Aviation Newsletter for March 28, 2017

FAA

GOP chairman: Trump infrastructure package could be rolled into aviation bill -- A House GOP committee chairman said that President Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure plan - [Melanie Zanona/ The Hill]

FAA forecasts decline of 17,500 piston airplanes -- The Federal Aviation Administration said in a new report that the general aviation fleet is expected to grow, but at an anemic yearly pace, over the next two decades. [Jerry Siebenmark/ Wichita Eagle]

Plan to privatize 30,000 FAA workers gains momentum, but is it enough? -- If the effort to privatize more than 30,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers is successful this year, it will be the result of issues like the paper strips. [Ashley Halsey III/ Washington Post]

A pilot crashed his plane and walked off uninjured. Now the FAA wants to know what exactly happened -- The first indication that a plane was down came Saturday afternoon when the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida picked up a signal from an emergency locator beacon transmitting from somewhere in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. [Doug Smith/ Los Angeles Times]

Aircraft

Boeing sets 31 March for 787-10 first flight -- Boeing will conduct first flight of the 787-10 on 31 March, subject to weather and other factors. [FlightGlobal]

Private jet flipped over in wake turbulence from Airbus A380: Reports -- A small private jet was flipped over in midair and plunged 10,000 feet after being caught in the wake turbulence from a passing Airbus A380 superjumbo, according to reports. [Alastair Jamieson/ NBC News]

Boeing plans layoffs for May -- Boeing sent a notice to employees at its commercial jet factories Friday warning of layoffs in May. [Jon Ostrower/ CNN]

Aviation Security

Laptop ban may force business travelers to skip Middle East airports -- Fast-growing Middle Eastern airlines have been luring business travelers away from carriers in the U.S., Europe and Asia for years. [Jon Ostrower/ CNN Money]

In airline laptop ban, some in Turkey see commercial agenda -- As Istanbul builds a massive new airport and Turkish Airlines pursues aggressive route expansion, some in Turkey see the ban on large carry-on electronics on U.S. and Britain-bound flights as a ploy to undermine their aviation industry. [Ceyda Caglayan/ Reuters]

What you need to know about the airline electronics ban -- The U.S. decision this week to ban laptops, tablets and other personal electronic devices aboard U.S.-bound flights from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries has left travelers with a lot of questions. [Luz Lazo/ Washington Post]

Laptop ban hits Gulf airlines in battle for business travelers -- A ban on laptops in plane cabins bound for the United States from some cities could deal a blow to the big, fast-growing Gulf airlines, which depend on business-class flyers stopping over in places like Dubai or Doha for far-flung destinations. [Victoria Bryan/ Reuters]

Former Israeli airport security boss: electronics ban makes little sense -- Even in Israel, renowned for its aviation security, a carry-on electronics ban on flights to the United States and Britain from parts of the Middle East and North Africa had a former airport security chief shaking his head on Wednesday. [Jeffrey Heller/ Reuters]

We shouldn't be included in ban, argue some airlines and airports -- Airline and aviation officials are reacting to the new laptop and electronics bans announced Tuesday by the U.S. and United Kingdom. [Ben Mutzabaugh/ USA Today]

Turkish Airlines slumps as laptop ban risks dreams of global hub -- Investors were just starting to warm to Turkish Airlines and its goal to be at the heart of an Istanbul airline hub after a turbulent year for the carrier's stock. [Tugce Ozsoy & Ercan Ersoy/ Bloomberg]

As laptop ban looms, European airports may loosen liquid limits -- While travelers face the prospect of being forced to check in laptops and tablet computers, another airline security hassle might get eased. [Benjamin D. Katz/ Bloomberg Technology]

Feds remind U.S. airports, airlines they are terror targets -- Federal law enforcement has warned America's airports and airlines that they remain top targets for terrorists because of their symbolic value, "inherent accessibility, and the presence of large crowds in unsecure areas," according to a new government memo obtained by NBC News. [Tom Winter & Andrew Blankstein/ NBC News]

Britain and U.S. ban most electronic devices in cabins on flights from several Muslim-majority countries -- Britain joined the United States on Tuesday in banning passengers traveling from airports in several Muslim-majority countries from bringing laptops, tablets and other portable electronic devices on board with them when they fly. [Rick Noack, Luz Lazo & Devlin Barrett/ Washington Post]

