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Climate protests in Australia force ship to abandon arrival at coal port. 11 people charged
On Saturday, a climate-change demonstration off the coast of Australia forced a ship inbound to return from one of Australia's biggest terminals for coal imports. This led to 11 arrests. The police in New South Wales said that those arrested at the protest near Port of Newcastle, located 170 km from Sydney, the capital of the state, were accused of "alleged maritime-related offenses". According to the state, the port is Australia's largest bulk shipping facility on the east coast. Port of Newcastle spokesperson stated that one vessel had been prevented from entering, but "shipping will continue to be carried out as planned". Rising Tide, an activist group for climate change, said that a coal-burning ship was forced to abandon its arrival when kayakers, small boats and swimmers were seen entering the shipping channel. Rising Tide, who carried out a similar demonstration last year, released a statement. Climate change is an issue that divides Australians, as coal and iron ore are the top commodities exported.
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Japan's ANA cancels a total of 65 flights this Saturday following the Airbus A320 Recall
ANA Holdings says that it has cancelled 65 flights after the Airbus A320 was recalled, forcing it to ground aircraft. Airbus single-aisle aircraft such as the A320 are the most popular in Japan, and the carrier is one of the largest operators, with Peach Aviation and other affiliates. ANA's main rival, Japan Airlines, is a Boeing-only carrier and does not operate the A320. The recall of Airbus A320 jets affects over half of its global fleet, including the A320 family, which is the backbone of Asian aviation for short-haul flights, especially in China and India. About 11,300 single-aisle aircraft are in service worldwide, including 6,440 A320s. Fixing the problem involves going back to older software. Although relatively easy, this must be done before planes are able to fly again. Asiana Airlines, a South Korean airline, said that only 17 aircraft were affected by the recall. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue, Maki Shiraki and Tim Kelly)
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American Airlines reduces the number of Airbus jets that need software fixes to 209
American Airlines announced on Friday that it expected some operational delays as a result of a major software update on a large number of Airbus A320 aircraft. Initially, the airline said the problem affected about 340 aircraft. American Airlines has confirmed that only 209 A320 aircraft in the A320 family are affected. This is down from over 340 originally identified. American announced in a press release that as of 6 pm CT (0000 GMT), less than 150 aircraft remained to be updated. The airline anticipates that the majority of updates will be completed over night, leaving only a few for Saturday. Airbus, based in Europe, ordered a software update for a large number of its A320 jets. (Reporting from AnshumanTripathy and RajveerSinghPardesi in Bengaluru, and David Shepardson at Washington; editing by Vijay Kishore & Stephen Coates).
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After a brief stopover due to a bomb threat, flights to Philadelphia International are now able resume.
According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and the police, flights to Philadelphia International Airport were temporarily grounded due to a threat of a bomb. The incident was resolved without incident. Soon after 7 pm local time (00:00 GMT), the FAA issued an advisory to ground staff at the airport, stating that there was a threat of a bomb. The FAA announced that the incident had been resolved and normal operations were resumed about 30 minutes after the initial announcement. A police spokesperson stated in an email that the ground stoppage occurred because of a "situation aboard the plane that required the assistance from the Philadelphia Police." The spokesperson confirmed that the plane is now cleared to take off and the ground blockage has been lifted. There were reports earlier in the month of bomb threats made at other U.S. Airports that were cleared without incident. Early November, the Reagan Washington National Airport was temporarily shut down due to a bomb scare against a United Airlines flight. At the time, the FBI reported that it had investigated the report and found no hazardous material. A Delta flight at LaGuardia International Airport, which was scheduled to take off that day, was evacuated prior to takeoff due reports of a possible bomb threat. Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Kanishka Singh; Editing and production by Diane Craft and Chris Reese
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Jetstar Airways, Australia's largest airline, is affected by a software problem with Airbus fleets and cancels some flights
Jetstar Airways, Australia's flag carrier Qantas' budget airline, announced on Saturday that it had been affected by the Airbus A320 global fleet recall, which affects more than half the aircraft. Airbus, Europe’s largest aerospace company, announced on Friday that it had ordered immediate repairs for 6,000 of its popular A320 jets. This caused disruptions around the world. This fix involves mostly reverting back to older software, but it must be done before the planes are able to fly again. A Jetstar spokesperson stated in a Saturday statement that "Jetstar has been affected by a software problem that affects all A320 family operators worldwide." The spokesperson stated that "to respond to an Airbus precautionary measure, we have canceled some Jetstar Airways flight." Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin's biggest competitor Virgin have a combined share of about 65% in Australia's domestic air market. Qantas stated on Saturday that the Airbus recall had no impact on Qantas' aircraft. Virgin Australia's spokesperson stated that the company "does not anticipate any impact on Virgin Australia or Regional Airline Operations." Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) reported that there were significant delays on Saturday at Melbourne Airport due to the Airbus recall. This is one of the biggest in Airbus' 55-year history. This recall comes just weeks after the A320 surpassed the Boeing 737 in terms of the number of aircraft delivered. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese in Sydney, Sam McKeith is based in Sydney)
