AvTalk Episode 172: Six feet from a very different ending

What this episode covers

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, we add extreme heat to the unpleasantness of this summer’s travel woes, one flight comes within six feet of a much different ending, and we begin a new special segment to stay up to date on merger news. The smoldering summer of suck becomes the sweltering summer of suck Airlines and airports continue to look for solutions to travel woes, with middling success. But Icelandair has come up with a way to ensure its Amsterdam flights operate on time: they’re sending their own baggage handlers on each flight. London’s Heathrow Airport is capping passengers at 100,000 per day, but there’s a wrinkle in that plan as far as the airlines are concerned. And Lufthansa is canceling another 2,000 flights through the end of August. Accidents and investigations A flight operated by Airhub Airlines into Paris came within six feet of a very different ending. A snow shovel could have prevented a Embraer E145 from landing on the grass in Presque Isle. The UK AAIB released their report on the crash of ZeroAvia’s hydrogen test aircraft and the conclusions are quite alarming. And the FAA will require rework on fire suppression switches on the Boeing 787. Money, money, money Airline earnings season kicks off with results from Delta Air Lines. Delta made a profit of $735 million in the second quarter, but their earnings call revealed a lot going on behind that number. Boeing had its best quarter since before the pandemic in terms of aircraft deliveries. And Aer Lingus reached a settlement with a young boy burned by hot chocolate. Plus, our chief mergers and acquisitions correspondent, Airline Weekly editor Ned Russell joins us for an update on the Spirit Airlines merger saga. It’s electric! Maybe A new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation examines the prospect for larger electric aircraft and the news is mixed. Rowdy goes home We end the show on a high note as Rowdy the cat, who had given everyone the slip for weeks in Boston, is finally on their way home. Let us know what you think (and let your friends know too!) Thank you so much for listening! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next. Please click here for a transcript of this episode.