Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced the addition of a ninth destination to its North American network for the upcoming Summer 2024 season. The airline announced additional frequencies to a handful of its North American destinations.
Starting on June 17, 2024, SAS will launch daily nonstop service between Copenhagen (CPH) and Atlanta (ATL). This new route is set to be operated by an Airbus A330-300.
“Through an agreement with Delta Air Lines, passengers can continue their journey on other Delta-served destinations out of Atlanta. This development means an expanded offering for SAS passengers, who can look forward to reaching several new and exciting destinations across the Southern USA, Caribbean, and Latin America, all conveniently accessible from Atlanta,” said SAS President and CEO Anko van der Werff in a press release.
The airline says it expects cargo to play a significant role in the Copenhagen-Atlanta route expansion. Atlanta is near the Port of Savannah, the largest and fastest-growing container terminal in America.
Other Network Changes
Furthermore, SAS is enhancing its existing North American offerings with increased frequencies to some routes. Copenhagen-New York-JFK will see up to two daily flights, complementing daily service to Newark from Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen.
Copenhagen-Boston will see daily flights, up from six times a week during the summer. In addition, Copenhagen-Toronto will receive a fourth weekly flight.
In October 2023, it was announced that Air France-KLM would take a 19.9% stake in SAS subject to regulatory approvals. SAS is set to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings later this year. As part of the Air France-KLM investment, SAS is set to leave the Star Alliance and join the SkyTeam in Spring 2024.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
A Libyan Airlines Airbus A320 (Photo: Shutterstock)
The Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Mohammed Shlibek, last week announced that he is optimistic about the potential lifting of the European flight ban on Libyan airlines in April 2024. This development comes as a result of positive outcomes from international audits assessing the civil aviation infrastructure in Libya, reports the Libyan Observer.
Shlibek expressed confidence in Libya’s readiness to welcome European flights, coinciding with the reopening of Tripoli International Airport as announced by Libya’s prime minister Abdulhamid al Dbaiba in October last year, with the PM noting that great progress has been made in the project to rehabilitate Tripoli International Airport. Notably, several Arab and foreign airlines including Ita Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways have shown readiness to resume operations to Libyan airports, signaling a positive shift in the aviation landscape.
The European Union imposed a ban on all Libyan airlines in 2014 due to safety concerns arising from violent clashes in the Libyan capital, Tripoli since Col Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in a revolt in 2011, BBC News reported at that time. The ban has been in effect since then, with the European Commission renewing the restriction in January 2022 due to ongoing safety and security apprehensions, covering all airlines from Libya, including Afriqiyah Airways, Libyan Airlines, Buraq Air, Ghadames Air Transport, Global Aviation and Service Group, Air Libya, and Petro Air. These carriers, along with 115 companies globally, have faced operating restrictions within the EU for not adhering to international safety standards, according to the EU.
New Air Service Agreement
A promising development occurred on Dec. 17, 2023, when civil aviation authorities from Libya and Italy signed a new air services agreement. This agreement aimed to enhance trade relations between the two nations.
The accord follows positive advancements in flight operations between Italy and Libya, including the first commercial service by ITA Airways on July 24, 2023, after almost a decade. While the initial flight was a charter, there are considerations for the airline to resume scheduled flights to the country. The reopening of nonstop flights between Libya and Italy will make Italy the third European member state after Greece and Malta to authorize flights from Libya.
As of now, the scheduled EU-Libya network is limited to flights operated by Marathon Airlines (3x weekly Athens-Benghazi) and Malta MedAir (4x weekly Malta International-Tripoli and weekly Malta-Misurata). The recent agreement sets the stage for potential growth in air travel, fostering hope for further easing of restrictions through ongoing discussions and diplomatic efforts. Some expect this positive trajectory is expected to mutually benefit both nations economically and strengthen diplomatic ties in the aviation sector.
Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.
A Silver Airways ATR 42-600 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
Florida-based Silver Airways has announced plans to reintroduce service to West Palm Beach. Silver has not flown to the airport in a few years as Palm Beach is relatively close to its home airport in Fort Lauderdale, being only roughly 40 miles north.
