United Airlines sends dog to Japan instead of Kansas

United Airlines claims it’s investigating after the airline mistakenly flew a dog to Japan instead of Kansas. 

Kara Swindle and her two children took a United flight from Oregon to Kansas City, Missouri on Tuesday this week.  They arrived at the cargo facility to pick up their 10-year-old German shepherd called Irgo. However, A German Shepard was not what they were given,  the airline tried to force them to take a Great Dane instead.

It turns out that Irgo had been put on a flight to Japan, where the Great Dane was supposed to go. Instead of giving the dog a rest after such a gruelling journey upon arrival in Japan, or allow it to stretch its legs and exercise, Irgo was put on a flight back to Kansas City.

This comes just a day after United cabin crew forced a passenger to put a dog - that was in an airline approved carrier - into the overhead luggage lockers where it died.

❗This article was written for this site by a member of our team 🙋, please do share it with your friends via social media. You are also welcome to post it or republish elsewhere on the 🌎web on the condition that you credit the author and link back to our site. Thank you.

 ♻ We care about the environment, please think twice before you hit ‘print’  

United Airlines Cabin Crew Cause Dogs Death

INSTAGRAM/ KOKITO_THE_SAVAGE

The American mega-carrier, United Airlines has taken "full responsibility" for the death of a dog during one of its flights after a member of the crew demanded it be put in an overhead luggage locker.

"This was a tragic accident that should never have happened," the airline claims, however, better staff training would have prevented this animals death from occurring. 

The dog, named Kokito, was a French bulldog and sadly died in a distressed state during a flight from Houston to New York on Monday this week.

Eleven-year-old Sophie Ceballos, received Kokito for her birthday, said Kokito had barked during the flight and that "there was a lot of turbulence".

"My mom was like, 'It's a dog, it's a dog,'" the girl told NBC New York. "And [the flight attendant] said, 'You have to put it up there.'"

Following a briefing from bosses, the attendant later said she did not know a dog was in the airline-approved pet carrier.

Finnair adds frequencies to Japan and Europe for the upcoming winter season

Finnair has today announced that it will be adding frequencies to some of its popular destinations for the 2018/2019 winter season. 

Finnair’s additional frequencies for the winter season include:

Tokyo - Two additional weekly frequencies between October 28 and December 5 for a total of nine Finnair weekly flights. Including the joint business flights with Japan Airlines, Finnair will offer up to 16 weekly frequencies to Tokyo.  

Nagoya - One additional weekly frequency between October 29 and December 4 for a total of six weekly flights  

Lisbon - One additional weekly frequency on Mondays for a total of four weekly flights during the entire winter season  

Alicante - Now a year-round route for Finnair with two new weekly frequencies on Thursdays and Sundays during the winter season 

Malaga - One additional weekly frequency on Wednesdays during December and January for a total of 7 weekly flights 

Geneva - Two additional weekly frequencies on Mondays and Fridays between January and March for a total of 13 weekly flights 

Finnair flies between Asia, Europe and North America with an emphasis on fast connections via Helsinki, carrying more than ten million passengers annually. In 2018, Finnair's extensive network connects 19 cities in Asia and 7 cities in North America with over 100 destinations in Europe. 

The airline, a pioneer in sustainable flying, was the first European airline to fly the next-generation, eco-smart Airbus A350 XWB aircraft and it is the first airline listed in the Leadership Index of the worldwide Carbon Disclosure Project. 

The only Nordic carrier with a 4-star Skytrax ranking, Finnair has also won the World Airline Award for Best Airline Northern Europe for the past seven years running. Finnair is a member of oneworld, the alliance of the world's leading airlines committed to providing the highest level of service and convenience to frequent international travellers.

Finnair adds frequencies to

Japan and Europe for the upcoming winter season

Welcome to the 10000th Boeing 737

Thousands of Boeing employees gathered at the company's Renton, Wash. factory yesterday to celebrate the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line. With this aeroplane, a 737 MAX 8 for Southwest Airlines, the 737 has broken the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most produced commercial jet aircraft model.

"This incredible milestone is a testament to the work we do every day to build the most reliable and efficient single-aisle aeroplane in the world," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Kevin McAllister. "It represents more than 50 years of success and achievement on the part of thousands of Boeing employees past and present, our supplier partners, and our airline customers around the globe who put their confidence in the 737."

