• Boeing is having a rough year.
• The company has faced mechanical problems, lawsuits, a leadership shake-up, and layoffs.
• Here's a breakdown of how Boeing's year has gone from bad to worse.

Boeing has been going through it this year.

From losing a door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight, causing a side panel to blow out in midair, to an exodus of corporate executives, the company has faced a litany of crises in 2024. The company's stock has fallen about 35% this year.

In a message to employees during the company's third-quarter earnings call, Boeing CEO Kely Ortberg said the company was at a "crossroads."

"My mission here is pretty straightforward," she said. "Turn this big ship in the right direction and restore Boeing to the leadership position that we all know and want."

Here's how Boeing's year went from bad to worse.

Emergency on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282

The problems began almost immediately this year when, on January 5, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 lost a door plug midair, blowing a hole in the side of the plane. While no one died in the incident, several passengers were injured, and the pilots were forced to make an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

In the aftermath of the incident, the FAA temporarily grounded over 170 of Boeing's 737 Max 9 planes until they could complete safety inspections.

The Justice Department opened an investigation into Boeing shortly after, and the FBI told passengers aboard the flight that they might have been victims of a crime.

Ongoing litigation

Boeing was hit with multiple lawsuits this year.

Passengers from the Alaska Airlines flight filed a class action suit against the company just days after the incident.

"Passengers were shocked and confused, thrust into a waking nightmare unsure if these were their last seconds alive," the lawsuit said.

Boeing's shareholders filed a separate class action suit against the company in January, stating that it had prioritized profit over safety, Reuters reported.

Separately, in July, Boeing struck a plea deal related to two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. If a judge had approved the deal, it would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, avoid a trial, pay a fine of about $244 million, and invest at least $455 million in safety and compliance measures.

Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in 2021 in a deal with the federal government to avoid prosecution for the crashes, but Justice Department officials said in May that Boeing had violated portions of the deal, putting a trial back on the table. Relatives of the deceased passengers asked a Texas judge in October to throw out the agreement, which they called a "sweetheart" deal. The families have previously called for the company to pay a fine amounting to nearly $25 billion.

In December, the judge rejected the deal. A lawyer representing families who lost people in the 2019 crash told BI that they "anticipate a significant renegotiation of the plea deal that incorporates terms truly commensurate with the gravity of Boeing's crimes."

FAA audit of Boeing's safety procedures

The Federal Aviation Administration commissioned a report into Boeing following the fatal 2018 and 2019 crashes — and the results published in February weren't good news for the company.

The FAA report found 27 insufficient areas in Boeing's safety procedures, including no clear system for employees to report safety concerns, confusing management structures, and poor communication with employees about safety procedures.

The latest statement from the FAA about Boeing's compliance to remedy the safety issues was published in August. It said the agency continues "actively monitoring Boeing's progress in a variety of ways," including regular reviews by FAA experts of Boeing's safety procedures and issuing airworthiness certificates for every newly produced Boeing 737 Max. 

The FAA itself has faced scrutiny for its oversight of Boeing. A report from the Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General in October found the agency's checks were insufficient.

Exodus of Boeing executives

In March, Boeing announced a leadership shake-up.

CEO Dan Calhoun said he would step down. Stan Deal, the CEO of the company's commercial airplanes division, said he would retire. In the same announcement, board chair Larry Kellner announced his plan not to seek reelection.

Stephanie Pope, the company's COO, was promoted to replace Deal shortly after his departure. At the end of July, Kelly Ortberg was named the company's new CEO.

Ted Colbert, who headed Boeing's defense, space, and security division, became the first prominent executive to leave the company after Ortberg took over. Colbert's departure was announced in September.

Stranded astronauts

The aerospace company faced another high-profile problem in June when NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams traveled to the International Space Station on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spaceship. It marked the first time Boeing flew astronauts to space.

The astronauts left Earth on June 5 and were supposed to return after eight days, but issues with Starliner's thrusters and helium leaks caused delays. NASA and Boeing began troubleshooting the problems to bring Wilmore and Williams back home. However, in late July, the two astronauts were still stuck at the International Space Station.

NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, Steve Stich, said in a press briefing that month that Elon Musk's SpaceX could bring home the astronauts if needed. After working with Boeing to determine whether the two astronauts could safely return to Earth on Starliner, NASA announced in August that it chose SpaceX to do the job instead.

"Spaceflight is risky," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said during a press conference. "Even at its safest. Even at its most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine. So, the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station, and bring the Boeing Starliner home un-crewed, is a result of a commitment to safety."

The decision was a major blow to Boeing, which spent $4.2 billion developing Starliner. Wilmore and Williams' flight was the final step Boeing needed to clear for NASA to certify Starliner for human spaceflight. It highlighted just how far Boeing lags behind its competitor, SpaceX.

Wilmore and Williams are now expected to return to Earth in 2025 on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship, which launched for the International Space Station in September. The astronauts were initially set to return home in February, but NASA announced they would be delayed until March as SpaceX readies its spaceship.

Union strike

Thousands of unionized Boeing employees walked out in September after contract negotiations broke down.

The strike began despite a promising pay package proposal, which would have raised wages by more than 25% over the contract period for more than 32,000 employees in the Pacific Northwest.

Ultimately, union workers denied the proposal and voted to initiate a strike, which is costing the company about $50 million a day.

Negotiations stalled, with both sides filing National Labor Relations Board violations accusing the other of negotiating in bad faith.

Boeing and union leaders reached a tentative deal on October 19 that included a 35% general wage increase spread over four years and a one-time ratification bonus of $7,000.

However, striking Boeing employees rejected the deal on October 24.

"After 10 years of sacrifice, we still have ground to make up. We hope to resume negotiations promptly," the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said on X.

The 53-day strike ended in early November when workers approved a new contract.

Layoffs

Boeing began furloughs of white-collar workers in mid-September after the strike began. Select employees were required to take one week off every four weeks on a rolling basis.

Ortberg, in a staff memo, also announced that executive leadership would take a "commensurate pay reduction for the duration of the strike," though details of the pay reduction remain unclear.

Layoffs began several weeks later. In mid-October, Boeing announced plans to lay off about 10% of its 170,000-member workforce.

In a memo to employees, Ortberg said Boeing was in a "difficult position" and that "restoring our company requires tough decisions."

The company also delayed production of its 777X twin-engine jet and discontinued production of its 767 cargo plane, the memo noted.

Production delays with the Boeing 777X plane

The experimental 777X is Boeing's newest widebody plane, banking 481 orders from more than a dozen global carriers even though regulators have not yet approved it to fly passengers.

But the aircraft has been riddled with production problems — like supply chain issues, design troubles, and now the ongoing strike — which have already put it five years behind schedule and set Boeing back $1.5 billion.

That hole will likely deepen with the latest entry delay to 2026, further eroding the industry's trust in Boeing's 777X program. It could also push carriers to choose Boeing's European rival Airbus and its already-in-service Airbus A350.

The aircraft is still uncertified but started certification flight testing in July. Testing was halted in August due to a problem with a key part that connects the engine to the aircraft, CNBC reported.

Production troubles with Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft

The FAA announced in January that it would not grant any production expansions of Boeing's MAX aircraft, including the 737 MAX 9, following the emergency on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.

"The Jan. 5 Boeing 737-9 MAX incident must never happen again," the FAA said in a press release said.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Boeing would not be cleared to expand production or add additional production lines for the 737 MAX "until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved," according to the press release.

Boeing held a three-hour meeting with the FAA in June to address safety and quality concerns. Afterward, Whitaker spoke at a press conference, where he told a reporter that expanding production of 737 MAX planes was still up in the air.