Silver will be restarting with five destinations from West Palm Beach, all of which will start in the first full week of March 2024; Tallahassee, Pensacola, and Tampa, all of which are in Florida, as well as Nassau and Marsh Harbour, Bahamas.
On March 5, 2024, Tampa, Nassau, and Marsh Harbour service will begin. Tampa service will be twice daily every day except Saturdays when it will be flown only once a day. Nassau service will operate once a day every single day of the week. Marsh Harbour will only have flights three times a week, with flights occurring on Thursdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
A Silver Airways ATR 42 600 on display at the Farnborough Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)
Flights to Tallahassee from West Palm will start the following day, March 6, 2024, and will only be offered nonstop on three days of the week; Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, they will offer one-stop service through Tampa on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Pensacola flights will begin on March 7, 2024, and will only plan on operating nonstop twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, with one-stop flights through Tampa being offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This route is eventually supposed to be served nonstop daily, but it is unknown when those additional flights will be added. They are not yet on the carrier’s booking site, but it did say ‘daily’ in the email they sent to passengers regarding the new flights from West Palm Beach.
All data and information was pulled from either the airline’s website or the email it sent customers regarding the new service. Flights and schedules are subject to change.
Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.
Billionaires Feud Over Airline Pilot Hiring
Elon Musk and Mark Cuban took to Twitter/X to debate the ethicality of some airline hiring policies, specifically around DE&I practices.
A United 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Airline hiring policies were thrust into the limelight earlier this week as billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Cuban debated their ethicality over Twitter/X. Specifically discussing so-called ‘DEI’ – or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – policies, the exchange began with Musk opining about these policies.
“DEI is just another word for racism. Shame on anyone who uses it,” he said in a January 3 Tweet. Cuban responded with a long-winded post in support of these policies.
In a Tweet, Cuban responded to Musk, saying, “Having a workforce that is diverse and representative of your stakeholders is good for business.”
The two – along with other platform users – continued their DEI spat over several days. Musk even went as far as suggesting that these policies contributed to recent production issues at Boeing.
Airlines Take Center Stage
On January 7, one Twitter/X user seemingly mocked Cuban’s beliefs, sharing a 2021 Daily Wire article titled ‘United Airlines Says It Wants 50% Of Pilots Trained In Next Decade To Be Women Or People Of Color.’
Musk responded to this post adding, “The airline industry can’t find enough qualified pilots even without insane DEI requirements!”
Major U.S. airlines hired just over 12,000 new pilots last year, a six percent decrease from 2022. United – which operates the Aviate Academy that was the target of the feud – hired over 2,300 pilots in 2023. The airline’s academy trains approximately 500 students per year. In an April 2021 press release, the airline set a target of 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with ‘at least 50% women or people of color.’
“Over the next decade, United will train 5,000 pilots who will be guaranteed a job with United, after they complete the requirements of the Aviate program – and our plan is for half of them to be women and people of color,” said United CEO Scott Kirby in the 2021 press release. “We’re excited that JPMorgan Chase has agreed to support our work to diversify our pilot ranks and create new opportunities for thousands of women and people of color who want to pursue a career in aviation.”
Cuban took to Twitter/X again to refute Musk’s claim saying, “This is a training school. Once they graduate, it’s a multi year process to have an OPPORTUNITY to pilot for United.”
“Since I’m a nice guy and want you to be fully informed, I’ll share with you the benefit of the 60 seconds I spent looking for how the program works. BTW, looks like multiple layers of merit based evaluations before they can fly for United…,” Cuban continued in a Tweet.
This is a training school. Once they graduate, it’s a multi year process to have an OPPORTUNITY to pilot for United
Since I’m a nice guy and want you to be fully informed, I’ll share with you the benefit of the 60 seconds I spent looking for how the program works. BTW, looks… https://t.co/LRvbHrQ2eC
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Japan Airlines (JAL) retired its final remaining 777-200ER aircraft from scheduled service in December. JAL was one of the early adopters of Boeing’s 777.
The airline has phased out its 777-200ER fleet in recent years, as newer Airbus A350-900 aircraft come online to backfill the carrier’s high-capacity domestic operations. Back in May, the airline retired its second-to-last 777-200ER aircraft JA701J, according to AeroTime.