The 737 previously held this GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title in 2006 for the 5,000th aeroplane to come out of the Renton factory, a mark that took almost four decades to reach. Due to growing market demand and higher production rates, the 737 program reached the 10,000th aeroplane milestone only 12 years later.

"The speed at which Boeing achieved this new milestone is very impressive," said Michael Empric, official adjudicator for GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS. "We are excited to once again recognize the 737 and the important role it plays in commercial aviation." 

Horizon Air Group Rebranding as Leviate

Horizon Air Group has made remarkable strides during its foundational years, having acquired Word Class Jet (dba Starbase Jet) last summer and now rebranding itself as LEVIATE. As the company has expanded, it has developed into one of the only business aviation companies with fully dedicated air charter brokerage, aircraft sales and acquisitions, and FAA air carrier divisions all under one roof.  

Initially started as a boutique air charter brokerage, company leadership had not expected such rapid growth, nor developing into an FAA certified air carrier.  The entry into aircraft operations even garnered the direct attention of $2 billion aviation giant Alaska Airlines over their abandoned use name. 

Hawaiian Airlines Updates Expected First Quarter and Full Year 2018 Metrics

Hawaiian Airlines, has updated its expectations for certain first quarter and full year 2018 financial metrics.  The Company has also retrospectively recast certain prior period financial results in accordance with its adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard.

Allegiant reports preliminary passenger traffic results for February 2018.

Allegiant Travel Company reported preliminary passenger traffic results for February 2018, last week and here are the details.

The Las Vegas-based carrier is focused on linking travellers in small and mid-sized to world-class leisure destinations. The airline offers industry-low fares on an all-jet fleet while also offering other travel-related products such as hotel rooms and rental cars. All can be purchased only through the company website, Allegiant.com. Beginning with one aircraft and one route in 1999, the company has grown to more than 80 aircraft and 350 routes across the country with base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic roundtrip ticket. 

Alaska Air Group reports February 2018 operational results

Alaska Air Group today reported February operational results on a consolidated basis, for its mainline operations operated by subsidiaries Alaska Airlines Inc. (Alaska) and Virgin America Inc. (Virgin America), and for its regional flying operated by subsidiary Horizon Air Industries Inc. (Horizon) and third-party regional carriers SkyWest Airlines and Peninsula Airlines.

On Jan. 11, 2018, Alaska and Virgin America consolidated their operations onto a Single Operating Certificate (SOC). Results for Alaska and Virgin America have been combined into a single mainline operation.

Porter Airlines Flight PD1480 Emergency Landing

(C-GLQG)

The passengers and crew of Porter Airlines flight PD1480 had a frantic few moments after an electrical fire in the cabin forced the Q400's crew to make an emergency landing at Fredericton Airport, New Brunswick.

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Halifax airport on Saturday 10th March, the airline says that all 72 passengers and crew safely vacated the aircraft on the ground at Halifax

Flightradar24 tracked the flight path of C-GLQG. 

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has deployed a team of investigators following the diversion to the Fredericton Airport by the Porter aircraft. The TSB have said their team will gather information and assess the occurrence.

Porter Airlines flew a replacement aircraft from Toronto's Billy Bishop airport to pick up the stranded passengers and fly them on to their destination - Montreal.

Read on for Porter Airlines response -

Cargojet Announces Strong Fourth Quarter and Year End Results

"We are very pleased with the strong financial results

 achieved in the fourth quarter," 

Cargojet announced this week its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

For the Fourth Quarter Ended December 31, 2017:

Total Revenues were $118.2 million, an increase of $24.1 million or 25.6% versus the previous year
Gross Margin was $37.4 million, an increase of $9.9 million or 36.0% versus the previous year
Adjusted EBITDA was $37.3 million, an increase of $9.4 million or 33.7% versus the previous year
Adjusted EBITDAR was $40.1 million, an increase of $7.8 million or 24.1% versus the previous year

For the Year Ended December 31, 2017:

Total Revenues were $382.9 million, an increase of $51.9 million or 15.7% over the previous year
Gross Margin was $106.3 million, an increase of $20.5 million or 23.9% versus the previous year
Adjusted EBITDA was $109.5 million, an increase of $16.4 million or 17.6% versus the previous year
Adjusted EBITDAR was $122.9 million, an increase of $9.6 million or 8.5% versus the previous year

Azul Reports February Traffic

Azul the largest airline in Brazil by the number of destinations and departures, announced last week its preliminary traffic results for February 2018.

