Flight Safety Information - July 30, 2025 No. 151 In This Issue : Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Mexico City on Jul 28th 2025, cabin did not pressurize : Incident: United B788 at Washington on Jul 25th 2025, engine shut down in flight : Accident: Easyjet A21N at Tenerife on Jul 24th 2025, hard landing : Incident: Cairo A320 at Cairo on Jul 27th 2025, loss of cabin pressure : Top U.S. Airlines Speak Out Against Possible TSA Changes : Passengers Evacuated After Smoke Spotted in the Landing Gear of Turkish Airlines Plane : NTSB launches hearings on deadly Washington collision between a helicopter and passenger plane : Man Charged with Allegedly Assaulting Flight Attendant Because He Was Denied Use of Bathroom : FAA Lets American Airlines Staff New Dreamliners With Just 7 Crew: Flight Attendants Say It’s a Disaster Waiting to Happen : Boeing narrows loss in quarterly earnings as airplane deliveries surge : NetJets expands service support infrastructure in Europe : JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department : Calendar of Events Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Mexico City on Jul 28th 2025, cabin did not pressurize An Aeromexico Boeing 737-800, registration XA-PPP performing flight AM-190 from Mexico City to Mexicali (Mexico), was climbing out of Mexico City when the crew stopped the climb at about 17,500 feet due to problems with the pressurization systems. The crew decided to return to Mexico City for a safe landing on runway 05R about 35 minutes after departure. The airline reported the failure of the pressurization systems. A replacement Boeing 737-800 registration N958AM reached Mexicali with a delay of about 3 hours. The occurrence aircraft returned to service about 24 hours after landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52af1611&opt=0 Incident: United B788 at Washington on Jul 25th 2025, engine shut down in flight A United Boeing 787-8, registration N27901 performing flight UA-108 from Washington Dulles,DC (USA) to Munich (Germany), was climbing out of Dulles' runway 30 cleared to climb to 10,000 feet when the crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet - ATC queried them to confirm to climb to 10,000 feet. The crew declared emergency reporting the failure of the left hand engine (GEnx). The crew positioned for an approach to Dulles' runway 19C, but then requested to climb to 6000 feet for a fuel dump of 6 minutes. The aircraft positioned for another approach to runway 19C and landed safely about 55 minutes after departure. The aircraft returned to service on Jul 28th 2025. https://avherald.com/h?article=52af147c&opt=0 Accident: Easyjet A21N at Tenerife on Jul 24th 2025, hard landing An Easyjet Europe Airbus A321-200N, registration OE-IUB performing flight U2-3733 from Milan Malpensa (Italy) to Tenerife South,CI (Spain), landed on Tenerife's runway 25 at 17:25L (16:25Z) when the aircraft initiated a go around, positioned for another approach and landed on runway 25 about 15 minutes later. The aircraft was unable to depart for the return flight and is still on the ground in Tenerife 5 days later. The Aviation Herald received information, that the aircraft suffered a hard landing. https://avherald.com/h?article=52af098d&opt=0 Incident: Cairo A320 at Cairo on Jul 27th 2025, loss of cabin pressure An Air Cairo Airbus A320-200, registration SU-BTM performing flight SM-501 from Cairo (Egypt) to Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), was enroute at FL330 about 280nm east of Cairo when the crew initiated an emergency descent to FL120 due to the loss of cabin pressure. The aircraft returned to Cairo for a safe landing about 1:55 hours after departure. According to information The Aviation Herald received the aircraft had been dispatched under minimum equipment list requirements with engine #2 (CFM56) bleed inoperative. In flight engine #1 bleed failed, too, the APU could not be used above FL200, hence cabin pressure was lost prompting the crew to don their oxygen masks and initiate an emergency descent. The aircraft returned to service about 10 hours after landing back. https://avherald.com/h?article=52af0606&opt=0 Incident: Gojet CRJ7 at Newark on Jul 27th 2025, cabin did not pressurize A Gojet Airlines Canadair CRJ-550 on behalf of United, registration N563GJ performing UA-4172 from Newark,NJ to Washington National,DC (USA), was climbing out of Newark when the crew stopped the climb at FL190 and entered a hold due to the cabin not pressurizing. The aircraft descended to 10,000 feet and returned to Newark for a safe landing about one hour after departure. A passenger reported that the oxygen masks were deployed and they were instructed to use them. The aircraft returned to Newark, the flight was cancelled. https://avherald.com/h?article=52af0391&opt=0 Top U.S. Airlines Speak Out Against Possible TSA Changes Lawmakers have proposed a bill that would institute a pretty significant change for the Transportation Security Administration, limiting the agency's ability to use facial recognition software at its security checkpoints. As the bill goes through Congress, the major airlines in the United States are voicing their opposition. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley and Republican John Kennedy, aims to protect Americans’ ability to opt out of TSA facial recognition screenings at airports and prevent abuse of passenger data. If the law were to pass, TSA would be required to provide passengers with the option to have their identity verified without the use of facial recognition. It would also prohibit TSA from giving those travelers discriminatory treatment or less favorable screening conditions. "The TSA subjects countless law-abiding Americans to excessive facial recognition screenings as they travel, invading passengers’ privacy without even making it clear that they can opt out of the screening," Kennedy said in May, according to Reuters. "Folks don’t want a national surveillance state, but that’s exactly what the TSA’s unchecked expansion of facial recognition technology is leading us to," Merkley also said back in May. On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce Committee is set to consider the legislation, but the United States' major airlines are urging Senators to vote against the bill. Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and others, along with U.S. Travel and two airport groups, sent a letter opposing the bill. In the letter, which was obtained by Reuters, the airlines did not hold back their thoughts on the possible change, claiming it would "increase wait times considerably by slowing down identity verification at every airport security checkpoint." The letter warned that it would "Restricting TSA’s use of biometrics is a step backward for our national security," the letter read. The letter added that the changes would "prevent TSA from achieving staffing efficiencies through technology automation by requiring officer-based interactions – forcing 75% of TSA’s budget to remain tied to staffing rather than technology investment." The TSA has been moving forward with innovation in recent months in an attempt to streamline the airport security process and make it more efficient, adding technology like automated e-gates and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID. The airlines believe the changes would undermine this innovation and "create an overwhelming and chaotic environment at every airport security check." https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/top-u-airlines-speak-against-193629673.html Passengers Evacuated After Smoke Spotted in the Landing Gear of Turkish Airlines Plane A "technical malfunction in the hydraulic pipe" caused the incident, according to an airline spokesperson Passengers evacuated a Turkish Airlines flight on Tuesday, July 29, after crews spotted smoke in the landing gear All 247 passengers and 13 crew members evacuated safely without injury The incident follows an American Airlines flight that evacuated at Denver International Airport after a "mechanical issue" on July 26 Passengers onboard a Turkish Airlines flight were evacuated after smoke was spotted in the landing gear. In video footage obtained by local Turkish outlet Mynet, passengers are seen panicking at the foot of deployed emergency exit slides. Both adults and children run away from the aircraft as rescue crews appear in the background. The Boeing 777-300 departed Istanbul and made a “normal landing” at Antalya Airport on July 29. However, ground crews saw something out of the ordinary emerging from the landing gear. “Smoke was observed emanating from the landing gear during taxiing, which was noticed by the air traffic controller and reported to the pilot,” Enes Çakmak, a leader of Turkey’s General Directorate of State Airports Authority, said in a translated post on X. He added: “Subsequently, swift coordination was established between the control tower and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting) units, and our teams promptly arrived at the scene.” All 247 passengers and 13 crew members evacuated. No injuries were reported. A video shared by Çakmak on X shows firefighters on the tarmac spraying water on the landing gear. Two photos capture the plane with its emergency exit slides deployed. Another clip shows the plane safely towed after inspection. “I extend my gratitude to all my colleagues, particularly our air traffic control and ARFF teams, who acted promptly and effectively with their professional reflexes,” Çakmak said in his post. “I hope such an incident does not occur again.” Yahya Üstün, Turkish Airlines’ senior vice president of communications, said a “technical malfunction” caused the incident. “Technical inspections of the aircraft have been initiated by our authorized teams,” he wrote on X. “Initial findings indicate that the smoke was caused by a technical malfunction in the hydraulic pipe.