China Southern Airlines has completed the issuance of 270.6m Hong Kong-listed shares to American Airlines, making the US carrier an official stakeholder. The HK$1.55b (US$198mn) transaction, which closed Aug 10, gives American a 2.68% stake in China Southern. American will also have an observer on China Southern's board, although they will not hold any voting rights. American said Aug 1 that the deal hinged on approval of a "slot exchange" between the two carriers. Earlier this week, however, the American confirmed plans to launch its new flight from Los Angeles to Beijing in November after securing economically viable slots at the Chinese airport. The share purchase is the first step in what is expected to be a major strategic alliance between the two carriers. <br/>
sky
Italian civil aviation regulator ENAC has restored full operating licences of struggling Alitalia and its CityLiner subsidiary. Alitalia is undergoing a sale process and is conducting business under extraordinary administration. ENAC says it has restored the air transport operating licences, and withdrawn provisional licences for the carriers, following measures taken by the administrators. It says the administrators have "pledged to ensure regular continuity of the business activity" while dealing with Alitalia's sale. The Italian ministry of economic development authorised the procedure for selling Alitalia July 28. ENAC says it will continue to monitor the airlines as required under European legislation. <br/>
Air Europa pilots, represented by the Spanish pilots trade union SEPLA, have requested layover alternatives on its 3X-weekly Madrid-Caracas services because of safety concerns. SEPLA recommends avoiding overnight crew-stays in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas because of escalating violence. Europa is one of the few remaining European carriers that operate to Caracas where the crew stays overnight. The carrier uses Airbus A330s on the route. SEPLA said the current situation “puts at risk the security and the physical integrity of the crews that have to move from the airport to the hotel where they are staying.” For this reason, the labour union is requiring Air Europa “to assess the situation and establish measures such as cancellation of flights or other alternatives that guarantee the safety of the crew.” <br/>