Airlines

Qantas Airways Airbus A380 returns to the skies

Qantas Airways Airbus A380 returns to the skies: Qantas Airways expects all of its twelve Airbus A380s to return to the skies by 2024, if international demand returns earlier than expected then the superjumbos can be reactivate within three to six months. A signal of confidence that demand for global air travel will recover and make the superjumbo viable again.

“We think we will reactivate all of the A380s. We spent a lot of money on them,” Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said at a CAPA Live virtual conference Wednesday. “Once demand is there, they’re going to be good aircraft.” Qantas Airways grounded all its A380s in June at California’s arid the Mojave Desert, saying they’d be useless for at least three years.

The fall of the aviation industry during the pandemic left many aircraft to death, therefore many airlines switched to smaller planes. Deutsche Lufthansa AG has warned that its A380s may never fly again and Air France-KLM said last year it would phase its fleet out early. Emirates, the biggest A380 customer, has said its fleet could return next year after vaccines have rolled out globally.

Joyce stuck to a plan to restart almost all of Qantas’s overseas routes from the end of October, Vaccine passports are the only way to restart global travel, he said. Even though Australia’s own vaccination program has been delayed beyond that date.

Qantas preparing 122 flights, New Zealand opens skies for Australia

Related Topics:A380 airbus Boeing covid-19 qantas

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.