Norwegian Air Shuttle, could sell its aircraft leasing business if it needs to raise cash, it emerged Friday. Speculation has been growing that the rapidly expanding airline could be facing a cash squeeze. Ryanair CE Michael O’Leary recently suggested that the carrier could run out of money. CFO Tore Otsby told said that the group had the option of selling its leasing unit, which buys aircraft and rents them to the airline, to raise money if it were needed. Potential buyers have expressed interest in the leasing division, which owns about half the airline’s Boeing and Airbus craft, but Otsby said that Norwegian would be unlikely to consider a deal before 2019 or 2020. The airline group leases many of its craft through companies established in Ireland, where it has also based a key subsidiary, Norwegian Air International. <br/>
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Air Malta and Ryanair have been in talks and have struck a deal that will see Ryanair and Air Malta codesharing, with Ryanair bringing passengers to Malta from Europe after which they would be transferred to Air Malta for onward travel to African destinations. Prime minister Joseph Muscat said: "We have a vision for Air Malta, and it is a make or break moment for the airline". He also said that Air Malta twill also be purchasing another aircraft. Muscat spoke about Air Malta being the at the forefront as airline of the Mediterranean: "We are opening up a new road for Air Malta's future," he said. He said 'make or break' talks would be started between Ryanair, the govt and other interested parties over Air Malta, which would, in turn, make it a more attractive proposition for linking up with a strategic partner. <br/>
Pilots at Thomas Cook Airlines staged a strike Sept 8 for improved pay, the first time British flight deck crew have gone on strike in more than 40 years, according to BALPA. Thomas Cook said it was continuing to operate all services, using either non-union staff or BALPA members who did not support the industrial action. The 12-hour stoppage was staged because of what BALPA called deteriorating wage conditions at the airline. Taking into account inflation, pilots had effectively been suffering wage cuts for several years, BALPA said. It also accused Thomas Cook of making cuts to pilots’ terms and conditions and on taking an intransigent stance during the pay negotiations. “BALPA members have not been on strike since 1974, but with no sensible pay offer on the table Thomas Cook pilots have had no other option.” <br/>
Frontier Airlines’ pilots voted unanimously Sept 8 to authorise a strike if the National Mediation Board decides that further contract mediation efforts would be unproductive. According to the Air Line Pilots Association, if either side declines arbitration, the parties enter a 30-day cooling off period, after which both sides could exercise self-help, whether it is a strike by the pilots or a lockout by the company. “This vote shows the deep anger our pilots feel towards the direction set by our management,” ALPA said, adding Frontier pilots are “the lowest-paid Airbus pilots in North America.” To bolster its complaint, the union cited a recent determination by a neutral arbitrator that found Frontier guilty of bad-faith bargaining for reneging on a promise to increase pilot pay if Frontier met prescribed profit margins. <br/>
Eurowings Europe will continue to grow even if Airberlin and NIKI become part of the Lufthansa Group, an airline executive said. Eurowings Europe MD Dieter Watzak-Helmer said the carrier plans to grow its fleet from eight to 13 aircraft in 2018. Airberlin filed for insolvency in August and is in the process of seeking buyers for its assets after Etihad Airways, which owns a 29.2% stake in the carrier, withdrew further financial support. Several companies have since expressed interest in Airberlin and Niki assets, including Lufthansa Group. “This growth will happen independently whether or not Airberlin or NIKI become part of the Lufthansa Group. However, we are not planning additional bases in Europe at the moment, because we need clarity on how the scenario with Airberlin will play out.” <br/>