Air Canada flight diverted to Hawaii after turbulence, minor injuries reported

MONTREAL, Canada—An Air Canada flight was diverted on Thursday to Hawaii after a sudden case of severe turbulence left 35 customers with minor injuries, the carrier said in a statement.

Flight AC33, carrying 269 passengers and 15 crew, was flying from Vancouver to Sydney, Australia, when the Boeing 777 aircraft "encountered unforecasted and sudden turbulence approximately 2 hours past Hawaii," the carrier said.

The plane was diverted to Honolulu and landed at 12:45 pm EST.

"As a precaution, medical personnel are on standby to examine passengers in Honolulu," the carrier said.

The carrier's initial reports were of 25 people with minor injuries.

A case of severe turbulence in June on a flight from Kosovo to France was captured on video, showing a flight attendant hitting the ceiling and another praying.

In another case, 29 people were injured after a Turkish Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence on its approach to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in March.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Grab under fire for surge pricing, difficulty in booking

Ride-sharing company Grab defended its service after receiving complaints of surge pricing and booking difficulties from passengers. More from Jacque Manabat. - Business Nightly, ANC, August 24, 2017

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US regulator tells air passengers not to turn on Galaxy Note 7 phones

WASHINGTON/SYDNEY - Airline passengers should not turn on or charge their Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Galaxy Note 7 smartphones during flights or stow them in checked baggage due to concerns over the phone's fire-prone batteries, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said.

The FAA said on Thursday it "strongly advises" passengers to follow its guidance "in light of recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices."

The South Korean manufacturer announced last week it was recalling all Galaxy Note 7 smartphones equipped with batteries it has found to be prone to catch fire.

On Friday, Singapore Airlines Ltd. became the latest carrier to ban use of the phones during flights, following an identical move by three Australian airlines.

"The powering up and charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones is prohibited on all our flights," Singapore Airlines said in a statement.

On Thursday, Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd., Jetstar Airways and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. announced they had banned passengers from using or charging the phones in response to the recall.

Although customers will still be able to bring the phones on flights, the bans extend to the phones being plugged into flight entertainment systems where USB ports are available.

Australia's aviation regulator said on Friday it was working with airlines and foreign aviation safety regulators "to ensure that recalled devices are treated and carried safely."

Delta Air Lines Inc, the No. 2 U.S. airline by passenger traffic, said it is still studying the issue.

"Delta is in constant contact with the FAA and other bodies in its run of business as a global airline. We will comply with any directive and are studying this matter. Safety and security is always Delta's top priority," spokesman Morgan Durrant said in a statement.

United Continental Holdings Inc and American Airlines Group Inc did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the FAA advisory.

Vaughn Jennings, a spokesman for Washington-based trade group Airlines for America, said the organization was "closely monitoring any developments as this issue evolves."

"Each individual carrier makes determinations, in compliance with FAA safety rules and regulations, as to what is permitted to be carried on board and in the cargo hold," Jennings said in a statement.

The FAA statement does not order U.S. airlines to take action.

The International Air Transportation Association said airlines have conducted risk assessments and noted that other phones have been recalled for battery issues.

"Although Samsung is the most recent company advising of faulty devices, others have issued similar recalls and warnings regarding lithium batteries in laptops over the last 12 months, so the industry is familiar with and equipped to manage such situations," the IATA said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ride a black taxi in Davao City, pay your fare via ATM card

Twenty-five unconventionally colored black taxis that are safer for passengers and allow you to pay your fare via automated teller machine (ATM) cards have become the talk of the town in Davao City.

The transport innovation was the idea of Pierre Ryan Tan, assistant manager of Mabuhay Taxi, who thought of addressing the passengers' common complaints against taxi drivers who do not give exact change.

The taxis will accept payments from Bancnet and Megalink ATM and debit cards.

The cabs are also safer for passengers because they have a Global Positioning System tracking device that will automatically give information on the current location of the vehicles, according to Tan.

"It also has an emergency button. It has a security feature that will automatically inform us of the driver's location, engine on, engine off," added Tan.

Leoloy Nahi-al said that the innovation would not only benefit the riding public but the drivers of the black taxis like him, as well.


"I think our income will also increase...commuters won't have second thoughts riding a taxi because they can use their ATM in case they don't have cash," Nahi-al said in Filipino. - with Aliana Gimena

source: interaksyon.com

Fares for international flights to rise with fuel surcharge

MANILA – Fares for international flights are set to increase after the Civil Aeronautics Board approved foreign carriers' petitions for fuel surcharge.

Fuel comprises a third of an airline's operating cost per passenger, and is the second-biggest expense after labor.

From June 1 to August 31, Delta Airlines will impose a $90 surcharge for flights between Philippines and Japan; and $170 for flights between Philippines and the US.

Over the same period, Air China will impose the following surcharges:

• $51.50 for flights between Manila and Beijing;
• $110 for Manila-Beijing-Los Angeles, New York or San Francisco flights;
• 90 Euro for Manila-Beijing-Europe flights; and
• 90 Canadian dollars for Manila-Beijing-Vancouver flights.

From July 1 to September 30, Asiana Airlines will impose a $75 surcharge for flights going to Korea, Japan and China.

From June 7 to September 6, Air Asia Berhad will impose a surcharge of P400 on Clark-Kota Kinabalu flights, and P600 for Clark-Kuala Lumpur flights.

From June 17 to September 16, Singapore Airlines will impose the following surcharges:

• $61 for first class;
• $52 for business class; and
• $36 for economy class.

Over the same period, Silk Air will impose a surcharge of $36 for economy class and $52 for business class on flights between Singapore and cities in Southeast Asia.

From July 1 to September 30, Japan Airlines will impose a cargo fuel surcharge of $15 per kilogram.

source: interaksyon.com