Airlines
This is How Alaska Airlines is prepping for winter storms
Everyone knows snow can make the holidays extra cozy. But it can also cause headaches for people traveling during the ‘most wonderful time of the year.’
Peek inside Alaska Airlines’ first 737-800 retrofit(Opens in a new browser tab)
Pacific Northwest forecasts are calling for the possibility of snow beginning this weekend and continuing throughout the week. We could see up to three separate snowstorms that could span rain/snow showers to snow actually accumulating on the ground.
How should I proceed if an aircraft is about to crash?(Opens in a new browser tab)
At Alaska, it prepared to pull every lever to get you to your holiday destination, but disruptions from the snow and ice do happen. While team is working hard to get guests where they need to go, we want to share some of the reasons why we do what we do:
Why do the impacts feel worse in Seattle?
Seattle is Alaska’s hometown, and operations represent the largest percentage (by a wide margin) of departures and arrivals at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) compared to other airlines. Because of this, more of guests are impacted when something impacts operations at Seattle. If another airline’s main hub got hit with a snowstorm, hurricane or power outage, they would be disproportionately impacted.
For context, SEA has a very small footprint by acreage compared to other metropolitan airports. This constrains ability to deice entire schedule of flights in wintry weather. Because the space doesn’t allow for that type of volume, they have to thin out their schedule to keep planes moving.
Why do we cancel flights before snow arrives?
We use numerous tools and resources to help us predict the weather. When forecasts tell us to expect snow or ice, we know we need to act. Freezing temperatures and precipitation mean that we need to deice aircraft before they can safely fly. Much like putting chains or studded tires on your car before hitting a snowy road, deicing aircraft slows down operation. This means we can’t move normal number of aircraft into and out of the airport. In order to reduce traffic jams, they need to proactively cancel flights from schedule so they can keep as many aircraft moving as possible.
If need to cancel flights, they try and let impacted guests know as early as possible. This means it could look clear and beautiful outside, but your flight tomorrow may have been canceled.
Why does an airplane need to be deiced?
Whenever there’s any snowfall or ice on aircraft, it begin deicing procedures as part of safety protocol. Aircraft cannot safely operate if there is snow or ice accumulation on the wings or tails, so it’s critical that remove it before takeoff.
It has a full fleet of trucks, equipment and personnel across stations ready to do that work, along with a well-stocked amount of deicing solution. They work as quickly as the airport and weather conditions will safely allow. However, deicing aircraft at the gate can lead to longer wait times on the tarmac—but safety comes first.
How to be a pro winter traveler
- Download mobile app to check-in, pay for bags and stay up to date on any changes to your reservation—it’s like having a travel agent at your fingertips.
- Always check the status of your flight before heading to the airport. You can do this on mobile app or alaskaair.com.
- Allow extra time to travel to the airport and navigate security.
- Stay up to date on restrictions for unaccompanied minors and pets flying in the cargo hold. Often during winter weather, it will impose these restrictions to keep everyone safe.
What to do if your flight is canceled?
If your flight has been canceled, you will be contacted and reaccommodated on another flight. You will be emailed a special phone number to call if you need further help with your reaccommodation.
Airlines
Emirates Launches world class wine list for 2024
This month, Emirates is launching a new selection of outstanding wines on board its international flights. This year, the airline invested over AED 186 million in wine and champagne.
Emirates has the largest wine cellar of any airline as a result of ongoing and deliberate investments in the onboard experience. The wine is currently housed in specialised facilities in France and numbers about 6 million bottles, some of which won’t be served until 2037.
New fine wines onboard Emirates
Emirates will launch a range of the best white Burgundy wines in the upcoming months, including the esteemed Premier and Grand Crus varieties. Several Bordeaux First Growths, including those from the esteemed estates of Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Cheval Blanc, and Château d’Yquem, will also be released by Emirates in the upcoming years. Emirates currently serves 36 different Champagnes and French wines on board its aircraft.
