Paddle Your Own Kanoo
• Mateusz Maszczynski
The Trump administration is pausing enforcement of a rule that requires airlines to provide annual wheelchair-assistance training for flight attendants serving disabled travelers. The delay affects a mandated element of passenger assistance and gives carriers more time before enforcement resumes.
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The Trump administration is pausing enforcement of a rule that requires airlines to provide annual wheelchair-assistance training for flight attendants serving disabled travelers. The delay affects a mandated element of passenger assistance and gives carriers more time before enforcement resumes.
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Starting Aug. 25, American Airlines will restrict complimentary upgrades on domestic flights with separate premium-economy and business-class cabins. Eligible economy passengers will upgrade only to premium economy, while business-class upgrades will begin from premium economy, alongside broader AAdvantage changes including expanded Wi-Fi, cash-and-miles bookings and new Loyalty Point Rewards.
Viasat reported $324 million in inflight connectivity revenue last quarter, alongside a record number of aircraft equipped with its service. However, the company’s shrinking installation backlog points to a potentially slowing pipeline for future aircraft additions and raises questions about longer-term growth.
Federal agents are using airline flight manifests to identify and arrest travelers with expired visas at airports, prompting airlines to object over operational safety, enforcement protocols and the role of carriers in immigration actions. The dispute raises questions about coordination between federal authorities and airport operators.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority says it may impose stricter sanctions on Royal Air Maroc, including recommending a suspension of the airline’s Nigerian operations. The regulator cited repeated alleged violations of passenger rights and broader regulatory non-compliance, escalating pressure on the Moroccan carrier in a key African market.
AirFi has launched AirFunnl, a media delivery stack designed to streamline the distribution of inflight-entertainment content. The technology reduces average file sizes by up to 45%, lowering distribution costs and shortening deployment times for streaming IFE.
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From 2 February 2027, Jetstar will replace its 7kg cabin-baggage allowance with size-based rules, charging separately for larger bags stored overhead and priority boarding. Separately, Qantas has agreed to divest its entire stake in Jetstar Japan in a deal valued at about ¥8.2 billion ($52 million), expected to close by June 2027.
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The FAA is awarding $870 million for airport improvements, with funding directed toward infrastructure upgrades, safety enhancements and more family-friendly features. The grants underscore continued federal investment in airport facilities and passenger-facing infrastructure, though the announcement provides no further breakdown of recipients or individual project amounts.
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