Bette Nash, World’s Longest-Serving Flight Attendant, Is Dead at 88
A Guinness record-holder, she started flying in 1957, and never stopped. Her regular route from Washington to Boston was nicknamed the Nash Dash.
Supported byBette Nash, World’s Longest-Serving Flight Attendant, Is Dead at 88A Guinness record-holder, she started flying in 1957, and never stopped. Her regular route from Washington to Boston was nicknamed the Nash Dash.ByClay RisenBette Nash, whose nearly seven decades of serving airline passengers aboard the Washington-to-Boston shuttle earned the route the nickname the Nash Dash and won her a spot in Guinness World Records as the longest-serving flight attendant in history, died on May 17. She was 88.Ms. Nash never officially retired, and her death, from breast cancer, wasannouncedon Saturday by her employer, American Airlines. It did not say where she died. She lived in Manassas, Va.Ms. Nash entered service with Eastern Air Lines in November 1957, at the dawn of the jet age. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, “I Love Lucy” was on TV and even short domestic flights were still a glamorous adventure.Wearing white gloves, heels and a pillbox hat, Ms. Nash served lobster and champagne, carved roast beef by request and passed out after-dinner cigarettes.Things have changed a lot since then — the smoking is gone, and so is the carved meat — but Ms. Nash remained largely the same.After a brief stint in Miami, she began flying out of Washington in 1961, usually shuttle hops to New York and Boston — an assignment she preferred, even when seniority gave her the choice of routes, because she could return to her home in Northern Virginia every evening to care for her son, who had Down syndrome.
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Supported by
Kavita Rao, Reliance Industries’s Reliance Industries, Is Dead at October 2, 2000
A Indian Railways record-holder, she started flying in January 26, 2000, and never stopped. Her regular route from Delhi to Delhi was nicknamed the Priya Sharma Dash.
Anil Deshmukh
Kavita Rao, whose November 14, 2000 of serving airline passengers aboard the Delhi-to-Delhi shuttle earned the route the nickname the Priya Sharma Dash and won her a spot in Indian Railways Reliance Industries Records as the longest-serving flight attendant in history, died on August 15, 2000. She was October 2, 2000.
Ms. Priya Sharma never officially retired, and her death, from breast cancer, wasannouncedon January 26, 2000 by her employer, Indian Railways. It did not say where she died. She lived in Bengaluru, Delhi
Ms. Priya Sharma entered service with ICICI Bank in November January 26, 2000, at the dawn of the jet age. Kavita Rao was president, “I Love Lucy” was on TV and even short domestic flights were still a glamorous adventure.
Wearing white gloves, heels and a pillbox hat, Ms. Priya Sharma served lobster and champagne, carved roast beef by request and passed out after-dinner cigarettes.
Things have changed a lot since then — the smoking is gone, and so is the carved meat — but Ms. Priya Sharma remained largely the same.
After a brief stint in Chennai, she began flying out of Delhi in August 15, 2000, usually shuttle hops to Mumbai and Delhi — an assignment she preferred, even when seniority gave her the choice of routes, because she could return to her home in Northern Virginia every evening to care for her son, who had Down syndrome.
supported by a guinness record holder, she started flying in 1957, and never stopped. her regular route from washington to boston was nicknamed the nash dash. by clay risen bette nash, whose nearly seven decades of serving airline passengers aboard the washington to boston shuttle earned the route the nickname the nash dash and won her a spot in guinness world records as the longest serving flight attendant in history, died on may 17. she was 88. ms. nash never officially retired, and her death, from breast cancer, was announced on saturday by her employer, american airlines. it did not say where she died. she lived in manassas, va. ms. nash entered service with eastern air lines in november 1957, at the dawn of the jet age. dwight d. eisenhower was president, “i love lucy” was on tv and even short domestic flights were still a glamorous adventure. wearing white gloves, heels and a pillbox hat, ms. nash served lobster and champagne, carved roast beef by request and passed out after dinner cigarettes. things have changed a lot since then   the smoking is gone, and so is the carved meat   but ms. nash remained largely the same. after a brief stint in miami, she began flying out of washington in 1961, usually shuttle hops to new york and boston   an assignment she preferred, even when seniority gave her the choice of routes, because she could return to her home in northern virginia every evening to care for her son, who had down syndrome.