Data from ch-aviation shows that JAL began operating the 777-200ER variant in 2002 before phasing them out in 2020. Before retirement, the Japanese carrier had 26 777-200 aircraft in its fleet, most of which were over 20 years old.
JAL also maintains a fleet of 13 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which serve long-haul markets. These are also set to be replaced by the airline’s new ‘flagship’ A350-1000.
Final 777-200ER Retirement
The airline kept one 777-200ER flying, which is registered as JA703J. The nearly 21-year-old aircraft operated its final revenue flight in November from Okinawa, Japan to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport as JL916.
On December 12, 2023, the airline ferried JA703J from its Haneda base to Los Angeles. Joined by specially selected aviation enthusiasts onboard, the aircraft was met with fanfare on both ends of the retirement trip. Later, the aircraft was ferried to a storage facility in Victorville, Calif.
JAL 777 First Officer Yugo Aita – who organized the charter flight from Haneda to LAX on Dec. 12 – commented on the aircraft’s significance to his career. “…I was really happy to fly on our main fleet, [The] 777, which is the biggest and the most powerful airplane in JAL, [it] took me to my first international long-haul flight…”
“Seeing JA703J / 777-200ER last landing in VCV, I felt a bit sad since she’ll never fly again with JAL’s passengers, however, I also felt relieved that we could say thank you to her at the very last moment with so many crew and fans,” Aita added.
AirlineGeeks was invited to participate in the retirement events in California. Also a part of the experience was a visit to Mojave where JAL has several of its jets in storage.
Editor’s Note: All photos provided by AirlineGeeks’ Katie Zera.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
A Delta Air Lines Airbus A320 in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Delta Air Lines announced final quarter and full-year earnings for 2023 highlighted by a record $54.7 billion in revenue for the calendar year, a 20 percent increase over 2022. Delta’s chief executive officer Ed Bastian heralded the results stating: “2023 was a great year for Delta with industry-leading operational and financial performance. Our people and their commitment to deliver unmatched service excellence for our customers is at the foundation of Delta’s success.”
Delta’s GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) figures indicate a pre-tax income of $5.6 billion (2022: $1.9 billion) with a pre-tax margin of 9.7 percent (2022: 3.8 percent). This will benefit shareholders with an earnings per share of $7.17, up from $2.06 in 2022. Bastian also announced that Delta employees will be recognized for “their outstanding work with $1.4 billion in profit-sharing payments next month.”
Double-digit capacity growth was achieved in Q4 2023 in all three of Delta’s international regions with transatlantic (up 13 percent), pacific (44 percent), and Latin America (28 percent). Revenue growth was also in the double digits for all three regions: transatlantic (up 23 percent), pacific (45 percent), and Latin America (18 percent).
“With industry-leading operational performance and best-in-class service delivered by our people, more customers than ever are choosing Delta,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s president. This translated to record margins for the airline’s international operations in the final quarter of 2023, a seven percent increase in domestic revenues, and a 12 percent increase in domestic capacity over the final quarter of 2022.
From a cost perspective, Delta benefitted from a lower fuel expense in 2023, down 4 percent over 2022, though salaries and related costs increased by 23 percent. This resulted in non-fuel cost per available seat miles (CASM) being 2.3 percent higher year-over-year but total CASM was slightly lower for 2023 than 2022.
Beyond the financial results, Delta highlighted many other achievements in the final quarter and full 2023 calendar year related to the airline’s network, people, customer experience, and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance).
New Aircraft
The airline took delivery of 43 aircraft during the year including 27 A321neo, nine A220-300, and seven A330-900, and exited its fuel-inefficient CRJ-200s. Delta’s operational performance was recognized with the carrier being named the ‘most on-time airline in North America’ by Cirium. In addition, the airline achieved a completion factor of 99.8 percent for the final three months of the year. Customers engaged with the ‘Fly Delta’ app at levels up 25 percent from 2022 resulting in over 1 billion annual visits.
Hauenstein indicated a positive start to 2024: “With strong demand for international travel and a positive inflection in the domestic environment, we expect March quarter adjusted revenue to be 3 to 6 percent higher than the prior year.” The airline’s fleet will also expand in the coming years with the announcement of an order of 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to begin arriving in 2026.
John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content.
John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.
