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Air India Finds No Faults in Boeing 787 and 737 Fuel Control Switches

UAE Moments

22-07-2025

Business
UAE Moments

Air India Finds No Faults in Boeing 787 and 737 Fuel Control Switches

Air India has confirmed that all fuel control switch locking mechanisms on its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft are functioning properly, following a round of precautionary inspections sparked by safety concerns. The airline said the checks, which began voluntarily on July 12, revealed no faults or irregularities across its fleet. India's aviation regulator later directed all domestic airlines to follow suit, triggering similar inspections by international carriers and regulators. The inspections come as investigators continue to examine the deadly Air India crash that killed 241 of the 242 people onboard, along with 19 others on the ground. The focus of the probe has zeroed in on the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787 jetliner. These switches manage fuel flow to the engines and allow pilots to shut them off during ground operations or inflight emergencies. A preliminary report released earlier this month by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted the switches flipped from 'run' to 'cutoff' shortly after takeoff, leading to engine failure. The AAIB has stated, however, that it's too early to reach final conclusions. Citing past documentation, the report referenced a 2018 FAA advisory that urged operators of multiple Boeing aircraft, including the 787, to inspect fuel switch locking mechanisms to avoid accidental movements. Although Reuters reported that a cockpit recording suggested the captain may have cut fuel to the engines, the AAIB emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and a final report is expected within a year. Despite the broader probe, Air India maintains that its aircraft are safe. The airline uses Boeing 787s for its long-haul international routes and 737s through its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. Meanwhile, both Boeing and the FAA have reassured operators that the fuel switch locks remain safe, according to internal communications cited by Reuters.

This Airline Was Just Named the No. 1 Domestic Airline in the U.S. for 2025—and Travelers Call It 'Almost Like Flying Private'

Travel + Leisure

08-07-2025

Business
Travel + Leisure

This Airline Was Just Named the No. 1 Domestic Airline in the U.S. for 2025—and Travelers Call It 'Almost Like Flying Private'

Air travel is a modern marvel that still carries a trace of magic—how else can you get from Los Angeles to New York City in roughly five hours? The ability to wake up on one coastline and go to sleep on another is something we have come to expect, and certain domestic airlines make trips like that more enjoyable, thanks to their record for timeliness, safety, customer service, and amenities. The 2025 World's Best Awards survey asked Travel + Leisure readers to call out the domestic airlines they have come to trust and love, and these carriers rose to the top. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Airlines were specifically rated on the criteria below: Cabin comfort In-flight service Customer service Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. There was a clear winner in the ranking of best domestic airlines, with a lesser-known public charter company rising to the top, surpassing the No. 2 pick by more than 12 points. The public charter was the only one of its kind on the list, which included major U.S. airlines and a few established low-cost carriers. In regard to the "big four" U.S. airlines—American, Southwest, Delta, and United—Delta Air Lines was the only carrier to make the top 5, for the second year in a row, solidifying its standing among the nation's biggest domestic airlines. 'I always feel safe, comfortable and taken care of on Delta flights,' wrote one T+L reader in the survey, while another noted 'Delta consistently delivers good in-flight service, customer service, gate agents, digital infotainment, a wide variety of destinations both domestic and global, [and] good loyalty programs.' JSX A JSX jet on the tarmac. The fact that JSX scored in the 90s on the survey's 1-to-100 scale says a lot about the domestic carrier, which was also the No. 1 domestic airline in the 2024 World's Best Awards. JSX is a public charter airline that operates point-to-point flights. They primarily operate out of smaller airports where major airlines don't always go and have plenty of routes across the western U.S., with some connecting Florida and the East Coast and a few links to Mexico. As one T+L reader explained, flying JSX is 'almost like flying private. Friendly staff, easy check-in, help with boarding, luggage.' When you fly with JSX, you limit your time at the airport, checking in just 20 minutes before takeoff on most flights and walking through 'frictionless' TSA-approved security. On board, each guest is treated to business-class amenities and free Starlink Wi-Fi. 1. JSX Reader Score: 92.29 2. Hawaiian Airlines WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 79.92 3. Breeze Airways Reader Score: 78.63 4. Alaska Airlines WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 77.77 5. Delta Air Lines Reader Score: 77.34 6. JetBlue Airways WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 75.91 7. Southwest Airlines WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 74.63 8. United Airlines Reader Score: 70.66 9. American Airlines Reader Score: 67.86 10. Sun Country Airlines Reader Score: 66.81

Competition Bureau pushes for air travel changes as passengers face high costs and limited choice

CTV News

19-06-2025

Business
CTV News

Competition Bureau pushes for air travel changes as passengers face high costs and limited choice