The FAA told Business Insider, "This is about systemic change, and there's a lot of work to be done. Boeing must meet milestones, and the timing of our decisions will be driven by their ability to do so."

The agency added: "Boeing has delivered a roadmap to change its safety culture, and the FAA will make sure Boeing implements the changes they have outlined. We will not approve production increases beyond the current cap until we're satisfied they've followed through on implementing corrective actions and transforming their safety culture."

Boeing restarted production of the 737 Max in December following the strike's conclusion.

Whistleblowers report problems at Boeing

Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, testified at an April Senate hearing that the company ignored his reports on safety concerns, that his boss retaliated against him, and that he received threats against his physical safety.

The Senate subcommittee investigating Boeing's safety and quality practices released a 204-page report in June. The report included accounts from several whistleblowers.

Sam Mohawk, a Boeing quality assurance inspector, said the company lost track of hundreds of bad 737 parts and instructed employees to conceal improperly stored plane parts from FAA inspectors.

Another whistleblower, Richard Cuevas, wrote in a June complaint to the FAA that holes were being incorrectly drilled on Boeing's 787 Dreamliner planes.

Money woes

In a sign of how Boeing's problems have hurt its bottom line, the company said in a regulatory filing to the SEC in October that it had entered a $10 billion credit agreement with four major banks: JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Citibank.

The company also filed a prospectus saying it might sell up to $25 billion in securities.

"These are two prudent steps to support the company's access to liquidity," Boeing said in a statement.

While workers were on strike, Bank of America analysts estimated that the work stoppage cost Boeing $50 million a day.

To save money, Ortberg, the company's CEO, instructed top executives to stop flying private jets and instead fly economy on commercial flights.

• Ireland's Aer Lingus is the second airline to receive the new Airbus A321XLR.
• The plane opens new long-haul opportunities, including Dublin to Indianapolis and Nashville.
• Other airlines, including Iberia, United, Qantas, and American are also planning new routes.

The Airbus A321XLR is the European planemaker's latest narrow-body jet, and it's already changing how people fly long-haul.

On Thursday, Ireland's Aer Lingus became the second airline to receive the A321XLR, with Airbus delivering two of the carrier's six that are on order.

Spanish flag carrier Iberia became the plane's first operator in November.

The jet's extra-long-haul capabilities mean Aer Lingus can now operate flights deeper into the US. Two new routes are already scheduled: Flights between Dublin and Nashville will begin in April, and flights between Dublin and Indianapolis will launch in May.

Iberia and Aer Lingus are just the beginning for Airbus's new plane, which has tallied up more than 550 global orders.

American Airlines, Australian flag carrier Qantas, and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air all expect to receive the jet next year, followed by United Airlines in early 2026.

And all are expected to launch never-before-flown narrow-body routes across oceans and continents.

Airbus' new A321XLR jet is set to open new route options

The A321XLR is uniquely equipped for long-haul flying, thanks to an extra rear center fuel tank that helps the narrow-body aircraft fly up to 5,400 miles, or 11 hours, nonstop.

That's about 800 miles farther than its Airbus A321LR predecessor. That opens new routes to places previously unreachable with older narrowbodies — or that were unprofitable with a widebody.

Iberia plans to begin a new service using the A321XLR between Madrid and Washington Dulles on January 15. Wizz Air also plans to launch A321XLR routes between London and Saudi Arabia and Milan and Abu Dhabi in 2025.

In March, American Airlines' managing director of global network planning, Jason Reisinger, said the A321XLR was desirable because it would let the airline serve "routes that cannot support a 787 but where we still have a nice onboard product."

American has since said it plans to launch the A321XLRs on transcontinental routes now served by its A321T.

And the airline's senior vice president of network planning, Brian Znotins, told The Points Guy in November that it plans to also fly its A321XLR fleet to Europe and possibly South America.

Qantas plans to use the A321XLR to fly farther into Asia and the Pacific.

United Airlines previously told Business Insider that the A321XLR would replace its aging Boeing 757s and open new routes to places like Northern Italy and West Africa.

Icelandair is also using the A321XLR to replace the 757 and fly farther into North America and Europe from 2029. Boeing never built another version of the popular narrow-body, which ceased production in 2004.

The A321XLR will have varying cabin experiences

Customers can expect varying cabin experiences on board these new versatile single-aisle planes.

Iberia offers lie-flat business class on its A321XLRs, which is typical of what customers find on long-haul widebody flights.

Aer Lingus will also have lie-flat business class seats similar to what it already flies on its A321LRs, but some rows won't have direct aisle access.

American plans to install its new Flagship suites on its A321XLRs, while United is also planning a lie-flat business cabin. Qantas will have large reclining loungers in business class.

Wizz will have the least posh cabin. Its no-frills A321XLRs will have cramped seats, no in-flight entertainment, and no freebies like snacks and water.

Its CEO said the experience is something passengers will have to "suffer" through for seven hours for the cheap ticket.

• China Airlines ordered nearly $12 billion worth of Boeing and Airbus widebody aircraft.
• The deal is worth about $7.4 billion to Boeing, with China Airlines as its newest 777X customer.
• Boeing is still trying to certify the now at least six year delayed 777X.

Boeing has added another customer to its 777X backlog as the planemaker continues to work toward certification of the long-delayed widebody.

Taiwanese carrier China Airlines announced a nearly $12 billion order for 10 Boeing 777Xs, 10 Airbus A350-1000s, and four 777X freighters on Friday.

This is the first order Boeing has secured for the 777X since Korean Air and Qatar Airways announced deals for the jet in July.

According to a filing, the order is worth about $7.4 billion to Boeing at list prices and is likely a sign of relief for the struggling planemaker and its delayed 777X — a setback that has already put Boeing at least $1 billion in the hole.

The yet-to-be-certified 777X, which will come in two passenger variants, was already five years behind schedule when a labor strike halted production for over seven weeks this fall and further pushed the timeline back to at least 2026.

Quality control and 777X design issues haven't helped. Boeing finally restarted production of its 767 and 777 models on Wednesday.

The 777X is designed as a more fuel-efficient replacement for the classic 777. Thanks to its longer wings, more powerful engines, and revolutionary folding wingtips, the 777-9 variant China Airlines bought is designed to fly up to 426 people across nearly 8,400 miles.

Along with the 787 Dreamliner, the potentially lucrative 777X is key to Boeing's reputational and financial recovery.

However, the 777X's delays have forced airlines to fly older jets for longer. It has also opened the door for Airbus to sell its readily available rival A350.

"Emirates has had to make significant and highly expensive amendments to our fleet programs as a result of Boeing's multiple contractual shortfalls," Emirates president Tim Clark told Business Insider in October after the latest 777X delay.

Emirates received its first A350 in November. It was initially supposed to follow the 777X but will now lead the airline's long-haul expansion.

China Airlines joins a dozen other global buyers, like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and British Airways. No US airline has ordered the 777X because its size and range don't fit into the business models.

Data from the manufacturers shows about 1,350 global orders for the A350 and about 500 for the 777X.

• Svetlana Dali was charged with being a stowaway on a Delta Air Lines flight to Paris.
• On Sunday, she removed her ankle monitor, an arrest warrant said.
• Several outlets reported she was arrested on a Greyhound bus headed to Canada.

The woman accused of being a stowaway on a transatlantic Delta Air Lines flight was arrested after trying to sneak out of the country again, law enforcement sources told several outlets.

After being charged earlier this month, Svetlana Dali was released but ordered to wear an ankle monitor, according to court documents seen by Business Insider.

