Historic “Flight for the Planet” combines the use of biofuel, zero-waste measures and carbon offsets to significantly minimize impact on the environment.
CHICAGO, June 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines, a longstanding leader among all global carriers in environmental sustainability, made history today – World Environment Day – with the departure of the Flight for the Planet, the most eco-friendly commercial flight of its kind in the history of aviation. On the Flight for the Planet, United became the first known airline to demonstrate all of the following key actions on a single commercial flight: utilization of sustainable aviation biofuel; zero cabin waste efforts; carbon offsetting; and operational efficiencies.
United is using the Flight for the Planet to evaluate key measures of flying as sustainably as possible using the airline’s current technology, resources and fuel-saving procedures. The flight departed from gate B12 at United’s hometown hub of Chicago O’Hare for its “eco-hub” in Los Angeles, where sustainable aviation biofuel has helped power all the airline’s flights from the Southern California hub since 2016.
“The historic Flight for the Planet showcases United’s philosophy of working together to find new and innovative ways to lead us into a more sustainable future,” said Scott Kirby, United’s president. “As an airline, we see our environment from a unique perspective every day and we know we must do our part to protect our planet and our skies.”
The Flight for the Planet further illustrates United’s commitment to its bold pledge to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2050.
FILE PHOTO: United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Oscar Munoz poses for pictures in his office at the company’s headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., November 14, 2018. Picture taken November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Tracy Rucinski
CHICAGO (Reuters) – United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz promised on Wednesday to accommodate any passengers concerned about flying Boeing Co’s 737 MAX jets once regulators deem the aircraft safe to fly again.
United is the only one of the three U.S. MAX operators to make such an announcement so far. Southwest Airlines Co, the world’s largest MAX operator, said on Wednesday discussions were still ongoing.
American Airlines Group Inc said on Wednesday “customers can be assured that our pilots would never operate an unsafe aircraft,” echoing other carriers’ insistence that safety is paramount to putting the globally grounded jets back in the air.
Still, following two fatal crashes of the MAX model within months, an Ethiopian Airlines jet in March after a Lion Air jet in October, Munoz said he wants customers to feel as comfortable as possible.
“If people need any kind of adjustments we will absolutely rebook them,” Munoz told reporters after the airline’s annual shareholders’ meeting.
Munoz said it was too soon to discuss whether Boeing would pick up the tab. None of the shareholders at the meeting questioned the company’s MAX plans. United is in the midst of a growth plan that has fuelled a 17% share rise over the past year.
Global regulators are meeting with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday to discuss Boeing’s proposed software fix and training updates for the MAX, which has been grounded since mid-March.
The timing of regulatory approval is still unclear, and Munoz said that is only the first step, with independent analysis and public and employee confidence critical in the Chicago-based airline’s strategy for eventually flying the jets again.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week showed U.S. fliers still value ticket prices over aircraft models when choosing flights, suggesting the crashes have had little impact on consumer sentiment.
The No. 3 U.S. airline by passenger traffic, which trades under parent company United Continental Holdings Inc, operates 14 MAX jets and has dozens more on order.
United, American and Southwest together have cancelled thousands of flights during the busy U.S. summer travel season and warned of hits to profits from the grounded MAX, which many airlines had rushed to buy thanks to the narrowbody’s higher fuel-efficiency and longer range.
Still, Munoz said he was not concerned about the timetable for a return to service.
“We have to fly this aircraft for a long period of time, so a week, a month, whatever is not that important,” Munoz said.
(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Phil Berlowitz)
CHICAGO, May 21 (Reuters) – Southwest Airlines Co’s mechanics union said on Tuesday its members had overwhelmingly voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement with the airline, ending seven years of labor negotiations fraught with legal disputes and flight disruptions.
The agreement came a day after rival U.S. carrier American Airlines Group Inc said it was filing a lawsuit against its own mechanics alleging an illegal slowdown aimed at disrupting operations to improve their position in labor talks, which began in 2015.