Passenger traffic (RPKs) increased 16.3% compared to February 2017 on a capacity increase (ASKs) of 15.2%. As a result, load factor was 80.1%, 0.8 percentage points higher than in the same period last year.

Year to date we continue to be the number one on-time airline in Brazil, with an on-time arrival rate of 86.08% according to FlightStats. 

Boeing, Turkish Airlines Finalize Deal for Up to 30 787 Dreamliners

Boeing and Turkish Airlines announced they have finalized a firm order for 25 787-9 Dreamliners with options for five more aeroplanes. The firm order will allow Turkey's flag carrier to further meet the growing demand at its home airport, Istanbul's third airport, and improve the flying experience for passengers.

Boeing and Turkish Airlines announced they have finalized a firm order for 25 787-9's.
 This rendering shows the aircraft in the carrier's livery. (Boeing illustration)

With this firm order – first announced as a commitment last September – Turkish Airlines becomes the 71st customer to buy the 787.  Together, these customers have now ordered more than 1,300 Dreamliners, the fastest-selling twin-aisle aeroplane in Boeing history.

Hainan Airlines Launch Changsha - London Route

Hainan Airlines have announced they plan to launch a new non-stop service between London Heathrow Airport and Changsha Huanghua International Airport on 23rd March 2018.  The new service follows the roll-out of the Manchester-Beijing service and will be Hainan Airlines' second direct flight between the United Kingdom and China.

Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, is the political, economic, cultural and technological hub of the province, and one of China's famous historical cities. Yuelu Academy, Orange Island Park and Aiwan Pavilion are all must-see destinations. Unique Hunan cuisine also lets diners indulge in pleasures without stop.

49 Dead in Nepal Plane Crash

A Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 carrying 71 passengers and crew has crashed whilst landing at Nepal's Kathmandu airport, killing 49 people, according to police.

Rescuers raced to the scene and pulled bodies from the charred wreckage of the aircraft as a row has broken out between the airport and the airline.  The airline US-Bangla, from Bangladesh, has blamed air traffic control, however, according to reports, the airport claims the aircraft approached the airfield from the wrong direction.

The exact cause of the crash remains unclear, however, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli promised an immediate investigation.  A recording of a conversation between air traffic control and the pilot shortly before the plane crashed seems to indicate some misunderstandings over which end of the runway the flight was cleared for landing on.  Moments before the plane crash-landed, an air traffic controller is heard in the recording leaked to the media by air traffic control, telling the pilot: "I say again, turn!"

According to local media, the Director General of the Nepalese Air Traffic Control, Sanjiv Gautam said "The aircraft was permitted to land from the southern side of the runway flying over Koteshwor, but it landed from the northern side,"

"We are yet to ascertain the reason behind the unusual landing."

However, Imran Asif,  chief executive of US-Bangla Airlines firmly blamed Kathmandu air traffic control. "There were wrong directions from the tower. Our pilot was not at fault," adding, "Our pilot is an instructor of this Bombardier aircraft. His flight hours are over 5,000. There was a fumble from the control tower."

From initial reports, it appears that the aircraft struck an airport perimeter fence before impacting with the ground.  Twenty-two people are being treated in hospital for injuries according to police spokesperson Manoj Neupane.  The aircraft was operating a flight the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka to Kathmandu.

It is now known that 33 of the passengers were Nepalis, 32 were Bangladeshi, one was Chinese and one was from the Maldives. Many of the 22 people injured and described as being in a critical condition.

Read on for details of recent air crashes in Nepal

Interjet expands reach with full content distribution on the Sabre GDS

Sabre the leading technology provider to the global travel industry, announced that Interjet, one of Mexico's leading carriers offering excellent service at reasonable prices has signed a long-term distribution agreement to offer its full content on the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).

Headquartered in Mexico City, Interjet serves over 12 million passengers each year with routes in Mexico as well as the United States, Canada and Central and South America providing air service to 54 destinations in eight countries, with a fleet of 80 aircraft and revenue of more than US$1 billion. The new distribution agreement expands the airline's reach to more than 425,000 travel agents worldwide while allowing Sabre's corporate, leisure and online travel agency subscribers to deliver even more choice and value to their travellers. Full content from Interjet was released globally on September 21, 2017 to travel agencies.