Canadians appear on a "YYC" sign at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Monday, Oct. 10, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) A new report from Canada's Competition Bureau has called for significant reforms aimed at increasing competition in the domestic airline market, reducing airfare prices, and reining in government powers that could hinder a truly competitive environment. The news is promising for airline passengers like Kelsey Wokke who says she just spent $1,000 for a roundtrip flight between Vancouver and Calgary. 'That's absolutely crazy to me,' she said. 'So yes I do think there should be more competition in Canada's airline prices.' 'It's also interesting how if you look at the cost breakdown of your ticket, just how much of it isn't going to your actual flight and directly into airport fees instead. So finding ways to put that money elsewhere would be nice.' Released Thursday, the Competition Bureau's report on the air travel industry advocates for a 'leverage (of) international capital and experience to strengthen domestic competition,' including through raised ownership caps for investors outside Canada. Some of the highlights include recommending major reforms to rebalance the playing field. Among them: raising the cap for foreign ownership of airlines from 25 per cent to 49 per cent, and creating a new class of 'domestic-only Canadian airlines' that could be 100 per cent foreign-owned—a model already in use in Australia. Passengers bear the burden of fees The Competition Bureau also advocated for the Canadian aviation system to make changes to its 'user-pay' model, in which airlines and passengers cover the full costs of building and operating airports and navigation services. These fees account for 30 cents of every dollar passengers pay on traditional full-service airlines, and an even higher share on ultra-low-cost carriers. The breakdown includes: Fuel tax: 1 per cent Air travelers security charge: 3 per cent Nav Canada air navigation charges: 5 per cent Airport landing, terminal, and operational fees: 20 per cent Competition commissioner Matthew Boswell argues this fee structure disproportionately impacts travelers and new market entrants, adding to the challenge of fostering a more competitive and affordable domestic airline market. 'With the right policy changes, governments can create the conditions for new airlines to grow and compete – and give Canadians access to more affordable, reliable options for flights.' Independent aviation analyst Rick Erickson called the report one of the most thorough he's seen, but warned that 'we've heard this before.' 'The structural problem is we don't have enough secondary airports, which stifles new entrants,' he said. 'And the fee structure is nuts—aviation pays more than 100 per cent of its costs. Marine pays 10 per cent, Via Rail gets a subsidy, but aviation gets punished.' Erickson supports the idea of loosening foreign ownership rules. 'We've got to allow more entrants into the market. Full stop.' Nine per cent decrease in airfare for every new competitor added Research from the Competition Bureau shows that when just one new competitor flies on a route between two cities, airfares go down by nine per cent on average. Currently, two airlines—Air Canada and WestJet—handle between 56 and 78 per cent of domestic passenger traffic at Canada's major airports. Over time, they have divided the market geographically, with Air Canada dominating the east and WestJet the west, leading to diminished competition between them, the report notes. The Competition Bureau identifies part of the problem as a restrictive regulatory environment that limits international competitors. Restrictions on non-Canadian airlines operating domestic flights, along with caps on foreign investment, have hindered new and smaller players from entering the market—restrictions the Bureau believes could be eased to foster greater competition. Balanced regulation and consumer protection Gabor Lukacs, President of Air Passenger Rights, welcomed the report's push to reduce government intervention that has historically hindered competition. 'We are pleased that the Competition Bureau adopted our position on opening up domestic air travel to foreign competition and improving transparency around subsidies for remote routes,' Lukacs said. 'Importantly, the report recommends curtailing the minister's ability to override expert decisions on anti-competitive agreements between airlines. This creates a necessary balance between political interests and consumer protections.' Lukacs also highlighted challenges with the current Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), which airlines have frequently contested, driving up costs. 'The APPR has been a failure by design. Airlines complicate the claims process and litigate legitimate passenger complaints, inflating administrative costs,' he explained. 'The solution is to simplify the regulations, following the European gold standard, where passengers can quickly determine compensation eligibility and airlines comply with the law. We want profitable airlines that respect consumer rights, not those that profit by breaking the law.' 090324_flair Flair Airlines Captain Ken Symonds inspects the outside of one of the company's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, in Richmond, B.C., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Source: The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Opportunity in increased competition: Flair Eric Tanner, VP Commercial at Calgary-based Flair Airlines, welcomed the Competition Bureau's report but stressed that government action is essential. 'We know how difficult it is to compete in Canada's aviation market, dominated by entrenched legacy carriers, with high costs making travel more expensive than elsewhere,' Tanner said. He criticized the current 'user-pay' airport model and lack of oversight, noting, 'Airports here cost much more than in other parts of the world, and fees are unfairly structured to favour certain business models.' Tanner also highlighted that connecting passengers pay far less in fees than local travelers, calling this 'unacceptable,' and pointed out that Flair's customers often pay more in airport fees than those flying with Air Canada or WestJet. 'This report identifies the problems, but now we need government to turn these findings into policies that improve competition and make air travel more affordable for Canadians,' he said. Porter plane A Porter airplane lands in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Porter Airlines and Air Transat are announcing a joint venture as the two carriers look to expand their range of destinations and tap into each other's markets. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette 'Cautious support': Porter Porter Airlines highlighted its efforts to increase competition by expanding its fleet and route network across Canada since 2023. In an statement to CTV News, the airline says it 'sees value in several of the report's suggestions, such as opening international flights at Montreal Metropolitan Airport and exploring new aircraft technology at Billy Bishop Airport.' Porter supports raising foreign ownership limits to 49 per cent for a single shareholder but urges caution on broader foreign ownership and market access changes. The airline warns that allowing foreign carriers to operate domestic routes could disadvantage smaller airlines unless reciprocal access is guaranteed for Canadian airlines abroad—benefits that would mainly favor the largest, most established players. CTV News reached out to both WestJet and Air Canada for comment on the Competition Bureau's report and recommendations, but has not received a response.

Competition Bureau recommends more foreign investment, ownership of Canadian airlines