Airlines

US judge orders Southwest to reinstate flight attendant who sued the airline

The lady had said that the company and her union had planned to terminate her for expressing her opposition to abortion.

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A federal judge reduced a flight attendant’s $5.1 million jury award to approximately $800,000, but she was still required to be rehired by Southwest Airlines. The lady had said that the company and her union had planned to terminate her for expressing her opposition to abortion.

Charlene Carter, a former flight attendant, claimed Southwest and Transport Workers Union Local 556 violated her rights by firing her after she sent the union’s former president confrontational anti-abortion messages. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr ruled that Southwest must reinstate Carter.

Carter claimed she was fired after sending strongly worded texts to the president of the flight attendants’ union, complaining that the official had attended the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2017. She termed the union leader “despicable.”

The president of Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union did not respond to that and other messages, but Southwest summoned Carter to a meeting and later fired her. In July, a Dallas jury found in Carter’s favour and ordered Southwest to pay Carter $4.15 million while the union was ordered to pay $950,000.

This week, the judge decreased the amount of the award to $300,000 in compensation and punitive damages for Southwest and $300,000 for the union, as well as $150,000 in back wages and nearly $60,000 in interest.

This Monday, the judge used a statement from a Southwest advertisement when he ordered the company to restore Carter. “Bags fly free with Southwest. “However, free expression did not fly with Southwest in this situation,” Starr wrote.

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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.