Flight Safety Information - November 14, 2024 No. 227 In This Issue : Incident: American B788 at Miami on Nov 6th 2024, gear door problem : Incident: Cathay Pacific A333 near Hong Kong on Nov 11th 2024, odour in cabin : Incident: Southwest B738 at Orlando on Nov 12th 2024, flaps problems : Airplane makes emergency landing at Sacramento International Airport : Nearly 30 Russian Airlines On Verge Of Bankruptcy; Ukraine War ‘Punches Hole’ In Russian Aviation: Reports : American Airlines Flight Attendant Injured on 737 During Taxing at Miami : CFM Powers 1st A321XLR Commercial Flight : United Airlines Implementing ‘History Making’ Flight Network Expansion In Africa : Another startup focused on supersonic aircraft comes to an end : Which U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots? [November 2024] : Feel Sorry For the Flight Attendants: Iberia’s New A321XLR Long-Haul Jet Features Tiny Galleys That Even Contortionists Would Struggle to Work in : Spirit Airlines can't even tell investors how bad things are : Boeing delivers layoff notices to 17,000 workers amid financial struggles : Calendar of Events Incident: American B788 at Miami on Nov 6th 2024, gear door problem An American Airlines Boeing 787-8, registration N873BB performing flight AA-525 from Miami,FL to New York JFK,NY (USA), was climbing out of Miami's runway 08R when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet reporting they had a gear door problem and needed to return to Miami. The aircraft entered a hold while the crew was working on that issue. The aircraft positioned for an approach to runway 09 and was seen with the left main gear bogie tilted the wrong way, however, landed without further incident on the runway. The aircraft remained on the ground in Miami for 3 days before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=520483fc&opt=0 Incident: Cathay Pacific A333 near Hong Kong on Nov 11th 2024, odour in cabin A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration B-HLU performing flight CX-618 from Bangkok (Thailand) to Hong Kong (China), was descending towards Hong Kong when the crew reported an unidentified odour in the cabin. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Hong Kong's runway 07L. The airline reported there was an unidentified odour in the cabin due to a technical malfunction, the suspected malfunctioning equipment was turned off. The crew prioritized the approach into Hong Kong. The airport reported the crew raised a partial alert due to suspected smoke in the cabin. The aircraft returned to service about 17 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52048020&opt=0 Incident: Southwest B738 at Orlando on Nov 12th 2024, flaps problems A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N8302F performing flight WN-1436 from Austin,TX to Orlando,FL (USA) with 178 people on board, was on final approach to Orlando's runway 36L when the crew initiated a go around advising ATC they had an indication in the cockpit and climbed the aircraft to 5000 feet. The crew subsequently requested delay vectors while working checklists. Finally, about 20 minutes after the go around, the crew advised they needed to do an alternate flaps extension, would be landing with flaps at 15 degrees and told ATC: "you can have the fire trucks roll". The aircraft subsequently landed on runway 34L at a higher than normal speed (about 170 knots over ground) about 30 minutes after the go around. A passenger reported the aircraft went around, the crew announced an issue with the flaps. The aircraft returned to service about 18 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=5204722a&opt=0 Airplane makes emergency landing at Sacramento International Airport SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An airplane made an emergency landing at Sacramento International Airport due to a flap issue, the Sacramento Fire Department said. Fire crews were dispatched to the airport around 8 p.m., prior to the plane landing, officials said. A KCRA 3 viewer told us they observed a number of ambulances and firetrucks arrive at the airport. Sacramento Fire said the plane landed safely and its crews were released after the landing. Flight data shows a Southwest Airlines flight from Oakland to Reno was diverted to SMF, but officials have not confirmed that was the plane. That flight is on a Boeing 737-800. KCRA 3 has reached out to the airport and airline for more information. https://www.kcra.com/article/airplane-emergency-landing-sacramento-international-airport/62900566 Nearly 30 Russian Airlines On Verge Of Bankruptcy; Ukraine War ‘Punches Hole’ In Russian Aviation: Reports In a worrying development for Russia’s aviation sector, 30 Russian airlines, which collectively account for more than 25% of domestic passenger traffic, may face bankruptcy in 2025 due to mounting financial pressures, according to the Russian daily Izvestia. These airlines, particularly small and medium-sized carriers, are struggling with major debt related to leasing foreign aircraft, a situation exacerbated by the economic fallout from international sanctions. Since the imposition of sanctions in 2022, many of these carriers have stopped making payments on leased aircraft, leading to debt accumulation. In response, the Russian government plans to allow these airlines to write off some of these debts in 2025. However, this relief will come with a heavy tax burden. The