All posts tagged: Airline

Trump wants do-over of failed airline fantasy — at taxpayers’ expense

Trump wants do-over of failed airline fantasy — at taxpayers’ expense

Published by Sam Flores

It looks like Donald Trump is taking on yet another side gig. In addition to his day jobs running the most powerful nation on earth, overseeing his family’s fortune and serving as general contractor for the rebuilding of the White House and Washington, D.C., he is taking on yet another full-time responsibility. The president plans to take over America’s worst airline, turn it around and sell it for a profit. If there’s a more perfect illustration of the Trump era, I don’t know what it would be. Hemorrhaging cash and in bankruptcy court, Spirit Airlines is on the brink of liquidation. The nation’s largest budget airline has been struggling for years and has been forced to drastically downsize by selling planes and cutting routes. With the federal government reportedly close to stepping in with a $500 million bailout plan, Trump apparently wants to buy it outright and run it.  The president does, after all, have experience with bankrupt airlines. Nearly 40 years ago, he ran one into the ground. The president does, after all, have …

Marissa Bode has update about airline that denied her boarding

Marissa Bode has update about airline that denied her boarding

Published by Sam Flores

Marissa Bode says the airline that recently kept her from boarding a flight because she was disabled has reached out to her. “Before there’s any more media coverage on this situation, I wanted to make an update video,” the “Wicked” star said in a TikTok video posted Sunday. “I was contacted by the director of Southern [Airways] within the mobility department.” According to Bode, who played Elphaba’s sister Nessarose in Jon M. Chu’s musical duology, the airline’s director “was mortified” about what happened and was also “very apologetic” and “very understanding.” The actor was informed that the company is conducting an internal review of the situation, especially since, as Bode has repeatedly mentioned, her manager had called the airline in advance to confirm accommodations could be made before booking her travel. Bode added that the airline is staying in contact with her to figure out how it can improve in the future. “I told [the director] on the phone, I don’t want money out of this,” Bode said. “I truly, truly just want it to …

Trump breaks silence on ‘helping out’ major airline on brink of plunging into liquidation | World | News

Trump breaks silence on ‘helping out’ major airline on brink of plunging into liquidation | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

Donald Trump commented on a major airline facing difficulties, suggesting he wouldn’t be against a merger or even seeing the federal government helping it out. The US President said the government could help Spirits Airlines, which is struggling and facing liquidation. Speaking to CNBC’s, Mr Trump said: “I don’t mind mergers. I think I’d love somebody to buy Spirit, as an example. You know, Spirit’s in trouble. … Maybe the federal government should help that one out.” Spirit has already sought government aid from Mr Trump administration in recent days, according to people familiar with the matter, as reported by CNBC, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is planning to meet with several discount carriers to discuss the impact higher fuel is having on airlines. Jet fuel costs, skyrocketing after the war in Iran, played a part in the difficulties recently experienced by Spirit Airlines too. Quoting JPMorgan, CNBC said that if fuel stays at about $4.60 a gallon this year, Spirit’s forecast operating margin for the 2026 fiscal year would range from negative 7 per …

Major airline plunges into administration with flights cancelled – in business since 2002 | World | News

Major airline plunges into administration with flights cancelled – in business since 2002 | World | News

Published by Sam Flores

In this photo taken on October 9, 2021, a Singapore Airlines (SIA) passenger plane prepares for landing at Changi Airport in Singapore. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP) (Photo by ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: AFP via Getty) A major airline has collapsed into administration, with all of its flights brought to a standstill. More than 3,000 passengers have been left in limbo after Royal Air Philippines was compelled to cancel all of its commercial flights. Between 3,000 and 4,000 passengers holding bookings from January through March were reportedly stranded, and are now pursuing refunds and alternative travel arrangements. Read more: Three airlines plunge into administration or liquidation – all flights cancelled Read more: ‘I’m a consumer expert – here’s what to do if airline cancels your flight’ Royal Air Philippines CEO Eduardo Novillas had already flagged sluggish demand weeks earlier, cautioning that the carrier would suspend commercial flights by January 4 in a letter to a travel agency ahead of Christmas, Philstar reported. He pointed to “significantly low” interest from key markets. Asian …

Airline offers bunk beds in economy, but no cuddling allowed

Airline offers bunk beds in economy, but no cuddling allowed

Published by Sam Flores

Sleep on a long-haul flight in economy class has always been a fantasy for many travelers. Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed wearing special socks. The airline will soon open bookings for four-hour stints in the Skynest sleep pods and says they will be the first lie-flat beds for budget air travelers. Fliers will get cozy with their fellow passengers, however, so crumbs, strong perfumes and bedsharing are forbidden. The curtained berths will be available to economy and premium economy fliers on the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from November. The planes will service the Auckland to New York route, which is one of the world’s longest commercial flights and leaves economy passengers sitting upright for a marathon 16 to 18 hours. Instead, travelers will have the option of a pre-booked four-hour spot in a curtained pod, with costs starting from 495 New Zealand dollars ($291) on top of the price of their economy tickets. But use of the six pods, arranged in a …

