News

Passengers suffer on 16-hour Air India flight without a single working toilet

NEW DELHI: The wait for a long flight to land could never have been more desperate than for the almost 340 people on board Air India’s Delhi-Chicago nonstop on Saturday. A Boeing 777 was released for the 16-hour journey with four toilets closed before take off itself and ALL the remaining eight others also packing up by the time it was a good two hours away from the destination! The condition of passengers on the aircraft – that had 324 adults and seven infants as passengers apart from 16 crew members – was understandably bad as the plane had taken off at 2 am in the morning from Delhi. A hearty breakfast, full meal and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages were served during the course of the flight. First there were long queues at the eight operational toilets and then there were no queues as all the lavs were unusable!

Things got so bad that hectic parleys went on between the cockpit and AI operations whether it should divert to Toronto. It was decided that the plane will continue to its destination where it landed with the toilets closed and most on board holding on to their full bladders and stomach!

All those on board – passengers and crew – then had no option but to just hold tight and wait for the plane to land at Chicago O’Hare Airport to get access to toilets.

AI has now decided that it will not release an aircraft for a full passenger-load long flight ever again in the future. “It was a learning for us. Airlines in some parts of the world, including India, face the issue of passengers flushing all kinds of stuff in toilets that leads to choking,” said the official.
Courtesy : Times of India

Airlines

Alaska Airlines Acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines Reshapes the Air Travel Landscape

Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK) and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA) jointly announced today the execution of a definitive agreement, signifying Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines at a cash price of $18.00 per share. The total transaction value stands at approximately $1.9 billion, encompassing Hawaiian Airlines’ net debt of $0.9 billion.

The combination of complementary domestic, international, and cargo networks

This strategic union is poised to open up an array of additional destinations, providing consumers with increased choices in crucial air service options across the Pacific region, Continental United States, and globally.

The transaction is anticipated to establish a robust platform for growth and competition in the U.S., offering enduring employment opportunities, ongoing community investments, and a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Key Points:

Acquisition Overview:
- Alaska Air Group to acquire Hawaiian Holdings for $18.00 per share in an all-cash transaction, totaling approximately $1.9 billion.
- Combined company aims to maintain the strong, high-quality brands of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
Fleet Expansion and Network Reach:
- Creates the fifth-largest U.S. airline with a fleet of 365 narrow and wide-body airplanes.
- Enables access to 138 destinations through combined networks and over 1,200 destinations via the oneworld Alliance.
Hub Development and Connectivity:
- Honolulu to become a key hub for the combined airline, offering expanded services to the Continental U.S., Asia, and the Pacific.
- Tripling the number of destinations from Hawai‘i to North America, while maintaining robust Neighbor Island service.
Commitment to Hawai‘i:
- Strong commitment to Hawai‘i, ensuring robust Neighbor Island air service.
- Aiming for a more competitive platform supporting growth, job opportunities, community investment, and environmental stewardship.
Employee and Union Commitment:
- Commitment to maintaining and growing the union-represented workforce in Hawai‘i.
- Immediate value creation with at least $235 million of expected run-rate synergies.
Investor Call and Timeline:
- Investor conference call scheduled for today at 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. HT.
- Anticipated closing of the transaction within 12-18 months.
Strategic and Financial Rationale:
- Complementary networks to enhance competition and provide greater choice for consumers.
- Preservation of both Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines’ brands on a single operating platform.
- Expected to deliver high single-digit earnings accretion for Alaska Airlines within the first two years.
Community and Sustainability Commitment:
- Focus on growth in union-represented jobs and strong operational presence in Hawai‘i.
- Commitment to environmental stewardship, aligning with Alaska Airlines’ five-part path to net zero by 2040.
Synergies and Accretion:
- Expected run-rate synergies of at least $235 million.
- Transaction multiple of 0.7 times revenue, approximately one third the average of recent airline transactions.
Conditions to Close:

Approval by regulatory authorities and Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. shareholders.
Expected to close in 12-18 months, with the combined organization based in Seattle under the leadership of Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci.