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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="23113277" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flyjets" source="keywords">FlyJets</keyword> CEO Jessica <keyword id="21219601" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fisher" source="keywords">Fisher</keyword> said customers can fly private for cheaper by booking empty legs.</li><li>The startup has developed a new "fly empty" concept that matches customers flying opposite routes.</li></ul>While <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-private-jet-flights-hidden-again-faa-2024-7">flying private is largely reserved for the rich</a> and famous, online aviation charter marketplace FlyJets says it can offer the average traveler a cheaper way to experience the luxury. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://flyjets.com/">FlyJets</a> CEO Jessica Fisher told Business Insider that the startup doesn't own or operate planes but works like an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/built-vacation-house-tulum-mexico-airbnb-investment-2024-8">Airbnb</a> for private aviation. Its core business is serving as a middleman between aircraft providers and customers to secure and schedule charters. Within that is a cheaper alternative Fisher calls "fly empty," which she said can cut the cost of charters by nearly half. It's the latest way aviation companies are trying to make <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/affordable-luxury-air-travel-on-the-rise-private-jets-2024-6">private flying more affordable.</a> Fisher said that these charter aircraft might otherwise fly "empty legs" without passengers to return planes and crew to a home base after dropping off a client. Charter companies typically charge for a roundtrip regardless of whether anyone is on board, so it's cheaper to find another paying party for that empty leg. This concept isn't new. Several well-known <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taylor-swift-vistajet-private-jet-global-7500-jet-lag-tips-2024-3" target="_blank">private aviation companies, like VistaJet</a>, sell empty legs at a discount after someone else books a round-trip flight. However, Fisher said there's no guarantee the legs will sell, and they are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-on-75-million-bombardier-global-7500-private-jet-vistajet-2022-11'">typically pre-determined routes</a>, which means fewer options and flexibility for customers. Instead of taking other people's empty legs, Fisher explained that FlyJets fills empty planes by coordinating the entire trip as two separate legs from the start and splitting the price. "There's a lot we can do in terms of being very cost-effective for flyers and advantageous for aircraft providers in terms of aircraft utilization and, therefore, revenue," Fisher said. "It's a win-win." <h2>Flyers can save 40% on 'empty-leg splits'</h2>Fisher said customers can create empty legs online via the company's paid <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8mnNC4Mjcx/">FlyJets+</a> membership, which costs $290 annually, and flights are matched with another full party flying the opposite route. "If two parties need to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blade-one-private-jet-seat-new-york-miami-photos-review-2022-12">fly between New York and Miami</a> and they can commit to opposite legs, then they both save 40%, and the operator gets 10% more income from both of us," she said, adding that it's also better for the environment to have fewer empty planes flying. For example, Fisher said a seven-seater <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-21-million-embraer-praetor-600-with-advanced-tech-2024-7">midsize plane</a> can cost $25,000 roundtrip for one party. But if FlyJets secures an "empty-leg split" for $15,000 in each direction, customers would pay about $2,100 per seat, and the aircraft provider could secure $5,000 more. <div type="image" title="The cabin as viewed from the aisle of an Embraer Praetor 600" height="3024" width="4032" msid="112720657" hostid="261"></div>Most fares for the same route on Delta Air Lines or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upgrading-united-polaris-review-business-class-2024-8">United Airlines</a> sit between $500 and $1,000 one-way through November. Fisher said when a match on the opposing route can't be found, customers won't get the "fly empty" price but can still book the plane outright at the market rate for the charter. She said this scenario will be less likely as FlyJets' network of planes and customers grows. The company also plans to launch a new "FlyJets Exchange" tool this fall that would allow flyers to buy seats on existing trips booked by other members, she said. <h2>There's a growing trend of affordable charters</h2>FlyJets joins a growing list of companies offering more affordable <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/embraer-phenom-300e-most-flown-aircraft-in-the-us-photos-2024-6">private air travel</a>. The experience remains pricey, but travel experts say people are willing to splurge. <keyword id="23113279" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="oliver-bell" source="keywords">Oliver Bell</keyword>, the cofounder of luxury travel company Oliver's Travels, told BI's <keyword id="23113280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mikhaila-friel" source="keywords">Mikhaila Friel</keyword> in June that this trend could be partly attributed to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-travelers-splurge-on-for-vacation-trends-2023-11">"revenge travel,"</a> where people are "willing to spend more for incredible experiences" after the lockdowns of the pandemic. In addition to the luxury, people who shell out for private travel save time. Charters are direct flights and typically <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flew-out-of-general-aviation-airport-now-dread-commercial-flying-2022-1">operate out of small aircraft service stations</a> that require little or no security checks. This means customers can arrive within minutes of departure and avoid the busy airport terminal crowds. Take the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-semi-private-carrier-jsx-burbank-to-phoenix-flight-review-2023-4">semi-private air carrier JSX</a>, which offers flights across the US and Mexico as a shared plane but with the perks of a private trip. Shorter flights, like Las Vegas to Burbank, cost around $275 one-way, while longer routes along the East Coast corridor start around $700. <div type="image" title="JSX plane inside a private terminal." height="2268" width="3024" msid="112720655" hostid="261"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://fly.kinectair.com/flex/">KinectAir</a> — a company selling empty legs in the traditional way — touts itself as a ride-share for the sky. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/cheaper-private-airplanes-kinectair/index.html">CNN</a> reported it sells short empty-leg repositioning flights across the US and keeps prices as low as $111 by using cheaper piston and turboprop aircraft instead of jets. The catch, however, is that the company can't sell individual seats, so the flyer has to book out the entire charter plane. "Of course, [flying private] is by no means a "cheap" way to fly as it still will typically be more expensive than flying commercial," Bell said. "But it is much more accessible than people think, which could be why we're seeing an increase now that people are becoming more aware." Correction: August 23, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mistakenly included NetJets as one of the companies that sell empty flight legs at a discount.

The CEO of a private aviation company explains the 'empty-leg' trick that can make chartering jets cheaper

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Turbulence is being examined more closely in the wake of several recent incidents.</li><li>An expert in aviation and the climate told BI how the warming atmosphere makes turbulence worse.</li></ul>Since a 73-year-old British man <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-airlines-passenger-dies-after-severe-turbulence-2024-5">died on board a Singapore Airlines flight</a> in May, turbulence has been examined more closely.Another 71 people were sent to hospital after the Boeing 777 diverted to Bangkok. Singaporean officials said the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-airlines-flight-turbulence-death-investigation-report-details-2024-5">plane dropped 178 feet in four seconds</a>. Passengers hit the ceiling, and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-airlines-cabin-crew-burned-by-boiling-water-amid-turbulence-2024-5">crew member was burned by boiling water</a>.Two weeks later, at an industry conference, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airlines-to-tighten-seatbelt-rules-use-ai-to-predict-turbulence-2024-6">Emirates' president said</a> the incident would likely lead to stricter seatbelt rules.Incidents resulting in serious injuries are still <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/serious-injuries-due-to-turbulence-are-extremely-rare-2024-5">extremely rare</a>, but overall, turbulence appears to be getting more common.On the one hand, the media has covered more incidents in the wake of the Singapore Airlines flight. But they are also becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis — especially over the Atlantic Ocean.That's according to Guy Gratton, an associate professor of aviation and the environment at Cranfield University, who spoke to Business Insider over video call.<h2 id="6501415f-d5e2-4d24-a2a5-a7bcaad06fa9">What is clear air turbulence?</h2>"We all know that there is wind, and we all know that the wind is not even. It's not all going in the same direction at the same speed, at the same time," Gratton said."So when you get a difference between airflow, you get friction between the air molecules," he said. "That friction creates a more complex flow, where air is flowing in apparently random directions — up, down, left, right, et cetera — and changing speed. ""That is turbulence, and it's there all the time," he added.If a plane flies through turbulence, it tries to align itself with the changing airflow, so its motion becomes erratic."It's essentially like taking a box with something in it and starting to shake the box up and down," Gratton said. "And clearly, if you're the person who's inside the box, then you get thrown around inside the box, and that's where injuries happen.""<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airline-pilot-passengers-should-always-wear-seatbelts-singapore-airlines-turbulence-2024-5">Passengers are told to keep their seatbelts done up</a> because if you're tied to the box, you're much less likely to get injured," he added.At altitude, there are two main types of turbulence. One is caused by convective currents and is associated with thunderstorms. The other is clear air turbulence, which was involved in the Singapore Airlines incident.As the name implies, clear air turbulence is hard to anticipate since it isn't associated with clouds. It's typically found at the edges of jet streams — rivers of fast-flowing air. Earth has four main ones, two near the poles and two near the equator. The difference in wind speed between these jet streams and the air around them creates clear air turbulence.<h2 id="e2b53637-9ded-426d-a8a3-cd782d6080fc">Why the climate crisis causes more turbulence</h2>In a <a target="_blank" href="https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2023GL103814">2023 study</a>, researchers at the University of Reading found that turbulence was getting more common over the North Atlantic. It said that over a typical point, the most severe type of clear air turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020.This is linked to the north polar jet stream. Its tailwinds are why flying from the US to Europe is faster than flying from Europe to the US.Gratton explained how the warming atmosphere speeds up the jet streams — causing more severe turbulence.It's linked to the relationship between two layers of the Earth's atmosphere. The lowest one is the troposphere, where the temperature cools as you get higher. Above that is the stratosphere, where the temperature is constant."What's happening with climate change is the troposphere is getting warmer, the lower stratosphere is actually getting slightly colder."The increasing difference in energy between the two layers means more energy goes into the jet stream, Gratton said.It also enlarges Rossby waves, which are meanders found in the jet stream."So if you're trying to fly across the Atlantic, you've now got bigger waves in the jet stream, and you've also got more energy in the jet stream," Gratton said. "So that is creating more friction, which is creating more turbulence.""Therefore crossing the Atlantic, climate change is making encounters with clear air turbulence more likely and more severe," he added.

Turbulence is getting more frequent and more severe. An aviation and climate expert explains why.

