• The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned against flying over western Russia.
• It said there was a risk of airliners being misidentified and shot down.
• Many airlines have been avoiding Russia since it invaded Ukraine, but others still fly there.

The European Aviation Safety Agency has warned airlines against flying over western Russia due to the risk of being shot down.

It comes after Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 was severely damaged while coming to land at Grozny, the capital of Russia's Chechnya, on Christmas Day.

Of the 67 people on board, 38 died. Azerbaijan's president and a White House official have said the Embraer E190 appeared to have been shot by Russian air defense systems.

"The ongoing conflict following the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses the risk of civil aircraft being unintentionally targeted in the airspace of the Russian Federation," EASA said in Thursday's bulletin.

The warning applies to Russian airspace west of the 60th meridian east, which includes the cities of Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.

EASA said Russia "has not demonstrated full proficiency to address existing airspace risks by implementing an efficient and proactive approach to the airspace deconfliction."

No European Union airlines have flown to or over Russia since the war in Ukraine began.

This has caused complications on flights to eastern Asia, forcing airlines to find longer routes and increasing ticket prices. British Airways stopped flying directly to Beijing last October.

EASA's bulletin also applies to any airline that flies to or from the European Union. For example, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways fly to Moscow and several European countries.

The agency also noted that its EU Conflict Zone Alerting System was established following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

In 2014, the Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile while passing over eastern Ukraine.

All 298 people on board the plane were killed.

• Strong winds and wildfires in Los Angeles are disrupting air travel.
• Several airlines have waived change fees for flights to Los Angeles and Orange County.
• Some flights to Burbank were diverted, and passengers photographed the fires from the skies.

The wildfires devastating Los Angeles and the strong winds intensifying them are disrupting air travel in and around the city.

Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, has remained open throughout the fires and continues to be operational, a spokesperson told Business Insider on Friday.

The airport is advising passengers to check their flight status with their airline.

Since the fires erupted on Tuesday, 126 flights have been canceled at LAX, FlightAware data showed.

Wednesday was the worst day at the city's main airport, with one in five departures being delayed, according to FlightAware.

LAX typically has about 700 flights a day. It's more than 10 miles away from the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire.

Other airports in the area also remained open but faced disruption.

A spokesperson for Hollywood Burbank Airport told Business Insider that on Wednesday, 41 of its scheduled 70 departures were canceled due to winds. It recorded gusts above 80 miles an hour. Officials expect winds to be moderate over the weekend but said they could pick up again early next week.

Several carriers have issued waivers for change fees, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and JetBlue. The waivers apply to travel to or from LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Ontario International Airport, and Santa Ana's John Wayne Airport.

Santa Monica Airport is the closest to the wildfires, about three miles south of an evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire. It is a general aviation airport, which means commercial flights don't typically operate there.

Aviation is also playing a key role in fighting the wildfires. The Los Angeles Fire Department said 12 helicopters and six fixed-wing aircraft were in operation.

The FAA issued two temporary flight restrictions on Thursday near the fires in order to keep the area clear for firefighting aviation operations.

At least 10 people have died and over 150,000 have been ordered to evacuate due to the wildfires. Another 166,000 have been warned to be ready in case winds pick up again and the fires spreads.

• American Airlines flight attendants were sent a union memo about leaving passengers on empty planes.
• The AFPA said cabin crew members should check lavatories and under seats for sleeping passengers.
• A union spokesperson said it "routinely" issued such reminders to members.

The union for American Airlines flight attendants has issued a memo reminding cabin crew not to leave sleeping passengers on board after flights land.

Aviation news site Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported that the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) recently warned members there had been an increase in such incidents.

"This communication serves as a reminder for flight attendants to complete required post-flight security checks to ensure all passengers have deplaned upon arrival," a spokesperson for APFA, which represents more than 28,000 American Airlines cabin crew members, told Business Insider.

They added that the union "routinely releases communications reminding flight attendants of the importance of conducting these checks."

Leaving a passenger on an empty plane is not only a security concern but can also violate safety rules that mandate a minimum number of flight attendants per passenger.

APFA's recent memo reminded cabin crew to "check lavatories, and make sure no passengers are sleeping in or under seats," Paddle Your Own Kanoo reported.

"These procedures are required to ensure that no passenger is ever left onboard," the memo continued. "This is a critical final check to confirm that no one has been overlooked, and this ensures that you and your crew aren't at risk of violating a [federal aviation regulation]."

The lead flight attendant is also supposed to perform a walk-through of the cabin as a final check, the memo reportedly said.

"Leaving passengers on the aircraft unattended is a significant safety and security concern and we appreciate everyone's shared efforts in ensuring this doesn't happen."

In 2019, an Air Canada passenger woke up alone on a cold and dark plane.

Tiffani O'Brien said she fell asleep on the 90-minute flight from Quebec City to Toronto and woke up hours later after the plane had been parked.

• Corporate bankruptcies hit their highest level in over a decade in 2024, according to S&P Global.
• There were 694 bankruptcy filings in 2024, S&P said.
• Delinquency rates on business and personal loans also climbed last year, Fed data shows.

Corporate bankruptcies rose to a 14-year peak in 2024, jumping to the highest level seen since the years following the Great Financial Crisis, according to data from S&P Global.

A total of 694 US companies filed for bankruptcy last year, the intelligence firm said in a report on Monday. It represents the highest number of bankruptcies in the corporate world since 2010, when 828 firms filed for bankruptcy.

Filings for the year were up 9% compared to levels in 2023, and up 86% compared to levels in 2022, when just 372 firms filed for bankruptcy protection.

Consumer discretionary was the most distressed sector in 2024, with 108 companies filing for bankruptcy. That was followed by industrials and healthcare industries, where 88 and 65 firms filed for bankruptcy, respectively.

"The consumer discretionary sector has been particularly susceptible to economic headwinds, even with strong overall US retail sales activity, as consumer buying trends have shifted and budgets have tightened due to inflation," the report said.

Higher levels of debt distress also reflected the strain of high debt balances, as well as higher rates in the economy broadly, the report said.

Over 30 companies that filed for bankruptcy last year had more than $1 billion in liabilities at the time they filed, according to a list compiled by S&P Global. Companies on the list included high-profile bankruptcies like Party City, Spirit Airlines, and Red Lobster.

Meanwhile, credit-rated nonfinancial US firms held a record $8.45 trillion worth of debt in the third quarter of 2024, the firm said.

Central bankers have lowered interest rates in recent years, but borrowing costs for many consumer and business loans remain elevated.

The average yield on seasoned AAA-rated corporate bonds was 5.2% in December, about double the rate in December 2020, according to Moody's data.

Signs of debt distress have increased in recent years as the impact of higher rates continues to work through the economy.

The delinquency rate on business loans held by commercial banks rose to 1.16% in the third quarter of 2024, the highest level since the pandemic. The delinquency rate on consumer loans, meanwhile, rose to 2.73% in the third quarter, the highest level in 12 years.

• Ryanair is suing a passenger it said had forced a flight to divert, it announced Wednesday.
• The airline said it paid for 160 passengers' accommodation after the diversion meant an overnight delay.
• It said it would take action against "disruptive passengers personally."

Ryanair announced a clampdown on passenger misconduct as it revealed it was suing someone it accused of disrupting a flight and forcing it to divert.

The budget airline said it wants to claim over 15,000 euros, around $15,500, in damages, having filed proceedings in the Irish Circuit Court.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the airline said it would now take action against "disruptive passengers personally" in a "major misconduct clamp down."

It added it would "continue to take decisive action to combat unruly passenger behavior."

In the statement, it said that the incident occurred on April 9, 2024, on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote — a popular vacation destination in Spain's Canary Islands.

The flight, with 160 passengers on board, diverted to Porto, Portugal, and was delayed overnight, the airline said.

The airline accused the passenger of "inexcusable behavior" but did not elaborate on what they had specifically done.

A Ryanair spokesperson said the incident cost the airline 15,000 euros for overnight accommodation, passenger expenses, and landing costs.

"It is unacceptable that passengers — many of whom are heading away with family or friends to enjoy a relaxing summer holiday — are suffering unnecessary disruption and reduced holiday time as a result of one unruly passenger's behavior," the spokesperson said.

"This demonstrates just one of the many consequences that passengers who disrupt flights will face as part of Ryanair's zero-tolerance policy, and we hope this action will deter further disruptive behavior on flights so that passengers and crew can travel in a comfortable and respectful environment," they added.

• A JetBlue passenger opened an emergency exit on a taxiway in Boston, the FAA said.
• One witness said that the man was arguing with his girlfriend before the incident.
• A pilot told air traffic control that the passenger was subdued by an officer on board.

A JetBlue passenger delayed his fellow travelers after opening one of the plane's emergency exit doors.

The incident occurred while Flight 161 was preparing to take off from Boston Logan International Airport on Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

It added that the Airbus A320, bound for Puerto Rico, was on a taxiway when the passenger opened an emergency exit. This also caused the slide to deploy.

Fred Wynn, a passenger on the plane, told CBS affiliate WBZ-TV that he was sat just in front of the man and his girlfriend.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend were arguing behind in me," Wynn said. "Boyfriend got mad, got up walked down the center aisle, grabbed the emergency door, ripped it off, completely off."

He added that the man was handcuffed by an FBI agent before state police boarded the plane and escorted him away.

In an audio recording archived by LiveATC.net, one of the pilots tells air traffic control a law enforcement officer subdued the passenger.

"I can hear all the passengers screaming. Looks like they tried to grab him before he went out," he added.

A JetBlue spokesperson said the flight was delayed "after a customer, for unknown reasons, opened an overwing exit."

"The flight was eventually swapped to another aircraft and has since landed in San Juan. We greatly appreciate our customers' understanding as we worked to address this situation."

Data from Flightradar24 shows that the flight took off almost three hours later than scheduled and landed in San Juan at 3:17 a.m. local time.

Passengers on other flights told WBZ-TV they were also delayed because the runway was temporarily disabled after the slide was deployed.

According to FlightAware data, 95 flights, or about 17% of the total, were delayed at Logan Airport throughout the day.

Massachusetts State Police told CBS that one person was detained after the incident.

"Shortly before takeoff, a passenger who wanted to deplane opened an aircraft door suddenly and without warning," state police said. "Other passengers restrained the individual until troopers arrived on scene to detain them for further questioning."

Massachusetts State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• The deadly Azerbaijani plane crash on Christmas Day is souring Russia's attempt to keep Baku close.
• Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly said Russia shot down the plane, and is demanding answers.
• Putin apologized, but Aliyev is still pressuring Russia and says it must take responsibility.

Azerbaijan's president has repeatedly accused Russia of covering up the cause of a plane crash that killed 38 passengers on Christmas Day, publicly criticizing Moscow again on Monday.

"The initial investigation and its results have been reported to me, but I can say with full certainty that the blame for the deaths of Azerbaijani citizens in this disaster lies with representatives of the Russian Federation," Ilham Aliyev said in remarks to state news agency Azertac.

"And we demand justice, we demand punishment of the guilty, we demand full transparency and human behavior," said Aliyev, who spoke just after meeting families of the crash victims.

His comments mark a sudden and rapidly deepening point of tension between Azerbaijan and Russia as the latter has tried to maintain ties since the outbreak of full war in Ukraine. While Baku and Moscow are not close allies in the traditional sense, Russia supplies arms to Azerbaijan and has sought to be the main mediator for its bitter conflict with Armenia.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited Aliyev in August for two days, and the pair were photographed chatting in their work shirts on sofas in Aliyev's home, alongside the First Lady of Azerbaijan.

