AirlinesAir France resolves headscarf row with female staffAir France will allow female staff to opt out of working on scheduled flights to Iran if they do not want to wear a head covering as the French flag carrier prepares resume flights to Tehran later this month. Female cabin crew had objected to company instructions to wear a head covering at all times while on the ground in the Islamic nation and in Air France uniform, which threatened to disrupt the resumption of services after an eight-year suspension.
LinkCSA Czech Airlines develops Russian networkCzech Airlines plans to launch 2X-weekly Prague-Kazan Airbus A319 service and resume 2X-weekly Prague-Ufa A319 flights from April 27 and 28, respectively, according to Russian authorities. The airline also operates flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague (formerly Prague Ruzyně International Airport) to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Yekaterinburg and Rostov-on-Don—as well as flights from Karlovy Vary to Moscow.
LinkFlydubai Crash Investigation Pointing To Pilot ErrorThe Flydubai Boeing 737-800 that crashed in Russia last month was flown in a contradictory manner minutes before it hit the ground, a statement from investigators said, suggesting pilot error was to blame. The 737 came down in the early hours of March 19 at Rostov-on-Don airport in southern Russia on its second attempt to land after flying from Dubai.
LinkLinkHawaiian Airlines to purchase A320 flight simulatorHawaiian Airlines plans to purchase an A320 flight simulator from Lockheed Martin Commercial Flights. The full flight simulator will help train pilots in Honolulu.
LinkOman Air sets up cargo-handling joint ventureOman Air has signed an agreement with Singapore-based ground-handling, warehousing and freight specialist SATS to create a new joint venture company for cargo handling at the airline’s Muscat hub. The arrangement will see Oman Air transferring its cargo-handling business and related assets to its subsidiary Oman Air Cargo. SATS will then acquire from Oman Air 33% of Oman Air Cargo’s share capital, valued at RO6.4 million ($16.4 million) with the joint venture company then being renamed Oman SATS Cargo.
LinkUnited Reports March 2016 Operational PerformanceUAL's March 2016 consolidated traffic (revenue passenger miles) decreased 1.5 percent and consolidated capacity (available seat miles) decreased 0.1 percent versus March 2015. UAL's March 2016 consolidated load factor decreased 1.1 points compared to March 2015. The company now expects first-quarter 2016 consolidated passenger unit revenue to decline 7.25 to 7.75 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015. The year-over-year performance was primarily impacted by a strong U.S. dollar, lower surcharges, travel reductions from energy dependent corporate customers and a softening in domestic yields.
LinkVirgin America Inc. Acquisition May Not Be in the Best Interests of VA ShareholdersWeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the Board of Directors of Virgin America Inc. ("VA" or the "Company") in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Alaska Air Group, Inc. ("ALK"). On April 4, 2016, VA and ALK jointly announced the acquisition of VA, pursuant to which VA shareholders will receive $57.00 in cash for each VA share they own.
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