Scandinavian Airlines files for bankruptcy as 1,000 pilots walk-out

SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A340-313 OY-KBC (MSN 0467)

Scandinavian Airlines has filed for bankruptcy in the United States, warning a walkout by 1,000 pilots a day earlier had put the future of the carrier at risk. 

The move adds to the likelihood of travel chaos across Europe as the summer vacation period begins. The Stockholm-based SAS airline group said it had “voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 in the U.S., a legal process for financial restructuring conducted under U.S. federal court supervision.” Filing for Chapter 11 in New York puts civil litigation on hold while the business reorganizes its finances. SAS said that its operations and flight schedule will be unaffected by the announcement. CEO Anko van der Werff said that the pilots' strike accelerated the move. “I think we have been very clear that this could happen,” he said. “The important thing is that this is about bankruptcy protection, it is not about a bankruptcy, but it is about financial reconstruction,” van der Werff said.

The carrier said it is “in well advanced discussions with a number of potential lenders ... to support its operations throughout this court-supervised process.” A rescue plan presented in February was aimed at securing long-term competitiveness. SAS shares dropped more than 9% to 0.56 kronor ($0.05) on Tuesday. The pilots reacted strongly to the news of the Chapter 11 filing. Roger Klokset, head of the SAS pilots union, said the group “had stretched negotiations and mediation from November last year until the day before the application, without ever having the intention of entering into an agreement with the SAS pilots."

The pilots in Denmark, Sweden and Norway walked out on Monday, citing inadequate pay and working conditions and expressing dissatisfaction with the decision by the carrier to hire new pilots to fill vacancies at its subsidiary airlines, SAS Link and SAS Connect, rather than rehire former pilots who were laid off due to the pandemic. Van der Werff said the strike was "devastating for SAS and puts the company’s future together with the jobs of thousands of colleagues at stake.”

The walkout is estimated to lead to the cancellation of approximately 50% of all scheduled SAS flights and impact around 30,000 passengers per day. Flights operated by SAS Link, SAS Connect and SAS’ external partners are not affected.

The airline is part-owned by the governments of Sweden and Denmark. In 2018, Norway sold its stake but holds debt in the airline, and has said it might be willing to convert that into equity.

“Right now, it is difficult to assess the significance of the Chapter 11 request for duration of the pilot strike,” chief analyst Jacob Pedersen of Denmark's Sydbank said. However, “it’s doubtful whether it will bring (the pilots) back to the negotiating table.”

Perth Airport in chaos and Virgin flights cancelled last minute

Problems continue to plague Perth Airport with the 18,000-bay car park fully booked and multiple flights cancelled at the last minute on Tuesday afternoon, with distraught passengers left on the tarmac. Passengers on board a Virgin flight to Sydney were taken off the aircraft, while others due to depart on a Virgin flight to Brisbane were left waiting in the terminal for hours. Meantime, another JetStar Perth to Bali flight was also cancelled abruptly for the third day in a row.

One Sydney-bound customer described the situation as ridiculous.

“[We’re] angry customers for Virgin, we’ve been here since 11am trying to catch a flight, nobody has helped us, nobody has done nothing, nobody will even speak to us,” she told 9 News Perth.

“There’s no flight, we don’t know why ... I’ve been standing here for the last two, three hours trying to work out what’s going on.” 

Those on board the cancelled Sydney flight have been offered a revised flight due to depart on Thursday. Travellers are also struggling to reach the airport, with its 18,000-bay car park full. A Perth Airport spokesman confirmed the airport car park was experiencing unprecedented demand due to a strong FIFO-related bookings coupled with those travelling during school holidays.

“A surge in demand means that no further online bookings with be available for bookings starting in the next 72 hours,” he said. “Passengers are advised to plan in advance and book parking online at least a week prior to their trip to secure a parking bay and to access the best available rate.

“Those travelling in the next few days should consider taxi or ride-share options to get to the airport.”

The Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said more than half of its members who responded to a survey were concerned about roster uncertainty and pressures for pilots to work while tired or unfit to fly.

“The (survey) results show workers continue to bear the brunt of aviation’s peaks and troughs while profit-fanatic executives draw bonuses and exorbitant salaries,” he said.

“We need a commission to rebalance aviation, support good jobs, and ensure Australians can always rely on safe and secure skies.”

Story sourced from here
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-airport-chaos-as-18-000-bay-car-park-full-and-more-flights-cancelled-last-minute-20220705-p5azc6.html

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 - San Francisco crash

ASIANA BOEING 777-28E HL-7742 (MSN 29171)

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was a scheduled transpacific passenger flight from Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN/RKSI), South Korea to San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO/KSFO), United States of America

On the 6th July 2013 Asiana 214, operated by a Boeing 777-200ER, crashed on final approach into San Francisco International Airport. Of the 307 people on board, 3 died; another 187 were injured, 49 of them seriously. Among the seriously injured were 4 flight attendants who were thrown onto the runway while still strapped in their seats when the tail section broke off after striking the seawall short of the runway. 

