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
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.
The A321XLR boasts a 30% reduced fuel burn compared with competing previous-generation aircraft.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
Potential A321XLR routes for Qantas. The airline has not made any official route announcements.
Qantas
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.
Iberia's A321XLR has no sliding doors in business class.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
I was happy to see old friends I hadn't seen in a while during my GoWild adventure.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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 screenshot taken on Thursday, October 26, 2023, shows the Frontier nonstop from Hartford to Orlando on Friday, October 27, was full. The same was true for LaGuardia.
Frontier Airlines
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.
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.
My randomly assigned seat ended up being the last row in the back corner of the Frontier A321neo jet. It was cramped and didn't have a window.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
Personal items on Frontier must be 8×18×14 or smaller.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
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.
GoWild has the drawback of being on cramped Frontier planes.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
The Amtrak was a lot more comfortable than Frontier's slim and hard seats.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
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.
Frontier's GoWild is best for people with a job that allows for spontaneous travel.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
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.
The mystery object flying overhead might be an airplane, not a mystery drone. In New Jersey's case, many airplanes pass overhead on their journeys to and from the New York City region.
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mysterious drones over the US East Coast have sparked concern and skepticism among locals.
Officials said many of the reported sightings are "actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully."
You can use websites like FlightRadar24 and ADS-B Exchange to check some of the aircraft overhead.
Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security told reporters over the weekend that they were still investigating the events but had no evidence the aircraft posed a threat to the publicor was connected to a foreign adversary.
A mystery drone seen at night over New York on December 12.
Grant Parpan/Newsday RM via Getty Images
The uncertainty and contradictions, plus a social media rumor mill, have prompted some people to point to every moving object in the sky as a possible drone sighting.
But not everything flying overhead is an anomaly. National security officials have repeatedly stressed that many of the reported drone sightings are "actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully."
This points to commercial, military, or general aviation aircraft, and there are free, public ways to check for yourself.
Many airplanes can be spotted using FAA data
The Federal Aviation Administration handles 45,000 flights every day, with some 5,400 commercial planes flying in the sky at once during peak travel times.
Most commercial planes can be tracked via free websites like FlightAware and Flightradar24 because they use FAA data. With these tools, you can confidently say the Boeing and Airbus planes that take off from the highly congested New York City airports every day aren't more mystery drones.
For example, on the FlightAware or Flightradar24 website or app, you can search for New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, airport code "EWR," to see all of the planes overhead.
The websites also provide data like aircraft type, location, speed, altitude, and operator.
A screenshot showing Flightradar24 data of an American Airlines flight that took off from Newark on Monday.
Flightradar24
You can also spot a commercial plane based on where it's flying, as airliners use specific flight paths when heading into and out of NYC.
A large number of them fly along the New Jersey coast, so if you see low-altitude flashing lights in the night sky heading northbound, for example, it's quite likely a passenger airplane landing.
Flight paths can differ depending on the route and winds, but flight-tracking websites can give you the best idea of what's flying overhead.
Federal regulations prevent commercial and recreational drones from operating too close to an airport or flying higher than 400 feet unless authorized.
Some hidden aircraft can be tracked via ADS-B Exchange
Using flight paths and tracking websites doesn't eliminate all of the potential aircraft that could be flying overhead — it simply identifies an aircraft as an airliner.
However, people can use a free website called ADS-B Exchange to filter for military and private aircraft that are blocked from websites that use FAA data.
A screenshot of the ADS-B Exchange website showing aircraft using FAA programs to block their data from FlightAware and Flightradar24.
Still, military aircraft, including drones, can turn off their ADS-B software to maintain stealth or secrecy, meaning they can't be seen using free and public websites. Drones with sinister motives — the kinds officials have said they aren't concerned about with these sightings — assumably also would not use public transponders.
Many general aviation aircraft used for personal use — some of which are smaller, fly much slower, and could be mistaken for a drone or unidentified aircraft — are also not equipped with ADS-B and could be another unidentifiable object in the night sky.
Drones are quieter, with similar but different lighting
Nearly 800,000 commercial and recreational drones are registered with the FAA. There are a few easy ways to visually distinguish a drone from an airplane.
Most drones and airplanes both have four lights — though lighting on a drone will usually be in a square pattern, while an airplane has lights on both wings, the nose, and the tail.
The aircraft lights on a Frontier Airbus aircraft flying at night.
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Most drones will also have red or white anti-collision lights for use at night, though many will be red and green for easier operation. The wing lights on airplanes are also red and green.
Observers can use sound and movement as indicators if lighting doesn't help identify an airplane.
Drones commonly hover or whip quickly in different directions, which are not characteristics of airplanes. Drones also usually emit a buzz or hum noise from their rotors, while passenger aircraft engines have a distinctively louder sound.
Former FBI supervisory special agent Tom Adams told CNN on Friday that some of these reported drones could be people flying their own drones to hype up coverage. He added the sightings may have a simple answer.
"I can tell you from my firsthand experience conducting operations for the FBI, as well as investigations into the suspected sighting of drones at critical infrastructure, it was fairly common for planets, crewed aircraft, and even low Earth orbit satellites to be misidentified as drones at night," Adams said.
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.
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.