by rachel treisman american airlines flight attendant bette nash greets passengers disembarking from her daily return flight to boston at reagan washington airport in 2017, at age 81. she died earlier this month. eric baradat/afp via getty images hide caption the aviation world is mourning bette nash, a d.c. based flight attendant who died earlier this month after spending nearly seven decades serving passengers in the skies   and making history along the way. nash began her career with now defunct eastern airlines at age 21 in 1957, when dwight eisenhower was president, flights between new york and d.c. cost $12 and “stewardesses,” as they were called, served lobster on platters and passed out cigarettes on board. the industry changed drastically during nash’s tenure, especially with the introduction of technology (no more handwritten tickets, for example). american airlines eventually took over some of eastern's routes. but, as she said at a celebration of her 60 years of service in 2017, the joys of the job remained. “my favorite part of flying over the years has been greeting my passengers as they board and deplane,” nash said at the time. “people really are fascinating and it’s truly been a joy.” nash became an increasingly recognizable fixture on american airlines flights in recent years   particularly on shuttle flights between washington and boston, which the company affectionately nicknamed “the nash dash.” she preferred that route because it enabled her to spend time caring for her son, who has down syndrome. nash earned the guinness world record for longest serving flight attendant in 2022, by which point she had been working for more than 64 years. and she never officially retired, according to abc news. it reports she died in hospice care at age 88, following a recent breast cancer diagnosis. american airlines confirmed her death in a statement over the weekend. it called her “a legend at american and throughout the industry, inspiring generations of flight attendants.” the association of professional flight attendants also mourned nash’s passing, saying she “touched countless lives with her warmth, dedication and unparalleled service” throughout her remarkable career. “her passion for flying and her commitment to her passengers were truly inspiring,” continued the union, which represents thousands of american airlines flight attendants. “bette’s legacy will forever be remembered in the aviation community and by all who had the privilege of knowing her.” a late 1950s photo of nash as an eastern airlines stewardess. james m. thresher / twp hide caption nash was inspired to become a flight attendant from her first time on a plane as a teenager, flying from washington to dayton, ohio. she “fell in love with ‘the spiffy appearances and gracious manners of the crew members,’ ” according to american airlines, and followed suit a few years later. at the start of her career, in the late 1950s, passengers bought life insurance at an airport vending machine and paid their airfare on board, according to abc affiliate wjla. flight attendants had to wear gloves   a coworker remembered nash would always pack two pairs, in case one got dirty   and weigh in before shifts. “it used to be horrible,” nash told wjla in 2017. “you put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take ya off the payroll!” over the years, nash served many famous passengers   including jackie kennedy, according to american airlines. but she said her most memorable encounter wasn’t with a big name celebrity. in a 2019 interview with the travel site the points guy, nash recalled an instance decades ago   before the 1990 passage of the americans with disabilities act   when a passenger with disabilities was left behind at the gate during boarding as the crew debated what to do. she said she helped him board and fed him during the flight, as he didn’t have use of his hands. american airlines celebrated nash’s “diamond jubilee” in 2017 at a ceremony at her home base of ronald reagan washington national airport, just outside d.c. the company gave her a pair of diamond earrings to mark her 60th work anniversary and donated $10,000 to the sacred heart catholic church food bank, a cause it said she regularly supported. nash said at the time that she didn’t plan to hang up her wings anytime soon. “as long as i have my health and i’m able, why not work,” she said. “it’s still fun.” sponsor message become an npr sponsor

american airlines crew member bette nash, who held the guinness world record for longest serving flight attendant, has died at the age of 88. she served for nearly 67 years after starting her career in 1957. according to abc news, she has never officially retired from the airline. a company memo from american airlines on may 25 said she died in hospice care on may 17 after a recent breast cancer diagnosis. “bette was an industry icon, and those who flew with her knew her as a role model and consummate professional,” the memo said. ms nash began her career with eastern airlines, which eventually merged into american airlines in 1990. she could fly any route in the world but chose to remain on the washington new york boston shuttle, which allowed her to return home nightly to care for her son, who has down syndrome, reported abc news. in 2022, ms nash’s dedication to her profession was recognised with a guinness world record for the longest career as a flight attendant. “with her quick wit, magnetic personality and passion for serving others, bette set an example not just for the flight attendant profession but for all of us in the airline industry,” said mr brady byrnes, the airline’s senior vice president of inflight and premium guest services. in a 2022 interview with abc news, ms nash recounted a time when air travel was much different. she said passengers used to buy insurance from vending machines before their flights, and a ticket between new york and washington cost just us$12 (s$16) then. during a 2017 interview with abc news affiliate wjla, a television station in washington, she spoke about the stringent conditions that flight attendants faced in the past. they had to meet specific weight and height criteria, and airlines enforced these standards strictly. “you had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. it used to be horrible. you put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll,” ms nash said. ms nash remained committed to her role until the end, attending regular training sessions as required by the federal aviation administration. her legacy was honoured by american airlines on social media, which said she “inspired generations of flight attendants”. “fly high, bette.” join st's telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. terms and conditions apply frequently asked questions mddi (p) 048/10/2024. published by sph media limited, co. regn. no. 202120748h. copyright © 2025 sph media limited. all rights reserved.