Singapore Airlines will make an additional investment of Rs 3,194.5 crore in Tata Group-owned Air India post-merger of Vistara in November. The merger, announced on November 29, 2022, and set to be completed on November 11, 2024, will result in Singapore Airlines having a 25.1% stake in the enlarged Air India. Full-service carrier Vistara, which started flying on January 9, 2015, is a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, where the latter holds a 49% shareholding. Vistara's last flight will take off tomorrow i.e. November 11, 2024. Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group on Friday said its consideration for the merger comprises the 49% interest in Vistara and Rs 20,585 million (Rs 2,058.5 crore) in cash in exchange for a 25.1% equity interest in the enlarged Air India. Post-merger, SIA expects to recognize a non-cash accounting gain of around 1.1 billion Singapore dollars and also start equity accounting for its share of Air India's financial results. According to a release on Friday, the merger includes an agreement for SIA to contribute its share of any funding previously provided by Tata prior to the completion of the merger, together with relevant funding costs up to Rs 5,020 crore that would allow it to maintain a 25.1% stake in Air India. "SIA's additional capital injection is expected to be Rs 31,945 million (equivalent to SGD 498 million), based on Tata's funding to Air India to date. This will occur after the completion of the merger and within November 2024 through subscription to new Air India shares. "Future capital injections will be considered based on Air India's requirements and available funding options," according to the release issued while announcing the airline's financial performance for the six months ended September 2024. The merger of Vistara with Air India will mark a major consolidation in the fast-growing Indian aviation space. SIA said the merged entity will have a significant presence across all key Indian air travel segments, including domestic, international, full-service, and low-cost operations. "This will strengthen SIA's multi-hub strategy, allowing it to continue participating directly in India's large and fast-growing aviation market," it added. Recently, Air India and SIA agreed to significantly expand their codeshare agreement, adding 11 Indian cities and another 40 international destinations to their network.

Singapore Airlines to invest additional Rs 3,195 cr in Air India post-Vistara merger

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Airbus stock fell 11% after cutting 2023 delivery targets due to supply chain issues.</li><li>It spells problems for airlines as Boeing has also reduced production.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-struggling-outsider-beating-boeing-737-max-a320neo-2024-1">Airbus</a> stock dropped as much as 11% on Tuesday after it reduced delivery targets, citing supply chain issues.The European planemaker <a target="_blank" href="https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-06-airbus-provides-2024-guidance-update">announced</a> Monday that it intends to deliver around 770 commercial jets this year, down from 800.It also curbed plans to increase production of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-on-spirit-airlines-newest-jet-airbus-a320neo-review-photos-2020-12">A320neo</a> family. Airbus had aimed to increase output from 50 to 75 a month by 2026, but the target has now been pushed back a year.The A320neo family has outsold the rival <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-timeline-history-full-details-2019-9">Boeing 737 Max</a> since 2019, when the latter model was grounded following two crashes in which 346 people died.Further problems at Boeing arose in January, when a door plug came off an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alaska-airlines-blowout-passenger-lost-shoes-and-socks-to-gaping-hole-2024-3">Alaska Airlines 737 Max</a> in midair.In the wake of that incident, Boeing's biggest customer, United Airlines, spoke of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-ryanair-execs-frustrated-at-boeing-plane-delivery-delays-2024-2">plans to switch some orders to Airbus jets</a>.However, Airbus has seemingly struggled to meet the increased demand.Overall, it marks further problems for airline customers, because Boeing has also reduced its output amid its ongoing crisis.The Federal Aviation Administration has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-plane-safety-faa-production-timeline-2024-6">capped production of 737 Max jets</a> as a result of the Alaska Airlines blowout. Boeing has also slowed production of other models as it works to focus on quality control — sparking a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lufthansa-ceo-calls-boeing-delivery-delays-extremely-annoying-2024-5">backlash from airline bosses</a>.In a press release, Airbus said its commercial aircraft division is "facing persistent specific supply chain issues mainly in engines, aerostructures, and cabin equipment.""We are facing headwinds right now; we have to bite the bullet," CEO Guillaume Faury told analysts on a call, per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/airbus-cuts-delivery-target-delays-production-goal-2024-06-24/">Reuters</a>.Reuters reported that Faury said engine supplies for the A320neo family had deteriorated "significantly" in recent months.One of the two engine options is made by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/travel-disruption-likely-as-airbus-jets-undergo-engine-inspection-2023-7">Pratt &amp; Whitney</a>, which last year announced it had discovered a manufacturing defect that would result in hundreds of planes being grounded for inspections.According to Reuters, Faury also pointed to uncertainty around supplier <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-supplier-spirit-aerosystems-scrutiny-over-alaska-blowout-quality-control-2024-1">Spirit Aerosystems</a>. It's expected to be carved up with parts sold to both Boeing and Airbus.Airbus' problems also extend to its space division, where it announced charges of 900 million euros ($965 million). Its guidance update said it would "evaluate all strategic options" including potential restructuring and M&amp;A options.