Livery of the Week: ANA’s “FLYING HONU” Airbus A380s
The small size of the airline's superjumbo fleet has not stopped ANA from decking each of them out in a colorful special livery.
All Nippon Airways' Airbus A380 fleet, known as "FLYING HONU" (Photo: All Nippon Airways)
Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.
Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.
Among the operators of the world’s largest airliner – the Airbus A380 – All Nippon Airways (ANA) has the fewest of the type. While the Japanese airline only operates three of these aircraft, the small size of its A380 fleet has not stopped ANA from decking each of them out in a special livery.
Hawaii-Inspired Sea Turtle Designs
ANA refers to its Airbus A380-800s as “FLYING HONU,” with honu being the Hawaiian word for the green sea turtle. In Hawaiian culture, the sea turtle is thought to be a symbol of good luck, prosperity and longevity. The Hawaiian theming was chosen since the airline exclusively flies these superjumbos between Tokyo Narita International Airport and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
Each of ANA’s A380s is painted in a colorful turtle livery. The front of each aircraft depicts a large smiling turtle, and two smaller turtles are shown swimming further back on the fuselage. Meanwhile, the tail of the aircraft has the airline’s distinctive “ANA” lettering in blue on a white background, in contrast to the carrier’s standard livery, which features white lettering on a blue tail.
ANA’s orange A380 with its blue counterpart in the background (Photo: All Nippon Airways)
The Tokyo-based carrier’s FLYING HONU A380s are each themed with a different color: blue to represent Hawaii’s blue skies, green for the crystal-clear Pacific Ocean water around the state, and orange for the island sunsets.
When the airline received its second A380, its Executive Vice President, Yutaka Ito, described the paint job as a “visually distinct livery that evokes the folklore and traditions of Hawaii.” As ANA prepared to receive the final airframe, his colleague, ANA Senior Vice President Seiichi Takahashi, stated that, “combined with design cues from Hawaiian culture, the unparalleled comfort and capacity of the FLYING HONUs will allow ANA to provide unrivaled service and efficiency on this increasingly prominent route.”
ANA’s second Airbus A380, with a green turtle livery inspired by the crystal-clear water of the ocean surrounding Hawaii (Photo: All Nippon Airways)
The FLYING HONU Experience
ANA received the first of its three A380s in March of 2019 with the intention of operating them exclusively between Tokyo and Honolulu. Although the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the full rollout of the airline’s A380 fleet, these plans were eventually put into practice, and the airline currently uses its A380s on its two daily roundtrips between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu.
During the pandemic, ANA kept its A380s busy. In addition to operating training and maintenance flights, the airline used them for sightseeing flights, in-cabin dining events, and even wedding ceremonies. ANA resumed scheduled A380 passenger operations in July 2022 and put its third A380 into service in October of 2023 – more than three years later than initially scheduled.
On board the FLYING HONU A380s, passengers are treated to special themed service items. Business Class passengers receive amenity kits with a FLYING HONU design and Premium Economy passengers get reusable bags bearing an image of the aircraft. Aircraft models and turtle plush toys are available for purchase. In true Japanese fashion, ANA also has mascots for each of the flying turtle superjumbos.
One of ANA’s FLYING HONU A380 mascots attends a wedding ceremony with its aircraft (Photo: All Nippon Airways)
The airline’s A380s have a total of 520 seats in a four-class configuration, with 8 First Class, 56 Business Class, 73 Premium Economy and 383 Economy Class seats. The aircraft’s capacity supports the high-demand market between Japan and Hawaii. ANA also operates a daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service between Tokyo Haneda and Honolulu.
Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.
Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.
Delta has ordered 20 of Airbus’ A350-1000 aircraft, the largest variant in the A350 family. The Atlanta-based carrier also has options for 20 additional widebody aircraft.
The new aircraft will join Delta’s current fleet of 28 A350-900s. With deliveries slated to start in 2026, the A350-1000 will be a new type in the airline’s fleet.
“The A350-1000 will be the largest, most capable aircraft in Delta’s fleet and is an important step forward for our international expansion,” said Delta’s Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian in a press release.
According to Delta, the larger aircraft will see roughly 15% more premium seats than other retiring aircraft. In addition, the airline’s A350-1000 will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB-97 engines, a more powerful version of the engine that operates on the A350-900.