On Sunday, she "removed her location monitoring bracelet and absconded," an arrest warrant said.

CNN first reported that Dali's roommate reported her missing after finding her ankle monitor on the floor. It added that Dali was taken into custody on Monday while on board a Greyhound bus headed to Canada.

An official told The New York Times that Dali had a ticket for the ride — unlike last month's Delta flight.

She appeared in court in Buffalo on Tuesday, and a hearing for violating the terms of her release is scheduled for Friday in Brooklyn.

The Delta incident

57-year-old Dali made headlines when she was charged earlier this month with being a stowaway on an aircraft.

The criminal complaint against her says she confirmed in an interview that she boarded a Delta flight to Paris without a boarding pass or passport.

It adds that Dali was first turned away from a security checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport as she couldn't show a boarding pass.

Five minutes later, she was successful as she entered via a special lane for airline employees after blending in with a group of flight crew members, the complaint says.

Dali is said to have then boarded Flight DL264. The complaint says Delta staff realized she was on board the plane before landing, and French authorities determined she didn't have a boarding pass or passport.

The incident occurred on November 26. The 2.7 million passengers that passed through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints that day was a record for a Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

In a statement previously shared with BI, Delta thanked French and US authorities for their assistance. The airline said a review found its security infrastructure was "sound" and the incident was caused by a "deviation from standard procedures."

"We are thoroughly addressing this matter and will continue to work closely with our regulators, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders," the statement added. "Nothing is of greater importance than safety and security."

• Frontier Airlines' annual all-you-can-fly flight pass called "GoWild!" costs $299 through Wednesday.
• I bought the seasonal subscription in 2023 and used it to crisscross the US.
• While it has limitations, I think GoWild is good for flexible travelers with a spontaneous spirit.

Frontier Airlines' all-you-can-fly pass is an interesting concept that comes with a major catch.

Called "GoWild!," the subscription-based program gives members exclusive access to heavily discounted flights — $0.01, plus taxes and fees.

On Tuesday, Frontier announced the annual pass option for just $299, valid for travel between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. This is GoWild's lowest price yet, which goes up to $499 after December 18.

Frontier also sells seasonal and monthly passes. Be aware that GoWild will automatically renew unless you cancel.

Bookings can be made the day before for domestic flights or up to 10 days in advance for international flights, with the option to pay an early booking fee for dates beyond that.

Luggage, reserved seats, snacks, and drinks still cost extra. New this year is the ability to earn Frontier Miles when booking seats and bags with a GoWild ticket.

Hypothetically, GoWild means one could wake up one morning and, on a whim, go hop across Frontier's route map for as low as $15 per leg with just a personal item.

It sounds too good to be true, so I decided to test it out using Frontier's $299 unlimited fall and winter pass in 2023.

I visited three cities over five days, spending $60 total on last-minute flights. There were early mornings and late nights, some moments of uncertainty, and hours of flying on Frontier's uncomfortable planes.

After using the pass, I found that GoWild can be extremely frustrating to use if you aren't flexible or willing to get creative. But for others, it may be a golden ticket.

Over 4,000 miles in five days for $60

Frontier's GoWild pass offers unlimited flights across its entire network, which touches the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

I started my 2023 trip in Austin after a friend's wedding. Then, I flew to Las Vegas and Orlando. I took the Brightline train to Miami to catch a flight to Philadelphia, where I then headed home to Connecticut via Amtrak.

Thanks to the early booking option, I booked my first leg to Vegas about a week in advance to ensure I'd at least get out of Texas. It was an extra fee, but it was worth the peace of mind.

The other two legs were booked at the lowest rate, so I paid $15 to Orlando and Philadelphia and $30 to Vegas for a total of $60 on three flights. Without the pass, the flights would have cost about $260.

I personally enjoyed piecing together the trip and having various options to work with, but I also loved that I could potentially switch up plans on a whim.

But I realized the too-good-to-be-true pass has a few pain points that make it only really useful for certain lifestyles.

The "unlimited" flight pass has its limitations

One of the biggest concerns about GoWild is actually getting anywhere at all.

Not only are there blackout dates, but it's not uncommon for Frontier to have nonstop flights listed but no GoWild seats available for purchase.

This could force people to ditch paradise destinations like Cancun for a completely different city in a random place, like Ohama, for example. Not that a spontaneous trip to Nebraska can't be fun, but it's not the beach getaway one may have expected.

Plus, last-minute GoWild seats to the Caribbean are difficult to snag, as a Wall Street Journal reporter who tested the pass in June 2023 found.

Travelers also have to consider last-minute hotels and activities may be more expensive or sold out.

Frontier doesn't have the best flight schedule

I didn't have many options for leaving Austin except a 10 p.m. flight to Las Vegas. I wasn't thrilled about the late departure, but that's part of the experience.

After a full day of touring around Las Vegas, I was hoping to sleep in the next morning and then take a red-eye flight to Florida that night.

Surprisingly, on the one day that I wanted to fly to Orlando, Frontier had only a 6:15 a.m. flight — nothing later. I sucked it up and trudged through another sleepless night after leaving Vegas' famous Sphere at 11:30 p.m.

After a full day exploring Miami with a friend, I switched my next day's Philadelphia flight from 6:10 a.m. to 1:11 p.m. to get more sleep.

There was no cancellation fee, but I also lost a day of exploring Philadelphia.

I restricted myself to a personal item

Because I was trying to book the cheapest GoWild flights possible, I forwent a carry-on bag, which cost over $60 for each leg.

I brought a regular-sized backpack with a laptop pocket in the back. I packed it so that nothing bulged out, and it fit perfectly inside Frontier's size checker.

I'll admit that I had to pack and repack several times, and I had to ditch a lot of outfits that I wanted to bring with me.

Bringing only a personal item ended up being extremely challenging, so I recommend just paying for the carry-on if you think you'll need it.

If you do opt for the free option, be warned: an agent visually checked every personal item during boarding during all three flights.

They forced those that looked too big into the size box and charged extra for the bags that didn't fit — likely part of Frontier's controversial bag incentive program.

Finding GoWild seats is a lot of tedious guess-and-check

The process of searching and booking GoWild seats is a cumbersome task. The flights can only be bought on Frontier's website, not its app, and customers have to check each one by one.

Fortunately, some computer-savvy individuals independent of Frontier launched "The 1491 Club," which has a monthly fee but lists every single GoWild seat available.

It saved me a lot of effort when trying to Tetris together my GoWild itinerary.

Getting home proved tricky once I realized that using Frontier isn't ideal for those of us living in no-man's land Connecticut.

When I bought the pass, I initially planned to use Stewart International Airport in New York, 40 minutes away, but Frontier has sadly since shut down operations there.

I ended up taking a two-hour Amtrak home from Philadelphia for $40 and Ubering home from the station.

I could save time by driving to a New York City airport, but then I'd be locked into returning to the same airport, which would make using GoWild even tougher.

My advice is that if you don't live near a Frontier hub or focus city, GoWild will be nearly impossible to use unless you're willing to add drive time, parking fees, rideshare trips, or train fares.

GoWild is most realistic for those with remote or flexible jobs

Despite the less-than-favorable flight times, I managed to check off my list of cities to hit and things to do.

While I had a good experience, there are still a lot of limitations to the "unlimited" flight pass, and the costs can add up.

Personal items that bulge just a little too much may be subject to Frontier's hefty carry-on fee. You also have to pay extra for more luggage or legroom.

There's also no guarantee you'll get to your desired destination until the day before unless you fork out even more money for an early booking fee. This uncertainty can be stressful.

