American Airlines will add more seats to some of its single-aisle jetliners as part an effort to boost sales by $1.4b in the next four years. It’s also targeting $1b in cost savings. The carrier’s Boeing 737-800 jets will be revamped to fit 12 more passengers while the Airbus SE A321 planes will carry as many as nine more, according to a presentation Thursday. The world’s largest airline also plans to bolster group sales, update technology systems and seek to persuade more customers to upgrade to higher fares. The plans almost double the amount of revenue gains by 2021 from previously announced efforts to expand sales amid rising fuel costs and heightened competition from heavy discounters. While a new fare war broke out in the summer among US airlines, American CEO Doug Parker reaffirmed his view that industry consolidation will enable carriers to post steady profits and leave behind years of boom-and-bust cycles. “I don’t think we’re ever going to lose money again,” he said at American’s investor day in Grapevine, Texas. “This is an airline and an industry that will be profitable in good and bad years.” Including the new initiatives and previous programs to boost revenue by $1.5b, the airline said it expects total improvements of $2.9b. That’s on top of the cost reductions. In Q4, American will begin revamping some narrow-body planes with new seats, satellite Wi-Fi service, larger overhead bins and power for passenger devices at seats. The 737-800 jets will go to 172 seats from 160 seats, matching the total for American’s upgraded 737 Max aircraft. The A321 planes will be outfitted to carry 190 passengers. <br/>
oneworld
Qatar Airways said Thursday it had acquired a 49% stake in AQA Holding, the new parent company of Italy’s Meridiana, adding to its growing portfolio of investments in foreign airlines. Previous sole owner Alisarda retains 51%, the major Middle East airline said. Loss-making, Sardinia-based Meridiana is Italy’s second largest carrier behind Alitalia, which is partly owned by Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways. Alitalia filed for administration earlier this year. The value of the Meridiana acquisition was not given, and the deal was finalised after protracted negotiations that formally started more than a year ago. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said the deal represented a turnaround for Meridiana and would help Italy’s tourism industry, especially in the poorer south of the country.<br/>