Aviation

Weather Alert: Check Your Flight Status at Hobby and Bush During Storm Beryl

Houston’s major airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, faced significant disruptions on Sunday evening as Tropical Storm Beryl began to impact the area. The airports reported delays and warned travelers to anticipate possible cancellations.

Potential Flight Impacts

Travelers were advised that flight delays and cancellations were possible not only for flights directly affected by the storm but also for those departing to or arriving from destinations outside of Beryl’s direct path. This is due to the broader impact the storm has on airline schedules and routes.

Airport Operations and Safety Measures

Houston Airports emphasized that the safety of passengers and staff is their top priority. They acknowledged the potential disruption to travel plans and committed to keeping travelers informed. Depending on the severity of the storm, airport operations could experience further impacts.

Stay Informed

Travelers were encouraged to check the status of their flights regularly. For up-to-date information on on-time, delayed, and canceled flights, passengers can check the following links:

By staying informed and checking flight statuses frequently, travelers can better manage their plans and ensure their safety during Tropical Storm Beryl.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.