Airbus may have benefited from Boeing's struggles, but it isn't smooth sailing for the rival aviation giant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The CEO of Europe's biggest airline called Boeing's delivery delays "extremely annoying."</li><li>The planemaker has slowed production to focus on safety in the wake of the Alaska Airlines blowout.</li></ul>The CEO of Lufthansa has become the second airline boss in recent days to voice his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeings-problems-have-airline-ceos-changing-plans-for-growth-2024-3">frustration with Boeing</a> over delivery delays.In an interview with Swiss newspaper <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nzz.ch/wirtschaft/lufthansa-konzernchef-spohr-die-streikkosten-muessen-mit-hoeherer-produktivitaet-und-einsparungen-kompensiert-werden-ld.1828439">Neue Zuercher Zeitung</a> published Saturday, Carsten Spohr was asked about the planemaker's delivery delays."This is extremely annoying and costs us a lot, a lot of money," he said.By revenue, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lufthansa-replacing-dated-business-class-new-allegris-cabin-first-class-2024-4">Lufthansa</a> is Europe's biggest airline, and the fourth-biggest in the world.Spohr's comments were published just days after the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/emirates-ceo-tells-boeing-get-your-act-together-2024-5">CEO of Emirates also expressed concerns about Boeing</a>.In an interview with CNBC, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told Boeing to "get your act together.""I think they have to put a lot of pressure in order to make sure that they deliver to the customer whatever they promised," he added.Boeing has been struggling since the Alaska Airlines blowout in January, working to slow down production to avoid quality-control errors but causing delays to aircraft deliveries as a result.After announcing his resignation, <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-dave-calhoun-failed-to-turn-boeing-around-737-max-2024-3">Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun</a> said the company needed to <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-ceo-company-needs-to-slow-down-after-alaska-airlines-2024-3">slow down production</a> in order to focus on safety.Following Al Maktoum's comments, the president of Boeing Global, Brendan Nelson, told Sky Arabia: "We've slowed down the rate of production to make sure that we can bring strength and quality to our supply chains, to stabilize those supply chains and to fortify our production system."Other customers like Ryanair and United Airlines have already voiced their annoyance at the delays, to the extent that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-ryanair-execs-frustrated-at-boeing-plane-delivery-delays-2024-2">United is replacing its plans for the Boeing 737 Max 10</a> with some Airbus A321neos.But Spohr is hopeful that Boeing will be able to recover and get the business back on track."I am sure that Boeing will get the problems under control," he told Neue Zuercher Zeitung. "The industry needs two strong providers. Everyone has an interest in Boeing being able to build great aircraft more reliably again soon."Boeing declined to comment when reached by Business Insider.

Lufthansa's boss called delays to Boeing deliveries 'extremely annoying,' and it further highlights a growing dilemma for the aviation giant

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Joe Biden signed into law the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.</li><li>It stops airlines charging families to sit together, as well as other pro-consumer initiatives. </li></ul>On Thursday, Joe Biden signed an extensive bipartisan bill that hopes to reform aviation.The $105 billion legislation <a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/16/statement-from-president-joe-biden-after-signing-faa-reauthorization-act/">reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration</a> and the National Transportation Safety Board until 2028.It brings a range of improvements for travelers, mostly related to consumer protection.The maximum civil penalty for airline consumer violations has been raised from $25,000 to $75,000, plus the bill makes it easier for passengers to file complaints.It also says that within six months, a rule will be made making it easier for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flight-etiquette-influencer-switch-plane-seats-family-2023-3">families to sit together on planes</a>. That would include prohibiting airlines from charging passengers to seat a child under 14 next to an accompanying adult.The bill says the FAA Administrator will decide within 60 days whether to mandate <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/travelers-call-on-federal-aviation-administration-for-larger-airplane-seats-2022-11">minimum seat dimensions on planes</a> for safety reasons.Safety is a prime focus of the bill, with an increased scrutiny of aircraft production.Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell said: "Plane manufacturers will see more safety inspectors on factory floors and tougher safety standards from the FAA."Notably, the bill also has new rules about cockpit voice recorders — which comes after criticism from the chair of the NTSB over <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alaska-airlines-cockpit-voice-recorder-data-lost-overwritten-ntsb-2024-1">January's Alaska Airlines blowout</a>.The data from the voice recorder in that incident was lost because it wasn't retrieved within two hours, so the NTSB called for increasing the holding time to 25 hours, in line with European requirements.The bill says that all newly manufactured aircraft must have cockpit voice recorders that retain the last 25 hours of information, which will apply to all planes within six years."The bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization is a big win for travelers, the aviation workforce, and our economy. It will expand critical protections for air travelers, strengthen safety standards, and support pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers," Biden said in a statement.He added: "Passengers shouldn't have to jump through endless hoops just to get the refunds that they are owed, and corporations shouldn't rip off hardworking Americans through hidden junk fees."The bill comes days after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airlines-sue-biden-administration-dot-fee-transparency-baggage-change-seat-2024-5">several US airlines sued the Department of Transportation</a> over rules requiring upfront fee disclosures. The DOT <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-final-rule-protect-consumers-surprise-airline">said</a> in late April this could save consumers over $500 million a year.

A major new aviation bill seeks to end passengers being made to pay to sit with their kids, and to improve safety on planes after the Alaska blowout

