Source: US DOT The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of January 2024 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. DOT expects that airlines will operate flights as scheduled and that when they do not, airlines will provide consumers the services consumers have been promised when a flight is canceled or delayed because of an airline issue. After a two-year DOT push to improve the passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines now guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel [...]

Source: Airlines 4 America Airlines for America (A4A), The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Allied Pilots Association (APA) sent the following letter to Secretary Blinken and Secretary Buttigieg on additional flights between the U.S. and China. Coaition-China-LetterDownload

Source: IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA) successfully brought together more than 400 representatives of the aviation community from across the Americas at its 14th edition of the Wings of Change Americas Conference (WOCA). Under the theme "Advancing Aviation for a Competitive and Sustainable Future", the two-day event held in Santiago, Chile on 10 and 11 April provided a platform for meaningful discussions and collaboration to shape the future of air transport in the region. For the first time, 16 ministers of tourism from across the Americas attended the event, underlining the important interdependency between tourism and aviation. In his opening remarks, Peter Cerdá, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas, drew attention to the fact that over 90% [...]

Source: TSA Number of firearm detections comparable to last year's first quarter firearm detections, rate of firearms detected per million passengers decreased Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted 1,503 firearms at airport security checkpoints during the first quarter of 2024, which ended March 31. This total represents an average of 16.5 firearms per day detected at TSA checkpoints, comparable to firearm detections during the same time period in 2023, when TSA officers intercepted 1,508 firearms at airport security checkpoints, an average of 16.8 firearm catches per day. During both time periods, more than 93% of firearms were loaded.   Firearms at checkpoints Firearms per day Rate per million passengers Percentage loaded Total passengers screened Q1 2024 1,503 16.5 7.3 93% >206 [...]

Source: US FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes five civil penalties totaling $2.9 million against Asia Pacific Airlines of Honolulu, Hawaii. The cases are as follows: $2,436,850 for allegedly using unqualified pilots on 163 Boeing 757 flights between Dec. 20, 2022, and Feb. 1, 2023. The FAA notified the company on Dec. 16, 2022, the pilots were unqualified but the company continued to use them. $250,000 for allegedly operating Boeing 757 aircraft on 121 flights without authority from an individual who was authorized to exercise operational control of those flights. The flights occurred between Dec. 20, 2022, and Feb. 1, 2023. $150,000 for allegedly conducting 30 flights with Boeing 757 aircraft that did not comply with conditions and limitations when certain equipment [...]