Brazil's senate Wednesday approved an Open Skies agreement between Brazil and the US that clears the way for a partnership between American Airlines and LATAM. The treaty will be sent to president Michel Temer, who is expected to sign it into law. The agreement allows an unlimited number of flights between Brazil and the US, the favourite destination of Brazilian tourists, and should result in lower airfare prices. It is expected to lead to increased interest by the US airline industry in the potentially huge Brazilian market. The accord was a requirement for the US DoT to approve a business deal between American Airlines and LATAM, the two largest carriers in the region, which would see them co-ordinating schedules and offering more connections. <br/>
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Qatar Airways CE Akbar Al Baker struck a defiant tone in the face of the continued sanctions against his country, calling them a “challenge to civilization” that has only strengthened his resolve to push for more growth and add destinations. Al Baker blasted the measures as an assault on his nation, saying “we’re not a grocery shop, we’re a sovereign country.” Rather than curb growth last year, the embargo had the opposite effect, the CE said as he announced higher frequencies to places like Barcelona and Madrid and a new twice-daily service to London Gatwick. At the same time the restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt last June will push Qatar Air to a “very large loss” for the year ending April 1, the CE said, adding that the carrier will need to find new streams of financing to survive. <br/>
British Airways has refreshed the cabins of its 10-strong Boeing 777 fleet based at London Gatwick with World Traveller Plus and World Traveller seats. The World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s three-class 777s will double seat capacity from 24 to 52, while the Club World cabin will be reduced from 40 to 32 seats. The World Traveller Plus cabin in the fleet’s four-class 777s will see an additional 12 seats added. The 6 three-class 777 aircraft will be completed by winter 2018, with the 4, four-class variations finishing by summer 2019. The first routes will be Punta Cana, Cancun and Kingston, Jamaica, before it is gradually rolled out across all BA’s 22 long-haul routes from Gatwick. BA’s London Heathrow-based 777s will be fitted with the new World Traveller Plus seat from autumn 2019. <br/>