Airlines

American Airlines provides $1 Million in Scholarships to University Students

The American Airlines Education Foundation is awarding almost $1 million in scholarship funding to 340 students who are dependents of the airline’s team members to assist lower the cost of higher education as they get ready to return to the classroom in the fall.

Boeing Announces $950,000 Scholarships for Pilot Training(Opens in a new browser tab)

Full-time undergraduate study at any reputable college, university, or vocational programme in the world is funded through scholarships. Each winner earned a scholarship worth $2,500, and 100 first-generation college students also received awards totaling $1,000 each for the academic year 2023–2024.

The eight nations represented by this year’s scholarship recipients are the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, England, Jamaica, Peru, and Spain. They are the children of team members who work for American and its fully-owned carriers Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont in 70 cities around the world.

airBalticTraining Pilot Academy Opens Application Process(Opens in a new browser tab)

This year, 1,375 students applied for scholarships from the Education Foundation. Through a competitive application procedure, candidates are assessed based on their academic performance, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and financial need.

The application window for the 2024–2025 academic year will open in January. For more information about the Education Foundation scholarship, visit aa.com/scholarships

Airlines

A Costly Mistake: Passenger Pays for Fuel After Disruptive Flight

A Western Australian man has learned a costly lesson after his unruly behavior on a flight resulted in the aircraft having to turn back. The passenger was ordered to pay over $5,000 in fuel costs, along with a significant fine, for causing the plane to divert.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when the man, who was not publicly named, became disruptive on a flight from Perth to Sydney. Due to his behavior, the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and return to Perth, which required dumping fuel to land safely.

The passenger pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior and non-compliance with safety instructions. As a result, he was ordered to pay $8,630 to the airline to cover the cost of the wasted fuel and was also fined $6,055. This combined penalty of over $11,000 is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disruptive behavior on flights.

While this is not a typical punishment, other cases of in-flight misconduct have resulted in hefty fines. One passenger in the United States was fined over $40,000 for a series of offenses, including bringing their own alcohol on board, being intoxicated, attempting to smoke marijuana, and sexually assaulting a flight attendant.

The Australian Federal Police emphasized that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated. They warned that individuals who cause disturbances can face significant financial penalties and legal consequences. The case of the Western Australian passenger serves as a clear message that obeying airline staff and adhering to safety regulations is essential for a smooth and safe flight.