Alex Wilcox’s furious rivals say he’s exploiting a loophole. Wilcox counters that they’re just annoyed he’s treading on their turf. At the heart of their dispute is JSX, a Dallas-based carrier beloved by work travelers for offering convenience like a chartered plane at near business class prices. Wilcox got the idea for the service in what’s possibly the least glamorous business origin story of all time. Combing through US Federal Aviation Administration regulations, he learned that while scheduled flights with more than nine seats have to meet onerous safety and security requirements, on-demand public charters have separate, less stringent rules. Though, they can’t specify flight times or cities or sell single seats. To get around that, Wilcox decided to create two companies that would work together: One would make a flight schedule and sell tickets, and a second would fly the aircraft on specified routes at set times and dates. In reality, though, it’s one entity working behind the scenes. “I spent months without sleep, just looking at all the rules, looking for ways why it couldn’t be done,” he said on a clear February day in a hangar at Dallas Love Field. “Every single person we talked to said, ‘No, you can’t do it.’” Then US regulators signed off on his idea. “So we did it.” In 2015, he founded JetSuiteX, later rebranded to JSX. It allows customers to book tickets online, like a more traditional airline, and flies out of sparse private hangars. In exchange for the amenities of a big airport, passengers get convenience. In lieu of long Transportation Security Administration baggage-screening lines, they get their bags swabbed for explosives and walk through a weapons detector. The experience doesn’t come without pitfalls. If a flight gets delayed, there are only minimal snacks. If it gets canceled, there’s not always an easy rebooking option.<br/>
unaligned
The movement of a flight deck seat is a key focus of the probe into a sudden mid-air dive by a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787 plane that left more than 50 people injured, aviation industry publication the Air Current reported on Wednesday. The plane, which was heading from Sydney to Auckland on Monday, dropped abruptly before stabilizing, causing those on board to be thrown about the cabin. Based on the available information it was understood the seat movement was "pilot induced, not intentionally," the report said, citing a senior airline safety official. "The seat movement caused the nose down" angle of the aircraft, the publication said, citing another anonymous source who added the possibility of an electrical short was also under review. Boeing is expected to release a message to 787 operators regarding the incident, the Air Current reported, in a sign a fleet-wide issue could be involved though it said the specific topic was not known to the publication. Boeing declined to comment on the report, instead referring Reuters to the investigating agencies. Chile's aviation regulator, which is leading the probe given it involves a Chilean airline flying in international airspace, said the investigation "just got underway" and its investigators had arrived in New Zealand. LATAM said it "continues to work in coordination with the authorities to support the investigation" and said it was not appropriate to comment on speculation that has circulated.<br/>
Flair Airlines is accusing a financial services firm of withholding about $25m in funds from the company. The budget airline says in a press release that Peoples Trust has “played a crucial role in facilitating the regular transfer of funds to Flair Airlines” for over a year. But it says that in February, the financial services firm ceased regular transfers to Flair. Flair CEO Stephen Jones says in the release that the airline has tried to resolve the issue amicably, but it plans to pursue a resolution through legal channels. He says Flair has already implemented an existing alternative payment processing system to avoid disruptions to travellers. Peoples Group, which Peoples Trust is a part of, says it “always maintains robust standards around the management of funds.” “We set and manage card transaction reserves following standard industry practices to protect consumers who have pre-paid merchants — like airlines — for services they have not yet received,” it said in an emailed statement.<br/>
New Zealand authorities were able to remove the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Boeing 787-9 that experienced a “technical event” on Monday’s LATAM Airlines Flight 800, a spokesman for New Zealand’s transport safety body told CNN on Wednesday. The black boxes hold data crucial to understanding what caused the Boeing jet to suddenly drop during the flight from Australia to New Zealand, causing dozens of passengers to be treated for injuries. The technical glitch and subsequent investigations come at a fraught time for Boeing. The US manufacturer has faced harsh criticism for a series of recent safety and quality issues in its aircraft. Chile’s Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) is leading the investigation into the black boxes as the plane was registered in the country. New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC), will also contribute an investigator to the process. The Boeing jet remains in Auckland and will also be assessed by the Chilean investigators. The union representing the flight’s crew said on Wednesday that it would conduct an investigation, we well. The LATAM Cabin Crew Union (STCLA) said in a statement to CNN Wednesday that it is “gathering records of its colleagues who were injured” during the incident. According to a statement published by LATAM Airlines, at least 10 passengers and three crew members were injured when the plane experienced a “technical event.” However, emergency medical services provider Hato Hone St John Ambulance in Auckland told CNN that approximately 50 people were treated for injuries upon arrival in Auckland, including one person in serious condition.<br/>
