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Lufthansa expects the EC will put pressure on Italy to find a solution for Alitalia, the group's CE said Tuesday. "I am certain Brussels will increase pressure and force a solution and then we will take a look to see if it offers any chances for us," Carsten Spohr said. Spohr said he expected there would be more merger activity among airlines in Europe. "Europe needs more consolidation and will see more consolidation," he said. Europe's airline industry was shaken last year by the insolvencies of Air Berlin and Monarch, as well as Alitalia entering an administration process. Spohr, however, repeated that Lufthansa was not interested in Alitalia in its present form and that it needed restructuring. IAG is also not interested in Alitalia, the group's CE, Willie Walsh, said Tuesday. <br/>

United Airlines is training its employees in compassion. The airline recently rolled out a new program called "core4." Thousands of employees will go through an ambitious 4-hour training session that aims to teach workers to be efficient, ensure operations are safe and do it all with a smile. Airlines face near-instant backlash from consumers as on-board incidents go viral thanks to ubiquitous smartphones. As it is trying to improve its image and how employees treat customers, United is also trying to remain as efficient as possible to convince sceptical investors that it can grow its operations and expand profit margins. Roughly 30,000 customer-facing employees such as flight attendants will be required to take the course. Core4 draws its name from the 4 characteristics: caring, safe, dependable and efficient. <br/>