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On 05 January 2024 fuselage panel on the plane suddenly blew out forcing pilots to make an emergency landing and resulting in the NTSB grounding all Boeing 737-9 MAX models for inspection.","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7-5472x3648.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-01-11T00:12:06Z","sha1hash":"d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/d250018f08157347450ba4f8a1a3dff8f8892ea7-5472x3648.jpg"}},"slug":"/story/2024/01/what-really-happened-to-that-alaska-airlines-boeing-737","visibility":"true","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7484d62419c1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Commercial air travel has been in a prolonged state of disorder with staffing shortages, delays, cancellations, and a series of terrifying near-misses on the ground and in the air.","_key":"85e26ad6a8810"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"2cad5482ac86","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/2024/1/8/24030677/boeing-alaska-airlines-plane-737-max-door-plug","_key":"cd661538b9a3"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And when ","_key":"a7ef7b31b8090"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a hole ripped in the side","_key":"d7de84a4f13b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet flying shortly after taking off from Portland last week, the ","_key":"f6dc30c04aba"},{"_key":"a7ef7b31b8091","_type":"span","marks":["cd661538b9a3"],"text":"issue"},{"marks":[],"text":" was suddenly front-page news. You might be familiar with some of the details, but let’s dig deeper into the cause and effect.","_key":"a7ef7b31b8092","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"18a1ace7af71","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"It could have been much worse","_key":"11cfd5db923d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"63571945c0e4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Based on official reports and anecdotes from those aboard the Alaska Airlines flight, here’s what happened about 20 minutes into the trip.","_key":"781132e99c220"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"There was a loud pop when the door plug came off, ","_key":"1b0de7d907a00","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"leaving a huge hole","_key":"15fc873ffd6e","_type":"span"},{"text":" in the fuselage.","_key":"a31ac3548004","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cae6c2367935","listItem":"bullet"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A host of small items,","_key":"f93d788694230"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" from cellphones to clothing","_key":"d99fe054f623"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", were sucked out of the plane.","_key":"440ae18a0e27"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a575fec528d4","listItem":"bullet"},{"style":"normal","_key":"6a372a181c8b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Oxygen masks fell from overhead and the jet staged","_key":"39e592d4dfed0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" an emergency landing","_key":"db14e182d43e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in Portland.","_key":"1bd71a49c834"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"076a8f19029b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"88ad746b23ff0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since it occurred so shortly after takeoff, passengers still had their seatbelts on. Authorities say there could have been much more serious consequences if it had happened later in the flight."}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"Federal regulators get involved","_key":"61b40bc938100","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9a79109b86d4","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"19e2acf72c8b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Officials from agencies including the FAA and NTSB are now probing the incident and at least 171 Boeing jets","_key":"a494520e9a250","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" are undergoing thorough inspections","_key":"a6f377360f41"},{"_key":"f8de9336c3d4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". As of the latest updates available, five of those planes had door plugs that were too loose."}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"4f305cb0ce72","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For Alaska Airlines and other carriers that use Boeing 737 Max 9 jets, the incident has resulted in flight cancellations expected to last for at least a few more days.","_key":"f46d598811390"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"671db4d8efcb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5425736472ee0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After two previous Boeing 737 Max crashes, it’s only natural to be concerned, but aviation expert Dan Bubb"},{"text":" tried to put things in perspective","_key":"9ac5602b2ebf","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":".","_key":"18fff4e06146","_type":"span"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1f82bef2741","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“I know it is alarming,” he said. “But the 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don’t have to look very far these days to find evidence of a global economy teetering on the edge. But that hasn’t stopped a growing number of travelers from plopping down a small fortune on "},{"_type":"span","marks":["096dbd275205"],"text":"opulent","_key":"2cdba746c0c21"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" outings and elaborate excursions.","_key":"2cdba746c0c22"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8d74a9362349"},{"style":"normal","_key":"1dcb842a0abe","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What’s behind the trend?","_key":"36eee07738410"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After the COVID-19 crisis began to cool off a bit, many people found themselves with extra cash and a pent-up desire to get out of the house. 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One study found that just "},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"22% of people","_key":"1c5b28c9ef1c","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" said higher prices would “greatly impact” their travel plans and a whopping ","_key":"a5559555749f"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"91% of Americans","_key":"e6b66b10e637"},{"_key":"3891f5efe3fe","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" indicated they planned to take a vacation within the following six months."