Thread: Airline News

Cursed ourselves. Just received a weather alert says the air has turned “unhealthy.”

The mountain had sort of returned this evening but the rest is all shit.

Fires map shows Chiang Mai province has very little hot spots but Lamphun, Lampang and Phayao don't appear to give a flying fuck.

C Mai 9th in this league and with lots of fires around and in Burma and Laos going to get worse until it rains

World Air Quality Index (AQI) Ranking | IQAir

Zoomable map showing Fires from a Swiss AQ site

Live Animated Air Quality Map (AQI, PM2.5...) | IQAir

And of course the fucking wind is from the SE today.

‘Constipated’ flyer claims enraged United Airlines pilot had him arrested for hogging the bathroom

A “constipated” New Jersey man flying home from Mexico claims the cabin crew became upset that he was monopolizing the plane’s lavatory, prompting an enraged pilot to break down the bathroom door, yank the pantsless traveler off the toilet, and dress him down in a shocking antisemitic tirade while nearby passengers gawked.


Upon landing, Yisroel Liebb, an Orthodox Jew clad in religious garb, was pulled off the United Airlines 737-800 and arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who allegedly told him, “You have no rights here,” according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent.


Liebb, 20, contends he was subjected to physical injuries, extreme emotional distress, and anxiety, and says in his complaint that he feels “sexually violated and embarrassed after having been publicly exposed in the nude.”

In an email on Thursday, a United spokesperson said, “We don’t have anything to share.” CBP acknowledged The Independent’s request for comment but did not follow up by the time of publication.

The flight in question took off from the Riviera Maya resort town of Tulum at 4:30 p.m. on January 28, and was headed for Houston, Texas, where Liebb was scheduled to catch a connecting flight to New York, according to his complaint. About a half-hour into the journey, it says Liebb got up from his seat and headed to the restroom in the rear of the aircraft.

Roughly 20 minutes later, when he hadn’t returned, a flight attendant woke up Liebb’s seatmate, identified in the complaint as Jacob Sebbag, and asked him to make sure Liebb was alright. When Sebbag, 21, knocked on the restroom door, Liebb replied that everything was fine, but that he was “experiencing constipation,” and said he would be out shortly.


“Sebbag relayed this to the stewardess and returned to his seat,” the complaint states.


Around 10 minutes after that, the pilot approached Sebbag and requested that he accompany him to the restroom “to once again try and get Liebb out,” the complaint goes on. Once there, the pilot “began yelling loudly at Liebb, demanding he leave the bathroom immediately,” then turned to Sebbag and “began loudly demanding he force Liebb out of the bathroom,” according to the complaint.


It says Liebb responded immediately, telling the pilot through the door that “he was okay, that he was finishing up, and that he would be out momentarily.”

At this point, according to the complaint, “The pilot became visibly enraged, broke the lock on the door and forced the door to the bathroom open, pulling Liebb out of the bathroom with his pants still around his ankles, exposing his genitalia to Sebbag, several flight attendants, and the nearby passengers on the plane.”

“Liebb quickly pulled his pants back to his waist after being allowed to set his feet,” the complaint states, which says he injured his head and legs when they smacked into the restroom’s door frame.


“With Sebbag leading Liebb, the pilot proceeded to repeatedly push the [two] back to their seats while making threats of getting [them] arrested and making scathing remarks about their Judaism, and how ‘Jews act,’” according to the complaint.

Upon arrival in Houston, five to seven CBP officers boarded the plane and instructed all passengers to remain seated, the complaint says. They then approached Liebb and Sebbag, handcuffed them, and took them to a detention facility inside the terminal, the complaint alleges.


“While being escorted from the plane, Liebb stated that the [two of them] have a legal right to know why they are being detained,” according to the complaint. “The CBP agents… responded that ‘[T]his isn’t county or state, we are [H]omeland [Security], you have no rights here.’”

