Airlines

An Entrepreneur Buys Boeing 737-200 For £5K & Turns It Into Stunning Airbnb

Entrepreneur Steven Northam purchased the 1968 Boeing 737-200’s front fuselage on eBay for $6,165 (£5,000) and then spent the next three months renovating the aircraft.

The five-ton, 29-foot front had to be moved by Northam from Chichester College in West Sussex, England, where it had been used to educate airline crews. It was transported to Northam’s home in Winchester, England, and unsurprisingly wasn’t in the finest of shape. Because it had been left outside for 15 years, he explained, it had become somewhat soiled and worn out. A little work was required.

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Northam claimed that the cost of restoring the interior and outside of the jet was close to £15,000 ($18,480). Northam had to paint the exterior using a boom lift. He claimed, “I completely repainted the plane’s exterior.” The project cost about £20,000 ($24,679) when the cost of the plane’s acquisition and transportation are taken into account.

Beginning in July 2022 and continuing through September, Northam worked hard on the plane’s renovation. As a three-month endeavor, Northam claimed to have completed it all by himself. Basically, it’s just me, by myself.

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His first steps were pulling away the majority of the seats, strengthening the floor, and replacing the carpeting. The cast of “George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces” on Channel 4 captured footage of the procedure. It was a “big, empty space” once the seats were taken out. To create a warm atmosphere, Northam began to construct parts.

The aircraft, called “Marwell High Club” after the adjacent Marwell Zoo, has a heat pump that regulates temperature in both the summer and winter. It also has high-speed WiFi, Smart TVs, XBoxes, and kitchen capabilities. The cosy double bed is located in the lower cargo hold and is visible from the upper floor of the front fuselage’s two floors through an embedded perspex window.

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Even outside the aircraft, Northam constructed a hot tub from an engine’s inlet cowling. After obtaining a permit, Northam intends to list the vacation accommodation on Airbnb and is anticipating charging $185.70 (£150) per night.

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Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.