AirlinesAir Canada, machinists union agree to 10-year contractAir Canada and its machinists union have agreed on a new contract covering 7,500 workers for 10 years. Air Canada said the deal with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace represents its sixth labor agreement overall.
LinkAlaska unveils new livery and brand Alaska Airlines has unveiled the first major update to its branding in 25 years, rolling out a Boeing 737-800 adorned in a new blue and green livery and featuring an updated logo. The company also updated its website with the new brand, part of a project that has been underway for one year and will likely take another year to fully implement, says the Seattle-based carrier.
LinkAlaska employees receive year-end bonus for 7th consecutive yearAlaska Airlines and Horizon Air announced it will give 14,000 employees year-end bonuses. The bonuses will total $98 million. "This is the seventh consecutive year where our employees will get a full month's pay and performance bonus," said Alaska CEO Brad Tilden.
LinkAmerican 767 diverted to Canada after severe turbulenceAn American Airlines Boeing 767 transatlantic flight was diverted to Canada after it experienced severe turbulence that resulted in several flight attendants and passengers being hospitalized. Flight 206 was en route from Miami to Milan Jan. 24, carrying 192 passengers and 11 crew, when it diverted to St. John’s, Newfoundland after it “briefly encountered severe turbulence,” according to an American statement. Paramedics met the flight and evaluated passengers and crew.
LinkIran To Buy Eight Airbus A380s - ReportIran has struck a provisional deal with Airbus to buy eight A380s to be delivered from 2019, the deputy transport minister said. A deal for 127, mainly new, aircraft which it hopes to complete this week also includes 16 A350s, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, deputy transport minister told Reuters news agency.
LinkJetBlue boosts DIA-SFO service for Super BowlJetBlue Airways is adding flights from Denver to San Francisco over Super Bowl weekend to allow fans to watch the Denver Broncos. "We always say we fly people to the places people want to go and that's why we’re adding these extra flights to the Bay Area the weekend of the big game," said Marty St. George, an executive vice president at JetBlue.
LinkJetBlue to offer fully connected inflight experience, new TVsJetBlue Airways plans to launch a fully connected inflight experience on its Airbus A320s in which a new seat-back television system from Thales will be Wi-Fi connected, and high-speed Internet will be available free gate-to-gate. JetBlue said the A320 cabin “restyling” will begin in early 2017 “with completion targeted for 2019.” JetBlue has 130 A320s in its fleet.
LinkMH370 search hits a snagThe search for a missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER in the Indian Ocean has hit a fresh setback, with the loss of a sonar deep tow vehicle that was being used to scan the ocean floor. The Joint Agency Coordination Centre says in a statement that the vehicle, also known as a towfish, was being operated from the ship Fugro Discovery when it collided with a mud volcano. That caused the tow cable to break, leaving the vehicle on the ocean floor.
LinkOil slump accelerates Oman Air’s path to profitPlummeting oil prices will mean an imminent end to government financial support for Oman Air, the carrier’s annual staff conference in Muscat heard. The rapidly expanding national carrier has been heavily underwritten for many years by the nation’s government, which sees it as a tool to benefit the overall economy, notably by increasing inbound tourism.
LinkQantas, Air NZ Halt Vanuatu Flights Over Runway RisksQantas and Air New Zealand have suspended flights to Vanuatu due to safety concerns about its airport runway, a blow to tourism and the Pacific island nation's recovery efforts after a cyclone last year. Virgin Australia, however, said it would continue to fly to Port Vila, after its investigators examined the runway over the weekend and deemed it safe.
LinkRyanair issues French ATC strike ultimatumRyanair has called on the European Commission and European Parliament to either ban air traffic control (ATC) strikes, or allow other providers to step in and maintain service. In a statement issued on Jan. 25, Ryanair demanded European authorities to take “immediate action” over a French ATC strike planned from 1900 on Jan. 25 until 0600 on Jan. 27.
LinkRyanair cabin crew agree on five-year pay dealRyanair has struck a five-year cabin crew pay deal that covers its network of 76 bases, building on the pilot agreement it secured in November 2015. “Following weeks of direct negotiations between Ryanair and its elected cabin crew representatives, using long established collective bargaining structures, Ryanair’s cabin crew at all of its 76 bases have voted by over 90% to accept new five-year pay agreements,” Ryanair said on Jan. 20.
LinkSouthwest to speed up fleet renewal, CFO saysSouthwest Airlines intends to hasten its plans for fleet renewal, thanks to robust revenue in 2015. The carrier moved up its goal of retiring its classic fleet from 2021 to mid-2018. "Overall the internal rate of return on accelerating retirement of our classic fleet is estimated to exceed the return of investment," said Tammy Romo, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Southwest
LinkUnited launches VIP concierge service at some hubsUnited Airlines has debuted VIP concierge service called United Exclusive Assistance at several of its hubs. The carrier partnered with Global Airport Concierge to provide the amenity.
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