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two US Navy aviators were killed last week when their fighter jet crashed during a training flight.</li><li>The Navy on Monday identified the two aviators as Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman.</li></ul>The two US Navy aviators who were killed in a fighter jet crash in the United States last week had recently returned from flying combat missions against the Houthis.Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman were killed when their EA-18G Growler <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/10/20/navy-pronounces-missing-ea-18g-growler-jet-aviators-deceased/">crashed during a training flight</a> near Washington's Mount Rainier on October 15, the Navy <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.dvidshub.net/news/483570/remembering-two-trailblazing-aviators-lt-cmdr-lyndsay-miley-evans-and-lt-serena-dug-wileman">said</a> Monday.In a statement, the Navy's Carrier Strike Group 2, which is led by the flagship USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, described Evans and Wileman as two "highly skilled, combat-decorated" aviators. It said they had recently returned from a Middle East deployment with Electronic Attack Squadron 130, which flies the Growler, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-electronic-attack-aircraft-first-air-to-air-kill-2024-7">an electronic-warfare aircraft</a> made by Boeing.<div type="image" title="Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay &quot;Miley&quot; Evans and Lt. Serena &quot;Dug&quot; Wileman" height="1268" width="1585" msid="114438884" hostid="261" sizebytes="117644"></div>The squadron spent nine months aboard the Eisenhower <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-carrier-strike-group-eisenhower-houthis-red-sea-2024-6">aircraft carrier</a>, which acted as the lead ship for the bulk of the Navy's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-battles-best-iranian-tech-red-sea-admiral-2024-10">counter-Houthi campaign</a> in late 2023 and during the first half of 2024.The Ike and its multiple squadrons mainly operated from the Red Sea, where they helped <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-carrier-strike-group-fighting-houthis-fired-hundreds-munitions-2024-5">defend merchant shipping lanes</a> from relentless Houthi attacks. American forces have routinely shot down missiles and drones launched by the rebels and carried out strikes against them in Yemen over the past year.The Navy said that Evans and Wileman planned, coordinated, and flew multiple strikes into Houthi-controlled territory of Yemen during their monthslong deployment, making them two of the few women to fly combat missions over land.<div type="image" title="Two aircraft flying against a clear blue sky." height="2660" width="3990" msid="114438883" hostid="261" sizebytes="71930"></div>US <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-us-navy-aircraft-carrier-tactics-shift-houthi-missiles-drones-2024-2">airstrikes in Yemen have targeted</a> Houthi weapons, launchers, radars, storage facilities, and other military sites used by the Iran-backed rebels, the aim being to degrade their capabilities.Evans was awarded two Single Action Air Medals for her role during strikes in January and three Strike Flight Air Medals for actions during missions between December and March.And Wileman was awarded three Strike Flight Air Medals for her role in combat missions between December and April.The Navy credited Evans with helping to develop and execute new warfare approaches, noting that "the tactics, techniques, and procedures for the EA-18G she pioneered defending against Houthi aggressions directly contributed to the successful defense of the entire CSG and will be used as a template for adaptability at the unrelenting pace of combat in future fights." Wileman was celebrated for her "calm and collected demeanor under pressure," even during combat operations."During their deployment, both Evans and Wileman distinguished themselves in combat operations," the Navy said of the aviators, who went by the call signs "Miley" and "Dug," respectively."Their efforts directly contributed to the Navy's mission defending US and Coalition forces while keeping the seas open and free with precision and purpose," the sea service said, adding that "these role models cemented legacies by making history that will inspire future generations of Naval officers and aviators."