The tone in their relations has shifted dramatically since the crash.

Aliyev has repeatedly said that preliminary investigations showed the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was shot down by Russian air defense systems, saying it was "riddled with holes" and affected by electronic warfare. The plane was flying to the Chechen city of Grozny and made its emergency landing in Kazakhstan.

"If timely measures had been taken to close the Russian airspace near the city of Grozny, if all the rules of ground services had been observed, as well as proper coordination between the armed forces of the Russian Federation and civilian services, this tragedy would not have happened," Aliyev said on Monday.

Notably, Aliyev chose to speak in Russian instead of Azerbaijani, which he said was to honor the flight's two deceased pilots, who spoke Russian.

The Azerbaijani president said that Baku wasn't alleging Russia shot down the plane intentionally but accused Russian officials of not investigating the crash properly.

"The cover-up of this incident by Russian state agencies and the focus on absurd theories causes surprise, regret, and rightful indignation," he said.

Russia's federal transport agency had initially said the Azerbaijani Airlines flight was struck by birds, then blamed Ukrainian drones and fog for forcing the plane out of Grozny airspace.

The US, on the other hand, has said that it had seen "early indications" that the Azerbaijani Airlines flight was possibly "brought down by Russian air defense systems."

Meanwhile, Putin's press office issued an apology on December 28 without taking responsibility for the crash.

"Vladimir Putin offered his apologies that the tragic incident had occurred in Russia's airspace and once again conveyed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the plane crash victims and wished those injured the quickest recovery," its statement said.

But Aliyev is refusing to lighten the pressure on Russia, saying that Putin's apology was "not enough" and that Moscow "must acknowledge its guilt" and punish those responsible.

He added on Monday that investigators were uncovering inconsistencies in Russia's airspace regulations that he said pointed to "serious criminal issues here."

The now-widening rift between Moscow and Baku comes as Azerbaijan has sought to reduce Russian influence on regional matters, especially when dealing with its archrival, Armenia.

For example, Russia had stationed peacekeepers in the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh until September 2023, when Azerbaijan seized the area and flushed out Moscow's forces. Some pro-Kremlin commentators in Russia have also said that Azerbaijani volunteers are appearing among Ukraine's ranks.

But Russia has responded relatively tamely, as it seeks more ex-Soviet allies to deal with its increasing isolation from Western sanctions and the war in Ukraine.

"I would like to note from the start that our relationship is developing in a positive way," Putin said in October when hosting Aliyev in Moscow, referencing Russian investments in the Azerbaijani economy.

Per Azertac, Aliyev responded and said that "the dynamics of our bilateral relations have been quite noticeable."

• Delta Air Lines unveiled new tech features coming over the next two years.
• Improvements include Bluetooth connectivity for all cabins, new AI tools, and enhanced inflight systems.
• Delta aims to maintain its premium status amid competition from United Airlines.

Delta Air Lines revealed a slew of new customer features coming to its planes soon, from AI support to improved seatback entertainment.

CEO Ed Bastian made the announcement during a splashy keynote address at CES in Las Vegas.

The announcements come as Delta continues to vie for the title of the US' most luxurious airline.

Bluetooth connectivity for every seat

Bluetooth connectivity will be available to premium and economy flyers on select aircraft deliveries from 2026. The amenity was previously only installed in first class on Delta's Airbus A321neo planes.

It joins a handful of other airlines offering Bluetooth to economy cabin flyers, like United Airlines, Spanish flag carrier Iberia, and German leisure carrier Condor.

Also coming new to the cabin in 2026 are enhanced inflight systems with better streaming performance, a "do not disturb" feature, and a seatback translation service. The new screens feature 4K HDR QLED displays, Delta said.

Delta said the new tools will offer better convenience and control. The translation service allows flight attendants to send tailored messages in the flyer's preferred language to their seatback screen.

AI tools

The airline is also adding new AI tools, known as "Delta Concierge," to help travelers ahead of their flight.

Starting in 2025, the app will notify customers when their passports are nearing expiration or if they have specific visa requirements for the destinations they're flying to.

Customers can also see packing guidance based on their destination's weather, and get airport directions to its gates, lounges, and bag drop. The app can also notify customers when a touchless expedited TSA PreCheck lane is available.

The news comes a year after Delta announced at CES 2024 that it would begin offering free WiFi on its aircraft.

Since then, the airline has equipped most of its domestic fleet with complimentary internet. This service is available to SkyMiles members, Delta's free-to-sign-up loyalty program.

Delta's new tech could make it more competitive with United

Delta's new tech is part of its effort to maintain its self-proclaimed "premium" title. The airline boasts luxe DeltaOne Lounges and sliding doors in business class, among other high-class perks.

It has also announced new cabins for its Boeing 757 and Airbus A350 planes, including an upgraded Delta One Suite.

The airline has been capitalizing on the trend of people being willing to pay more for luxury at the front of the aircraft.

But rival United Airlines, whose stock skyrocketed nearly 150% in 2024 and well outperformed its peers, has been a thorn in Delta's side.

As part of its 2021 "United Next" plan, United began installing seatback screens on most of its planes to be more competitive with Delta. This reversed its plan to ditch inflight TVs in the years before.

United also announced that year that all cabins, including economy, on its Boeing 737 Max and some Airbus planes would have Bluetooth.

More recently, in November, United became the first US airline to allow customers to track their luggage AirTag via its app. Delta followed in December.

• United Airlines will roll out free Starlink WiFi on regional aircraft this spring.
• Its entire fleet of 1,000 Boeing and Airbus planes will eventually get the upgrade too.
• More than half a dozen carriers worldwide have inked deals for Starlink WiFi.

United Airlines is one step closer to bringing free WiFi to its planes.

The Chicago-based carrier announced plans in January to test Elon Musk's high-speed Starlink internet on an Embraer 175 regional jet in February.