It was the first fatal crash of a Boeing 777 since the aircraft type entered service in 1995.

The airplane was configured for landing with 30 degrees of flaps and gear down. Target threshold speed was 137 knots. According to preliminary information from the CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder), the crew did not state any anomalies or concerns during the approach. The throttles were at idle and autothrottle armed.
At 1600 feet the autopilot was disengaged. The aircraft descended through an altitude of 1400 ft at 170 kts and slowed down to 149 kts at 1000 feet. At 500 feet altitude, 34 seconds prior to impact, the speed dropped to 134 kts, which was just below the target threshold speed. The airspeed then dropped significantly, reaching 118 knots at 200 feet altitude. The instructor pilot reported that he noticed four red PAPI lights (Precision Approach Path Indicators) and concluded that the autothrottle had not maintained speed. Eight seconds prior to impact, the throttles were moved forward. Airspeed according to the FDR (Flight Data Recorder), was 112 knots at an altitude of 125 feet. Seven seconds prior to impact, one of the crew members made a call to increase speed.

The stick shaker sounded 4 seconds prior to impact. One second later the speed was 103 knots, the lowest recorded by the FDR. One of the crew members made a call for go a around at 1.5 seconds before impact. The throttles were advanced and the engines appeared to respond normally.
The main landing gear and rear fuselage then struck a sea wall, just short of runway 28L. Airspeed was 106 knots. The empennage separated at the rear bulkhead. The airplane then ballooned, yawed left and spun 360 degrees before it came to rest to the left of runway 28L, 735 m (2400 ft) from the seawall.
A post impact fire occurred when a fuel tank ruptured inboard of the no. 2 engine, spilling fuel on the hot engine, causing it to ignite. The investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the accident was caused by the flight crew's mismanagement of the airplane's final approach. Deficiencies in Boeing's documentation of complex flight control systems and in Asiana Airlines' pilot training were also cited as contributory factors.

The weather at San Francisco was fine on the day with 6-7 knot winds and a visibility of 10+ miles.

The Boeing 777-200ER was delivered new to Asiana Airlines on the 7th March 2006 and at the time of the crash had accumulated 37,120 flight hours and 5,388 (takeoff-and-landing) cycles.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Asiana Airlines

Code: OZ/AAR

Aircraft: Boeing 777-28E

Registration: HL7742

Serial Number: 29171

First Flew:25/02/2007 

Age: 7 Yrs 4 Mts

Engines: Two Pratt and Whitney PW4090

Passenger who jumped on cart and stripped off faces 20 years in prison

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 737-823 N831NN (MSN 33211)

A 33-year-old American Airlines passenger who jumped on a beverage cart and stripped off his clothes faces spending the next 20 years in prison after admitting to interfering with flight crew on a flight from Seattle to Charlotte in January.

Adam Alexander Williams of Auburn, Washington pleaded guilty to a single charge of interference with flight members and attendants after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Along with a maximum 20-year jail sentence, Williams also faces the threat of a $25,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

During the roughly four-hour flight from Seattle to North Carolina, Williams jumped over passengers in his row and onto a beverage cart that was being pushed by a flight attendant down the aisle.

As he came off the cart, he fell into the flight attendant and pushed her into a seats, pushing drinks and cups to the floor in the process.

Williams’ erratic behavior continued with him running up and down the aisle. Witnesses say one of the flight attendants appeared distressed and traumatized.

Another crew member managed to calm Williams down and sat him down in his seat but within 10 minutes Williams started to shout obscenities. A group of off-duty Marines who happened to be on the flight were moved to sit around Williams but after just 10 minutes of calm, Williams stood up and started screaming while stripping off his clothes.

At this point, the Captain decided to divert the aircraft and a short time later the plane landed in Billings where law enforcement removed Williams.




Story sourced from here
American Airlines Passenger Who Jumped On Beverage Cart and Stripped Off Clothes Faces 20 Years in Prison (paddleyourownkanoo.com)

Remembering Iran Air Flight 655

Iran Air Flight 655 was a scheduled passenger flight from Tehran to Dubai via Bandar Abbas and was shot down on the 3rd July 1988 by an SM-2MR surface-to-air missile fired from USS Vincennes, a guided-missile cruiser of the United States Navy. The aircraft, an Airbus A300, performing the Bandar Abbas Airport (BND/OIKB), Iran to Dubai Airport (DXB/OMDB), United Arab Emirates leg was destroyed and all 290 people (16 crew and 274 passengers) on board were killed. The flight took off from runway 21 at 10:17 (local time) and climbed straight ahead. Two minutes later, the crew reported leaving 3500 feet for FL140 on Airway A59, estimating MOBET at 10:23. At 10:24:00 the aircraft passed MOBET out of FL120. At 10:24:43 the Airbus was hit by surface-to-air missiles. The tail and one wing broke off as a result of the explosions. Control was lost and the aircraft crashed into the sea. The jet was hit while flying over Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, along the flight's usual route, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas Airport. 

