Latest news with #ViewfromtheWing
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Spirit Airlines issues warning about its future. Will company stay in business?
Spirit Airlines on Monday warned investors and passengers that it may no longer be in business in a year even after a successful bankruptcy restructuring and recent attempts to generate new sources of revenue. The alert came in a 222-page financial statement the Broward company is required to submit every quarter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a regulatory body. The airline described several issues it's facing on whether the company can meet all financial commitments with current cash on hand and future revenue forecasts amid tough economic conditions. 'Management has concluded there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern within 12 months from the date these financial statements are issued,' Spirit wrote in the financial statement dated Aug. 11. 'Going concern' is a business principle that assumes a company will stay in business for the foreseeable future, according to the Corporate Finance Institute. It indicates that 'every decision in a company is taken with the objective in mind of running the business rather than of liquidating it.' When future existence is in doubt, public companies are required to acknowledge that in financial statements. The company did not say on Monday how or whether current passengers would be affected. Spirit's concern is the latest turn in what's been a roller-coaster saga for travelers, employees and vendors that depend on the company, whose headquarters are in Dania Beach. Less than a week ago, the carrier announced two new flights from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, to Grand Cayman and Belize City. That came about two weeks after it announced flights between FLL and Key West for the first time. The airline was counting on the new routes injecting fresh life into the company. In July, Spirit also announced new direct flights between FLL and Macon, Georgia, and the airline has said it will have 100 peak day flights at FLL by the end of 2025. Spirit continues to be the Broward airport's top airline in terms of passenger volume. Since it came out of bankruptcy on Feb. 20, the airline has appointed a new president, Dave Davis, and sought to offer more 'premium' offerings, like extra legroom, leaving behind its low-cost roots. In Monday's 10-Q financial filing, first reported by Bloomberg and the blog View from the Wing, Spirit executives also said they'd consider selling additional assets but admitted even that may not be enough. 'If these initiatives are unsuccessful, management believes it is probable that we will be unable to comply with the minimum liquidity covenants under our debt obligations and credit card processing agreement at some point in the next 12 months,' the company said. That 'would result in an event of default.' Spirit executives said current economic conditions haven't helped. 'We have continued to be affected by adverse market conditions, including elevated domestic capacity and continued weak demand for domestic leisure travel in the second quarter of 2025, resulting in a challenging pricing environment.' 'As a result, we continue to experience challenges and uncertainties in our business operations and expect these trends to continue for at least the remainder of 2025.'
Newsweek
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
SUX, FUK, GAY: What Happens When an Airport Code Is Deemed 'Offensive'?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. At first glance, a three-letter airport code might seem like bureaucratic trivia meant mostly for air-traffic control purposes. But when the code is GAY, FUK or SUX, those letters can stir political outcry, cultural backlash or a citywide PR headache. This week, Gaya International Airport in the Indian state of Bihar became the latest flashpoint after BJP Member of Parliament Bhim Singh called the airport's "GAY" designation "socially and culturally offensive." He urged India's civil aviation ministry to request a change from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Indian government demurred, saying such changes are allowed only under "exceptional circumstances" tied to air safety. Gaya Airport-Bodh Gaya Airport is a airport located in the city Gaya in state of Bihar, India. IATA code for this airport is GAY. Gaya Airport-Bodh Gaya Airport is a airport located in the city Gaya in state of Bihar, India. IATA code for this airport is GAY. Rashid Jorvee - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 The dispute reflects the rare instances of airport codes that can cause discomfort — or, more likely, chuckles — because of unintended meanings. While some codes — like SEX or GUN — are explicitly banned by IATA, others such as GAY, FUK (Fukuoka, Japan) and SUX (Sioux City, Iowa) remain in use, often after failed rebranding efforts. "IATA codes can only be changed for safety reasons," the civil aviation ministry said in response to Singh's demand, according to the air travel blog View from the Wing. Yet that's not entirely accurate. Historical precedents show codes have changed before. Baltimore's airport went from BAL to BWI, and New York's Idlewild Airport was renamed JFK. Still, the process is rare and complex. The push to change GAY's code has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ activists who argue the effort is rooted in homophobia. "The call to change the airport code is a symptom of homophobia," LGBTQ rights groups told View from the Wing. The code GAY was unused before Gaya's airport opened in 2002 and had ironically even been offered to Sioux City (SUX), which declined, reportedly uncomfortable with the acronym. SUX faced its own identity challenge. Sioux City's code was considered embarrassing, and in both 1998 and 2002, city officials tried to have it changed. When those attempts failed, the city embraced the code with tongue-in-cheek marketing campaigns urging travelers to "Fly SUX." 