AirlinesCultural shift needed to tackle go-around failures: analysisSafety investigators are warning that failing to comply with go-around policies is ingrained as an accepted norm by the airline industry, and that a broad cultural shift is necessary to reduce the threat it presents.
LinkAlaska Airlines bucks industry trend in first classAlaska Airlines is wooing value-conscious passengers to its first-class cabin on transcontinental routes, with top-line amenities and complimentary travel upgrades. "Getting a chance to upgrade is part of loyalty," Alaska CEO Brad Tilden said, "and loyalty is part of successful growth."
LinkIsland carrier Atlantic Airways seeks new revenue stream Faroese national carrier Atlantic Airways anticipates a move into the ACMI market as it attempts to offset the effect of new competition on its primary route. The Faroe Islands is an archipelago midway between Scotland and Iceland. As a dependency of the Danish crown with extensive self-governing powers, its main route is between the islands and Copenhagen, the Danish capital. One week ago, at the start of IATA’s summer season on March 26, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) started operating on the route.
LinkBinter Canarias to expand fleet with leased CRJ1000sSpanish regional airline Binter Canarias will expand its network with Bombardier CRJ1000 aircraft under a leasing agreement with Valencia, Spain-based regional Air Nostrum. Binter president and CEO Pedro Agustín del Castillo said the agreement “represents an important step in our growth journey ... We are confident that the CRJ1000 regional aircraft will also be a key asset in helping Binter offer a high level of service between the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde, Western Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.”
LinkBrussels Airlines to absorb Thomas Cook's Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines is to take over the operations of Thomas Cook’s Belgian arm, with the leisure company's in-house airline operation being disbanded as a result. Under a broadening of a partnership agreement Brussels Airlines will be used for the “majority” of flight requirements, says Thomas Cook Belgium.
LinkHainan Airlines reports 2016 net income up 4.5% China’s Hainan Airlines (HNA) reported a net income of CNY3.1 billion ($45 million) for 2016, up 4.5% over a net profit of CNY3 billion in 2015. The carrier cited continuous domestic market demand growth and rapid international expansion as main reasons for the profit increase. Operating revenue for the year jumped 15.5% to CNY40.7 billion, while operating expenses were up 21.8% to CNY31.4 billion.
LinkJetBlue opens Boston-Atlanta routeJetBlue Airways launched service between Boston and Atlanta March 30, directly taking on Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines on the US east coast pairing. New York-based JetBlue is offering 5X-daily nonstop service on the route, utilizing Airbus A320 family aircraft. Delta offers 11X-daily nonstop service on the route, with a combination of A320s, A321s, and Boeing 757s and 737-900ERs.
LinkLuxair holds off on regional jet decision Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair will delay making a decision on new regional aircraft until 2018, a senior official said March 30. An announcement on whether to choose the Bombardier CSeries or the Embraer E2 regional jets had originally been expected in 2016, but has been postponed, Luxair VP-finance Marc Schroeder said.
LinkNorwegian’s US flight attendants join unionsFlight attendants at Norwegian and Norwegian Air International (NAI) in the USA have elected to join unions, even as labour groups maintain their opposition to the low-cost carrier’s "flag of convenience" model. US-based cabin crew at Norwegian Air Shuttle have elected to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) and those at OSM Short-Haul US, the Norwegian-subsidiary that employs staff for NAI, have joined the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
LinkPobeda Airlines to boost regional frequencyAeroflot low-cost subsidiary (LCC) Pobeda Airlines plans to increase domestic regional flights frequencies 47% during the 2017 IATA summer season. Last year, the carrier operated 2,050 domestic flights that did not include Moscow as a point of destination; this year, this number is expected to grow to 3,012.
LinkQatar Airways offers ‘laptop loan service’ to US-bound passengersQatar Airways will offer business-class passengers complimentary laptop computers to use on US-bound flights starting next week. The “laptop loan service,” as the Doha-based carrier is calling it, is the latest attempt by one of the three Gulf majors—Qatar Airways, Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways—to find a work-around solution to the large carry-on electronics ban imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on nonstop flights to the US from 10 airports, including Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.
LinkScoot 787 and Emirates A380 clip wings at ChangiThe wing of a Scoot Boeing 787-9 and the wing fence of an Emirates Airbus A380 came into contact at 1:30 on 30 March at Singapore Changi International airport. In a statement to FlightGlobal, Scoot says the 787-9, registered 9V-OJA, was taxiing before take-off of a flight to Tianjin when its left wing came into contact with the A380 (A6-EUB), which was was on pushback ahead of a flight to Dubai.
LinkUnited had proposed JV in offer: AviancaUnited Airlines’ offer to prospective partner Avianca involves a joint venture, says the Latin American airline in its lawsuit against a minority shareholder that is seeking to block a tie-up between the two carriers.
LinkWow Air to take A330neos for large fleet expansionIcelandic budget carrier Wow Air is taking four Airbus A330-900s in a substantial expansion of its fleet. The airline will increase its fleet by seven jets to a total of 24.
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