New security measure could cause travelers to reroute trips -- A new U.S. security measure banning many electronic devices on flights from eight mostly Muslim countries is leading travelers to reconsider their plans to fly through some airports in the Middle East. [David Koenig/ AP]

Security experts question wisdom of airline electronics ban -- New rules banning many electronic items from passenger cabins on U.S.-bound flights will force a rethink now on fire safety concerns in consigning them to the hold, and some experts question whether the limited ban can improve passenger security. [Reuters]

What is the logic behind Trump's new 'electronics ban'? People are stumped. -- Citing unspecified threats, the U.S. government told a slew of airlines based in the Middle East and North Africa that they must restrict their U.S.-bound passengers from taking any electronic items larger than cellphones in their carry-on baggage, effective immediately. [Max Bearak/ Washington Post]

U.S. unveils new restrictions on travelers from eight Muslim-majority countries -- Passengers traveling to the United States from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries will be prohibited from bringing laptops, tablets and other portable electronic devices on board with them when they fly, [Lori Aratani/ Washington Post]
[Alicia A. Caldwell & David Koenig/ AP]

Airline electronics ban: What you need to know -- Which airports are involved? [Jethro Mullen & Jon Ostrower/ CNN]

U.S. airlines push back against proposed TSA fee hike -- A representative from the largest U.S. airline trade group on Monday criticized the Trump Administration's proposal to increase the fee consumers pay to fund the Transportation Security Administration, [Brian Sumers/ Skift]

---

Airlines

American Airlines leaves thousands of passengers at gates as it pushes on-time departures -- Pilots at American Airlines said the airline is so committed to making sure airplanes take off on time that in February it left 20,000 passengers stranded at the gate as the door to the airplane closed. [Ted Reed/ TheStreet]

Why American Airlines is soaring -- Shares of American Airlines are soaring today after Stifel named the stock to Stifel Select List. [Ben Levisohn/ Barron's]

Alaska Airlines is killing off Virgin America and Richard Branson says it's OK to cry -- Alaska Airlines has announced they are killing off the Virgin America brand sometime in 2019. [Fitz Tepper/ TechCrunch]

Virgin America will disappear into Alaska Airlines in 2019 --  Virgin America, the California-based carrier with the blue mood lighting and high-tech entertainment system, will be fully absorbed by Alaska Airlines by the end of 2019 as Alaska strives to become the West Coast's dominant airline.
[Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]
[Ben Mutzabaugh/ USA Today]  
[David Goldman & Jon Ostrower/ CNN]
[Brett Snyder/ The Cranky Flier]
[Brian Sumers/ Skift]
[Richard Branson/ letter to VX]

American Airlines in advanced talks to buy China Southern stake -- American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, is in advanced talks to acquire a stake in China Southern Airlines, according to people familiar with the matter. [Bloomberg News]

Woman dies on flight from Los Angeles to Sydney -- The death of an Australian woman on an international flight that landed in Sydney is not being treated as suspicious amid reports the passenger was a suspected drug mule. [Stefanie Menezes/ Sydney Morning Herald]

JetBlue adds iconic Momofuku Milk Bar snacks to its premium 'Mint' service -- JetBlue's premium flying experience is about to get sweeter. [Aric Jenkins/ Fortune]

Qantas has smashed the black market in lounge passes -- Qantas has effectively put a block on the underground trade in lounge guest passes by switching to digital and scrapping paper. [Chris Pash/ Business Insider]

Emirates just used Jennifer Aniston to take a shot at the US laptop ban that's turning into a huge headache -- On Tuesday, Emirates responded to the US Government's ban on laptops and other large electronics with a fun ad reassuring passengers that there are plenty of entertainment options available without the need for a laptop. [Benjamin Zhang/ Business Insider]

Spirit Airlines pilot may not have been drug tested in years -- The Spirit Airlines pilot whose death authorities call a likely overdose may not have been drug tested in years, because while federal regulations require airlines to drug test under certain conditions, airline pilots are not drug tested during yearly physical exams. [Will Garbe/ Dayton Daily News]

American, Delta, United pick Trump's favorite media for anti-subsidy ad campaign -- "Nowhere is that threat more real than America's airline industry {where} 1.2 million jobs are at risk because Mideast airlines pump billions of dollars into their airlines," a narrator says. [Ted Reed/ TheStreet]