airlines will be charged a 25% tax on the written-off amounts, which could be too much for some airlines to handle, potentially pushing them out of business. According to Rosaviatsia, more than 30 airlines are engaged in passenger transportation in Russia. The report said that large carriers like Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, and S7 Airlines could weather the storm by purchasing back their leased aircraft using funds from the National Welfare Fund. By the first quarter of 2024, these major players had repurchased 165 of the 400 aircraft previously leased. In contrast, smaller carriers, which lack the financial resources to make similar moves, face an uncertain future. Issues surrounding aircraft maintenance further compound these airlines’ financial struggles. Most Russian airlines previously leased aircraft registered in Bermuda, Ireland, and Europe. After sanctions disrupted access to official maintenance services, airlines were forced to rely on companies from Iran, Turkey, and China, often at much higher costs. The average monthly payment for a used Airbus A320 aircraft ranges from US$80,000 to US$150,000. However, aviation experts point out that taxing these unpaid lease amounts as income is incorrect since a huge portion of these funds are now used on the maintenance of these aircraft. Andrei Patrakov, an aviation expert and founder of RunAvia flight safety service, pointed out that increased maintenance costs severely affect airlines’ financial viability. He added that the imposed tax burden on the written-off debts would further destabilize the industry, as it would be recognized as “non-operating income” and taxed as profit. Russian industry leaders call for amendments to the Tax Code, hoping to mitigate the damaging financial consequences. They propose using the saved funds to maintain the airworthiness of their fleets, thereby ensuring the long-term sustainability of Russia’s aviation sector. Russia’s Struggling Aviation Sector Since March 2022, major Western manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing have suspended aircraft parts and maintenance support, severely damaging Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, the country’s flagship carrier. Since the sanctions took effect, Russia has invested over US$12 billion to sustain its civil aviation industry. This funding has been allocated to aircraft production and airlines’ financial aid. Yet, despite these efforts, the industry remains constrained by significant shortfalls in critical resources, including trained pilots and crews and accessible, reliable aircraft maintenance. The impact of these shortages was felt acutely in late July, when a pilot deficit led to the cancellation of 68 Aeroflot flights out of Sheremetyevo International Airport, with several others postponed, as reported by Aviatorshchina. According to Radio Free Europe, this unprecedented shortage was corroborated by three sources within Russia’s airline industry. To address these gaps, Moscow has ambitious plans to supply Russian airlines with up to 1,000 domestically produced aircraft by 2030. However, production delays remain a major challenge. Sergei Chemezov, head of the state conglomerate Rostec, informed parliament that the mass production of the MS-21 and Superjet New aircraft models has been pushed back, with expected launch dates now set for 2025 and 2026. In addition to domestic efforts, Russia is looking abroad for support. Reports last month indicated that Russia is in talks with several Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, to allow their airlines to operate domestic flights within Russia. Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit confirmed these reports in October 2024. This strategy addresses increasing travel demand and the acute shortage of operational planes. If implemented, this approach may offer limited relief but also highlights the deeper challenges confronting Russia’s aviation sector as it strives to rebuild infrastructure and workforce capabilities amid growing isolation from Western aviation resources. However, there are concerns that Central Asian airlines may be reluctant to participate, fearing potential repercussions from the West in the form of secondary sanctions. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/n-nearly-30-russian-airlines-on-verge/ American Airlines Flight Attendant Injured on 737 During Taxing at Miami One of three flight attendants present on the flight sustained a minor injury. Following this, the attendant required medical attention. MIAMI- A Fort Worth-based American Airlines (AA) flight attendant was injured when a plane was taxing at Miami International Airport (MIA) on November 12, 2024. The incident occurred on American Airlines flight AA2613 from Miami to Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. American Airlines Flight Attendant Injured According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) report, the incident occurred when the plane suddenly stopped by crew on the ground in Miami. One of three flight attendants present on the flight sustained a minor injury. Following this, the attendant required medical attention. According to flightradar24 data, flight AA2613 made a pushback from Gate D8 at 5:43 PM UTC. During taxing, the flight crew made a hard stop, injuring one attendant. The flight was forced to return to the terminal. The crew