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Airbus recalls A320 for global airlines
Airbus, Europe's largest aircraft manufacturer, has ordered the immediate repair of 6,000 A320 jets. This recall affects more than half of the fleet worldwide and could cause disruptions during the busiest weekend for travel in the U.S. According to a notice sent to airlines, the fix involves mostly reverting back to older software. However, it is necessary to do this before planes can be flown again. The repairs may cause flight cancellations or delays, according to several airlines. As of 6:20 pm, here is a list with major disruptions reported by airlines. ET (2320 GMT): American Airlines The largest A320 operator in the world said that 340 out of its 480 A320 planes would require the update. The company said that it expected most of the updates to be finished by Saturday, with each plane taking about two hours. Lufthansa Airbus's measures would require several hours to be implemented per aircraft, so the German carrier expects some flight delays or cancellations over the weekend. Avianca Avianca, the Colombian airline, said that the recall affected over 70% of its fleet and would cause "significant" disruptions in operations for the next 10 working days. Avianca has stopped selling tickets for travel dates up to December 8. Wizz Air The airline confirmed that some Wizz Air aircraft need the software update. It also said it had immediately scheduled all necessary maintenance in order to comply with the mitigation. Some flights may be affected over the weekend. British Airways The British carrier expects no operational impact on its three short-haul A320 aircraft. EasyJet has announced that it has completed software updates on all aircraft that require them. The airline plans to continue its normal flying program on Saturday. Air France KLM Air France KLM canceled 35 flights Friday after Airbus's announcement. Air New Zealand It said that all of its A320neo planes will receive a software upgrade before they operate their next service. This would cause a disruption to a number Saturday flights. The airline also expects some cancellations. Air India Airbus' directive, according to the airline, will lead to a software/hardware realignment of a portion of its fleet. This will cause longer turnaround times and delays in operations. Air India Express Air India's low cost subsidiary stated that while the majority of its aircraft will not be affected, this guidance is applicable to all operators, causing delays and cancellations. Indigo Budget airline Indian said that it would be proactively updating the required information and some flights could see "some minor schedule changes" while it completes the "precautionary update". Volaris Mexican Airlines said that the Airbus upgrade will cause flight delays and cancellations in the next 48-72 hours. Latam Airlines This update is only applicable to a small number of Latam affiliate aircraft in Colombia, Chile and Peru. This notice does not apply to aircraft operated by affiliates in Brazil or Ecuador. Turkish Airlines After completing the necessary actions, eight A320 aircrafts will be returned into service. It said that "all our operations continue without interruption and safely." Airbus has updated its software and will affect the Mexican airline's fleet. However, no date has been set for when the aircraft will be able to fly again. Delta Airlines Airbus' directive is expected to have a limited impact on the U.S. carrier. Aer Lingus The Irish carrier stated that a small number of aircraft were affected and is currently taking steps to install the necessary software. It anticipates no major operational disruption. United Airlines Airbus' announcement did not affect the airline that operates A320 jets. Azul SA Azul, a Brazilian airline, said that none of its A320 aircraft were part of the Airbus recall. Reporting by Jubybabu in Mexico City, and Parth Chandna from Bengaluru. Editing by Arun K. Koyyur.
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Airbus recalls A320s for global airlines
Airbus, Europe's largest aircraft manufacturer, has ordered the immediate repair of 6,000 A320 jets. This recall affects more than half of the fleet worldwide and could cause disruptions during the busiest weekend for travel in the U.S. According to a notice sent to airlines, the fix involves mostly reverting back to older software. However, it is necessary to do this before planes can be flown again. The repairs may cause flight cancellations or delays, according to several airlines. As of 5:30 pm, here is a list with major disruptions reported by airlines. ET (2230 GMT): American Airlines 340 A320 aircraft out of 480 A320s, the largest A320 operator in the world, will need to be updated. The company said that it expected most of the updates to be finished by Saturday, with each plane taking about two hours. Lufthansa Airbus's measures would require several hours to be implemented per aircraft, so the German carrier expects some flight delays or cancellations over the weekend. Avianca Avianca, the Colombian airline, said that the recall affected over 70% of its fleet and would cause "significant" disruptions in operations for the next ten days. Avianca has closed the sales of tickets for travel dates up to December 8. Wizz Air The airline confirmed that some Wizz Air aircraft need the software update. It also said it had immediately scheduled all necessary maintenance in order to comply with the mitigation. Some flights may be affected over the weekend. British Airways The British carrier expects no operational impact on its three short-haul A320 aircraft. easyJet EasyJet expects to experience some service disruptions and will take every measure to minimize this impact. Air France KLM Air France KLM canceled 35 flights Friday after Airbus's announcement. Air New Zealand It said that all of its A320neo planes