has also placed an order for a new Boeing 737-10.

Boeing, meanwhile, faces additional challenges with its 737 jet family production. Sources informed Reuters of a three-month delay in a critical production milestone, highlighting ongoing setbacks for the aerospace giant.

Recently, U.S. investigators took action against Boeing for prematurely disclosing details of the blowout investigation. This led to sanctions and a decision to refer the matter to the Justice Department. Boeing subsequently issued an apology for its handling of the situation.

Boeing has delivered $160 million in “initial compensation” to the carrier following an incident where a panel detached from an Alaska Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft in January. Alaska Airlines expects additional compensation related to the incident, the details of which remain confidential.

Promptly after the incident, Alaska grounded all its Max 9 aircraft, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to subsequently ground all Max 9s in the United States, affecting United Airlines as well.

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.