Lufthansa is pushing ahead with cost-cutting efforts to meet the challenge of an airline industry buffeted by “unprecedented” shifts in demand following terrorism in some of Europe’s most popular travel destinations. “Market volatility has become huge" amid economic uncertainty, particularly over the possible effects of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, as well as terrorist incidents, CE Carsten Spohr said Thursday. “I haven’t seen anything like this in my career.” The carrier is transforming itself at “the highest possible speed” to maintain earnings, he said. Lufthansa is among European airlines that have scaled back flight plans and earnings forecasts following deadly terrorist attacks in cities including Paris, Brussels and Istanbul in the past year and a half. <br/>
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Two United Airlines pilots were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol in Scotland Saturday as they were about to fly to the US, police and the airline said. Police Scotland said the two men, aged 35 and 45 years, were detained under a section of the Railways and Transport Safety Act which covers carrying out pilot function or activity whilst exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol. The men are expected to appear in court Monday. The flight from Glasgow to Newark Airport, New Jersey, carrying 141 passengers, eventually took off nearly 10 hours late Saturday evening with a new crew, the airline said. United said two pilots had been removed from service and their flying duties. The pilots were arrested in the cockpit shortly before the flight to the New Jersey airport was due to depart. <br/>
Turbine blade erosion is causing engine failures on some of its Boeing 787s and Rolls-Royce is developing a new blade, ANA says. Engine failures had occurred on 3 separate flights since Feb 2016. One incident occurred in February, a second in March and the most recent incident occurred Aug 25. “We identified the cause of these failure are erosion and cracking of the turbine blade of the engine. ANA is continuously receiving information from Rolls-Royce, which is further investigating these issues. ANA identified that multiple engines need to be serviced, so we canceled some flights for the servicing,” ANA said. The carrier also said it was “continuously changing the existing turbine blades with new ones for identified engines” and that Rolls was developing a new type of turbine blade which would be ready by the end of 2016. <br/>
Air NZ says increasing competition will continue to push down air fares and the airline will sell around 800,000 fares for under NZ$100 this year. The company announced last week a record pre-tax profit of $663m. Its CE Christopher Luxon said it had never been a better time to travel. More international and domestic competition would mean fares would be kept down. Air NZ was also expanding its route network. "The reality for us that as we go forward there will be more competition in the market place. It will mean there will be pressure on our yields as we go into the coming year." Luxon said in 1983 a one-way flight from to Auckland to Los Angeles cost around $1000, today it's less. "In a 30 year period there wouldn't be many other products and services that have done that." <br/>
Brussels Airlines has issued a request for proposals for its Airbus A330 replacement, as it progresses with its Avro RJ100 phase-out. “For the refleet of the A330, the RFP is already in the market and we’re talking to different lessors,” a Brussels Airlines spokeswoman said, adding that the phase-out of its oldest A330s will begin in 2018–19. Brussels Airlines currently operates 9 A330s. A 10th aircraft is due to arrive to operate its new Brussels–Mumbai service, which will open in March 2017. The 5X-weekly Mumbai route, which will be operated by A330s in a 3-class configuration, is being launched following Jet Airways’ decision to switch its main European base from Brussels to Amsterdam. “[This] will be the first time that the Belgian airline [will land] on the Asian continent,” Brussels Airlines said. <br/>