Your Aviation Weekend Reads for May 6, 2016

Back on September 8, 2015, United Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Smisek resigned as part of a federal investigation into the carrier’s dealings with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. After his resignation, he received an exit package that included lifetime flight benefits and cash. And now Bloomberg reports that Smisek received $36.8 million in severance and benefits, including $6.6 million in cash plus equity awards valued at $29.4 million, citing a proxy statement filed by the airline’s parent company. And as part of the probe, COO Greg Hart got to keep his job, but had his incentive pay cut by $1 million, reports Yahoo Finance.

Vinay Bhaskara is the senior business analyst for AirwaysNews.com. He has this knack for getting into the nitty gritty of the airline industry like no one’s business. In this piece, he explains why he thinks JetBlue is actually better off after losing its bid to buy Virgin America. JetBlue was looking at the San Francisco-based carrier as a way to build up its West Coast presence faster. But the New York-based carrier decided the price was too steep and decided instead to focus on organic growth.

Premium economy seats on British Airways. Photo courtesy of British Airways

Foreign flag carriers including British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa offer a premium economy product that includes a better seat, better food and early boarding. U.S. carriers offer a coach-plus product that offers more legroom and early access. But now Delta Air Lines has become the first to offer a true premium product on domestic flights, via its Comfort + product, reports Forbes.

If you were planning on buying a first class seat on Lufthansa, you may not find it available, reports Airline Route. The German flag carrier appears to be phasing out first class in its Airbus A330-300 fleet on flights out of Munich, instead offering business, premium economy and economy seats. I had the chance to fly in Lufthansa business class on the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8, and it was a very nice experience.

I’ve spent more than my fair share of travel sitting in coach seats, and I don’t always feel the love from airlines. But there may be some hope as seat manufacturer Geven unveils the Piuma Sofa, which will allow passengers to convert a row of seats wide enough for two people to sleep on, reports Conde Nast Traveler. Headrests can be moved to create a flat surface to support knees and legs, while the armrests fold into the seat.

The Airbus A380 double-decker jumbo jet. Photo courtesy of Airbus

One of my favorite things to write about is airports. I’ve been to dozens, large and small, around the world. Planning firm Stantec writes on its blog about the adjustments that large airports have to make to accommodate the Airbus A380 jumbo jet. Those accommodations, among other things, include: longer and wider runways; wider taxiways; and dual passenger boarding bridges. And this doesn’t come cheap, with the blog noting that the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has spent an estimated $175 million on infrastructure upgrades to handle the jet.

I’ve been in the aviation industry for more than 20 years, and it’s still dominated by men. Mary Kirby of the Runway Girl Network has a wonderful series, #LeanIntoAviation, that highlights women with great careers in the industry. I’ve been fortunate enough to write several of these profiles. So I’m always delighted to see other publications highlighting women in aviation, like this piece in Geekwire on Nicole Piasecki, vice president and general manager of the Propulsion Systems Division at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

A bar in a Lufthansa Business Lounge at Frankfurt Airport. Photo by Benét J. Wilson

For those who travel on long-haul flights regularly, access to an airline-affiliated or even independent airport lounge is a great thing. You have room to take a breath, grab a snack or beverage or catch up on work away from the traveling masses. Skift writes about three ways airlines are making the experience even better for their best passengers -- limited access, a residential feel and an emphasis on food and drink.

I’m not a person that’s really into fashion, but I do enjoy seeing coverage from Fashion Weeks around the globe. And now WME/IMG now has an official sponsor for events including fashion weeks in Sydney, New York, London, Milan and Berlin: Etihad Airways, reports the New York Times. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier wants to position itself as the default option for those traveling to fashion events, “kind of like how Peter Marino has become the default option when a luxury brand wants to reimagine a flagship store, and how Christian Louboutin has become the default option for a high-heeled shoe,” according to the story.

Photo by Benét J. Wilson

Any true #avgeek knows that one of the best vacations in the world is planespotting at St. Maarten’s Maho Beach. Why? Because aircraft fly so close on final approach to Princess Julianna International Airport that it actually looks unreal.  I took my first trip to St. Maarten in 2005, and was hooked. Travel Pulse gives #avgeeks and anyone else the chance to book their vacation at this aviation paradise.

Finally, for a different kind of #avgeek adventure, you may want to consider a special event being put on by DPRK Aviation Tour: the opportunity to fly in Soviet-era commercial jets in Belarus to North Korea, reports CNN.  From May 6-13, attendees will have access to aircraft ranging from classic Soviet-era propeller, jet aircraft and helicopters, up to the latest generation of Russian and Ukrainian passenger jets.