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/passengers-evacuated-smoke-spotted-landing-230535090.html NTSB launches hearings on deadly Washington collision between a helicopter and passenger plane Three days of investigative hearings on the deadly midair collision over Washington in January begin Wednesday and aim to reveal new insights into what caused the crash between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people. The National Transportation Safety Board will question witnesses and investigators about how the actions of the Federal Aviation Administration and its air traffic controllers and the Army may have contributed to the nation's deadliest plane crash since November 2001. It's likely too early for the board to identify the cause of the crash. The American Airlines plane from Wichita, Kansas collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while coming into land at Ronald Reagan National Airport and was the first in a string of crashes and near misses this year that have alarmed officials and the travelling public, despite statistics that still show flying remains the safest form of transportation. Investigations have already shown the FAA failed to recognize a troubling history of 85 near misses around Reagan airport in the years before the collision, and that the Army's helicopters routinely flew around the nation's capitol with a key piece of locating equipment, known as ADS-B Out, turned off. Aviation attorney Bob Clifford, who is working to file one of the first lawsuits against the government next month, said he hopes NTSB will look beyond the immediate factors that caused this crash to highlight the bigger ongoing concerns in the crowded Washington airspace. “In this particular instance, there’s a much broader picture. And that is the known problems that were being ignored about an unsafe environment for the commercial aircraft to be navigating with the military aviation helicopters in the area,” Clifford said. Even though the final NTSB report won't be released until sometime next year, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz isn't waiting to propose changes. He introduced legislation Tuesday that would require all aircraft operators to use both forms of ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, the technology to broadcast aircraft location data to other planes and air traffic controllers. Most aircraft today are equipped with ADS-B Out equipment but the airlines would have to add the more comprehensive ADS-B In technology to their planes. “There cannot be a double standard in aviation safety,” Cruz said. “We should not tolerate special exceptions for military training flights, operating in congested air space.” The legislation would revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircrafts. It also would require the FAA to evaluate helicopter routes near airports and require the Army Inspector General to review the Army’s aviation safety practices. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said her agency has been recommending that move for decades after several other crashes. “In 2008, we sent a letter to FAA stating the board believes that the equipage of aircraft with ADS-B In capability will provide — and I want to stress this — an immediate and substantial contribution to safety, especially during operations in and around airports,” she said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that while he’d like to discuss “a few tweaks,” the legislation is “the right approach.” He also suggested that the previous administration “was asleep at the wheel” amid dozens of near-misses in the airspace around Washington's airspace. Homendy said the hearings over the next few days will be a “fact-finding proceeding.” In addition, the NTSB will also post thousands of pages of evidence from the crash investigation online Wednesday morning. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said that he expects “we’re going to have some very uncomfortable conversations over the next two and a half days” but that “they need to be had in the clear light of day – and simply put the best interest of the traveling public ahead of any of our personal interests, perhaps.” The hearings in Washington will involve NTSB board members, investigators and witnesses for organizations involved in the crash. Panels will focus on military helicopter routes in the Washington area, collision avoidance technology and training for air traffic controllers at Ronald Reagan National Airport, among other subjects. Federal officials have also raised concerns over the nation’s outdated. and understaffed air traffic control system. During January’s mid-air crash above Washington, one controller was handing both commercial airline and helicopter traffic at the busy airport. Duffy has announced a multi-billion-dollar plan to overhaul the system controllers use that relies on old technology like floppy disks. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ntsb-launches-hearings-deadly-washington-040403893.html Man Charged with Allegedly Assaulting Flight Attendant Because He Was Denied Use of Bathroom The Australian Federal Police said the man "refused a crew member’s instruction to take his seat" and allegedly pushed the crew member during the incident Australian Federal Police A photo of the man allegedly involved in the dispute from the Australian Federal Police A 59-year-old man has been charged with allegedly assaulting an airline crew member after a bathroom dispute on a plane to Brisbane at Perth Airport in Australia Local police said the man “refused a crew member’s instruction to take his seat” and "pushed" the crew member because he wanted to go to the bathroom If convicted of the crime, the man could face up to 14 years in prison, Australian Federal Police said A 59-year-old man has been arrested and charged in Australia following a bathroom dispute on a plane. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) shared in a news release on Tuesday, July 29, that the airline passenger — who was not identified — was removed from a flight to Brisbane at Perth Airport by police on July 14. Police said the man allegedly “refused a crew member’s instruction to take his seat” as the flight was preparing for departure “because he wanted to use the bathroom,” and “pushed the crew member.” The incident was then reported to the flight captain, who requested assistance from police at the airport. AFP officers went to the gate and “removed the man” from the plane. Officers alleged that the man had also been “uncooperative with police.” AFP shared an arrest image of the man being taken away from the flight. In the photo, he could be seen wearing a white button up shirt and black slacks as he sat down in an area with a white interior. Police did not say if he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or any other substances at the time of the incident. AFP Inspector Peter Brindal said airline crew members "worked to ensure a safe journey for all travellers" and that "any aggressive or violent behaviour towards them was unacceptable." Candace Owens says ‘they’ll fake kill’ Brigitte Macron rather than go through discovery in defamation lawsuit The Independent “The AFP has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to the assault or mistreatment of airline staff, and anyone who commits such an offense can be prosecuted,” Brindal said in a statement, per the release. The 59-year-old has been charged with “one count of assaulting a crew member, contrary to section 318A of the Criminal Code.” If found guilty of this charge, the man could face up to 14 years in prison, police said. The man is set to make his first appearance at Perth Magistrates Court on July 29. There have also been a number of unruly passengers flagged in airports across the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said there have been 934 unruly passenger reports in 2025, as of July 27. The FAA said anyone who is flagged as an unruly passenger may face a felony conviction and fines of up to “$37,000 per violation for unruly passenger cases,” according to its website. https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/man-charged-allegedly-assaulting-flight-134114970.html FAA Lets American Airlines Staff New Dreamliners With Just 7 Crew: Flight Attendants Say It’s a Disaster Waiting to Happen Flight attendants at American Airlines are stepping up a campaign to mandate at least one crew member per door on widebody aircraft, calling on the new administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford, to reverse a decision that allows the Dallas-based airline to operate its new premium-configured Boeing 787-9s with just seven flight attendants. Why American Airlines Flight Attendants Are So Concerned Last month, the FAA approved an application from American Airlines to staff its new premium-configured Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (known internally as the 787P) with just seven crew members. All models of the Boeing 787 have eight emergency exits, meaning that one exit will not have a flight attendant stationed beside it, and that in the event of an evacuation, one crew member would be required to try to open two exits. Interior of new American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner The 787P is a big win for the passenger experience, but flight attendants are concerned that reduced staffing levels have crossed a safety red line. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), however, fears that in reality, one exit would not be opened and that could significantly lengthen the amount of time it takes to evacuate an aircraft. It should be noted that American Airlines doesn’t intend to routinely deploy its 787Ps with just seven crewmembers, but should a flight attendant go sick at the last minute, the airline can still fly the plane without incurring a delay or costly cancellation. However, if a flight does depart with only seven crew members, it would leave just one flight attendant at the aft of the plane, in the dense Economy section. Union Highlights Concerns To New FAA Administrator In a letter to the recently appointed FAA administrator, Bryan Bedford, the American Airlines flight attendant union claims that the recertification of the 787-9 with just seven crew members has “crossed a critical line,” and has enabled the airline to prioritize cost-cutting over passenger safety. “Through this recertification, a single Flight Attendant is left responsible for evacuating hundreds of passengers through two emergency exits on opposite sides of a widebody aircraft and nearest to where the highest density of passengers is seated,” the letter explains. Invalid request error occurred. Reduced staffing levels to less than one flight attendant per widebody door currently only apply to AA’s subfleet of premium-configured Boeing 787-9s. “There is no question that an unattended emergency exit hinders the ability for passengers and crew to evacuate safely and efficiently within the 90-second parameter.” Some of the immediate concerns raised by the union include: The possibility that the sole flight attendant at the rear of the plane is incapacitated, leaving two doors at the aft of the aircraft unopened in an evacuation. The ability of the flight attendant to open both doors at the rear of the aircraft. What would happen if a single flight attendant were left to deal with a serious security threat at the rear of the aircraft? Julie Hedrick, president of the flight attendant union, raises the fact that the Trump administration is currently looking at how understaffing has affected aviation safety, framing the reduction in crew members on the 787P against air traffic controller shortages. How Do AA’s Widebody Staffing Levels Compare To Delta’s And United’s? Since the 1970s, it has become standard for US airlines to station at least one flight attendant at every emergency exit on widebody (dual-aisle) airplanes. That, however, changed during the COVID-19 pandemic when passenger demand plummeted and airlines started deploying widebody aircraft with far fewer passengers. United’s Boeing 787s are certified to fly with just seven flight attendants. During this time, both Delta and United Airlines applied for permission from the FAA to reduce minimum flight attendant staffing on some widebody aircraft types. United secured a minimum flight attendant level of just seven crew members on all of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, including the larger -10 model, which can carry 74 more passengers than AA’s 787P. Delta Air Lines was given permission to operate its similarly sized Airbus A330 aircraft with just six crew members. An International Comparison – Eight Doors And Only Six Flight Attendants Internationally, it’s not uncommon for widebody aircraft to be certified for commercial passenger use with fewer flight attendants than there are emergency exits. For example, in Europe, the Boeing 787 has been certified with a minimum of six flight attendants. Most airlines have more than this number of crew members for onboard service reasons, but they don’t have any issues deploying aircraft with these minimum staffing levels when circumstances warrant it. The number of cabin crew required is usually set during the primary certification of the aircraft, but if this is not explicitly stated, then European regulators require at least one crew member per 50 passenger seats (or fraction thereof) on each deck of an aircraft. In some extreme cases, this rule has led to European airlines temporarily removing seats from their planes to reduce the number of cabin crew they have on board. Single-Aisle Aircraft Have Long Had Fewer Crew Than Doors While reducing the minimum flight attendant staffing levels on widebody aircraft is quickly becoming a hot topic, it has long been the case on single-aisle aircraft that there can be fewer flight attendants than there are emergency exits. The thinking is that on a much smaller airframe, a single flight attendant can quickly and easily get from one side of the aisle to the other in order to open two emergency exits and deploy the evacuation slides. In real-life evacuations, this isn’t always the case, and there have been recent examples of emergency exits being left open while a single flight attendant focuses on evacuating passengers from the exit that they were immediately stationed next to. Aircraft Manufacturers Replacing Staffed Doors With Self-Help Exits In recent years, we’ve seen aircraft manufacturers explore ways to replace traditionally crew-supervised emergency exits with self-help exits that are activated by passengers without any involvement from flight attendants. The goal behind this shift is essentially to squeeze even more seats on board single-aisle aircraft, where floor-level doors used to be situated. One of the most evident examples of this is on the Airbus A321 aircraft. In the past, this aircraft had right floor-level emergency exits, but recent iterations of this model allow airlines to replace the second floor-level exit with self-help overwing exits. There have not, however, been any industry plans to replace floor-level exits with self-help exits on widebody aircraft. DARED Principles Require Trained Flight Attendants To Shorten Evacuation Time In the 1990s, Boeing conducted research on the important role that flight attendants had in ensuring that emergency evacuations could be completed in or under the long-established 90-second limit. Online Petition Calls for Stopping to Get Hand Luggae in an Emergency Evacuation to be Made a Crime Flight attendants undergo weeks of emergency evacuation training. The research found that there were five key principles that flight attendants should be taught to ensure that an evacuation is successful. These five rules have become known as the DARED principles: Dedicated Assist Space: Flight attendants must stand in a way that they can help passengers evacuate, without blocking the emergency exit, especially on widebody aircraft fitted with dual lane escape slides. Assertiveness: Short, assertive commands from flight attendants are widely recognized as critical in ensuring that passengers get off the plane as fast as possible without taking their hand luggage. Redirect: Flight attendants must assess the outside conditions and redirect passengers to an alternative exit if it is not safe to open their door or if there is a malfunction with the escape slide. Exit Bypass: In some circumstances, it may be necessary to direct passengers towards an alternative door to ensure efficient use of all doors and reduce the time it takes to complete the evacuation. Dried Up Exit: In a similar vein, there might not be many passengers using a particular exit, such as in a First Class cabin, so passengers can be