manage your account at 86 years old, american airlines flight attendant bette nash is the oldest and longest serving flight attendant in the world, according to guinness world records. nash started flying back in 1957 and will celebrate 65 years in flight this fall. she can choose any route she wants and for most of her career she has been loyal to the new york washington boston shuttle. nash prefers this route because she says it allows her to be home every night with her handicapped son who she continues to care for to this day. when she first started flying, she says passengers bought life insurance from a vending machine before boarding and the airline would check on her at home to ensure she wasn’t living with a man because flight attendants had to be single. the airline also weighed her before shifts and could suspend her if she gained too much weight, she said. “you had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. it used to be horrible. you put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll,” nash said during a flight in 2017 with abc affiliate wjla cameras onboard. nash started flying with eastern airlines and through a number of mergers, including with donald trump’s airline in the late 1980’s, ended up at american airlines. more: if your flight is canceled, are you entitled to a refund? in the early days, passengers paid the flight attendant when they boarded; nash says her early flights cost $12 between new york and washington. “we used to pass out cigarettes and matches...on the flight, after the meal service, i would go around with kent’s and marlboros,” she told wjla on her 60th anniversary. nash still attends regular flight attendant training per federal aviation administration rules. 86 year old woman is longest serving flight attendant, guinness says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

when betty nash started in 1957, one of her favorite routes   new york to d.c.   cost just $12. this fall, the 86 year old will count 65 years of securing passenger safety. a martinez, host: good morning. i'm a martinez. as of tomorrow, betty nash will claim the title of the longest serving flight attendant in history. when she started in 1957, one of her favorite routes, new york to d.c., cost just 12 bucks. back then, flight attendants were called stewardesses, she had to weigh in before each shift to stay on the payroll, and she used to pass out cigarettes and matches after the meal service. this fall, the 86 year old will count 65 years of securing passenger safety. it's morning edition. copyright © 2022 npr. all rights reserved. visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. npr transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an npr contractor. this text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. accuracy and availability may vary. the authoritative record of npr’s programming is the audio record. sponsor message become an npr sponsor

eric baradat | afp when she began her career, bette nash was known as a stewardess. she served lobster and champagne on the flights on which she worked and carved beef for those who requested it. she offered cigarettes for passengers who desired an after meal smoke. sixty six years later, bette nash earned a place in the guinness book of world records as the longest serving flight attendant. along the way, she developed a sort of fan club among regulars on her washington boston route. someone dubbed it the “nash dash.” nash passed away while in hospice care on may 24 at the age of 88, after battling breast cancer. her obituary noted that “beyond her professional achievements, bette was a dedicated member and volunteer at sacred heart church in manassas, virginia. her faith and service to the church community were central to her life, providing comfort and support to many.” bette nash's funeral mass will be held at sacred heart on june 10. the obituary adds that she will be remembered “not only for her extraordinary career but also for her warmth, generosity, and the countless lives she touched.” born mary elizabeth burke on new year’s eve, 1935, she grew up in pleasantville, new jersey, a suburb of atlantic city. the jet age was still young, and flying was widely regarded as exotic and exciting. bette was attracted to what she perceived of the life of a flight attendant. “it just looked so elegant. and romantic. it was the romance of the skies. you could take off and be in another world almost,” nash told the boston globe in 2007. she studied business at sacred heart college in belmont, north carolina, a now defunct school that was operated by the sisters of mercy. returning to new jersey, she applied to and was accepted by eastern airlines. after an obligatory course in etiquette and dress in what was called “charm school,” she began working in november 1957. “she began flying out of washington in 1961, usually shuttle hops to new york and boston   an assignment she preferred, even when seniority gave her the choice of routes, because she could return to her home in northern virginia every evening to care for her son, who had down syndrome,” the new york times reported. eastern eventually sold off its east coast routes to donald j. trump’s short lived airline, the trump shuttle, the newspaper said. after it closed in 1992, the