Passenger Transportation Services

WestJet Airlines announced on Friday that it would eliminate non-reclinable seats in economy class on a number of Boeing 737 aircraft. This decision was made after a slew complaints and 'videos posted on social media of passengers with their knees pressed against the seat ahead. After reviewing data from operations and the feedback of travelers, the Canadian carrier announced in a press release that it would return to its previous standard economy seat configuration. WestJet's decision to reconfigure seats in its planes last year?to allow for larger premium seating at the front?was widely seen as a test on the limits...

Chicago O'Hare International Airport has been a major hub for air travel in the United States and is now at the forefront of a heated competition between United Airlines, American Airlines, and other airlines. What started as a 'post-pandemic rebuilding' of flight schedules – with United restoring its capacity faster and American ramping it up more recently – has now evolved into a competition over gates, routes and premium offerings, and even a battle for?marketshare at one of the most connected airports in the world. Analysts believe that the results could have long-term effects, since better gate access, and more...

The union that represents about 1,600 workers at Spirit AeroSystems, a fuselage supplier, announced on Thursday?that they had reached a tentative deal with Boeing?on a collective bargaining agreement. The team that negotiated for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees of Aerospace (SPEEA), non-engineering division in Wichita Kansas, unanimously recommended to members that they accept Boeing's offer. Boeing completed the $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems in December, and contract talks began after it closed because of labor law restrictions. James Hatfield, the union's negotiating team chair, said that "the?planemaker’s offer gives us better medical and dental benefits as well as...

WestJet Airlines will review its non-adjustable seats in economy class as soon as this week. This is after a backlash from passengers who complained about the lack of leg room, according to an internal message seen by?. Samantha Taylor, the Chief Experience Officer of Air Canada, told her employees that the carrier was reviewing data and feedback from passengers to determine the best way forward in rolling out the seats onto more aircraft. Taylor wrote: "While originally we planned to make a decision by February, we are now working to accelerate that process and arrive at a 'plan forward aligned...

Wall Street's major indexes opened Tuesday with a muted tone after an inflation report that was largely in line with expectations. Investors also weighed the mixed quarterly results of JPMorgan Chase and Delta Air Lines. Consumer prices in the United States increased by 0.2% from November to December, less than expected. The economists had predicted a 0.3% rise. The headline and core CPI increased 2.6% on an annual basis last month, after increasing by the same margin in November. The data confirmed Fed bets that at least two additional 25 basis point rate cuts will occur between June and Decemeber,...

JetZero announced on Tuesday that it had raised $175 million as part of a Series B financing round. The California-based startup is aiming to "advance" the development and design of its blended-wing planes, which are designed to reduce fuel consumption. The latest funding round was led by Northrop Grumman and the venture capital arms of United Airlines and 3M. The company is a new entrant into the aerospace industry. It plans to capitalize on the?new jet shortages, and the industry's effort to make flying cheaper and more efficient. The new capital will help accelerate the development of its prototype aircraft,...

U.S. Stock Index Futures fell on Tuesday, as investors awaited a key inflation report to get fresh clues about where interest rates will go next. JPMorgan Chase's earnings for the fourth quarter kicked off earnings season. JPMorgan Shares were up by 1.1% during choppy trading in the premarket after Goldman Sachs' quarterly profit exceeded estimates. However, a one-time fee associated with its deal to take over Apple’s credit card partnership was also weighing down on them. There are many other big banks that will be reporting later this week. Expected to Post a Stronger Quarterly Results S, helped by a...

Delta Air Lines, on Tuesday, forecast a 20% increase in earnings by 2026, citing strong corporate and consumer demand, as well as rising sales for premium travel. The airline also announced that it had agreed to purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft to bolster its long-haul fleet. The shares of the airline fell by nearly 5% during premarket trading, as the forecasts were largely "below" estimates. As lower-income consumers are under pressure due to inflation and a weaker purchasing power, the airline is benefiting from a resilient demand from higher-income travelers. This divergence was apparent in the December quarter when the...

