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.

Southwest Airlines employee charged in $1.9M voucher-selling scheme

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

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

Soon, Air India aircraft will feature onboard WiFi & all-new cabins: Click here

“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

Air India’s First A350-900: Interior, Routes, &Inflight Features: Click here

This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.