Star Alliance has launched a new Connection Service to assist customers arriving at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to reach their onward flight with another Star Alliance member carrier. The enhancement for customers in SAS partner United’s home hub will carry new branding that will be progressively rolled out for similar services operating at 11 major airports around the world. The Connection Service springs into action if an incoming flight is delayed. Software monitors the transfer window for customers with an onward flight and flags any cases where a customer and any checked bags appear in danger of missing a connection. “It is frustrating for customers, and indeed for the airlines, when relatively small delays have the knock-on effect that a connection is missed,” said Star Alliance VP Customer Experience Christian Draeger. “Connection Service staff are alerted as soon as a connection is at risk. They meet the customer on arrival and take the necessary steps to ensure that the customer and the bags are expedited and reach their onward flight. If a connection cannot be reached, the customer is assisted with re-booking.”<br/>
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South Africa is in talks with Citibank on how to settle a 1.8b rand ($135m) loan to the state airline due to be repaid at the end of September, Treasury Director General Dondo Mogajane said Tuesday. “We owe Citibank about 1.8b rand. We had an understanding with them to roll (the debt) to September. Citi did indicate to us that they will not be in a position to roll further and we engaged them. It’s an ongoing consultation,” Mogajane said. Mogajane said in total the airline had 6.9b rand of debt maturing at the end of September. “We are engaging the lenders, so as much as 6.9b rand is due on paper it might just be that we don’t have to pay the 6.9b, consultations continue,” Mogajane said. State-owned South African Airways was in July provided with state funds to help it repay loans of about 2.3b rand to Standard Chartered. SAA already relies on government guarantees to support its finances. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, speaking at the same news conference, denied there was a plan to tap the government pension fund to bail out SAA.<br/>
United on Tuesday completed an application to the US DoT to increase the frequency of its flights from Bush Intercontinental Airport to Havana, Cuba. If approved, the airline would offer daily flights. It currently provides Saturday-only service. "There are a number of synergies between Cuba and Houston when it comes to energy, medicine, education, the arts – even in sports," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a news release. "United's daily air service from Houston to Havana will greatly increase opportunities to connect family and friends while significantly increasing potential for trade and investment between Houston and Cuba." The Houston-Havana route was launched in December 2016. United said increasing the frequency of this flight will benefit those in Houston as well as 44 other destinations in the Central and Western US that can connect through Houston to Cuba.<br/>
A United flight travelling from Vancouver to Chicago Monday afternoon had a near-collision with a glider over Rockford, Ill., US FAA said. The pilot of United Flight 246 reported seeing a glider while flying near Rockford, the FAA said. The airliner was approaching Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, a passenger said. The Boeing 737 quickly climbed 122 metres to avoid a collision. Callum Snape, a passenger on the flight, said the sudden manoeuvre was felt by all on board. "All of a sudden, the right wing just completely dropped on the plane, and we did a really sharp turn right," he said. "No one screamed, but it was enough that many people grabbed their seats and their armrests. I couldn't see what was happening, but I knew that it was out of the ordinary." The FAA said it will investigate.<br/>
A Scandinavian airlines crew member was seized by police at Arlanda Airport after a long-haul flight, after colleagues raised the alarm about the person being under the influence of alcohol. The SAS cabin crew member failed a breathalyser test in Stockholm after a flight to Hong Kong. "I have information confirming that," SAS press officer Fredrik Henriksson said. He and police both confirmed that police at Arlanda Airport had taken the employee with them for a body search, including a blood test, after a breathalyser test suggested the person was over the limit. "It is suspected this person was under the influence of alcohol," added Henriksson.<br/>