disembarked and taken for medical care. The airline arranged another crew and they again pushed back at 7:16 PM UTC. Following the incident flight arrived in Moneto Bay with a delay of an hour. The aircraft involved in the incident is a 14.7-year-old Boeing 737, registered as N830NN. We have reached out to American Airlines and they have not responded by the time of publication. Flight Attendant Injury Incidents The flight attendants are facing pretty hard time as yesterday on Lufthansa flight six crew members and five passengers sustained severe injuries requiring hospitalization to some. This occurred on Lufthansa (LH) flight LH511 from Buenos Aires to Frankfurt when it experienced severe turbulence over the Atlantic. Similarly, Spirit Airlines (NK) flight NK951 bound for Haiti was forced to divert to the Dominican Republic on Monday after gang gunfire struck the aircraft as it attempted to land in Port-au-Prince. The flight had departed from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was hit by gunfire at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, where a flight attendant was grazed by a bullet, as reported by the Miami Herald. Following the incident, all flights at the airport were grounded. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a 30-day ban on U.S. airline flights to Haiti after three planes were shot at by gangs, which also led the United Nations to temporarily suspend its flights to the capital, limiting humanitarian aid access. Bullet holes were seen on the interior of the Spirit Airlines plane in images and videos obtained by the Associated Press. On Tuesday, JetBlue (B6) and American Airlines confirmed that their planes departing Port-au-Prince on Monday also sustained gunfire damage. American Airlines subsequently suspended flights to the city until February 12. This gunfire incident occurred amid an upsurge in violence in Haiti, which has been heavily impacted by gang-related unrest. The wave of attacks coincided with the swearing-in of a new prime minister after a period of political turmoil. U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric reported that the agency documented 20 armed clashes and numerous roadblocks that further disrupted humanitarian operations on Monday. https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2024/11/13/american-airlines-flight-attendant-injured-at-miami/ CFM Powers 1st A321XLR Commercial Flight CFM International congratulates Iberia on the entry into service of the first Airbus A321XLR, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines. Iberia recently launched revenue service with a flight from Madrid to Paris, and the airline is now bringing the aircraft into long-haul service with flights between Madrid and Boston. “We are thrilled to be the first airline to take delivery of the Airbus A321XLR,” said Marco Sansavini, chairman and chief executive officer of Iberia. “The A321XLR, with its CFM LEAP engines, will allow us to offer new long-haul routes and enhance our overall operational efficiency.” The LEAP-powered A321XLR offers higher fuel efficiency, lower noise and emissions, and extra-long-range capability. With the industry’s highest utilization rates and a departure reliability rate of 99.95%, LEAP engines offer 15 to 20 percent better fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions versus CFM56 engines. Market forecasts by Region, Powertrain Systems, and End-User. Country Analysis, Market and Technology Overview including Supply Chains and Critical Raw Materials and Technologies, Opportunities and Impact Analysis, and Leading Company Profiles “The LEAP-powered A321XLR is give operators like Iberia much greater route scheduling flexibility,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International. “We didn’t need to make any modification to the engine because we designed it with 35,000-pound thrust capability from the beginning to support longer range, higher max takeoff weight aircraft. The added benefit for operators is 100 percent commonality with existing LEAP-powered A320neo family fleets.” To date, LEAP engines have been the preferred choice of more than 70 customers to power Airbus’s large, long-range single-aisle aircraft (A321neo, A321LR and A321XLR). With more than 3,500 LEAP-powered aircraft in service, the engine has allowed CFM customers to avoid 40+ million tons of CO2 emissions.* The engine has been the most successful new product introduction in CFM’s 50-year history, with the fastest ramp-up of engine flight hours ever in the industry – surpassing 60 million hours in eight years. https://www.asdnews.com/news/aerospace/2024/11/13/cfm-powers-1st-a321xlr-commercial-flight United Airlines Implementing ‘History Making’ Flight Network Expansion In Africa By May 2025, United Airlines plans to serve "more destinations in Africa" than any of is competitors in the U.S. United Airlines recently announced the largest expansion of its flight network in Africa. The carrier dropped the news in late October. By May 2025, it plans to serve “more destinations in Africa than any other United States carrier.” A few new routes and bolstered weekly schedules will accomplish the carrier’s goal. On October 24, the airline launched flights between the New York City area and Marrakesh, Morocco. The new route will run three times a week. Moreover, United Airlines expanded its number of weekly flights from Washington, D.C. to