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Sen. Markey: Government shutdown jeopardizing air travel safety | Boston 25 News

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  • By:
    Jason Law

    Updated: Jan 18, 2019 – 4:05 PM

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BOSTON – Air traffic safety officials are waving red flags at Boston Logan International Airport. After 28 days of the government shutdown, safety experts are warning it is more dangerous to fly now than before the shutdown began. 

Air traffic controller Mick Devine had a warning that should scare anyone flying out of Logan.

“It is not as safe to fly as it was four weeks ago and it’s getting exponentially worse the longer the shutdown goes on,” said Devine.

PREVIOUS: Logan feeling furloughs with loss of 6 air traffic controllers

Devine is one of 20,000 air traffic controllers working without pay and struggling to get by.

Sen. Ed Markey held a news conference Friday with Logan’s FAA and TSA safety workers. Markey said every day during the shutdown, around six percent of TSA workers, or 2,000 workers, call out from work. 

 Shutdown taking toll on TSA in some airports

Logan officials are worried the increase in absences will lead to more mistakes at the airport. 

“As a result of his shutdown, President Trump is jeopardizing air travel safety and the financial safety of thousands of hardworking government employees,” said Markey. 

Greg Clark is a professional aviation safety specialist. With no end to the shutdown in sight, Clark says it’s as easy as going to your bank or bill collector for help.

“Morale is at an all-time low and stress is at an all-time high,” said Clark. “When they ask, well how long do you need? What do we tell them? They say five days? That doesn’t help. It’s already been 28 days now.”

A recent public opinion poll found Americans are not happy about the shutdown. According to a PBS Newshour/Marist poll, seven in ten Americans feel that shutting down the government in order to reach an agreement on policy is a bad strategy. 

© 2019 Cox Media Group.

United Airlines Orders $4.5 Billion Worth of New Jets | Boeing

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United Airlines has ordered 28 new Boeing jets worth $4.5 billion, planning to add 24 737MAX 10 aircraft and four 777-300ER aircraft, two models which the carrier already operates. According to the OEM, the airline has been ordering both models steadily to fill out its domestic and international network.

The orders were placed late last year and recorded in Boeing’s recent 2018 orders summary.

Related: Boeing Set New Record for Jet Deliveries in 2018

“United Airlines has been instrumental to the phenomenal success of the Boeing 737 and 777 programs over the years. We are honored by United’s continued confidence in our people and our airplanes and services,” stated Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Co.’ SVP for Commercial Sales Marketing.

The 737MAX is the latest generation of Boeing’s most successful series, the single-aisle 737. It was introduced in 2011 and made its commercial debut in 2017. United has ordered 136 737MAX jets already, 10 of the narrow-body jets in service already.

Related: Airbus Deliveries Set Record in 2018, but Orders Dropped

The 777-300ER is a twin-aisle, long-range aircraft, with a higher fuel capacity than the previous 777-300, capable of transporting up to 396 passengers to a range of 7,370 nautical miles (13,650 km). United presently operates 18 777-300ER aircraft.

In addition to a large fleet of Boeing aircraft, United subscribes to Boeing Global Services, including a range of digital technologies, to optimize its flight operations.

Tracy Reese Teams With United Airlines to Suit Up Female Employees

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Tracy Reese will skip having a fashion show next month in New York, but she has been focused on another runway — designing uniforms for some of United airlines.

For the past five years, 70,000 staffers have been wearing uniforms (from Cintas) which have had the occasional updates. Reese, along with Brooks Brothers and Carhartt, is using her expertise to get the United team suited up in new looks. Pilots, male flight attendants and customer service reps will wear Brooks Brothers uniforms. Reese has designed uniforms for female flight attendants and customer service reps that will be manufactured by the American sportswear maker and retail chain. Carhartt will be dressing ramp service, technical operations and catering operations employees.

Still in the wear-testing stage, the final uniforms are expected to be rolled out some time in 2020.

The three U.S.-based companies are the latest brands to link up for airline uniforms. British Airways recruited Ozwald Boateng, Delta lined up Zac Posen and Turkish Airlines tapped Ettore Bilotta for their respective uniforms last year.

In a phone interview Thursday, Reese explained that United executives, “said the reason that they came to me really was because their population is very diverse and the women really felt like they were wearing uniforms that were tailored for men. They didn’t feel feminine. The uniforms lacked color and there was no pattern. They said, ‘We really thought of you because you design for women, you love color and that’s exactly what we need.”