Delta Air Lines, which has a long-haul fleet, forecast a 20% increase in earnings by 2026. It cited strong corporate and consumer demand, as well as rising sales. As lower-income customers are under pressure due to 'inflation' and a weaker purchasing power, the airline is benefiting from a resilient demand from higher-income travellers. This divergence was apparent in the December quarter when the overall passenger revenue increased by just 1%. However, this masked a growing gap within the cabin. The revenue for main-cabin tickets fell by 7% compared to a year ago, but revenue from premium products grew by 9%....

?U.S. Stock index futures fell on Tuesday as investors awaited important inflation data for hints on interest rate trends, and the fourth-quarter earnings from JPMorgan Chase, which would mark the beginning of the earnings season. The shares of the largest U.S. bank rose 0.6% in premarket trade ahead of its quarterly results. Rivals are expected to release their results later this week. Major lenders will likely report higher quarterly profits due to a revival of M&A. Delta Air Lines and the Custodian Bank?BNY were also scheduled to release results before the opening of trading. "Stable U.S. growth and Federal Reserve...

The?U.S. The National Transportation Safety Board is holding a hearing on Jan. 27 to determine the probable cause of a deadly collision that occurred between a U.S. Army chopper and an American Airlines regional plane in January 2025, which killed 67 people. The Justice Department announced last month that the federal government is responsible for the accident. The Army Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash was flying above maximum altitude ?levels at the time and was not using ADS-B, or automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, an advanced surveillance technology that ?transmits an aircraft's location. The accident over the Potomac River, near...

Airbus delivered 793?planes last year, a 4% increase, and is on track to remain the largest?planemaker in the world despite recent industrial snags. Airbus has warned that it is facing a "continued dynamic and complex operating environment", as its deliveries are edging beyond the revised goal of 790 jets. This was lowered last month from 820 due to an issue with a Spanish supplier of fuselage parts. Airbus reported that it won 1,000 'gross orders' last year or 889 net orders after cancellations, both of which are higher than 2024. Boeing is set to release its own full year data...

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority said that electric air taxis developed Joby Aviation will begin commercial operations in Dubai before the end of this year. Joby Aviation's first fully electric air taxi test flight in the emirate was conducted in June 2025. This is a significant milestone in Dubai's efforts?to introduce them to its existing transport networks. The Joby Aerial taxi, developed by a Californian company, is the "flagship" electric vertical take-off-and-landing aircraft. It can travel up to 160 km (100 miles), at speeds of 320km/h (200mph). Joby’s air taxi has zero emissions and is...

According to Spanish police and Turkish Airlines, a false bomb threat received via an onboard mobile connection forced a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul on Thursday to land at Barcelona's El Prat Airport after making an emergency landing. Turkish Airlines spokesperson stated earlier that crew had detected that a passenger created an in-flight hotspot that was named with a?bomb warning as the aircraft approached?Barcelona. The Guardia civil?police force in Spain said that after a thorough examination of the aircraft, following the disembarkation of its passengers, the alert was deactivated. No explosives were found. Spanish airport operator AENA confirmed that El...

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These?stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch for their accuracy. U.S. prosecutors have opened an investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell for his testimony about the renovation of the building at the Federal Reserve Bank last summer. Allegiant Travel has reached a deal worth $1.1 billion to purchase Sun Country Airlines. This is despite the fact that budget airlines in the U.S. are facing stiff competition from their larger competitors. Walmart plans to expand drone deliveries to '150 more stores in the next year, with a...

The Philippines Bureau of Immigration announced on Tuesday that two alleged gunmen responsible for the?massive shooting at Sydney Bondi Beach travelled on Philippine Airlines Flight PR212?from Sydney, to Manila, and then to Davao on November 1. According to a spokesperson from the bureau, Sajid Akram (50), an Indian citizen and Australian resident, travelled with an Indian passport while his son Naveed,?24 an Australian, used an Australian one. Both passengers arrived on the same flight. On November 28, they flew back from Sydney via Manila on the same flight, PR212. This was just weeks before the attack that left 15 dead....