Accra, Ghana. A press release noted that additional weekly flights between the nation’s capital and Lagos, Nigeria, will begin in December. Notably, the update in flights to Accra and Lagos is ideal for holiday-makers and those seeking the “Detty December” experience. Dulles International Airport, also in the D.C. area, will start flying to Dakar, Senegal, in May. What Else Is There To Know About United Airlines’ Increased Flights To Africa? Updates to the carrier’s flight network in Africa contribute to what it anticipates will be its “busiest-ever” winter season. United Airlines’ press release additionally noted various new and more frequent flights, including to winter hotspots like popular skiing sites across the U.S. During the peak of its winter season, the airline plans to operate almost 4,600 flights a day. The vast expansion will add flights to over 140 U.S. airports. The uptick in service comes after the carrier’s “record-setting summer,” during which it claims to have jet-setted nearly 48 million customers. “This winter, we’re offering more flights to more destinations to give customers the widest range of places to explore,”says Patrick Quayle, United Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. “Whether that’s adventuring somewhere new overseas, unwinding with some sun, or enjoying the best ski towns in the country, we’re pleased to offer easy access to the top destinations for winter getaways.” https://travelnoire.com/united-airlines-expanded-flights-africa-history Another startup focused on supersonic aircraft comes to an end California-based Exosonic announced that it is closing its doors after failing to obtain further financial support The quest to bring back supersonic passenger aircraft took another downturn last week when startup Exosonic announced that it is closing its doors. The company founded by Norris Tie and Tim MacDonald in 2019 aimed to bring to market an airliner capable of flying at Mach 1.8 with a low sonic boom. However, the lack of financial support put the company on the ropes and on November 8, Exosonic confirmed that it is in the process of shutting down. Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Google News | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook “Although the founders and team still believe in the need / desire for quiet supersonic flight and supersonic drones for the US Dept of Defense, without further customer support for either concept, the company cannot sustain the cash needs to make further advancements,” said the Torrance, California-based company in a statement. Exosonic has made all the knowledge it has acquired available to companies interested in pursuing the projects, however. Previously involved in NASA’s X-59 program, which will study supersonic flight with a smoothed boom, Tie pursued a similar goal with the Horizon, a 70-passenger plane with four engines and a rather peculiar configuration. Unveiled in 2022, the project incorporated learnings to reduce the noise caused by breaking the sound barrier, which would allow the aircraft to fly over inhabited areas. Among these are the swept-back wings, the long nose and engines under the wings. The tapered fuselage would also allow for areas with more space for passengers in the center of the plane. The jet would also use non-afterburner turbofans currently in production, which would reduce its cost. Initial studies indicated a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,250 km) while burning a third of the fuel of the Concorde. The startup, however, was not limited to the civilian project. There was also the Revenant, a supersonic unmanned combat aircraft that initially interested the US Air Force (USAF) in 2021. Before that, the service had already honored Exosonic with entry into a program to develop a supersonic variant of Air Force One. In April, the company flew a sub-scale model called Trident that would serve to validate sensors and software that would be used in the main projects. The challenge remains enormous Exosonic joins Aerion, a company that aimed to bring a supersonic business jet to the market, but which succumbed in 2021. There are also other initiatives such as Hermeus, Destinus, Venus Aerospace and Spectre Aerospace, but it is Boom Supersonic that is currently receiving the most attention. Created in 2014 by Blake Scholl, a former executive with experience at Amazon and Groupon, Boom is developing the Overture, a supersonic airliner capable of flying at Mach 1.7 with 80 passengers. The company already has a huge warehouse in Florida where the aircraft will be assembled and is currently conducting test flights with the XB-1, a supersonic jet that will validate the technology that will be integrated into the Overture. Despite Boom’s optimism, the path to entry into service seems long and full of obstacles. Among them is the fact that the supersonic plane, like Concorde, will only fly above the speed of sound over the oceans due to its configuration that does not mitigate the sonic boom. https://www.airdatanews.com/another-startup-focused-on-supersonic-aircraft-comes-to-an-end/ Which U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots? [November 2024] Despite recent headlines, there are several career opportunities for aspiring aviators. Airlines across the United States hired record numbers of pilots throughout 2022 and 2023. However, many carriers have slowed