AvTalk Episode 219: Air India is in for a long wait

On this week’s episode of AvTalk, an Air India 777 diverts to Russia and we walk through the challenges of getting an aircraft repaired in a country under US sanctions. Boeing is dealing with a fresh 787 quality issue. And Seth Miller of PaxEx.aero joins Jason in Hamburg, Germany to report on the newest passenger experience developments from this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo. Air India flight to San Francisco diverts to Magadan, Russia An Air India 777 en route from New Delhi to San Francisco developed engine trouble over Russia and diverted to Magadan. We walk through the problems facing the airline as it ensures the passengers get to San Francisco and its plane gets back in the air. Shim shiminey, shim shiminey… Boeing is facing fresh quality issues with the 787, this time a shimming issue affecting the horizontal stabilizer on undelivered 787s. The 2023 Aircraft Interiors Expo Seth Miller joins Jason in Hamburg to review the developments from this year’s largest expo focused on the passenger experience. Among the standouts, a new seat that allows wheel chair users to stay in their chair on short haul flights, a new seat that allows airlines to shrink the exit row, and a fancy lavatory screen. Riyadh Air makes its debut The first Riyadh Air livery has debuted on a 787 ahead of the Paris Air Show. The 787-9 will be on display in Paris wearing the airline’s deep purple livery. JetBlue starts giving away parts of Spirit to Frontier Continuing its attempt to get its merger with Spirit Airlines approved, JetBlue has agreed to divest all of Spirit’s LaGuardia assets to Frontier. We discuss what those assets are and if the move will sway regulators at all. Wildfire smoke causing delays at New York airports And in New York this week (and Philadelphia and Washington DC), smoke from wildfires burning in Canada limited visibility and delayed flights. Thank you for listening! Thank you so much for listening to AvTalk! Like the podcast? Have suggestions for future shows? Let us know by leaving a review on iTunes. Reviews on iTunes not only help us make a better show, they help more people find the podcast! Want to send us additional feedback, just email us. And tell that friend who asked you for a podcast recommendation that AvTalk is the one they want to listen to next. Please click here for a transcript of this week’s episode.