Before designing anything, Reese took a seven-day, seven-city, cross-country tour to touch down in all the United hubs as well as Hawaii and London. “We spent hours at each hub talking to employees. They had let them know we would be there. There were huge cardboard cut-outs from my runway shows and things from Brooks Brothers. I talked to thousands of people, which was necessary to understand what the job entails and what that means for the clothing.” Reese said.

The designer said that she had access to “those secret underground passageways in the airport that other people don’t get to go to. It’s like a windowless cavern where a whole other world is operating and every airport has them apparently. We were like, ‘Are we going to see any daylight today?’” adding that she spotted a few employees-only stores. Unlimited United flights were not part of Reese’s contract, but everywhere they wish her to go, she flies “in a lovely class of service.” Additional transportation was not part of the deal. “I wish,” she said.

Changing her entire business model to become sustainable, Reese will skip next month’s New York Fashion Week. “It’s nice to take a pause, refocus and prepare for the future. The runway takes so much time away from everything,” Reese said. “It ruins your Christmas, New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidays — all of that. You’re pushing your factories and your team like crazy. You’re Grinch-y at Christmas. You’re focused on this 12-minute show. It’s great, magical and all of that but it’s also good to step away from that.”

Designers should consider only doing runway shows when they have the fire for it, as opposed to feeling like they have to do a show, Reese said. “There are a lot of things that need to be addressed. Why are we shipping 12 months a year?”

United Airlines unveils its brand new uniforms

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United Airlines has unveiled brand new uniforms that will be rolled out to its 70,000 employees from cabin crew to ramp agents.

The US-based carrier has teamed up with women’s wear designer Tracy Reese as well as men’s clothing brand Brooks Brothers and work wear specialists Carhartt to create the new outfits.

The uniforms will now be tested multiple times over the coming year and the airline hopes to distribute them to all staff in 2020.

United Airlines has unveiled brand new uniforms that will be rolled out to its 70,000 employees. Pictured left are the new cabin crew uniforms which have a flash of purple and right are the customer service agent outfits, which have a flash of turquoise

Customer service agents working for United in Hawaii can wear the ‘aloha wear’ uniforms of Hawaiian shirts and navy shorts 

All of the new uniforms will have a base colour called ‘rhapsody blue’ and the airline hopes this will make all staff across its business look like one team.

However, a different pop of colour on each outfit denotes the job of the wearer.

For example, the cabin crew uniforms include a flash of purple, while customer service agent outfits have a turquoise pop.

Flight crew suits have burgundy ties while tech operation and ramp agent uniforms stand out with hi-vis colors.

United says it has focused on using high quality fabrics with improved breathability so its staff ‘feel good as well as look good’.

All the new uniforms will have a base color called ‘rhapsody blue’ and a pop of colour depending on the wearer’s job. Pictured left is the flight crew uniform, which has a burgundy tie. The flight attendant attendant uniform, right, has a splash of purple 

More than 1,300 pilots, flight attendants and customer service agents will be the first to test out the new pieces.

United says that during this time, they will continue to refine the designs based on staff feedback.

Designer Tracy Reese, who created the female uniforms, said: ‘I’m excited for United employees and customers to see the designs we’ve been hard at work on, and for employees to begin to wear-test these new looks to test their fit and function.

‘I’ve travelled the world with United to meet with thousands of employees to better understand their job duties and hear first-hand what is needed in a uniform so that these women look and feel good, but most importantly – perform at their best.’

Both technical operatives, left, and ramp agents, right, will receive new uniforms. United hopes to roll out the new uniforms by 2020 

While Brian Lane of Brooks Brothers added: ‘These designs represent months of collaboration with United’s front-line employees to develop a uniforms programme that the United team will be proud to wear.

‘Uniforms are such a critical part of employees’ work lives, so no stone was un-turned as we created these designs with enthusiastic employee input.

‘This includes high quality fabric, improved breathability, enhanced fit and pops of color. We will continue to refine these garments based on feedback following the upcoming wear test.’