US Navy aviators killed in stateside Growler fighter jet crash flew combat strike missions off a carrier in the Red Sea fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Comac rebranded its ARJ21 regional jet as the C909 to further challenge Airbus and Boeing.</li><li>The C909's closest competitors in size and range are the Brazilian-made Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2.</li></ul>China's state-owned planemaker, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, better known as Comac, has<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-renaming-regional-jet-c909-arj21-boeing-airbus-comac-2024-11"> rebranded its regional aircraft</a> to better compete with Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer.Given Boeing's lack of a regional jet and Airbus' A220's unique market fit into regional or mainline operations, the newly rebranded C909 would most closely compete with Embraer's E2 series.The Brazilian company's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flew-on-embraer-e190-e2-next-generation-jet-its-underrated-2022-10">E190-E2 and larger E195-E2 were built as next-generation successors</a> to Embraer's classic E-Jets and first flew passengers in 2018 and 2019.The jetliners are more expensive than Comac's but outperform the C909 in size and power.<h2 id="6773c100-0a71-472f-af57-3d2d552b1842">Embraer's E195-E2 is the most popular</h2>The E190-E2 has secured just 52 orders and delivered 25 to date, while the E195-E2 is proving more popular with 282 total orders and 110 delivered.Comac has delivered about 150 C909s since its 2016 inaugural flight, mostly to Chinese airlines. Another 60 are on order, likely a sign of relief for the planemaker after securing very few C909 orders since 2021.<div type="image" title="The ARJ21, now C909, taking off." height="3999" width="6000" msid="115384329" hostid="261" sizebytes="548282"></div>Comac is struggling to sell outside China. The US and Europe are likely far from certifying China's homegrown aircraft, though it has found business with Indonesian airline TransNusa.Despite Embraer's higher order count, it <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-embraer-new-e195-e2-airliner-competing-against-airbus-a220-2021-12">has yet to sell its E2 family to US airlines</a> due to pilot union contracts, nor to China despite both planes being certified in the country. Embraer's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://theaircurrent.com/aircraft-development/embraer-saudi-ksa-mbs-pif-new-airplane-funds/">presence at November's airshow</a> suggests it's still vying for a piece of the Chinese market.<h2 id="aaf68902-3cdc-4e35-b83c-b8c156c24bae">Embraer's larger planes can carry more people</h2>Comac <a target="_blank" class="" href="http://english.comac.cc/products/rj/">data</a> shows the C909 seats five abreast and can carry 78 passengers in two classes (or up to 97 in a high-density configuration). The plane is about 110 feet long.<div type="image" title="A staff member standing inside a C909 plane with empty seats." height="3378" width="4504" msid="115384326" hostid="261" sizebytes="925950"></div>China Southern Airlines, for example, configured 90 economy seats on its C909. Indonesian operator <a target="_blank" href="https://www.transnusa.co.id/product/seat">TransNusa</a> has installed 95 coach seats.By comparison, the E190-E2 and E195-E2 are larger at about 119 feet and 136 feet, respectively.The E190 accommodates 97 people in three classes and up to 114 in a high-density economy cabin. The larger variant can carry 120 people in three classes and up to 146 people at max capacity.<div type="image" title="A view down the aisle of an Embraer E195-E2 at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow" height="2966" width="3955" msid="115384331" hostid="261" sizebytes="618380"></div>However, the E2 seats are in a narrower 2×2 layout, which may be more claustrophobic for passengers than Comac's five-abreast configuration.<h2 id="47927c7a-86ee-47d1-8b99-44a4d31f3b1f">Embraer has more powerful engines</h2><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-bombardier-crj550-flight-review-unique-features-cramped-seat-2022-3">Regional planes focus on short and medium-haul flights</a> to connect to smaller markets. A longer range can give airlines more route flexibility, but one of Comac's biggest disadvantages is power.China's C909 is equipped with two General Electric CF34-10A turbofan engines mounted to the back of the aircraft. Depending on the payload, they can propel the C909 between 1,382 and 2,300 miles — but the decades-old engines are less efficient than modern ones.Embraer's E190-E2 and E195-E2 jetliners use Pratt and Whitney's better-performing PW1900G engines and can <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com/commercial-jets/e195-e2-commercial-jet/">reach</a> distances of up to about 3,280 miles and 3,450 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://embraer.com/global/en/news?slug=1207416-embraer-reveals-upgrades-across-its-commercial-e-jet-range">miles</a>, respectively. <div type="image" title="Embraer E190-E2." height="1667" width="2223" msid="115384338" hostid="261" sizebytes="403698"></div>Data from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the C909 is used primarily on domestic routes within China under 1,000 miles. TransNusa flies the jet on a longer 1,700-mile route between Guangzhou and the Indonesian city of Manado.Airlines use the E2 family to reach further away destinations. Royal Jordanian Airlines, for example, flies both variants some 2,000 miles between Amman and Western Europe. Canada's Porter Airlines has a six-hour E195-E2 flight between Toronto and Los Angeles.<h2 id="83314b67-76ce-4333-b93d-73a6d0e0fec4">The C909 may be cheaper than its Embraer rivals</h2>Comac may have an advantage over Embraer in price.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/old-friend-new-look-chinas-comac-renames-regional-jet-c909-marketing-push-2024-11-12/">Reuters</a> reported that Hainan Airlines, one of the buyers of the C909 at the airshow, said the jet's list price is $38 million. However, the carrier said the bulk order would be discounted, which is a common practice in passenger aircraft sales.In 2018, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/embraer-e190-e2-jet-tour-2018-7">reported list price of the Embraer E190-E2</a> was about $61 million. In 2023, Embraer <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com/news/avolon-joins-embraers-e2-program-with-sale-and-leaseback-of-10-e195-e2s-for-porter/">reported</a> Porter Airlines' 10-strong E195-E2 order was worth about $840 million, putting the aircraft at about $84 million per unit before any potential discount.<div type="image" title="Hainan Airlines and Colorful Guizhou Airlines ordered the C909 at November's Zhuhai Airshow." height="4768" width="6992" msid="115384335" hostid="261" sizebytes="326406"></div>Like the C909, the E2 cost is likely lower as airlines negotiate prices. For example, Virgin Australia agreed to buy eight E190-E2 aircraft in August.Cirium estimated the sale at about $300 million after discounts, or about $37.5 million each. That puts the reduced rate E190-E2 at about $37.5 million, meaning the smaller E2 variant is more expensive than the C909 — and the E195-E2 even more so.

China renamed its homegrown regional airliner to better sell it abroad. Here's how it compares to its closest rival.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>About 700,000 passengers were affected by air traffic control chaos in the UK in August 2023.</li><li>A report found an engineer struggled to log in remotely, meaning it took longer to resolve the issue.</li></ul>An engineer's login struggles hindered attempts to solve an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/becoming-air-traffic-controller-career-pros-cons-of-job-2022-1">air traffic control</a> meltdown that affected 700,000 passengers in the UK.The details were revealed Thursday in a report by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority about the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/london-airports-travel-chaos-flight-delays-europe-photos-2023-8">August 2023 travel chaos</a>.It estimated the event cost airlines, airports, insurers, passengers, and others between £75 million and £100 million ($127 million) — and that about 300,000 people had their flights canceled. Another 95,000 were delayed by more than three hours, and a further 300,000 faced shorter delays.The incident was caused by a software failure. A single flight plan for a journey from Los Angeles to Paris — passing over the UK — contained two waypoints with the same name.This confused the automatic flight planning system, causing both the primary and the backup to shut down within 20 seconds.The system can usually process 900 flight plans an hour during peak periods, but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/air-traffic-control-problems-delays-travel-chaos-holiday-weekend-uk-2023-8">air traffic controllers had to process them manually</a> — reducing its capacity to just 60 an hour, the report found.It also identified numerous factors that meant it took longer to identify and rectify the problem.One such factor was that a Level 2 engineer systems expert was on call but couldn't intervene remotely because their login and password "could not be readily verified due to the architecture of the system."It took the engineer 90 minutes to reach the air traffic control site — just over three hours after the meltdown began.All the traffic regulations implemented due to the incident were lifted after a total of nine-and-a-half hours.Delays and cancellations had knock-on effects on airline schedules, causing further issues for the next week. The report estimated that airlines lost £65 million ($82 million) as a result.The report recommended that NATS, the UK's air traffic control provider, has a Level 2 engineer working on-site during busy travel periods.Its 34 recommendations include government legislation, requiring airports and airlines to review the support available for affected passengers, and for NATS to provide earlier notices of possible disruption.UK Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said, "My department will look to introduce reforms, when we can, to provide air travelers with the highest level of protection possible."A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ryanair-ceo-calls-air-traffic-control-boss-resign-flight-chaos-2024-9">NATS</a> spokesperson said in a statement that it welcomed the report and apologized "for the inconvenience passengers suffered because of this very unusual technical incident. Over the 15 months since this incident, we have worked hard to address the lessons from it, and to ensure this particular issue cannot happen again."NATS has implemented most of the 48 recommendations from its own investigation, including "improving our engagement with our airline and airport customers, our wider contingency and crisis response, and our engineering support processes."