World-class wines for every cabin class
In Economy Class, Emirates offers one red and one white wine, both of exceptionally high quality. Recent additions include ‘AOP’ and ‘Biodynamic’ wines from M. Chapoutier, Domaines Baron de Rothschild, a South African Sauvignon Blanc from sustainability champion, Gabb family and Antinori Santa Cristina red wine.
Emirates offers sparkling vintage wine, premium red wine, and premium white wine in Premium Economy. Emirates divides its wine selections into six regions for Business and First Class passengers: the UK and USA, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australasia, and Asia. With this strategy, Emirates is able to provide passengers from these regions with wines that closely match their tastes and give them the chance to taste exceptional wines from the area.
Airlines
Britain announces stricter visa norms to reduce migration
Recently, the UK government unveiled a comprehensive five-point plan that fundamentally alters the nation’s immigration laws. An overview of the main ideas and their consequences is given below.
- 1.Minimum Skilled Work Visa Salary Increase:
- Skilled workers applying for visas must now earn a minimum of £38,700, a 47.7% increase from the previous threshold of £26,200.
- The government aims to encourage businesses to prioritize British talent and reduce reliance on migration.
- Health and care workers, as well as those on national pay scales, will have exemptions.
- 2.Minimum Income for Family Visas Increase:
- The minimum income requirement for bringing family members or partners from abroad has increased to £38,700, up from £18,700.
- Family visas are restricted to British or Irish citizens, individuals with settled or pre-settled status, and refugees with protection status.
- 3.Ban on Care Workers Bringing Family Dependents:
- Overseas care workers will no longer be allowed to bring family dependents (spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, and children under 18) to the UK.
- The change aims to address perceived abuse of the health and care visa, with care firms sponsoring visa applications required to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
- 4.End of Discount on Minimum Salary for Shortage Occupation List:
- The lower salary requirements (20% less than the going rate) for jobs on the shortage occupation list, designed to attract skilled workers, will be discontinued.
- The government intends to crack down on cut-price labor from overseas, with a review of the types of jobs on the list.
- 5.Review of Graduate Visa Route:
- The graduate visa route, allowing individuals to stay in the UK for two years after completing a course, will be reviewed to prevent abuse and safeguard the quality of UK higher education.
- This follows earlier measures to tighten rules on overseas students bringing family members to the UK.
- 6.Healthcare Surcharge and Visa Application Fee Increases:
- The immigration health surcharge, the annual fee visa holders pay for NHS access, will rise by 66% from £624 to £1,035.
- Visa application fees have already increased, affecting work and visit visas (15%), family visas, settlement, and citizenship (20%), and student visas (35%).
These changes, which are scheduled to take effect in the upcoming months, are intended to prioritise homegrown talent, reshape the immigration landscape of the UK, and address perceived problems with the current system. But they’ve also brought up issues and problems for those affected by the new rules, like families and students.
Airlines
Air India Revamps Aircraft Plans: Alters Order for 250 Airbus Jets
According to sources, Air India, which earlier this year made an order with Airbus for 250 aircraft, has revised the agreement to include more A321neo aircraft.
Air India revised its contract with Airbus and will now purchase 140 A321neo and 70 A320neo. The deal for 40 A350s has also been modified.
The source further stated that Air India had modified the order from six A350-900 and 34 A350-1000 aircraft to twenty A350-900 and twenty A350-1000 aircraft. We frequently assess our orders depending on business needs and possibilities, and we make the necessary revisions to the contract, according to an Air India representative. “It is up to our customers to disclose this strategy.
While narrow-body aircraft are mostly used for domestic travel, they can also be utilised for short- and medium-haul international flights, wide-body planes are typically utilized for long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights. Compared to the A320neo, the A321neo can accommodate more people and has a greater range. In a similar vein, the A350-1000 can carry more passengers and go farther than the A350-900.
Air India has placed a combined order for 470 aircraft, of which 250 are with Airbus and the rest 220 were with Boeing. The Boeing order profile for Air India has not changed thus far.
