Norwegian 3Q net profit up 18%; slows down growth

Long-haul LCC Norwegian Air Shuttle warned that high oil prices and a strong dollar would affect the entire aviation industry as it reported a third-quarter net profit of NOK1.3 billion ($156 million), up 18% compared to NOK1.1 billion in the year-ago quarter. Revenue for the quarter rose 33% to NOK13.4 billion as the budget airline […]

A4A Urges Continued Construction of Mexico City’s International Airport

Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today wrote to President-Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador voicing support for the continued construction of the New Mexico International Airport (NAIM). In the letter, A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio explained why the new airport is necessary to meet the needs […]

Swoop’s U.S. Operations Still Awaiting Full Regulatory Approval, Forced to Cancel Flights

Swoop, the ultra-low-cost subsidiary of Canada’s WestJet, has postponed the commencement of U.S. services until Oct. 27 as all regulatory approvals have not yet been granted to the airline. Under the “Advisories” section of its website, the airline has apologized for the inconvenience to customers, giving the following reason for the delays: “Unfortunately, several U.S […]

FAA permits airlines to resume flights to three Ukraine airports

The FAA has modified areas in Eastern Ukraine that are off-limits to US airlines and their foreign codeshare partners, citing a stabilization in security conditions in the region. The directive, which will remain in effect until October 2020, will open up takeoffs and landings at three Ukrainian international airports, as well as flights over four […]

Hurricane Willa: Airlines cancel Mexico flights, waive rebooking fees

Hurricane Willa, a major storm strengthening to near-Category 5 status in the Pacific, is threatening to derail travel plans to popular resort destinations in Mexico. Southwest Airlines on Monday issued a travel advisory for travelers headed to and from Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta this week. Passengers booked on flights from Monday, Oct. 22, […]

Ryanair, Portuguese pilots reach labor deal

Irish LCC Ryanair has signed an agreement with the Portuguese pilot union SPAC covering seniority and base transfer agreements for its directly employed pilots in Portugal, and paving the way for negotiations on a full collective labor agreement to begin before the end of October. The LCC has been making slow progress in getting agreements […]

New Pluna owners to challenge Uruguay over airline’s demise

A Panamanian investment company has purchased the outstanding shares of former Uruguayan flag carrier Pluna Lineas Aereas Uruguayas and, through arbitration, plans to seek financial compensation for Uruguay’s alleged role in wiping the airline out, ATW’s sister publication Aviation Week has learned. A source with knowledge of the proceedings confirmed Caballero Verde S. de R.L. […]

Fuel prices to crimp airline profitability: AAPA

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director general Andrew Herdman says rising oil prices are expected to hit airline profitability as heavy competition limits carriers’ ability to lift ticket prices. While airlines in the region, and indeed globally, are still forecast to post healthy profits for the period ahead, Herdman expects the overall picture to […]

Jet Blue to roll out basic economy fares in 2019

Citing competitive pressure from both discount airlines and legacy carriers like American, United, and Delta, Jet Blue President and COO Joanna Geraghty told employees that the airline will introduce a new low-frills class of service next year. “At Jet Blue, we never liked the “no frills” approach,” Geraghty said in a blog post addressed to […]