redirected to this exit to reduce the load on other exits. Related https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/07/30/faa-lets-american-airlines-staff-new-dreamliners-with-just-7-crew-flight-attendants-say-its-a-disaster-waiting-to-happen/ Boeing narrows loss in quarterly earnings as airplane deliveries surge Boeing reported a smaller loss in the second quarter of 2025, as a sharp increase in airplane deliveries boosted revenue. In Boeing’s second-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, President Kelly Ortberg assured that the company will continue to see profitable earnings in the future. “Our fundamental changes to strengthen safety and quality are producing improved results as we stabilize our operations and deliver higher quality airplanes, products, and services to our customers,” Ortberg said. “As we look to the second half of the year, we remain focused on restoring trust and making continued progress in our recovery while operating in a dynamic global environment.” However, the company continues to face pressure from labor unrest, safety concerns, and legal challenges that could threaten recovery. Loss narrows, revenue surges The aerospace giant posted a net loss of $611 million, or 92 cents per share, for the quarter ending June 30. That is a significant improvement from a loss of $1.44 billion, or $2.33 per share, during the same period last year. Excluding one-time charges, Boeing’s core loss was $1.24 per share, beating analyst expectations of a $1.54 loss, according to Zacks Investment Research. Revenue rose to $22.75 billion, up from $16.87 billion in the second quarter of 2024. This was primarily driven by the delivery of 150 commercial aircraft, compared to 92 deliveries in 2024. Commercial, defense division growth Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes division made $10.9 billion in revenue, despite a negative margin of 5.1%. Boeing received 455 net new orders during the quarter, including large deals with Qatar Airways and British Airways for 787 and 777-9 aircraft. Production of the 737 has ramped up to 38 jets per month, with plans to increase to 42 per month later in 2025. The company’s overall backlog grew to $619 billion, including over 5,900 commercial aircraft orders valued at $522 billion. The Defense, Space & Security segment reported $6.6 billion in revenue with a 1.7% operating margin. Striking workers More than 3,200 union workers at Boeing’s defense plants in the St. Louis area are preparing to strike on Aug. 4 after rejecting a proposed contract that included a 20% wage increase over four years. A “cooling-off” period is in effect until the strike date. This comes after Boeing resolved a 53-day strike last fall involving 33,000 commercial aircraft workers by offering a 38% wage increase over four years. Legal and safety challenges continue In a separate incident last month, an Air India 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, killing at least 270 people. While the investigation is ongoing, no mechanical issues tied to the aircraft model have been identified. During the conference, Ortberg began by expressing condolences for the lives lost. “First, I want to express our sincere condolences to the loved ones of everyone aboard Air India flight 171, as well as those affected on the ground,” Ortberg said. “Our team continues to provide technical assistance to the ongoing investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, and we are supporting our customers in any way we can.” The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings from a 17-month investigation into the Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 door plug incident in June, after the plug detached mid-flight on a 737 Max 9. The report found that gaps in Boeing’s manufacturing quality control and potential lapses in FAA oversight were to blame. In response, Boeing noted it would review the findings and continue efforts to improve safety across operations. https://mynorthwest.com/local/boeing-earnings-report-loss/4115105 NetJets expands service support infrastructure in Europe A new facility for NetJets Europe outside London is designed to enhance operational efficiency for the private jet leader. NetJets has opened a dedicated service hub at Farnborough Airport outside London, England. The hub became operational on June 2, 2025, according to the company. Per the private aviation leader, “This expansion marks a significant milestone in NetJets’ ongoing investment in its European infrastructure and underscores its commitment to delivering the highest standards of safety, reliability, and service to its owners.” The new facility is designed to support line maintenance, mechanical recovery service, and a preventative maintenance regime. It enables NetJets to bring aircraft regularly for preventive maintenance, minor repairs, and interior enhancements. Receive an apples-to-apples comparison of programs that meet your needs from more than 500 jet card and fractional options covering 65 points of differentiation and over 40,000 data points. It says, “This high-frequency maintenance model, successfully pioneered by NetJets in the U.S., is now being expanded across Europe, with Farnborough joining its additional Service Hubs already in operation in Europe.” Executive Director of Service Myra Perez says, “This facility represents a major step forward in our ability to deliver proactive, high-quality maintenance at scale.” Perez adds: ‘It allows us to keep our aircraft in peak condition, mitigate operational disruptions, and ensure our owners enjoy the highest standards of safety and comfort. This Service Hub enhances our flexibility to grow, improve crew logistics, and provide even more seamless service to our owners. It is a natural evolution of our European strategy.’ The facility is located in Hangar 2, Bay 6, at Farnborough Airport and is open 24/7 year-round. It can accommodate up to 10 aircraft, with a mix of large and small jets. The service facility features a dedicated ramp area, eliminating the need for shared parking. That increases operational efficiency. The facility includes a restocking locker for catering items and is being prepared for on-site storage of key aircraft parts, such as high-turnover items. NetJets Europe Growth Airport CEO Simon Geere says, “We are delighted to welcome NetJets’ new Service Hub to Farnborough Airport.” He adds, “This agreement further strengthens our commercial partnership, with the facility providing comprehensive line and base maintenance capabilities for the NetJets fleet, and supporting their long-term growth ambitions in Europe.” NetJets’ facility incorporates electric ground power units, electric tugs, and silenced hangar doors to minimize noise and environmental impact. The hub will see maintenance work performed by selected third-party MRO vendors dedicated primarily to NetJets. The European arm of NetJets added its 100th tail back in 2022. The U.K. is Europe’s second-largest market, accounting for 14.1% of departures through June, per WingX. https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2025/07/30/netjets-expands-service-support-infrastructure-in-europe/ JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department (Reuters) -JetBlue and United Airlines have cleared the U.S. Department of Transportation's review of their planned partnership which allows them to proceed with the implementation, the companies said on Tuesday. JetBlue had been seeking partnerships after a federal judge blocked its alliance with American Airlines in 2023. In May, JetBlue and United unveiled a partnership, dubbed "Blue Sky", that would allow travelers to book flights on both carriers' websites, while interchangeably earning and using points in their frequent flyer programs. Under the agreement, JetBlue would also provide United access to slots at the congested JFK International Airport at New York for up to seven daily round-trip flights, set to begin in 2027. The company said that the partnership is expected to contribute $50 million more in incremental operating profit than it had initially planned. "We believe Blue Sky will enable each airline to offer its customers access to hundreds of new flights and destinations through a traditional interline agreement," said Marty St. George, JetBlue's president. Spirit Airlines in June had urged the U.S. transportation body to reject the collaboration between the two carriers, saying it was anticompetitive and would prompt other large carriers to pursue similar deals. Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital, said by removing the antitrust triggers that led to the collapse of JetBlue's Northeast Alliance — such as shared revenue and joint scheduling — BlueSky has introduced a model that other mid-sized carriers could replicate with less risk of regulatory pushback. Antitrust officials under the Trump administration have been taking a more lenient approach to corporate deals, a shift from the stricter stance seen under Biden. In June, they approved several multibillion-dollar deals in just one week, signaling a greater willingness to settle with companies. More than 100 transactions have been granted shorter reviews this year, according to FTC data from July. JetBlue and United said that Blue Sky would begin introducing new customer benefits starting in fall 2025, rolling them out in phases. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/jetblue-united-airlines-partnership-gets-103924479.html CALENDAR OF EVENTS . Aircraft Fire Hazards, Protection, and Investigation, 5 to 7 August 2025 Woburn MA 01801 USA. . Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2025; 10-11 September 2025; Manila, Philippines . 2025 PROS IOSA SUMMIT - SEPT 10-11 - Denver, CO · ISASI ANNUAL SEMINAR 2025'September 29, 2025 – October 3, 2025, DENVER, COLORADO . 2025 NBAA Single-Pilot Safety Standdown; Monday, Oct. 13 | 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; Las Vegas, NV . 2025 NBAA National Safety Forum, Tuesday, Oct. 14 – Wednesday, Oct. 15; Las Vegas, NV . Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC™) - 2025 – October 27-29th (Omaha, Nebraska) . 78TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SAFETY SUMMIT (IASS) - Lisbon, November 4–6 . 29th annual Bombardier Safety Standdown, November 11-13, 2025; Wichita, Kansas · CHC Safety & Quality Summit, 11th – 13th November 2025, Vancouver, BC Canada . 2026 ACSF Safety Symposium; April 7-9, 2026; ERAU Daytona Beach, FL . 2026 NBAA Maintenance Conference; May 5-7, 2026; New Orleans, LA . 2026 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) Oct. 20-22, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV Curt Lewis