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Delta Air Lines reports huge annual loss but eyes better 2021
New York (AFP) - Delta Air Lines reported a massive loss Thursday for 2020 following the devastating impact of the coronavirus on air travel, but said it expects to return to profitability later this year. With traffic depressed in the wake of lockdowns and myriad restrictions to counter the pandemic, Delta suffered a $12.4 billion loss for all of 2020, its first year in the red since 2009 and a big come-down from record profits in 2019. Delta also reported a quarterly loss for the period ending December 31, capping what Chief Executive Ed Bastian called "the toughest year in Delta's history."...
AFP
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US to punish bad behavior on flights as incidents rise
New York (AFP) - Facing an increase in unruly passengers over mask requirements and violence in Washington, US air safety authorities have announced tougher penalties for bad behavior on board. Under the new policy, which will be in place through March 30, the Federal Aviation Administration will pursue legal action against unruly passengers, the agency announced Wednesday night. The previous policy had been to employ warnings and civil penalties. "Passengers who interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft face stiff penalti...
AFP
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Delta Air Lines reports $12.4 bn 2020 loss on pandemic hit
New York (AFP) - Delta Air Lines reported another quarterly loss Thursday to conclude what its CEO called "the toughest year in Delta's history" following the hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Amid depressed traffic levels, Delta's loss for all of 2020 was $12.4 billion, compared with profits of $4.8 billion in 2019. The loss again highlights the brutal impact of the pandemic on commercial plane travel. However, executives are more optimistic about the year ahead thanks to Covid-19 vaccines. "Our December quarter capped the toughest year in Delta's history," said Chief Executive Ed Bastian sa...
AFP
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Boeing to pay $2.5 bn to settle US fraud charges after MAX crashes
New York (AFP) - US prosecutors on Thursday hit Boeing with $2.5 billion in fines, settling a criminal charge over claims the company defrauded regulators overseeing the 737 MAX, which was grounded worldwide following two deadly crashes. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Boeing reached a deferred prosecution agreement related to the company's pronouncements to regulators during the certification of the MAX, which was taken out of service for 20 months after the crashes and only recently cleared to return to the skies. Prosecutors described Boeing's failings in withering terms, accusing the ...
AFP
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Boeing to pay $2.5 bn fine over 737 MAX: DOJ
New York (AFP) - US prosecutors hit Boeing with a $2.5 billion fine to settle charges the company defrauded regulators over the 737 MAX, the Justice Department announced Thursday. Boeing reached a deferred prosecution agreement related to the company's pronouncements to regulators about the issues with the MAX, which was grounded for 20 months after two deadly crashes and only recently was cleared to return to the skies. Prosecutors described Boeing's failings in withering terms, accusing the company of putting "profit over candor" and of engaging in a "half-truths" and a "cover up." The DOJ c...
AFP
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Boeing 737 MAX returns to US skies with American Airlines flight
Miami (AFP) - American Airlines on Tuesday launched the first commercial flight of a Boeing 737 MAX in the United States since the plane was grounded worldwide following two deadly crashes that killed hundreds and plunged the airplane manufacturer into crisis. The MAX was Boeing's top-selling aircraft, and the company struggled through the nearly two years that the plane was barred from skies globally, a situation made worse by the sharp slowdown in travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Boeing has worked with regulators to address technical issues and improve pilot training on the MAX, leadi...
AFP
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Boeing 737 MAX to return to US skies with American flight
Washington (AFP) - American Airlines passengers are set to fly Tuesday on the first US commercial flight on a Boeing 737 MAX since the aircraft was allowed to return to service after a nearly two-year absence. The top-selling aircraft has been grounded worldwide since March 2019 following two crashes that killed 346 people. The aerospace giant since then has worked with regulators to address the technical issues and improve pilot training. American's flight 718 will fly about 100 passengers from Miami to New York's La Guardia airport, departing at 1532 GMT and due to land around 1730 GMT, the ...
AFP
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Air Canada reroutes Boeing 737 MAX after engine problem
Montreal (AFP) - An Air Canada Boeing 737-8 MAX flying from Arizona to Montreal with three crew members on board experienced an engine problem that forced it to land in Tucson, the airline said Friday. Shortly after taking off on December 22 the pilots "received an engine notification and, according to the standard operating procedure for such a situation, they decided to shut down an engine," Air Canada said in a statement written in French. "The aircraft was rerouted to Tucson, where it landed normally and remains," Air Canada said, without specifying the nature of the malfunction, which occ...
AFP
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US airlines to recall furloughed staff after stimulus bill
New York (AFP) - US airlines say they will rehire workers laid off during the pandemic after Congress late Monday passed a new economic relief package, but one large carrier warned that anemic travel demand means long-term employment prospects remain shaky. After months of partisan wrangling, Congress finally approved the $900 billion stimulus just before midnight, which includes $15 billion in airline worker support payments and requires carriers to recall involuntarily furloughed employees, provide back pay and keep the workers on payroll through March 31, 2021. Executives at United Airlines...
AFP
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US airlines to recall furloughed staff - for now
New York (AFP) - Large US airlines say they will rehire workers laid off during the pandemic after Congress late Monday passed a new economic relief package, but one carrier warned that anemic travel demand means long-term employment prospects remain shaky. After months of partisan wrangling Congress finally approved the $900 billion stimulus just before midnight, which includes $15 billion in airline worker support payments and requires carriers to recall involuntarily furloughed employees, provide back pay and keep the workers on payroll through March 31, 2021. Executives at United Airlines,...
AFP
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