A group of Frontier Airlines passengers say they were kept on board a smoke-filled plane for nearly an hour in a lawsuit filed last week. The 19 plaintiffs were among the 197 people on board Flight 1326 from San Diego to Las Vegas on October 5. According to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report into the incident, the Airbus A321 was arriving at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport when it suffered a brake fire. Photos and video of the incident show smoke and flames coming from the aircraft. The flight’s first officer told investigators that, shortly before descent, the cabin crew detected an odour in the cabin, which was then smelled in the cockpit, too. The report added that after the pilots declared an emergency, their display screens were limited, and they had some difficulty communicating with air traffic control. Friday’s lawsuit, filed in the Nevada District Court, says that the cabin was filled with smoke and became “extraordinarily hot”. It adds that passengers were also subjected to “the violent impact of the landing” after tires exploded and landing gear collapsed. Emergency services came onto the runway to extinguish the fire. The 190 passengers and seven crew were evacuated via the air stairs and took a bus to the terminal, a Frontier spokesperson previously told Business Insider. They added that nobody was injured. The lawsuit says that before evacuating, passengers were “held on a sweltering smoke-filled aircraft for nearly an hour”. The NTSB’s report said the pilots began the emergency evacuation checklist but firefighters told them the fire was extinguished and the smoke was eliminated.<br/>
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UK budget carrier EasyJet is to extend pilot-training operations to Amsterdam, and increase its capabilities at London Gatwick and Milan in order to support fleet expansion. The carrier has 347 aircraft and expects this figure to reach just under 400 by the end of fiscal 2027-28. EasyJet is replacing its Airbus A319s and some of its older A320s. The carrier has 299 aircraft on order – comprising 168 A321neo and 131 A320neo models – which take its delivery stream out to 2034. It states that it will broaden its partnership with simulation specialist CAE, with two additional simulators at Gatwick and one in Milan. But it will also open training operations at Amsterdam with a pair of simulators dedicated to EasyJet. The carrier says the extra capabilities will become operational from winter 2025.<br/>
Absence of competition on Israeli-US routes has spurred a group of hi-tech corporate interests to set up an alternative air transport operation for the first quarter of 2025. The operation, which has been branded TechAir, involves leasing or chartering a widebody aircraft – the current proposal is a wet-leased Boeing 777 – to serve the Tel Aviv-Newark sector. Newly-published registration documentation from the group indicates that flights are intended to commence on 5 January. But the group cautions that flights are “not final” and will depend on reaching a 35% booking level, and securing commitments for sufficient ticket revenues. The idea emerged after several foreign carriers suspended flights to Tel Aviv as the Gaza conflict triggered regional instability, airspace closures, and broad uncertainty in the market. Flag-carrier El Al has benefited from the situation, with the lack of alternative carriers driving strong demand for its services. El Al has posted healthy profits over the course of this year. But the hi-tech corporate group says the “shortage” of US flights and high costs have prompted it to organise a “seasonal” route for January-March 2025. It aims to offer three flights per week – a total of 36 services over the quarter – operating overnight to Newark. While it has considered Airbsu A330-300s and Boeing 787s, the group states in its latest documentation that a 777 wet-lease is planned.<br/>
Israel's Bank Hapoalim POLI.TA said on Wednesday it was leading a group to finance El Al Israel Airlines ELAL.TA purchase of the carrier's 17th Boeing BA.N 787 Dreamliner aircraft. In the past, El Al - which has an all Boeing fleet - has used foreign banks to fund its aircraft procurements. But CFO Yancale Shahar said El Al sought to "support the Israeli economy and businesses in Israel, while deepening the involvement of Israeli banks in El Al's financing activities." Hapoalim, one of Israel's two largest banks, along with participation from Mizrahi Tefahot Bank MZTF.TA will lend El Al $120m for the purchase of its latest 787-9 aircraft. The loan is for 12 years with El Al able to use the funds within two years. "Bank Hapoalim will continue to provide credit to companies and entities in the economy to finance their business expansion," said Oren Cohen, the bank's head of corporate finance. El Al currently flies 12 Boeing 787-9s and four 787-8s and is expected to receive two more Dreamliner aircraft on lease in 2026. It also has signed an agreement to purchase three more Boeing 787-9 and has an option to purchase up to six more.<br/>
In 2023 Etihad Airways achieved a 45.3% improvement in passenger carbon intensity compared to its 2019 baseline. This resulted in a carbon intensity of 475 grams of CO₂ per Revenue Tonne Kilometer (RTK) for passengers. Etihad's strategy aims to reduce emissions through industry-specific actions, adhere to voluntary roadmaps and frameworks, collaborate with UAE's industrial partners, maintain transparency and proactivity on environmental issues, and continuously update its strategic targets. Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, said: "We remain focused on a strategy that supports change, growth, and economic development. We believe that sustainable aviation development is achieved through many small efforts combined. Our comprehensive and coordinated approach aims to decarbonise aviation and mitigate its negative impacts. Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels in aviation is extremely challenging and requires a complete industry redesign. This transformation will occur gradually over time. With air travel expected to continue growing, we are committed to balancing carbon reduction with commercial demand to meet future needs responsibly.”<br/>
Capital A Bhd posted a net profit of RM1.64bil for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3Q24), from a net loss of RM102.8mil in 3Q23. Capital A Bhd consists of Aviation Group and Capital A Companies, which are Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), Capital A Aviation Services (CAPAS), Teleport, MOVE Digital and Capital A International. In a statement, the group said its improved profitability in 3Q24 was mainly due to the foreign-exchange gain of RM2.3b from the appreciation of local currencies against the US dollar during the quarter. Capital A also saw a 17% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in its revenue to RM4.9bil in 3Q24, mainly attributed to the recovery in demand from both domestic and international travel. On its airline business, Capital A said the company delivered strong results in 3Q24 despite it being a seasonally slow quarter. Revenue increased by 15% y-o-y to RM4.5bil, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation surged by 50% y-o-y to RM577m.<br/>