United, which is reviewing its policies after the violent removal of a passenger from a flight last week, says it will no longer allow employees to take the place of civilian passengers who have already boarded overbooked flights. “We issued an updated policy to make sure crews traveling on our aircraft are booked at least 60 minutes prior to departure,” a spokeswoman, Maggie Schmerin, wrote in an email on Sunday. “This is one of our initial steps in a review of our policies.” Schmerin confirmed the validity of a memo dated April 14, which was published by TMZ, that ordered the new policy. She said the change was meant to ensure that episodes like what happened last week “never happen again.” She also emphasized a previously announced change that law enforcement officials would no longer be asked to remove passengers who do not pose immediate security threats. United is reviewing the circumstances that led to the forcible removal of Dr David Dao, of Kentucky, by Chicago aviation police officers on April 9. The company said it would share the findings of its review and any proposed reforms by the end of the month. After several days of uproar, the company’s chief executive, Oscar Munoz, apologized on “Good Morning America.” “This can never — will never — happen again on a United Airlines flight,” he said. “That’s my premise and that’s my promise.”<br/>
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A couple flying to Costa Rica for their wedding later this week were removed from a United flight in Houston for not following crew instructions. Passenger Michael Hohl said he and his fiancé moved to empty seats because another passenger was asleep Saturday in their ticketed seats. They insisted they complied with a flight attendant to return to their proper seats, but a federal air marshal came aboard the flight and asked they get off. They were rebooked on another flight Sunday. The airline said in a statement the couple repeatedly tried to sit in upgraded seats they didn't buy and wouldn't move. United has been under fire for the contentious removal of a doctor from a plane in Chicago last week.<br/>
Air China has cancelled some flights to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, due to poor demand but it has not suspended all flights there, it said Friday, denying a report by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. CCTV had reported that all flights run by the airline between the two cities were to be suspended indefinitely. "Air China did not stop operation of the Beijing to Pyongyang route, but temporarily cancelled some flights based on the situation of ticket sales," said a person in Air China's communications team. Subsequent flights would be scheduled according to ticket sales, the official said. Air China's flights, which operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, began in 2008 but have frequently been canceled due to unspecified problems, CCTV's report said. China is North Korea's sole major ally but it disapproves of the North's weapons programs, and its confrontations with the US and its Asian allies, and it has supported UN sanctions against it.<br/>
Air France-KLM and Singapore Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to codeshare on each others flights from April 27. Air France will add its flight codes to Singapore Air flights from Singapore to Sydney and Melbourne. Air France will also codeshare on SIA’s regional unit SilkAir flights to Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, and Phuket in Thailand. Singapore Airlines will add its code to 10 Air France flights from Paris to Aberdeen, Bordeaux, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Newcastle, Nice and Toulouse. The airlines said they will also look at opportunities to expand the codeshare to other carriers in their groups. The earning and redemption of frequent flier miles on the codeshare services will also be explored. Singapore Air SVP Tan Kai Ping said the codeshare “offers significant benefits to customers through enhanced connections and increased codeshare destinations. [It] provides a strong foundation for future commercial co-operation opportunities between our two airline groups.” Air France-KLM SVP Patrick Roux said “This kind of partnership is part of our aim to expand our market position and increase our range of destinations for our customers all around the world.” The Air France-Singapore Air agreement is also similar to the Lufthansa-Cathay deal in that it is cross-alliance, with Singapore a member of Star Alliance, and Air France-KLM part of SkyTeam.<br/>
All Nippon Airways held a ceremony on Sunday to mark 30 years since the major Japanese carrier launched its first regular route to China. “We reached the milestone thanks to the support from our customers and people concerned,” said Takao Nannichi, head of ANA’s branch at Narita International Airport. Nannichi and other staff members of the airline presented handkerchiefs as a commemorative gift to passengers of an ANA flight bound for Beijing. ANA opened its first regular China route, linking Narita and Beijing, in 1987. It now operates flights between Japan and 12 Chinese cities, including Hong Kong.<br/>