Business class seats on the new A350s (right) have privacy dividers, sliding doors, and direct aisle access.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider; Pete Syme/Business Insider
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.
A broken tray table and a missing USB outlet are among the problems seen on older seats.
Business Insider
"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.
Campbell Wilson at the unveiling of Scoot in 2011.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images
"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.
Wilson and Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran.
Manish Rajput/ The India Today Group via Getty Images
"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."
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.
Funding to defense tech companies has boomed in 2024 as geopolitical tensions rise, advancements in AI abound, and investors seek out a new growth area amid a broader tech sector slowdown. Archer Aviation wants in on the action. The aviation startup, which is building vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, said Thursday that it has […]
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."
Unfortunately, we faced baggage disruption over the last few days due to issues with the baggage belts and equipment at London Heathrow. Our Baggage team are working hard to get all delayed bags back to your customers as quickly as possible. You should have an update soon. Demi
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 is banking on Hawaiian's widebody planes to expand into Asia.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
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 author's economy seats on Hawaiian Airlines' A330 in November 2023.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
The expansion will also put pressure on competing Delta Air Lines, which already flies nonstop from Seattle to both cities.
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.
The screens do not flip up when the seat is reclined, impacting the viewing angle.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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 legroom on Hawaiian's A330 was enough for my husband and I. The seatback pockets don't have extra slots for better organization, though.
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.
Japan is expected to see a spike in tourism during Spring Break, part of which coincides with the cherry blossom season.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider
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.
Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle startup Joby Aviation has launched a public offering to sell up to $300 million of its shares of common stock, per a regulatory filing. Separately, Joby raised $222 million in October from underwriters. This latest filing adds to that offering and would give Joby the chance to raise a […]
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.
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.
Employees working on a Boeing 737 Max at the factory in Renton, Washington.
JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images
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.
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.
The incident occurred on a Volaris plane (not pictured).
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
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.
Emirates president Tim Clark bashed Boeing during a ceremony for Emirates' first Airbus A350 delivery.
Emirates
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.
Five executives from Emirates, Airbus, and Rolls-Royce stand in front of the first Emirates A350.
Emirates
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.
The Boeing 777X is expected to offer 10% better fuel efficiency than its predecessors, thanks, in part, to its revolutionary folding wingtips.
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 will have two A350 variants to serve short, medium, and long-haul routes.
Emirates
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 will look familiar to those who have flown on Emirates A380 or refurbished 777s.
Emirates
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."
The premium economy seats on Emirates new A350 sit between business and coach.
Emirates
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.
Most Emirates passengers will be seated in economy.
Emirates
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.
The woman made it onto a Delta flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Andrew Kelly/ Reuters
Svetlana Dali was charged with being a stowaway on an aircraft.
A criminal complaint says she admitted to evading Delta and TSA staff to board the flight to Paris.
She got through security in a lane for airline staff at JFK Airport, the complaint says.
A woman who boarded a transatlantic flight without a ticket or passport got through security in a special lane for airline staff, court documents say.
Svetlana Dali, 57, was charged with being a stowaway on an aircraft. She faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.
In a criminal complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York and seen by Business Insider, an FBI special agent set out the evidence against her.
It says Dali admitted in an interview that she flew as a stowaway on board a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris.
The incident is said to have 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.
Thursday's complaint says Dali was first turned away from a checkpoint at John F. Kennedy International Airport's Terminal 4 as she couldn't show a boarding pass.
She tried again five minutes later and was successful, "entering through a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew," it adds.
The complaint says that about 90 minutes after being screened by the TSA alongside ticketed passengers, Dali boarded Flight DL264 without presenting a boarding pass.
It adds that Delta agents didn't stop her or ask her to present a boarding pass while they helped other passengers board.
Before the flight landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, Delta staff realized Dali was on board the plane, and she couldn't show them a boarding pass, the complaint says.
French authorities met Dali at the gate and detained her after determining she didn't have a boarding pass or passport, it adds.
Dali is said to have admitted in an interview with the FBI agent that she intentionally evaded TSA and Delta staff and confirmed she appeared in security video bypassing them.
The New York Times reported that Dali's lawyer, Michael Schneider, said in court that the charge she faced was "akin to theft of services or jumping a turnstile."
In a statement, 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."
The incident took place last Friday on a flight from Bangkok and Zurich, an airline spokesperson told Business Insider.
The spokesperson said two passengers were in the front galley of the Boeing 777 near the flight deck, where a camera is located that lets pilots carry out checks before opening the cockpit door.
From a screen on the flight deck, the couple were "observed engaging in intimate acts" while a crew member recorded them on a phone.
Footage of the couple then began circulating on WhatsApp and was obtained by the Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten, which first reported the story.
The airline said it expected the crew to intervene immediately and found it "intolerable" that the passengers were filmed and commented on instead. Disciplinary action against the crew members was being considered.
"Filming people without their clear consent and sharing these recordings is contrary to our guidelines and values," the Swiss spokesperson said.
"The behavior of the passengers in question was inappropriate — therefore, our employees should have acted in line with our protocols and intervened immediately," they added. "Why the crew did not act accordingly is the subject of the ongoing investigation."
Among other things, the airline plans to increase employee education and training on such topics to help avoid similar incidents in the future.
