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Arguments, fights and meltdowns have been a part of commercial airline service for decades, but airborne conflicts have become viral internet sensations in the last few years, now that nearly every flier is armed with a smartphone and access to social media. “It has changed the dynamics of what happens in our planes and at our gate areas,” said Suzanne Boda, an American Airlines senior VP. For that reason, the carrier is requiring all flight attendants and employees who deal with customers to take training on how to de-escalate conflicts with passengers. That applies to about 65,000 American Airlines employees. The addition of such training had been discussed at the airline for months but became a priority after an incident in April when a feud broke out between a flight attendant and a passenger over a baby stroller. <br/>

British Airways passengers will no longer be able to recline their seats on short-haul flights, as the airline seeks to tackle so-called "legroom wars". The carrier is to emulate budget airlines later this year with a fleet of 35 planes that do not have reclining seats in economy class. Passengers travelling as far as North Africa may have to sit upright for the duration of their journey, as it is understood the new planes will be used for flights of up to 4 hours. The seats on BA's new fleet will be set at an angle described by the airline as a "gentle recline", so it will not be possible to encroach upon the legroom of the passenger behind. But the change could spark protests among passengers who have already complained BA is too closely emulating budget competitors. <br/>

British Airways has announced it will boost its capacity at London Gatwick by some 15% compared to last year's summer on the basis of slots it has acquired from Monarch Airlines. The airline will mainly expand its Mediterranean services targeted at leisure passengers. The airline plans to add around 150 weekly flights out of Gatwick in Summer 2018 on top of some 1000 weekly departures in the Summer 2017 schedule. British Airways will launch new services to each of Palma Son Sant Joan, Menorca, and Gibraltar, as well as increase frequencies of flights to Malaga, Faro, Tenerife Sur, Funchal, and Lanzarote. British Airways acquired 20 slot pairs at Gatwick from Monarch administrators after the airline had gone bankrupt in early Oct 2017. <br/>

Malaysia's govt said Saturday that it has approved a new attempt by a private company to find the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, nearly 4 years after its disappearance sparked one of aviation's biggest mysteries. The Houston, Texas-based company Ocean Infinity dispatched a search vessel this past week to look in the southern Indian Ocean for debris from the plane. The govts of Malaysia, China and Australia called off the nearly 3-year official search last January. "The basis of the offer from Ocean Infinity is based on 'no cure, no fee,'" Malaysian transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said Saturday, meaning that payment will be made only if the company finds the wreckage. However, he said, "I don't want to give too much hope ... to the (next of kin)." <br/>

Malaysia Airlines aims to at least break even this year despite facing global economic and geopolitical challenges, competition, and uncertainty in foreign exchange and fuel prices. Group CE captain Izham Ismail said MAB's current operations and finance were not yet viable, recording inconsistent monthly and weekly profits. “No doubt we have reset ourselves, we’ve shrunk slightly, we will grow again, but (my) first job is to make this company sustainable again. Izham said Malaysia Airlines is currently developing a medium-term strategy, which includes enhancing partnerships with other airlines to improve its network of routes. Currently MAB is planning to expand its operations to several new routes. <br/>