will receive a software upgrade before they operate their next service. This would cause a disruption to a number Saturday flights. The airline also expects some cancellations. Air India Airbus' directive, according to the airline, will lead to a software/hardware realignment of a portion of its fleet. This will cause longer turnaround times and delays in operations. Air India Express Air India's low cost subsidiary stated that while the majority of its aircraft will not be affected, this guidance is applicable to all operators, causing delays and cancellations. Indigo Budget airline Indian said that it would be proactively updating the required information and some flights could see "some minor schedule changes" while it completes the "precautionary update". Volaris Mexican Airlines said that the Airbus upgrade will cause flight delays and cancellations in the next 48-72 hours. Latam Airlines This update is only applicable to a small number of Latam affiliate aircraft in Colombia, Chile and Peru. This notice does not apply to aircraft operated by affiliates in Brazil or Ecuador. Turkish Airlines After completing the necessary actions, eight A320 aircrafts will be returned into service. It said that "all our operations continue without interruption and safely." Airbus has updated its software and will affect the Mexican airline's fleet. However, no date has been set for when the aircraft will be ready to take off. Delta Airlines Airbus' directive is expected to have a limited impact on the U.S. carrier. Aer Lingus The Irish carrier stated that a small number of aircraft were affected and is currently taking steps to install the necessary software. It anticipates no major operational disruption. United Airlines Airbus' announcement did not affect the airline that operates A320 jets. Azul SA Azul, a Brazilian airline, said that none of its A320 aircraft were part of the Airbus recall. Reporting by Jubybabu in Mexico City, and Parth Chandna from Bengaluru. Editing by Arun K. Koyyur.
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Bankrupt Yellow accepts pensions worth billions
Yellow Corp. has settled with 14 pension funds that sought more than $7,4 billion in compensation from the trucking company. According to settlement documents filed in Delaware bankruptcy court on Wednesday, the pension plans have agreed to accept a reduced payment. This will put an end to years of litigation regarding Yellow's claims that it cannot pay. It will also allow Yellow's junior creditor to receive up to $7.4million from proceeds from its bankruptcy sales. Yellow closed in 2023 after a dispute between its employees and the union that represented them. It sold its assets, which included its truck fleet, its shipping terminals and other real estate, in bankruptcy. These sales were more than enough for Yellow to pay off its top creditors and the government-backed COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Loan, but left other creditors like pension plans fighting to recover a fraction. The company lost its appeal in September over pension claims, but it still does not have the money to pay for more than a small fraction of those claims. The company anticipates having between $600 and $700 millions to pay off all creditors including pension plans. Court documents indicate that the $7.4million set aside for junior creditor may be reduced, if Yellow Corp has less than $550M in cash when it declares bankruptcy. Yellow challenged in its legal battle against the pension plans two regulations of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation that limited how employers and pension funds could use pandemic aid funds to calculate employers' pension liabilities. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld the PBGC rules on appeal. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia upheld the PBGC's rules. They said that they supported the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, which aims to give billions of dollars for underfunded multiemployer plans. Dietrich Knauth (Reporting, Alexia Garamfalvi and Diane Craft; Editing)
Inside London's largest lost property office: From mobile phones to frogs cooked,
The 6,000 items that are delivered weekly to Transport for London’s lost property storage facility include mobile phones, wallets (including rucksacks), spectacles, keys, and rucksacks. There are also some surprises, such as a bag of frogs cooked and an urn containing ashes.
Diana Quaye, manager of Transport for London said that the frogs were not kept.
The frogs, flies, and other perishables are thrown away along with the sandwiches left on the Victoria Line of London Underground, or the chocolate bars on the top decks of buses. Everything else, however, is sorted, labeled, and logged in Transport for London’s east London warehouse.
The biggest lost property office in Europe
Transport for London reports that the warehouse is slightly smaller than a soccer pitch and packed with rows of sliding shelving. It has 45 staff.
The umbrella handles are protruding from one shelf and books are overflowing from another. Meanwhile, hundreds of children's stuffed toys, such as a giant St Bernard dog toy, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other stuffed animals, wait for collection.
A section is dedicated to interesting finds over the years. The flea market has a variety of treasures, including a wedding gown, a fox taxidermy, and an artificial limb.
Only a fifth of the items that are lost in London's underground, overground, black cabs, and buses, are ever recovered. Transport for London holds items for a typical three-month period before deciding whether they will be auctioned or donated to charity.
At Christmas, they give new toys to a charity for children and sports equipment to the local school.
Transport for London kept the urn of cremated remains, which was in a bag, for seven years, before returning it to its German owner.
Quaye stated that the most common culprits of lost property are commuters on buses.
She said, "I don’t know if they get a little relaxed on the bus but they tend leave things on there." (Reporting and writing by Vitalii Yalahuzian, Marissa Davison, Sarah Young. Editing by Conor Humphries.)
(source: Reuters)