Pet Airways Beach 1900 Ready to go!
Pet Airways is a new airline…but just for pets (or for “pawsengers” as they call them). The new airline is offerring pet service to five cities around the US: New York, Baltimore, Denver, Chicago, and LA.
Pets on this airline will be up in the nicely climate-controlled cabins of a Beechcraft 1900 and not in a cargo hold. As of now they are offerring about $149 one way tickets, but expect the average ticket to be about $250 for one way — geez that is more than more human tickets?!
But, it seems to be something of interest since they went live on April 17th and since then, their reservation system has been crashed from the amount of interest in their services.
Source: Baltimoresun Image: PetAirWays
CanJet Boeing 737 That was hijacked this Sunday
An 8 hour stand off with police and a hijacker is now over. A 20 year old Jamaican took over the CanJet plane after using force to get past security. He released all the passengers and two crew members, but held another six hostage.
It appears the young man had some mental issues (obviously) and was upset over a recently distraught relationship.
The CanJet Airlines flight 918 was a Boeing 737 enroute to Cuba.
Source: AP Image: AP
Boeing 747's at an airline graveyard
As airlines cut flights, that means they don’t have the need for as many planes. Some of those planes are still very airworthy and it is not time for them to be destroyed. A large number of these planes end up in one of a few desert holding yards (not graveyards, since some of them “come back to life”).
About 1,700 planes over the past few years have been taken out of service due to lower demand and older age. According to Ascent Worldwide, plane storage has increased 29% in the past year to over 2,300.
For planes that are still airworthy and hopefully will fly again one day, it can be quite costly to keep them passing their mandated maintenance. Storing a Boeing 747 with hopes of flying again can run about $60,000.00 per year. Yes, that is pricey, but much cheaper than having to buy another 747 in a few years if ticket sales go up again.
Visiting one of these desert parking lots can be very exciting and sad for an airline enthusiast.
Source: AP Image: AP
Cargo Door open on jetBlue A320
A cargo handler working for JetBlue decided to take a little nap at a bad time. He fell asleep in the planes cargo bin and didn’t realize what was going on until in the air. Lucky for him, the cargo hold was heated which allowed him to live to tell his tale.
He took the short flight from New York to Boston and after be determined it was all an honest mistake, he was allowed to return to New York. No word if he will be one of many people newly unemployed.
JetStar Airbus A320
When first seeing this livery, I thought it might be some new Russian airline — red star and all. However, it is an Australian and Singapore airline started in May 2004.
Source: JetStar Image: Melinda ^..^