Apparently annoyed with Liebb’s questions, one of the CBP officers tightened his cuffs “to the point that he verbally spoke out against the pain,” the complaint states. It says Liebb “pleaded” with the officer, pointing out that he was “cooperating fully” and insisting he was “not a threat.”


But, the complaint alleges, Liebb and Sebbag were instead thrown into separate cells and handcuffed to tables, while they, and their luggage, were “subjected to intrusive, unconsented, unwarranted and unreasonable searches.”


Liebb and Sebbag were released without charges, but missed their connecting flight home, which took off for New York while they were still detained, the complaint states. They were rebooked, for free, on a flight leaving the next day, according to the complaint. However, it says, the pair “had to incur additional charges for hotel and food during the delay, essentially negating the price of the complimentary flight.”


Liebb and Sebbag both claim the too-tight handcuffs caused “severe wrist pain,” which they say “persisted for days afterward.”

The entire situation, the complaint alleges, was “further worsened by [the United pilot’s] antisemitic rhetoric,” and says he “only escalated the encounter with… Liebb because he is Jewish.”


Liebb and Sebbag are demanding damages in an amount to be determined at trial, plus attorneys’ fees.

‘Constipated’ flyer claims enraged United Airlines pilot had him arrested for hogging the bathroom | The Independent

Hmmm turbo props the future..... prepare for a bumpy ride


I flew propeller planes for 17 years – here's why they're making a comeback


Green turboprops may replace jets in a bid to hit net zero - this is what it's like to fly in one


There is a pioneering feel to turboprop aeroplanes. They are smaller, lighter and lower-flying than a jet aircraft, so it is harder to forget that you are thousands of feet up and travelling at hundreds of miles per hour. For some, that’s exciting – a reminder of the amazing feat of air travel. Others find it rather nerve-racking.


Owen Sims, who spent 17 years piloting turboprops for now-defunct British airline Flybe, became used to nervous passengers. “People see propellers and think the plane must be old, knackered or cheap,” he says.


He remembers a passenger telling him the plane brought back his memories of the D-Day landings.


Sims spent most of his Flybe career in a Dash 8 Q400, a model of which he became fond – but it had its quirks. “The ‘Q’ stood for quiet because it had a suppression system installed that would damp down the noise and vibration. But sometimes that broke.”


This type of plane may seem like a relic of the 20th century. Yet cutting-edge propeller models could replace jets on the world’s busiest flight routes as the aviation industry works towards a target of net zero by 2050.


“Battery electric, hydrogen electric and SAF [Sustainable Aviation Fuels] have been the main technologies being developed,” explains Bernard Lavelle, principal analyst at BL Aviation Consulting.


Aerospace company Airbus is devising a propeller plane model that will use electric motors powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Airbus’s ZEROe project aims for zero-emission flights, and the firm says its next-generation aircraft could enter service by the second half of the 2030s.


Airbus had been working on a new hydrogen jet, but recently announced it is stalling this project. For now, its engineers are looking into zero-emission propeller planes that could carry up to 200 people.


They might appeal to low-cost airlines. Ryanair recently cited Denmark’s aviation tax (for emissions) of up to £5.60 per passenger as its reason for closing its base at Billund (the birthplace of Lego) and axeing routes to and from the northern city of Aalborg. In November, the carrier suggested it may cut flights from the UK by 10 per cent after the UK Government announced an air travel tax increase.


Carbon taxes are an incentive to develop new models, but a global shortage of aircraft may increase the use of turboprops in the short term. In March, British Airways replaced the Airbus A320 jet with an ATR 72 turboprop aircraft on its Gatwick-Glasgow route due to aircraft availability.


When working for Flybe, Sims found there was a “certain snobbery” towards turboprops. “I remember getting a phone call from operations saying, ‘Today you’ve been upgraded to the jet.’


“I said, I think you mean ‘changed to’.”


He adds that once turboprops would have been more challenging to fly than jets, but now both are reliant on autopilot.


There are differences, however. “In my turboprop, which flew at 25,000ft, we’d be looking to start our descent around 70 to 80 miles out. In a jet, you’d be at around 35,000ft and start your descent 100 miles out.”


