AirlinesAir Canada Rouge to open second direct North Africa route in 2017Air Canada will extend its international reach to North Africa in 2017, the airline announced Sept. 28. The airline’s leisure travel subsidiary Air Canada Rouge will operate the routes, utilizing Boeing 767-300ER aircraft configured with 282 seats. Air Canada Rouge will resume its direct nonstop Montreal–Casablanca, Morocco, route on April 19, 2017, with 3X-weekly service, increasing to daily service in June 2017 before returning to 3X-weekly flights during the winter season. The 2017 startup of the direct Casablanca route will be an expansion of Rouge’s present seasonal service to full-year service.
LinkAllegiant Air to relocate from Akron-Canton to Cleveland in 2017Las Vegas-based low-cost carrier Allegiant Air will move its northeastern Ohio operations from Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) beginning Feb. 15, 2017. “This move to Cleveland will allow Allegiant to have a stronger presence in Northeast Ohio and allow us to offer our [service] to even more travelers,” Allegiant COO Jude Bricker said.
LinkAmerican Airlines pursues certification to handle pharmaceuticalsAmerican Airlines Cargo is planning to obtain its certification for the handling of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products for industry supply chains. The certification comes from the International Air Transportation Association. "We're extremely proud of our temperature-control network," said Tom Grubb, manager of cold chain strategy for American's cargo division.
LinkChina Airlines takes delivery of first A350XWBTaipei, Taiwan-based China Airlines (CAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350XWB of 14 in ordered in 2008 on Sept. 28 from the Airbus factory in Toulouse. The aircraft is the 40th A350-900, and CAL is the ninth operator of this type. A total of 16 A350s―including the CAL aircraft―has been delivered to Asian carriers. The second through fourth Rolls-Royce-powered A350-900s for China Airlines will be delivered this year, with the remainder of the aircraft to be delivered through 2018.
LinkDelta reaches tentative deal with pilotsDelta Air Lines has reached a tentative deal with a union representing about 12,800 pilots. The agreement in principle on 30 September ends a months-long negotiating process with the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) that drew assistance from the National Mediation Board.
LinkFinnair to launch San Francisco flights, increase Spanish network Finland flag carrier Finnair has announced a seasonal 3X-weekly Helsinki-San Francisco service between June 1 and Sept. 30, 2017. “In the same way as when Finnair flies to Asia, the northern position of our Helsinki hub will also present a quick alternative for our connecting European customers flying to North America’s West Coast.” Finnair CCO Juha Jarvinen said.
LinkArgentine ultra-LCC Flybondi plans 2017 launchStartup carrier Flybondi, which has attracted seed funding from a series of well-known industry veterans, is aiming to launch operations in 2017 as Argentina’s first ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC). “The startup airline completed a seed-capital round in August, with the participation of Ryanair board member and ex-COO Michael Cawley, ex-Air Canada CEO Montie Brewer and British Airways CityFlyer Express founder/ex-chairman Robert Wright, alongside a group of Argentinian investors,” Flybondi said, making its plans public for the first time Sept. 30.
LinkJetBlue's "Swing for Good" fundraiser celebrates 8 yearsJetBlue's eighth-annual golf classic, "Swing for Good," will bring together company leaders, crewmembers and business partners who will strive to raise funds for charitable organizations.. "With the help of our crewmembers, customers and business partners, we're providing much-needed funds to youth and education non-profits. Helping our charitable partners continue their great work is just one way we live our mission of inspiring humanity," said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's president and CEO.
LinkUK CAA allows Monarch Airlines to continue flying London Luton Airport-based Monarch Airlines has received a 12-day extension of its Air Travel Operators’ License (ATOL) from UK regulators, allowing the carrier to keep flying. ATOL is a UK government-mandated travel insurance scheme that provides passengers protection so they will not be stranded if the airline/travel company through which they booked ceases operating while they are traveling. Airlines need to demonstrate financial viability to maintain an ATOL, and Monarch’s was set to expire Sept. 30.
LinkSpring Airlines opens more than 40 international routes this yearShanghai-based Spring Airlines is expected to open more than 40 international routes by the end of 2016, reflecting the explosive growth of Chinese citizens’ outbound travel. As of the end of September, the Chinese low cost carrier (LCC) had opened 30 new international routes. Spring opened two international routes to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and Sabah, Malaysia, the last week of September, and one new international 3X weekly service between Guangzhou, China, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, using Airbus A320s. The carrier also plans to launch more than 10 new international routes by the end of the year, according to the Spring VP Zhang Wu’an.
LinkUnited nears labor peace, with mechanics set to vote on contractThe last of United Airlines’ labor groups without a new contract―the carrier’s 9,000 aircraft mechanics―are poised to hold a ratification vote on a new, six-year collective bargaining agreement. Ratification by the mechanics, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), would conclude a banner year in labor relations for the Chicago-based airline. IBT leadership said Sept. 29 that it finalized the language in the contract, turning an agreement in principle reached in August into a tentative agreement that will be put before rank-and-file mechanics for a vote, likely in October or November.
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