Flight Safety Information - June 13, 2023 No. 113 In This Issue : Incident: Delta B739 at Hartford on Jun 11th 2023, could not retract landing gear : Incident: United A319 near Kansas City on Jun 11th 2023, fumes in cockpit : American Airlines Jet Makes Emergency Landing At LAX : British Airways Crew Member Accidentally Activates Emergency Slide On Airbus A350 Jet Bound For Austin in £50,000 Mistake : Months after similar incident, Air India grounds two pilots for inviting female friend into cockpit : Nepal's efforts fall short as EU retains Nepali airlines on air safety blacklist : Families of Flight 3407 concerned with changes to first officer qualifications : IBAC and Aviation Safety Solutions join forces to deliver new training course : Flight Attendant Calls In Bomb Threat To Ground Ex-Boyfriend : House FAA bill would give agency new space traffic management role : Billy Nolen, Former FAA Administrator, Joins Archer as Its Chief Safety Officer : 70 Airlines Now Fly Almost 1,100 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Worldwide : SpiceJet Wet-Leases Two Airbus A340 Aircraft For Hajj Flights Incident: Delta B739 at Hartford on Jun 11th 2023, could not retract landing gear A Delta Airlines Boeing 737-900, registration N926DZ performing flight DL-2069 from Hartford,CT to Atlanta,GA (USA), was climbing out of Hartford's runway 06 when the crew stopped the climb at 4000 feet reporting they were unable to retract the landing gear. The crew decided to divert to New York's JFK Airport for a safe landing on runway 22L about 75 minutes after departure. A replacement Boeing 737-900 registration N856DN reached Atlanta with a delay of about 6 hours. The airline reported the landing gear would not retract after departure from Hartford causing minor vibrations of the airframe. The passengers were instructed to brace for landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=50a615b1&opt=0 Incident: United A319 near Kansas City on Jun 11th 2023, fumes in cockpit A United Airbus A319-100, registration N410UA performing flight UA-464 from Saint Louis,MO to Denver,CO (USA) with 37 people on board, was enroute at FL320 about 50nm east of Kansas City,MO (USA) when the crew decided to divert to Kansas City reporting fumes in the cockpit. The aircraft landed safely on runway 27 about 15 minutes after leaving FL320. A replacement A320-200 registration N438UA reached Denver with a delay of about 5:15 hours. The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Kansas City for about 3 hours, then positioned to Denver and remained on the ground in Denver for about 10 hours before returning to service. https://avherald.com/h?article=50a61457&opt=0 American Airlines Jet Makes Emergency Landing At LAX Within 48 hours, two flights in and out of LAX experienced emergencies that required planes to turn around or divert. LOS ANGELES, CA — An American Airlines flight headed from Los Angeles to Boston was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing due to mechanical problems Monday morning. It was the second time in two days that a flight in or out of Los Angeles International Airport was forced to make an emergency landing. A Monday morning American Airlines flight to Boston from LAX quickly turned back around shortly after its 7 a.m. departure due to a "possible mechanical issue," but landed safely, officials said. The flight transmitted a general emergency code, and it was later discovered that the aircraft had a complete hydraulics failure, FOX11 reported. The aircraft returned to LAX just before 8 a.m. There were no injuries reported among the 108 passengers. "American Airlines flight 1632 with service from Los Angeles (LAX) to Boston (BOS) returned to LAX shortly after takeoff due to a possible mechanical issue," the airline said in a statement to City News Service at about 10:25 a.m. No other details were released by American Airlines, and there was no immediate comment available from the Federal Aviation Administration. The scare comes on the heels of another incident involving a Delta Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles. On Saturday morning, the Delta Airlines flight was diverted to Salt Lake City for a maintenance issue. After it landed, an inflatable emergency slide deployed inside the crowded plane, NBCLA reported. One crew member was taken to a hospital for treatment but was later discharged, officials said. Images shared on social media showed a squished slide blocking the aisle of the packed plane. Passengers aboard the Delta flight transferred to a different aircraft before completing their journey to LAX Saturday night. https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/mechanical-failure-forces-american-airlines-emergency-landing-lax British Airways Crew Member Accidentally Activates Emergency Slide On Airbus A350 Jet Bound For Austin in £50,000 Mistake A British Airways cabin crew member accidentally activated an emergency slide on a state-of-the-art Airbus A350 jet as the plane was preparing for departure to Austin, Texas, from the airline’s hub at Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning. It’s estimated that the cost to replace the slide could set British Airways back around £50,000 on top of a massive compensation bill for up to 331 passengers who were delayed by around six hours. Embarrassingly, this is the second time in less than six months that an emergency slide has been accidentally opened by a British Airways flight attendant during pushback. Inadvertent slide deployments, or ISDs as they are known in the industry, aren’t unheard of, but they normally occur after a plane has landed when the crew forget to disarm the slide on arrival. It’s incredibly rare, however, for flight attendants to accidentally open a door during the pushback process, and this repeat event will raise serious questions about BA’s safety procedures and training. In preparation for departure, flight attendants ‘arm’ the doors, which simply means that if a door is opened, then the slide will automatically inflate. The question is why the door was opened once it had been armed. British Airways flight BA191 to Austin had just pushed back from its parking stand on Sunday morning when the slide was accidentally deployed, leading to a full-scale emergency response. The plane had to be towed back to the stand, and the passengers disembarked while engineers removed the inflated slide and fitted a replacement. In the end, the same plane was used to take the passengers to Austin but with a delay of around six hours. In January, a brand new BA flight attendant who had just come out of training school ‘blew’ a slide on a Boeing 777 jet bound for Lagos, Nigeria. The incident happened during pushback when and occurred at a door that is only meant to be opened in an emergency. A spokesperson for British Airways said the airline has “apologised” to the passengers for the delay to their journey. https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2023/06/12/british-airways-crew-member-accidentally-activates-emergency-slide-on-airbus-a350-jet-bound-for-austin-in-50000-mistake/ Months after similar incident, Air India grounds two pilots for inviting female friend into cockpit NEW DELHI: Over a month after an Air India pilot was grounded for inviting his female friend into the cockpit, the airline has now initiated action against two pilots for inviting a woman into the cockpit of a Delhi-Leh flight last week. The Air India management acted against the pilot and the co-pilot soon after receiving a complaint from the cabin crew regarding an unauthorised female passenger entering the cockpit of the AI-445 aircraft. The licence of the pilot in command (PIC) of the Delhi-Dubai flight of February 27, 2023, who invited a female friend into the flight deck, has been suspended for three months. The DGCA has fined Air India Rs 30 lakh in this case for not taking prompt action. "A female friend of AI-445 pilot entered the cockpit without following rules, both pilots have been grounded/off-roster by Air India," a top Air India official told ANI. Responding to the incident, the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, "DGCA is aware of the issue and necessary action is being taken in the matter in accordance with the procedures." "Air India formed a committee for the detail investigations," an official told ANI. There was no official response from Air India as yet. "Air India formed a committee for the detail investigations," an official told ANI. The Leh route is one of the most difficult and sensitive air routes in the country in terms of safety and security and allowing an unauthorised person in the cockpit in a commercial aircraft is amounts to a violation of law. "Landing at Leh airport is one of the toughest operations across country due to the high altitude mountainous terrain and sensitive too due to the presence of the country's defence forces bases. Moreover, to operate in this terrain requires a very good health record due to insufficient oxygen levels and due to this only highly skilled pilots with good health record should be deployed for Leh operations," aviation expert Vipul Saxena said. The DGCA recently suspended the license of an Air India pilot who welcomed his female friend into the cockpit of Air India flight AI-915 on the Dubai to Delhi route on February 27. The DGCA also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on the airline for allegedly not taking prompt and effective action in the cockpit violation incident. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/months-after-similar-incident-air-india-grounds-two-pilots-for-inviting-female-friend-into-cockpit/articleshow/100961415.cms?from=mdr Nepal's efforts fall short as EU retains Nepali airlines on air safety blacklist KATHMANDU, June 11: The European Union (EU) has refused to remove Nepali airlines companies from its blacklist. Unveiling the latest report on the air safety list, the Department for Mobility and Transport of the EU has continued blacklisting 20 Nepali airlines companies. These include the majority of private airlines and helicopter companies along with the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC). “These air carriers are banned from operating or are subject to operational restrictions within the Union, as published in the Official Journal of the European Union,” reads the EU report. According to officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the EU authority has refused to remove Nepali airlines from the blacklist mainly due to the government’s apathy to unbundle the CAAN. The EU has long been raising its concern to split CAAN into regulation and operational bodies as the main condition to remove Nepali airlines from the list. The EU has kept Nepal on its air safety blacklist for the past one decade due to which the airline companies registered in Nepal are not allowed to operate flights to EU member states. As a result, the aircraft of the NAC, among others, are not allowed to conduct their flights to the EU skies but the aircraft from EU member states can use Nepal’s sky in an accessible manner. For the past one year, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of the EU had carried out the safety audit of the Nepali airlines companies. Although the EU agency stood positive in the beginning, it was reportedly unsatisfied with the government’s slow process of unbundling the CAAN. On December 5, 2013, the Commission had imposed a blanket ban on all airlines from Nepal from flying into the EU. Last year, the United Nations aviation watchdog International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) formally asked Nepal to split the civil aviation body into two entities—service provider and regulator. Although the governments formed at different times expressed their initiatives to pass the related laws, the bill has remained pending at the Federal Parliament. https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/nepal-s-efforts-fall-short-as-eu-retains-nepali-airlines-on-air-safety-blacklist/ Families of Flight 3407 concerned with changes to first officer qualifications Families of the victims of Colgan Air Flight 3407 have expressed concern about the latest FAA Reauthorization Bill The families of the Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash victims have expressed concern that the new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Bill will weaken airline safety in the United States (US). 51 people lost their lives in the fatal crash, including one person on the ground. In a public statement released on June 13, 2023, family members and close friends of the victims of the 2009 accident said they would attend the mark up session for the bill and expressed their “concern that some key components of the bill will weaken the First Officer pilot qualifications which were established in the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2010 and have been pivotal in reducing commercial airline fatalities in the US”. Scott Maurer, a family member of one of the victims said: “The track record that has resulted from the mandates included in the 2010 legislation is indisputable. Those safety mandates work in tandem. This is the safest period in US aviation history and the First Officer qualifications have played a critical role in this.” Stating that there has not been a single fatality in a crash in the US since 2009, Maurer noted: “if it’s not broken, why fix it?”. The group, which unites relatives of the fatal Colgan Air Flight 3407 crash, had been pivotal in changing US legislation, to ensure carriers only employ first officers once they have accumulated 1,500 flight hours. They continued their efforts even after the changes were enforced, fighting what they refer to as “aggressive and well-financed lobbying campaigns over the years”. “With the new bill moving forward, the First Officer qualifications and the other provisions are again being reviewed,” stated Karen Eckert, another relative of victim in the accident. Flight 3407, a regularly scheduled flight operated by Colgan Air on behalf of Continental Airlines, crashed on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) when it was coming to land from New Jersey Newark International Airport (EWR). The National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB) concluded that three out of four possible causes were related to the actions of the pilots. The changes were introduced once then-President Barrack Obama signed the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010 in August 2010. The bill introduced more stringent flight hour requirements for Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate holders, while all Part 121 had to have an ATP from August 2, 2013. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/families-of-flight-3407-concerned-with-changes-to-first-officer-qualifications IBAC and Aviation Safety Solutions join forces to deliver new training course 0 The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) and Aviation Safety Solutions, have launched a new online educational offering, the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Protocol Standardization (IPS) course. The new program is designed for business aircraft operators, safety managers, and auditors seeking knowledge of the IS-BAO protocols via a user-friendly, self-paced format. Andrew Karas, IS-BAO program director said, “We are excited to launch this course and extend our gratitude to Amanda Ferraro, CEO of Aviation Safety Solutions (AVSS), and her team for working with us to design this curriculum. This co-developed course with AVSS was formed out of a mutual passion for delivering best practices for business aviation operations, including education and training programmes for operators and auditors. We look forward to sharing this new tool with the industry.” The IS-BAO Protocol Standardization (IPS) course is accessible through the IS-BAO Training and Resources web page or by going directly to the Aviation Safety Solutions IPS course registration. This training course takes a step-by-step intuitive approach to review each IS-BAO section, accompanied by explanations for every protocol requirement. The course takes seven hours to complete, and users can stop and start as needed; they also can review the content for up to 12 months from the first log-in. The IPS course, an advanced educational channel for IS-BAO participants, is now accessible to all business aviation professionals. The course is expected to be integrated with the program’s workshops in the near future, further enhancing its offerings. “Aviation Safety Solutions is very proud to partner with the world-renowned International Business Aviation Council to offer this unique and innovative training opportunity for individuals who wish to achieve IS-BAO certification to become familiar with the best practices to achieve the highest levels of safety and professionalism, as well as for those who wish to improve and strengthen their knowledge of IS-BAO protocols to raise their safety knowledge bar,” said Amanda Ferraro. “We are extremely grateful for this opportunity to join forces to advance aviation safety across the globe.” https://www.businessairportinternational.com/news/ibac-and-aviation-safety-solutions-join-forces-to-deliver-new-training-course.html Flight Attendant Calls In Bomb Threat To Ground Ex-Boyfriend My gosh, love can be rough sometimes, eh? Every so often we hear a story of someone calling in a bomb threat on a flight because they’re running late, or because they don’t want someone to take a flight. However, as flagged by PYOK, it’s not usually a veteran flight attendant making such a call… A 47-year-old Aerolineas Argentinas flight attendant named Daniela Carbone is accused of calling in a bomb threat on a US-bound flight because her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend were both working the flight (as flight attendants), and she couldn’t bear the thought of them being together. This incident happened on May 21, 2023, and involves Aerolineas Argentinas flight AR1304, scheduled to operate from Buenos Aires (EZE) to Miami (MIA). The flight was operated by an Airbus A330 with the registration code LV-FVH, and there were 270 passengers plus 12 crew members onboard. Carbone had been a flight attendant at Argentina’s national airline for 25 years, and she and her boyfriend of five years had recently broken up. Carbone was made aware that her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend were both working this flight, so she’s accused of devising a plan to stop this. She reportedly used her daughter’s cell phone to call in the bomb threat using voice distortion software. She reportedly directly called the captain’s phone number, stating the following: “Tell the captain that we planted three bombs in Miami. Stop f*** with politics and check the plane because they are going to fly into a thousand pieces.” The aircraft ended up being searched extensively, and not surprisingly, nothing was found. While the flight was initially supposed to depart at 7:35AM, it only ended up departing at 4:52PM, so it was delayed by over nine hours. Ouch. How the flight attendant was caught Carbone ended up being arrested on May 28, 2023, a week after the flight. Authorities had apparently been tipped off that it was her, and two iPhones ended up being seized at their home. They found searches done on the devices about “how to investigate audio,” “can you analyze an audio to find out whose voice it is,” “activate voice recognition,” and “Aerolineas Argentinas.” Carbone was arrested by airport police, and charged with aggravated coercion, public intimidation, and hindering a public service. She has been suspended without pay, and faces six years in prison if convicted. Carbone has been suspended without pay Bottom line A veteran Aerolinas Argentinas flight attendant called in a bomb threat in an attempt to prevent her ex-boyfriend from taking a trip to Miami with his new girlfriend. My gosh, breaking up can be hard to do, and I suppose it can be hard to see your ex with someone else. But that’s no excuse for acting this way, especially as a flight attendant, when you’re fully aware of the impact this will have on operations. It’s sad that her not being over