The electronics ban made big headlines again this week. This policy threatens the stability of the airline industry and would dramatically reverse efforts to improve air travel.
This weekly post is my ‘round tuit’. Included are stories which caught my eye and others which I couldn’t cover in-depth during the week, but thought Flight Chic readers would want to know about.
1. Bad situation. Worse.
US looks at extending laptop ban to all flights https://t.co/cSb9nnzVgJ
— Isaac ✈ Alexander (@jetcitystar) May 18, 2017
An electronics ban on flights to Europe could cost passengers $1.1 billion a year https://t.co/rJJTLlFVp7 pic.twitter.com/X2xqE8dFDW
— Travel + Leisure (@TravelLeisure) May 17, 2017
Business Travel Is Already Affected By Potential Expansion Of The Laptop Ban – https://t.co/KYAKY9MTfC via @pizzainmotion pic.twitter.com/seRmmTrxXw
— BoardingArea (@BoardingArea) May 18, 2017
When 800 words on laptop handling during the #electronicsban turns into 1800 words: https://t.co/uYAGZx9Gug pic.twitter.com/Axpg7E2RQz
— Cynthia Drescher (@JetSetCD) May 18, 2017
Brace for Chaos If U.S Expands Airline Laptop Ban https://t.co/btX9RBnF3N
— Firdaus Hashim (@FHavg) May 15, 2017
"Catastrophic": UK pilots' view of potential unintended consequences of extending US ban on electronics in the cabinhttps://t.co/2etmR6BOir
— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) May 15, 2017
Creating millions of potential Li-ion fire threats daily? >> US looks at extending laptop ban to ALL flights to US https://t.co/UTaHcvpIJX
— Robert W. Mann, Jr. (@RWMann) May 18, 2017
Although the hold baggage screening process is judged to be more capable of explosives detection than carry-on baggage screening. https://t.co/wQd1p6DHn5
— Robert W. Mann, Jr. (@RWMann) May 18, 2017
@theAPEXassco CEO calls for halt on extension of electronics ban to Europe via @FutureTravelX #PaxEx #EU #Europe https://t.co/gymVqpNsLt pic.twitter.com/uCbXyO4sHc
— FlightPath3D (@FlightPath3D) May 14, 2017
APEX provides tips to help airlines prepare for a possible expansion of the #ElectronicsBan. #PaxEx #AvGeek https://t.co/RIGQmrOYI2
— APEX (@theAPEXassoc) May 17, 2017
This seems even less likely if the electronics ban goes on.
Large US airlines remain uncertain about a trans-Atlantic rebound in the near term https://t.co/Lfgzl3ZqGm
— Will Horton (@winglets747) May 18, 2017
2. Security tightens in the UK
UK man charged with obstruction after refusing to turn over passwords at airport https://t.co/DfQ3iksFpL pic.twitter.com/SddGPF1vpB
— The Verge (@verge) May 17, 2017
3. Passenger attempts to access flight deck on AAL 31
DHS Statement: pic.twitter.com/lrZAYL4D6h
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 19, 2017
American Airlines statement on incident involving flight 31 to Honolulu: Due to a disturbance, crew requested law enforcement meet the plane pic.twitter.com/3MZwYWKoZ8
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) May 19, 2017
. @AmericanAir Flight 31 as it landed at HNL just after 11:30am. Plane had 2 military escorts accompany it on approach. @HawaiiNewsNow pic.twitter.com/O0dVpaLwGX
— Allyson Blair (@AllysonBlairTV) May 19, 2017
4. United. This also..what a mess.
United flight attendant reportedly posted cockpit access codes online https://t.co/g5uakK3bTp pic.twitter.com/yZ8nK0hmfH
— The Verge (@verge) May 21, 2017
5. The big shift. (What an operation!)
How Delta and 20 Other Airlines Swapped Terminals at LAX – WIRED:https://t.co/NrprZ1xXkA#Aviation #Airport #Airline
— SpeedBird (@SpeedBird_NCL) May 15, 2017
Up All Night With Delta During the Great LAX Terminal Shuffle https://t.co/kfuUXkONKO (Cranky Post)
— Brett Snyder (@crankyflier) May 15, 2017
6. Delta is nice now. FYI.
The biggest bully among U.S. airlines has started playing nice. https://t.co/v4W9LncAHV pic.twitter.com/jiYAnM4bbP
— Businessweek (@BW) May 18, 2017
Um..well there’s this…
US launches dumping probe on @Bombardier deal with @Delta https://t.co/9WeV8bL0cP
— ?Kathryn Creedy? (@kcreedy) May 18, 2017
7. Rockwell Collins plans to let B/E Aerospace do what it does best, with little interference. (Wise.)
Rockwell Collins plans light touch in integrating B/E Aerospace … https://t.co/CCpAZvlrYs pic.twitter.com/FOIAMu2K1L
— Air Transport World (@ATWOnline) May 18, 2017
NEWS B/E Aerospace deal brings depth, aircraft fullness to Rockwell Collins – Winston-Salem Journal https://t.co/wyLKihVJVX pic.twitter.com/Fz5T0vY5BT
