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U.S. fines 6 airlines $7.5 million and force them to refund customers

U.S. fines 6 airlines $7.5 million and forces them to refund customers. Includes Air India, Aeromexico,

The DGCA penalized Air India $37K and suspended the pilot for 3 months for improper handling of the Peegate issue.

Officials from the federal government announced on Monday that Frontier Airlines and four foreign carriers have agreed to refund more than $600 million to travellers whose travels have been postponed or considerably delayed as a result of the pandemic.

Jet Airways CEO Gives Sassy Reply to Man Who Asked For 2019 Cancelled Flight Refund(Opens in a new browser tab)

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According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, it also fined the same airlines more than $7 million for their long refund delays that violated consumer protection laws.

When the airlines cancelled large number of flights after the epidemic hit the U.S. in early 2020, customers rushed the agency with thousands of complaints about their inability to get refunds. 
It was by far the most common type of complaint.

Frontier Airlines, based in Denver, is returning $222 million and paying a $2.2 million civil penalty, according to the government. The Transportation Department announced that TAP Portugal would refund $126.5 million and pay a $1.1 million fine, Air India would pay $121.5 million in refunds and a $1.4 million fine, Aeromexico would pay $13.6 million and a $900,000 fine, Israel’s El Al would pay $61.9 million and a $900,000 fine, and Colombia’s Avianca would pay $76.8 million and a $750,000 fine.

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Air India to take legal action and impose fine on unruly passengers, to charge Rs 5 lakh for 1 hour delay(Opens in a new browser tab)

According to Blane Workie, the assistant general counsel for the Transportation Department’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, there won’t be any penalties for other U.S. airlines because they responded “shortly after” the department reminded them in April 2020 of their duty to make prompt refunds.

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“We have no open cases involving other U.S. carriers. On the same call as Buttigieg, Workie stated that the cases that remain are against foreign airlines. Consumer activists were unsatisfied, claiming that the main US airlines also breached refund policies, even if they took corrective action more rapidly.

On customer refunds for airlines, the Department has also suggested stronger regulations. According to the DOT, consumers can file air travel consumer complaints online. http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm or by voicemail at (202)-366-2220.

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Aerospace

Korean Air to open Asia’s largest aircraft engine MRO cluster

Korean Air to open Asia’s largest aircraft engine MRO cluster

Korean Air has started building an aircraft engine maintenance cluster at Incheon International Airport in Unbuk. The facility is expected to be operational by 2027.

This new complex, which will be the biggest of its kind in Asia, will strengthen the airline’s capacity to maintain aircraft engines and secure its place in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry.

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Over 140,000 square metres are divided into seven levels of the new engine maintenance facility. The 578 billion won facility is being built by Kolon Global, and it will be positioned next to the Engine Test Cell (ETC) that the airline has been using since 2016.

Engine maintenance was traditionally handled by Korean Air at its Bucheon facility, with additional final performance testing conducted at the ETC in Unbuk. By centralised all stages of engine maintenance at one location, the engine maintenance cluster will strategically consolidate and streamline this process, improving operational efficiency.

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Additionally, Korean Air plans to greatly improve its capacity to service aircraft engines, increasing from 100 to 360 each year, and servicing a wider range of engine types. Six engine models are now overhauled by the airline: General Electric’s GE90-115B, CFM International’s CFM56, and Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000 and GTF.

Three additional engine models, including GE’s GEnx and CFMI’s LEAP-1B, are being added to the lineup as part of the expansion. Additionally, the prospect of maintaining Asiana Airlines’ engines—including the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB powering the Airbus A350—is being investigated by the carrier. In order to increase the competitiveness of the domestic aircraft MRO business and lessen reliance on foreign maintenance services, the new maintenance cluster is anticipated to create over 1,000 new jobs.

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Defence Ministry inks Rs 2,890 crore contract for upgrade of 25 Dornier aircraft

Defence Ministry inks Rs 2,890 crore contract for upgrade of 25 Dornier aircraft

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on March 15, 2024 for Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy at a cost of Rs.2,890 cr.

The MLU for Dornier Aircraft includes an upgrade to incorporate state-of-the-art Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors. The upgrade would significantly enhance the operational capability of the Dornier aircraft of the Indian Navy to perform Primary Roles of Maritime Surveillance, Coastal Surveillance, Electronic Intelligence, and the development of Maritime Domain Awareness. In addition, this upgrade will also enable Indian Navy Dorniers to carry out Secondary Roles of Search and Rescue, Medical/Casualty Evacuation, and Communication Link.

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The Indian-built Dornier is set to undergo aircraft upgrades for future operations. Currently utilized solely for defense purposes, it has now secured new operations under the Air India umbrella, expanding its usage to commercial aircraft as well. Being one of the most economical aircraft for any airline, it’s advantageous due to its Indian origin and suitability for short routes and rugged terrains such as mountains or seas. The D228 aircraft has also established itself as a benchmark for operations, requiring less maintenance compared to other aircraft

Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft is likely to generate an employment of 1.8 Lakh Man- days during its execution span of 6.5 years. The indigenous upgrade entails supply of major systems and equipments from indigenous sources thus significantly contributing towards “Atmanirbharta” in Defence, in consonance with Make-in-India initiative of Government of India.

