Emirates is cutting back on flights to Africa and could even cut routes entirely if economic conditions on the continent persist, president Tim Clark said Tuesday. Foreign airlines have pulled out of several African cities because of economic and financial challenges on the continent that has weakened currencies on the continent. ÒWeÕre reviewing the programme to reflect on certain economic and financial difficulties,Ó Clark said. He declined to name routes that would be affected. Emirates has already reduced its twice-daily flights to NigeriaÕs Lagos and Abuja to just one, and has started to detour Nigerian flights to Ghana to avoid high fuel costs <br/>
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Ryanair has cut its expectations for its full year profit by 5% due to sterlingÕs fall after the Brexit vote. The Irish low-cost carrier reduced its full year net profit guidance to between E1.30b and E1.35b, with profit expected to rise by 7% rather than the previous guidance of 12%. The UKÕs vote to leave the EU caused an 18% fall in the value of the British pound, which Ryanair said would reduce second half average fares by between 13 and 15%. ÒThe recent sharp decline in sterling post BrexitÉ will weaken H2 yields by slightly more than we had originally expected,Ó CE Michael OÕLeary said. <br/>
Ryanair is reducing the check-in window for passengers from one week to just four days Ð unless they fork out extra for allocated seating. The move, effective from next month, will anger those fliers who prefer to have their seat assigned free of charge. From Nov 1, Òcustomers who do not wish to reserve their preferred seat can check in online or on the mobile app free of charge between four days and two hours before departure and will be allocated a random seat,Ó said Ryanair. Those who do reserve a specific seat Ð at a cost of GBP8 to GBP15 per flight Ð can do so up to 30 days before their flight. The change applies to both new and existing bookings. Those unwilling to accept the change will be allowed to cancel their reservation free of charge. <br/>
The performance of Eurowings' Thailand-Germany sector so far has shown that the long-haul low-cost carrier business concept works. The Lufthansa Group's subsidiary reported satisfactory performance against critics' suggestions otherwise. "We are very satisfied with the routes' performance not only on the passenger side but also for the cargo business," a Lufthansa Group official said. Since the debut of the BangkokÐCologne and PhuketÐCologne routes in December last year, the airline has been enjoying a very high seat load on both, he said. The performance led Eurowings to confirm its plan to boost the frequencies on the Phuket-Cologne sector to three flights a week, starting Oct 30. <br/>
Thai Lion Air has received the green light from Vietnamese authorities to start a Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City service that was earlier placed in doubt. Monday's notification allows the Thai-registered LCC to maintain its planned flight timetable with the maiden service set to launch Oct 28. TLA is expected to reactivate ticket sales for the route that was abruptly halted earlier this month after Vietnamese authorities required "additional documents" to support the application for a permit. TLA will become a new player in the highly-contested route to compete with existing operators including Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and THAI. <br/>
Alaska Air pressed on with talks with the US Justice Dept to reach a deal for approval to buy Virgin America, two people close to the matter said Monday as a deadline for the govt to complete the merger review passed. The late-stage discussions included the possibility of Alaska jettisoning part of one or more code-sharing agreements it has with larger US carriers as a concession for winning antitrust approval, one of the people said. Alaska Air and Virgin America had agreed not to close their merger until Oct 17 so the JD could finish its review. The merger would open the possibility of the airlines agreeing to share codes on flights currently operated by Virgin America, which might alter competition at a time when the top four carriers control more than 80% of the US market. <br/>
A Binter Canarias training flight has landed safely at Spain's Gran Canaria airport after requesting an emergency landing, the airline and airports operator Aena said in statements on Twitter. The plane was having problems with the wheels on its landing gear, Tenerife airport said previously. Binter said the flight had no passengers on board. <br/>
Porter Airlines, and its home-base Billy Bishop Airport, have earned high praise in a reader survey by Conde Nast Traveler. The publisherÕs 29th annual readersÕ choice awards placed Billy Bishop fourth overall among international airports, while Porter placed ninth among international airlines. Toronto placed 37th among readersÕ favourite cities. ÒCanadian upstart Porter Airlines has won the loyalty of stateside customers with its frequent and reliable turboprop flights to destinations ranging from Newark and Boston to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,Ó writes Conde Nast. ÒReaders appreciate the airlineÕs customer-friendly touches, like free Wi-Fi and refreshments.Ó <br/>
An unusual member of Kathmandu International Airport's security team forced a passenger plane to abandon its landing last week. The Bhutan Airlines flight was on its final approach when a goat was spotted on the runway, prompting crew to initiate a go-around, or "goat around", as the Aviation Herald reported. The Airbus A319-100 then ascended out of the narrow Kathmandu valley and entered a hold, while airport staff captured the goat and removed it from the area. The aircraft, which had flown a 70 minute journey from Paro in Bhutan with 68 passengers and eight crew, landed safely 40 minutes after its first attempt. A preliminary investigation found the goat came from the army battalion responsible for airport security. <br/>