Security officials at Cairo airport were horrified when the search of a 22-year old passenger’s carry-on revealed live snakes, baby crocodiles, and chameleons. Transporting live reptiles out of the country is illegal in Egypt and the animals were confiscated. The Saudi man claims he was unaware of the ban and was transporting the reptiles for scientific research.
Noise complaints about Boston’s Logan airport increased by 25% this July over the same period last year. In November of last year, Logan opened a new runway which was supposed to reduce delays and decrease noise. Not only is noise up, but one in three flights landed late in the first half of this year. A Massport spokesman said an unusually long period of northwest winds through June accounted for the increase use of the new runway. Those winds are typically prevalent from November through March. However, this argument appears not to be verified by independent meteorologists.
The airport in Lexington, KY were 49 people were killed in Comair crash last year has added new markings to lead pilots to the correct runway. While all the markings at the airport were in compliance, the National Transportation Safety Board attributed the flight crew’s failure to spot clues to their location as a contributing factor to the crash. They recommended adding enhanced markings to all taxiways and runways at commercial airports. While crashes are horrible losses of human life, we must remember that we are all safer in the sky due to the lessons learned from them.
Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona appears to be changing its name to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Allegiant Airlines claims their agreement to serve the airport is predicated on the name change. The vote on the subject does not actually take place until next month. The change is facing opposition from those who worked or were stationed at Williams Air Force Base, closed in 1994. The airport has been receiving pressure to include Phoenix in its name since 2001 as a marketing tool. One wonders why they don’t rename it Phoenix/Mesa-Williams Airport. Is anyone attached to the word Gateway?
American Eagle has announced twice daily service to Sarasota/Bradenton and Miami on December 13th. Service will be operated using 64-seat ATR72 turboprops.
Expressjet announced a new route out of Bakersfield, CA. Service to Sacramento will begin on September 9th. The flight will continue on to Spokane, WA. Expressjet will also add daily nonstop service from Tucson to El Paso on the same day. The plane will continue on to LA/Ontario Airport, which will complement the existing nonstop service between Ontario and El Paso.
According to Today in the Sky, Jetblue has raised its change fee to $35 online, $45 when made by phone. The hike took effect on all bookings made on or after July 3rd.
They also report that Delta will end service between Atlanta and Huntington, West Virginia on August 20th, surprising the airport, who was unaware of the seasonal nature of the service. The airport already spent $50,000 in advertising to promote the flight. Delta will continue to fly to Cincinnati.
American Eagle will inaugurate nonstop service from Savannah to Miami once daily, using its 64-seat ATR72 turboprops effective December 13th.
Delta will add two daily nonstops between Yuma, Arizona and Salt Lake City, Utah. Service will be operated by Skywest, using 50-seat CRJs beginning December 17th.
Frontier has appointed former chief operating officer Sean Menke as its new president and chief executive following the departure of current CEO Jeff Potter. Menke left the company in 2005 for Air Canada.
A 25-pound landing gear door fell off a United commuter jet above suburban Maryland. The debris was initially mistaken for UFO debris. The flight was not in any danger, and the debris miraculously did not hit a single house. The FAA is investigating.
Over Wisconsin, a Northwest DC-9 shed a two-foot long flap, which landed in someone’s backyard, again with no injuries. The plane was grounded in Madison when the flap was discovered.