AirlinesFAA issued safety bulletin on PEDs after US carry-on ban FAA has issued a safety information bulletin related to the new security bans on most personal electronics in carry-on bags on certain flights, but is not making that bulletin public, ATW learned. An FAA spokesperson confirmed in emailed responses to ATW questions that the agency issued the bulletin when the US Department of Homeland Security implemented its ban on passenger personal electronic devices (PEDs) larger than smartphones in the cabin on direct flights from 10 airports—most of them in the Middle East—to the US.
LinkBritish Airways introduces biometric boarding gatesBritish Airways (BA) is introducing automated biometric technology to create self-service boarding gates at London’s Heathrow Airport. Passengers passing through the security channel will have a digital scan of their face recorded. When they arrive at the gate and scan their own boarding pass, their face is matched with the previously recorded data. If the two digital images match, the passenger is allowed to board.
LinkDelta Still Recovering From Atlanta ThunderstormsFlight delays continued on Friday at Atlanta Airport in the aftermath of Wednesday’s severe weather event. Delta Air Lines, the biggest carrier at Hartsfield-Jackson, was still struggling Friday as it cancelled another 500 flights. That brought the total number of cancellations to around 3,000.
LinkIberia, Qatar Airways begin codeshare flightsOneworld members Iberia and Qatar Airways have begun codeshare flights offering passengers more flight options to/from Doha and Spain and Portugal. According to the agreement, the Spanish flag carrier is marketing the two daily flights operated by Doha-based Qatar between Madrid and Doha under its IB designator code. Qatar Airways’ QR code has been added to Iberia flights from Madrid to 28 destinations in Spain and Portugal.
LinkKuwait Airways prepares for Amadeus switchoverKuwaiti national carrier Kuwait Airways is to complete switching over its booking, ticketing and reservations system to the Amadeus Altéa Suite of products within the next six months. The switch is the latest stage in efforts to revive the airline, which had fallen behind the curve in comparison to competitors in the Gulf.
LinkMalaysia 737-800 evacuated after skidding off runwayOne of Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 737-800s appears to have sustained damage after veering off the runway following a domestic service to Sibu. The aircraft had arrived in darkness, following a service from Kuala Lumpur, with Sibu meteorological data indicating rain and reduced visibility.
LinkNew Ryanair initiatives include connecting flights, service upgradesIreland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair has unveiled its 2017/18 customer experience improvement plan, which includes connecting flights, auto check-in and express booking. The move is part of the fourth year of the Dublin-based LCC’s Always Getting Better passenger experience improvement program, which has had a marked beneficial effect on both its passenger numbers—up by over 50%—and its image.
LinkSouthwest Airlines Reports March TrafficSouthwest Airlines reported its March and first quarter traffic figures on Friday, with passenger numbers up by just over 3 percent. Southwest carried 11.29 million revenue passengers in March, an increase of 3.2 percent on the previous year. For the quarter to end March the airline served 29.5 million revenue passengers, a 3.3 percent lift.
LinkUnited shifts 787s to Washington Dulles from HoustonUnited Airlines will shift Boeing 787 flying to its Washington Dulles hub from Houston Intercontinental this winter, when it closes its 787 pilot base at its Texas hub. The Chicago-based Star Alliance carrier will fly 787s to Beijing, London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Sao Paulo Guarulhos from Dulles beginning in its winter of 2017 schedule, said Howard Attarian, senior vice-president of flight operations at United.
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