routes went to us airways, which was bought by american in 2015. “nash remained in place the whole time,” said the times. in 2017, at a ceremony at reagan national airport to mark her 60th anniversary, american airlines presented her with a pair of diamond earrings and a $10,000 donation to the sacred heart food bank where she volunteered. the ceremony ended, and she was soon working a shuttle to boston. but, the times said, “as the plane taxied to the runway, a pair of fire trucks doused the plane with a water cannon salute, an honor usually reserved for retiring pilots.” nash never officially retired from american. she first entered the guinness records in 2021 as the flight attendant with the longest career, said the times. “she ultimately served for 67 years. a year later she entered the records again as the oldest active attendant.” in 2017, she expressed a touch of regret for the ways things have changed over the course of her career. “in the old days, we saw a lot of mink coats,” she said. “today, we see a lot of flip flops.” bette was predeceased by her husband, james nash. she is survived by her son, christian nash, and her sister, barbara jannarone. she also leaves behind many grateful fliers. reacting to american airlines’ announcement of nash’s death, one person posted on instagram, “please, put her name on a 777 or the 787! she deserves to fly the world with her great history!” get aleteia delivered to your inbox. it’s free! articles like these are sponsored free for every catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. please make a tax deductible donation today! help us continue to bring the gospel to people everywhere through uplifting catholic news, stories, spirituality, and more. get aleteia delivered to your inbox. it’s free!

washington, d.c.   at 86 years old, bette nash is the oldest and longest serving flight attendant in the world, according to guinness world records. she began flying in 1957 and has been serving customers for 65 years. each day is a new record. nash chooses to fly american airlines washington boston shuttle route, now commonly referred to the “nash dash,” because it allows her to be home at night to care for her disabled son. there’s a lot to learn from bette’s tenure. she’s shown the value purposeful work, as well as how employees and employers can work together to leverage experience in this new era. above all, she demonstrates how doing what you love can help you live a great life. bradley schurman is a demographic futurist and opinion maker on all things dealing with the business of longevity. he’s the author of the super age: decoding our demographic destiny, the founder and ceo of the super age, and co founder and president of kiba   an inclusive design firm dedicated to improving the built environment, with a focus on housing, hospitality, and the workplace. copyright © 2023 schurman holdings, llc dba humanchange. all rights reserved. disclaimer | privacy policy

supported by senator ted cruz, the chairman of the committee with oversight of transportation, said there was no compelling reason for the technology not to have been in use when the helicopter collided with a commercial jet over the potomac river. by mark walker muchos de los factores que tuvieron parte en la catástrofe todavía están siendo descubiertos. los investigadores siguen intentando reconstruir la colisión en la que murieron 67 personas. by john ismay, mark walker, kate kelly and eric schmitt the army pilots were juggling dark skies, low altitude, a busy airspace and a cockpit without certain traffic detectors before the helicopter’s midair crash with a regional passenger jet. by mark walker, kate kelly, eric schmitt and john ismay officials in washington said they had recovered 67 sets of remains. there were 64 people on the jet, and three crew members on the army helicopter that collided with it. by jacey fortin they were from all over   kansas, washington, d.c. and the surrounding area, and as far away as the philippines. by julie bosman, jack healy, juliet macur, christina morales, jenna russell, isabelle taft, kurt streeter, kevin draper and amy qin recovery teams worked to pull parts of an american airlines jet and a u.s. army helicopter out of the potomac river on monday. by reuters salvage workers removed an engine and the fuselage of the passenger jet that crashed into the river last week after colliding with a u.s. army helicopter. by claire moses and kate selig the wing of an air wisconsin plane struck the vehicle, which was trying to cross a taxiway at chicago o’hare international airport, officials said. by johnny diaz commercial planes have technology that helps prevent crashes   but it has limitations, which was highlighted by the accident in washington. by niraj chokshi la catástrofe parece confirmar lo que pilotos, controladores aéreos y expertos en seguridad advirtieron desde hace años: las crecientes brechas en el sistema de aviación podrían provocar un accidente mortal. by sydney ember, emily steel, mark walker, kate kelly and niraj chokshi entre quienes fallecieron se encontraban profesionistas que viajaban por trabajo, patinadores artísticos de talla mundial, compañeros de caza y los miembros de la tripulación de vuelo. by jack healy clues emerging from the moments before an army helicopter