her ex will now ruin her life in this way. https://onemileatatime.com/news/flight-attendant-bomb-threat/ House FAA bill would give agency new space traffic management role Space debris and air traffic control tower While the Commerce Department is setting up a civil space traffic management (civil STM) system, a House bill would give the FAA some civil STM responsibilities as well, particularly regarding reentries of debris into airspace. Credit: SpaceNews illustration NEW YORK — A bill introduced in the House to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration includes a provision directing the agency to get involved in space traffic management, potentially duplicating ongoing work at the Commerce Department. The bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the FAA reauthorization bill June 9. The committee is scheduled to mark up the bill, advancing it to the full House, June 13. One section, 600 pages into a 773-page bill, is intended to address risks from orbital debris reentering and passing through airspace. The bill refers to such objects as “covered airborne debris,” which is defined in the legislation as human-made objects once in orbit that have reentered uncontrollably and pose “a potential risk to the safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce.” The bill instructs the FAA to establish a program to track objects “that are potential sources of covered airborne debris” with a focus on identifying those about to reenter and could pose a risk to aircraft in airspace. That program would coordinate with the FAA’s air traffic control system to identify airspace that needs to be closed for a reentry. It would allow the FAA to establish its own space situational awareness (SSA) facilities and work with other federal agencies, companies or international organizations for data on such objects. While the focus of the bill is tracking debris to assess airspace risks, the bill does enable additional uses of the data the FAA collects. In particular, it directs the FAA to offer “a basic level of data, information, and services” at no charge. That includes maintaining a public catalog of space objects and “emergency conjunction notifications” of such objects. That would appear to duplicate at some level what the Commerce Department is currently developing to handle civil space traffic management responsibilities assigned to it under Space Policy Directive (SPD) 3 in June 2018. The department’s Office of Space Commerce is developing the Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, that will use SSA data from multiple sources and provide basic services, like conjunction warnings, free of charge. The bill makes no mention of TraCSS or work being done by Commerce on space traffic management. The issue has not been the subject of hearings by the committee in this Congress. A committee spokesperson did not respond to questions June 12 about provisions in the bill. Industry officials say they believe the intent of the provision is focused on aviation safety, and not a broader space traffic management effort. There had been policy debates for years about whether the Commerce Department, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) or another agency should take over civil space traffic management responsibilities from the Defense Department. That debate continued until SPD-3, when the White House selected Commerce for that role, a decision supported by an independent study in 2020 by the National Academy of Public Administration requested by Congress. “It seems more like this is aimed at making sure the FAA/AST can fulfill its air safety mission” than reopening those debates, said Brian Weeden, director of program planning for the Secure World Foundation. However, “it does suggest that there is still some uncertainty about what data or services the Office of Space Commerce is going to provide to other federal agencies to support their own missions.” “The proposed language in the FAA reauthorization bill should be very narrowly focused on aircraft safety in the presence of hazards posed by reentering space objects, given that the role for STM has already been assigned to DoC,” said Dan Oltrogge, chief scientist for SSA company COMSPOC. “Apart from orbital and positional information concerning reentering objects that could be obtained from DoC, there is no need for FAA to maintain a separate catalog for on-orbit resident space objects or to generate emergency conjunction notifications for orbital objects, as these responsibilities are to be managed by DoC per SPD-3,” he added. The SSA section is the most substantive section in the bill related to space. Other sections of the report address minor issues regarding commercial space transportation statistics, spaceport reports and codifying an agreement between the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board on roles and responsibilities for commercial spaceflight accident investigations. The bill notably does not address the “learning period” that restricts the FAA’s ability to enact safety regulations