Flying lower means turboprops pass through more clouds. Passengers might feel bad weather and turbulence more keenly.


Sims recalls a tricky landing in Guernsey. “It became very turbulent in the last 100ft before touchdown, which is a matter of a few seconds. A gust pushed push us to one side. Suddenly, rather than aiming for the runway, the aircraft was aiming for the grass to the left-hand side of it, so I had to make a go-around and another landing attempt.”


Sims then had to cut the power and the landing was bumpy. “I stood at the door as the passengers got off, to apologise. I could feel my knees going, because there was that much adrenaline – afterwards, I headed to the bar.”


That was a one-off, though.


He doesn’t think it would have an impact on passenger experience to replace jets with turboprops on short-haul routes, aside from adding time to flights – an extra 40 minutes from the UK to Alicante, for example.


There will be two million turboprop flights around the world this summer, with 10,290 planned from the UK, according to travel data provider OAG. By the late 2030s, many more of us could be heading to our holidays on emission-free propeller planes.

I flew propeller planes for 17 years – here's why they're making a comeback

Nothing wrong with the dash 8 or the French Atr
Both in use all over Asia for short hops. They use em.in Oz to for the mine workers where the mine has its own landing strip

(Almost) Great news for Airbus!

China has reportedly ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, the latest move in its tit-for-tat trade war with the US.
The Chinese government has asked carriers to stop purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from American companies, according to a Bloomberg News article, which cited people familiar with the matter.

The order was reported to have come after the country raised its retaliatory tariffs on US goods to 125% on Friday in response to Donald Trump’s levies on Chinese imports totalling 145%. Beijing was also said to be considering ways to support airlines that lease Boeing jets and are facing higher costs.
About 10 Boeing 737 Max jets are being prepared to join Chinese airlines, and if delivery paperwork and payment on some of them were completed before Chinese ”reciprocal” tariffs came into effect, the planes may be allowed to enter the country, sources told Bloomberg.

The restriction marks a serious blow for Boeing and other manufacturers trying to navigate the escalating trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
The group chief executive of the budget airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has said his company could delay taking deliveries of Boeing aircraft if they become more expensive. He told the Financial Times that Ryanair was due to receive a further 25 aircraft from Boeing from August but would not need the planes until around March or April 2026. “We might delay them and hope that common sense will prevail,” O’Leary said.
Shares in Boeing have been buffeted by worries about the impact of trade tariffs, as well as complaints from some shareholders that the company has underinvested in its engineering.
The company has lost 7% of its market value since the start of the year, and in March its chief financial officer, Brian West, said tariffs could hit availability of parts from its suppliers.
The rival European plane manufacturer Airbus said on Tuesday that it was watching the evolving situation on trade tariffs. Its chief executive, Guillaume Faury, told shareholders the company was having problems receiving components from the American supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which was weighing on the production of its A350 and A220 jetliners.

China reportedly orders its airlines to halt Boeing jet deliveries amid US trade war | Boeing | The Guardian

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reinstated Thailand's Category 1 International Aviation Safety Assessment rating, allowing Thai-based carriers to fly to the United States. The FAA confirmed the change on April 23, 2025.

Late last year, Thailand's aviation sector underwent an FAA evaluation pending reclassification. A final meeting took place between FAA and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) officials in March.

"This is good news for the aviation industry of Thailand," said Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruangkit.
The FAA says the change now allows Thai operators to provide services into the United States and enter into codeshare agreements with US carriers without limitation.

US FAA reinstates Thailand's IASA Category 1 -
ch-aviation

Thai Airways (THAI) has made light work of fleet expansion plans in recent days after the carrier secured 14 Airbus A321neo aircraft in two separate agreements with two different lessors.
On April 23, 2025, the Singapore lessor BOC Aviation confirmed that an agreement had been signed with Thai Airways to deliver five Airbus A321neos from its current orderbook.
And just a day earlier on April 22, 2025, China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC), announced it was collaborating with Thai Airways for the first time with an agreement to deliver nine Airbus A321neo aircraft in phases from 2026 to 2028.