But for those who love to travel on a whim, the concept of not knowing your next move could be a dream adventure.

Spontaneous digital nomads or freelancers would likely get the most out of the pass. I have a remote job, so I could make it work.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who could make weekend getaways via GoWild work, too. But it'd come with risks like getting stuck somewhere and missing work — at that point, I don't think it'd be worth the hassle.

• A Delta flight encountered severe turbulence last year, with 17 people injured.
• The NTSB's newly published report says none of the injured people were wearing seatbelts.
• One passenger fractured four vertebrae and was hospitalized for over a month.

Newly released details from a 2023 incident that injured 17 airline passengers highlight the dangers of encountering turbulence, and serve as a stark reminder of why keeping your seatbelt on is always a good idea.

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 was flying from Milan to Atlanta when it encountered severe turbulence around 40 minutes from landing.

The National Transportation Safety Board made public its investigation last Friday. It found none of the injured people were wearing seatbelts despite the seatbelt sign being on.

10 of those who were injured were flight attendants, two of whom had serious injuries.

The flight's first officer told investigators that he told the cabin crew they should be seated due to expected turbulence. A list of injuries, shared with Delta and the NTSB, said the injured crew members weren't seated at the time.

One of those who was seriously injured suffered two broken ribs and back compression fractures, while the other had compression fractures in their neck and upper back, it said.

The other injuries to flight attendants included muscle strains, a concussion, and a deep cut that required stitches.

Five of the flight attendants were taken to hospital and released within 24 hours.

Of the seven passengers who were injured, one remained in hospital nearly a month after the flight. The person fractured four vertebrae and a rib, according to the NTSB report.

Another seriously injured passenger fractured one vertebra, while the others had muscle strains — mostly in the neck.

None of the injured passengers were wearing a seatbelt, the report said.

One of those passengers reported that her head hit the ceiling, hurting her neck, back, and head, although she was later able to walk off the plane.

Guy Gratton, an associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University, previously told Business Insider that a plane encountering turbulence is like "taking a box with something in it and starting to shake the box up and down."

"And clearly, if you're the person who's inside the box, then you get thrown around inside the box, and that's where injuries happen," he added.

"Passengers are told to keep their seatbelts done up because if you're tied to the box, you're much less likely to get injured."

While the Delta incident saw four serious injuries, cases of major injuries during turbulence are rare.

Between 2009 and 2023, 184 people were seriously injured by turbulence — an average of 12 a year — according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. The majority of those, 146, were flight attendants rather than passengers.

• A KLM flight diverted to Bermuda due to the smell of pigs from the cargo hold.
• The Boeing 787 was en route from Amsterdam to Mexico City when it diverted.
• Passengers stayed at local hotels and were ultimately delayed by 30 hours.

A KLM flight made an unscheduled landing when the cabin was filled with the smell of 100 pigs.

The Boeing 787 was flying from Amsterdam to Mexico City last Friday. Data from Flightradar24 shows that six hours into its journey, it diverted to Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean.

A spokesperson for Skyport, the firm that runs Bermuda's LF Wade International Airport, told Business Insider the diversion was caused by "the distinctive aroma of 100 pigs traveling in the cargo hold," saying the stench "prompted the flight crew to divert to Bermuda for a fresh-air break."

A KLM spokesperson said that halfway through the flight, "a strong smell caused by live animals (pigs) in the cargo hold reached the cockpit." They added that the flight was diverted as a standard precaution.

The Skyport spokesperson said 259 passengers and crew were processed through immigration and accommodated at local hotels, while the pigs were attended to by a government vet.

"Thanks to excellent collaboration between KLM, Delta Air Lines, and local partners, both our two-legged and four-legged visitors are safe and well cared for — even if this wasn't quite the Christmas vacation they had planned," they added.

Skyport shared a video on social media of the pigs being loaded back onto a different plane — a KLM 777.

According to the spokesperson and Flightradar24 data, the plane was scheduled to leave Bermuda at 9:40 p.m. — but ended up departing earlier, at 6:26 p.m.

Landing in Mexico around 9 p.m. on Sunday meant the KLM passengers — and the pigs — were delayed by around 26 hours.

This diversion comes two weeks after a KLM Boeing 777 had to turn back to Amsterdam while crossing the Atlantic.

The flight from Amsterdam to Suriname experienced a "technical malfunction," leaving passengers with a four-hour flight to nowhere.

• Campbell Wilson has been CEO of Air India since it was privatized in 2022.
• He's leading a turnaround that involves hundreds of new jets plus refurbishing old cabins.
• Wilson told BI about his frustrations with the airline's supply chain, and his leadership style.

Campbell Wilson has a tough job — he compares his efforts turning around Air India to "drinking from a firehose."

The New Zealander was appointed CEO in June 2022 after the state-owned flag carrier was privatized in a deal with India's Tata Group conglomerate.

"It was sort of like walking down a beach with 10,000 stones, and under each one of those stones, you knew that there was a creepy crawly," Wilson told Business Insider in an interview at a Taj Hotel in London, also owned by the Tata Group.

"But progressively, you work through it, and you pick up all the stones, and you address everything that's sitting underneath," he added. "And I think now, for the most part, the beach is clean. It's just we have to erect the edifice on top."

At 2023's Paris Airshow, the new Air India set out its ambitions when it signed deals for 470 aircraft worth $70 billion at list prices.

To speed things up, the airline agreed to take six Airbus A350 jets originally destined for the Russian carrier Aeroflot. They're a much more modern upgrade from the aged jets that make up most of Air India's fleet.

For passengers, it's the most tangible evidence of the turnaround, operating on flights to New York and London.

There are another 44 Airbus A350 jets on the way — 10 of which were ordered on Monday. As well as hundreds of narrow-body jets, Air India has ordered 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 10 Boeing 777X jets.

The 777X has been much anticipated throughout the industry but has faced several delays in certification. First deliveries are expected in 2026, six years later than initially scheduled.

"I have full confidence in Boeing to go through whatever's necessary to get these aircraft in the air," Wilson told BI.

"There are other airlines ahead of us who are equally impatient with the delivery," he added. "We just need to let them run through that process with the [Federal Aviation Administration]."

Wilson is more concerned about delays in the supply chain, given plans to retrofit old cabins. "It's the No. 1 frustration I have, to be quite honest," he said.

Two-thirds of its widebody planes haven't been updated since deliveries dating back to 2007. For all the work on behind-the-scenes operations, Wilson says the seats are "the most visible manifestation of the old Air India."

Passengers have seen problems including missing charging outlets, malfunctioning TVs, and broken tray tables.

"The gap between modern and what we offer is big, and so the urgency for us to refit these aircraft is probably greater than any other airline."

"Until we upgrade the aircraft, then people won't believe that the transformation has happened," he added. "And so it's frustrating, but we're working through it."

New Zealand to New York

Wilson didn't find himself running an airline out of a passion for aviation but was instead first driven by opportunities to see the world.

After a season playing field hockey in England, he traveled to New York, where he stayed at a teammate's brother's high-rise apartment.

"I'm sleeping on this guy's couch, looking between my feet at the Empire State Building," Wilson recounted.

He learned the apartment was a perk of his host's job, having been posted to New York. So back home in New Zealand, Wilson was excited when he spotted an ad for Singapore Airlines' management trainee scheme — with the offer to relocate to any of the destinations to which it flew.

"I had to make a sufficient nuisance of myself and knuckle down, work hard, make an impression," he said. "I got sent to Auckland, Sydney, and a few other places."