or paused hiring in 2024. Carriers have cited a variety of reasons for their reduced hiring plans, ranging from changing business plans to Boeing delivery delays. Despite the overall slowdown in hiring, some airlines are still looking for new pilots. Here are the airlines that are currently hiring pilots in the United States: Which Major U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots? Most major airlines in the United States have stopped or drastically reduced their hiring plans for the year, but there is one that is still recruiting new pilots. JetBlue Airways is currently accepting applications through its “JetBlue Gateways” career development programs. JetBlue is based in New York but has hubs along the East Coast and in California. The airline primarily flies narrowbody Airbus aircraft, while also having a small number of Embraer 190s. Although Delta and United are hiring pilots, they do not have any active job postings and the new pilots are likely from previous postings or pathway programs. Which U.S. Low-Cost Carriers Are Hiring Pilots? One of the country’s largest low-cost carriers, Spirit, has recently announced pilot furloughs. However, a few low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers are actively accepting applications for new pilots. Allegiant Air is accepting applications for new pilots from its two pathway programs and the general public. The airline has around two dozen pilot bases spread across the country and a fleet of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. Allegiant is also taking delivery of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Avelo Airlines is hiring both first officers and captains. Avelo has six operating bases split across the East and West Coasts. The airline flies Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Frontier Airlines is currently hiring new pilots, citing a plan to grow to three times its current size over the next ten years. Using a fleet of Airbus narrowbody aircraft, the airline connects airports across the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Which U.S. Regional Airlines Are Hiring Pilots? As major U.S. airlines scale back their hiring, many regional carriers are actively hiring. Some are even offering significant signing bonuses, following a mass exodus of regional pilots to mainline carriers between 2021 and 2023. Air Wisconsin is currently hiring first officers and captains. The regional carrier operates a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft under the American Eagle brand, out of American’s hubs in Chicago and Philadelphia. CommuteAir is hiring first officers and captains. The regional airline flies a fleet of Embraer ERJ-145 jets under the United Express banner, with hubs in Houston and Washington, D.C. Endeavor Air is currently hiring first officers and captains. With bases in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, and New York, the Delta subsidiary flies Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft under the Delta Connection brand. Envoy Air is accepting applications for pilot positions from the general public and through its cadet program. Envoy is a subsidiary of the American Airlines Group and flies as American Eagle. The airline operates Embraer 170 and 175 jets out of its hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Phoenix. GoJet Airlines is currently hiring first officers and captains. It also has a career development program and a transition program for rotor pilots. The regional carrier flies a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-550s under the United Express brand out of Chicago, Newark, and Washington, D.C. Horizon Air is only hiring experienced first officers for its fleet of Embraer 175s at all its bases across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Applicants need to have 200 hours of FAA-approved Prior Qualifying Time. Mesa Airlines is hiring first officers and captains. The regional carrier flies Bombardier CRJ-900s and Embraer 175s for United Express. However, the airline is planning to transition to an all-Embraer fleet by March 1, 2024. It has crew bases in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C. Piedmont Airlines is hiring first officers and captains and also operates a cadet program. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group, the carrier flies under the American Eagle Brand. It operates Embraer ERJ-145s with crew bases in Charlotte, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. PSA Airlines is accepting applications for first officers and captains. The carrier, which is another American Airlines Group subsidiary, also has a cadet program. From its bases in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., its pilots fly a fleet of Bombardier CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft. Republic Airways is hiring first officers and captains. It is only one of two regional carriers that fly for all the “big three” U.S. airlines: American, Delta, and United. It has ten bases throughout the Midwest and Northeast and flies Embraer 170s and 175s. Silver Airways is seeking both first officers and captains. The airline has pilot bases in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Juan, and Tampa and flies a fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops around the southwestern U.S. and the Caribbean. SkyWest Airlines is hiring first officers