Top Airline and Airport Travel Stories From January

The new year started with some significant news in aviation.

A side panel literally blew off an Alaska Airlines plane during midflight and had to make an emergency landing, triggering an investigation of airplane manufacturer Boeing. Its 737 Max 9 was grounded for almost three weeks in the aftermath.

Also, a federal judge sided with the Department of Justice and blocked a merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines. He said that such an alliance would violate antitrust laws and raise fares and eliminate competition.

The ruling all but kills a $3.8 billion deal between the two carriers and leaves many wondering what is going to happen to a financially burdened Spirit.

Here are some other top headlines from the month.

The door panel on an Alaska Airlines plane blew off mid-flight. Thankfully nobody was injured. The Boeing 737 Max 9 plane was then grounded and the FAA began to investigate. 

After a lengthy trial, a federal judge finally came down with his ruling on the proposed merger between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.

 

This is definitely not a good look for the agency. An assistant director for the Transportation Security Administration was arrested – in an airport, no less – for falsifying documents.

 

For some reason, people still try to bring guns on an airplane. The Transportation Security Administration announced that it seized a record number of firearms in 2023.

 

Is a possible union coming to Breeze Airways? If flight attendants have their way, there will be one. The carrier’s flight attendants have filed a petition and will ask to unionize.

 

A stockholder in Hawaiian Airlines has filed a lawsuit. He is looking to block the potential merger with Alaska Airlines.

 

A significant piece of history for Japan Airlines. The carrier has named a former flight attendant as its first female President.

 

It’s an honor for a long-running United States Senator. San Francisco International Airport said it will rename its international terminal after longtime California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

 

Proving that not even a near-tragedy is beyond the scope of excoriating, the venerable sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live was up to its old tricks. The show gave Alaska Airlines its usual sarcastic treatment and even suggested a new motto.

 

With a possible merger with Alaska Airlines still pending, Hawaiian Airlines has bolstered its schedule in key United States destinations.

 

In a trend you may have noticed for a while, shrinking seat sizes on airplanes and decreased legroom are a concern for frequent flyers.

 

Alaska Airlines resumed flying the Boeing 737 Max 9 after the plane was grounded for almost three weeks. The chief operating officer of the airline even took a seat that was next to the door panel that blew off the plane.

 

After a federal judge sided with the Department of Justice and blocked a potential merger between JetBlue and Spirit, JetBlue said it was going to reevaluate its position. That caused the Spirit stocks to tumble and the rumblings of the merger being terminated soon.