Air traffic control chaos affecting 700,000 passengers was made worse when an engineer couldn't log in remotely

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Xpeng wants to sell 10,000 models of its new "land aircraft carrier" a year, starting in 2025.</li><li>The vehicle is a six-wheeled van with a quadcopter drone that can fit two people.</li></ul>Chinese EV maker Xpeng gave the public a first glimpse of its new "land aircraft carrier" in action on Tuesday, marking another step toward its ambition to bring flying vehicles to the mass market.The Tesla rival is offering a six-wheeled van with a two-man quadcopter stored in its rear for 2 million yuan, or about $276,000.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://weibo.com/tv/show/1034:5100341906309156?from=old_pc_videoshow&amp;mark_id=999_reallog_mark_ad%3A999%7CWeiboADNatural">Videos released</a> by the firm's flying vehicle arm, Xpeng Huitian, showed the quadcopter automatically sliding out of the main vehicle and deploying. Another clip showed the van reversing to allow the quadcopter back in.Xpeng demonstrated the quadcopter in an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://weibo.com/u/6615758729?layerid=5099928322048422">uncrewed flight</a> in front of a crowd at the Zhuhai Air Show, an annual Chinese aviation conference backed by the central government.The company <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYsfwub1t7g">said on Thursday</a> that it received 2,000 orders at the air show after the demonstration, touting it as "the largest order volume in the global flying car industry to date."Orders will be open to the public in December, Xpeng Huitian added.It's already targeting a far larger tranche of orders, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202411/13/WS67341c39a310f1265a1cd199.html">state media reporting</a> that the company plans to build an annual production capacity of 10,000 "land aircraft carriers" by the third quarter of 2025.Deliveries are set to begin in 2026, state media also reported.Xpeng is among a swathe of Chinese manufacturers to emerge in a crowded EV market over the last decade but has become one of the country's highest-profile stalwarts.The Guangzhou-based firm, founded by engineer Henry Xia, has been leaning into extended-range hybrid engine technology to lower the cost of its vehicles and boost profit.In August, it debuted a car with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-rival-china-xpeng-launches-cheap-ev-self-driving-tech-2024-8">self-driving tech at $22,000</a>, undercutting other brands like Xiaomi, BYD, and Tesla.Meanwhile, it's been pushing hard to sell flying technology to the consumer market. Xpeng Huitian is also working on a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.xpeng.com/news/0183c70e409582358aaf2c9e2324117a">two-person flying electric vehicle</a> that features vertical take-off and landing.<div type="image" title="An Xpeng flying car is on display during the Nanchang Air Show in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province in November 2024." height="3920" width="5879" msid="115325390" hostid="261" sizebytes="630728"></div>Xpeng did not respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

Xpeng's new 'land aircraft carrier' is a $276,000 van with a 2-man quadcopter, and it thinks it can sell 10,000 of them a year