Analysts have highlighted labor issues as a main concern for airlines this year.
Mechanics at both American and Southwest have complained that the airlines are moving to outsource maintenance work that has traditionally been done in-house.
In a statement on its website, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents around 2,500 Southwest mechanics, said about 95 percent of its members had voted to accept the labor agreement.
Separately on Tuesday, American Airlines’ mechanics association said it was “ready and willing” to negotiate a fair contract.
“We would much prefer to be at the negotiating table than in a legal battle brought on by American,” the TWU-IAM Association said in a statement.
(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski Editing by Susan Thomas and Bill Berkrot)
FORT WORTH, Texas — As the busy summer travel period quickly approaches, American Airlines has announced changes to its policies regarding oversize sports and music equipment. American is eliminating oversize bag fees for common sports and music equipment, effective for travel on or after May 21. The updated policies, which will be music to the ears of musicians who fly on American, will also ensure that customers can more easily pursue active and healthy lifestyles wherever their travels may take them, without having to pay additional oversize bag fees.
Customers can check common oversize sports and music equipment as standard baggage, up to the maximum allowed dimensions and within the weight requirements. Refer to the full policy for additional information.
What you should know
• Based on feedback from our customers and American team members, American is eliminating the charge for common oversize sports and music equipment — up to the maximum size we accept for these items. The change is effective for travel on or after May 21. • American will accept these oversize items as a standard checked bag without an additional oversize charge. • The checked oversize bag counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers traveling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers traveling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50 lbs./62 in.). • Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee. • Additional allowances/restrictions may apply based on destination, class of service, elite status, active U.S. military members or AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American-operated itineraries). For more information, visit aa.com/checkedbags.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 1,000 destinations with about 14,250 daily flights to over 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index.
FILE PHOTO: An American Airlines Boeing 767-300ER aircraft takes off from Zurich Airport January 9, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
CHICAGO (Reuters) – American Airlines Group Inc said on Monday it has filed a lawsuit against two unions representing its mechanics, accusing the workers of an illegal slowdown aimed at disrupting operations to improve their position in prolonged labor talks.
In a statement, American said there had been 650 flight cancellations and more than 1,500 maintenance delays as a result of the alleged slowdown.
American has been in contract talks with the Transport Workers Union of America and the International Association of Machinists since 2015.
The unions did not immediately return a request for comment.
(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
MIRAMAR, Fla., May 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The savings and signature service has arrived in the Research Triangle! Today Spirit Airlines officially began service to and from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The airline’s signature yellow Airbus jets will now connect RDU to Baltimore/Washington, DC, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Chicago, and Orlando with nonstop flights. The new routes also create dozens of connections to other Spirit destinations in the United States, as well as the Caribbean and Latin America. Raleigh-Durham is Spirit’s third destination in the Tar Heel State, joining the Piedmont Triad and Asheville and will soon be joined by Charlotte on June 20.
“The time has finally arrived for us to begin serving the Research Triangle, and we are ready to do just that,” said Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines’ president and CEO. “With eight daily flights to some of our biggest destinations, and connections to many more, we believe our service and value will resonate in the Raleigh-Durham region. In less than a year, Spirit has gone from no footprint in the state to serving four destinations by June 20, and I want to thank North Carolinians for embracing us.”
“We are happy to welcome Spirit Airlines as the newest carrier connecting the Research Triangle community to the world,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “Spirit’s low fares and suite of nonstop destinations will add to the world-class airport experience business and leisure travelers expect from RDU.”
Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)
Starts:
Frequency:
Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC (BWI)
May 2, 2019
2x daily, year-round
Boston, MA (BOS)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Detroit, MI (DTW)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Orlando, FL (MCO)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
New Orleans, LA (MSY)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Chicago, IL (ORD)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Beyond next month’s launch in Charlotte, the airline will also be expanding on the West Coast, adding Burbank and Sacramento to its network. All three new cities will launch on June 20. Spirit’s growing route network comes with ongoing investments into its guest experience. The airline continues to rank among the top in on-time arrivals, baggage handling, and is in the process of installing high-speed Wi-Fi to its entire fleet.
About Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky while providing an extraordinary Guest experience. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows every Guest to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments – something we call À La Smarte. We make it possible for our Guests to venture farther, travel more often, and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet™ is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S. We operate more than 600 daily flights to 75 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and are dedicated to giving back and improving the communities we serve. Come save with us at spirit.com. At Spirit Airlines, we go. We go for you.
ATLANTA, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — ExpressJet Airlines, a United Express carrier, this week took delivery of its first of 25 new Embraer E175 aircraft in a handover ceremony at the Embraer factory and delivery center in São José dos Campos, Brazil.
“The delivery of our first E175 represents a significant milestone in ExpressJet’s growth as an exclusive United Express carrier,” said Chairman and CEO Subodh Karnik. “I want to express my gratitude to our partners at Embraer and United Airlines as well as to the ExpressJet employees who have worked tirelessly over the past six months to make this day a reality.”
ExpressJet will take delivery of new E175’s through the remainder of 2019. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) will serve as the airline’s first E175 base, with a second base location to be announced soon.
To support its E175 fleet growth, ExpressJet is hiring more than 600 new pilots in 2019. Pilots who sign on with ExpressJet can expect a quick selection process, an immediate class date, and to bid for flying within three months. Pilots interested in signing on with ExpressJet should apply at expressjet.com/pilots or airlineapps.com.
About ExpressJet Airlines ExpressJet Airlines operates as United Express, on behalf of United Airlines (UAL), to serve more than 100 airports across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with over 3,300 weekly flights from bases in Chicago, Cleveland, Houston and Newark. ExpressJet’s fleet includes more than 110 Embraer ERJ145 and Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, with 25 new Embraer E175’s being added in 2019. ExpressJet pilots enjoy top-tier pay and quality of life and a career path to United Airlines. ExpressJet is a subsidiary of ManaAir, LLC. For further information, contact 404-856-1199, corpcomm@expressjet.com.
FILE PHOTO: A United Express Embraer ERJ-175LR airplane is pictured at Vancouver’s international airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, February 5, 2019. REUTERS/Ben Nelms
(Reuters) – United Airlines on Tuesday reported a better-than-expected jump in first-quarter profit as it sold more tickets and cut costs, standing by its 2019 profit target even as its Boeing Co 737 MAX jets remain grounded.
Chicago-based United has removed its 14 MAX aircraft, which were suspended worldwide in March following two fatal crashes, from its flying schedule through early July, eating into U.S. airlines’ peak summer travel season.
Still, the airline’s parent United Continental Holdings Inc reiterated its estimate for adjusted earnings of $10 to $12 per share in 2019, and said its strategy for scheduling more flights out of its hubs was continuing to win customers.
Adjusted earnings per share rose to $1.15 in the first quarter, ending March 31, from 49 cents a year earlier, overcoming a U.S. government shutdown and severe winter weather earlier this year that curtailed flights.
Wall Street analysts on average had forecast 95 cents per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
Its shares rose 2.8 percent in after-hours trading.
United has largely avoided cancelling MAX flights by servicing those routes with larger aircraft, but President Scott Kirby warned last week that the strategy could not last indefinitely.
The airline, which has been adding seats at a faster pace than rivals, trimmed its 2019 capacity growth target to between 4 percent and 5 percent from 4 percent to 6 percent previously, but did not say whether the decision reflected the effect of the grounded MAX.
Total operating revenue rose 7.1 percent to $8.73 billion in the quarter, while closely watched revenue per available seat mile rose 1.1 percent.
In the second quarter, United said it expects unit revenue to rise between 0.5 percent and 2.5 percent while unit costs, which fell 1.8 percent in the first quarter, were expected to be flat to 1 percent higher.
The No. 3 U.S. carrier is the first of three U.S. 737 MAX operators to report first-quarter results. Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group Inc, which have removed their MAX jets from schedules into August, report on April 25 and April 26 respectively.
