Airline News

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2024 – United Airlines has signed a groundbreaking agreement with SpaceX to provide Starlink’s high-speed Wi-Fi service across its fleet, marking the largest deal of its kind in the airline industry. The move will deliver free, fast, and reliable inflight internet to passengers on United's mainline and regional aircraft.

Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program has been named the best airline rewards system globally, according to a new ranking by Point.me, a company specializing in searching award availability across airlines. The rankings, which evaluated 62 airlines, placed Air Canada’s Aeroplan and United’s MileagePlus in second and third, respectively.

Two Delta planes collided Tuesday morning on a taxiway at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, causing damage but no injuries. A Delta Airbus A350 bound for Tokyo clipped the tail of a smaller Bombardier CRJ-900 regional jet, which was preparing to take off for Lafayette, Louisiana. The smaller aircraft, operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air, had its tail knocked over by the impact.

Devices powered by lithium-ion batteries have been overheating more frequently during airline flights, according to a report released by UL Standards on September 9. The study showed a 28% rise in overheating incidents between 2019 and 2023, though such occurrences remain uncommon.

Europe's aviation safety regulator, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), has issued a directive requiring airlines to conduct one-time inspections of fuel hoses on specific Airbus A350 aircraft. The decision follows an in-flight engine fire aboard a Cathay Pacific A350-1000 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines on September 1, 2023. The fire occurred shortly after the plane took off from Hong Kong, bound for Zurich.

United Airlines flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, with more than 90% of union members in the airline's chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) participating in the vote. The result showed near-unanimous support for the strike authorization.

With a potential pilots' strike looming as early as September 17, Air Canada has announced a waiver on change fees and fare differences for travelers with itineraries around that date. This move comes as negotiations between the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the airline enter a critical three-week cooling-off period, mandated by Canadian law, which began on August 27 and ends on September 17.

Federal safety officials have mandated inspections of cockpit seats on Boeing 787 Dreamliners following an alarming incident where one of the jets suddenly dove when the captain's seat unexpectedly lurched forward, disengaging the autopilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will require operators of 787s to inspect both pilot seats for missing or cracked caps that cover a crucial switch controlling seat movement. The inspection order, set to be published on Wednesday, affects 158 planes registered in the United States.

Delta Air Lines has introduced a new perks program tailored specifically for SkyMiles members who identify as business travelers. The "Delta Business Traveler" program is designed for business owners, corporate travelers, and employees of small- to medium-sized companies who travel for work, even on an occasional basis.

Portland International Airport (PDX) has officially opened the first phase of its expansive new main terminal, part of a $2.15 billion renovation project. This initial segment features a variety of upgrades designed to enhance the passenger experience, including revamped check-in areas, wider TSA security screening zones equipped with advanced technology, and larger public spaces, including a pre-security area complete with stadium seating.