}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"4b8146cedad9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But since prices are higher, these travelers seem determined to make the money they spend count, often by turning an ordinary vacation into a VIP experience.","_key":"b4b37692a2b60"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Where’s the money going?","_key":"66951d538f180","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3667dc8dc750","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ea9b616f9892","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Just because vacation cash is flowing doesn’t mean folks aren’t being selective about where they spend it. 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airports.","_key":"9d89d4fc15dc"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"155b23d7f792"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d48f330c99f0","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/airlines-pilots-planes-safety-united-delta-southwest-e438ce08","_key":"38b09ed86aee"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’ve experienced some of that frustration, you might be pleased to know that airlines have been on a hiring spree lately and a host of new pilots are sitting behind the controls in jet cockpits. But there’s more ","_key":"2e7d7ee641ea0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["38b09ed86aee"],"text":"nuance","_key":"2e7d7ee641ea1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to this story than simple stats would suggest.","_key":"2e7d7ee641ea2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Some important context","_key":"eeb5fad8cc9f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3222a8b27bd8"},{"_key":"ab2aa24d697e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although the increase in pilot acquisition among major airline carriers started in 2021, it really kicked into high gear last year. While 2020 was an anomaly since COVID-19 essentially shut down most non-essential airline travel, we might dismiss the paltry 2,398 pilots hired that year.","_key":"5b0146cb2c720"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But let’s take a look at how the the three years since have stacked up against earlier trends:","_key":"a7e51a0721760","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2ac5f022c7e8"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b40b1fbd8744","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"c65824fd1dc30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"2021 was the first year in decades that "},{"text":"more than 5,000 pilots","_key":"659e01a7f34a","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"a86f432fe14e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" were hired"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"24f8d44ce2ae","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In 2022, the number more than doubled from the previous year … increasing ","_key":"3d94f7ea9de50"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"from 5,426 to 13,128","_key":"a2acbcd89aa3","_type":"span"}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So far in 2023, ","_key":"58d8d50595f00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"nearly 10,000 new pilots","_key":"b5dae0662508"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" have gotten their wings","_key":"1114d359b0f6"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"70f09b8613ef"},{"_key":"0c08cfaf984d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So what happens when all these inexperienced pilots get behind the controls? That’s what a lot of industry insiders — and nervous passengers — want to know.","_key":"f9334bb1c4570"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"The underlying risk","_key":"3127ff3e4e6c0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b93f65274af4"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e10229a48b14","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The airline industry simply hasn’t ever seen the rapid addition of so many new pilots, which has some folks understandably worried. While there haven’t been any crashes, there have been a number of near misses. And when you’re talking about air travel, there’s really no room for error.","_key":"152fb32abea90"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"fbe76438587e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford noted that “","_key":"c5675ecd208d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"there’s tremendous experience within the industry","_key":"163a62366e6b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” but admitted that he has “a concern over the experience in seat,” adding: “I think we should at least ask those questions.”","_key":"010c13bf2fd8"}],"_type":"block"}],"summary":"Experts have some serious concerns about the recent 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And one startup company is ready to help make that dream a reality.","_key":"d87aecb1b7fa2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Meet the “Space Camper”","_key":"eb0a7c317a140"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aa8347620e80"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ef67bea3fb8b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The very first Cybertrucks should be sold later this year, and a company known as Space Campers has been waiting for that date to come for well over two years. 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But trains changed everything and the nation quickly expanded."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, trains are now seen as ","_key":"771604f2b9a20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"an antiquated form of transportation","_key":"771604f2b9a21"},{"_key":"771604f2b9a22","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the age of powerful cars and commercial jets — but that "},{"marks":["ad77f9d26e45"],"text":"seems","_key":"771604f2b9a23","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to be changing.","_key":"771604f2b9a24"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"94606de20021","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://reason.com/video/2023/09/20/how-florida-beat-california-to-high-speed-rail/","_key":"ad77f9d26e45"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"High-speed revolution","_key":"af051a2dd65a0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b79b1d107258"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8b671263d587","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Sure, there are still passenger trains (most notably Amtrak), and consumer goods are frequently transported throughout the country by rail. 