By year-end, United's entire two-cabin regional fleet, meaning its smaller planes with first and economy class, will get the upgrade. Its first mainline aircraft will also take off by the end of 2025, with the entire fleet getting the upgrade at some point.

Members of United's MileagePlus loyalty program will be able to access Starlink for free, including for browsing and streaming.

Members currently pay $8 for internet on domestic and short-haul international flights, while non-members by $10. International WiFi pricing depends on destination and flight length.

United's new free internet access will join Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, both of which already provide complimentary WiFi through other providers like ViaSat and Gogo

American Airlines has free ad-sponsored internet on certain narrow-body planes, but it's limited to 20 or 30 minutes.

Starlink is growing its list of airline customers

Starlink, an arm of SpaceX, provides WiFi via low-orbit satellites. Its reliability is particularly useful in remote areas and on cruise ships, and its popularity has grown on commercial airplanes.

Viasat, by comparison, has only a few satellites and is slower by comparison.

In 2022, semi-private air carrier JSX was the first company to ink a deal for Starlink. The company has since deployed the service on its entire fleet of Embraer jets.

Hawaiian Airlines, now merged with Alaska Airlines, has retrofitted its Airbus A330 and A321neo planes with free Starlink and has plans to add its Boeing 787s, too.

Alaska has since acquired Hawaiian's Starlink-equipped jets. Starting this year, it plans to fly the widebody Airbus aircraft from Seattle to Japan and South Korea.

AirBaltic, Air France, Air New Zealand, Qatar Airways, and Japan's Zipair have also selected Starlink for their fleets.

Qatar rolled out free Starlink on its first Boeing 777 in October. It plans to install the service on the entire 777 fleet by the end of 2025 and start the upgrades on its Airbus A350s this summer.

Business Insider tested Qatar's new WiFi at 36,000 feet and found a download speed of up to 215 megabits per second, though it dipped over certain areas.

The service could easily manage high-speed streaming and video calling with little to no buffering.

A few months ago, United Airlines announced its deal with Starlink to offer in-flight internet access for its passengers. At the time, the airline said it would start testing the new service in early 2024 and then offer it on passenger flights later in the year. United has now accelerated this timeline a bit, with […]

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• A transatlantic United Airlines flight turned around on New Year's Eve.
• The plane's crew reported a lightning strike, the FAA said.
• Passengers were booked into overnight accommodation in Boston, a United spokesperson said.

United Airlines passengers unexpectedly celebrated the New Year in Boston after their transatlantic flight turned around.

Data from Flightradar24 shows the Boeing 767 was about an hour into its journey from Newark, New Jersey to London when it made a U-turn off the coast of Maine.

Flight UA16's crew had reported a lightning strike, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The passengers were initially set to welcome in 2025 in the air, with the flight scheduled to land in London about 9 a.m. local time.

However, the plane "safely diverted" to Boston shortly before 11 p.m. ET, the FAA said.

A United Airlines spokesperson told Simple Flying the Boeing 767 was inspected by emergency crews upon landing. The Boston Globe reported that there were no injuries.

"We provided accommodation overnight for passengers and rebooked them on another flight to London the next day," the spokesperson said.

United did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The same aircraft departed Boston about 7 p.m. ET on New Year's Day — landing in London 22 hours later than originally scheduled, per data from Flightradar24.

The FAA said it will investigate the incident.

The National Weather Service says airliners are struck by lightning about once or twice a year on average.

It also says jets avoid thunderstorms as much as possible. They can trigger strikes because their presence enhances the electric fields found in storms.

Commercial jets are designed with several protections to mitigate the impact of a lightning, such as a metal mesh that conducts electricity away from passengers and internal electronics.

BI previously reported on other planes struck by lightning, including a Delta Air Lines flight that declared an emergency, and an Air Canada Boeing 777 filmed after takeoff. Both continued to their destinations before being inspected.

• An X post about a Southwest passenger's kitten was viewed more than 20 million times.
• The woman said she was kicked off a flight after cleaning up her cat's poop with paper towels.
• Some replied with messages of support but others were less sympathetic about flying with pets.

An airline passenger's tale about a kitten that pooped in its carrier sparked a debate about bringing pets on flights.

In an X post last Sunday that racked up more than 20 million views, a user named Alex said she was kicked off a flight and left in "a random city for 12 hours."

She said she was on a Southwest Airlines flight when her seven-month-old cat, Oni, got scared during a rough landing and had "an accident."

Alex said she took the carrier to the plane's bathroom and cleaned the mess with paper towels, putting them in the trash before asking a flight attendant for a garbage bag.

Her connecting flight turned out to be on the same plane, she said.

She added that a new crew was on board, and the bathroom was closed off due to the smell.

A "hostile" flight attendant then questioned Alex and made her cry, she said, before a Southwest agent escorted her off the plane.

The agent sorted another route to Los Angeles for her, involving another layover, and gave her a $200 voucher, Alex said.

Southwest Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Alex's post about the incident resulted in thousands of responses on X both supporting and criticizing her conduct.

"They handled that so poorly, I'm so sorry," one user replied. "I hope you and Oni make it to your destination safely."

Another reply with 7,000 likes said: "Worse things happen in those bathrooms."

Some others were less sympathetic. One repost with more than 1,000 likes said they had "zero sympathy" for people who fly with their pets and "play persecution when something goes awry."

An estimated two million pets are taken on commercial flights annually in the US, according to a 2023 research paper published in the academic journal Animals.

This isn't the first time that a fecal airline incident has made headlines.

Last April, a United Airlines flight was diverted after a dog pooped in the plane's aisle.

And in 2023, a transatlantic Delta Air Lines flight had to turn around after a passenger had "diarrhea all the way through the airplane."

• Emirates wants to hire airline pilots from the US to fly its widebody jets from Dubai.
• The pay and benefits are good, but Emirates pilots must be ready for mostly long-haul flying.
• Emirates pilots can get unique perks like company-provided housing and chauffeur transfers to work.