The African Development Bank (AfDB), announced on Friday that it would lend Morocco 270 millions euros ($316 million) to upgrade the country's airport infrastructure before hosting FIFA World Cup 2030. Morocco will invest $4 billion to increase the capacity of its airports to 80 million passengers by 2030. The current number is 38 million. This investment is part of a plan to prepare for an influx in tourists ahead of the World Cup which Morocco will be co-hosting with Spain and Portugal. Morocco, the most visited country in Africa last year, is already on track to'set a new record for...

Pegasus Airlines, a Turkish airline, announced on Monday that it had agreed to buy Czech Airlines and its subsidiary Smartwings for a total of 154 million Euros ($180 million). The deal is part of an expansion plan. In a KAP statement, Pegasus announced that it had reached an agreement with Prague City Air for the purchase of its stakes in CSA and Smartwings, as well as its subsidiaries. The debts of the two companies were included in the 154 million euro figure. Pegasus stated that the strategic investment would help to expand Pegasus's global reach and strengthen its presence in...

U.S. plan to increase the number of countries that are covered by their travel ban from 30 to more than 30. Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. plans to expand its travel ban beyond 30 countries. Noem was asked in an interview with Fox News "The Ingraham Angle" if the Trump administration would increase the number of countries listed on the travel ban to 32. She said, "I will not be specific about the number but it is over 30 and the president continues to evaluate countries." In June, the President signed a proclamation...

Sources in the industry said that insurance rates for war risks increased after Ukrainian drones attacked two tankers headed to a Russian harbor. Fears of more attacks prompted insurers to raise their prices. Black Sea is vital for shipping grain, oil, and oil products. Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania, as well Russia and Ukraine, share its waters. Shipping and insurance sources reported that war risk rates, which are determined by each underwriter and are based upon the value of the vessel, have risen to 0.5% from 0.4% a week earlier for calls to Ukrainian port. Sources said that the war risk...

The Indian Air Force confirmed that a Tejas fighter plane, manufactured in India, crashed during a display at the Dubai Air Show on Friday and killed its pilot. Witnesses report that the fighter was at a low level at 2:15 pm (1015 GMT), before it came down in a fireball. Black smoke was seen rising behind an airstrip fence in footage from the scene. In a press release, the IAF stated that a court of inquiry was being formed to determine the cause of this accident. The crash is India's second known crash. It is important for India to modernise...

Rostec, a Russian state-owned conglomerate, said that on Tuesday its defence exports had fallen by half since the year 2022 due to domestic orders becoming a priority in light of the conflict in Ukraine. However, Rostec expects a recovery within upcoming months. Sergey Chemezov, Rostec's chief executive officer, told reporters that until 2022 Russia ranked second in the world in terms of defence exports after the United States. However the volume has dropped "because we had to supply the majority of our production to our own army". He said that sanctions have caused problems in both the civil and defense...

Airbus has won a provisional contract for 150 A321neo aircraft from flydubai, displacing Boeing as the exclusive supplier of the fast-growing low-cost carrier. The order comes after a tepid start to the Dubai Airshow. On Sunday, it was reported that Airbus Europe would win a three-digit contract from Dubai's government-owned carrier. Flydubai Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said at a press conference that the move was an exciting one for diversifying and expanding our fleet. Flydubai, which was founded as a sister airline of Dubai's Emirates in 2008, has bought Boeing jets since its founding. Airbus Commercial CEO...

China made its Middle East debut of its C919 jetliner at the Dubai Airshow, Monday. It was its first time outside East Asia. The display showcased plans to compete against Airbus and Boeing. The C919 aircraft in white with blue and green detailing took off around 3:30 pm local time (1130 GMT). It made several circle passes in the air before safely landing on the Al-Maktoum International Airport runway tarmac. COMAC, a Chinese aircraft manufacturer, has ambitious plans to compete with the dominant Western manufacturers Airbus & Boeing and their smaller Brazilian competitor Embraer. COMAC's C909 and C919 planes lack...