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air travel has seen a post-pandemic rebound and major airports are once against the scene of bustling activity, their regional counterparts are ","_key":"543da11c1cfb0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["26dcd936ada4"],"text":"increasingly","_key":"543da11c1cfb1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" being left to wither.","_key":"543da11c1cfb2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eebd8a42c4a9"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"That’s because major carriers are pulling out of these smaller airports — including Williamsport Regional Airport in Pennsylvania, which hasn’t had a commercial flight since 2021 when American Airlines abandoned it.","_key":"4af6d20aac020","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dccaff328e1d"},{"style":"normal","_key":"21b525320924","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Identifying the reasons","_key":"27b8ba416f7f0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As 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But it’s not quite as simple as that. There are a few key reasons that regional airports are seeing their traffic slow down considerably or even come to a complete halt.","_key":"363c76ed5ce30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e24269c304fc"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d8bccc8bc3230","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A labor shortage means there aren’t enough pilots to service all the flights."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4dd877d30575","listItem":"bullet"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1432aeff8bd9","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Gas, maintenance, and labor costs make smaller jets less profitable to operate.","_key":"c44a5578395b0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"322aaa7454d4","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Many people prefer to drive shorter distances, leading to reduced demand.","_key":"2575206143cd0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a073fa896375","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"66db09e353f80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Those factors might explain the situation, but that doesn’t make things easier for the communities that once relied on regional airports to provide jobs and commerce. Since COVID-19 first began to spread, three major airlines — American, Delta, and United — have severed service to a total of 74 small airports nationwide."}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Measuring the impact","_key":"fd4be2cd10b20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4a03ac76bdb8","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"79e576f61d8e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Julie Johnston McManus still works inside the Williamsport Regional Airport at the travel agency she owns. But unlike in the past, her clients cannot use the airport as the starting point for their vacations.","_key":"f9c3e8ee54740"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c01636ee8f8b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"\"It's very sad,” she said. “To know that we can't help people that need immediate service to leave right from here. 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And while that’s true, the recent ","_key":"17f5c901b9842"},{"_type":"span","marks":["5c6c337ba02c"],"text":"stories","_key":"17f5c901b9843"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" about close calls probably didn’t make things any easier for trepidatious travelers.","_key":"17f5c901b9844"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1f9834edc2e8","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/21/business/airline-safety-close-calls.html","_key":"5c6c337ba02c"}]},{"_key":"62ec8d62f997","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"One tumultuous month","_key":"280237cdbbf90"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b2e754616895","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f5410c6b94250","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Within the span of July alone, there were several near misses that, had pilots and air traffic controllers not been on high alert, could have ended in tragedy."}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ec50ca410324","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"On July 2, a landing in New Orleans was ","_key":"77f209b90c150","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"scrapped at the last second","_key":"77f209b90c151"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" when another jet was found to be using the same runway to take off.","_key":"77f209b90c152"}],"level":1},{"_key":"11894b852edc","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Just over a week later, a plane taking off in San Francisco ","_key":"6ed629a28e980","_type":"span"},{"_key":"6ed629a28e981","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"nearly clipped the nose"},{"marks":[],"text":" of another aircraft as it was barreling down the runway at 160 mph.","_key":"6ed629a28e982","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Near the end of last month, a pilot flying to Dallas heard an urgent warning that ","_key":"01b8dd7aea6f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"another jet was in its vicinity","_key":"01b8dd7aea6f1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and narrowly avoided a midair collision.","_key":"01b8dd7aea6f2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"56ed853dcf1c"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, planes take off and land all the time at airports around the world, so three incidents within a short period of time probably isn’t a sufficient reason for you to swear off air travel entirely. 