| | | | | | | Presented By SiriusXM | | | | Axios What's Next | | By Alex Fitzpatrick, Jennifer A. Kingson and Joann Muller · Feb 15, 2023 | | Airlines were on track for a pretty great end of the year — until Southwest's meltdown. Today's newsletter is 913 words ... 3.5 minutes. | | | | | | 1 big thing: Airlines were doing great — before winter |  Data: BTS; Chart: Kavya Beheraj/Axios More than 4 out of 5 U.S. domestic flights departed on time in November 2022, per the latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics data, Alex Fitzpatrick and Axios' Kavya Beheraj report. The big picture: Airlines performed admirably throughout the fall of 2022, with on-time departure rates at or above 80% between September and November. Zoom in: Across the 28 cities with Axios Local newsrooms, the Washington, D.C., area's Dulles International Airport had the best on-time performance in November 2022, at 88%. - Denver — where brutal storms tend to snarl wintertime operations — had the lowest, at 76%.
Yes, but: This dataset doesn't include last December's meltdown at Southwest Airlines, which led to thousands of cancellations and delays at that particular carrier. - Expect those delays to show up in the next data release, where they'll almost assuredly drag down the systemwide numbers.
- "Let me be clear: We messed up," Southwest Airlines COO Andrew Watterson said during congressional testimony last week. "In hindsight, we did not have enough winter operational resilience."
Be smart: Because airlines' systems and routes are so interconnected, problems at one airport or in one region tend to cascade across the country. - Foul weather in, say, Chicago can mean delays in Houston because planes get stuck and can't make their next planned leg.
The bottom line: Generally speaking, on-time performance tends to dip in the summer (thanks to thunderstorms and the vacation rush) and winter (due to blizzards and holiday crowds), and improve in the spring and fall. Share this story. |     | | | | | | 2. Sneak peek: Detroit's new mobility lab |  | | | Inside Detroit's restored Book Depository building, part of Michigan Central, a hub for transportation innovation. Photos: Martin Vecchio (L), Stephen McGee (R) | | | | A new innovation lab dedicated to solving the world's most pressing transportation problems is opening soon in Detroit, Joann Muller reports. - It's the first phase of Ford Motor's ambitious research hub, Michigan Central.
Why it matters: The driving principle behind Michigan Central, a vision of Ford executive chairman Bill Ford Jr., is that improved transportation leads to better economic mobility — equitable access to jobs, health care, education and more. Driving the news: Newlab, an inventor community launched in New York's Brooklyn Navy Yard, is partnering with Michigan Central to develop a mobility innovation ecosystem centered at Detroit's historic Book Depository building, set to reopen this spring, Axios is first to report. - Hundreds of member startups working on electrification, aerial mobility, automation and more will use the space to build their companies in collaboration with potential users and customers.
- Early members include Airspace Link, Canopy, Grounded, wheel.me and Cavnue.
Newlab will support them through all phases of growth: finding investors, running pilots and eventually commercializing their businesses. - More than a tech incubator, Newlab takes a community-based approach to innovation, convening entrepreneurs, governments, nonprofits, transportation companies and suppliers.
What they're saying: "We want to bring together the roundtable to talk about what these challenges look like because no one can do it alone," Alisyn Malek, managing director of Newlab Detroit, tells Axios. "Innovation is not a solo act." Share this story. | | | | | | | | 3. Tesla workers seek union |  | | | Robotic arms install the front seats of the Tesla Model 3 at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. Photo: Mason Trinca for The Washington Post via Getty Images | | | | Tesla workers in New York are launching a new unionization campaign, Axios' Ivana Saric reports. Why it matters: A successful drive would be a first for Tesla, which has so far managed to avoid unionization at its U.S. facilities — a rarity for automakers. Details: Tesla workers want better wages, job security, a say in workplace decision-making, and a reduction in monitoring and production pressures, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the news. - They're organizing with Workers United, which has helped unionize hundreds of Starbucks cafes nationwide.
Yes, but: Past unionization efforts by Tesla workers failed to materialize. The other side: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been vocal about his opposition to unions. The intrigue: The National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against Tesla in 2017 following allegations that the automaker was intimidating union-seeking employees. Share this story. | | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Stream SiriusXM now and get 3 months for free | | |  | | | | Stream more than 425 channels on your devices for free on the SXM App, including expertly curated ad-free music, live sports, personalized stations and more. Next steps: Sign up now to get 3 months free. Cancel anytime. Learn more about the offer and start streaming. See offer details. | | | | | | 4. Congress' new push to protect kids online |  | | | Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios | | | | Protecting children's safety online is back on Congress' agenda as a number of states rush to pass their own versions of relevant bills, Axios' Ashley Gold reports. Driving the news: Three Democratic senators have introduced a bill, the Clean Slate for Kids Online Act, which would give Americans the right to demand that tech companies delete personal information collected before a child turned 13. Why it matters: In a Congress that's mostly bitterly divided, Republicans and Democrats agree that social media and tech can harm kids' mental health. The big picture: States are moving quickly to roll out children's online safety bills as parents, kids and experts paint an increasingly dire picture of what social media use does to young brains. - Relevant bills have been introduced or are being considered in Maryland, New Mexico, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, New York and New Jersey.
The other side: Tech firms have recently introduced tighter controls for kids and teens, rolled out new safety features and argued that parents have to play an active role in youths' social media use. Read the rest. | | | | | | | | 5. One fun thing: Electric boat |  | | | Rendering courtesy of Blue Innovations Group | | | | A former Tesla exec is creating an electric luxury boat with a range of up to 150 nautical miles, Axios' Nick Halter reports. Details: The 30-foot, $300,000 boat will have an 800 horsepower dual motor, a solar power system, a sleeping cabin and a bathroom, per industry news outlet CleanTechnica. Zoom in: John Vo, the CEO of the boat's maker, Blue Innovations Group, was previously global head of manufacturing at Tesla. What's ahead: Blue Innovations is taking reservations for the boat, and expects to begin deliveries in Q2 2024. | | | | | | | | A message from SiriusXM | | Get free access to music, sports, news and more | | |  | | | | Subscribe to SiriusXM Streaming and get access to 3 months of free: - Expertly curated ad-free music.
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