The US FAA has concluded an enhanced review of Southwest Airlines Co. after finding no “significant safety issues,” the agency said in a statement. The aviation safety regulator in July launched the audit after a series of flight mishaps at the carrier, including a plane that plunged to within 400 feet of the ocean off the coast of Hawaii and another in which an aircraft took off from a closed runway. Following the incidents, Southwest required all of its pilots to undergo additional training at its Dallas headquarters. “Southwest Airlines appreciates the opportunity to engage with the FAA as part of our mutual dedication to safety,” the carrier said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.” The FAA also recently closed a separate review of United Airlines Holdings Inc., after finding no significant safety issues with that carrier. <br/>
unaligned
Frontier Airlines is trying to entice travelers with its latest “all you can fly” deal. The airline announced the “GoWild!” pass which offers unlimited flights for just $299 a year — for a limited time only. “The GoWild! Pass is perfect for spontaneous adventurers, budget-savvy travelers, and anyone dreaming of limitless journeys,” Bobby Schroeter, CCO of Frontier Airlines, said in a press release on Tuesday. The deal is only available to the first 5,000 customers who sign up during the pre-sale, which ends on December 18 at 11:59 p.m. MST. After that, the price will increase to $499. To be eligible, pass holders must be 18 years or older, U.S. residents and members of Frontier Miles, the airline’s loyalty program. If you aren’t a member, you’ll be automatically enrolled when you sign up. After buying the “GoWild!” pass, travelers can book tickets on select Frontier flights for a penny. However, they must also pay any taxes and fees associated with the airfare. There are other restrictions worth noting when buying into the deal: the pass holder cannot reserve seats, and the fare doesn’t include a carry-on or checked baggage.<br/>
A recent ruling by the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal is a win for air travellers, an airline industry watchdog said. WestJet passenger Paul David Reshaur took the airline to the tribunal, asking for compensation for missing a flight due to airline delays. WestJet argued that the tribunal should refuse to hear the dispute because it was outside of its jurisdiction. Reshaur was scheduled to fly from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Winnipeg, with a stopover in Calgary. Due to the delays, he said he was out of pocket $10,192.72, including $1,000 in compensation for the delayed flight under the Airline Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), $192.72 for expenses from the delay, broken down as $25 for an evening meal, $15.21 for dog food, $152.51 for a hotel, $4,000 in damages related to an alleged delay in unloading his dog, Moe, in Calgary and $5,000 in general and aggravated damages for the way WestJet handled his and other passengers’ APPR claims. WestJet denied liability for any of the claimed compensation. The tribunal ruled that, “WestJet does not point to any matters in this dispute that would require any technical or specialized expertise about the aviation industry to resolve.” As a result, the tribunal ruled that WestJet is ordered to pay Reshaur a total of $1,395.28. That includes $1,000 in debt, $192.72 in damages, $115.06 in pre-judgment interest under the COIA, and $87.50 for CRT fees.<br/>
Italian flagship carrier ITA Airways and Iceland’s national airline Icelandair have established a new codeshare agreement, flagging a significant boost in European air travel connectivity. The partnership, set to commence on 20 January 2025, will create seamless travel opportunities across both airlines’ networks. The historic agreement was formalized at ITA Airways’ Rome Fiumicino headquarters during a signing ceremony attended by key executives from both airlines. This collaboration represents ITA Airways’ 37th codeshare partnership, highlighting the company’s remarkable growth since its establishment just over three years ago.<br/>
Aer Lingus’s first Airbus A321XLR has been flown to Dublin from the airframer’s Hamburg Finkenwerder plant – one of two being transferred to the Irish capital on the same day. The airline had originally been poised to be the first operator to receive the long-range twinjet variant. But this plan was subsequently shelved after the IAG-owned carrier ran into problems trying to secure a pilot labour agreement and structural changes. IAG’s Spanish airline Iberia instead became the first to introduce the XLR, taking delivery of its initial jet at the end of October. The first Aer Lingus aircraft (EI-XLR) was flown to Dublin on 18 December, touching down on runway 28 at around 14:10.<br/>It is also set to receive EI-XLT during the evening. Both jets are powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines. Aer Lingus has indicated that it will use the long-range capabilities of the aircraft to serve such US destinations as Minneapolis, Nashville and Indianapolis.<br/>
A Calgary woman wants the airline WestJet to apologize to her daughter and to improve staff training on accessibility after an incident during their latest trip. When Karin Cosgrove and her 19-year-old daughter Natalie returned home from Cancun on Friday, she said Natalie's wheelchair was not brought to the gate despite tags indicating it would be. "It was just really heartbreaking for me as the parent to witness that, as Natalie can't advocate for herself," Cosgrove said. She said when they asked for help from WestJet staff, they didn't get any; instead, an employee told her, "WestJet doesn't do that." "That was a pretty big shock to me because we've flown with WestJet numerous times, and they've always done that," Cosgrove said. Natalie also requires other medical equipment, which was in carry-on luggage. Her mom says she had to move all the bags and her teenager off the plane and through part of the airport to find and set up the wheelchair herself. "I had to gather Natalie up, and we literally shimmied our way up the ramp. They didn't offer any help getting us up the ramp; they didn't offer any help when we got up the ramp," she said. In 2024, the Canadian Transportation Agency closed seven cases involving wheelchair complaints, including three where it determined airlines contravened the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations. Passengers can seek human-rights compensation, and airlines can be ordered to pay fines.<br/>
Iraq’s civil aviation regulator has postponed a planned on-site assessment by European safety authorities until at least the third quarter of next year. The country’s flag-carrier, Iraqi Airways, remains on the European Commission blacklist to which it was added in December 2015. Iraqi Airways has been striving to secure the lifting of the blacklist ban on its operations, one which also affects Fly Baghdad following its inclusion late last year. The Commission says a technical meeting the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority was held in October, with participation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, during which the Iraqi regulator presented updates on its measures to improve oversight. It has been implementing alignment recommendations on flight operations and personnel licensing, while its measures have also included using a consultancy to support regulatory development. The Commission says the regulator has “made progress” in addressing “resource gaps”, with recruitment of additional inspectors. It has also initiated development of a state safety programme and is updating rulemaking procedures in such areas as fatigue risk. But while the Commission acknowledges the effort, implementation of these updates remains “incomplete”, it states in documentation accompanying its latest blacklist revision.<br/>
The US Department of Labor has ordered Asia Pacific Airlines (Guam) to pay more than US$2m in wages, damages, and legal fees to a pilot disciplined, suspended, and eventually sacked for raising aircraft safety concerns. The department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ordered Asia Pacific Airlines to pay their former employee US$419,267 in back pay plus interest, eight years of future salary, US$27,596 in interest on loans and restoration of 401k contributions, US$75,000 in damages, and reasonable attorney fees. In addition, it was ordered to expunge the employee’s record and provide training to current employees on their rights. A three-year investigation found that the pilot, Captain Brant Swigart, repeatedly raised concerns that the cargo carrier's maintenance team was approving maintenance and repair reports without properly diagnosing engine problems.<br/>