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In fact, there were roughly four dozen last month, according to internal documents compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration.","_key":"fb6a9054b70b0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"ce3d50730c9e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But this data ","_key":"6546ed9618230","_type":"span"},{"text":"isn’t readily available to the public","_key":"6546ed9618231","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"6546ed9618232","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and only surfaced because of an investigation by The New York Times."}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"1a51b1904b8c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Fortunately, there haven’t been any deadly consequences, but experts say it’s time to redouble the airline industry’s safety measures before tragedy strikes.","_key":"bcb6b0f6c5360"}],"_type":"block"}]},{"publishDate":"2023-08-10","visibility":"true","_rev":"iV4xlUdGI0w9ojbpBWhcKp","category":"travel","title":"Legroom Has Been Vanishing On Airplanes … And It’s All By Design","_createdAt":"2023-08-09T19:58:02Z","summary":"The current cramped conditions have been in the works for decades.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","id":"tZiWaARt","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"South Park/Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"gFW0B8KDsEWRbilL1GQhMBYQlGzICmuN","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/5c33a7f422ce4a2db20b0277d22d948553b2319c-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2023-08-10T01:57:15Z","_rev":"iV4xlUdGI0w9ojbpBWhc3F","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"5c33a7f422ce4a2db20b0277d22d948553b2319c","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/5c33a7f422ce4a2db20b0277d22d948553b2319c-480x270.gif","assetId":"5c33a7f422ce4a2db20b0277d22d948553b2319c","_createdAt":"2023-08-10T01:57:15Z","_id":"image-5c33a7f422ce4a2db20b0277d22d948553b2319c-480x270-gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MFHUztD+^iRQxt~q-;f+%2IVcGRiE2M{tR","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#d4b464","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":7.65,"background":"#c4ab8d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.41,"background":"#2e314d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.3,"background":"#ae9166","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.24,"background":"#d6b799","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.84,"background":"#806730","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#c4ab8d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.65}}},"size":683608,"originalFilename":"giphy.gif"}},"_id":"bf2be14c-24cd-4cc7-bc3e-2454ef4775f0","_updatedAt":"2023-08-10T01:57:17Z","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Buying the ticket, finding a parking spot, making it through security, finding your gate number — it all adds up to frustration for airplane passengers. 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It was used for decades before the Boeing 737 gained prominence. 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But even those of average height will find it uncomfortable if their butt-to-knee ratio (which is used in the development of airplane seats) is longer than average.","_key":"70e658ee0c480"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you want to make sure you’ll have enough room on today’s airliners, it’ll cost you.","_key":"51bb8db998bc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d5bc7d39907b"},{"_key":"de60295c24c2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Adjusted for inflation, it’s actually ","_key":"9e51b8c55c330"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"much cheaper","_key":"9e51b8c55c331"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to take a commercial flight than it was 30 years ago. 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","_key":"b11db3dccb6c0"},{"text":"A 1920 law","_key":"b11db3dccb6c1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"b11db3dccb6c2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" requires ships that move transport goods or people from one domestic port to another must be built in the U.S., staffed by Americans, and fly the Stars and Stripes."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a17c0a693b8d"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"In order to get around this law, ships either:","_key":"70f1f5a723070","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"682d3f45cef2"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b2c63e50cfa7","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sail to the U.S. from an international port, or","_key":"44cd4c4e5e630"}],"level":1},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Make a stop outside the U.S. during the 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Long lines, canceled flights, lost luggage, staffing shortages, and mid-air fights were commonplace even as the cost of a ticket remained frustratingly high.","_key":"44f88b247b680"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although things seem to have gotten a bit better in 2023, airlines are still being forced to ","_key":"2f3ed86c4a710"},{"_type":"span","marks":["2a6e8b971910"],"text":"acknowledge","_key":"2f3ed86c4a711"},{"marks":[],"text":" that they’re struggling to meet the expectations of modern travelers.","_key":"2f3ed86c4a712","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"405a479eb46d","markDefs":[{"href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-airlines-thrown-curveball-consumer-101515385.html","_key":"2a6e8b971910","_type":"link"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"It’s hurting the bottom line","_key":"7c3350e6b0110"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bc4da9a78d68"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1dcf2da2d79b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A combination of multiple factors, such as the work-from-home revolution, has created a new paradigm for air travel, and big-name carriers are playing catchup in an effort to determine the best way to serve their customers."