It can be difficult for US airline pilots to jump into a foreign flight deck, but Emirates has programs to entice potential hires to make the leap.

Flying for the UAE-based carrier has significant differences compared to US counterparts, including a unique scheduling system and other benefits.

But the work-life balance, pay, and benefits are nothing to balk at.

In an interview, six-year Emirates Boeing 777 pilot Richard Vellinga explained how pay, benefits, visas, and training at the state-owned carrier.

High pay and company-provided housing

Vellinga said new first officers can make between $7,000 and $9,000 per month, tax-free, based on experience.

Captains make between $11,000 and $13,000 a month. On the lower end, those paychecks equal a minimum of $84,000 for first officers and $132,000 for captains annually.

First officers and captains can earn more money as they gain more years of flight experience. Pay is the same regardless of aircraft type.

For every "block" hour above their monthly minimum flying target, they earn about $145 and $200, respectively. A block hour is the time between when an aircraft leaves the departure gate and arrives at the destination gate.

For example, if an Emirates captain hits their minimum and picks up an eight-hour block trip, that will equal around $1,600 in extra pay.

Emirates also offers other allowances to complement pilot basic salaries, including profit-sharing, company-provided housing allowance, flight benefits, education allowance for dependents, and medical coverage.

"We also enjoy chauffeur-driven transport to and from work, and laundry services," Vellinga said.

Pilot salaries are calculated differently than at US airlines

In the US, pilot pay is dependent on aircraft type.

The lowest-paid first officers of narrow-body planes at Delta, United, and American make about $111,000 a year, while the highest-paid widebody captains make more than $400,000 a year.

Similar to Emirates, US pilots can make more from additional monthly flying and any potential profit-sharing — with many making over half a million annually.

US pilots typically don't receive housing benefits or car service from their homes to work.

Emirates mostly flies long-haul

Vellinga said Emirates pilot schedules differ from the US. He is on a "reserve" period every 10 months — meaning he doesn't know his trips ahead of time.

Otherwise, he holds a "line", meaning he has preplanned flights. He said the schedule is based on rotating seniority, so lower-year pilots can get their preferred schedule during certain months.

In the US, new pilots have to work their way up the ladder to earn enough seniority to get the trips and time off they want. Some are on reserve for years before they hold a line.

Vellinga said the long-haul flying at Emirates, which can range from one to five days of consecutive flying, can be difficult given the time changes.

"Work-life balance can be atypical given frequent time-zone changes and being away from family," Vellinga said, adding Emirates pilots need to be flexible and adaptable, but he prefers ultra-long-haul flying.

He said the company offers 42 days of leave a year, with at least eight days off a month. The latter is not uncommon in the US. Vellinga said he spends his time off with family and enjoys the expat community and sporting events in Dubai.

Vellinga said he also uses his flight benefits, which include access to free or discounted flight tickets for pilots and their friends and family. When available, their family can access business or first class.

"Our most recent vacation with benefits was to Tenerife in the Canary Islands," he said. "We spent a week exploring the islands and had a wonderful time."

Training and qualifications

Emirates training will be similarly long and vigorous to what US airline pilots experience, but Emirates pilots are trained according to the standards of the UAE's aviation authority rather than the Federal Aviation Administration.

Vellinga said new-hire training takes between three and four months, including ground and simulator work. Line training, meaning operating actual flights, takes another six weeks.

"I started training in the first week of August [2018] and had my first flight by mid-November," he said, adding Emirates took care of his visas and licenses to fly in the UAE.

First officers and captains must have specific minimum flight hours to be hired, and making it into an Emirates cockpit is dependent on passing training checks.

Direct-entry captains — or those who are already captains in the US and want to captain an Emirates plane — need at least 7,000 multi-crew flying hours, with nearly half of that on widebody planes like the Airbus A330 or Airbus A350.

Reaching 7,000 hours for a US airline pilot can take a decade or more.

Pilots without captain experience or enough hours of experience can be hired at Emirates as long as they meet minimum hourly flight requirements and have operated heavy enough aircraft.

Vellinga said captains flying narrow-body planes like the Airbus A320 or the Boeing 737 with 6,000 total hours and 2,000 in command can be hired as first officers at Emirates. They can become a captain after about a year and a half.

Otherwise, pilots upgrading from a first officer to a captain takes between two and four years, depending on how quickly a pilot earns enough qualifying hours.

• Travelers encountered bedbugs on three Turkish Airlines flights, The New York Times reported.
• One passenger said they saw bedbugs fall from the ceiling onto another person's lap.
• A science teacher said found 13 bite marks on her body after her flight.

Turkish Airlines passengers told The New York Times they had encountered bedbugs on three flights in recent months.

Two incidents resulted in offers of minor compensation, and the airline told one passenger that "no record of any disruption" existed in relation to another, the outlet reported.

Matthew Myers, 28, told the newspaper he and his girlfriend were flying from Istanbul to San Francisco in October.

He said a passenger next to him drew his attention to bedbugs on the seat and falling from the ceiling, before some landed on the person's lap.

"Multiple passengers were asking to move seats after discovering bugs," Myers told the Times.

He said one passenger moved to a jump seat for flight attendants.

Myers said Turkish Airlines offered him a 10% discount on future travel that was valid through the following two months.

In another incident the same month, Kristin Bourgeois told the Times she found bedbugs on her blanket and pillow during a 10-hour flight from Washington Dulles Airport.

The 37-year-old science teacher said she found 13 bite marks on her body afterward and took photos.

After filing her complaint, Turkish Airlines told Bourgeois it required a doctor's medical report before investigating, per the Times. The report said her flight history was later removed from the airline's app, before she was offered 5,000 frequent flyer miles.

Patience Titcombe also told the newspaper she noticed a bedbug on her seat during a Turkish Airlines flight from Johannesburg.