Major UK airline plunges into liquidation – all flights cancelled | UK | News

Major UK airline plunges into liquidation – all flights cancelled | UK | News

Published by Sam Flores

A British airline has collapsed into liquidation following a reported attempt to raise £20million. Scottish firm Ecojet Airlines had been heralded as the world’s first all-electric airline, established in 2023 by entrepreneur Dale Vince, a prominent Labour donor and owner of Forest Green Rovers football club. The airline harboured ambitious plans for long-haul flights and European routes, with an initial service from Edinburgh to Southampton mapped out. However, a petition was brought before Edinburgh Sheriff Court to wind up the business and appoint joint interim liquidators, according to documents from the end of January. At the time of launch, Mr Vince stated: “This is a vital frontier in the move to net zero, green living, whatever you choose to call it – and it’s absolutely doable. It’s a matter of when, not if.” The Herald reports that Paul Dounis and Mark Harper, of Opus Restructuring, were appointed as provisional liquidators. Opus confirmed the action followed a “voluntary liquidation initiated by the company’s board.” It added: “Ecojet was a start-up business and has no material assets. …

UBS Eyes Possible Bottom In Airline Stocks After Bear Market

UBS Eyes Possible Bottom In Airline Stocks After Bear Market

Published by Jenni Sidey

The S&P 500 Passenger Airlines Index has tumbled into a bear market since Operation Epic Fury unleashed flight disruptions across the Middle East and sent Jet A fuel prices sharply higher, with Deutsche Bank warning the fuel price shock could become an “existential threat” for the weakest carriers. The key question now is whether the worst of the selloff in US airline stocks is over, with UBS analysts beginning to ask if a bottom is near.   UBS analyst Atul Maheswari said that “most airlines will likely point 1Q towards the midpoint of the guidance” in the earnings season, adding, “Fuel spiked in early March, but airlines tend to hold two weeks of fuel inventory, implying higher fuel will impact only about 15 days of 1Q.” “This should cushion the drag to 1Q EPS. Plus, airlines have been talking up demand through the course of the quarter, suggesting upside to 1Q RASM. With respect to FY guide, we expect airlines to suspend FY’26 outlook given the significant uncertainty around fuel costs for the rest of …

‘DM your details’: Travellers warned of scam airline accounts as Iran war disrupts flights | Scams

‘DM your details’: Travellers warned of scam airline accounts as Iran war disrupts flights | Scams

Published by Sam Flores

Your flight has been delayed as a result of the Middle East crisis and you want to find out what’s happening, so you go online for an answer. You find a social media account run by the airline you are booked with and post a question, and get a reply offering help. You’re asked to send a direct message with details, which seems reasonable. A conversation starts and you are told to give your phone number as you may be due compensation. This is where it all starts going wrong: instead of being given money, you have it taken. Although it looked official, the account that replied was a scam. Fake airline accounts are not new but scammers have leapt on the disruption caused by the Iran war to target people around the world, setting up scams in the names of the carriers most affected by the crisis. Santander says it has already heard from customers who were caught up in cancellations and delays – and then caught out by fraudsters. On the social media …

Bailiffs board Ryanair plane after airline refuses to pay delayed flight compensation | Ryanair

Bailiffs board Ryanair plane after airline refuses to pay delayed flight compensation | Ryanair

Published by Sam Flores

Bailiffs have boarded a Ryanair aircraft after the airline refused to pay compensation to a passenger whose flight was delayed. Austrian officials took action after the budget carrier ignored a court order to pay the unnamed woman €890 (£742) in legal costs and compensation for a delayed flight two years ago. A bailiff entered the plane, which was bound for London, as it sat on the stand at Linz airport on Monday and fixed a seizure sticker to the cabin when crew were unable to settle the debt. The label, known as a “cuckoo sticker”, gives the court legal control over the aircraft, which was allowed to continue to operate under set conditions. The court can sell the Boeing 737 at public auction if the debt is not paid by a deadline. The dispute began in 2024 when a flight from Linz to the Spanish island of Mallorca was delayed by 13 hours. A passenger who was forced to pay for an alternative flight claimed a refund of her expenses and compensation under aviation regulations. …

Trump Department Responsible for Airline Safety Using AI to Write New Regulations, So They Can Be Churned Out as Fast as Possible

Trump Department Responsible for Airline Safety Using AI to Write New Regulations, So They Can Be Churned Out as Fast as Possible

Published by José Betancourt

Illustration by Tag Hartman-Simkins / Futurism. Source: Getty Images The Department of Defense might be the first government agency to roll out a department-wide AI chatbot, but the Department of Transportation is about to be the first to draft actual binding regulations with the tech. According to a new investigation by ProPublica, the top transportation agency has tapped Google Gemini to help write new regulations affecting aviation, automotive, railroad, and maritime safety. In internal communications from DoT attorney Daniel Cohen, agency staffers were presented with the plan along with a demonstration of AI’s “potential to revolutionize the way we draft rulemakings.” The AI demonstration, Cohen enthused, would show off “exciting new AI tools available to DOT rule writers to help us do our job better and faster.” His focus, disturbingly, was explicitly that AI is fast, even if it isn’t particularly accurate. “We don’t need the perfect rule on XYZ. We don’t even need a very good rule on XYZ,” DoT general counsel Gregory Zerzan said, according to the recent meeting notes obtained by ProPublica. …