The incident occurred during the Iran–Iraq War, which had been continuing for nearly eight years. Vincennes had entered Iranian territory after one of its helicopters drew warning fire from Iranian speedboats operating within Iranian territorial limits

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Iran Air

Code: IR/IRA

Aircraft: Airbus A300B2-203

Registration: EP-IBU

Serial Number: 186

Engines: 2 General Electric CF6-50C2

First Flew: 16/03/1982

Age: 6 Yrs 4 Mts

Emirates A380 lands with hole blown into the side of fuselage

EMIRATES AIRBUS A389-842 A6-EVK (MSN 260)

An Emirates A380 superjumbo landed at Brisbane International Airport last night with a large hole blown into the side of its fuselage in an area close to the left-hand wing known as the root fairing.

IMAGE TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAM AUTHOR UNKNOWN 

Passengers claim the damage may have occurred on takeoff out of Dubai around thirteen and a half hours before the aircraft landed here in Brisbane, Australia. The three-year-old A380, sporting the "Journey to the Future" livery, was due to take off from Dubai International Airport at 2:30 am on Friday morning but had a delayed departure, becoming airborne there at 3.11 am. 

Passengers claim they heard a loud bang on departure but the flight continued on its journey before the pilots allegedly told air traffic control in Brisbane that they may have had suffered a blown tyre on departure and now required emergency services to meet the plane.

The double decked aircraft landed safely in Brisbane on runway 19R at 10.44 pm but became immobilised on the runway for 22 minutes. Emergency services initially discovered a large hole blown into the root fairing, as well as “penetration” on the underside of the fuselage. During the investigations, it was discovered a tyre had blown on departure which obviously triggered the damage. The fact that the incident ended so lightly must have been very fortunate. As a result, the hole had no effect on the cabin pressure or on the passing cabin.

At 11.06 EK430 taxied to the gate arriving there at 11.26 pm.

Emirates arrives into Brisbane directly from Dubai every night at 10.20 pm, parks on the ground all night and all day and departs back to Dubai at 9.00 pm the following night, then an hour and a half later another one comes in and so on.

Last nights A380 has obviously gone U S so tonight's arriving Emirates will turn around and head back to Dubai, departing at 12.30 am tomorrow morning. 

‘Museum of the Future’ livery celebrates a new ring-shaped building on the famous Sheikh Zayed Road in the centre of Dubai.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Emirates

Code: EK/UAE

Aircraft: Airbus A380-842

Registration: A6-EVK

Serial Number: 260

First Flew: June 2019

 

Update 

The aircraft was repaired in Brisbane and departed back to Dubai last night. 

IMAGE TAKEN FROM INSTAGRAM AUTHOR UNKNOWN 

Lufthansa brings back the A380

This is really exciting news as, behind the Queen, the Airbus A380 is my favourite aircraft. 

LUFTHANSA AIRBUS A380-841 D-AIMA (MSN 38)

Lufthansa will return the Airbus A380 double-decker jet to service from mid-2023, reversing its pandemic-era decision to retire the aircraft as travel demand soars.

The carrier is assessing how many A380s, which are currently parked in Spain and France for long-term “deep storage”, will need to be reactivated, and where they should fly.

While six of the Star Alliance member’s 14-strong superjumbo fleet have already been sold back to Airbus, eight A380s remain on the books.

One reason for bringing back the four-engine model is delays in deliveries of ordered aircraft, Lufthansa said in a statement Monday.

The Boeing 777X, which was meant to replace the superjumbo as the biggest model in Lufthansa’s lineup, has slipped five years behind schedule, with deliveries now postponed to 2025.

“We decided today to put the A380, which continues to enjoy great popularity, back into service at Lufthansa in summer 2023,” Lufthansa said in the statement.

The sudden rebound in travel across the world after two years of stringent curbs has prompted several carriers to bring back the hulking model that had largely been written off when Covid-19 upended the aviation industry. By the end of 2022, monthly A380 flights will be almost 60% of pre-Covid totals, according to Cirium data.

The superjumbo – seen as heralding a luxurious new chapter for aviation with its onboard bars and whisper-quiet interior when it was introduced in 2005 – was falling out of favor before the pandemic hit, as airlines turned to smaller, more fuel-efficient planes. Airbus killed off the program in 2019.

At the height of the pandemic in June 2020, Lufthansa retired 6 of its 14 A380s, with the rest mothballed for at least two years with the prospect of the model never returning to service. An airline executive at the time said the chance of operating the jet from its main hub of Frankfurt was “close to zero.”

Lufthansa has previously pegged its future on the modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jets, both of which “will primarily be replacing four-engine aircraft.”

Story sourced from here 

Lufthansa is bringing back the mighty Airbus A380 - Executive Traveller