After working his way up the ranks of Singapore Airlines, Wilson was in 2011 tapped to become the founding CEO of Scoot — its subsidiary budget airline.

Over a decade later, Singapore Airlines took a minority stake in the Air India deal, and Wilson was chosen to lead the turnaround.

Contextual leadership

Wilson said a turnaround requires you to "get a lot of balls up in the air being juggled at once."

"You don't have the luxury of time to do things sequentially, and so you have to do everything in parallel," he added.

He said this can lead to heavy workloads, uncertainties, and people being stretched. "But you've only got a certain window before people really want to see the outcome."

Wilson described his leadership style as contextual. "Certainly, in the early part of the transformation, it was very hands-on," he said.

But after more progress was made, he said, people would come to him with ideas of what they wanted to do and how they could achieve them.

"Without being glib, I think the higher you go in the organization, more and more of your job is about people," Wilson told BI. He referred to the importance of aligning people behind a common objective and ensuring they have the necessary resources.

Wilson said his favorite part of being a CEO is interacting with people. Before he was in his 40s, he said, he was more interested in his own success and progress.

"And then you get to the mid-to-late 40s, and actually you take just as much pleasure — and eventually more pleasure — from seeing other people develop," he added.

The Air India boss said he was pleased with the turnaround so far, but there's still more to come.

What is he most excited about in 2025? "Getting these damn seats installed on the aircraft."

• The Airbus A321XLR is revolutionizing long-haul travel with its 11-hour range.
• The versatile jet can reach far-away places and fit into mainline and budget business models.
• Launch customer Iberia and soon-to-be A321XLR operator Wizz Air have very different cabin approaches.

The Airbus A321XLR is the European manufacturer's latest long-haul, narrow-body plane.

With its 11-hour range and smaller size, the jet is set to revolutionize how people travel.

Airlines can now more easily fly to lower-demand markets previously unprofitable with a widebody or to far-away places previously unreachable with other single-aisle planes.

The A321XLR first entered service with Spanish flag carrier Iberia in November. The airline flew seven hours from Madrid to Boston, equipping the plane with lie-flat business class and economy.

With 550 orders, the plane has garnered interest from both mainline and budget carriers — but not all experiences will be equal.

European budget carrier Wizz Air is not far behind Iberia, with its first A321XLR expected to trek seven hours from London to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, starting in March — but it won't be close to high-end.

The two carrier's plans for their new planes showcase the model's versatility.

Iberia will offer business class.

Iberia wanted to provide luxury onboard its long-haul A321XLR with business class. It's similar to JetBlue Airways' Mint cabin but without popular sliding doors.

The high-dollar cabin, which can cost $5,000 or more roundtrip, comes with a large Bluetooth-capable television, linens, hot meals, alcohol, and a lie-flat recliner.

Other A321XLR buyers, including United Airlines and American Airlines, also plan to offer lie-flat business class to target premium travelers. American's will have a door.

Economy will offer decent space and amenities.

Iberia's economy cabin has comforts like an adjustable headrest, deep recline, a Bluetooth-capable screen, charging ports, extra storage slots in the seatback pocket, and 30-31 inches of seat pitch.

The legroom is on par with other mainline carriers, but taller travelers can choose a bulkhead or exit row with 40 inches of pitch.

Iberia's Bluetooth feature is rare on airlines and it allows Iberia flyers to connect their own wireless headphones to the screen.

Hot meals and linens are included on Iberia.

Iberia offers what is typical on a mainline, long-haul flight. This means travelers will get linens and hot meals included in their fare.

The airline also offers free messaging via WiFi, with internet browsing and streaming available for a fee.

Wizz's A321XLR approach is very different.

Wizz is a low-cost carrier that built its business on offering cheap fares at the expense of onboard comforts — and the airline continues to push the limits of flyer tolerance.

"Fifteen, 20 years ago, I thought three hours would test passenger tolerance, and then we pushed it to six hours, and we are still fine," Wizz CEO József Váradi said during a September press conference in London. "You kind of suffer the pain, if you wish, for the economic benefits that you are deriving from the transaction."

Iberia's A321XLR has 182 seats. Wizz's will cram in 239.

The all-economy cabin will offer minimal space.

Wizz said its A321XLR cabin will resemble that of its A321neo, which already flies across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

The plane doesn't come with business class seats or Iberia's amenity-heavy economy cabin. Instead, travelers can expect slim, cramped coach seats with no headrest, no television, and a tiny tray table.

The seat pitch is only 28 inches, and there is no recline. It'd be like flying on Spirit or Frontier, but for seven hours.

The cramped, all-economy cabin will be cheap, but it's an experience Wizz's CEO described as something customers must "suffer" through to save money.

Not even water is free.

Like its ultra-low-cost counterparts in the US, Wizz flights come with nothing included, except a personal item. This means any food or drinks — including water — costs extra.

"When you take a legacy carrier and you get a coffee for free, that is probably the most expensive cappuccino in your life," Varadi said. "We don't want to do that."

According to Wizz's online menus, food bundles start at £11.50, or about $12, and include a sandwich, drink, and snack. Soups start at £3.70, while a water bottle costs £3.20. Alcohol, chips, and coffee, among other items, are also on sale.

Don't expect any internet or entertainment.

Wizz keeps its fares low because it does not carry the extra weight many mainline carriers do, like seatback screens or WiFi. Flyers can pre-download content to a phone or tablet to watch during the flight.

"If you want to have more fun, you have to create the fun for yourself," Váradi told Bloomberg in September. "It's not going to be us who create it."

Some Wizz planes have a messaging platform, but it doesn't connect to the internet. It's uncertain if this will be on the A321XLRs.

Bags cost extra and unprepared flyers risk other fees.

Wizz flyers who want a carry-on or checked bag must pay extra. For the London to Jeddah flight in April, a 10-kilogram checked bag costs £95, or $120, and a carry-on costs £66, or $83, roundtrip at the time of booking.

The bags must also meet specific size and weight requirements or flyers risk even more fees at the airport.

Another fee is for assigned seats, which cost between £18 and £42 on the same flight. Flyers also need to check in online at least three hours before the flight or pay £40 at the airport per ticket.

Wizz customers willing to 'suffer' can save hundreds of dollars.

Major airlines British Airways and Saudia are the only other carriers that fly nonstop between London and Jeddah.

According to Google Flights, Wizz's basic fare is regularly a few hundred dollars cheaper than both mainline options.

That's without any add-ons like bags and seats, so customers should be sure to do the math for all options before booking.

• Two planes narrowly avoided hitting each other in an October incident in Long Beach.
• A Southwest Airlines jet was cleared to land on a runway that had another plane on it.
• The incident was revealed in a preliminary NTSB report published this week.

A Southwest Airlines jet avoided disaster after it landed on a runway that already had a plane on it.

The incident occurred in Long Beach in October, although the National Transportation Safety Board published its preliminary report into the incident this week.

The Southwest Boeing 737, arriving from Oakland, was cleared to land on runway 30 at Long Beach Airport — although it was occupied by another plane.

A Diamond DA40, a four-seater light aircraft, had just arrived from Camarillo airport.

The NTSB report said that the smaller plane's crew was cleared to land on runway 30 and to hold short of an intersecting runway.

They requested to circle around and land on the other runway, but the air traffic controller denied their request.

About three minutes later, the Southwest flight was cleared to land on the same runway.

The controller provided the crew with a traffic advisory about a Cessna landing on runway 26.

As it was landing, the crew told ATC that there was another plane on the runway.

They came within 857 feet of each other. But the Southwest jet slowed down in time before both aircraft taxied to their requested parking areas without further incident.

