The month of October is
usually about preparation in the world of aviation. Airlines usually spend the month
getting ready for the winter holidays.
Usually.
This year, the month has
been characterized by
the serious and the
bizarre.
Get ready for the
holidays.
NTSB Criticizes FAA
It was a rare moment of
public infighting among government agencies. The National Transportation Safety
Board criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for
not taking safety issues seriously enough.
More Guns Detected
A staggering number of
firearms were detected by airport security. More than 5,000 weapons were
discovered through
the first nine months of this year, according to the
Transportation Security Administration. And that number was actually down
compared to last year.
Smart Move by Cancun Airport
Call it a reversal of
fortune. The Cancun International Airport rescinded
its policy to charge extra fees for multiple electronic devices.
Disastrous Third Quarter
for Boeing
Things are getting worse
before they get better for the Boeing company. The airplane manufacturer
suffered a terrible
financial third quarter.
Boffo Ticket Sales
This is welcome news for
airlines. Ticket sales
in the month of September reached a whopping $8 billion. The
announcement was made in early October.
American Suffers Heavy Fine
Now, this is a huge
penalty. American Airlines has
been fined $50 million for its mistreatment of disabled
passengers.
Boeing Acknowledges Eroding Confidence
This was the first step.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg acknowledged
that there is eroding confidence in the company.
Reconstituted Southwest Board
Southwest Airlines reconstructed
its board of directors after pressure from an investor.
Strike Continues
The strike by some 33,000
machinists at Boeing continues
after the union rejected a contract proposal.
DOT Calls for Investigation
The Department of
Transportation, in conjunction with the Justice Department, has
called for an investigation of competitive pricing in the
airline industry.
New Airplane Category
Given the rise in
popularity of the development of air taxis, the Federal Aviation Administration
is introducing
a new category of airplane for the first time in nearly
90 years.
Another Merger
Possibility
Severe financial
troubles at Spirit Airlines have caused the airline to look again
at Frontier for a possible merger. Spirit already said it is selling some
plains and will have to make job cuts.
The Ice Cream Was Too
Cold
A woman has filed a
lawsuit against JetBlue Airways. The reason? She said she
was served ice cream that was too cold, and she broke an
incisor.
American Airlines Tackles Gate Lice
A growing issue in the
industry has been the swarm of people at the gate preparing for their flight
and bypassing their called group. It is known as gate lice. American Airlines is
trying to tackle the problem.
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