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Supersonic aviation startup Exosonic shut down in November after five years in business.</li><li>The California-based startup was working on faster-than-sound jets for commercial and military use.</li></ul>A handful of startups are vying to revive supersonic flight, but one contender just dropped out of the race.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-the-supersonic-passenger-planes-will-connect-cities-1-hour-2022-7">Exosonic, </a>which had been working for five years to build faster-than-sound jets for commercial and military use, announced its shutdown on Friday, citing a lack of continued funding and low customer interest.The company had two main projects: a quiet passenger plane capable of Mach 1.8 speed and an uncrewed supersonic aircraft for fighter jet target practice. It had backing from private equity investors, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hypersonic-air-force-one-hermeus-mach-5-2020-8">a contract from the US Air Force</a>, and a flying sub-scale prototype.In an interview with Business Insider, Exosonic CEO Norris Tie said the company hoped its Mach-speed airliner would drastically cut travel time between faraway nations.Crucial to the company's promise was work to eliminate the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sonic-boom-explained-2016-1">sonic boom</a> that prevents supersonic planes from flying over land — an issue that severely handicapped the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/concorde-supersonic-jet-history-2018-10">legendary Concorde</a> when it pioneered supersonic passenger travel in 1976."The goal was that by the time we were ready to hammer out the commercial design, all the regulatory framework for the boom would have more or less been established," Tie said. "Then we could go back to designing the airliner after what we hypothesized would have been a successful UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) business at that point."<div type="image" title="A photo of Exosonic CEO Norris Tie standing to the right of another Exosonic employee examining an aircraft wing." height="1080" width="1920" msid="115266488" hostid="261" sizebytes="70466"></div>Since 2020, the company had raised about $4 million in funding, according to PitchBook estimates. Its closure leaves fewer players working to achieve the faster-than-sound dream."As history shows, in many areas with new technology, there are often many more players initially than the market can support," University of Illinois aerospace engineering professor Michael Bragg told BI. "It was inevitable that there would be a downselect of supersonic aircraft makers. Let's hope someone is successful before they are all gone."<h2 id="edb327cf-4cd9-4561-b931-8796991c5f4c">A new Mach-speed passenger jet would be too expensive and time-intensive</h2>Supersonic travel was already achieved nearly decades ago with the Concorde, which could cross the Atlantic in as little as three hours and operated commercially for about 30 years.But it was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/concorde-supersonic-plane-tour-photos-2024-10">extremely costly and ended in disaster,</a> stoking concerns that largely convinced the industry to end flights."Some investors said the timeline for a supersonic commercial aviation product was too long and capital intensive," he said, adding passenger Mach flight was the company's main focus for the first two years.Tie said with full capital, meaning billions more dollars, it could take 10-15 years to build, certify, and deliver a new supersonic plane. And that's if the supply chain, potential design setbacks, and other factors <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-777x-why-so-important-delays-future-airlines-2024-7">don't add abnormal expenses.</a>Tie also said engine manufacturers aren't investing in supersonic flight — hindering one of the industry's most vital components: power.<div type="image" title="Boom Supersonic." height="1406" width="2500" msid="115266487" hostid="261" sizebytes="78552"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supersonic-jet-boom-overture-costs-technology-experts-skeptical-2024-4">Boom Supersonic</a>, another faster-than-sound startup, has been forced to build its own engine after failing to make a deal with major engine manufacturers, who remain focused on conventional jet engines. The company has been in business for about a decade and has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-boom-jet-used-test-worlds-next-supersonic-airliner-2024-3">developed a sub-scale prototype</a>."Boom has said it would cost up to $8 billion to build its supersonic plane, and that's a low number," Tie said. "The company has only publicly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://boomsupersonic.com/newsroom/fact-sheet">funded</a> less than $1 billion. It's a long road, and I don't know how it's going to get done."Boom has announced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-overture-the-boom-supersonic-aircraft-that-united-just-ordered-2021-6">billions of dollars worth of orders from American Airlines</a> and United Airlines for its supersonic Overture jet, which is planned to fly as soon as 2029.American has agreed to purchase up to 20 with options for another 40, while United has ordered 15 with options for 35 more.<h2 id="ac0faea2-919d-4208-94b1-f52c80a4c14a">The US Air Force changed its mind about Exosonic's training drones</h2>Investors pushed Exosonic to focus on military contracts instead of a commercial airliner, Tie said. This was the smallest product the company could develop while still generating some revenue — until the Air Force changed its mind."They didn't want fighter jet drones focused on training; they wanted one focused on combat, which has been a priority for the past two or three years," he said. "That's what took away all of the funding that we were going after, and we couldn't recover."<div type="image" title="A rendering of three Exosonic's supersonic Revenant military drones flying." height="1080" width="1920" msid="115266490" hostid="261" sizebytes="71432"></div>He said commercial air combat companies' interest in Exosonic hinged on the USAF. Once the Air Force's interest faded, so did the interest of any potential commercial players, like Drakken International, who could have used the uncrewed drones for training or other military needs.Without a defense arm of the business, Tie said the commercial side didn't have a chance.<h2 id="04b7056c-e60d-4441-a240-6d64e9c0d514">Tie said hypersonic travel is a more likely commercial option</h2>Tie said part of the problem with getting supersonic funding is because it isn't a shiny new concept. Humans have been doing it <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/70-years-since-chuck-yeager-broke-the-sound-barrier-what-it-was-like-2017-10">since the 1940s,</a> and there isn't any "terribly new technology to develop there."He said a better approach for Exosonic would have been to focus on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-the-supersonic-passenger-planes-will-connect-cities-1-hour-2022-7">hypersonic travel.</a> <div type="image" title="Rendering of Venus Aerospace's Stargazer in flight." height="543" width="1024" msid="115266491" hostid="261" sizebytes="37582"></div>A handful of hypersonic startups, including Venus Aerospace, Hermeus, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-hypersonic-jet-will-fly-new-york-paris-90-minutes-2023-6">Destinus</a>, and Spectre Aerospace, plan to build ultrafast jetliners. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.venusaero.com/venus-aerospace-inaugural-supersonic-drone-flight/">Venus</a> is testing its high-Mach-speed advanced propulsion system and has achieved supersonic flight with a drone using a rocket engine.Tie believes SpaceX's Starship could be one of the likeliest contenders. Elon Musk's project is set to transport satellites and astronauts to space but could also shoot into orbit and back to connect nearly any two cities in an hour or less."Hypersonic is certainly in vogue, and so that makes sense to go in that direction," he said. "Supersonic is unfortunately not in vogue."

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