Alaska Air Group received permission for a 5-week delay in starting service on a prized flight between Havana and Los Angeles, as regulators rejected an attempt by JetBlue Airways to secure the route and move it to Boston. The US DoT agreed Alaska could wait until Jan 5 to begin the service instead of the original mandate of Nov 29, according to an Oct 22 regulatory filing. The carrier had asked for more time to market the new flight and for customers to plan Cuba trips for allowed purposes. “When we selected Alaska’s Los Angeles-Havana proposal, we did so because we concluded that Alaska’s proposal would provide important public interest benefits,” the agency said. “The department agreed with Alaska’s assertions that US travellers from the western US should not be denied a nonstop travel option to Havana.” <br/>
unaligned
Aer Lingus has defended its cancellation of more than 20 flights from Shannon Airport over the past 2 weeks. The airline has repeatedly cancelled its Shannon to New York and Boston services since Oct 10th because of a shortage of aircraft. Some flights between Shannon and London Heathrow were also dropped. The carrier’s woes began Oct 7th when one of its transatlantic fleet was damaged by fire at Orlando Airport in Florida. Oct 10th, it cancelled its Shannon to New York service as well as the return flight. Oct 12th and 13th, cancellations of New York and Boston services left 669 passengers to make alternative arrangements. A spokesman said: “cancellations were due to a technical issue with one of our long- haul aircraft…we have not had sufficient aircraft available to operate our full long-haul schedule. <br/>
At least one airline plans to profit from Nigeria’s recession. The country’s economic downturn has hobbled operations of almost all local and foreign carriers as lower oil prices have resulted in a dearth foreign exchange. Nigeria’s oldest working airline has suspended operations indefinitely while foreign airlines have either pulled out of Nigeria or are considering doing so. Arik Air, Nigeria’s biggest airline, is taking advantage of others’ woes and expanding its routes, plugging gaps created by these exits. The airline plans to start daily flights to New York within the next 2 years; it’s currently flying to New York 3 times a week. It also plans to add new international routes, including to Rome and Paris, which will generate more foreign exchange revenue. <br/>
Air Zimbabwe has initiated talks with an unspecified Malaysia-based firm over the proposed lease of a B787. Although its pair of 27-old B767-200(ER)s have only reached half of their operational cycles, their performance, as well as their poor in-flight product, are seen as a hindrance to the carrier's ability to recapture long-haul market share. Zimbabwean minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development, Joram Gumbo also confirmed ongoing talks with an undisclosed third party over technical assistance for Air Zimbabwe. Although debt-ridden Air Zimbabwe is eager to resume flights to destinations such as London Gatwick and Guangzhou given increasing pressure on the domestic and regional market fronts, it has been unable to do so given the threat of aircraft seizure by creditor firms. <br/>
Virgin Australia is set to install BAE Systems’ AC outlet/USB charging in-seat power stations for personal IFE devices on one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft for a trial period, BAE said Oct 24. BAE’s IntelliCabin In-Seat Power Solution combines 110v AC and USB outlets, but the power converter is installed in the seat, as opposed to being mounted on the floor, where power sources often crowd out passenger legroom or carry-on luggage space. The outlets are located directly in front of passengers, above the tray tables, and below the space where conventional IFE seatback monitors are often placed. “Because the IntelliCabin system employs a centralised power converter with small junction boxes that fit into conventional airline seats, this [crowding] issue is eliminated,” BAE said. <br/>