AirlinesAir Canada Cargo expands European serviceAir Canada Cargo is increasing its service from France, including a service from Marseille beginning in June. The carrier started service to Rome in March, and will add service to Berlin this summer.
LinkAlitalia staff to vote on new dealAlitalia’s workforce begins voting April 20 on a deal that will decide whether the struggling airline receives a fresh infusion of cash. Personnel have to decide whether they are prepared to accept redundancies and some salary cuts as prerequisites for the new funds. At stake is a further €2 billion ($2.1 billion) investment from shareholders including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, which holds a 49% stake in the Italian flag carrier.
LinkEmirates to reduce US flightsEmirates Airline will reduce flights to the US starting next month, citing a “significant deterioration” in demand for travel to the US since President Donald Trump took office three months ago. Dubai-based Emirates will not drop service to any of the 12 US airports it serves, but it will reduce flight frequencies to five of the 12 destinations.
LinkFinnair finalizes A350 XWB sale-and-leaseback dealFinland flag carrier Finnair has finalized a sale-and-leaseback agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services for one Airbus A350 XWB. The initial lease term is 12 years, with extension options. Finnair said the arrangement has had a positive effect of approximately €50 million ($52.6 million) on the Helsinki-based carrier’s operating results for 2Q 2017, comprising a gain on sale and currency gains on pre-delivery payments and hedges.
LinkFlybe seeks new CFOUK regional airline Flybe is seeking a new CFO after the resignation of Philip de Klerk. In a statement issued April 18, Flybe said de Klerk will continue as CFO until Oct. 1. “A process to appoint his successor has commenced,” the carrier said.
LinkHawaiian Airlines lets passengers lie back in its premium cabinHawaiian Airlines' premium cabin features lie-flat seats on service to Beijing. The premium cabin option was introduced last year.
LinkJAL teams with Dassault for private jet connections at ParisJapan Airlines has partnered with Dassault Falcon Services (DFS) to offer bespoke private jet connections for passengers from Paris to destinations in Africa and Europe from 1 May. JAL says in a statement that the service will offer seamless ground connections between Charles de Gaulle and DFS's FBO at Le Bourget airport. DFS will offer a range of nine Falcon aircraft on a pay-as-you-go pricing structure.
LinkJetBlue ready to launch service from Orlando to Port-au-PrinceJetBlue Airways is awaiting government approval for new route connecting Orlando and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. JetBlue provides service to Haiti from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Boston and New York.
LinkJuneyao Airlines reports 2016 net profit up 19%China’s Juneyao Airlines reported a net profit of CNY1.25 billion ($180 million) in 2016, up 19% over a net income of CNY1.05 billion in 2015. Operating revenue for the year rose 22% to CNY9.9 billion, while operating expenses increased 28% to CNY7.7 billion.
LinkFlying long haul with NorwegianAfter writing about the politics of the Norwegian long-haul debate, I finally got to experience their long-haul product first hand. The flight was booked as a normal fare-paying passenger; this wasn’t a press trip. Norwegian wasn’t the only option for my London-New York trip, but they had the best fare at £334.30 ($422.92), which drew me in. By the time I got my payment card out, £100 in ancillaries had been added to the bill (one checked bag, allocated seating and an inflight meal on each leg).
LinkIllegal overbooking highlighted after Pobeda boarding denialRussian authorities have underlined the illegality of overbooking within the country after highlighting a case in which a disabled passenger was denied boarding by budget airline Pobeda.
LinkQatar Airways first to comply with IATA baggage tracking rulingQatar Airways said it has become the first airline to comply with IATA’s Resolution 753 at its hub in Hamad International Airport (HIA). Resolution 753, which requires the airline to track every piece of luggage at every step of the journey, was developed to reduce mishandling and baggage fraud, increase passenger satisfaction, and enhance the overall baggage management landscape at airports around the world.
LinkWOW Air to operate 24 aircraft by 2019Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW Air has detailed plans to add seven more aircraft, growing its all-Airbus fleet from 17 to 24 by end of 2018. WOW Air said the additional aircraft include four A330-900neos on 12-year lease from CIT Aerospace International, plus two A321ceos—one purchased directly from Airbus and the other leased from Air Lease Corp. (ALC).
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