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Boeing’s three New Crises Spark Concerns, Focuses on Resolving Quality Concerns

Boeing's Two New Crises Spark Concerns, Putting Boeing in Trouble

In a troubling turn of events for aviation giant Boeing, a series of incidents involving its aircraft have raised significant concerns and prompted urgent actions from both the company and airlines.

These new issues have put Boeing back in the news and made regulators and the public pay even more attention to what’s going on.

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LATAM Boeing 787 cockpit seat

One of the most alarming incidents involves Boeing’s flagship 787 Dreamliner jets. Following a report linking an accidental cockpit seat movement to a sudden plunge experienced by a LATAM Airlines plane en route to New Zealand, Boeing swiftly responded by recommending airlines to inspect switches on pilots’ seats.

The company’s directive, issued on Friday, underscores the gravity of the situation, with safety considerations taking precedence. Boeing’s recommendation advises airlines to examine the motorized boeing 787 Dreamliner cockpit seats during maintenance routines and provides instructions on disabling seat-moving motors. This precautionary measure comes in the wake of an incident where 50 individuals were injured during a flight drop, believed to be caused by seat movement.

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United Airlines Boeing 737

Moreover, another unsettling incident emerged involving a boeing 737 Oregon, United Airlines flight operated by a Boeing 737-800. Upon landing at Medford Airport in Oregon, a fuselage panel was discovered missing from the aircraft. Although the flight proceeded smoothly and landed as scheduled, the absence of the external panel raises significant safety questions.

United Airlines has pledged to conduct a thorough examination of the plane and address any necessary repairs before returning it to service. The incident adds to Boeing’s growing list of challenges, further amplifying concerns about the integrity and maintenance of its aircraft. The narrative surrounding these incidents evokes a sense of unease within the aviation industry and among the traveling public.

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The revelation that a seat switch malfunction could potentially lead to a catastrophic event underscores the importance of rigorous safety protocols and oversight. Boeing’s response, coupled with United Airlines’ commitment to addressing the issue promptly, highlights the collaborative efforts necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of commercial air travel.

A statement from United stated that an external Boeing panel had been discovered missing from the aircraft after it had been parked at the gate. The statement also stated that United will be performing a “thorough examination of the plane and completing all the needed repairs before it returns to service.”

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In addition to six crew members, United reported that the aircraft was carrying 139 passengers. At 10:20 a.m., according to the airline tracking website Flight Aware, the flight left San Francisco and arrived in Medford early, landing at 11:36 a.m.


John Barnett, aged 62, a Boeing whistleblower who bravely reported on the poor quality conditions at Boeing facilities, tragically passed away, reportedly due to suicide. However, a close family friend disputes this narrative, asserting that Barnett had expressed concerns about his safety and had foreseen his demise. This unsettling development has left Barnett’s family and friends deeply troubled, leading to suspicions regarding the circumstances of his death. These suspicions have prompted a response from Boeing, as questions arise about the company’s responsibility and potential involvement in Barnett’s passing.

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Comac is set to fly to five Southeast Asian countries for a C919 and ARJ21 demonstration tour

Comac is set to fly to five Southeast Asian countries for a C919 and ARJ21 demonstration tour

Following the successful debut of the COMAC aircraft at the Singapore Airshow 2024, the company has secured new branding rights for its products in the Southeast Asian aviation market. According to sources, the airline is directing its aircraft displays to Malaysia.

A static display and demonstration flight featuring the China-manufactured commercial aircraft C919 and ARJ21 were held on Wednesday at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia’s Selangor state.

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The event showcased the brand-new C919 and ARJ21 aircraft, both quietly competing in the narrow-body segment market and slightly challenging the Boeing 737 and A320 family aircraft. The ARJ is tailored for regional airports with shorter routes.

C919 and ARJ21’s five-country tour.

This event concluded the C919 and ARJ21’s five-country Southeast Asian demonstration flight tour, which included visits to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

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COMAC is actively seeking an international market alongside China. Currently, the company has amassed over 1100 aircraft orders for the COMAC C919 aircraft.

Throughout the demonstration flights and static displays, the aircraft manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) conducted a series of product promotion activities targeting potential customers.

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Furthermore, the company aims to expand its airline network in these countries by obtaining regular licenses from their respective national aerospace authorities.

The purpose of the tour was to evaluate the aircraft’s adaptability to various airports and routes in the five countries, assess the ground service equipment’s suitability, test special flight procedures’ feasibility, and highlight the economic viability of these routes. COMAC stated that demonstration flights would lay the groundwork for future market development in Southeast Asia.

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ARJ21 can carry 97 seats and C919- 192 seats.

The ARJ21 regional aircraft is designed to accommodate 78-97 passengers with a flight range of 2,225-3,700 kilometers. Meanwhile, the C919 jetliner offers a layout for 158-192 seats and a range of 4,075-5,555 kilometers, as per the company’s specifications.

The C919 completed its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023. Since then, China Eastern Airlines, its inaugural customer, has received five C919 aircraft, operating round-trip flights on Shanghai-Beijing and Shanghai-Chengdu routes. COMAC reports that it has safely transported over 140,000 passengers to date.

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