'Fly SUX' merchandise is sold at Souix City Gateway Airport. 'Fly SUX' merchandise is sold at Souix City Gateway Airport. Sioux Gateway Airport Branding Dilemma Requests to change Gaya's airport code have previously been submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India. In 2022, the Parliamentary Committee on Public Undertakings recommended changing the code from GAY to YAG, arguing that the existing codename was indecent. Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol noted that Air India had approached the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to request a change, but without success. These cases are part of a long list of unintentionally provocative airport identifiers. FUK remains the official code for Fukuoka Airport in Japan. Dickinson, North Dakota, uses DIK. Other examples include POO (Pocos de Caldas, Brazil), PEE (Perm, Russia), and BUM (Butler Memorial, Missouri). Even codes like CAT, DOG, LOL, and OMG appear on the list of oddities. Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX), also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field, serves both public and military flights in Woodbury County, Iowa. Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX), also known as Brigadier General Bud Day Field, serves both public and military flights in Woodbury County, Iowa. Sioux Gateway Airport Some codes stem from legacy naming systems, while others simply reflect the first available three-letter combination at the time of the airport's registration. Regardless of their origin, once an IATA code is assigned, changing it is no simple task. IATA's Resolution 763 outlines the process for assigning and changing codes, stating that "only a strong justification, primarily concerning air safety, can be the driver for change." In practice, codes are deeply embedded in airline reservation systems, cargo tracking databases, and baggage-handling operations, making alterations costly and logistically difficult. There have been exceptions. The most recent appears to be in 2019, when Kazakhstan's capital renamed its airport from Tselinograd to Nur-Sultan, and the IATA code changed from TSE to NQZ. Even then, the process took years. In 2022, the city reverted to its previous name—Astana—while keeping the new airport code. For many travelers and aviation enthusiasts, these codes are more curiosity than crisis. "I always wanted to ticket an itinerary from Fresno, California (FAT), to Fukuoka, Japan (FUK)," Gary Leff, an aviation expert and main author of View from the Wing. "Better to just lean into it: Fly SUX."
Hindustan Times
28-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Arrested Delta Air pilot identified? Video from San Francisco airport reveals first details
A Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested by at least 10 federal agents in San Francisco on Saturday, Fox News reported, citing sources. Videos on social media showed officers in the flight taking away a co-pilot as onlookers stood stunned. As per Fox News, the pilot was reportedly wanted on child porn charges. Authorities are yet to issue a statement about the arrest. A Delta pilot was reportedly arrested in San Francisco on Saturday(AFP) Travel news outlet, View from the Wing, reported that officers 'stormed to the front' of flight 2809 after it arrived at San Francisco International Airport from Minneapolis at approximately 9:35 PM local time on Saturday. A video posted on social media revealed further details. US Department of Homeland Security officers could be seen taking the pilot away. The pilot has, however, not been identified yet. A passenger told the San Francisco Chronicle that she witnessed at least 10 federal agents, including Homeland Security investigators and air marshals, storming into the cockpit. 'A group of people with badges, guns, and different agency vests/markings were pushing their way up through the aisle to the cockpit. It was rage-inducing to see someone being disappeared right in front of me," she told the outlet. View from the Wing posted footage from the flight. Officers could be seen wearing plainclothes and badges. Their faces were not visible. Neither Delta Air Lines, Homeland Security, nor TSA has reacted to the reported arrest yet. A passenger told FOX 9 that the co-pilot was handcuffed and pulled off the flight. 'I looked at him and I said, 'What's going on?' He said, 'I have no idea'. And he genuinely looked like this was a surprise that all of a sudden there was people on the plane because he had had us stand up, we were starting to take our stuff out for arrival and everybody was already in the overhead bins,' the passenger said.
