AirlinesAirAsia X reopens route to IranMalaysia-based long-haul, low-cost carrier (LCC) AirAsia X will begin direct flights to Iran from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur from late June. The LCC will offer 3X-weekly Airbus A330-300 schedules from both Bangkok’s Don Mueang International and Kuala Lumpur’s KLIA2 airports to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International.
LinkAmerican accelerates its fleet retirements plansAmerican Airlines will retire all 20 of its Embraer E190s and some of its Airbus A330s and Boeing 767s sooner than expected, American spokesman Casey Norton confirmed to me on Friday. The E190s, which once flew for US Airways, will disappear by the end of 2019, according to a message from Hector Adler, the carrier's vice president for flight service. The small fleet primarily flies as the American Shuttle, which operates flights between New York, Washington D.C. and Boston. American will be keeping the Shuttle brand, but it will use different aircraft.
LinkAmerican, United Continental to roll out budget faresAirline customers are benefiting from competition, which is helping to keep fares low. United Continental and American Airlines are looking to attract more travelers on a budget by offering low-priced, no-frills tickets.
LinkNok Air records $10.8 million loss in 1QThailand-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Nok Air reported first-quarter net loss of THB379.9 million ($10.8 million), reversed from net profit of THB55.6 million in the year-ago period. First-quarter revenue fell 2.04% to THB3.38 billion; operating costs for the quarter were THB3.55 billion, up 10.8% from the year-ago period.
LinkRyanair opens London Stansted training centerRyanair has opened a training center at London Stansted Airport, as it seeks 1,000 more pilots, cabin crew and engineers this year to fuel its expansion. The European training center includes four full-flight simulators, an aircraft interior for cabin crew training and a full-scale engineering training aircraft.
LinkSmall Planet Airlines secures German AOCLithuanian leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines launched operations under its new German air operator’s certificate (AOC) on May 13. This latest approval means that Small Planet Airlines holds three AOCs, covering Germany, Lithuania and Poland.
LinkVirgin Australia’s new 777 premium seats enter serviceVirgin Australia has launched its revamped business and premium economy seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs, starting with services on the Sydney-Los Angeles route. The new business class layout features 37 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond lie-flat suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, with an 18in screen for in-flight entertainment. This brings it in line with the business class seats on its Airbus A330-200 fleet.
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