Denver Airport Bans Pot-Themed Souvenirs & 6 Other Stories You May Have Missed This Week

Though FlyerTalk attempts to cover a full range of stories, every week a few fall through the cracks. Here are 7 stories we didn’t get around to writing, but are still worth knowing.

Denver Airport Just Says No to Sale of Marijuana Keepsakes

Denver International Airport (DEN) has told vendors at the airport not to sell marijuana-themed souvenirs. Airport officials worry that pot-themed kitsch could tarnish the image Colorado presents to visitors. Colorado’s decision to become the first state in the U.S. to allow recreational use of marijuana has been a boon to the state’s tourism industry, but has threatened to overshadow the established marketing message. “We don’t want marijuana to be the first thing our visitors experience when they arrive,” DEN spokesman Heath Montgomery told USA Today.

United Flight Makes 5-Minute Landing After Declaring an Emergency

Pilots declared an emergency 30 minutes into a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Dulles International Airport (IAD) on Thursday morning. A mere five minutes later, the plane was safely on the ground at Ontario International Airport (ONT). “They put the pedal to the metal and got us here pretty quickly,” passenger Jim Clarke told the AP. The flight crew declared the emergency after passengers reported a burning smell on the plane. Emergency crews quickly sprayed down the plane’s breaks, which were red hot after the Boeing 757 made a quick stop while fully loaded with fuel for a coast-to-coast flight. United is investigating the initial cause of the smell that prompted the emergency.

Delta Air Lines Winning the Wi-Fi Race

Delta is doing the best job of making in-flight Wi-Fi available to passengers according to a survey from routehappy. The report shows that Delta is far ahead of both United Airlines and American Airlines when it comes to outfitting aircraft with wireless internet capability, outpacing two of the largest U.S. airlines in offering Wi-Fi service on mainline and regional jet flights. The Wi-Fi report card notes that the three biggest carriers are aggressively competing to make as many flights Wi-Fi enabled as quickly as possible. The study found that United has the largest number of international flights equipped with wireless internet availability, while American has the fastest wireless speeds available, with 4G internet offered on more than 300 aircraft.

Japan’s Third-Largest Airline Declares Bankruptcy

Skymark, Japan’s third-largest airline, has filed for bankruptcy protection in the wake of a failed bid to purchase six Airbus jumbo jets. Last summer, Airbus cancelled the low-cost carrier’s contract for six A380s over doubts surrounding Skymark’s ability to pay for the aircraft. When Airbus demanded the airline pay financial penalties for failing to live up to its obligations under the contract, it became clear the airline did not have cash on hand to satisfy its debts. In bankruptcy papers filed in Tokyo District Court, Skymark said it is $603 million in debt. Skymark will be de-listed from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Monday, but the airline is expected to continue flights while it restructures under bankruptcy protection.

Marriott Set to Buy Delta Hotels & Resorts Group

Marriott International announced a $135 million deal to take over Canadian company Delta Hotels and Resorts. Delta manages 38 properties in 30 cities in Canada. Once completed, the bid will make Marriott the largest hotelier in Canada. Marriott already manages 124 hotels in the country and is currently developing five additional properties. Marriott would not say if Delta hotels will be re-branded under the Marriott moniker, but it did announce that the Marriott Rewards program would be extended to cover Delta Hotel and Resort locations. The takeover will require regulator approval from Canadian authorities before it is finalized.

Etihad Recruiters Look to Fill 6,000 Skilled Positions

Etihad Airways expects to create 6,000 positions for skilled workers over the next five years, and the Abu Dhabi-based carrier is hoping to offer those positions to UAE nationals. The airline’s large-scale talent search has reached as far away as Washington, D.C. where Etihad participated in a recruitment event at the UAE embassy in an attempt to reach out to Emirati students studying in the U.S. The airline recently reached an agreement with Abu Dhabi University, which offers a new Aviation Science degree program that, coupled with the Etihad’s cadet pilot program, will allow students to graduate with an Air Pilot Transport License and the rank of second officer.

Delivery of New 747 Just a Part of $42B Lufthansa Fleet Modernization Plan

Lufthansa took delivery of a shiny new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental this week. The German flag carrier will put the new jumbo jet in service in place of an aging 747-400 on flights between Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) next month. The new plane is the first of four 747-8I aircraft the airline will receive this year and is the sixteenth new Boeing 747 delivered to Lufthansa. The company will also take delivery of 12 new Airbus and a Boeing 777 cargo plane this year. In total, the carrier expects to receive 263 new planes by the end of 2025. The breakneck pace of new plane deliveries is part of a $42 billion plan to modernize Lufthansa’s fleet and replace less efficient planes that have higher operating costs.

[Photo: Brennan Linsley, AP]