She posted a picture on X in March with the comment: "@TurkishAirlines bedbugs on our inbound flight to IST is every travelers nightmare!!!"

Titcombe said a flight attendant disposed of the bug and dismissed her concern about it.

The Times reported that Titcombe complained through Facebook Messenger and email, and sent photos, although the carrier said "no record of any disruption" existed.

Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider and did not respond to a request from the Times.

The report comes after heightened concern about bedbugs in 2023.

During an outbreak in Paris, bedbugs were seen on public transportation. South Korea also launched a campaign targeting transportation hubs.

• Delta Air Lines remains the most on-time US airline despite a massive disruption.
• Delta was also the third-most punctual global airline, but United Airlines was on its heels.
• With a rate of at least 90%, some foreign carriers achieved a better on-time performance than Delta.

Despite a chaotic CrowdStrike outage that forced Delta Air Lines to cancel some 7,000 flights over five days this summer, the Atlanta-based carrier retained its title as the US' most on-time airline.

Delta was the third-most on-time global airline in 2024, Cirium said in its annual release of airline punctuality, behind Aeromexico and Saudia, with rates of 86.70% and 86.35%, respectively. It also won Cirium's "Platinum Award" for operational excellence for the fourth consecutive year.

To be "on time," an airline must arrive within 14 minutes and 59 seconds of its scheduled arrival time.

Delta's on-time performance was 83.46%, down from 84.60% in 2023. The summer disruptions cost Delta some $330 million.

"That is a phenomenal number," Cirium's chief marketing officer, Mike Malik, told reporters, adding that Delta operates 1.6 million flights a year and to have such a high punctuality rate is an "incredible feat."

The award considers factors like network and hub complexity to determine how difficult it is for an airline to operate.

Where US airlines stand in on-time performance

United Airlines was on Delta's heels with an on-time rate of 80.93% — up about one percentage point from 2023. It also jumped from fourth place the prior year and ranked 10th globally.

Alaska Airlines dropped to third place in 2024 with a 79.25% on-time rate. Its 2023 punctuality was 82.25%.

American Airlines' on-time performance fell from 80.61% last year to 77.78% in 2024. Due to a technical issue, the carrier experienced a brief ground stop on Christmas Eve, delaying flights during one of the year's busiest travel days.

Southwest Airlines increased its on-time performance to 77.77% from 76.26% in 2023, finishing right behind American.

Industry data provider OAG says anything about 80% is generally "pretty good," while rates above 90% are excellent. Those airlines "remain the exception, rather than the rule," it says.

How foreign carriers compare to US airlines

The top-performing European airlines were Spanish low-cost airline Iberia Express at 84.69%, its parent airline Iberia at 81.58%, and Scandinavian Airlines at 81.40%.

In Asia, Japan Airlines came in first at 80.90%. Japan's All Nippon Airways and Singapore Airlines followed at 80.62% and 78.67%, respectively.

In Latin America, Panama's Copa Airlines beat the global winner, Aeromexico, with an 88.22% on-time rate. This is Copa's 10th year in the top spot.

Malik said Copa does not win globally because it does not have a high enough international presence to quality as a "global" airline.

Aeromexico was second, while Caribbean Airlines, jointly state-owned by Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, was third at 85.47%.

In the Middle East and Africa, South African low-cost carrier Safair took first place at 93.82% — achieving the highest on-time rate worldwide. Oman Air came in second with a punctuality rate of 90.27%, and Royal Jordanian Airlines was third at 87.02%.

All three Middle Eastern and African airlines achieved a higher punctuality rate than any global carrier — including Delta. Still, none qualify as "global."

Safair, for example, has a simpler, more regional operation. It only flies within South Africa and to neighboring countries and has few overwater routes.

Royal Jordanian is the only one that competes in the US. It is part of the Oneworld Alliance with America and Alaska. Oman is expected to join Oneworld soon.

• British Airways is overhauling its loyalty program to reward spending instead of miles flown.
• It will offer more chances to get points while making status harder to achieve for leisure travelers.
• Customers took to social media to express their frustration with the new earning system.

British Airways is overhauling its loyalty program, shifting earning potential to be based on customer spending instead of miles flown.

Starting in April 2025, customers will earn one "Tier Point" for every eligible $1.25 (£1) spent. Eligible spending includes the fare and other carrier-imposed charges but excludes money spent on taxes and fees.

Also new in 2025, customers can earn points via spending on their cobranded credit card, British Airways' vacation packages, and seat and bag charges.

This will mark the launch of the airline's rebranded British Airways Club, where members can access their rewards.

The thresholds for Tier Points are 3,500 for bronze, 7,500 for silver, and 20,000 for gold, with points accrued between April 1 and March 31 of each year.

British Airways Chief Commercial Officer Colm Lacy said in a press release the airline believes the new setup "better rewards [members'] loyalty and reflects their changing travel needs," adding that the adjustments were made based on member feedback.

This replaces the existing loyalty system, which lets customers earn points based on miles flown.

Currently, bronze requires 300 points plus two flights or 25 paid flights, silver requires 600 points plus four flights or 50 paid flights, and gold requires 1,500 points plus four flights.

The gap between the new silver and gold tiers will effectively make it much more difficult for leisure travelers — who typically fly economy — to earn high status and the perks that come with it, like first and business lounge access and upgrade vouchers.

Previously, more price-sensitive travelers who wanted to participate in British Airways' loyalty program could secure cheaper tickets and still earn well for flights.

The move to rewarding spending instead of miles is not new.

In 2023, Delta Air Lines received backlash when it adjusted its loyalty program to depend on cash spent, making earning status — and the lounge access and other perks that come with it — more expensive.

Customers are unhappy with the changes

Many customers took to social media to express their frustration with the new program.

Many said the spending requirements will make it more difficult to earn British Airways loyalty status, and they will spend their money elsewhere.