for spaceflight participants; that restriction is set to expire Oct. 1. https://spacenews.com/house-faa-bill-would-give-agency-new-space-traffic-management-role/ Billy Nolen, Former FAA Administrator, Joins Archer as Its Chief Safety Officer Nolen brings 30+ years of experience in safety, regulatory affairs and flight operations to Archer and a deep passion and excitement for the future of advanced air mobility SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) has appointed Billy Nolen, former acting FAA Administrator, as its Chief Safety Officer. Nolen’s expertise in aviation safety and flight operations, along with his deep passion and excitement for advanced air mobility, will further strengthen Archer’s ability to successfully commercialize urban air mobility at scale. “I’m honored to join Archer Aviation, a true visionary at the forefront of revolutionizing urban air mobility” “Billy is an incredible leader and has long been a staunch supporter of the eVTOL aircraft industry, spearheading our country’s and the FAA’s global leadership role in this important area,” said Adam Goldstein, Archer’s founder and CEO. “Together, we will shape the future of transportation and make sustainable, efficient air travel a reality.” While at the FAA, Nolen led the agency’s efforts to enable the safe entry of eVTOL aircraft into the national airspace. Nolen has been a strong advocate for the eVTOL aircraft industry and its role in changing the way the world moves. In his new position, Nolen will play a leadership role to help Archer more effectively collaborate with industry stakeholders and help ensure its safe entry into service as it prepares for planned commercialization in 2025. “I’m honored to join Archer Aviation, a true visionary at the forefront of revolutionizing urban air mobility,” said Nolen. “The commercialization of eVTOL aircraft is no longer a question of ‘if,’ but rather ‘when’ and after careful consideration and assessing the competitive landscape, I joined Archer because I believe its approach to designing for certification and only developing the key enabling technologies necessary for eVTOL aircraft is the right recipe for success. I’m excited to bring my expertise as a former FAA administrator to Archer and believe its dedication to safety, innovation, and commercialization aligns perfectly with my own values and aspirations.” While serving as the acting administrator at the FAA from April 2022 to June 2023, Nolen led certification reform and new safety management systems for airports. Prior to that, he was the associate administrator of aviation safety for the FAA, which covers more than one million registered aircraft, more than one million active pilots, thousands of approved manufacturers, and over 50,000 flights every day. He has more than 33 years of experience in corporate safety, regulatory affairs and flight operations. Nolen started his career as a pilot for American Airlines, followed by numerous safety leadership positions at WestJet Airlines, Qantas Airways, Airlines for America and American Airlines. Nolen served tours of duty in the U.S. Army as an airplane and helicopter pilot and safety officer. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as specialized aviation safety management certificates from the University of Southern California, United States Army Safety Center, and the United States Navy Postgraduate School. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. About Archer Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks. Archer’s mission is to unlock the skies, freeing everyone to reimagine how they move and spend time. Archer's team is based in Santa Clara, CA. To learn more, visit www.archer.com. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230613009407/en/Billy-Nolen-Former-FAA-Administrator-Joins-Archer-as-Its-Chief-Safety-Officer 70 Airlines Now Fly Almost 1,100 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Worldwide The Boeing 737 has proven to be one of the most successful aircraft families in history, and the latest-generation 737 MAX family is becoming more widely used. As of May 23, 2023, nearly 70 airlines operated more than 1,080 MAX aircraft worldwide. 1080 and growing The Boeing 737 MAX program was announced in 2011, and the first passenger flight came in May 2017 with Malindo Air. Boeing announced the next-generation program less than a year after Airbus announced the neo (new engine option) program for its A320 family. There are four variants of 737 MAX aircraft. Ryanair operates a MAX 8-200, which is the same size as the MAX 8 but has an extra set of emergency exits due to the high-capacity configuration of the aircraft. VietJet and Akasa Air have also ordered the -8-200, with the latter having purchased 52. Nearly 1,100 MAX aircraft have now flown over 4.6 million flight hours and over 1.8 million flights. Almost 70 airlines operate the four variants, amounting to over 4,200 daily flights worldwide. Since last year's Farnborough Airshow, Boeing has received orders for more than 1,000 aircraft. Of those, more than 750 