A Federal Aviation Administration review board said on Tuesday that it found a Boeing software update for the MAX to be “operationally suitable,” suggesting the lengthy regulatory process to get the planes back in the air was underway.
Rival Delta Air Lines Inc, which does not operate the 737 MAX, lifted its 2019 revenue forecast last week after reporting better-than-expected quarterly profit.
(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Bill Rigby)
United Airlines is planning to reveal its long-awaited new livery on April 24th at a United maintenance hangar at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Little is known so far about the details of United’s new paint job, except that it will display a new and expanded brand color palette the carrier introduced in August of 2018.
United stated at the time that the unifying brand color going forward would be “Rhapsody Blue,” a dark navy color named in honor of United’s longstanding signature brand music, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The color details revealed also specified a lighter “United Blue”, even lighter “Sky Blue,” and a “Premium Purple,” shade currently being used in United’s new Premium Plus international premium economy cabin.
The new United livery is one of several major brand changes the airline has been making in recent years, along with a new Polaris International business class, Polaris lounges, uniforms with new color palettes, and a redesigned mobile app.
The moves in a new direction have come after the infamous incidents of a man being dragged from his seat two years ago, and a pet being forced into the overhead luggage bin where it died in-flight tarnished United’s brand image.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the debut of the Boeing South Carolina Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner in North Charleston, South Carolina, U.S., February 17, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
WASHINGTON
(Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged Boeing Co to
fix and “rebrand” its 737 MAX jetliner following two fatal crashes, as
regulators worldwide continue to work with the planemaker to review its
grounded best-selling aircraft.
The
Federal Aviation Administration has been meeting major airlines and
convened a joint review with aviation regulators from other countries,
while federal prosecutors, the U.S. Department of Transportation
inspector general’s office and a blue-ribbon panel are reviewing the
plane’s certification.
In
an early-morning post on Twitter, Trump, who owned the Trump Shuttle
airline from 1989 to 1992 and is an aviation enthusiast, weighed in with
his own advice.
“What
do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!),
but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some
additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name. No
product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?”
Trump tweeted.
The
plane’s grounding has also threatened the U.S. summer travel season,
with some airlines removing the 737 from their schedules through August.
Trump
issued the tweet as Boeing tries to restore trust in its
fastest-selling jet, the main source of profits and cash at the
Chicago-based planemaker which has won some 5,000 orders or around seven
years of production for the aircraft.
Chief
Executive Dennis Muilenburg has apologised on behalf of Boeing for
lives lost in two recent accidents and promised that it would address
the risk that flight software meant to prevent the plane stalling could
be activated by wrong data.
Boeing
has also held dozens of briefings and simulator sessions for airline
executives and pilots and held worldwide meetings with airline branding
and communications staff.
Pilots
are expected to play a major role in regaining public confidence in the
aircraft, but Trump’s tweet marks the first time the brand underpinning
Boeing profits in coming years has been thrown into question at a high
level.
Brand
Finance, a UK-based consultancy that tracks the value of global brands,
rejected the idea that Boeing should abandon the MAX brand but said its
corporate reputation was in the firing line.
“This
has without a doubt damaged Boeing’s reputation and we foresee a dent
to the (Boeing) brand’s value at over $12 billion (£9 billion),” Chief
Executive David Haigh said by email when asked about Trump’s comments.
“This
is a temporary blip in the long run for Boeing,” he said, adding Toyota
and others had recovered from similar high-profile crises without a
drastic rebranding exercise.
Brand
Finance had previously estimated the damage to the value of Boeing’s
reputation at $7.5 billion immediately after the March 10 crash of an
Ethiopian Airlines jetliner, the second fatal accident involving the 737
MAX in five months.
Boeing
has the world’s most valuable aerospace brand, having seen the value of
its overall corporate image rise by 61 percent to $32 billion in 2018,
according to the same branding firm.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey, Tim Hepher; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Toby Chopra)