Pictured are United Airlines cabin crew staff walking through Houston Bush Airport wearing the company’s current uniform 

VIDEO: Push to make air travel easier on disabled flyers and equipment

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Steps are being taken to make air travel for disabled passengers and their equipment easier after a year of horror stories in the press where people and their wheelchairs have been mistreated by airlines.

A new film has been launched so people considering flying
with their powerchair can see exactly what is involved when taking a flight.

The film, produced by UK charity, Queen Elizabeth’s
Foundation for Disabled People (QEF), shows every stage of the journey, from
the preparation required, through check-in, security, boarding, in-flight and
landing, as well as the assistance available.

QEF developed ‘Your Guide to Flying with a Disability’ with the Civil Aviation Authority and the airline and airport industry, with the aim of providing disabled people with the information they are missing, so they can make informed decisions and feel confident about taking a flight.

This film has been created in response to a growing need,
highlighted by the numerous high-profile media stories throughout 2018 and
reports that show that in 2017 there were 3m requests made for assistance at UK
airports.

These requests are increasing at almost double the rate of
general passenger growth.

QEF’s Accessible Aviation expert, Graham Race, said: “Our
QEF Tryb4uFly service has already proven invaluable to many disabled people
that have been anxious about taking a flight, but there has been a significant
increase in demand for information.

“British Airways have already confirmed that they will make
the film available to all customers who book wheelchair assistance.”

Paul Smith, director at the Civil Aviation Authority, added: “It is a
priority for the UK Civil Aviation Authority to continue to improve the
accessibility of air travel.

“As it shows every stage of a journey by air for a powered
wheelchair user, we hope the film will answer many of the questions people
currently have about flying as a wheelchair passenger, and increase the confidence
to fly.”

In December, proposals for a new charter for airlines and
airports were put forward by ministers to tackle the issue of damaged
wheelchairs during transit.

If the plans come to fruition it would mean the £2,000 limit
on payouts for damaged wheelchairs would be removed.

Indy to Host International Air-Travel Conference

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(INDIANAPOLIS) – A major aviation conference is coming to Indy next year.

The three-day Routes Americas conference is a networking event for airline and airport executives from around the world to discuss potential new flights. The 2019 conference in Quebec City next month will match up representatives of 80 airlines with 300 airports.

Indy’s been trying to expand its international service. Its first nonstop transatlantic route, to Paris, began just eight months ago. But Garrett Baguley with Routes organizer UBM says the airport has great potential for expansion, while the city’s convention expertise leaves itwell equipped to accommodate meetings with 800 aviation-industry representatives.

Governor Holcomb says he wants to make Indianapolis International Airport the Midwest’s hub for international travel. He and airport director Mario Rodriguez say the annual conference is a chance to make the airport’s case directly — but with what both call a home-field advantage. The airport has regularly topped passenger surveys on the best airports in North America, but Holcomb says there’s a difference between reading those polls and seeing the airport in person.

Indianapolis International Airport (Photo: Eric Berman/WIBC)

Apple spends $150M on United Airlines annually, leaked documents show

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video

Apple may debut three new iPhones in 2019: Report

Loup Ventures managing partner Gene Munster and Wireless Fund portfolio manager Paul Meeks on how Apple may release three new iPhones this year and whether investors will dive back into the company.

Apple is United Airlines’ biggest corporate customer, spending $150 million each year on business flights around the world, according to the airline’s internal documents that leaked to social media last weekend.

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Photos of a United Airlines promotional banner revealed the tech giant books 50 business class seats to Shanghai, China, every day. China is home to many of Apple’s main parts suppliers and manufacturing hubs. Other top Apple flight destinations include Hong Kong, Taipei and London.

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    The internal materials also named Facebook, Google and Roche as top corporate customers, with annual spending of more than $34 million each. Other companies named as top spenders included Deloitte, Oracle and Cisco.

    The information was meant for a program for United employees on the importance of corporate relationships and “was not intended to be shared publicly,” a United spokesperson said in a statement.

    “A small group of customers were mentioned by name on this material and each has been contacted directly and we are working to address their concerns. The material has been taken down and moving forward we will review and further restrict sharing of internal customer information to a strictly need to know audience,” the statement added.

    Apple declined to comment.

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    The original photo, shared by Twitter user @LAflyer, has since been taken down for copyright reasons. The documents did not detail the flight habits of companies other than Apple.

    First look: United unveils new uniforms for 70,000 frontline employees

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