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@ByERussell
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DC
Joined June 2009
Spoke to a source at United Airlines, Senator Ted Cruz rebooked his flight back to Houston from Cancun for this afternoon at around 6 a.m. today (Thursday). He was originally scheduled to return on Saturday.
And just like that, Ted (Rafael) Cruz seems to be on his way back to Texas. "CRU, R." is on the upgrade list on this afternoon's flight from Cancun to Houston. He was on the list on yesterday afternoon's flight down to Cancun, too.
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Following @jonostrower's scoop on United finding 737-9s with loose door plug screws, a source sent this image of one of the door plug's lower hinge bracket with a note that 2 screws are not screwed all the way in.
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"As the pickup truck reached the grade crossing, the grade crossing the gates had already lowered and the flashing lights and bells were on. The pickup truck drove around the lowered gate and entered the grade crossing.". Don't. Drive. Around. The. Gates.
NTSB issues preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the Jan. 12 grade crossing crash between a pickup truck and a Brightline passenger train in Melbourne, Florida:
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Southwest cancellations are up to 64% of its schedule, or 2,609 flights, at 15:15 ET Monday, per @flightaware.
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America is not known for its fast or nice trains. @GoBrightline wants to change that with its new $6 billion train to Orlando that opens Friday and, maybe by 2028, a high-speed train to Las Vegas.
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EXCLUSIVE: @AmericanAir is the latest to offer an on-the-ground alternative to flying amid the pilot shortage and high oil prices. @ridelandline will begin operating buses-as-flights for American from its @PHLAirport hub in June.
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.@BrightlineWest is set to break ground on its 218-mile Las Vegas-Southern California high-speed rail line on Monday
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Can we have a frank discussion about travelers taking luggage with them during an emergency evacuation?.
Video shows frantic moments passengers make their way out of RedAir flight 203 after landing gear collapse & fire at MIA…some use emergency chute @WPLGLocal10
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Bike to a flight? That's what @Reagan_Airport wants more travelers to with the addition of free secure bike stalls from @bikeep this summer. Read more in @FastCompany:
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Southwest Airlines is in full meltdown mode. 56% of its schedule, or 2,266 flights, cancelled Monday (as of 14:20 ET), per @flightaware. If you're flying Southwest: Be prepared for crowds and delays, don't go to the airport if your flight is cancelled, or find another option.
Big mess at BWI this morning. Over 100 flights cancelled so far this morning. People have been waiting in line at the Southwest ticketing counter for hours. Some people tell me they’ve waited since 2:30 this morning. People are sleeping all over the airport. @wbaltv11
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.@GoBrightline will begin passenger train service to its new Aventura and Boca Raton stations in South Florida on Dec. 21.
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Americans don't ride trains 🙃. From 2001-2020, @Amtrak's share of DC-New York travelers jumped to 80% of the air+rail market from 45%.
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The combined Alaska-Hawaiian North America route map in September 2024. (📷 Cirium Diio)
And it's done: @AlaskaAir has closed its purchase of @HawaiianAir. "Alaska and Hawaiian share tremendous pride in connecting communities with award-winning service, and we look forward to inviting more guests on board to experience what makes both brands unique." $ALK $HA
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United's new pre-boarding announcement:. “We would like to take a moment to recognize the tireless efforts of any medical professionals who may be flying with us today. Thank you for all you are doing.”. Way to go @united 👏👏 #ThankYouHealthCareWorkers.
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Fun Fact: @GoBrightline is already America's 2nd busiest intercity passenger rail line behind Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It carried ~150K riders in August — on just its South Florida segment — compared to an average of ~136K on the 3rd busiest line, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner.
America is not known for its fast or nice trains. @GoBrightline wants to change that with its new $6 billion train to Orlando that opens Friday and, maybe by 2028, a high-speed train to Las Vegas.