THAI makes light work of fleet growth with 2 deals in 2 days

THAI Confirms Purchase of 45 Boeing Airplanes

Thai Airways International has confirmed the purchase of 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft under its business rehabilitation plan. The move aligns with its strategy to modernize the fleet and expand capacity. Future orders beyond the 45 aircraft will depend on business needs and return on investment, as the airline aims to make commercially sound decisions.


The aircraft procurement plan has also entered the scope of upcoming Thai–U.S. bilateral discussions, where the purchase is viewed as contributing to increased U.S. exports. However, the airline’s executives stated that it is still too early to assess the full impact of the current U.S.–China trade tensions, which have led China to suspend purchases of aircraft and related equipment from Boeing.


Thai Airways affirmed that if any fallout occurs from the ongoing trade war, it will likely affect the global aviation industry as a whole rather than only Thailand. The airline emphasized that it continues to monitor passenger volume across all key routes—Europe, Japan, Australia, India, and South Asia. So far, no significant drop in international travel has been observed.


Despite concerns over trade-driven disruptions to global tourism, Thai Airways remains confident. Its revised business strategy now focuses on diversified revenue sources instead of relying on a specific region. The airline also has contingency plans in place at all levels to mitigate potential impacts.

NBT WORLD - THAI Confirms Purchase of 45 Boeing Airplanes

Well isn't that an expensive way to suck up to the orange turd?

Well with a recession imminent hence less disposable income domestic and International discretionary travel may decline.

However I am sure with such vaste contracts there is so much "gravy' some can trickle into the spare handily open envelopes as is the local way.

Originally Posted by misskit

Thai Airways International has confirmed the purchase of 45 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft

Thai have been unhappy with Rolls Royce for a while now and this has influenced their decision to go with the Dreamliner fitted with GE engines.

Personally, I prefer the A350, but it has no alternative engine fit.

Originally Posted by Troy

Thai have been unhappy with Rolls Royce for a while now and this has influenced their decision to go with the Dreamliner fitted with GE engines.

Personally, I prefer the A350, but it has no alternative engine fit.

Oh purlease.

This is

1. Trying to please the orange turd so he'll cut the tariffs
2. The usual opportunity to trouser mountains of cash.

I know about the ongoing problems with the A350, but the longevity/parts shortage problems are all being dealt with and filtering through the supply chain, and will certainly not be an issue by the time these aircraft get delivered, as evidenced by RR's share price.

They shouldn't be buying aircraft anyway, they should be leasing them, as they're completely incompetent and will do their usual of running what's left of Thai into the ground again.

Etihad plan on flying the A321LR to Krabi and Chiang Mai later this year, among 17 new destinations.

Etihad Airways' Airbus A321LRs Will Fly To These 17 Destinations

Scientists create ‘shark skin’ coating for planes that could save airlines billions

Coating may prevent an airline from burning up to 4 billion gallons of fuel annually


Australian scientists have developed a shark skin-inspired film coating for aeroplanes, which they claim can reduce drag and save billions in fuel costs for the airline industry.


Delta Air Lines has teamed up with the Australian aerospace company MicroTau to study the use of a special film that can be applied to planes to increase fuel efficiency.


The technology, being developed in tandem with the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), mimics the shark skin, which has thousands of tiny overlapping scales that allow them to smoothly glide through water.


Similarly, the artificial film coating also helps aeroplanes reduce turbulence, increase flying speed, and cut fuel costs, researchers say.


As an aeroplane cuts through the air, the air forms tiny whirlpools called hairpin vortices that scrub the plane’s surface and create resistance.


The new film coating has tiny riblets narrower than these vortices and keeps the whirlpools from forming near the plane’s surface.


Creating such tiny riblet sections that make the film friction-resistant has been a challenge.


MicroTau overcame the hurdle by using special laser manufacturing technology to rapidly produce the shark skin-like pattern in a light material and turn them into self-adhesive patches.