"As a loyal flyer and long time Gold Card holder it's safe to say I'll be voting with my feet and taking my loyalty to somewhere it will be more appreciated," one said on X.

Another said he was a first-year "Gold Guest List" member — a special level within the gold tier for very frequent flyers — and that he will be "status-matching and moving on."

Britsh Airways' Gold Guest members receive more exclusive perks, but under the new system, the tier will require at least 65,000 points a year (with at least 52,000 earned via holiday packages or eligible British Airways flights and add-ons).

Previously, it required 5,000 points.

Tom Boon, managing editor at aviation website Simple Flying, told Business Insider that the new program is "basically unattainable for normal travelers" now.

He said that based on his last booking fare, which BI viewed, he would need to take 87.5 roundtrip flights on his regular London to Frankfurt route to earn bronze under the new system.

Previously, he could fly the roundtrip route about once a month, or about three and a half times less, to secure bronze.

British Airways told BI that the new and old systems aren't comparable because the new earning system is calculated differently with more ways to earn.

• Some United Airlines employees at Denver International Airport fell ill after a holiday meal.
• The Association of Flight Attendants reported there were 24 cases of food poisoning symptoms.
• United Airlines is monitoring the situation and coordinating with health authorities.

Dozens of United Airlines employees at Denver International Airport fell ill after eating a meal provided by the airline on Christmas Day.

According to a letter from the Association of Flight Attendants, representing United workers in Denver and Phoenix, a total of 492 meals were served to flight attendants. Of those, there were 24 reports of symptoms connected to food poisoning.

Denver7 spoke with one flight attendant who said he felt sick and started to experience nausea and diarrhea shortly after eating the holiday plate of food. The employee said many of his colleagues who ate the meal were also ill afterward.

He told Denver7 that United Airlines has a strict policy requiring staff to submit a doctor's note within 48 hours when they call in sick during the holiday period.

A spokesperson from United Airlines told Business Insider: "United is monitoring reports from some employees about gastrointestinal symptoms following holiday meals served to Denver employees last Wednesday, and we are in contact with health authorities. There has been no impact on our operation."

The AFA initially reported that around 200 employees had been sick after eating the meal on Christmas Day, however, it said in its later letter that the actual number of reports was substantially lower.

"We recognize that there may be some who decided to "power through" or who may have been apprehensive about calling in sick over the holiday period, or who may have been on their way home and therefore did not miss work.

The union wrote that if staff had to call in sick and believe it was because of the meal, they should email their supervisor explaining they are among those with symptoms and that any points associated with the absence should be removed.

Although the letter said "there is no way to know for sure" if these were cases of food poisoning as there are viruses circulating that produce similar symptoms, management at the airport would keep monitoring the issue.

• Sunday's Jeju Air crash has again raised concerns about flight safety.
• Boeing's 737-800 model is used by nearly 200 airlines and has a strong safety record.
• The 737-800 is different from Boeing's 737 Max family, which has faced significant issues.

The Boeing plane that crashed in South Korea on Sunday, killing 179, has a remarkable safety record.

The 737-800 model is among the world's most widely used passenger planes, with some 4,400 in service for nearly 200 airlines, according to data from Cirium.

In its nearly 30 years of service, the 737 variant — much older than the problematic Max models —  has seen 1,100 fatalities from 17 accidents, according to data compiled by the Aviation Safety Network, a nonprofit research organization.

That's a relatively low crash rate, given the thousands of plane units produced and the millions of passenger flights completed. The model remains a backbone of global aviation.

"The 737-800 is a great airplane, the workhorse of the world, if you like," Airline News editor and aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas told Business Insider. "It is the most reliable aircraft out there."

Human error has contributed to most of the fatal 737-800 accidents.

Boeing 737-800 crashes

The first fatal crash involving the 737-800 was Brazil's Gol Airlines in 2006. The plane experienced a midair collision with a private jet and broke up, killing all 154 passengers and crew.

Investigators said errors by an air traffic controller and the private pilots were to blame.

Pilot error was a factor in several other 737-800 crashes, such as a 2007 Kenya Air flight, two Air India Express accidents in 2010 and 2020, and a 2016 Flydubai crash.

No US airline has experienced a fatal 737-800 crash, though some have been damaged due to things like mechanical issues, weather, bird strikes, and pilot error.

Some 737-800 accidents were due to other factors. In 2020, 176 people died after a Ukraine International Airlines flight was shot down by Iran.

In 2022, a China Eastern Airlines 737-800 nose-dived, killing 132, but the investigation is ongoing. A Wall Street Journal report that year said US officials had pointed to someone in the cockpit intentionally crashing the jet.

A China Airlines plane that crashed but suffered no fatalities in 2007 pointed to airline mechanic error and inadequate maintenance guidance from Boeing, Japanese investigators found.

Following the crash, the US Federal Aviation Administration instructed 737 operators in the US to ensure the maintenance component that caused the accident was properly installed.

Which airlines fly the 737-800?

The 737-800 is part of Boeing's "next generation" or "NG" line of planes, which also includes the smaller 737-600 and 737-700 and the larger 737-900.

The 737-800 first flew in 1998, and the model competes with the Airbus A320 narrowbody jetliner.

The NG planes were an upgrade to the classic 737 models with more range and fuel efficiency. The 737-800 can fly about 3,400 miles and carry up to 189 passengers, making it popular for short and medium-haul flying.

Cirium data shows commercial airlines operated the 737-800 on nearly 5.9 million flights in 2024. More than 6.2 million are scheduled through November 2025.

American Airlines is the biggest operator of the 737-800, with 303 in service, per Cirium. Irish budget carrier Ryanair and Southwest Airlines follow with 205 and 204, respectively.

US airlines Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Sun Country Airlines, and United Airlines also operate the 737-800, but operators reach virtually every corner of the globe.

The Boeing 737-800 is not the same as the 737 Max

The 737-800 model does not have the same system that caused its successor, the 737 Max, to crash in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people.