Because the NTSB's report is preliminary, it does not aim to establish a cause of the incident but rather gives a statement of facts.

This isn't the first time that a plane has ended up on an already occupied runway.

In 2023, a JetBlue pilot taking off in Colorado made a quick maneuver to avoid a smaller plane coming in to land.

• A Qantas flight U-turned over the Pacific Ocean — 1,100 miles after leaving Los Angeles.
• Investigators said sparks were seen coming from an engine, and Qantas confirmed a "mechanical issue."
• Passengers were left with a six-hour flight to nowhere.

Qantas passengers endured a six-hour flight to nowhere when their flight turned around over the Pacific Ocean.

Flight 16 from Los Angeles to Brisbane, Australia, on December 3 U-turned after 2 ½ hours, about 1,100 miles off the California coast, per FlightAware data.

It landed back at LAX at about 2:45 a.m. the next day in Los Angeles.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is investigating the incident, said the Airbus A330 suffered an engine malfunction.

From initial reports, it said, sparks were seen coming from one of the engines, prompting the Qantas pilots to return to Los Angeles.

It added that a bang was heard during the approach, followed by stall indications for the engine. After landing, an inspection found evidence of metal in the engine's tailpipe.

FlightAware's data shows that the A330, registered under the tail number VH-EBQ, has been grounded since the incident.

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed the plane returned because of a "mechanical issue with one of the engines."

"The pilots followed normal procedures and returned to LA where the aircraft landed normally," they added.

"We apologize for the inconvenience and recognize this would have been unsettling for some passengers. We'll work closely with the regulators on their investigation."

So-called flights to nowhere can be frustrating for passengers and costly for airlines — but typically less so than other diversions. It is generally easier to repair problems and reroute passengers where airlines have bases. Qantas has a maintenance facility at LAX.

The airline spokesperson said the engine would be repaired before it returned to the fleet. In the meantime, a replacement is being sent to Los Angeles from Melbourne.

It isn't especially rare for planes to turn back to where they came from when an issue arises.

On Saturday, a United Airlines flight to London returned to Newark, New Jersey, where a 24-year-old was arrested on suspicion of interference with transportation.

Earlier this month, a KLM Boeing 777 U-turned over the Atlantic, leaving passengers with a four-hour flight to nowhere.

• British Airways told customers on X it faced "baggage disruption" due to a fault at London Heathrow.
• Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport and the world's second-busiest for international flights.
• An aviation news site reported BA warned crews against checking bags due to the baggage system fault.

Some flight crews have been advised not to check bags amid a system fault at Europe's busiest airport, aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

London Heathrow is also the world's second-busiest airport for international flights, behind Dubai, according to travel data provider OAG. On Wednesday, Heathrow announced that it's expecting its busiest-ever December after last month's 6.5 million passengers broke records for November travel.

Responding to customers who reported luggage troubles on Monday and Tuesday, British Airways' X account said the airline faced "baggage disruption" due to issues at Heathrow.

In another post, it said it was "unable to load a number of bags onto flights" on Monday "due to a fault with London Heathrow Airport's baggage system, which was out of our control."

PYOK reported that British Airways also told pilots and cabin crew not to check luggage due to the fault at Terminal 5.

It added that BA told crews the risk of reaching their destination without their bags was too high, and that they should pack essential uniform items and spare clothes in their carry-ons.

The report also said that, in an internal update on Tuesday, Heathrow Airport said that it was still working on "what can be done" to fix the fault.

Business Insider understands that as of Wednesday morning, British Airways passengers were no longer facing baggage issues.

British Airways did not comment when contacted by Business Insider. London Heathrow Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

• Alaska Airlines' merger with Hawaiian Airlines gives it access to long-haul Airbus and Boeing planes.
• The airline is pressuring mainline competition in Seattle with new nonstops to Asia in 2025.
• Japan's tourism boom makes it a strategic destination and I'm excited about the expansion.

Fresh off a $1.9 merger with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines has big plans for using its new widebody planes with new routes to Asia.

The airline announced Tuesday plans to fly former Hawaiian Airbus A330 planes to Tokyo and Seoul from Seattle in 2025, utilizing operations infrastructure already in place under the newly acquired airline.

Seattle is a huge hub for Alaska, where it holds 55% of the domestic market — but its prior lack of overseas reach makes the Asia expansion a no-brainer.

Alaska chief commercial officer Andrew Harrison told The Points Guy that demand is stronger from Seattle than from Honolulu, where Hawaiian previously served Tokyo. Alaska can also take advantage of strong cargo and corporate demand from Seattle.

Leaving Seattle will also mean shorter flight times than from cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, where United Airlines and American Airlines operate.

The expansion will also put pressure on competing Delta Air Lines, which already flies nonstop from Seattle to both cities.

Delta has been investing in its Seattle hub for years as it tries to take advantage of the city's West Coast location and poach business.

But Alaska's new routes, which Harrison said will grow to 12 by 2030, are likely to maintain and grow Seattle locals' loyalty to Alaska — and those across the country who need more one-stop options to Asia.

Alaska's incoming A330s are nice but lack premium economy

I'm thrilled about Alaska's international expansion.

Seattle may be far from my local New York airports, but flyers now have more choice across the Pacific — and likely beyond, depending on where Alaska's next 10 routes will lead.

Alaska said the merger wouldn't lead to immediate changes on board Hawaiian's aircraft, meaning the A330 I flew on in economy to Honolulu in November 2023 will offer a similar experience to those flying to Japan in 2025.

In my experience, the coach seats were well-padded, offered enough legroom for my five-foot-three-inch self, and had an adjustable headrest — a must for me to sleep in economy.

I also appreciated the rows were fit with only two seats on the sides closest to the windows. There were four in the middle sections.

My only gripe was the deep recline. While I loved the comfort it offered, it meant every passenger had to recline, or the person in front would cut into your space if you were sitting upright.

If you're inclined to rest or sleep, it's great. But if you want to sit more upright to watch a movie, expect to feel a little cramped and have a slightly annoying viewing angle to the screen.

The planes do not offer premium economy, but Harrison said the aircraft would be retrofitted to add the popular cabin in the coming years.

Delta may earn business in the meantime thanks to having premium economy already installed on its A330-900neos flying from Seattle to Tokyo.

Alaska's Asia-bound planes could also change once Alaska gets more of Hawaiian's undelivered Boeing 787 aircraft.

Business class on these planes represents a significant upgrade to that of the A330s, which don't offer the same privacy or direct-aisle access.

Travel to Japan is breaking records

Japan makes sense as Alaska's first long-haul destination. The nation's fall foliage, cherry blossom season, shopping, and myriad cultural and historical sites make it a tourist hot spot.

A September report from Mastercard Economics Institute showed a 153% increase in visitors from the US to Japan in the first half of 2024 compared to the same time in 2019. Travelers from Canada increased by 148%.

CNBC reported that Japan expects 35 million total travelers by the end of 2024, representing a 10% increase from 2019.

Crowds are so high that Japan Airlines is pushing travelers to use a bag delivery service to send luggage straight from the airport to their hotel or accommodation instead of carrying them on the train.

The boost is, in part, thanks to cheaper airfare — and Alaska's new route is likely to further lower prices out of Seattle.

Flights from the US to smaller Japanese cities have seen huge drops. Kayak data shows Sapporo fares are down 19%, Okinawa fares are down 17%, and Osaka fares are down 14% compared to 2023.

Japan Airlines' new free flight program may have helped, which comps domestic legs for many tourists who also book a roundtrip international flight to Japan on the same booking.