Vancouver Sun
19-06-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Why a Toronto-bound flight from Amsterdam turned back after five hours in the air
A flight this week from Amsterdam to Toronto spent more than five hours in the air before landing — in Amsterdam. The cause was a missed scheduled maintenance that was discovered while the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, requiring it to do a U-turn and return home. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-303, had already been delayed 90 minutes from its original departure time of 11:20 a.m. local time, for what should have been an eight-hour flight from Schiphol airport to Toronto. That was due to a last-minute change of plane because the air conditioning on the original one wasn't working. But the new plane had its own issues. As reported on the website View from the Wing and elsewhere, the crew realized only en route that there was required maintenance for the aircraft that had not been performed. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. KLM confirmed to Business Insider magazine that the U-turn was caused by the aircraft reaching what it called a 'maintenance deadline.' 'During flight KL691 from Amsterdam to Toronto, it was decided to return to Schiphol as a precaution after it became apparent during the flight that the replacement aircraft (PH-AKA) would reach its maintenance deadline,' the airline said in a statement. 'The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of departure,' it added. 'To prevent the license from expiring during the flight, it was decided to return to perform the maintenance in the Netherlands.' The delay — more than three hours on a flight of more than 3,500 kms — means that, due to European laws , each passenger is entitled to 600 euros in compensation, as well as rebooking by the airline. 'Although all passengers were rebooked upon arrival, we naturally find it very unfortunate for the passengers who were affected by this,' KLM said in its statement. Flight data from shows that the aircraft was south of Iceland and nearly midway across the Atlantic when it turned around. Last-minute aircraft swaps have caused issues in the past. View from the Wing details how, earlier this month, American Airlines swapped out a Boeing 787-8 for a similar 787-9, then sent the latter on a flight from Philadelphia to Naples, Italy. But the runway at Naples wasn't certified for the 787-9, so it had to be diverted to Rome, 200 kms to the north. National Post has reached out to KLM for further comment. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Calgary Herald
19-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Why a Toronto-bound flight from Amsterdam turned back after five hours in the air
A flight this week from Amsterdam to Toronto spent more than five hours in the air before landing — in Amsterdam. The cause was a missed scheduled maintenance that was discovered while the plane was over the Atlantic Ocean, requiring it to do a U-turn and return home. Article content The aircraft, an Airbus A330-303, had already been delayed 90 minutes from its original departure time of 11:20 a.m. local time, for what should have been an eight-hour flight from Schiphol airport to Toronto. That was due to a last-minute change of plane because the air conditioning on the original one wasn't working. Article content Article content Article content But the new plane had its own issues. As reported on the website View from the Wing and elsewhere, the crew realized only en route that there was required maintenance for the aircraft that had not been performed. Article content Article content 'During flight KL691 from Amsterdam to Toronto, it was decided to return to Schiphol as a precaution after it became apparent during the flight that the replacement aircraft (PH-AKA) would reach its maintenance deadline,' the airline said in a statement. Article content 'The aircraft was fully airworthy at the time of departure,' it added. 'To prevent the license from expiring during the flight, it was decided to return to perform the maintenance in the Netherlands.' Article content The delay — more than three hours on a flight of more than 3,500 kms — means that, due to European laws, each passenger is entitled to 600 euros in compensation, as well as rebooking by the airline. Article content Article content 'Although all passengers were rebooked upon arrival, we naturally find it very unfortunate for the passengers who were affected by this,' KLM said in its statement. Article content Article content Flight data from shows that the aircraft was south of Iceland and nearly midway across the Atlantic when it turned around. Article content Last-minute aircraft swaps have caused issues in the past. View from the Wing details how, earlier this month, American Airlines swapped out a Boeing 787-8 for a similar 787-9, then sent the latter on a flight from Philadelphia to Naples, Italy. But the runway at Naples wasn't certified for the 787-9, so it had to be diverted to Rome, 200 kms to the north. Article content
