Qantas is cancelling almost one in 10 of its scheduled flights between Sydney and Melbourne every day but has rejected suggestions it is scratching services at short notice just because it hasn't sold enough seats. The airline's average monthly cancellation rate for Sydney-Melbourne flights was 9.5% in the six months to November, according to data collected by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. That is almost double the rate compared to two years ago, and a three-fold increase since 2015. Cancellation rates are broadly the same from Melbourne to Sydney. Qantas' main competitor on the route, Virgin Australia, has not seen the same increase in cancellations; they have risen from 5 to 6% since 2017. The federal government bureau records a flight as being "cancelled" if it is called-off or rescheduled less than seven days prior to its scheduled departure time. Qantas operates up to 46 return flights daily on Sydney-Melbourne, which is the world's second-busiest air route, with flights every 15 minutes during the peak periods. "We know how important it is for our customers to get to their destination on time," a Qantas spokesman said. "While our cancellation rate between Melbourne and Sydney improved significantly in December it is still too high."<br/>
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The texts came from an unfamiliar number. But the man on the other end of the conversation gave the impression that he knew her and could see her. Ashley Barno says she was sitting in the San Diego International Airport in April 2019 when she got a text from someone asking how she was. "I met you the other day at the airport," the person responded when she said she didn't recognise the number, according to copies of the texts. The man texted her that he worked for American Airlines. "Btw I must tell you that you are gorgeous!" he added. When Barno asked how he got her number and what his name was, the man insists she gave it to him and must have forgotten. His name is "Ahmad," he tells her. Later, Barno says he told her he got her phone number from a tag on her luggage. "Ahmad" soon reveals he can see her, asking whether she is on the same flight to Chicago as he is. When Barno asks him to come say hi, he says he can't find her anymore. "But you are looking very gorgeous in grey top today!!" he responds. Barno is suing the American Airlines employee, who is unnamed in the lawsuit, over the encounter for sexual harassment, stalking and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She is also suing the airline for negligent hiring, supervision and retention, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress. American Airlines did not specifically address the allegations, but said the employee involved no longer works for the company.<br/>
Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it has suspended taking delivery of 25 Boeing 737 MAX jets, citing the plane’s delayed return to service since it was grounded last year following two fatal crashes. The decision represents another setback for Boeing, which on Tuesday reported its worst annual net orders in decades, along with its lowest number of plane deliveries in 11 years, as the grounding of the 737 MAX saw it fall far behind main competitor Airbus. “In view of the production stoppage and the delayed return to service of the 737-MAX, Malaysia Airlines has suspended the delivery of its orders,” the airline said. The carrier had been due to take delivery of its first 737 MAX in July 2020 but last year its CE said the introduction to service could slide beyond that. Malaysia Airlines did not respond immediately to a request for comment on how many of the 25 planes it has on order were due to be delivered this year. Analysts said cash-strapped carriers like Malaysian Airlines that over-ordered planes could take advantage of the 737 MAX grounding to negotiate with Boeing to restructure their orders.<br/>