and captains and also has a rotor transition program. SkyWest is the largest regional carrier and flies under five brands: Alaska Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection, SkyWest Charters, and United Express. It flies a fleet of Bombardier Regional Jets and Embraer E175s from its bases all across the country. Which U.S. Cargo and Charter Airlines are Hiring Pilots? Charter and cargo airlines can offer pilots unique opportunities and dynamic schedules and working conditions. While some of these carriers have paused pilot hiring, others are still actively seeking new hires. Amerijet International is hiring first officers, but only through its flight school pathway programs. The cargo airline flies Boeing 767s for several companies under its own brand. Atlas Air is accepting applications for new first officers. In addition to providing passenger charter services, the airline has extensive cargo operations. The airline’s fleet of Boeing widebodies and narrowbodies fly under its own brand and for companies like DHL and Amazon. Kalitta Air is hiring first officers. The airline currently flies Boeing 747-400F and Boeing 777F aircraft to destinations across the globe. UPS Airlines is hiring first officers for its UPS Worldport facility in Louisville. The carrier is one of the world’s largest cargo airlines and flies a diverse fleet of jets all around the world. U.S. Airlines Are Hiring Pilots Although many airlines in the United States have paused their pilot hiring efforts, there are still some companies that are still seeking new pilots. Despite the headlines of a pilot hiring slowdown, there are still many opportunities for aspiring aviators. https://airlinegeeks.com/2024/11/13/us-pilot-hiring/# Feel Sorry For the Flight Attendants: Iberia’s New A321XLR Long-Haul Jet Features Tiny Galleys That Even Contortionists Would Struggle to Work in Spanish flag carrier Iberia will make history on Thursday when it flies the new Airbus A321XLR single-aisle jet on a long-haul flight between Madrid and Boston for the first time with commercial passengers onboard. Capable of flying 7,500 kilometers, Iberia is the launch customer of the longest-range single-aisle plane in the Airbus family, and if you hadn’t already guessed, XLR stands for ‘extra long range.’ In fact, the A321XLR is able to fly around 15% further than the A321LR, which is already used by several airlines for long-haul transatlantic flights, including JetBlue. Despite the additional range and the potential for longer flights, Iberia has taken an interesting approach to kitting out its A321XLR compared to single-aisle transatlantic operators like JetBlue. On the surface, there are plenty of similarities. Both Iberia and JetBlue have equipped their long-range A321s with four lavatories, fully flat seats in Business Class, and other modern amenities like free inflight Wi-Fi, as well as USB-A and USB-C device charging. There are, however, some key differences. JetBlue has opted for a more premium configuration with 24 Mint Business Class seats and just 114 Economy seats throughout the entire aircraft. In contrast, Iberia has just 14 Business Class seats and 168 Economy seats with the vast majority enjoying just 30″ of pitch and several that offer no recline for overnight long-haul flights. Despite all the extra passengers that need to be served on Iberia’s A321XLR, the airline has made an interesting choice when it comes to the galley, from where flight attendants will be preparing and serving food. Unlike JetBlue, which decided to retain a traditional full-sized galley at the back of its A321LRs, which takes up the entire width of the plane, Iberia has opted for Airbus’ space-saving solution dubbed Space-Flex, which halves the size of the galley. The space at the back of the aircraft is shared with two lavatories, meaning that flight attendants will need to set up the food and beverage service in the same space where passengers are queuing to use the lavatories. The Space-Flex galley and lavatory concept has proved incredibly popular in recent years with operators of the A320 family, although that’s based on the fact that most operators are using these planes on short-haul flights with limited onboard service. Even on shorter flights with limited onboard service, flight attendants will tell you that working in a Space-Flex galley is a constant challenge. What additional challenges a Space-Flex galley will present when flight attendants are trying to prepare a full long-haul style service for up to 168 passengers remains to be seen. Here’s hoping that Iberia has, at the very least, conducted extensive testing and trials to ensure that the onboard service can work within a Space-Flex galley. Iberia has, however, only had the A321XLR in its fleet since October 30 and has, so far, only flown the aircraft on a handful of short European flights to Paris and Stockholm as part of crew familiarisation activities. In other words, don’t be surprised by potential teething problems with the onboard service… especially in Economy Class. Interestingly, Airbus says it will be evaluating how different airlines configure the plane’s interior to make improvements going forward. