[Fox Business] United Airlines CEO addresses string of incidents, tells passengers carrier is safe

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby reassured flyers in a letter this week that the carrier is looking into the string of incidents that have recently involved its planes, from engine and structural issues to a wheel falling off during takeoff. 

At least six unrelated incidents have occurred on planes operated by United since the end of February. Five of them involved a Boeing plane.  

“Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do,” Kirby said in a letter sent to United customers. “Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety.” 

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING PLANE THAT TURNED AROUND MIDFLIGHT SUFFERED HYDRAULIC LEAK

While the incidents were all unrelated, they “have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” Kirby said in the letter.

Last week, a Boeing 777 was forced to turn around midflight after leaving Sydney due to a hydraulic leak. 

A few days earlier, an Airbus A320, en route to Mexico City, was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after a reported hydraulics issue.

MEXICO-BOUND UNITED AIRLINES PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AT LOS ANGELES AIRPORT 

Shortly before that, a Boeing 737 “rolled onto the grass” at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after landing, and a Boeing 777-200 aircraft bound for Japan lost a tire shortly after taking off in San Fransisco. 

Earlier this month, a flight from Houston to Fort Myers, Florida, made an emergency landing after experiencing an engine issue. A video showed flames spewing out of one of the plane’s engines as a crew member acknowledged the situation.

In February, a Boeing 757 operated by United diverted to address an issue with the slat on the wing of the aircraft. A passenger reported seeing the wing “coming apart” and missing noticeable chunks during the flight. 

FOX Business reached out to Boeing and Airbus for comment.

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Kirby said United is currently in the process of reviewing the details of each incident to better understand what happened. The airline is using those insights to “inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups,” he continued. 

The company already planned to give pilots an extra day of in-person training starting in May, according to Kirby. United has also already created a centralized training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians. 

“We’re also dedicating more resources to supplier network management,” Kirby added. 

The chief executive said he is empowering the company’s team to “speak up” if they see something wrong. Still, he said that passengers can still “be confident that every time a United plane pulls away from the gate, everyone on our team is working together to keep you safe on your trip.” 

FOX Business’ Lawerence Richard and Greg Norman contributed to this report. 

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[Fox Business] Gen Z movers are heading to warmer climates, willing to pay higher housing costs: Zillow

Gen Z’s moving habits show a preference for warmer states, even if moving there means paying higher rent costs, a Zillow report showed. 

The three states that saw the largest influx of Gen Zers in 2022 were Texas, California and Florida. California saw the largest outflux of residents in general, with nearly 215,000 residents leaving. Still, 44,000 Gen Zers moved to the state, according to Zillow. Texas saw the largest influx of Gen Zers, over California and Florida, with a net gain of more than 76,000 movers.

The other states Gen Z moved to most often included North Carolina, Washington, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Georgia and Arizona.

“Compared to all interstate movers, Gen Z adults who moved to California, Washington, Colorado or Virginia were more likely to have a four-year college degree, more likely to be serving in the military, and more likely to work in tech, ACS data shows,” Edward Berchick, a principal population scientist at Zillow, said. “Gen Z movers are likely drawn to the job opportunities in these states, despite the higher costs of housing.” 

“They may also be in a stage of life where they’re willing and able to be flexible in their standards of living while starting their careers,” Berchick continued. 

A large portion of the younger generation that moved opted to rent, Zillow found. In some states, this meant higher rent payments than the national average. In California, the average rent price is $1,856, in Washington it’s $1,592, and in Virginia it’s $1,440. The country’s national average is just $1,300.

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HOMEBUYERS CONSIDERING PURCHASING TINY HOMES AND FIXER-UPPERS TO COMBAT HIGH HOME PRICES

Rural areas and states with colder climates didn’t see nearly as many Gen Z movers, according to Zillow’s report.

Michigan was the only state that saw more Gen Zers move out of state than in — 2,858 Gen Z residents moved out of state. Maryland and Idaho also saw the lowest net migrations. New England, with its cold weather and smaller population, isn’t as desirable for younger generations. Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island all had very few Gen Zers moving in.

Gen Zers overlap with other generations in a few states. Maryland had very few Gen Zers move in, and even more residents from other generations moved out. The state saw a negative net migration of -36,632 in general, meaning more people moved out than moved in.

Florida was also a popular state for movers in general. It was one of the top states for Gen Zers looking to move and the top state for the general population.

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15% OF AMERICANS HAVE CO-PURCHASED A HOME WITH A NON-ROMANTIC PARTNER, EVEN MORE WOULD CONSIDER IT

While housing prices remain high across the U.S., certain states are seeing housing costs drop due to a variety of factors. Condo prices in many Florida markets are dropping, largely due to high homeowners insurance costs, Redfin reported.

In Jacksonville, the average condo price declined by approximately 7% year-over-year in January. The same goes for Miami, where condo prices fell by 3% year-over-year. HOA and maintenance fees are also driving buyers away, forcing sellers to lower prices on the condos they’re selling. 

“Condo costs are shocking,” said Juan Castro, a Redfin Premier agent in Orlando. “Condos that used to have a $400 monthly maintenance fee may now have a $700 fee. It’s causing buyers to rethink their plans.”

Outside of Florida, home prices in Jackson, Mississippi decreased at the end of 2023, according to a Business Insider analysis of National Association of Realtors (NAR) data. Prices decreased by 14.1% in Jackson year-over-year.

Cleveland, Ohio also saw home prices decrease by 8.6%. The average price in Cleveland was $190,700 at the end of 2023, but it was $236,700 in Q3 2023.

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THIS IS THE #1 CITY FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS, AND OTHER HOT US HOUSING MARKETS

Have a finance-related question, but don’t know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.

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[Fox Business] Stuart Varney: ‘Spiraling’ Biden faces a Kamala Harris dilemma

During his “My Take,” on Monday, “Varney & Co.” host Stuart Varney reacted to Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker’s “desperate plea” for Kamala Harris to step down as vice president before the 2024 presidential election. 

STUART VARNEY: I was surprised to read it. 

I was surprised that the Washington Post published it. Here you go.

DEMOCRATS ARE DESPERATE TO BOOST KAMALA HARRIS’ CREDIBILITY: VARNEY

“For the country’s sake, Vice President Harris should step aside.”

That speaks volumes about the high anxiety inside the White House.

Kathleen Parker writes, “The Democratic Party’s indulgence of identity politics proved successful in building a diverse organization, but its strategy of courting (and pandering to) minority voters is the road to ruin.” 

Ruin for the party, ruin for the country. Strong stuff.

KAMALA HARRIS DODGES WHEN ASKED WHETHER BIDEN WILL DEBATE TRUMP

 It goes right to the heart of the problem with identity politics.

Kamala Harris can tick off the boxes: female, Black, and Asian descent. 

It may be good politics, but it means nothing if Harris can’t do the job if called upon to sit in the Oval Office.

Biden can’t fire her. That would be a betrayal of minority voters. 

He and the country are stuck. There’s the dilemma. There’s the road to ruin.

An incompetent vice president locked into the job by her identity, and an 81-year-old Biden, spiraling down. 

TOP JPMORGAN STRATEGIST INCLUDES BIDEN DROPPING OUT AMONG 2024 SURPRISES

Very few believe he can do the job for four more years.

The only way out is for Harris to step aside. 

That way, Biden could reassure voters with a new vice president and avoid the disaster of a Harris presidency. 

I have no idea what she will do.  

Kathleen Parker ends with this rather desperate plea.

“Please, madame vice president, do it for your country.”

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