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JetBlue unveils new ‘streamers’ tail for its Airbus A321LRs that will take it to London: #avgeek
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What a story. After Delta pilot Karlene Petitt raised safety concerns to her superiors, she was grounded and deemed mentally unfit to fly. A judge ruled for Petitt Friday, finding Delta "weaponized" the mental screening process. via @dominicgates
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.@united is really zigging while other US airlines are zagging on international routes next summer. Its summer 2025 additions include Dakar, Kaohsiung, Madeira, Nuuk, and Ulaanbaatar from Newark, Tokyo Narita, and Washington Dulles.
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Some personal news: I'm joining the team at @skift covering airlines in December. It's been a real pleasure working with @benmutzabaugh, @GlobeTrotScott and all of The Points Guy team.
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Love this: A "subway" map of @united's international network. Admittedly, it gets a bit tough to read in places — is that O'Hare or Dulles to Geneva? — but the aesthetic is 👌. cc @transitmap (📷 @miller22)
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United has found at least 5 Boeing 737-9s with loose door plug screws in its initial inspections, via @theaircurrent.
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$7 Uber rides were a private equity-funded subsidy to disrupt transportation systems in favor of ridesharing. $22 is closer to what it should cost to take a private car downtown.
"When I used to catch Uber, it was $7. Not I can't find anything from Ward 8 that's less than $22. Now we're going to add more to get downtown?" says White. "We're setting ourselves to be Detroit if we're not careful.".
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The latest @Dulles_Airport master plan proposal: a full separation of airside and landside functions (aka, Atlanta) to support hub growth. I have questions about how the proposed Main Terminal Connector gets through historic preservation approvals.
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Airlines have said they are seeing little passenger reluctance to fly the #737Max. Why? Because most travelers, like my husband, have no idea what kind of plane they are flying on. He only realized it was a Max after I told him.
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NEW: @GoBrightline carried 205,745 passengers in October — more than double the number a year earlier. That includes 79,686 on the line to Orlando that opened in September. That’s an average of 2,571 daily Orlando pax. Background:
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Secretary @PeteButtigieg and @VaRailXpress at Washington Union Station, the secretary voiced the Biden administration’s plans to invest in and expand rail infrastructure.
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100% for high-speed rail in the Charlotte-Raleigh corridor. But, using air traveller numbers on the route is misleading. 99% are connecting at American's Charlotte hub. US DOT data shows an avg of just 14 people/day fly on trips between just Charlotte and Raleigh.
Last month, 80K+ passengers flew between Raleigh & Charlotte, just 130 miles apart. Bologna & Milan, with a similar combined population and distance, have 60 daily trains each way. Imagine connecting 40% of NC's population in 90 mins via high-speed rail?
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.@GoBrightline ridership since the Orlando extension opened:. June - 223,369.May - 231,883.April - 223,227.March: 258,307 .Feb: 228,138 .Jan: 236,263 .Dec: 237,069 .Nov: 205,607 .Oct: 205,745 .Sept: 143,053
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This is a great map of what the A321LR and A321XLR will do for @Icelandair's network. Icelandair expects its first LR this year and XLR in 2029.
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.@Amtrak plans to award contracts for a new $1.5 billion Susquehanna River Bridge in Maryland next year. 2 tracks will expand to 4 and the project will eliminate the need for trains to slow to 90mph.
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Today is my last day at @FlightGlobal. It's been a great seven years, with countless articles, numerous flights, unforgettable moments and many friends. Here's to a great team, thanks for everything!
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The Senate just voted to confirm @PeteButtigieg as the next Secretary of Transportation. Senator Cramer of North Dakota just put him over the minimum 50 votes needed. Waiting on final tally.
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"I believe the aerospace industry needs a [737] Max or a [A320]neo replacement as soon as possible," former Airbus Americas CEO Barry Eccleston says at #TRBAM. Airbus and Boeing need to start now to debut a new plane in the 2030s, and to stop the loss of engineering know how.
