AirlinesRyanair to move to IAG-type structure after $23 million 3Q net loss Irish LCC Ryanair has posted a €20 million ($22.9 million) third-quarter net loss and announced plans to transition to a group structure, similar to that of International Airlines Group (IAG), with Michael O’Leary as group CEO. Ryanair is making the structural changes to become more cost and operationally efficient, as it prepares to receive over 200 Boeing 737 MAXs, while also growing Austrian LCC LaudaMotion’s Airbus fleet.
LinkCathay Pacific pilots overwhelmingly reject tentative labor agreement Cathay Pacific Airways’ pilots have voted to reject a tentative contract agreement, dealing a setback to the Hong Kong flag carrier’s turnaround efforts.
The proposal was voted down by a significant margin, despite being endorsed by the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKOA). With 96% of eligible members voting, the deal was rejected 1,775-483.
LinkFlybe agrees to shareholder meeting, receives funding offer to halt sale UK regional carrier Flybe has agreed to a board meeting demanded by several shareholders over the airline’s proposed takeover by Stobart Group-backed consortium Connect Airways, and has separately received an approach from former Stobart CEO Andrew Tinkler to replace the Connect funding and halt the sale. Three story threads are now emerging in Flybe’s takeover by Connect Airways, an acquisition vehicle owned by Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital.
LinkOneworld: ‘No plans’ to add China Southern Oneworld has “no plans” for China Southern Airlines to become a member of the alliance, according to CEO Ron Guerney. Several oneworld members are talking about entering bilateral codesharing agreements with the airline, however.
China Southern has left the competing SkyTeam alliance at the end of last year, raising speculation that oneworld and Star may be chasing the carrier given its position as one of the three leading legacy airlines in China.
LinkAir Canada closes C$100m Jazz investment Air Canada has invested C$97.3 million ($74.1 million) in regional carrier Jazz Aviation's parent company, having closed a previously announced agreement under which Jazz will also acquire nine additional Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets.
LinkAir France unveils Airbus A330 cabin upgrade SkyTeam member Air France plans to roll-out upgraded cabins and inflight connectivity on 15 of its Airbus A330s by 2020, as part of a €140 million ($160 million) investment plan.
Under the new design, which comes amid several strategic changes at the carrier, Air France’s A330s will be configured with 36 business-class seats, 21 in premium economy and 167 in economy.
LinkTAP reports 11.3% traffic growth on African routes in 2018 TAP Air Portugal carried 15.8 million passengers in 2018, up 10.4% from the previous year, with European routes outside Portugal accounting for the bulk of the increase, the airline reported.
The airline carried 9.6 million passengers on European routes, excluding Portugal, in 2018—a 10.7% year-over-year (YOY) increase.
LinkEmirates, China Southern sign codeshare partnership Emirates Airline and China Southern Airlines have signed an MOU to pursue a codeshare agreement.
The partnership with China Southern would provide Dubai-based Emirates connectivity on domestic flights in China—to Fuzhou, Chongqing, Kunming, Qingdao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Nanjing and Xi’an—during the initial phase of the agreement, subject to government approval.
LinkSouthwest plans Hawaii proving flight Southwest Airlines will conduct a validation flight to Hawaii this week, as it continues to work towards certification to begin passenger service to the islands.
The Dallas-based carrier plans to operate a "long-range navigation and communication validation flight" between Oakland and Honolulu with a Boeing 737-800 on 5 February, it tells FlightGlobal. The flight follows completion of long-range navigation tabletop exercises, it adds.
LinkAer Lingus plans Hartford A321LR launch Aer Lingus plans to introduce the Airbus A321LR on flights to Hartford in July, marking the debut of the long-range narrowbody to the North Atlantic market.
The carrier will begin flying the A321LR between Dublin and Hartford from 1 July, and then between Dublin and Montreal from 8 August, FlightGlobal schedules updated over the weekend show. The aircraft is shown with 184 seats.
LinkProbe follows shutdown of two engines on L-382 Canadian investigators are probing an incident involving a Lockheed Martin L-382G Hercules whose crew had to deal with a shutdown of two of its four engines.
The Lynden Air Cargo aircraft, a civil version of the military transport, was being operated on a 22 January service between Yellowknife and Anchorage.
LinkTurkmenistan Airlines suspended from EU operations European civil aviation regulators have banned Turkmenistan Airlines from operating services to the country while they verify that the carrier meets safety requirements.
The European Aviation Safety Agency has “suspended” flights by the carrier pending confirmation that it meets international safety standards, says the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
LinkA320 suffered loss of thrust as it entered mountain wave Air Canada is probing an incident in which an Airbus A320 lost thrust on one engine as is passed through a mountain wave en route to Los Angeles.
The aircraft, with 146 passengers and five crew members, was operating from Toronto on 27 January, says the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
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