Portugal’s government has reached an agreement with investors to unwind the privatisation of TAP Air Portugal in a deal that leaves the country’s flag carrier under private management but gives the state a veto over strategic decisions. Atlantic Gateway, the private consortium that purchased 61% of TAP last year, agreed over the weekend to allow the state to lift its stake from 34 to 50% and share control of the heavily-indebted airline. António Costa, the socialist prime minister who took office in November, had made an election pledge to reverse the previous centre-right government’s privatisation of TAP. The sell-off, tabled during Portugal international bailout programme, was strongly opposed by pilots and opposition parties. Lisbon has agreed to pay Gateway, a joint venture between JetBlue founder David Neeleman and Portuguese bus company owner Humberto Pedrosa, E1.9m to increase the government’s stake to 50%. A planned sale of 5% of TAP to employees would leave Gateway with 45%, but it has the option to buy any shares not purchased by staff. Gateway will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the company, but the state will have the power to veto decisions considered strategically important and name the chairman of the board. Executive board members will be appointed by Gateway.<br/>
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Four years ago, United told families with small children that they had to wait to board like everyone else. But the carrier is reversing that boarding policy. Starting Feb. 15, families with children age 2 or younger can board before other passengers, except for those with disabilities and active-duty members of the military in uniform. The change brings United in line with most major airlines that have already adopted a family-board-early policy. The airline says it made the change because letting families pre-board was a top recommendation that came out of an October survey of employees and passengers.<br/>
Turkish Airlines and Boeing have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen the carrier’s industry position, as well as Turkey’s aerospace and technology capabilities. Turkish Airlines chairman M. Ilker Ayci and Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner signed the agreement in Seattle at Boeing’s latest 777-300ER and 737-800 delivery to the Turkish flag carrier. In the agreement, Turkish and Boeing identified several potential areas of new cooperation. Suppliers across Turkey currently support all five Boeing Commercial Airplanes programs delivering Turkish-made components valued at more than $120m annually. The agreement identified several additional areas of cooperation, including development and training, activities to enable the global competitiveness of Turkey’s aviation manufacturers, and support for Turkey’s research and technology capabilities and aerospace infrastructure. Turkish and Boeing share a long history that goes back to 1945, with the arrival of the airline’s first DC-3/C-47 airliners.<br/>
With its new Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice campaign, Turkish Airlines becomes the latest airline to announce a high-profile Hollywood franchise brand cross-over. The airline has partnered with Warner Bros to become the official carrier sponsor of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which will debut in theaters around the world starting on March 25, 2016. Turkish Airlines has announced a complement of movie-themed experiences which will align its brand with the franchise fan base around the world, and give them an inside peek at the filmed world of the iconic Super Heroes. “The excitement around Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will enable Turkish Airlines to showcase our global network and unrivaled hospitality to a legion of moviegoers across the world,” said M. Ilker Aycı, Turkish Airlines’ Board Chairman. Turkish Airlines announced the partnership last week with a special promotional trailer running on its YouTube channel.<br/>