• Icelandair received its first Airbus A321neoLR in December to begin replacing its aging Boeing 757s.
• The airline's CEO said the move was not due to ongoing issues at Boeing.
• Icelandair also flies the Boeing 737 Max and plans to get the A321XLR in 2029 to open new routes.

Icelandair has received its first-ever Airbus aircraft, breaking from its all-Boeing fleet for the first time in its nearly 90-year history.

The new A321neoLR planes, which can travel up to nine hours nonstop, were delivered in Reykjavik on December 3. By 2027, the 7 new planes will replace Icelandair's aging fleet of Boeing 757s.

Icelandair CEO Bogi Nils Bogason told Business Insider that the A321LR is the "best replacement" for the inefficient 757s as it is 30% more fuel efficient per seat with a similar capacity.

He also said the Airbus order has nothing to do with Boeing's ongoing production issues.

"We ran a campaign between Boeing and Airbus in 2022 and finalized that in early 2023 with Airbus," he said, meaning the deal was signed before the Alaska Airlines 737 Max blowout in January.

The 757 has been the backbone of Icelandair's operation since 1990, connecting Iceland to North America and mainland Europe. Its smaller size makes it cheaper to fly compared to widebody planes while still providing sufficient capacity to be profitable.

But Boeing never built a replacement for the 757, which was discontinued in 2004. This gave Airbus an opportunity to seize the transatlantic narrow-body market with its long-range A321neo family.

Plenty of other Boeing planes will remain in Icelandair's fleet. It currently flies 21 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, which it ordered in 2012 before the A321LR or A321XLR were available.

Cirium data shows nearly 22,000 Max flights scheduled for 2024 across cities in Europe and the US. At least 23,000 Max flights are scheduled for 2025, including new routes to Nashville and Istanbul.

"We are operating, on our scale, a very big Boeing fleet into the future, so Boeing continues to be a very important partner of Icelandair," Bogason said.

Icelandair also flies a small fleet of Boeing 767s on routes where it can carry a lot of cargo alongside passengers. Bogason said these will continue to fly for the "near future."

Icelandair's A321LR will fly up to eight hours nonstop

Icelandair's first passenger A321LR flight took off Tuesday, flying from Reykjavik to Stockholm, with later flights scheduled to Copenhagen.

Cirium data shows that the A321LR will expand to 15 more European cities through 2025, like Rome, Helsinki, Munich, and Zurich. In North America, the jet will fly up to eight hours nonstop to cities including Seattle, Toronto, and Portland, Oregon.

None of these are new Icelandair routes and are already served with Boeing jets, but the A321LR will slowly phase out the 757 or fly alongside the Max to these cities, per Cirium.

Icelandair's A321LR plane has 187 seats in two cabins: 165 in economy and 22 in "Saga Premium."

Saga resembles premium economy, featuring large reclining seats with privacy wings, a legrest and footrest, and a 16-inch television screen. The 2×2 cabin does not have lie-flat seats as seen on the A321LR planes flown by JetBlue Airways or Ireland's Aer Lingus long-haul.

Bogason said this is due to most of its flights being shorter because they stop in Iceland rather than fully crossing the Atlantic.

He acknowledged that flights to cities like Seattle could take eight hours, but equipping and operating planes with different premium cabins would be too complicated and costly.

"We use the same planes in North America and Europe, but many of the European flights are short, so lie flat would not be in a very high demand there," Bogason said. "There is definitely revenue potential, but we believe we have the right product for our business model and for the locations that that we are in."

Bogason added that the shorter flight times may negate the need for lie-flat business class, but it helps Icelandair earn business from competitor airlines. This is thanks to its stopover program, which allows travelers to stay in Iceland for a few days before connecting beyond Reykjavik.

Bogason said this helps convince travelers to choose one-stop Icelandair over the nonstop transatlantic options.

The A321XLR will complement Icelandair's A321LR fleet

Icelandair also has 13 A321XLRs on order — an even longer-ranged Airbus narrowbody variant — that will also act as replacements, but the first is not expected to be delivered until 2029.

Bogason said the A321XLR will allow Icelandair to fly even further and open new routes.

"We could fly the new narrowbody into California, into Texas, and into the East from Iceland," he said. "This creates a lot of opportunities for the development of our network and our business model."

More than a dozen global airlines, including American Airlines, Spanish flag carrier Iberia, Hungary's Wizz Air, and United Airlines, have placed more than 550 orders for the new A321XLR.

Similar to Icelandair, United is planning to use the extra-long-haul jet as a replacement for a 757 and launch new nonstop flights to destinations like West Africa and Northern Italy.

Thanks to its extra fuel tank, the A321XLR can fly 800 miles further than the A321LR and open new routes previously unreachable with narrowbodies or unprofitable with widebodies.

Bogason did not reveal any details about Icelandair's expected A321XLR cabin, but the jet is versatile. American and United, for example, are equipping the plane with lie-flat business class.

Budget carrier Wizz Air will only offer a no-frills economy cabin on its A321XLRs, which its CEO says passengers will just have to "suffer" through for a cheap long-haul ticket.

• A United Airlines flight turned back to Newark, New Jersey, after 90 minutes.
• It's the latest example of a flight to nowhere — when flights return to their origin.
• Passengers eventually made it to London 12 hours later than scheduled.

United Airlines passengers faced a 12-hour delay after their transatlantic trip became a flight to nowhere.

Saturday's flight from Newark, New Jersey, to London was in the air for about 90 minutes when it U-turned just off the coast of Nova Scotia, according to data from FlightAware.

The flight-tracking website shows that after landing back in New Jersey at about 2:30 a.m. ET, the Boeing 767 didn't take off again for nearly five more hours.

Flight UA940 ultimately made it to London Heathrow at 7.29 p.m. local time on Sunday — 12 hours and 5 minutes after it was initially scheduled.

In a statement shared with Business Insider, a United Airlines spokesperson said the flight returned to Newark "to address a disruptive passenger."

The statement added that law enforcement removed the passenger before the flight continued to London that morning.

One Reddit user who said they were on the flight said the plane turned around after a business-class passenger threatened the aircraft's security.

They added that the delay at Newark was compounded by the flight crew reaching their maximum time on the clock, so new staff had to be brought in from standby.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside US working hours.

Returning all the way to Newark rather than landing at a nearer airport in Canada may initially seem a strange decision, but so-called flights to nowhere aren't uncommon. Going back to an airline's hub airport usually means it's simpler to reroute passengers and solve any issues.

There have been several flights to nowhere in recent weeks.

Last month, a Delta Air Lines plane turned back over the coast of Newfoundland after the crew observed a potential engine issue.

Then, a KLM flight U-turned over the Atlantic Ocean and headed back to Amsterdam in a four-hour flight to nowhere as a precaution because of a technical malfunction.

• Japan Airlines is offering a same-day luggage delivery service for visitors to Tokyo.
• The service costs $29, and the airline says it will help combat "congestion" on public transport.
• The weak yen has made Japan a popular destination for visitors from countries including the US.

Japan Airlines is offering to deliver luggage to your hotel or accommodation when you visit Tokyo.

The same-day service costs 4,500 yen ($29) per suitcase and is available from terminal three at Haneda Airport.

JAL said the initiative will help "address social issues such as congestion in public transportation and the shortage of storage lockers," as well as making life easier for tourists.

The "Baggage-Free" service, which is also available for Japanese residents, covers 14 districts in Tokyo including Shinjuku.

Millions of visitors have been flocking to Japan to take advantage of the weak yen.