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Flew on my first @united A321neo the other day. Solid economy product, big IFE screens, and the snack bar — though small — is a nice bonus. Not to mention the small gauge increase United gets over the Max 9s (and eventually Max 10s).
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Yikes, and no wonder some foreign 777 operators cancelled U.S. flights: Boeing warned them "not operate 777 airplanes on approach and landing to U.S. runways” with 5G band notices. via @jonostrower
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The new Reservoir Park Rec Center is open in #BloomingdaleDC! Nice playground (needs more shade though), 3-lane 25 yard lap pool, and a new splash park.
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New memo to @united pilots outlining its Boeing 737 Max 9 door plug inspection process, and aim to return the aircraft to service in the "next several days".
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EXCLUSIVE: @Delta is eyeing a possible cabin rebrand. Out are lighter blues and the white-ish checkerboard bulkhead, in are darker grays and navies.
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Highlights from @Delta's Q4 earnings call:. • Up to 40 A350-1000s.• An “uptick” in Seattle bookings due to Alaska 737 Max cancellations.• Stable US demand, and an "exciting" outlook for transatlantic.• Large corporate volumes at ~90% of 2019. $DAL
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Huge news for Baltimore: Maryland governor-elect @iamwesmoore promises to build the east-west Red Line light rail in his term. “We are going to get it done in our term. It is not a compromise," he told @kristoncapps.
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California's proposed passenger rail operating plan for 2030, when the first section of its high-speed rail line opens. Merced becomes a key transfer point. h/t @the_transit_guy
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It’s a pleasure to join @jonostrower and his team writing for @theaircurrent!. My first piece: United CEO Scott Kirby expressed support for Boeing on Tuesday but not necessarily its leadership as it pulls the 737 Max 10 from future planning. #staycurrent
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Airbus "has inquired with jet leasing firms and airlines, proposing to buy back slots for [its] popular A321neo . where it can over coming years" in order to sell more planes to United. via @juliejohnsson @AirEVthingTRNSP @sidyoutwit
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"What a difference leadership makes! We welcome President Biden’s nationwide approach to crushing the virus and lifting us out of this pandemic.". @FlyingWithSara doesn't mince words on Biden's new mask mandate on planes.
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Looks like the number one engine on the Southwest 737 at #PHL is missing the cowling. Likely uncontained engine failure. h/t @AirlineFlyer
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“It seems crazy that a 300-hour [first officer] can land a Lufthansa A350 into JFK flying over Queens, and a U.S. pilot can’t do the same thing.". Mesa Airlines CEO blames the 1,500 hour rule for the U.S. pilot shortage, via @munnikrishnan.
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.@Delta is adding 5 new nonstops from @AUStinAirport next year: Indianapolis, Memphis, Panama City (Fla.), San Francisco, and Tampa. What's more, Delta will surpass American to become the 2nd largest airline by seats in Austin next April.
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And it's done: @AlaskaAir has closed its purchase of @HawaiianAir. "Alaska and Hawaiian share tremendous pride in connecting communities with award-winning service, and we look forward to inviting more guests on board to experience what makes both brands unique." $ALK $HA
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🚨 $8 Billion in new passenger rail funding unveiled by the @USDOT Friday 🚨. • $3.1bn @CaHSRA .• $3bn @BrightlineWest .• $1.1bn North Carolina S-Line .• $729mn Potomac Long Bridge (Virginia) .• $144mn Harrisburg-Pittsburgh upgrades .
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Icelandair's first aircraft in its new livery, a 737-8 (TF-ICE), arrives in Reykjavik in a little under 30 minutes. Follow it on @flightradar24: #avgeek
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“Linking SunRail to [Orlando] airport and tourism stops would increase ridership from the current 1 million annually to 6 million annually, is likely to be an underestimate.”. Funding for the ~$4 billion rail line shared with @GoBrightline is still TBD.
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