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In our weekend digest of journey and aviation information: air site visitors management issues in the US, free economy-class alcohol in Canada, India’s much-delayed new mega airport, plus a European jetliner eclipses the Boeing 737 because the airplane with essentially the most deliveries ever.
The US federal authorities shutdown is now in its second week and vacationers are feeling the affect as air traffic controller staffing shortages have led to delays at main airports together with Chicago O’Hare, Hollywood Burbank and Newark.
The air site visitors controllers’ union has urged members to hold working through the shutdown, regardless of not receiving pay, however an increase in worker absences has been the unsurprising final result because the stalemate drags on.
In July this yr, NCS visited the Oklahoma academy the place controllers are educated. At that point, it was “the busiest” it had ever been following an enormous hiring push. The work is high-stress and high-stakes, with a rigorous utility and qualification course of earlier than candidates can step via the door.
Should your flight get delayed or canceled, whether or not via staffing shortages, a technical meltdown or excessive climate (a nor’easter is anticipated on the East Coast this weekend), NCS Travel has some recommendation on what to do subsequent. Watch here.
Air Canada is providing free beer and wine to economy class passengers on all its flights — even short-haul home routes — making it the only North American legacy service to achieve this. This burst of bonhomie shouldn’t be as altruistic because it might sound; it’s a sweetener following passenger pushback about extra charges for additional baggage and legroom, studies Reuters.
“Food and beverage just tend to have a disproportionate impact on customer satisfaction, more than any other attribute of our products and services,” mentioned Scott O’Leary, Air Canada’s vp of loyalty and product.
It’s not the primary time Canadian hospitality has hit headlines not too long ago. An advert selling tourism in the land of moose and syrup went viral this summer time for its compassion (and free hugs).
While the air site visitors controller scarcity was the most important story in North American aviation this week, the Trump administration additionally had another plane-related worries on its thoughts, such because the 1937 disappearance of Amelia Earhart. FBI staff had been ordered to instantly seek for data associated to the legendary pilot as a precedence request.
The Airbus A320 family made historical past on Tuesday by overtaking the Boeing 737 because the most-delivered jetliner of all time, in accordance to knowledge from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.
The 737 held that title for many years, however this week the handing over of an A320neo to Saudi service Flynas introduced the whole supply of the Airbus mannequin to 12,260 planes because it entered service in 1988.
The European A320 and the American 737 are each single-aisle workhorses beloved by low-cost carriers and the world’s best choice when it comes to short-range air journey.
Asia celebrated an aviation milestone this week, too. India’s new Navi Mumbai International mega-airport has lastly opened, having first been conceived in 1997.
Hills had been flattened and rivers had been diverted in the accomplishment of this engineering feat. Its arrival eases the burden on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International, beforehand the only airport serving Mumbai, one of many world’s most populous cities.
Inside a ‘White Lotus’ resort
Season three of HBO’s “The White Lotus” was filmed at a number of lodges in Thailand, together with the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket. NCS Travel’s Karla Cripps takes us on a fast tour.
A neighborhood joint in Hong Kong has been named the world’s finest bar.
The Italian proprietor says it’s impressed by “his grandmother’s living room.”
An American made historical past by profitable one in every of France’s high cheese competitions.
The contest concerned making 3-D cheese sculptures.
The world’s tallest bridge has opened in China.
It stands greater than 2,000 ft above sea degree. Watch here.
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