The film coating is a scalable solution that can be retrofitted onto existing transport to minimise the carbon footprint of transport industries, the company says.


With the technology, commercial aviation and shipping companies can save over $34bn in fuel costs and reduce nearly hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the firm claims.


For instance, if the film were to be applied to an aircraft like the Airbus A380, it could save over $5,000 per flight from Sydney to LA in fuel and more than 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, MicroTau said.


This figure could add up to millions over the life of an aircraft, the company said.


MicroTau has already been testing the coating with a range of aircraft, including Lockheed Martin’s hulking C-130J transport planes and Boom Supersonic’s sleek XB-1 prototype.


“The patches survived these conditions comfortably with no observable degradation,” a Boom Supersonic spokesperson told New Scientist.


"It mimics shark skin, and it leverages these micro grooves to reduce a type of surface drag. That surface drag could lead to a fuel benefit of up to 4 per cent," Sangita Sharma, director of Delta's Sustainable Skies Lab, told CBC News.


This could add up to saving the airline burning up 4 billion gallons of fuel annually, according to Ms Sharma.


With further refinement of the technology, the Australian firm hopes it can help airlines improve efficiency as much as 10 per cent.

Scientists create ‘shark skin’ coating for planes – and say it could save airlines billions | The Independent

Thailand Increases Passenger Rights with New Flight Delay and Cancellation Protections

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has unveiled new passenger protection regulations under Civil Aviation Board Notification No. 101, set to take effect on May 20, 2025.

Approved by the Civil Aviation Board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Jungrungreangkit, these measures aim to enhance the rights of passengers on both domestic and international scheduled flights, addressing disruptions such as delays and cancellations with a focus on fairness and accountability.

The new rules come as Thailand’s aviation sector continues to recover and grow post-pandemic, with the country welcoming millions of tourists annually. The regulations are part of a broader effort to align Thailand’s aviation standards with international benchmarks.

Enhanced Protections for International Flights


The regulations place a strong emphasis on supporting passengers impacted by unannounced delays or cancellations, particularly those already at the airport. For international flights, the measures outline specific obligations for airlines based on the duration of the delay:


Delays Over 2 Hours: Airlines are required to provide complimentary food and beverages or vouchers tailored to the time of day and length of the delay. Additionally, passengers must have access to free communication tools, such as phone calls or email, to manage their plans.


Delays Over 5 Hours: In addition to food and communication support, airlines must offer at least 1,500 baht (approximately $45 USD) in cash compensation, credit, travel vouchers, frequent flyer miles, or equivalent alternatives within 14 days. Passengers who choose to cancel their travel plans can opt for a full refund or alternative transportation arrangements, such as flights to the same or nearby destinations.


Delays Over 10 Hours: Compensation increases to between 2,000 and 4,500 baht (approximately $60–$135 USD), depending on the flight distance. Airlines must also provide accommodation and shuttle services for passengers requiring overnight stays.


In cases of flight cancellations without at least seven days’ notice, airlines must provide the same level of assistance as for delays exceeding 10 hours. However, exemptions apply if the airline arranges alternative flights within three hours of the original schedule or if cancellations are due to unavoidable external factors, such as severe weather or air traffic control issues.

Tarmac Delays and Onboard Protections


The regulations also address tarmac delays, ensuring passengers are not left stranded onboard aircraft for extended periods. Airlines must maintain adequate ventilation, air-conditioning, and access to toilets during such delays. If a delay exceeds three hours without a confirmed takeoff time, passengers must be allowed to disembark unless safety or air traffic control restrictions prevent it. Immediate medical services must be available for passengers in need.


For domestic flights, the new rules increase existing compensation levels to better protect travelers within Thailand. For delays exceeding five hours, compensation rises from 600 baht to 1,200 baht (approximately $36 USD). For cancellations, compensation increases from 1,200 baht to 1,500 baht. Airlines may offer alternatives like travel vouchers or miles, but cash remains an option. As with international flights, no compensation is required for disruptions caused by weather, disasters, etc.


