AirlinesAlitalia told to present new business plan to Italian governmentItalian national carrier Alitalia has been asked to present the Italian government with a detailed business plan agreed with creditors, banks and shareholders within the next few weeks as it again faces significant financial losses. A meeting in Rome Jan. 9 saw senior Alitalia executives—including CEO Cramer Ball, Etihad Group chairman James Hogan and representatives of three Italian banks who are shareholders or backers of the airline—meet with Economic Development Minister Carlo Calenda and Transport Minister Graziano Delrio.
LinkBritish Airways braces for two-day cabin crew strikeBritish Airways (BA) said it canceled 11 flights out of London Heathrow Jan. 10 as a two-day strike by some cabin crew began. The dispute is over what the Unite trade union describes as “poverty-level pay” for members of BA’s “mixed fleet” cabin crew. Mixed fleet staff serve both short- and long-haul services out of Heathrow.
LinkEasyJet: Capt Kate McWilliams, airline captain at 26 years oldHave you always been interested in aviation?When I was very young I wanted to be a veterinarian but after having lots of pets I discovered I wasn't very good at looking after them. I did always have an interest in flying though after going to air shows with my godparents and when I was 13 I joined the air cadets where I got my first experience of flying an aircraft for myself. My school encouraged university but I didn't feel like it was the right option for me – I wanted to travel and see a bit of the world but at the same time make the first steps towards my dream career. So I applied to a flight training school called CTC Aviation which trains cadets to become commercial pilots. It is a UK-based company but the flying training takes place in either New Zealand or Arizona, USA. I spent a year with them flying in New Zealand, and when I wasn't flying, I was sight-seeing. Some would say my experience sounds like a pretty great 'gap year'.
LinkGerman Prosecutors End Germanwings Crash ProbeGerman prosecutors have finished their investigation into the 2015 crash of a Germanwings plane, concluding that nobody still alive could be held responsible for the crash. The Germanwings Airbus A320 crashed into the Alps in March 2015, killing all 150 onboard. France's BEA air crash investigation agency found that co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit and steered the plane into a mountainside.
LinkHawaiian Airlines continues growth streak for 12th straight yearHawaiian Airlines has passed the 11-million passenger milestone. The airline continued its expansion for the 12th year in a row in 2016.
LinkJeju Air is customer for three unidentified Boeing 737-800NGsBoeing confirmed Jan. 10 that South Korean low-cost carrier (LCC) Jeju Air is the previously unidentified customer behind a December 2016 order for three 737-800NGs, valued at $288 million at current prices. It is Jeju Air’s first direct-purchase order with Boeing. The LCC operates an all-leased fleet of 26 737-800NGs. “This acquisition is a major step in our growth strategy … [and will] further strengthen our position as a leading low-cost carrier in Northeast Asia,” Jeju Air CEO Ken Choi said.
LinkLufthansa begins trialing broadband on short- and medium-haul flightsLufthansa Group said it plans to become the “most digital aviation group” in 2017, chairman and CEO Carsten Spohr said at the company’s digital aviation forum Jan. 10. To kick off the plan, the German company has begun the next phase of testing Lufthansa FlyNet internet access, initially on five Airbus A320s each at Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines. The trial, which begins Jan. 10 with plans for a full market launch within the 2017 first quarter, will include free service and will offer internet access on inner-European routes.
LinkSaudia Gets New Chairman In Shake-UpSaudi Arabia has appointed a new chairman for flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines. Ghassan Bin Abdulrahman Al-Shabal has been appointed, replacing Sulaiman Al-Hamdan in a management shake-up.
LinkTurkish Air Cancels Ataturk Flights Due To SnowTurkish Airlines cancelled flights at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on Monday as heavy snow and poor visibility continued in the region. All flights were cancelled until 18:00 local time, with domestic flights suspended until midnight.
LinkUnited tests wraparound headset designUnited Airlines is testing wraparound headsets for enhanced in-flight entertainment. The headsets produced by Avegant can tap into in-flight Wi-Fi for streaming entertainment.
LinkVIM Avia takes first A330Russia’s VIM Avia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200, which is configured in a two-class cabin layout with 24 seats in business and 228 in economy class, the airline in a statement.
LinkVirgin Atlantic raises more funding; expands Flybe codeshareUK carrier Virgin Atlantic has raised an additional £32 million ($39 million) and has extended its codeshare agreement with UK regional carrier Flybe. Virgin raised the funding by extending a transaction secured on its London Heathrow slots that was announced a year ago. This was the first of a kind in Europe and has now been extended to £252 million.
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