Airlines

Alaska Airlines expands one-of-a-kind flight subscription service to Salt Lake City

Less than a year after its launch, Alaska Airlines, the only U.S. airline to provide a pay-by-month flight subscription service, is expanding its well-liked programme to Salt Lake City.

Subscribers to Flight Pass will now be able to fly between Salt Lake City and San Francisco or San Diego in addition to 18 other routes throughout California and a few cities in Nevada and Arizona. It’s perfect timing for the beginning of ski season and the holiday season of gift-giving that Salt Lake City routes have been added outside of the Golden State.

Alaska Airlines makes biggest Boeing aircraft order in its 90-year history(Opens in a new browser tab)

Customers can book six, twelve, or twenty-four roundtrip flights through the service for a set monthly fee. When booking flights, subscribers pay taxes and fees for as low as $14.61 per flight and lock in main cabin deals for a full year.

Flight Pass has steadily increased in popularity among frequent travellers on the West Coast since its launch in February, particularly among Millennials and Generation Z from Northern California. The most popular Flight Pass plan is the $49 per month service that includes six roundtrip flights per year. The most popular Flight Pass routes connect between the major metro areas in California.

Frontier Airlines will introduce an annual pass(Opens in a new browser tab)

Additionally, Alaska Airlines revealed on Wednesday that those who sign up for Flight Pass will receive free Mileage Plan MVP member status upgrades.

From now until Nov. 30, new Flight Pass subscribers will receive a complimentary 12-month MVP status, while new Flight Pass Pro subscribers will, if qualified, receive an automatic 12-month MVP Gold status. Alaska Airlines is making the year of travel even more rewarding for current subscribers enrolled in qualifying Flight Pass plans by providing free MVP or MVP Gold status through 2023.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

DAMAC Air: Dubai’s New Luxury Airline Offers Free Flights for Registration

The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.