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Lufthansa extended a self-imposed deadline by a week to reach a deal with its pilots union to solve a long-running dispute over benefits and wages.<br/>Talks between Lufthansa and the Vereinigung Cockpit union will continue until Aug. 5 as not all open issues have been sufficiently discussed, the union said in a statement. The parties won’t provide details about the status of the talks until then, it said. The airline and the union said in May that they were seeking “decisive progress” on unresolved issues spanning pay to pensions by the end of July following concessions by both sides. <br/>

Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines is expected to join Star Alliance’s Connecting Partner Model (CPM) program in an effort to facilitate its rapid international expansion, according to an industry insider. The carrier hasn’t formally announced a decision, but it is going through internal procedures to secure approval. Juneyao Airlines chairman Wang Junjin told ATW previously the carrier had planned to join a global alliance in 2016 to speed up its international expansion pace as more Chinese passengers plan outbound travel. Juneyao operates a total fleet of 60 Airbus aircraft with plans to expand to 120 aircraft by 2020. Wang also revealed the airline would consider ordering long-haul aircraft to open new intercontinental routes. Star Alliance launched CPM at the end of last year. Under this new concept, routes operated by low-cost and hybrid airlines will be able to connect to the alliance network. As selected airlines, connected partners need to comply with the high operating standard required by Star without actually becoming alliance members.<br/>