Air India proposes even longer nonstop: 18 hours
It appears to be a battle of the long-haul routes. Both Emirates and Air India are proposing new routes that will extend the length of flights. One goes over the Atlantic from Dubai to Panama City, the other over the Pacific from India to San Francisco.
In August, Dubai-based Emirates airline announced it would begin operating the world’s longest regularly scheduled nonstop flight — a backbreaking 17-hour-and-35-minute haul spanning 13,800 kilometers (8,580 miles) between Dubai and Panama City.
Now it appears Air India is set to upstage Emirates by staking its own claim for the world’s longest nonstop flight: San Francisco to an unannounced city in India — perhaps Bangalore, according to Times of India.
The distance between the two cities: about 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles). Time: about 18 hours.
Because, really, why endure the hassle of changing planes when you can set up housekeeping in a 209-foot-long aluminum tube for 18 hours?
Delta is about to offer one of the coolest upgrades yet—to very few flyers
If the money that airlines are lavishing on their first-class customers turns your stomach (assuming you are a coach flier), it is getting worse (or better if you are a “high-value” customer). Delta is planning to use its subsidiary private jet fleet to transport high-value customers as a frequent flier upgrade. They will be using space-available seats and focus on the East Coast connecting cities initially.
Shifting passengers from commercial to private jets will entail some major hassles, but to many business fliers, this will be one of the ultimate upgrades.
Delta’s decision to merge some of its commercial traffic with its 66-aircraft private jet unit shows the airline’s relentless focus on finding new revenue or squeezing more from existing customers, which is why carriers now appear to nickel-and-dime passengers for everything from snacks to movies once free of charge. Corporate travelers, who are less price-conscious because they book travel on their company’s credit card, represent the most attractive business for most large network carriers. The move reflects the airline industry’s keen focus on differentiating air travel and showering their most profitable customers with ever-higher levels of perks and amenities. For example, Delta, like most of its rivals, already drives lucrative passengers from one flight to another in luxury cars, allowing them to bypass the airport terminal gauntlet. (Delta uses Porsches, United goes with Mercedes, and American chose Cadillac.) Chauffeuring customers to a private jet is a logical brand extension.
1 million drones will be sold this Christmas, and the FAA is terrified
The FAA is “very worried” about the massive influx of drones into the US air space. They still don’t have final rules to deal with this technology. Congress is worried as well, but hasn’t made a move to demand a quick fix to the problem. Travelers United has been actively involved on The Hill, trying to get Congressional action, but that is now stymied for at least six months because of the extension of the FAA bill that funds the air traffic control systems. It looks like a disaster is needed before Congress or the FAA start taking this very seriously.
… if those million drones cause serious headaches? Some legislators would like to see hard limits placed on UAVs capabilities. According to Congressman Peter DeFazio of Oregon, (the ranking member] of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in Congress), “a lot of what pilots are seeing is irresponsible use of toys. The toys, in my opinion, should be set up so they can’t be sold unless they’re geo-fenced for altitude and perimeters.”
Photo from wikipedia.com
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.