AirlinesMid-Atlantic US snowstorm prompts major flight cancellationsAnticipating a major snowstorm due to strike the US Mid-Atlantic region over the weekend, airlines have canceled at least 3,014 flights as of 11:30am EST Jan. 22. According to flight tracking site FlightAware, as of 11:30am EST, airlines reporting cancellations include: American Airlines (789 flights canceled), Southwest (492), ExpressJet (194), Republic (171), United (166), Delta (147), Mesa (111) and JetBlue (88), among numerous others.
LinkSlovenia sells 91.58 % of Adria AirwaysThe Republic of Slovenia has agreed to sell 91.58 % of Adria Airways to Luxembourg-headquartered turnaround specialist 4K Invest for €100,000 ($108,756), subject to regulatory clearances and other conditions. Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH) and Bad Asset Management Co. (BAMC) hold the Adria Airways shares on behalf of the state.
LinkAir Canada charts global expansionIn the recent past, Air Canada often struggled with how to leverage its geographical advantage. Despite hubs in Toronto and Vancouver, both well-positioned to attract connecting traffic between North America and Asia and Europe, the airline suspected it lacked the right aircraft for longer and thinner routes.
LinkAlaska Airlines confirms plan to buy regional jets for operation by HorizonAlaska Air Group says it will order up to 30 76-seat regional jets this quarter to be operated by Horizon Air once changes to the union agreement with Horizon workers are approved. "We are in the final phase of a regional jet campaign," said Chief Financial Officer Brandon Pedersen.
LinkItalians probe diverted EasyJet A319's low-fuel landingItalian investigators are looking into an incident in which an EasyJet Airbus A319 landed with less than the required minimum fuel after a diversion to Bari. The aircraft had twice attempted to land at Naples, using runway 24, following a domestic service from Milan Malpensa on 7 January.
LinkEurowings Europe to hire 600 employeesLufthansa Group low-cost (LCC) subsidiary Eurowings Europe will hire 600 crewmembers as its fleet expands to 19 Airbus A320s by the end of 2017.
LinkGulf Air looks again at CSeries orderGulf Air’s plans to order the Bombardier CSeries regional jet may be in doubt, after the airline’s CEO announced plans to meet the Canadian manufacturer in the next few weeks. The Bahraini national carrier contracted for 10 CS100s in 2012 but, like all customers for the Canadian twinjet, has had to cope with the aircraft’s protracted development program.
LinkGulf Air converts 787 order to -9 variantGulf Air has converted a long-standing order for 16 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to the -9 variant, with the move forming part of a new strategy to support future growth. Announced on the opening day of the 21-23 January Bahrain International Air Show, the step follows what the locally based carrier refers to as "extensive negotiations with the aircraft manufacturer".
LinkKuwait Airways looks to double passengers at KWIKuwait Airways is seeking to double its share of passengers using Kuwait International Airport (KWI). For years, the emirate’s national carrier has lagged badly behind other airlines in the Gulf, with an increasingly archaic fleet that includes Airbus A300-600s and A310-300s. Passenger numbers have trailed off as inflight standards failed to keep pace with modern standards.
LinkLufthansa, UFO union sign arbitration agreementLufthansa and the Independent Flight Attendants’ Organization (UFO) have agreed on arbitration talks, which will continue until June 30, 2016. During this period, “industrial peace will be obligatory,” Lufthansa said in a statement. Prior to the arbitration, the social partners had already agreed on a new collective wage settlement as well as a new agreement for the future pensions and transitional benefits of Lufthansa cabin staff.
LinkLufthansa's first A320neo arrives at Frankfurt baseLufthansa’s first Airbus A320neo has arrived at the carrier’s Frankfurt base following a delivery flight from Hamburg. The Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered twinjet (D-AINA) arrived at the hub at around 14:15 having departed Airbus’s Finkenwerder plant, the airline confirms.
LinkOneworld CEO Bruce Ashby to step downAfter five years as CEO of oneworld, Bruce Ashby has resigned and will leave the alliance later this year. “After five years in this role it makes sense for me to move on at this time,” Ashby said, announcing his departure on Jan. 22.
LinkSouthwest orders 33 737-800s, upgauges 25 737-700sSouthwest Airlines has ordered an additional 33 Boeing 737-800s and converted its remaining 25 737-700 firm orders to the larger variant. "We have increased our future aircraft delivery schedule to support our recent decision to accelerate the retirement of our [737] Classic fleet to no later than mid-2018," says Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly. "This decision is expected to reduce operating costs over the acceleration period and improve the customer experience with better on-time performance and wi-fi-equipped 737 aircraft, with a manageable increase in our capital spending."
LinkThai to defer delivery of 14 widebodiesThai Airways International will postpone delivery of 14 widebody aircraft originally scheduled to enter the fleet between 2016 and 2018. The 14 aircraft comprise 12 Airbus A350-900s and two Boeing 787-9s, says a company spokeswoman.
LinkUnited Jet Skids Off O'Hare RunwayA United Airlines Boeing 737 carrying 179 passengers and six crew skidded partly off the runway on Friday at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. No one was injured in the incident, airline and airport officials said.
LinkUnited pilots ratify contract extension through January 2019United Airlines pilots have voted to ratify a two-year extension to their labor agreement that pushes the contract through Jan. 31, 2019. The ratification is a big win for United, which late last year negotiated an amended collective bargaining agreement with its flight deck crew, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), even though the existing contract didn’t expire until Jan. 31, 2017.
LinkUnited Airlines reports healthy Q4 profitUnited Continental Holdings reported a profit of $823 million for the fourth quarter. During the same quarter of last year, United posted a profit of $28 million. Meanwhile, the carrier also announced plans to offer a basic economy fare in the second half of the year.
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