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serious implications for a portion of the global 787 fleet. The 787 represented a step
change in aircraft technology at its launch in 2011, with electric systems driven by lithium-ion batteries rather than pneumatic or hydraulic control of power systems such as those for starting the engines. India’s Aircraft Accident
Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted: “The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots and immediately after, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from run to cutoff position one after another with a gap of one second.” This suggests the switches
flipped in flight and, if not moved by a pilot, moved automatically – the cockpit voice recorder revealed one asking the other: “Why did you cut off [the fuel]” to which the other replied he had not. If not moved by a pilot, attention will switch back to the aircraft’s maintenance, to Boeing and to the 787’s systems. The recent rapid growth of
India’s aviation sector – Iata notes “phenomenal” annual growth of more than 10% – could also be a factor when experienced maintenance and ground- handling is crucial to safety. India’s AAIB pointed to
a 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bulletin on the design of the fuel-control switches, including on the Air India 787, which recommended inspection of the locking mechanism on the fuel cutoff switches, and noted this was “a step not taken by Air India”. A subsequent update stated
the FAA “did not consider this issue would warrant an airworthiness directive”.
Wizz Air rows back from Middle East operations
Analysis by Ian Taylor
Wizz Air’s withdrawal from its base and operations in Abu Dhabi, announced on Monday, marks a humiliating retreat for the carrier and chief executive Jozsef Varadi, whose rapid growth strategy has been hamstrung by problems with the Pratt & Whitney-made engines on Wizz’s Airbus fleet. Varadi claimed during the Covid
pandemic that Wizz would emerge to compete with Ryanair, unveiling plans to increase capacity by 20% a year and operate 500 aircraft by 2030. These plans have repeatedly stalled. The low-cost carrier, based in
Hungary but listed in London, built a network across central and eastern Europe from 2003 before expanding into the UK and other markets in western Europe. It launched Wizz Air UK in 2018. The airline breached Civil
Aviation Authority regulations on
environment” in the Middle East for “engine degradation three times faster than in Europe”. Wizz would instead pivot, he
Jozsef Varadi handling passenger refunds during
Covid and ranked joint bottom of a Which? airline customer satisfaction poll this year. Wizz issued two profit warnings
late last year and early this year, and claimed it would return to growth in 2026 following a “support and compensation agreement with Pratt & Whitney”, only for full-year results this June to reveal profits down 40% and costs up 16%. Varadi pulled the plug on a
joint venture with the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ on Monday, blaming the “hot and harsh
said, to a “strategic realignment on core markets” in central and eastern Europe and “select western European markets, such as Austria, Italy and the UK” from September 1. Ryanair chief executive Michael
O’Leary has ridiculed the idea that Wizz presented a competitive threat, suggesting instead that the carrier would struggle to survive. In May 2023, O’Leary said:
“Many of our competitors seem in retreat. Wizz appears to be growing, but all the growth is in the Middle East, not in Europe. “The Wizz engines were originally
to be grounded for 300 days, and that has moved out to 400-450 days.” Wizz said passengers with
bookings beyond August 31 would be contacted over refunds or alternative travel arrangements.
Jet2 boss reports ‘record-breaking’ financial results
Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy hailed agents’ contribution to “another record-breaking financial performance” as he reported full- year results for the 12 months to March last week. The carrier, which has
18.5 million seats on sale this summer, 8% up on last year, said bookings “continue to be closer to
54 17 JULY 2025
departure, but customers’ eagerness to get away remains strong provided pricing is attractive”, with current trading “in line with market expectations”. It reported group revenue of
£7.17 billion for the year, up 15% from £6.25 billion the previous year, operating profit of £446 million (up 4%) and profit before tax of £593 million (up 12%). Jet2 carried 19.77 million
passengers over the period, 6.58 million of whom were package customers with return flights (up 8%) and 6.62 million flight-only (up 18%).
Package customers paid an
average £873 per person (up 5%), with agents’ commission rising 11% to £184.5 million. The average flight-only fare fell 2% to £119. Jet2 launched its biggest-ever winter ski programme last week.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/jremes84
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