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Questions tagged [airline-operations]

Refers to questions asking about airline practices, procedures, and processes both in the employment arena and in flight.

105 votes
2 answers
23k views

Why do airlines follow these routes between Barcelona and Düsseldorf?

In the wake of GermanWings' terrible incident of flight 9525, I have noticed that the crash location is quite far from the shortest route connecting the two airports. I then went on FlightRadar24's ...
Federico's user avatar
  • 32.6k
83 votes
1 answer
12k views

Why did this FedEx flight (FDX1311) take such an indirect route multiple times?

I was looking at flights from DEN -> MEM, and saw this extra-long route that FDX1311 took last night (9 Aug 2021) Thinking they were probably just avoiding storms, I scrolled down and saw there ...
Ziwcam's user avatar
  • 763
73 votes
4 answers
19k views

Why do all commercial aircraft have carpets?

When flying I noticed that all the commercial aircraft I have been on use carpets as a floor covering. But why? If you fly in an older aircraft it looks worn out and it is susceptible to stains etc. ...
Brilsmurfffje's user avatar
67 votes
10 answers
37k views

Why are there no "sleeper" planes?

On a recent long-haul flight I sat by the windows and was dreaming away staring into infinity out of the window. Then a thought came up, in Asia sleeping busses are very common. This made me think, ...
Brilsmurfffje's user avatar
52 votes
9 answers
11k views

Could airliners use a steam or electric powered catapult for take-off?

This would have the obvious benefits: Less runway needed to take-off Fuel savings Faster turn around times for airlines Could this be implemented in busy airports?
Firee's user avatar
  • 9,141
49 votes
6 answers
17k views

Why was my flight cancelled due to bad weather while other flights were not?

I'm stuck in Frankfurt. I missed my connection due to a delay. I was rebooked, but this new flight was also cancelled due to bad weather. About 30 percent of all flights were cancelled today. ...
Vitalii's user avatar
  • 547
48 votes
9 answers
82k views

Why do flight times differ between traveling East versus traveling West?

Why does it take longer to fly East to West than West to East? Which factors affect this? Does Earth's spinning affect the time difference? Maybe the air circulation?
Yadav Chetan's user avatar
48 votes
3 answers
72k views

Are cargo holds pressurised these days?

This question is only regarding aircraft that seat more than about 100 people. Are cargo holds pressurised these days, what is the situation? Are only some pressurized, most, of every single one? ...
Fatster's user avatar
  • 483
42 votes
2 answers
40k views

What's the typical cost (and its breakdown) for a long-haul commercial flight?

I realised that this question is very broad, but I intend it as an example to illustrate the actual costs incurred by a typical long-haul commercial flight. For the purpose of this question, I would ...
abey's user avatar
  • 2,140
41 votes
5 answers
10k views

Is the seat-belt sign activation when a pilot goes to the lavatory standard procedure?

Yesterday, I took an inter-European commercial flight with a popular budget airline. Before take-off, the captain announced that the First Officer would be taking the entire flight today. During the ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 13.6k
41 votes
5 answers
8k views

How does an airliner deal with cabin altitude at an airport above 8000 ft?

There are a number of airports above 8000 ft altitude. FAR 25.841 states: Pressurized cabins and compartments to be occupied must be equipped to provide a cabin pressure altitude of not more than ...
vasin1987's user avatar
  • 8,132
40 votes
5 answers
12k views

Why are commercial airplanes painted at all?

While there was debate over why airplanes are painted white and a question about how much a new paint job costed, what hasn't been asked is why airplanes are painted at all. I remember one airline ...
RoboKaren's user avatar
  • 8,071
40 votes
3 answers
145k views

What is common number of flight hours a year for an airline pilot?

Reading various reports including number of flight hours of the pilots I always wonder how it relates to years of service. In most professions, people work 40 hours a week, which gives around 1900 ...
Jan Hudec's user avatar
  • 56.4k
37 votes
3 answers
23k views

Why don't airliners use in-air refueling systems?

Right now if an airliner wants to fly a really long distance (eg., a Boeing 787 flying from Seattle to Tokyo), it has to load itself down with lots and lots of fuel, which in turn weighs thousands and ...
Jae Carr's user avatar
  • 24.2k
37 votes
2 answers
15k views

Why would the cabin crew spray the cabin before landing?

Once when I was on a plane that was about to land, the cabin crew came around and they were spraying these small canisters. I've been on many flights but it was that particular flight where they did ...
Bhavik's user avatar
  • 640

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