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2024/11/13/feel-sorry-for-the-flight-attendants-iberias-new-a321xlr-long-haul-jet-features-tiny-galleys-that-even-contortionists-would-struggle-to-work-in/ Spirit Airlines can't even tell investors how bad things are As reports suggest bankruptcy is on the horizon for Spirit Airlines (SAVE), the company isn’t saying much. In fact, the one thing Spirit Airlines is saying is that it can’t say what’s going on; the company told investors it won’t be able to put together a quarterly earnings filing. “The Company is unable to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Q3 2024 Form 10-Q”) by the prescribed due date without unreasonable effort or expense,” the company said in a news release. Spirit Airlines’ shares are down more than 50% in Wednesday trading after a Wall Street Journal (NWSA) report came out that suggested that a hoped-for resumption of Spirit’s paused Frontier Airlines (ULCC) tie-up talks had fallen apart. The talks between Spirit and Frontier came after Spirit’s failed attempt at merging with JetBlue (JBLU). And it wasn’t the first time that Frontier and Spirit explored a merger. The airlines had been in on-and-off merger talks since 2016. In February 2022, the companies announced a $2.9 billion definitive merger agreement. That deal fell apart in July of that year. Since then, Spirit has struggled to find its footing (and JetBlue isn’t faring much better). Speculation has swirled for months that Spirit might be approaching insolvency. In a recent regulatory filing, the company said it had pushed back its deadline to refinance roughly $1.1 billion in debt until Dec. 23. Spirit also said it had borrowed the entirety of a $300 million revolving credit facility it had set up in March 2020. Borrowings under that facility are scheduled to mature at the end of September 2026. The company also reiterated at the time that it expects to end 2024 with more than $1 billion in liquidity. Spirit’s revenues are estimated to be at about $1.2 billion, a decrease from the same time last year. The company hasn’t publicly estimated a net income figure, but it did say its operating margin would be about 12 points worse than the third quarter of 2023, which posted a -15% margin. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/spirit-airlines-cant-even-tell-162200595.html Boeing delivers layoff notices to 17,000 workers amid financial struggles UPINov. 13 (UPI) -- Boeing started issuing layoff notices Wednesday to 17,000 employees to cut 10% of its workforce in an effort to shore up the aerospace giant's shaky finances. The layoff notifications, which will be handed out through Friday, are being issued the same week 33,000 Boeing machinists in the Seattle area returned to work following their seven-week strike. "Our business is in a difficult position, and it is hard to overstate the challenges we face together," Boeing chief executive officer Kelly Ortberg told staff in a memo last month as he announced the cuts. "Restoring our company requires tough decisions, and we will have to make structural changes to ensure we can stay competitive and deliver for our customers over the long term," Ortberg added. The layoffs will impact executives, managers and employees, but workers who build the aircraft are not expected to be cut. Those who receive notifications are expected to leave the company by Jan. 17. "We must reset our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and to a more focused set of priorities," Ortberg said, adding that Boeing will "maintain our steadfast focus on safety, quality and delivering for our customers." In addition to the layoffs, Boeing will delay its first delivery of the 777X to 2026 and conclude production of its 767 Freighters in 2027. Production of the KC-46A Tanker will continue. The cuts at Boeing follow billions of lost revenue over the past five years and a number of crises, including two 737 Max 8 crashes over a six-month period with the first occurring in October 2018, which was the last year Boeing turned a profit. This year, a door panel blew off a 737 Max jet mid-flight, as regulators investigated Boeing's safety protocols and Max production stalled with the machinists' strike. "We need to be clear-eyed about the work we face and realistic about the time it will take to achieve key milestones on the path to recovery," Ortberg said. "We also need to focus our resources on performing and innovating in the areas that are core to who we are, rather than spreading ourselves across too many efforts that can often result in underperformance and underinvestment." https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-delivers-layoff-notices-17-044751725.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Elevate Your Organization's Safety Practices with ERAU’s SMS Course in Daytona Beach Nov. 19-21 • The Gulf Flight Safety Association (GFSA) - 26/27 of November 2024; Manama, Bahrain • Sponsor the 2025 Fuzion Safety Conference! March 4 & 5, 2025 (Orlando) • Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center | Denver Colorado, March 27-29, 2025 • 59th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium is scheduled March 31 - April 2, 2025 • Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Safety Symposium April 7-9, 2025 • AIA Conference: The Aviation Insurance Association's annual conference in Orlando, Florida from April 25–28, 2025 • Sixth Edition of International Accident Investigation Forum, 21 to 23 May 2025, Singapore • The 9th Shanghai International Aerospace Technology and Equipment Exposition 2025; June 11 to 13, 2025 Curt Lewis