Airlines
SpiceJet plane forced to divert, seized by lessors in Dubai
A SpiceJet flight from Ahmedabad to Dubai was diverted minutes before landing and was taken over by a lessor on November 30, culminating in a dramatic sequence of events.
SpiceJet’s SG 15 took off from Ahmedabad at 12:12 a.m. and flew for three hours before receiving the order to divert to Dubai World Central (DWC), the second and less crowded airport in Dubai, about ten minutes from its original destination, Dubai International Airport. Lessors met the aircraft upon landing, waited for passengers to disembark, and then took control of the aircraft.
In December 2018, the Boeing 737 NG aircraft was leased from Carlyle Aviation Partners. Since then, the aircraft has been grounded, according to data from the flightradar24.com website.
No response was received when a message was sent to a representative of Carlyle Aviation Partners, which acquired a 7.5% share in SpiceJet in February after its $100 million in dues were converted to equity. Industry sources, however, claimed that an engine lessor had secured a court order to ground the aircraft so that the engines could be removed.
In May, several lessors, including Aircastle, Celestial Aviation, Wilmington Trust, and Willis Lease Finance Corporation, filed applications with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to initiate insolvency resolution proceedings against SpiceJet due to outstanding debts. Willis Lease Finance’s argument was recently rejected by the NCLT because it was the administrative agent and servicer acting on behalf of real lessors rather than an actual lessor.
Airlines
Qantas unveils special Christmas themed aircraft.
Qantas is set to spread holiday cheer with the unveiling of their special Christmas-themed aircraft, the QantasLink Q400 ‘Dasher-8’. This festive addition to the airline’s fleet promises to bring a touch of Christmas magic to passengers throughout the month of December.
The Q400, with the registration VH-QOW, has been affectionately christened as ‘Dasher-8’. In a creative twist, the airline’s iconic 737 will also undergo a holiday makeover, becoming ‘Roo-dolph’ for the season. This name cleverly combines the identity of Santa’s lead reindeer with a nod to Qantas’ distinctive ‘Flying Kangaroo’ tail logo.
The grand reveal took place at the QantasLink hangar at Brisbane Airport (BNE) on December 4, 2023. Dasher-8 emerged resplendent in its newly applied livery, featuring a striking design of a large red sleigh and kangaroos. Adding to the festive ambiance, Christmas carols will serenade passengers throughout the boarding process on both Dasher-8 and Roo-Dolph.
Members will now get access to exclusive pre-sales and special offers, as well as new entertainment packages that combine event tickets with flights and accommodations.
To commemorate the introduction of the relationship, Ticketek and Qantas Frequent Flyer have today published three entertainment packages, which are only available at Qantas Experiences.
- The newly announced Jerry Seinfeld Live – Third Sydney Show, Qudos Bank Arena, Sunday 16 June 2024 (including exclusive pre-sale access from 11am today)
- Australia vs West Indies Cricket Test Series, The Gabba, 25 – 29 January 2024
- Lightscape Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens, 14 June – 4 August 2024
Airlines
Boeing asks FAA for MAX 7 certification exemption over Anti-ice issue
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing is seeking an exemption from certain certification standards for its 737 MAX 7 aircraft due to an issue with the engine anti-icing system.
According to an FAA notification sent on December 4, the company, which has intended to begin Max 7 deliveries next year, requested interim exemptions in November as part of its campaign to gain the type’s certification.
Boeing is working on a permanent repair. It is unknown how the issue would influence the Max 7’s certification process, but the exemption request makes it obvious that the company requires further FAA approvals.
As it worked to design adjustments to prevent overheating, the US corporation sought an exemption from certification regulations relating to “the engine nacelle inlet structure and engine anti-ice system on the Model 737-7 airplane” through May 31, 2026.
The FAA has recently authorized the MAX 10 model for flight testing with the granting of a type inspection authorization, despite the problems with the 737-7’s certification.
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