AirlinesAir Canada to offer new route from Vancouver to Ireland Canada’s flag carrier will soon be flying to the Emerald Isle. Starting in the summer of 2016, Air Canada will offer the only non-stop flights to Dublin from its Vancouver hub. The news comes as the airline is expanding service from Vancouver, adding new transborder flights to Chicago, San Jose, and San Diego, as well as double daily flights to London and the flights linking Canada to Brisbane, Australia. In total, the airline now offers direct service to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States, and 86 other airports around the world.
LinkAir Canada to include revenue threshold for loyalty programAir Canada is changing its loyalty program to include a revenue threshold for elite status. "These changes reflect similar requirements in other global frequent flier programs and will ensure that we continue to better recognize our most valued customers," the carrier said. The changes take effect Jan. 1.
LinkAmerican rolls out final heritage jetAmerican Airlines has unveiled its AirCal heritage livery, the final aircraft in its fleet showcasing the liveries of its predecessors. The Boeing 737-800 (registration N917NN, MSN 29572) wears a modified version of the livery AirCal introduced in 1981. The Newport Beach, California-based carrier merged with American in 1987.
LinkAmerican to launch Tokyo Haneda flights in Feb. American Airlines Group Inc. will keep the right to fly between Los Angeles and Tokyo’s Haneda airport, after federal regulators rejected claims by Delta Air Lines Inc. that the privilege should be revoked because American failed to begin service quickly enough. American has until March 27 to begin the flights to Haneda airport, the U.S. Transportation Department ruled. The carrier said this month that it would begin daily service starting Feb. 11, after securing favorable arrival and departure times from Japanese officials.
LinkBahamasair takes delivery of first ATR 72-600Bahamas flag carrier Bahamasair has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600 from an order for two 70-seat ATR 72-600s and three 50-seat ATR 42-600s at the Paris Air Show. The new aircraft will replace carrier’s aging Boeing 737 fleet on regional and domestic routes.
LinkArabic graffiti discovered on easyJet, Vueling aircraftArabic graffiti has been found on both EasyJet and Vueling aircraft, prompting security checks at both airlines. “A small number of aircraft were involved in France. As this is still part of an investigation for graffiti we can’t provide any further details of location or what the writing said, only to emphasize that none were threats, just like graffiti tagging. Some was [in Arabic], some wasn’t,” an easyJet spokesman said.
LinkJetBlue launches training program for potential pilotsJetBlue Airways announced plans to recruit potential pilots and provide its own training under a proposal awaiting approval from federal regulators. "JetBlue crafted its plan to gain access to a broader group of candidates, oversee their training from the start and expose them earlier to being part of a crew on large aircraft," said Doug McGraw, a JetBlue spokesman. Candidates still would have to meet US requirements, including 1,500 hours of flight experience, to be certified as commercial airline pilots.
LinkJetBlue Schedules Year-Round Mint Service to BarbadosJetBlue today announced it is expanding its highly successful Mint service between New York and Barbados less than one month after launching the premium service to the Caribbean. Initially launched as seasonal service, the airline will now offer weekly flights year-round. The move comes following positive customer response to the flights which began operating on November 7, 2015.
LinkLufthansa Agrees Pay Deal With Ground PersonnelLufthansa has signed an agreement with services union Verdi on pay for about 33,000 ground personnel, the union and the airline said. Lufthansa agreed a pay increase for its ground personnel and for staff at Lufthansa-Systems, Lufthansa-Service, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo of 2.2 percent on January 1, 2016. There will be a one-off payment of EUR€2,250 (USD$2,380) per full-time employee.
LinkMalaysian LCC Malindo Air expands to Sri Lanka, VietnamMalaysian low-cost carrier (LCC) Malindo Air plans to start services from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Colombo (Sri Lanka) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) in December. The carrier, a joint venture between Indonesian Lion Air and Malaysia’s National Aerospace and Defense Industries, will offer daily services using Boeing 737 aircraft.
LinkAustralian regulators approve Qantas-American partnershipAustralian regulators approved a partnership between Qantas Airways and American Airlines. The deal, already approved by New Zealand regulators, still awaits approval from the US. American plans to offer Sydney-Los Angeles flights next month, while Qantas plans to debut Sydney-San Francisco service.
LinkRussia bans charter flights to TurkeyRussia has banned charter flights between Russia and Turkey, as part of economic sanctions announced Nov. 28 due to increased tensions between the two countries after the downing of a Russian fighter jet over Syria by Turkey. Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov said the authority is obliged to arrange relevant regulations as soon as possible. It also recommends travel companies to abstain from selling tours to Turkey. It is expected that Russian carriers will also cease charter programs during the first half of December.
LinkRyanair pilots agree on a five-year pay dealRyanair has struck a new five-year pay deal, spanning pilots across its network of 76 bases, and is now working to secure a cabin crew deal. The pilots’ agreement includes annual pay and allowance increases over the next four years, along with improved rostering, promotion opportunities and better sickness benefits.
LinkSpiceJet To Order 'In Excess Of 150 Planes'India's SpiceJet is in talks with Boeing and Airbus to order more than 150 planes, the airline's chairman said, predicting he would decide which manufacturer to place the order with by the end of March 2016. Such an investment would cap a remarkable turnaround for India's second-biggest budget airline by market share, which came close to collapse late last year after running out of cash.
LinkTurkish converts 30 options on re-engined narrowbodiesTurkish Airlines has firmed options on 20 Airbus A321neos and 10 Boeing 737 Max 8s. The Max jets are to be delivered in 2021, says the listed flag carrier in a public disclosure, while the 20 A321neos will be handed over in 2020-21.
LinkAirlines now serving better high-end eatsUS carriers are retooling their premium menus to offer fresher ingredients for better-tasting meals. "We know our customers' eating habits have been evolving and it's one way we can be competitive," said Barbara DeLollis, an American Airlines spokeswoman.
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