— Aviation Source (@aviationsource) May 21, 2017
8. EasyJet moves to higher capacity planes.
EasyJet's new fleet mix plan and bet on higher-capacity Airbus planes pic.twitter.com/l3CdWwItIl
— Robert Wall (@R_Wall) May 16, 2017
More LCC plans
Turkish Airlines considers establishing long haul low cost operation https://t.co/P4DHzxeV7D via @CAPA_Aviation
— starflyergold (@starflyergold) May 16, 2017
Malaysia Airlines: Low cost long haul is being 'hyped-up', is nothing new https://t.co/T5pA9sxYwF
— starflyergold (@starflyergold) May 16, 2017
9. An interesting study by Routehappy proves rich experiential content can influence bookings decision.
Flight booking increases by 26% with rich content, according to #data from Routehappy and Webjet: https://t.co/eMztB5DLlR #PaxEx #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/ZSeScYg00h
— APEX (@theAPEXassoc) May 18, 2017
Does rich content increase bookings? Webjet puts it to the test https://t.co/ZpPQklPb6f via @tnooz
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 18, 2017
10. Connectivity boosts in-flight retail.
Connectivity is giving inflight shopping an upgrade, here's how: https://t.co/UVCqpg2JUR #BringItOn pic.twitter.com/nsToC4H72O
— Inmarsat (@InmarsatGlobal) May 17, 2017
11. Gogo shares the need for speed…
Did they only ask Millennials? Because I think GenX GenZ and Boomers would agree. Who wants slower speeds? https://t.co/NKEQ1ssJpj
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 17, 2017
12. Inmarsat’s Big Launch.
.@InmarsatGlobal's #I5F4 @SpaceX Falcon satellite launch is a success! Check https://t.co/TpM3IymTew tmrw for @HowardSlutsken's coverage pic.twitter.com/wdS3CKotGW
— APEX (@theAPEXassoc) May 16, 2017
13. Keep your eye on Google. And don’t blink!
Google (not the GDS) is the new enemy in airline distribution https://t.co/hnJHG5TrJh via @tnooz
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 16, 2017
14. London City Airport will be controlled by ‘virtual’ ATC
.@LondonCityAir to Become the UK’s First Remote ATC https://t.co/4m9MxDTqAl pic.twitter.com/h7QtuYJiSt
— AirlineGeeks.com (@AirlineGeeks) May 19, 2017
15. Difficult decisions ahead for Etihad, beyond Alitalia.
Etihad's $4 billion expansion plans are falling flathttps://t.co/gZ7LQjXvyn pic.twitter.com/ZiwOTFgQw0
— ArabianBusiness.com (@ArabianBusiness) May 19, 2017
16. American’s app update includes baggage tracking.
American is Adding Rebooking and Lost Baggage Functionality to its Mobile App https://t.co/QkpatElKq0
— gary leff (@garyleff) May 18, 2017
17. Delta adds facial recognition to baggage drop process.
Delta tests facial recognition technology to speed bag checking https://t.co/1Btti8jEB2 via @tnooz
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 15, 2017
18. FAA loses court case challenging the Authority’s drone registration requirements.
Federal appeals court strikes down rule that owners of recreational drones must register their devices with the FAA. https://t.co/y25FviT9g4
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) May 19, 2017
We are carefully reviewing the U.S. Court of Appeals decision as it relates to #drone registrations. Full statement: https://t.co/XTmwmBNNEp pic.twitter.com/9MUKSDTOSd
— The FAA (@FAANews) May 19, 2017
19. Southwest is headed for Hawaii.
.@SouthwestAir finally close to adding Hawaii. First time I've heard CEO @gary_kelly says it's a high priority. https://t.co/urp4QVc6G3
— Dawn Gilbertson (@DawnGilbertson) May 17, 2017
"Our competitors are finally doing well and we’re facing significant competition all over the country and we welcome it." @SouthwestAir CEO
— Sky Talk (@Sky_Talk) May 17, 2017
20. Icelandair’s New Chill Jet
Icelandair just debuted the world’s first flying glacier https://t.co/h52nx2u0pi via @TravelLeisure
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 15, 2017
21. How cool is this?
Dutch king reveals he has been a KLM pilot for 21 years https://t.co/4oFCBAO4kl
— CNBC (@CNBC) May 18, 2017
22. I’m glad they said it. Now, let’s fix it.
"You cannot ignore half of the population and have a sustainable industry" A.Gittens #STEMsoars @icao @IATA @DreamsSoarSTEM @Inspire_IAWA pic.twitter.com/kYomQxRovx
— ACI World (@ACIWorld) May 17, 2017
23. Celebrating the 90th anniversary of Lindbergh’s historic flight. (He managed it without a laptop btw.)
Lucky Lindy: @CASA_Briefing marks the 90th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic crossing https://t.co/HwY9yt5MYS #avgeek
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 19, 2017
24. Bill Nye is a genius.
Love It!!–> @BillNye explains how travel booking actually works https://t.co/ecvL4VCTpF via @TravelLeisure
— FlightChic | ✈️? (@designerjet) May 19, 2017
25. Chuck Yeager is a trip.
It will never replace sex https://t.co/uft9UdLry8
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) May 19, 2017
I have had to do so – but jump out of a perfectly good airplane? Why? https://t.co/6Zpo9XR2NM
— Chuck Yeager (@GenChuckYeager) May 19, 2017
26. Jacqueline Cochran was Ace to the power of ten.
64 years ago today Jacqueline Cochran set a speed record for women becoming the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound.✈️ #TBT pic.twitter.com/VFTfoG0mVm
— The FAA (@FAANews) May 18, 2017
Enjoy week 21! I’ll be reporting from ATIS.