They feard contamination by the A (H1N1) flu. Health officials report 22 possible cases of so-called “swine flu” in France but stress that only two are confirmed and that the outbreak is so far unexceptional.

The workers refused to handle bags from a flight from the Mexican resort of Cancun and about a dozen subsequent services which arrived from Spain.

Officials recognise that they were exercising a right guaranteed by French law to stay off the job if they have reason to believe that their health or life is in danger.

via

According to Boeing, the fuel temperature in over 200 of its 777s that are equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 800-series engines should not remain at -10°C or below after two hours in flight. This is one hour less than the company advised customers in a notice issued on 29 January.

After two hours at these extreme temperatures, pilots are instructed to reduce the plane’s altitude, which results in both slower air speeds and higher rates of fuel consumption.

“It’s not the greenest thing in the world, but it’s the safest thing we can do right now,” said Boeing spokeswoman Liz Verdier in comments to The Associated Press earlier this week.

via The Post

From 21 medium-haul new generation ordered, it only maintains  5 …! Recession’s fault, but also  2 years behind schedule, due to industrial problems. And yet, it is not already finished. Boeing would have 879 ordered planes.