AirlinesAir Canada will be official air carrier for Canadian NHL teamsAs the 2015-16 National Hockey League season approaches, the NHL announced it will team up with Air Canada on a six-year deal to be the official air carrier of the seven Canadian teams in the league. Starting in September, Air Canada will provide air transportation through Air Canada Jetz, an all-Premium charter service operated by the airline. The teams involved in the new contract include the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.
LinkAlitalia seeks to ensure future pilot streamAlitalia has reconstituted its pilot training center after a 10-year gap, with 24 prospective pilots due to embark on a two-year training course by the end of 2015. More than 550 candidates applied for the course. The successful applicants, aged 18-27 years, will enroll on the joint Alitalia-Etihad Airways Cadet Pilot program, based at locations throughout Italy and Abu Dhabi.
LinkCathay Pacific investigating A330 emergency diversionCathay Pacific is investigating an engine issue that forced the crew of one of its Airbus A330s to make an emergency landing at Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International airport on 24 September. In a statement the carrier elaborates that the aircraft was operating flight CX170 from Perth to Hong Kong when a "defect" occurred in engine number 2.
LinkCompass Airlines, ATP reach pilot tuition reimbursement dealCompass Airlines and ATP Flight School have finalized a tuition reimbursement agreement. Minneapolis-based Compass, a regional airline that is a subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, has agreed to pay ATP flight instructors “up to $11,000 of their ATP training costs … in exchange for agreeing to fly for Compass after earning the requisite number of hours,” Compass and Jacksonville, Florida-based ATP said in a joint statement.
LinkDelta to launch nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham to ParisDelta Air Lines plans to offer nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham, N.C., to Paris. "The Research Triangle is an important market for Delta, and our new Paris flight is the latest in a series of Delta investments in the region, both at the airport and in the community," said Bob Somers, vice president of global sales for Delta. The carrier also plans to ramp up service from New York City to Israel.
LinkDelta highlights the wonder of air travelWieden+Kennedy New York has created a spot for Delta called "Take Off" that shows a plane's mesmerizing journey along the runway from the perspective of its underbelly. The ad is narrated by Donald Sutherland, who waxes lyrical about why air travel is so astonishing.
LinkKenya Airways Resumes West Africa FlightsKenya Airways has resumed flights to Liberia and Sierra Leone after Kenyan health officials lifted a ban placed last year due to the Ebola virus. The carrier, one of the biggest in Africa, stopped flying to Monrovia and Freetown in August last year, losing routes worth tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. It recorded large losses in its year ended March.
LinkNorwegian steps up pressure on DOT with new routesLow-cost, long-haul carrier Norwegian Air International (NAI) has announced a series of new transatlantic routes, despite the continued reluctance by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant it a license for Europe-US services. NAI has announced plans to launch services from Cork, in the Irish Republic, to both Boston and New York. It also plans a new Cork-Barcelona route. The Boston and Barcelona routes—both amounting to four or five weekly rotations—have been penciled in for May 2016, with New York following in 2017.
LinkOkay Airways to launch United Star International Express AirlinesTianjin-based Okay Airways plans to launch United Star International Express Airlines with ATSG West Limited and three other Chinese partners. The cooperation aims to explore China’s fast-growing express delivery market. The three Chinese partners are VIPShop, Tianjin Dongjiang Investment Holding Co. and Qiaoshui Development Co. The new venture is expected to have a registered capital of CNY400 million ($63 million) with Okay Airways as the biggest stakeholder. Okay chairman Wang Shusheng will also act as the chairman of the new venture.
Link[Thai regional Siam Air Transport to lease two 737-800sThai-based regional operator Siam Air Transport will lease two Boeing 737-800s from Air Lease Corp. to expand services to first- and second-tier destinations in China. The two former airberlin aircraft will be delivered in the coming months to serve the year-end/New Year tourist peak. The airline currently flies to Guangzhou, Zhengzhou and Hong Kong from its base at Don Mueang International in Bangkok.
LinkUnited focuses on expanding service to ChinaChinese President Xi Jinping is visiting the US this month, and United Airlines continues to expand service to China. "China is one of our most important and fastest-growing international markets," said Jake Cefolia, vice president of Atlantic and Pacific Sales for United. The carrier offers 84 weekly flights from the US to China.
LinkIndian Ocean airlines seal Vanilla AllianceThe Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) airlines have signed a multilateral cooperation agreement establishing Vanilla Alliance, which is aimed at improving air services between IOC member states and international connectivity to the region. The alliance is made up of Air Austral, Air Madagascar, Air Seychelles, Inter Ile Air and Air Mauritius. The alliance offers more than 50 destinations, operates a fleet of 30 aircraft and employs about 6,000 staff. It is expected to transport more than 2.3 million passengers a year.
LinkWizz Air secures financing for six Airbus A321ceosFast-growing Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air signed an agreement with China Development Bank’s CDB Leasing to finance six Airbus A321ceos. The deal includes the carrier’s first two A321s scheduled for delivery later this year. “We’ve developed a strong relationship with CDB Leasing as they continue to support our growth, now financing the first of our new A321s,” CEO József Váradi said in a statement.
LinkUkraine To Ban Russian AirlinesUkraine will ban flights by Russian airlines from October 25 as part of a wave of sanctions against Russia over its support for separatists in the east of the country. Kiev said last week it was imposing restrictions on more than 90 companies or groups, mostly from Russia, and including airlines Transaero and Aeroflot, the national flag carrier.
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