That system, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, was blamed for the crashes.

Thanks to their more powerful and fuel-efficient engines, the Max 8 and Max 9 planes in service can fly about 500 miles further than the 737-800. The Max jets can also hold more passengers compared.

Boeing stopped producing the 737-800 in late 2019 when it replaced the NG family with the Max.

There are about 4,800 Max jets on backorder. Production resumed in December following a worker strike at its Washington factories.

• Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed because of shots fired from Russian territory.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin previously apologized to Azerbaijan for the fatal crash.
• Putin did not take responsibility, however.

Azerbaijan's president said that shooting from Russian territory caused the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash that killed 38 people.

His comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized for the incident without taking responsibility.

Ilham Aliyev said on Azerbaijani television Sunday that he didn't believe the incident was intentional but that the aircraft was hit "from the outside."

He said, per Sky News, that the fuselage was "riddled with holes," indicating that the theory the plane hit a flock of birds before crashing was incorrect.

Aliyev added that "some circles in Russia" supported this theory, while Russian officials also suggested a gas cylinder exploded on board the plane.

"In other words, this clearly showed that the Russian side wanted to cover up the issue, which, of course, is unbecoming of anyone," he said.

Aliyev went on to criticize Russia for not responding to the crash immediately, "except for some absurd theories."

According to Azerbaijani reports, the downing of the plane was connected to Russia's interception of Ukrainian drones near its border.

On Saturday, the Kremlin said Putin apologized for the crash during a phone call with Aliyev. Putin stopped short of claiming responsibility.

The Kremlin's press office said that Putin had "offered his apologies that the tragic incident had occurred in Russia's airspace and once again conveyed his deep and sincere condolences to the families of the plane crash victims and wished those injured the quickest recovery," per Russia's Tass news agency.

38 people died and 29 survived the Azerbaijan Airlines crash on Wednesday

Azerbaijan Airlines flight Flight 8243 crash-landed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday. Kazakh authorities said 38 people died, including the pilots, while 29 others survived.

The aircraft was traveling to Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, before it diverted to Kazakhstan.

Putin said that Ukrainian drones and Russian air defenses were operating around Grozny as the plane attempted to land, Tass reported.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that the US had "seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems."

When questioned by media whether the US had seen intelligence that pointed to the involvement of an air defense system, Kirby said the short answer was "yes" but said he would "leave it at that."

Experts and reports have also pointed to Russia likely being behind the crash. Alleged evidence includes the erratic route the plane took as well as photo and video evidence of the aircraft that shows holes in its fuselage and tail while it was still in the air.

Rashan Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's minister of digital development and transportation, told the country's media that "preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact," the AP reported.

"The type of weapon used in the impact will be determined during the probe," he added.

The Kremlin had initially refused to comment on the allegations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday: "Currently an investigation is in progress. Any air incident should be investigated by specialized aviation authorities."

"It would be wrong to build any hypotheses before the panel of inquiry presents its conclusions," he added.

• The US said it has "early indications" that suggest Russian air defenses downed a passenger plane.
• An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashed while trying to land after diverting to Kazakhstan, killing 38.
• Experts pointed to damage to the plane before it landed, suggesting it had been hit by a missile.

A White House official said the US has seen "early indications" that the fatal crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane was caused by a Russian air defense system.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that the US has "seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems."

Kirby did not provide further details, but he said Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan were investigating the incident and that the US had offered to assist if needed.

When pressed for more information on whether the US had seen intelligence that pointed to the involvement of an air defense system, Kirby said the short answer was "yes" but that he would "leave it at that."

The Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 plane was en route to Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, from Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, on Wednesday.

Flight 8243 then changed course over Russia and was trying to reach Kazakhstan's Aktau airport when it crash-landed.

Kazakh authorities said 38 people died, including the pilots, and 29 others survived.

The airline's president praised the pilots' "heroism" and said the crew's dedication to their duties and prioritization of human life had "immortalized their names in history."

Russian air defenses have been active around Grozny as Ukrainian drones have targeted the area as part of Ukraine's fightback against Russia's invasion.

Multiple experts and reports have pointed to Russia likely being behind the crash, citing the plane's erratic route as well as photo and video evidence of the aircraft that show holes in its fuselage and tail while it was still in the air.

Oliver Alexander, an OSINT analyst, said in a message to BI that "at this point, I don't think there is enough available evidence to conclusively say what exactly happened (type of missile etc)."

But he said "all the evidence I have seen points to the aircraft being hit by shrapnel from an air defense missile which severely damaged the elevator and rudder controls."

Sources with knowledge of Azerbaijan's investigation told The Wall Street Journal that Russia had redirected the aircraft from its airspace and jammed its GPS system.

Azerbaijani sources with knowledge of the country's inquiry also told The New York Times that Azerbaijani officials believed a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system had damaged the aircraft.

Rashan Nabiyev, Azerbaijan's minister of digital development and transportation, told the country's media that "preliminary conclusions by experts point at external impact," the AP reported.

"The type of weapon used in the impact will be determined during the probe," he added.

Azerbaijan Airlines said on Friday that a preliminary inquiry had blamed both "physical and technical external interference" but did not give any details.

Multiple airlines said after the crash that they would suspend flights to Russia and avoid Russian airspace. Most Western airlines have already been doing so since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Kremlin has refused to comment on reports that Russian weaponry caused the crash.

Speaking at a news briefing on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Currently an investigation is in progress. Any air incident should be investigated by specialized aviation authorities."

"It would be wrong to build any hypotheses before the panel of inquiry presents its conclusions. Of course, we cannot do that. No one should do it," he added.

Russia's civil aviation authority pointed to a bird strike as a possible cause of the crash.

After a missile system shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet in 2014, international investigators concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin had likely given the system to separatists who used it.

All 298 people who were on board flight MH17 were killed.