The Japanese government expects to surpass its target of 32 million visitors this year following a very busy summer, with a record 3.2 million tourists in July, about 66% more than the same month in 2023.

Just over 250,000 Americans visited in July, up 26% year-on-year.

Amrita Banta, managing director of luxury insights firm Agility Research & Strategy, previously told BI that luxury and designer stores in Tokyo were proving popular.

Banta, who visited Tokyo in the summer, said high-end stores started admitting customers by appointment to cope with demand.

Neighborhoods such as Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo are busier than ever, with higher prices at restaurants and hotels triggering frustration and anti-tourist sentiment among some residents.

Some places in Japan are taking steps to mitigate the impact of over-tourism.

In May, a mesh barrier was erected in the town of Fujikawaguchiko to block views of Mount Fuji for tourists gathering in crowds, leaving trash, and ignoring traffic signs.

Foreshadowing its luggage delivery service, JAL started offering tourists free flights in September to lesser-known destinations in Japan.

That move may not help solve the overtourism problem, Ben Julius, the founder of tour operator Tourist Japan, previously told BI.

"The majority of visitors are first-time visitors. And when people visit Japan for the first time, they won't miss the must-see cities," he said.

• Boeing restarted 737 Max production last Friday, Reuters reported.
• It comes nearly a month after a seven-week strike restrained the already embattled planemaker.
• Returning to previous production levels could take months but is key to restoring trust.

Boeing restarted production of its 737 Max aircraft last Friday, nearly a month after a strike that lasted seven weeks, Reuters reported.

A slowdown in 737 Max production this year has annoyed customers — further delaying deliveries of aircraft in an industry hampered by supply-chain constraints.

Getting production back on track will likely go some way to restoring trust with both airlines and regulators. Other issues remain, like achieving certification of the 777X, and a judge rejecting Boeing's plea deal over two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.

Boeing declined to comment when contacted by Business Insider.

The Federal Aviation Administration limited Boeing's output of the type to 38 a month following January's Alaska Airlines blowout. Boeing had slowed beyond that as it works to overhaul its production practices.

Then, in mid-September, Seattle-area workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) went on strike. The strike brought 737 Max production to a halt and saw Boeing raise up to $24.3 billion to boost its liquidity.

After tense and protracted negotiations, union members voted to end the strike in early November.

In an October earnings call, CEO Kelly Ortberg said it would likely take a couple of weeks to bring everyone back, given recertification and retraining efforts.

The FAA told Reuters last month that it "will further strengthen and target our oversight as the company begins its return-to-work plan."

Boeing has a backlog of around 5,400 commercial aircraft worth roughly $428 billion. Around 4,700 of those are 737 Max jets.

FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker previously told Reuters that he would be surprised if it took less than multiple months for the company to reach the 38 maximum production limit.

Boeing's share price has dropped 37% since the start of the year. As of 5 a.m. ET, it was up about 0.5% in premarket trading following Reuters' report.

• A passenger on a Mexican domestic flight tried to force it to divert to the US on Sunday.
• The incident occurred on a Volaris flight from El Bajío to Tijuana.
• A witness told Fox 5 San Diego he saw a man grab a flight attendant and hold a pen against her neck.

A passenger on a Mexican domestic flight tried to force the aircraft to divert to the US, the airline, Volaris, said.

Volaris said the incident occurred on Sunday morning on Flight 3041 from El Bajío to Tijuana.

It added that the flight was diverted to Guadalajara in central Mexico, where the passenger was handed over to the authorities.

Flightradar24 shows the plane landed in Guadalajara 46 minutes after taking off from El Bajío.

A passenger told Fox 5 San Diego that the man who was apprehended grabbed a flight attendant and held a pen against her neck before trying to open one of the plane's doors. Another passenger and crew members restrained him.

A Mexican government statement cited by Bloomberg said the man was a 31-year-old Mexican traveling with his wife and two children. The report added that the man told cabin crew members he had received death threats and would be in danger if he traveled to Tijuana.

Volaris said in a statement in Spanish that it regretted the inconvenience caused and that the safety of passengers and crew members was the airline's highest priority.

In a post on X, Volaris' CEO, Enrique Beltranena, apologized to the passengers on the flight and thanked them for their composure and support.

• After months of waiting, Emirates unveiled its first of 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft on November 27.
• The jet has 312 seats across business, premium economy, and coach and will fly nine initial routes.
• Emirates president Tim Clark criticized Boeing at the delivery ceremony for continued 777X delays.

Emirates received a new jet type for the first time since 2008 with the arrival of its highly anticipated Airbus A350-900, but ill feelings about the plane's American rival were not absent from the milestone day.

Emirates revealed the 312-seat plane on November 27 at a delivery ceremony in Dubai. It features refreshed business and coach cabins including the airlines' popular premium economy.

The jet will complement the airline's other long-haul planes, like the Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380 double-decker, and should help Emirates further expand its global presence with new routes.

At the ceremony, Emirates president Tim Clark once again criticized Boeing for delays to the 777X. He said 85 of Boeing's new jet should be in the Emirates fleet by now.

"We are expansionists, as you know," he told the media, Reuters reported. "And we've had our wings clipped."

Boeing's new 777X widebody was expected to fly with Emirates years ago but is now not expected until at least 2026 amid ongoing production and design problems, Boeing's 737 Max quality control issues, and a now-ended seven-week labor strike.

Emirates has 205 of Boeing's new aircraft on order, holding 40% of the world's 503 total 777X orders. It's also the largest customer of the classic Boeing 777.

"I fail to see how Boeing can make any meaningful forecasts of delivery dates," he told Business Insider in October. "We will be having a serious conversation with them over the next couple of months."

Emirates' A350 was also delayed on time

Emirates expected to receive its first A350 in August after being delayed from 2023 and launch nine routes by the end of 2024. Those routes will now begin next year.

"We're a frustrated entity because we need airplanes, and we need them now," he said in November, according to Bloomberg.

The plane's inaugural flight was pushed four times from September and is now scheduled from Dubai to Edinburgh, Scotland, on January 3.

In addition to its first set of A350s, Emirates expects to receive a longer-ranged variant next summer. But instead of being the modified ultra-long-range A350-900ULR flown by Singapore Airlines, FlightGlobal reported it will sport fewer seats to travel up to 16 hours.

What to expect onboard Emirates' A350-900

Emirates A350-900 will sport 312 seats across three cabins: 32 in business, 21 in premium economy, and 259 in regular coach.

The longer-ranged variant will have 298 passenger seats instead of 312 across the same three cabins.

Business class resembles the seats on Emirates' Airbus A380 superjumbos and its newly refurbished 777, complete with a minibar and "improved" storage. The 1×2×1 configuration means every passenger will have direct aisle access.

The high-dollar cabin won't have the on-board bar or fancy showers present on Emirates mammoth A380s.

The A350 business cabin also won't have the flyer-favorite doors that other airlines have been actively adding to their long-haul planes, though Emirates said the seats are still "very private."

Emirates maintained its premium economy cabin for the A350 after installing the business-economy hybrid cabin on many of its A380 and 777s. Each seat in the 2×3×2 cabin includes a deep recline, leg and footrests, and 13.3-inch televisions.

The economy cabin has been redesigned with a new six-way adjustable headrest to increase passenger comfort.

It has a 3×3×3 layout and will sport electric window blinds, which are also present in business and premium economy.

Otherwise, flyers can expect the regular coach Emirates experience. This includes a wood-like tray table, a seatback pouch with extra pockets, generous legroom of up to 32 inches, hot meals, power ports, and an inflight screen.