AirlinesAir Arabia net profit down 6% in 3QAir Arabia posted a third-quarter net profit of AED235 million ($64 million), down 6% from AED251 million in the year-ago quarter. Third-quarter revenues were slightly up at AED1.1 billion, compared to 1.06 billion last time. The Sharjah-based low-cost carrier (LCC) said it was continuing to make good progress in the marketplace.
LinkAir New Zealand to open Vietnam scheduleAir New Zealand will launch 3X-weekly service from Auckland International to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from June 2016. The flights will use Boeing 767-300 aircraft, on a direct 11-hour service, and come on the heels of a revamped air services agreement (ASA) signed between the two countries earlier this year that allowed expanded access and codeshare capacity.
LinkEasyJet CEO: Lufthansa partnership not a top priorityEasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall has acknowledged an approach from Lufthansa about a potential partnership, which she believes will be one of many. In September, Lufthansa Group chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr said Eurowings and easyJet could potentially become partners, consolidating the European short-haul market.
LinkEl Al Israel Airline’s 3Q earnings bounce backEl Al Israel Airlines recorded a significant improvement in its third-quarter figures compared to a year ago, as traffic recovered from the sharp dip caused by military operations in the region. Net profit for the quarter rose to approximately $93 million, compared to $10.1 million a year ago, on revenues up 7.7% at $647.3 million.
LinkLufthansa management invites unions to discuss unresolved issues Lufthansa management has invited all three unions representing its staff to a roundtable discussion Dec. 2 to talk about retirement and pension schemes. It will also discuss job prospects at Lufthansa. The three Lufthansa unions—UFO, which represents cabin crew; Verdi, which represents ground staff; and pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC)—have been having ongoing negotiations over unresolved issues focused on growth, cost control and the Eurowings project, resulting in costly strikes for the company.
LinkRossiya Airlines names new CEOAeroflot subsidiary Rossiya Airlines has appointed Aeroflot deputy CEO Dmitry Saprykin as its new CEO. The decision was announced at board meeting headed by Vadim Zingman, also a former Aeroflot deputy CEO who moved to Rossiya earlier this year.
LinkPM Says Five Turkish Air Crew Rescued From Mali HotelTurkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said five out of seven Turkish Airlines crew members were rescued from a luxury hotel attacked by gunmen in Mali's capital, Bamako. Davutoglu also told reporters authorities were in contact with the two other crew members, who work for the state carrier, Europe's fourth-largest.
LinkUnited Airlines opens 2 renovated airport lounges
United Airlines has opened renovated airport lounges in Atlanta and San Francisco as part of a $100 million initiative to refurbish the carrier's lounges and enhance the overall travel experience. "Our customers deserve the very best travel experience, and our new clubs are not only beautiful spaces, they are also very functional and will provide the perfect settings for customers to relax, refresh and recharge before their flights," said Jimmy Samartzis, vice president of food services and United Clubs.
[b]LinkUnited tests program to redeem award miles for inflight Wi-FiUnited Airlines is testing a web portal that allows frequent flier members to redeem miles for inflight Wi-Fi. "We expect most of the domestic mainline fleet to have the new portal and the mileage option by the end of Q1 and the international fleet to have the new portal by mid-year," said a representative for United
LinkVirgin Atlantic sets up Caribbean subsidiaryUK long-haul specialist Virgin Atlantic has set up a new subsidiary to operate services to the Caribbean. The new subsidiary, Virgin Atlantic International (VAI), has been granted an air operator’s certificate by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is expected to begin operations by the end of December, using two of Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A330-300s.
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