“The aircraft complements our fleet and offers an elevated customer experience, with more premium seats and best-in-class amenities, as well as expanded cargo capabilities,” Bastian added.
The A350-1000 has a range of 8,700 nautical miles, roughly 600 more nautical miles than its smaller -900 counterpart. The airline says it plans to use the new aircraft type “in long-haul markets and international hubs in support of Delta’s international expansion, replacing retiring planes and fueling growth.”
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Vistara will launch its third international destination from Mumbai in March. The new flight to Paris will complement the carrier's existing European services.
Vistara is marking its ninth year of operations in India. In its nine years of existence, it has grown significantly. The airline was initially just a small carrier within India that formed a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines. For a while, it was currently the only other full-service carrier in India besides Air India.
Today, the airline has a fleet of 67 aircraft and a growing its international presence. The carrier will also be folded into the other Tata-run airline, Air India, sometime in 2024 as the Tata Group seeks to streamline operations of the airlines that it runs in the country.
While the merger is almost a done deal with regulatory approval expected later this year, Vistara continued on its path towards growth, announcing a new Mumbai to Paris flight that will operate five times a week.
Service will begin on March 28 and will seek to complement Vistara’s other route to Paris from New Delhi which it has been operating since 2021. This new flight to Paris will be the airline’s third long-haul destination from Mumbai, as it also operates flights to London and Frankfurt.
The flight will be operated using one of Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in a three-class configuration, including business, premium economy, and economy.
Flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Mumbai departing at 2:05 p.m. from Mumbai and arriving in Paris at 8:10 p.m. on the same day.
The reverse will operate on the same days departing Paris at 10:10 p.m. and arriving in Mumbai the next morning at 10:35 a.m.
Merger with Air India
Vistara has shown steady growth over its nine years in existence. There are still future growth plans ahead as it waits for the final Dreamliner to be delivered by April 2024.
It’s also expected that the airline will start operating a Pune to Dubai flight to capitalize on growing demand between the two cities. This would be the second international destination on Vistara out of Pune with the other being Singapore.
As this growth happens the airline is also preparing for its merger with Air India. The merger still has to undergo regulatory approval, but the government is expected to grant the approval for the airlines to merge. As with all airline mergers, it will take time. While regulatory approval will happen later this year the actual operational merger could stretch into 2025.
Hemal took his first flight at four years old and has been an avgeek since then. When he isn't working as an analyst he's frequently found outside watching planes fly overhead or flying in them. His favorite plane is the 747-8i which Lufthansa thankfully flies to EWR allowing for some great spotting. He firmly believes that the best way to fly between JFK and BOS is via DFW and is always willing to go for that extra elite qualifying mile. Hemal's opinions are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.
FAA Scolds Boeing Over Door Plug Decompression Incident
The investigation is a result of an incident on January 5 when an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 (737-9) lost a door plug in mid-flight.
The FAA is investigating an incident in which an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 lost a door plug in flight. (Photo: NTSB)
“This incident should have never happened, and it cannot happen again.”
Those words come from a statement from the FAA, which announced Thursday that it has formally notified Boeing that it is conducting “an investigation to determine if [the company] failed to ensure completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in compliance with FAA regulations.”
The investigation is a result of an incident on January 5 when an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 (737-9) lost a door plug in mid-flight, resulting in a rapid decompression of the aircraft and an emergency landing.
The airline immediately grounded its fleet of 737 Max 9s. Within hours the FAA grounded the model countrywide. This has resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, which utilize the design.
The FAA stated that the aircraft will not return to the skies until they have been inspected and found to be safe, noting “the safety of the flying public, not speed, will determine the timeline for returning the Boeing 737-9 Max to service.”The FAA added: “Boeing’s manufacturing practices need to comply with the high safety standards they’re legally accountable to meet.”
In a letter sent to Boeing on Wednesday, the agency said that it had received notification of “additional discrepancies on other Boeing 737-9 airplanes” and noted these circumstances “indicate that Boeing may have failed to ensure its completed products conformed to its approved design and were in a condition for safe operation in accordance with quality system inspection and test procedures.”
The letter noted Boeing has 10 business days to respond to the FAA.
Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on FlyingMag.com.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
