Israel's national airline, El Al , is betting on a billion-dollar overhaul of its ageing fleet to claw back market share dented by relentless competition from low-cost carriers and a damaging dispute with pilots. El Al was once the go-to airline for most Israelis thanks to the kind of stringent security that sees it equip planes with missile defense systems. But it has frustrated customers over the past decade with an ageing fleet that has borne poor comparison with competitors which offered newer jets fitted with the latest in hi-tech entertainment and comfort. The average age of its 19-strong long-haul fleet of Boeing 767s, 747s and 777s is 18 years, with 14 of them more than 21 years old. By contrast Turkish Airlines, the second-largest carrier operating in Israel after El Al, has a fleet that averages four years for its long-haul 777s and Airbus A330s. Dganit Palti, El Al's CFO, acknowledged upgrading the fleet was a pressing need for the company. Next year, the carrier will start to receive the first of 15 787 Dreamliner planes in a US$1.25b deal. It also has an option to buy 13 more 787s, which are 20% more fuel efficient. "In 2020, when we finish replacing all wide-body planes, the average (age) will be six years," Palti said. "The Dreamliner and the replacement of the wide-body fleet will give us a big advantage." El Al's fleet issues have been magnified by Israel's 2013 open-skies agreement with the EU that has allowed more low-cost airlines to operate services to Israel, presenting travellers with a wide assortment of prices, flying times and days, and connections.<br/>
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EasyJet has doubled the number of its entry-level female pilots in a year and set a “more stretching” goal for 2020 following a targeted recruitment drive. The airline is aiming for 20% of new pilot cadets to be female by 2020. It said it would need to recruit about 50 female pilots a year to achieve the target. EasyJet has increased the number of its female new-entrant pilots from 6 to 12% since it launched the “Amy Johnson Flying Initiative” in October 2015. The initiative prompted more than 600 applications, from which the company hired 33 female pilots to reach its target, it said. Women are under-represented across the commercial airline sector: 3% of pilots worldwide are women, while the number of female captains totals just 450. British Airways has also made a push to recruit more female pilots after a 2015 survey found would-be applicants were discouraged because of gender stereotyping. EasyJet employs 164 female pilots, of whom 62 are captains, which is about 14% of the world’s total of female captains.<br/>
The long-haul arm of Malaysia budget carrier AirAsia Bhd said is targeting next year for the start of flights to the US and is considering near-term plane additions to speed up the resumption of European flights. AirAsia X, as the unit is called, plans to begin flying to Hawaii in the first half of next year, an airline spokesman said. The airline had targeted an earlier start date to link Kuala Lumpur with Honolulu, via a refueling stop in Osaka, Japan, but had to push back the start date as it awaits approval from the US FAA. The Kuala Lumpur-based airline is among a new breed of budget long-haul carriers that are trying to steal traffic by offering lower ticket prices while charging for perks that often are free on other airlines, such as food. It largely has focused on flights to Asian destinations. Other budget long-haul carriers, such as Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, have applied that business model on trans-Atlantic routes. AirAsia X also said it plans to fly its new Airbus A330neo planes to Europe once it starts taking delivery of the jetliners in 2018. <br/>
A surge in demand for Mediterranean holidays suggests Britons are coming to terms with a weaker pound and the threat of terrorist attacks, according to Monarch Airlines, the UK’s second-biggest leisure carrier. Vacation bookings for summer 2017 are up 40%, Monarch reported Friday. While the increase may have been enhanced by lower sales during this year’s peak season, when the Luton, England-based company was struggling to secure new financing, the improvement stems mainly from “external” factors, CEO Andrew Swaffield said. “Britons tend to be quite resilient,” he said. “Some people changed their plans in 2016 due to the combination of terrorism and the exchange-rate fluctuation, but they’re bouncing back in 2017. I think they’re getting used to it.” Demand for package holidays that bundle flights, transfers, accommodation and meals and offer greater certainty over price has gained most, Monarch said, though flight-only bookings are also up 10%. That reflects an increase in the number of people using services such as Airbnb Inc. to source beds independently in markets such as Spain, where a perceived minimal terrorist threat has led to a shortage of traditional rooms, Swaffield said.<br/>
Cathay Dragon is considering replacing all its 23 Airbus Group SE single-aisle jets as the airline proposes to modernize its narrowbody fleet. The airline has initiated a so-called request for proposal as it seeks to upgrade its 15 A320 and eight A321 aircraft, it said in an e-mail Friday. The first of the new planes is expected to arrive by 2019, Cathay Dragon said, without specifying whether it’s considering models from Airbus or Boeing. The “process will allow us to explore the full range of products and options of various size and range that can complement the airline’s fleet development needs,” Cathay Dragon said. The plan comes less than a month after the former Dragonair was officially rebranded Cathay Dragon, and follows Cathay Pacific’s announcement in October that it was conducting a critical review of its business amid a deteriorating outlook. Yields at the airlines have fallen as Chinese carriers offer more direct services worldwide, making Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong hub less critical for travellers.<br/>
Emirates Airlines' inaugural flight EK213 to Florida touched down at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday at 10.50am local time marking the 154th destination in Emirates’ global network. The 16-hour-and-a-half flight that was nearly full, took off at 3.30am Dubai time early Thursday morning becoming the 11th gateway to the USA — and the second to Florida — complementing Orlando that was launched last year, according to Hubert Frach, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West. Emirates launched its 11th destination in the United States with the start of a daily non-stop passenger service between Dubai and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.<br/>
Iran's Aseman Airlines has agreed to lease seven Airbus jets, two aviation industry sources said on Thursday, scotching earlier reports that Iran had agreed to buy the aircraft directly from the European manufacturer. Labour Minister Ali Rabii was quoted by the Iranian Students' News Agency as saying that Iran, which is negotiating with Airbus through state flag carrier IranAir, had agreed with Airbus to buy seven aircraft. The report fueled French media speculation that a keenly awaited deal between IranAir and Airbus for more than 100 aircraft had been watered down significantly. But industry sources said the two deals were not connected and identified regional carrier Aseman Airlines as the company behind the much smaller deal to procure seven aircraft, which Rabii said would start arriving in May. Those jets will be leased rather than purchased directly from Airbus, the sources said, without identifying the leasing company.<br/>