Airlines

Spirit Airlines employees charged in $238,000 reservation scheme

A scam to make money off travellers looking for lower-cost flights was accused of by three former Spirit Airlines employees.

According to the indictment filed by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, two reservation agents with offices in Pennsylvania And their manager allegedly encouraged customers to book inexpensive flights in the future, then changed the customer’s reservation to a more expensive flight for free without charging the airline’s change fee. Instead, the agents would allegedly charge customers via CashApp a “commission” and keep the money for themselves.

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The fraud allegedly cost the airline more than $238,000 in fees for more than 1,700 flights between December 2017 and August 2018. Based on the allegations, these individuals cheated the airline reservation system and stole money from the top, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero.

Although Spirit Airlines is not mentioned by name in the indictment, it does state that the three employees accused of the plan worked for “a large U.S. airline located in Florida.”

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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.

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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.

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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.