Air Canada Flight Australia to Vancouver Emergency Landing in Honolulu
An Air Canada jet en route from Australia to Vancouver was forced to make an emergency landing in Honolulu on Friday after 22 people suffered minor injuries, following severe air turbulence.
Ian Gregor, a spokesman with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, said initial reports show 19 passengers and three crew members were injured when Flight AC34 encountered turbulence approximately 150 kilometres southwest of Honolulu.
“The plane diverted to Honolulu with initial reports of 22 injuries,” he said. “Four passengers were taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries, I don’t know the extent of their injuries.”
Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the airline, said he could not comment on the FAA report, but confirmed nine passengers and two flight attendants required medical attention for minor injuries. He said they were treated on site and released.
Two passengers and two flight attendants remained in Honolulu for further assessment for minor injuries, the airline said. Those two passengers were expected to continue their journey to Vancouver later Friday.
“Fortunately, they have been released and will likely be heading home this evening,” he said. “I think it is a very good sign that they have been released and they are fit to travel this evening,” said Fitzpatrick, who added the two flight attendants from the Vancouver-based crew were released from hospital late Friday afternoon.
The Boeing 777 aircraft landed in Honolulu about 7:10 a.m. ET Friday and departed two hours later. The plane was scheduled to arrive in Vancouver at 2:44 p.m. ET, according to an Air Canada release.
It was not immediately known if the plane lost altitude when it hit what the carrier called “severe turbulence.”
“Obviously, it was of such a nature to cause injuries and that was, of course, very worrisome,” said Fitzpatrick. “(The pilot) responded appropriately, making sure people got medical attention as soon as possible and that’s why they diverted to Honolulu.”
Upon landing in Hawaii, the flight was met by medical and emergency services to provide assistance if necessary, the airline said in a statement.
Air Canada said the seatbelt sign was turned on when the plane hit turbulence.
American Airlines Adds Three Nonstop Flight to Rio de Janeiro
In press release, American Airlines said their has added new schedule of nonstop flights three times a week flight to Brazil. Additional services nonstop flights from Dallas (Fort Worth International Airport) to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is a seasonal flight service has been running during the month of April. For summer, the airline resumed service in August. For the year 2011 will resume flight services in November 2011.
The aircraft used for flights is Boeing 767-300 jets with 28 seats in business class and 191 in coach.
Peter Dolara, American’s senior vice president, said “These new flights offer a wonderful opportunity for people from Texas, the Southwest, West Coast and Midwest to fly via our largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Brazil’s most popular cultural and tourism destination, Rio de Janeiro.”
“We believe seasonal service via DFW is a perfect complement to our upcoming new daily flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York that begins Nov. 18 and our existing daily flight from Miami International Airport,” Dolara adds. “We also will begin four days a week nonstop service between Miami and Brasilia starting Nov. 18.”
British Airways to Charter Planes from Another Airlines During Cabin Crew Strike
British Airways expects to lease up to 22 aircraft from eight airlines in order to maintain services during a planned cabin crew strike this month.
It will use the aircraft to supplement its short-haul schedule from London Heathrow, and allow it to operate, overall, about 30% of its short-haul schedule over the initial strike period.
British Airways expects to carry 60% of booked passengers during the three-day strike from 20-22 March, adding that a number of other customers will be offered alternative British Airways flights or services on other carriers.
Over 60% of BA’s long-haul flights from London Heathrow will operate over the period. British Airways says it has reached agreements with 40 other airlines allowing customers to rebook free of charge if their flights are cancelled.
“Due to the numbers of cabin crew who have called in to offer their services…the schedule will be slightly larger than we had originally anticipated,” says BA chief Willie Walsh.
British Airways has yet to clarify the schedule for the subsequent four-day strike planned for 27-30 March.
Delta Air Lines Adds New Flight Service to Liberia
Delta Air Lines Inc. on Sept. 4 will add new service between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia.
Delta already has approval from the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority and preliminary approval from the U.S. government to sell seats for the new flight. Final U.S. government approvals are expected before the flight begins, Delta reported.
The new service will connect Delta’s hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Roberts International Airport in Monrovia with a stop in Accra, Ghana.
Delta originally wanted to launch service to Monrovia in June 2009, but it was delayed while Roberts International Airport implemented measures to ensure it is properly equipped and prepared for the new service.
Baggage Fees Now Appearing On International Flights
If you’ll be traveling on an international flight in the near future, be aware of new baggage fees.
Last week we outlined fees associated with checking bags on domestic flights. Now, here’s an update on how those fees are spreading to Europe and beyond.
Five of the six major U.S. carriers now have fees for checking a second bag to Europe when you buy coach-class tickets. Delta began collecting the fees July 1, and Northwest, now owned by Delta, was No. 2 in this trend.
In late August, the baggage “flew virus” hit U.S. airlines that fly internationally. American, US Airways and Continental announced charges, leaving United as the only domestic carrier not charging for a second checked bag on flights to Europe.
So far, international carriers aren’t charging for the first or second checked bag. I believe that United isn’t charging the fee because its partner, Lufthansa, doesn’t want to charge it. The fees are waived for elite frequent fliers and their companions on the same record, and they don’t apply to full-fare coach-class tickets.
Beginning Sept. 14, American will charge $50 each way for a second checked bag on transatlantic flights to Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and India. There are exceptions: If any of your flights is on codeshare partners, you don’t have to pay the fees. So, if one leg of your trip is operated by British Airways, you won’t be charged.
You also can avoid the fees by buying tickets on an international carrier. If you see a ticket from Dallas to Athens on Delta, you’ll pay an extra $100 round trip if you check a second bag. However, if Air France is offering the same fare, you can check two bags under 50 pounds each for free. Although Air France doesn’t fly out of Dallas, you can fly on the same Delta flights through a codeshare arrangement and avoid paying the baggage fees.
Not only are these fees spreading to Europe, but some U.S. carriers are charging baggage fees to other international destinations. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands fall under the domestic baggage fees, and so does Canada on many U.S. carriers. Also, US Airways and Continental are charging fees for second checked bags to other international locations.
US Airways has new fees for tickets purchased on or after Aug. 26, for travel beginning Oct. 7. The carrier will allow one free checked bag on transatlantic flights, but the second checked bag will cost $55 each way if you pay at the airport.
The airline will charge $25 each way for your first bag and $35 each way for your second checked bag if you pay at the airport to all destinations except those reached by transatlantic flights. You can save $5 off these fees if you pay online.
Continental charges $30 for the second checked bag on travel to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America, excluding Brazil.
Continental has begun charging $50 for the second piece of checked luggage to Europe for coach-class tickets bought on or after Aug. 27, for travel beginning Sept. 15. Fliers can pay the fees online and save $5.
If you’ll be checking a specialty item on an international flight, check the fees before you buy your ticket. Delta, for example, charges $300 each way for surfboards to Europe.
Because these fees keep changing, continue to check the airlines’ baggage information before you book.