Chilean authorities have clarified that they will lead the investigation into the in-flight upset involving a LATAM Boeing 787, after initially indicating delegation to New Zealand counterparts. Several occupants were injured after the twinjet experienced the upset en route from Sydney to Auckland, as flight LA800, on 11 March. Chile’s civil aeronautics directorate, the DGAC, initially stated that the event would be investigated by a New Zealand commission, and that the DGAC would appoint an accredited representative. Under international convention the responsibility for investigation is assigned to the country on whose territory the event occurred. If incidents occur over international waters, however, the state of registration takes precedent. The DGAC has acknowledged that the event involving the 787 – which bears the Chilean registration CC-BGG – took place in international airspace between Australia and New Zealand. It states that, in accordance with ICAO standards, it will conduct the inquiry, with New Zealand’s transport accident commission TAIC providing support. “It is Chile’s investigation, they are in charge of the process,” confirms TAIC to FlightGlobal.<br/>
Parvus Asset Management has increased its shareholding in Ryanair Holdings PLC, parent entity of Ryanair (FR, Dublin International), to in excess of 7%, the airline disclosed in a TR-1 filing to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. The Irish Times newspaper said the activist hedge fund spent almost E230m last week to boost the size of its stake in the budget carrier. The fund's total stake in Ryanair is now worth approximately E1.6b. The filing accompanying the transaction was dated March 7 and shows that Parvus raised its shareholding from 6.047% to 7.017%. Parvus currently holds assets of around US$5.5b and has reportedly acquired similarly sized stakes in Ryanair before, only to sell down later. However, the newspaper added that the fund also has a history of using its shareholder muscle to put pressure on boards to alter a company's strategy.<br/>
The Gabonese state has acquired a 56% majority stake in privately-owned Afrijet Business Service, which will not change its name but adopt an additional brand called FlyGabon, the Central African country's new national carrier, CEO Marc Gaffajoli confirmed to ch-aviation. This followed an announcement in the Gabonese media by the country's minister of economy and participations, Mays Mouissi, following the official signing of the purchase agreement on March 12 at the presidential palace in Libreville by interim President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguéma. "The Gabonese state now owns 56% of Afrijet. Afrijet becomes a national company since the majority of the capital is held by the Gabonese state," Mouissi said. "We will use this company to build, from traffic rights, from its customer base, the new airline, which will be called FlyGabon." Mouissi said the state would help provide the airline with new aircraft that have already been acquired. FlyGabon would serve domestic and regional destinations beyond Central Africa, he added. Afrijet announced it would "transform its statutes into a limited company with a board of directors and managing director, with governance capitalising on private management principles". It elaborated that the state's investment aimed to support all of Gabon's provinces as provincial airports would be upgraded, more regional services would be added following the acquisition of medium-sized aircraft, and domestic airfares would be lowered for the benefit of the local market.<br/>
Air Mauritius has introduced outsourcing and business process specialist Charles Cartier as its new CE, succeeding Kresimir Kucko. Cartier was formerly with a division of consultancy service Accenture as well as a business solutions arm of TNT Express. He has served on a number of company boards, including Bank of Mauritius, and is linked to the country’s outsourcing and telecom industry association OTAM. Kresimir Kucko, who previously led Croatia Airlines and Gulf Air, had been Air Mauritius’ chief since the end of 2022. The airline has not given a reason for the management change.<br/>
Following a significant refurbishment, the Emirates Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) has officially reopened its doors. The space features seating for over 130 people, showers, and a sumptuous buffet. Passengers flying with Emirates in first and business class are provided complimentary access to the space, which measures almost 7,000 square feet, as are eligible Emirates Skywards members. Located adjacent to Gate 40 on Level 7, the lounge features design touches to echo the sleek sophistication of the Emirates brand while providing a functional area for travelers to unwind and prepare for their next flight. The refurbishment increased the capacity to 132 seats in various arrangements, from large chairs to cozy sofas. Complimentary WiFi is provided and passengers can take advantage of on-site shower facilities and a dedicated prayer room. The redesigned space caters to passengers on Emirate's two daily direct flights from Hong Kong to Dubai International Airport (DBX) and the third daily service via Bangkok. The lounge is open daily from 15:30 to 00:30, allowing passengers to arrive roughly three hours before the day's first flight and remain open till just before the midnight departure.<br/>
Indian start-up carrier Fly91 is to commence services on 18 March, having secured its air operator’s certificate. The airline states that it will operate from Bengaluru and Hyderabad to both Goa and Sindhudurg. Fly91 says bookings have opened for all the routes. The carrier has shown of an initial aircraft, an ATR 72-600 turboprop (VT-FIB), obtained through a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise lease. Fly91 says that it has been granted an air operator’s certificate from the Indian directorate general of civil aviation, enabling it to begin scheduled flights across the country. “Four years of hard work, dedication and perseverance by the Fly91 team has paid off,” it adds.<br/>