American Airlines gives flight attendants new uniform option -- American Airlines' flight attendants have a new uniform option after thousands of complaints of allergic reactions to their work clothes were lodged. [Andrea Ahles/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

That's not carry-on: Loose snake slumbers on Alaska flight -- Anna McConnaughy was flying to Alaska's largest city when the announcement came over the intercom: a passenger on a previous flight had brought a pet snake on board. [Dan Joling/ AP]

JetSuiteX offers Coachella Festival Flights from Hollywood Burbank Airport -- Going to the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival next month and don't feel like driving? [City News Service]

Requesting a special meal? You won't get an upgrade: Ex-Qantas flight attendant -- The free upgrade is the Holy Grail of air travel. [Oliver Smith/ Financial Review]

DOT postpones airline reports on bags, wheelchairs -- Airlines will have an extra year to report more about mishandled bags and wheelchairs, after the Transportation Department delayed the start of a rule that was announced as "final" in October. [Bart Jansen/ USA Today]

FAA, Spirit Airlines 'quickly became aware' of Centerville pilot's death -- The Federal Aviation Administration and Spirit Airlines "quickly became aware" of pilot Brian Halye's likely drug overdose death, a spokeswoman for the federal agency said Monday. [Will Garbe/ Dayton Daily News]

How Southwest Airlines and others are creating a new breed of capitalism -- In the last few weeks, seven major corporations - American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines [Joseph Blasi/ Fortune]

American Airlines CEO: How do we beat Delta? We bet on new aircraft -- American CEO Doug Parker said his airline has a revenue gap with Delta and is on the way to making it up -- thanks largely to its modern fleet. [Ted Reed/ TheStreet]

If it seems like airline systems are down more often, it's because they are -- It's not your imagination. [John Pletz/ Crain's Chicago Business]

Oakland: New European airline will connect Bay Area with Barcelona -- A new airline is launching that will connect the Bay Area with more international routes.  [Annie Sciacca/ East Bay Times]

Fasten your seat belt: Record number flying this spring -- Warm weather and an economy heating up mean a record number of people will be flying this spring. Airlines for America, an industry trade group, expects 145 million people around the world to board a flight with a U.S Airline between March 1st and April 30th. [Phil LeBeau/ CNBC]

DOT: Airlines carried record 823 million passengers last year -- U.S. airlines carried a record number of 823 million passengers last year, the Transportation Department announced Thursday. [Bart Jansen/ USA Today]

Delta, United, American to face new low-cost European rival -- British Airways parent International Airlines Group will launch a low-cost, long-haul airline that will offer flights from Barcelona to the U.S. [Bill Peters/ Investor's Business Daily]

Proposed law tells airlines: We need our seat space -- Every time I have to squeeze into a super-tight airline seat or twist and turn my way down a jam-packed passenger row, I think: [Robert Reed/ Chicago Tribune]

Spirit Airlines pilot and wife die of suspected fentanyl, heroin overdose -- An Ohio couple was found dead in their home from a suspected overdose of heroin and fentanyl, authorities say. [Minyvonne Burke/ New York Daily News]

Trump's deregulation could boost airline profits, benefit consumers, analysts say -- President Donald Trump's promises of deregulation could help boost the profits of airlines, and may wind up adding more cash to consumers' wallets, analysts told CNBC on Friday. [Michelle Fox/ CNBC]

United Airlines gives up on Duty Free -- In a bid to spur more duty free sales last year, United Airlines created a program that allowed non-traveling customers to surprise family or friends on international flights by sending them gifts delivered by a flight attendant. [Brian Sumers/ Skift]

More airlines cut service to Cuba -- Only six months after U.S. carriers began operating regular commercial flights to Cuba, [Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]

Qantas CEO, a gay marriage supporter, faulted by Aussie lawmaker -- The head of Qantas Airways Ltd., Australia's national carrier, was criticized by a federal lawmaker for campaigning in favor of same-sex marriage. [Vivek Shankar/ Bloomberg]

Contract talks drag on for American Airlines mechanics -- More than three years after American Airlines merged with US Airways, thousands of workers who fix the Fort Worth-based airline's planes still don't have a joint contract. [Andrea Ahles/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

Southwest Airlines outlines Oct 2017 737MAX 8 operations -- Southwest Airlines on Thursday 16MAR17 opened reservation for its new Boeing 737MAX 8 (IATA Code: 7M8), set to enter operations on 01OCT17. [Jim Liu/ Routes Online]