have been for the 737 MAX family. Recent milestones Since July 2022, nine new airlines have ordered MAX aircraft, including Delta Air Lines, the only airline of the 'big three' in the US that had not ordered Boeing's next-generation narrowbody. "The Boeing 737 MAX 10 will be an important addition to Delta's fleet as we shape a more sustainable future for air travel, with an elevated customer experience, improved fuel efficiency and best-in-class performance." - Ed Bastian, Chief Executive Officer, Delta Air Lines In late March, Japan Airlines signed a deal for 21 MAX aircraft, choosing Boeing's product over Airbus' A320neo family for its fleet replacement of the existing 737s. Mega deals have been essential for Boeing, amounting to 648 of the 1,000 aircraft ordered since July 2022. Air India placed a massive order for 220 Boeing aircraft in February, including 190 MAXs. “With the industry-leading fuel efficiency of the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777X, Air India is well positioned to achieve its expansion plans and become a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.” Stan Deal, Chief Executive Officer, Boeing On April 5, Chicago-based United Airlines shared on social media that it had received its 100th MAX aircraft. The addition of the 100th MAX, registered N17301, made United the second-largest operator of MAX aircraft worldwide, passing Ryanair. According to ch-aviation, United now has 109 in its fleet. Southwest Airlines remains number one worldwide, with 180, and the Ryanair Group has 96 between Ryanair and Malta Air. https://simpleflying.com/70-airlines-fly-almost-1100-boeing-737-max-aircraft-worldwide-june-2023/ SpiceJet Wet-Leases Two Airbus A340 Aircraft For Hajj Flights The airline plans to carry around 21,000 Hajj pilgrims this year. The season for Hajj flights is in full swing, with airlines adding capacity and even inducting new planes temporarily to meet demand. SpiceJet, like other Indian carriers, has also been carrying pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and has wet-leased two widebody planes to cater to the seasonal demand. SpiceJet wet-leases two Airbus A340 planes Indian budget carrier SpiceJet has inducted two Airbus A340 aircraft to meet seasonal demand for Hajj travel from India. The airline began these special flights on June 7th and will operate out of five cities in India – Bhopal, Gaya, Vijayawada, Aurangabad, and Srinagar. Airlines are allocated a quota of Hajj flights every year, and SpiceJet plans to operate 200 of these flights, carrying around 21,000 pilgrims. The first phase of the flight began on June 7th and will last until June 22nd. The second phase of return flights will begin on July 17th and last until August 2nd. One of the planes in Legend Airlines' livery (YR-LRC) has been spotted landing in Ras al Khaimah. The two wet-leased A340s will give the airline much-needed capacity for these seasonal flights alongside some of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which are also being used to carry pilgrims. Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, commented, “This will be our highest-ever multi-city operation and the first time we are deploying wide-body aircraft for Hajj. We are all geared up to ensure a hassle-free and delightful pilgrimage. I wish everyone a wonderful experience at Mecca this year.” Not the first time SpiceJet is not new to operating Hajj flights or even widebody planes. Last year, it was, in fact, the only Indian airline to operate Hajj flights out of India. And while the airline is using widebody capacity this year for these flights, it has also operated larger planes in the past. During COVID, when airlines were forced to bring down the number of passenger flights, SpiceJet pivoted its business strategy and wet-leased an A340 for cargo operations. In August 2020, the carrier flew its first long-haul cargo flight from India between Delhi and Frankfurt, carrying 45 tonnes of supplies. The widebody was part of SpiceXpress, the carrier's freighter arm. Over the next few months, the airline inducted a few more A340s and carried out cargo operations to destinations including Frankfurt, Hong Kong, and even Khartoum, Sudan. Fleet expansion While the A340s will allow SpiceJet to accommodate more passengers for Hajj flights, it will need more aircraft for the long term to improve its market share and overall business in the coming months. The airline has been operating with reduced capacity for quite a while now, but all that will change as it embarks on a fleet expansion mission. The airline has signed a lease agreement for ten additional Boeing 737s, with deliveries beginning in September this year. A full breakdown of the 737 variants that make up the deal is not yet known, but it is believed that at least five of the ten aircraft would be 737 MAXs. The airline is also working to bring back several of its grounded aircraft in time to serve the peak season in India towards the end of the year. https://simpleflying.com/spicejet-wet-leases-airbus-a340-hajj-flights/ Curt Lewis