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3ca0916e4635"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Here are some of the trends:","_key":"e563e08d4ab20","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1a6db84b3b1a"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d64fecf4468b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Weekends and peak travel days are ","_key":"708c3eacd64f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more crowded","_key":"708c3eacd64f1"},{"text":" at the expense of midweek sales.","_key":"708c3eacd64f2","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"6f92b1f22446","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More passengers are ","_key":"5ec40194fa4f0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"canceling flights","_key":"5ec40194fa4f1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" or simply not showing up to board.","_key":"5ec40194fa4f2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9d544541ec40","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Fewer people are booking flights ","_key":"49b0a358448d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"less than a month","_key":"49b0a358448d1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in advance.","_key":"49b0a358448d2"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c8b942d207d4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"These and other factors are making it harder than ever for airlines to figure out how to remain profitable while providing reliable service. After all, the Biden administration recently announced strict new regulations that will cost carriers a lot if they are responsible for flight cancellations or extreme delays.","_key":"a9e4f7b1dd830"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"d05d3f1882ba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"No good options available","_key":"4898abe42db60"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At this point, all airlines appear to be struggling with shares industry-wide dropping by an average of 6% since the beginning of the year.","_key":"4f36441661840"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"12fd91064692"},{"_key":"4396c691add9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And some carriers seem particularly desperate — like Delta, which is embracing a plan that involves ","_key":"0f18f7862d430"},{"_key":"0f18f7862d431","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"overbooking flights"},{"_key":"0f18f7862d432","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" even more than it did in the past."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Of course, that means there’s a higher chance that passengers will be booted off their flights.","_key":"689520e7481b0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"54ae7599cda4","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But Delta President Glen Hauenstein said it’s a risk he has to take, concluding: “We had a lot of stability pre-pandemic. 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The seats are getting closer and even if you’re one of those passengers who like to lean back, the reclining function has essentially become useless in recent years.","_key":"7a595537c4732"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"796fa7568772","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2023/04/12/air-new-zealand-skynest-bunk-beds/","_key":"c725f2335213","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"text":"Well, there’s one ","_key":"c5bcf5a17a380","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["c725f2335213"],"text":"carrier","_key":"c5bcf5a17a381"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that is trying to fix all of that.","_key":"c5bcf5a17a382"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c19b6d22fffd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Get ready for the Skynest","_key":"898edc54a4220"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"2347bde483f4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"If you’ll be flying on an Air New Zealand jet in late 2024, you’ll have an option to actually lie down for a legitimate nap. The new feature is called the Skynest, but it’s essentially a bunk bed that will be added to its larger jets.","_key":"370a896f4e3d0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Although only six of these pods will be available and it’s only an option on long flights, it sounds like a step in the right direction — and Air New Zealand executive Leanne Geraghty said that it came in response to “research telling us that ","_key":"d5b086c939900","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"sleep was core to customer experience","_key":"d5b086c939901"},{"marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"d5b086c939902","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8da297db8863"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The beds will be available in the economy class and jets should be outfitted with them by September of next year. With some of the carrier’s flights spanning 17 hours, this could be a game-changer for long-haul passengers.","_key":"4b8f273824490","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c6b2a3108a38"},{"_key":"6af375f259d6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The carrier’s latest innovation","_key":"0dd85d3ddfee0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"6f0e12299913","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Air New Zealand is no stranger to trying out new things on its planes and the Skynest is just the latest example.","_key":"4879c1af7faa0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"977fbdc10822","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"More than a decade ago, the airline rolled out what it called the Skycouch, which gives passengers ","_key":"2c2dee3494fd0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"an option to purchase three seats","_key":"2c2dee3494fd1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in a row that can be transformed into a space large enough to lie down.","_key":"2c2dee3494fd2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"edcfb5f249ce","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"As for its latest innovation, even though some airlines in the industry’s early days experimented with ways to allow passengers to fully recline, Geraghty said that Air New Zealand appears to be the “first to actually put this offering onboard an aircraft.”","_key":"240f2bfd29c00","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"id":"3j161fy8","category":"travel","slug":"/story/2023/04/has-this-airline-solved-the-problem-of-disappearing-legroom"}]