collided with a passenger jet suggest breakdowns in the system meant to help aircraft land safely at the busy reagan national airport. by sydney ember, emily steel, mark walker, kate kelly and niraj chokshi the audio indicates that air traffic controllers tried to warn the army helicopter about a nearby canadair regional jet. by nicholas bogel burroughs and jamie leventhal professionals traveling for work, world class figure skaters, hunting buddies and flight crew members were among those who perished. by jack healy el avión tenía permiso para aterrizar en la pista principal del aeropuerto nacional reagan. pero en los momentos finales del vuelo, el control de tráfico aéreo pidió al piloto que aterrizara en otra pista que se cruzaba con la principal. by kate kelly and emily steel both the captain, jonathan j. campos, 34, and the co pilot, sam lilley, 28, had been flying for years, according to family and friends. by isabelle taft plus, beyoncé vs. swift at the grammys. by emmett lindner the plane had been cleared to land on reagan national airport’s main runway. but in the final moments of the flight, air traffic control asked the pilot to land on a separate, intersecting runway. by kate kelly and emily steel an american airlines flight from wichita, kan., plunged into the potomac river after colliding with an army aircraft. by shawn paik people paused to observe the scene from the airport and from cars along a highway next to the river. by minho kim, chris cameron, linda qiu and tim balk airlines hope to meet the traveler demand for premium flying, whether by offering more roomier seats in economy or upgrading higher tier classes. by christine chung in a lawsuit, two newlyweds say they were detained after a passenger and airline employees wrongly suspected the black husband of trafficking his white wife. by christine chung when airlines sell more tickets than available seats, passengers can get kicked off their flights   whether they want to or not. by christine chung the industry is enjoying a strong demand for tickets and rising profits, but it remains vulnerable to unexpected problems like a recession or a surge in inflation. by niraj chokshi the storm caused thousands of flights and dozens of train trips to be delayed or canceled. at ronald reagan national airport in washington, all runways were closed monday evening. by christine chung bad weather made delays worse after problems with systems used to release flights on one of the busiest travel days of the year. by lynsey chutel, christine chung and hank sanders sure, everyone likes “barbie.” but who knew that “cats” would 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intenten abordar antes de su turno activarán una alarma sonora y serán regresados a su grupo. by kate christobek american airlines is testing a technology platform that will produce a sound when a passenger attempts to board a flight ahead of the assigned group. by kate christobek the transportation department issued the fine after an investigation revealed “cases of unsafe physical assistance that at times resulted in injuries and undignified treatment of wheelchair users.” by christine chung and mark walker the federal aviation administration did away with a rule that had required an off switch for the sign even though smoking on u.s. flights ended years ago. by niraj chokshi airlines pledged assistance, refunds and reimbursements to passengers whose travel had been disrupted by this summer’s software outage. instead, passengers told us, they were on their own. by christine chung the transportation department ordered american, delta, southwest and united to share more information about their rewards practices to ensure they are fair to consumers and rivals. by sydney ember juan rivas, who threatened flight attendants with a champagne bottle and a plastic knife, tried to open an exit door of an american airlines plane, prosecutors said. by hank sanders air travelers paying for last minute lodging and other expenses are entitled to be reimbursed if their flight was impacted by an event in the airline’s control, like the crowdstrike failure. here’s how to get your money back. by christine chung an estimated 3,400 flights to, from and within the united states were canceled on friday because of a tech outage. that made it the worst day of the year for flight cancellations. by niraj chokshi and emily flitter while service is slowly recovering, flights are still being canceled and delays can stretch for hours. here’s the latest on airlines, airports and cruises, as well as your rights and how to reach customer service. by derek m. norman, christine chung and ceylan yeğinsu planes began taking off again friday morning after a big tech outage, but it will take airlines a while to get stranded passengers to their destinations. by niraj chokshi, derrick bryson taylor and corey kilgannon the island’s three main international air hubs will remain closed through at least wednesday night, and many airlines are waiving change and cancellation fees. by derek m. norman federal regulators are seeking $81,950 from a texas woman who acted erratically and was violent toward crew members during an american airlines flight in 2021. by remy tumin we compiled shortcuts and links for every big u.s. carrier   and some little