Industry and Passenger Implications


The regulations are expected to place additional operational and financial responsibilities on airlines, particularly low-cost carriers that dominate Thailand’s domestic market. Airlines failing to comply could face criminal penalties under the Air Navigation Act, reinforcing the seriousness of the new measures. For passengers, the rules promise greater peace of mind, especially for international travelers navigating Thailand’s busy airport hubs like Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.


As the May 20, 2025, implementation date approaches, CAAT plans to roll out awareness campaigns to ensure both airlines and passengers are well-informed. With these protections, Thailand is positioning itself as a leader in passenger rights in Southeast Asia, balancing the needs of travelers with the demands of a dynamic aviation sector.

Thailand Increases Passenger Rights with New Flight Delay and Cancellation Protections - The Pattaya News

Will locals blocking an airport be included?

The UN aviation council on May 12 found that Russia was responsible for the downing of a Malaysian commercial jet over Ukraine that killed all 298 passengers and crew.

The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said in a statement that Russia “failed to uphold its obligations under international air law” in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17, 2014.

The council agreed that claims brought to the ICAO by Australia and the Netherlands as a result of the shooting down of the airliner were “well founded in fact and in law.”

The ICAO added it was the first time in its history that the council had made a determination on the merits of a dispute between member states.

Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam for Kuala Lumpur and was hit by a surface-to-air missile over eastern Ukraine as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces. Among the people killed were 196 Dutch citizens and 38 Australian citizens or residents.

Dutch judges in November 2022 convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of murder for their role in the downing of the aircraft. Moscow called the ruling "scandalous" and said it would not extradite its citizens.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said the vote of the ICAO Council “is an important step towards establishing the truth and achieving justice and accountability for all victims of Flight MH17, and their families and loved ones."

The decision also sends a clear message to the international community that states cannot violate international law with impunity, Veldkamp said in a Dutch government statement.

Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government welcomed the decision, calling it a "historic moment in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the victims" and urged ICAO to move swiftly to determine remedies.

"In reaching its decision, the ICAO Council has upheld the fundamental principle that weapons should not be used against civil aircraft," she said in a statement.

"We call upon Russia to finally face up to its responsibility for this horrific act of violence and make reparations for its egregious conduct, as required under international law," Wong said.

The Montreal-based ICAO will consider what form of reparation is in order in the coming weeks, the Dutch government statement said.

The Netherlands and Australia want the ICAO Council to order Russia to enter into negotiations over reparations, Veldkamp said.

ICAO is a UN body with 193 member states that decides whether countries have violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires that member states "refrain from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight."

A large majority of the council voted in favor of the Netherlands’ and Australia’s position in the decision reached on May 12, the Dutch government statement said, but it did not provide a breakdown of the vote.

UN Aviation Body Finds Russia Responsible For Downing Of Passenger Jet Over Ukraine

Plane With 200 Aboard Flies Across Country Without Pilot

Passengers onboard a Lufthansa flight were shocked to learn that their plane crossed the Spanish border without a single pilot at the controls. More than 200 were on the flight from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain, investigators have found. The horrific incident happened last year when one captain went to the bathroom just as the Airbus 321 was about to cross the Spanish border, leaving the first officer in charge. The first officer then lost consciousness, and the captain was unable to get back into the cockpit after his trip to the bathroom. He frantically tried to enter the security door’s access code five times while a flight attendant rushed to contact the unconscious co-pilot on the intercom. After 10 long minutes, just as the captain had entered the emergency access code, the first officer was able to recover just enough to open the door. The captain rushed in and immediately noticed his first officer was “pale,” “sweating,” and “moving strangely.” Both the cabin crew and a doctor administered first aid, and the captain diverted to Madrid. The “sudden and severe incapacitation” was the result of an unnoticed seizure condition.

Plane With 200 Aboard Flies Across Country Without Pilot

FFS I bet they had nightmares.