The commoditization of air travel has led to an industry-wide race to the bottom in terms of price, and an uncomfortable place in general for the companies and customers alike. A new airline is unleashing an over-the-top strategy to spark a new emotional connection with a coveted -- and fickle -- demographic. Joon, the Air France-KLM subsidiary airline that begins operations this week, is on a mission to win over millennials, even hipsters. Its opening argument is a marketing understatement for the ages. Joon introduced itself as "a fashion brand, a rooftop bar, an entertainment channel, a personal assistant" before admitting -- as an afterthought -- that it's "also an airline." The cabin crews' outfits riff on millennials' beloved athletic clothing. The bar serves smoothies. Virtual reality entertainment is available for business class travellers. Even the destinations are hipster favourites: Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon. Joon checks so many boxes that it's making millennial news sites like Mashable cringe. But that isn't what's intriguing about Joon's marketing. Even if millennials moan about being associated with banal trappings, it rings true nonetheless. They do like smoothies. They are glued to screens and uncomfortable without WiFi (which will be free next year). There are international herds of them -- dressed in fashionable sweatpants -- in Berlin. Besides, what generation appreciates postmodern self-mockery and self-parody more than them? They, however, don't care which airline they fly. As the Boston Consulting Group noted in a 2013 report, millennials are four times more likely than non-millennials to strongly disagree when asked if they were loyal to one or more airline. They are also less likely to collect frequent flier miles or subscribe to loyalty programs than older travellers. Story has further analysis.<br/>
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Singapore-based LCC Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines Group, will expand its network to Europe with the launch off 4X-weekly Singapore-Berlin services starting in mid-2018. The route launch is subject to regulatory approval. Berlin will become Scoot’s second European destination; it currently serves Athens. The flights would be operated with a Boeing 787-9. Berlin would become the fourth city in Germany served by SIA Group. SIA currently flies to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich. The expanding LCC is set to start Singapore-Honolulu 787-9 flights in December. “Scoot’s merger with Tigerair Singapore this year strengthens our position and allows us to expand our long-haul operations,” Scoot CEO Lee Lik Hsin said. <br/>
Middle East LCC Air Arabia is largely limiting its operations from its Jordanian hub to charter flights, after being unable to secure enough traffic rights to allow it to expand its scheduled services. The carrier started services from the Jordanian capital, Amman, in 2015 after it set up a joint venture with local carrier Petra Airways, operating under the title Air Arabia Jordan. The airline bases two A320s in Amman. “We still do scheduled [flights] but it’s very small,” said Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali. “We’ve not been able to secure sufficient traffic rights that we want to improve the business.” Scheduled services from Amman at present are mainly to Egyptian tourist resort Sharm El-Sheikh and Saudi Arabia, he said. However, “there seems to be sufficient demand for charters,” Ali said, noting that would continue to be the main activity out of the Jordanian capital until more scheduled rights could be secured. Charter operations were being undertaken to surrounding countries and to Europe. <br/>
A US federal court has granted Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings’ request for a preliminary injunction against its pilots. The Purchase, New York-based cargo operator had accused the pilots of its Atlas Air, Polar Air and Southern Air subsidiaries of an intentional work slowdown amidst ongoing contract negotiations. In the court ruling, federal judge Randolph Moss of Washington DC ordered the pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) to cease “encouraging, permitting, calling, engaging in, or continuing any strike, work stoppage, sick out, concerted refusal to volunteer for or to accept work assignments (including, without limitation, open time flights), [or] slowdown.” Further, the ruling said the injunction will remain in effect until the expiration of the 30-day “cooling-off” period following termination of contract mediation talks by the National Mediation Board, if the situation comes to that. Daniel Wells, the president of the local IBT chapter in Purchase representing Atlas pilots, said the union disagreed with the judge’s decision and will appeal it swiftly. Atlas said the court’s decision requires the IBT “to meets its obligations under the Railway Labor Act and stop its illegal and intentional work slowdown.” <br/>