Airports

​Los Angeles City Planning Commission recommends approval of plan amendments for LAX Landside Access Modernization Program -- The Los Angeles City Planning Commission on Thursday recommended the City Council approve zone change requests and amendments [LAWA News Release]
[City News Service]

ICE agent arrested for helping inadmissible Mexican national into U.S. at LAX -- A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agent from Murrieta was arrested on charges he helped a foreign national illegally enter the country. [Sandy Coronilla/ ABC10 San Diego]
[City News Service]
[Brian Rokos/ Riverside Press-Enterprise]

Tired of travel fees? Here's a charge you may be unaware of -- Ever feel like the taxi ride from the airport costs more than the trip there? [AP]

Concealed carry will be allowed at Arkansas municipal airports under new law -- Under the new enhanced concealed carry law, signed by the governor Wednesday, license holders will be able to carry their guns into areas deemed sensitive with more training, that includes municipal airports. [Elicia Dover/ ABC7 Little Rock]

Passenger numbers take off at Hollywood Burbank Airport -- Hollywood Burbank Airport continues to bring more passengers into its terminals, reporting a 10.5% increase in January compared to the same month in 2016. [Anthony Clark Carpio/ Burbank Leader]

JetSuiteX announces flight to Coachella Festival from Hollywood Burbank Airport -- Going to the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival next month and don't feel like driving? [Fox11/ CNS]

Will St. Louis Lambert Airport go private? Mayor submits preliminary application to FAA -- Will Lambert Airport go private? [Joe Millitzer/ Fox2 St. Louis]

'Monumental' shift: Why 21 airlines are moving terminals in May at LAX -- A move by Delta Air Lines into new terminals at Los Angeles International Airport this spring will set off what LAX officials are calling "a move of airlines never before seen at a major U.S. airport." [City News Service]
[Hugo Martin/ Los Angeles Times]
[Melissa Pamer/ KTLA]
[Jessica Sanders/ Atlanta Business Chronicle]
[LAWA Press Release]
[LAWA Fact Sheet]

These maps show you the noisiest places to live in California -- It's probably no surprise, but some of the noisier parts of California can be found around airports and freeways. [Shelby Grad/ Los Angeles Times] [USDOT Press Release]

Building airports is hard. Why not use the ones we have? -- Infrastructure in America is full of contradictions: [Conor Sen/ Bloomberg]

Third Annual Airport Planning Course at California State University, Los Angeles, features HNTB guest lecturers -- For the third consecutive year, HNTB Corp. aviation planning and engineering professionals delivered guest lectures as part of the airport planning course for California State University, Los Angeles. [HNTB/ AviationPros]

Airports add pet potties & play areas; dump pay phones, banks -- Modern-day airports no longer concentrate solely on being gateways to help passengers get from here to there. [Harriet Baskas/ Stuck at the Airport]

LaGuardia Airport Renovation: Q&A With LaGuardia Gateway Partners' Ed Baklor -- During the Passenger Terminal Expo in Amsterdam last week, APEX Media met with Ed Baklor, [Marisa Garcia/ APEX]

No decision made on sell-off of Canada's airports: finance minister -- Ottawa has made no decisions on the sell-off of Canada's big airports and the government continues to weigh its options, Finance Minister Bill Morneau says. [Bruce Campion-Smith/ Toronto Star]

Taxis suffer as Atlanta airport riders choose Uber, Lyft -- In the first couple of months of legal ride-share pickups at the world's busiest airport, Uber and Lyft carried more than twice as many customers from the airport as taxis, according to the city of Atlanta. [Kelly Yamanouchi/ Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

America's most hair-raising airport landings -- For a commercial airline pilot, some landings are a relative breeze-think airports with long, clear runways on flat land at sea level, with benign weather and modest traffic. [Justin Bachman/ Bloomberg]

Man accused of having pipe bombs in his downtown Denver hotel room is indicted, appears in federal court -- Adam Nauveed Hayat, the man authorities say had several pipe bombs in his hotel room at the Sheraton Denver Downtown, has been indicted by a grand jury and appeared in court Monday afternoon. [Jesse Paul/ Denver Post]

Strikes strand tourists, travelers at Italy's airports -- Tourists and travelers at airports across Italy are facing delays and canceled flights thanks to strikes by air traffic controllers and air transport workers. [AP]