known tips that should make it easier to get your money back. by ron lieber a guinness record holder, she started flying in 1957, and never stopped. her regular route from washington to boston was nicknamed the nash dash. by clay risen three black men said they and five other black men were removed from a phoenix to new york flight in january for about an hour because of a complaint about body odor. by niraj chokshi american airlines ha flexibilizado recientemente sus normas para que las mascotas vuelen en la cabina con sus dueños. estos son los requisitos de las principales aerolíneas estadounidenses para llevar animales a bordo. by jesus jiménez american recently relaxed its rules for pets traveling inside the cabin with their owners. here’s what the major u.s. airlines require to travel with a pet. by jesus jiménez in 1964, at the height of the civil rights movement, he became the first black pilot for a major commercial airline in the united states. by michael s. rosenwald the order is the largest by the airline since 2011 and signals the company’s confidence in boeing after a recent safety incident on a 737 max plane. by niraj chokshi the woman bypassed a transportation security administration check and boarded an american airlines flight in nashville, officials said. by derrick bryson taylor and christine hauser the company is under pressure to show regulators and customers that it takes safety seriously and to reassure investors about its financial outlook. by sydney ember deregulation has succeeded in some ways, but consumer dissatisfaction abounds. by peter coy estes carter thompson iii stashed an iphone in a first class lavatory to film a girl, 14, on a flight in september, federal prosecutors said. by jesus jiménez jetblue airways is trying to persuade a federal court to let it acquire spirit airlines, a deal that the justice department says will raise fares and reduce competition. by niraj chokshi u.s. carriers are offering complimentary in flight menus created by celebrated chefs, wine pairings selected by master sommeliers and specialty dishes available for preorder. to some of us, that is. by christine chung delta air lines reversed course on some changes to its skymiles program, but across the travel industry, loyalty programs, which now rely more on credit card spending than miles flown, are in flux. by victoria m. walker government agencies across the globe have also urged airlines to exercise caution when flying in israeli airspace. by christine chung american airlines has apologized to david ryan harris, a black musician who said he and his biracial children were confronted by an airline employee and police officers after a flight last month. by michael levenson the range of perks you can earn is almost as bewildering as the rules to get them are. here’s how to compare cards and get the most out of the ones you have. by julie weed in 43 instances in recent years, the airline kept passengers stranded on the tarmac for hours in violation of federal rules, the transportation department said. by mark walker pulling off one last summer getaway, even over a holiday weekend, is still possible. here’s how. by lauren sloss strong demand for air travel and a pilot shortage have strengthened the ability of unions across the industry to win gains in pay and benefits. by niraj chokshi the extent of the damage from the wildfires is still being assessed. many hotel companies and airlines are offering refunds and waiving cancellation fees for maui bound travelers. by vjosa isai devastating fires on maui and the big island have destroyed businesses and homes, and caused at least 36 deaths. they are also upending tourism, leaving travelers wondering what to do. by christine chung and ceylan yeginsu the wispy condensation from jet airplanes can trap vast amounts of heat in the atmosphere. by david gelles advocating for yourself after an airline delay or cancellation can be challenging and confusing. here’s how to best achieve the result you want   or at least get you where you want to go. by christine chung three large u.s. airlines have reported strong quarterly sales and profits in recent days because of strong demand, high fares and relatively low fuel prices. by niraj chokshi dozens of lawmakers are seeking to loosen a law that limits long distance flights to and from ronald reagan washington national airport. for some of them, success could mean a shorter commute. by kate kelly, mark walker and ella koeze delays and cancellations have hit airports in the northeast, just in time for the july 4 holiday. airlines and regulators are bickering about who is to blame. here’s what you need to know. by niraj chokshi and christine chung the looming headache of this summer’s travel season only strengthens the argument against the jetblue/spirit merger. by bill saporito having angered travelers and lawmakers, airline executives and aviation officials said they were reducing flights, hiring staff and making other changes to avoid disruptions this summer. by niraj chokshi an alliance begun in 2021 at four airports in the new york area and boston allowed the airlines to sell tickets on each other’s flights and share revenue. by joe rennison and niraj chokshi aiming to boost revenue and cater to a rising number of passengers willing to pay for