The CE of United Airlines Inc will testify before a House panel Tuesday in the aftermath of the forced removal April 9 of a passenger from a Chicago flight, an incident that drew international condemnation. The House Transportation Committee will hear from United CE Oscar Munoz, along with the airline's president, Scott Kirby, as well as lower level executives from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The hearing is aimed at determining "what can be done to improve the flying experience for American travellers," the committee said. A US Senate panel plans a similar hearing Thursday, but has not disclosed witnesses. Congress has stepped up scrutiny of airline travel in the wake of the incident, when the passenger was forcibly removed from his seat to make room for crew members. <br/>
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United Airlines announced 10 changes to its customer service policies Thursday. And that’s just the beginning, according to United CE Oscar Munoz. “There are many more things in the works,” Munoz said. Munoz acknowledged the policies included in Thursday’s announcement were spurred by the company’s reaction to the April 9 incident on United Express Flight 3411. But he said United is using the opportunity to take a fresh look at all of its customer-service policies. “It is our specific objective to try to make traveling a little bit easier and better in the friendly skies,” he said. “The ones we’ve acted upon (already) – no law enforcement, other than for safety and security, and not de-boarding anyone that’s already been boarded – those are aligned to that (preventing a repeat),” Munoz said. <br/>
SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa will abolish a rule requiring 2 people in the cockpit, effective May 1. The carriers will revert to previous cockpit access provisions, plus a number of additional safety and security measures. An Austrian Airlines spokesperson said that Austrian will “revert to the previous cockpit access provisions on our Airbus, Boeing and Embraer fleet. The only exclusion is our [Bombardier] Dash 8 Q400 fleet,” he said. The Lufthansa Group introduced the 2-persons-in-the-cockpit rule as a precautionary measure after a Germanwings Airbus A320 was deliberately flown into the French Alps March 24, 2015. In March 2015, EASA issued a temporary recommendation, proposing that 2 crew members, including at least 1 qualified pilot, should occupy the cockpit during flight. This was not a requirement. <br/>
ANA Holdings has reiterated its commitment to achieving a full year operating profit of JPY200b (US$1.8b) in its 2020 fiscal year. This goal represents a 37% improvement from an operating profit of JPY146b achieved for its 2016 fiscal year ended March 31. Another key target is achieving 40% higher passenger and cargo revenue by 2020. Achievement of this profit goal relies on increasing profits from ANA on international routes, maintaining domestic market share, "significant" revenue growth in its low-cost carrier affiliates, and "maintaining healthy growth" in its cargo operation. "ANA Holdings will also continue to implement rigorous cost management and accelerate operational improvements, strengthening preparations for the next stage of growth from 2020 onwards," the company says. <br/>