Rural airports take a hit in President Trump's budget cuts -- Last week, we explained how the Trump administration's budget, if adopted, would potentially raise airfares and lengthen lines at airport security. [Cynthia Drescher/ Conde Nast Traveler]

Missouri lawmakers consider airport alcohol bill -- You would be able to carry alcoholic beverages around the St. Louis Lambert and Kansas City International Airports, under legislation that's been approved by the Missouri House. [Missourinet]

Airport staff sleeping at work say they cannot afford to go home -- Staff at one of Australia's busiest airports have been setting up camp and sleeping at work, which they say is because they cannot afford to go home between shifts. [James Thomas & Xanthe Kleinig/ Australian Broadcasting Corp.]

Delta to lead 24 airline relocations to new terminals at LAX -- Call it "Airmageddon." [Howard Fine/ Los Angeles Business Journal]

LAX police arrest man with loaded gun in truck -- A hit-and-run suspect was wrestled to the ground and arrested Sunday outside Terminal 2 at Los Angeles International Airport after he allegedly became aggressive with Airport police and failed to follow their commands. [Torrance Daily Breeze]

LAX security officer saves man from suicide fall -- A Los Angeles International Airport security officer was hailed as a hero Friday for wrestling a young man to the ground and preventing him from jumping from a pedestrian bridge. [Larry Altman/ Torrance Daily Breeze]

Los Angeles World Airports partners with Edge4Vets connecting veterans with airport jobs -- Men and women who have served in the military will soon have an opportunity to convert valuable job skills into careers at Los Angeles International Airport. [LAWA News Release]

Southwest Airlines gains two permanent flight slots at Long Beach Airport -- Southwest Airlines will soon have two permanent air carrier flight slots at Long Beach Airport after American Airlines announced last month that it was reducing service, city officials said yesterday. [Stephanie Rivera/ Long Beach Post]

ONT coming back, one flight at a time -- One flight at a time. [Press-Enterprise Editorial Board/ Riverside Press-Enterprise]

Name that airport ... (Orange County, Calif.) -- The photo in this week's "name that airport photo" is of the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif. [Ben Mutzabaugh/ USA Today]

John Wayne, who already has a namesake day in Newport Beach, may soon get a park, too -- Newport Beach could honor screen legend and one-time resident John Wayne with a park. [Hillary Davis/ Los Angeles Times]

Paris Airport attack puts focus on check-in security -- The attack Saturday at Paris's second-largest airport, in which a man seized a soldier's gun before being shot dead, comes at a time of heightened security concerns at such departure points for international travelers and repeated attacks on air travel. [Robert Wall/ Wall Street Journal]

The protests against Trump's travel ban could change how America designs airports -- In late January, tens of thousands of Americans in over 80 airports protested Trump's first travel ban, which would have temporarily barred refugees and immigrants from seven majority-Muslim countries. [Leanna Garfield/ Business Insider]

Can you hear me now? Airports clear away old staples to make way for newer amenities -- Airports, mostly seen as gateways that ferry passengers to distant cities and far-flung countries, have grown beyond their original mandate. [Harriet Baskas/ CNBC]

Fresno airport offering help to developmentally disabled flyers -- For children and adults who are autistic or suffer from other developmental disabilities, what is supposed to be a pleasant trip by plane can end up being a difficult or downright traumatic experience for them and their families. [David Castellon/ Fresno Business Journal]

Sea-Tac airport spends $2M to keep passengers from getting lost -- The Port of Seattle is doubling down so you won't get lost at Sea-Tac Airport. [Michelle Li/ KING5]

Westchester airport: Ambitious timeline for privatization -- The outside firm hired to help privatize Westchester County Airport has an ambitious timeline that would see a contract in place by year's end. [Matt Coyne/ lohud]

Hawaiian Airlines, HTA back airport authority bill -- Airline and tourism experts are supporting a bill that would establish an independent airport corporation under. [Katie Murar/ Pacific Business News]

Man killed at Paris airport planned to 'die for Allah': prosecutor -- A man shot dead by French soldiers at Paris Orly airport on Saturday shouted he was there to "die for Allah" and tried to seize a soldier's assault rifle, apparently intending to open fire on passengers, a prosecutor said. [Gus Trompiz & Emmanuel Jarry/ Reuters]