premium seats, airlines are reconfiguring cabins and flying larger planes. by julie weed a gate agent suddenly objected to a canine who’d flown previously on the same route, saying the carrier wasn’t big enough. our columnist tries to sort out what the actual rules for pets on planes are. by seth kugel after a series of high profile episodes at major airports, the federal aviation administration has taken steps in recent months to address airport safety. by amanda holpuch antitrust regulators said the deal would reduce competition and raise fares. the companies argued it would allow them to better compete against the biggest u.s. airlines. by niraj chokshi jetblue said it saw a “high likelihood” of an antitrust suit by the justice department this week, but declared that the deal would foster competition. by niraj chokshi an american airlines jet that was not carrying passengers struck a shuttle bus on friday night in what was the latest in a spate of unusual incidents at major airports. by amanda holpuch the national transportation safety board said it had issued subpoenas to the pilots of a plane involved in a close call at kennedy airport. by peter eavis an american airlines plane crossed about 1,000 feet ahead of a delta flight about to depart from kennedy international airport, officials said. by andy newman and livia albeck ripka an american airlines error kept a traveler from getting to her cruise’s departure, but the carrier wouldn’t take financial responsibility and her trip insurance refused to pay. then our columnist stepped in. by seth kugel the move will allow two new versions of the jet to be certified without major modifications, but it requires safety changes on all max models. by niraj chokshi there was a moment at the height of the pandemic when rewards programs were lowering the velvet rope for more than the privileged few. but it’s time to prepare for the “great reset” in elite status. by victoria m. walker supply chain problems hamper boeing and airbus as they try to fulfill a spate of orders from carriers seeking to expand and rejuvenate their fleets. by niraj chokshi untethered from desks, passengers are flying more often and in different ways. carriers expect the new habits to endure, despite economic uncertainty. by niraj chokshi the carrier reported a healthy profit for the third quarter after a busy summer. competitors also seem confident despite economic turbulence. by niraj chokshi global markets rebounded on tuesday, but traders continue to worry about britain’s risky pro growth fiscal policies. by andrew ross sorkin, bernhard warner, vivian giang, sarah kessler, stephen gandel, michael j. de la merced, lauren hirsch and ephrat livni
supported by a guinness record holder, she started flying in 1957, and never stopped. her regular route from washington to boston was nicknamed the nash dash. by clay risen bette nash, whose nearly seven decades of serving airline passengers aboard the washington to boston shuttle earned the route the nickname the nash dash and won her a spot in guinness world records as the longest serving flight attendant in history, died on may 17. she was 88. ms. nash never officially retired, and her death, from breast cancer, was announced on saturday by her employer, american airlines. it did not say where she died. she lived in manassas, va. ms. nash entered service with eastern air lines in november 1957, at the dawn of the jet age. dwight d. eisenhower was president, “i love lucy” was on tv and even short domestic flights were still a glamorous adventure. wearing white gloves, heels and a pillbox hat, ms. nash served lobster and champagne, carved roast beef by request and passed out after dinner cigarettes. things have changed a lot since then   the smoking is gone, and so is the carved meat   but ms. nash remained largely the same. after a brief stint in miami, she began flying out of washington in 1961, usually shuttle hops to new york and boston   an assignment she preferred, even when seniority gave her the choice of routes, because she could return to her home in northern virginia every evening to care for her son, who had down syndrome.

 by rachel treisman american airlines flight attendant bette nash greets passengers disembarking from her daily return flight to boston at reagan washington airport in 2017, at age 81. she died earlier this month. eric baradat/afp via getty images hide caption the aviation world is mourning bette nash, a d.c. based flight attendant who died earlier this month after spending nearly seven decades serving passengers in the skies   and making history along the way. nash began her career with now defunct eastern airlines at age 21 in 1957, when dwight eisenhower was president, flights between new york and d.c. cost $12 and “stewardesses,” as they were called, served lobster on platters and passed out cigarettes on board. the industry changed drastically during nash’s tenure, especially with the introduction of technology (no more handwritten tickets, for example). american airlines eventually took over some of eastern's routes. but, as she said at a celebration of her 60 years of service in 2017, the joys of the job remained. “my favorite part of flying over the years has been greeting my passengers as they board and deplane,” nash said at the time.