The creation of the world’s biggest alliance of low-cost airlines may signal that some of Asia’s struggling budget carriers are headed for the altar. The Value Alliance, announced Monday, stretches from Japan to Australia. The aim is to sell tickets or even baggage allowance and in-flight meals across the group’s 8 airlines in a single transaction. After years of cut-throat competition and financial losses, the coalition may be moving away from the typical budget model, which shuns the cost of international alliances and frequent-flier freebies. The union could be a step toward mergers in Asia, where LCCs have flooded the world’s fastest-growing travel market with plane orders, an analyst said. <br/>
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Comair, the South African operator of British Airways flights, won a court ruling to continue flying in the country amid a legal investigation into whether the company breaches airline foreign-ownership limits. The High Court of Pretoria granted an interdict to the carrier that ensures its license won’t be withdrawn by the Air Services Licensing Council before the probe is completed, Comair said Tuesday. The ASLC argues Comair isn’t compliant with a ruling that airlines can’t be more than 25% owned by international entities. Comair says it’s not in breach of the law. IAG owns an 11.5% stake in Comair, according to a spokeswoman. Bidvest Group, a South African operator of businesses ranging from food distribution to car rentals, owns a 26% stake. <br/>
Virgin Australia has launched its revamped business and premium economy seats on its Boeing 777-300ERs, starting with services on the Sydney-Los Angeles route. The new business class layout features 37 B/E Aerospace Super Diamond lie-flat suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, with an 18in screen for in-flight entertainment. This brings it in line with the business class seats on its Airbus A330-200 fleet. In addition, its premium economy cabin now features 24 seats with a 41in pitch and a 10.6in IFE screen. One aircraft has been fitted with the new seats, and as remaining 4 777s are refitted, the offering will be rolled out on the Brisbane-Los Angeles and Sydney-Abu Dhabi routes. Virgin had planned to launch the revamped seats in Nov 2015, but certification issues forced a delay to the retrofit programme. <br/>
Alaska Air Group Monday promoted Alaska Airlines COO Ben Minicucci to president of the airline. The company also promoted Horizon Air COO David Campbell to CE and president of Alaska’s regional subsidiary. As part of his new role, Minicucci will lead the integration process for the planned acquisition of Virgin America. Minicucci has been Alaska’s COO and executive VP since Dec 2008. Previously, he served as VP of Seattle operations. Minicucci joined the company in 2004 from Air Canada, following 14 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. Campbell, an MBA who served 4 years in the US Air Force, is based in Portland, Oregon. He joined Horizon as president and COO in July 2014 with more than 25 years of experience in maintenance and flight operations at JetBlue and American Airlines. <br/>
Emirates will need to hire as many as 500 new pilots this fiscal year in order to keep up with its expansion plans, a senior company executive said Tuesday. The recruitment plan comes as Emirates takes delivery of 36 new wide-body aircraft in the 12 months to March 31, 2017. It also plans to launch new routes to Asia and the world’s longest non-stop flight to Panama during the same period. Emirates Group employed 4100 pilots as of November. In total, Emirates Group, which also includes airport and travel services company dnata, plans to hire around 10,000 new employees this year. The Group’s workforce was 95,332 as of March 31 this year. The airline will add this fiscal 20 new Airbus A380s and 16 Boeing 777-300ERs. <br/>
Steps moving forward, including a potential strike, was voted on by Hawaiian Airlines pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International Tuesday. The pilots authorised that their elected union representatives could conduct the withdrawal of service if contract talks don’t result in a new collective bargaining agreement. Nearly 98% of the pilot group voted Tuesday, and 99% of those who voted supported a strike. The ballot opened April 25. “This vote shows the deep anger our pilots feel toward their senior management,” said captain Hoon Lee, chairman of the ALPA unit at Hawaiian Airlines. “We absolutely do not want to go on strike, but if that’s what it takes to get a market-rate contract, our pilots have told us loud and clear that they will stand together and take that final step.” <br/>