Scandinavia’s largest regional airline said Thursday it aims to increase its order for E2 jets after it received the first of three new-generation aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer to become its inaugural operator. Wideroe’s purchase of Embraer’s upgraded E190-E2 marks its first foray into jets after decades linking communities near the Arctic Circle with turboprops. It has options to buy another 12. “We will work extremely hard to ensure that we can receive the remaining 12,” CE Stein Nilsen said. He said Wideroe could also be interested in the smaller E175-E2, due to enter service in 2021 and currently prevented by union scope clauses from operating in the US. The boss of Norway’s oldest airline shrugged off a potential offer by BA-owner IAG for budget carrier Norwegian, saying there was no direct competition with Wideroe which serves mainly small domestic airports. “We are focusing on our niche,” he said.<br/>
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Emirates said a rebound in earnings over the past year faces a challenge this summer as a pilot shortage forces the Dubai-based carrier to trim frequencies. Sales that stumbled after the low oil price clipped travel in Persian Gulf economies continued to pick up in the second half through March 31, President Tim Clark said Wednesday in Hamburg. US demand has also rebounded from restrictions imposed early in Donald Trump’s presidency. The revival will come under pressure as a shortfall of 100 to 150 pilots compels Emirates to pare frequencies to destinations including Fort Lauderdale and Miami during the looming high season for global travel. Cuts will also extend to several European and Asian routes, according to reports in the Gulf. “We’re a tad short in pilots,” Clark said, adding that the service reductions will be short term and that crew numbers should be “alright by September or October.” Factors including economic growth in the US and UK= and high employment and rising wages in Germany continue to favour growth, he said. While the rising oil price is boosting Gulf economies and hence local demand for travel, a 25% gain over the past year presents a “challenge” for Emirates, which does not hedge, according to Clark. Prices are likely to ease though, given the supply coming into the market and barring a major geopolitical upset, he added.<br/>
JetSuite, a small charter airline that also offers some scheduled service up and down the West Coast, plans to expand its public face with a fleet of regional jets that will eventually grow to 100. The expansion of scheduled service for JetSuiteX will be funded in part by investor Qatar Airways and an expanded stake sold to JetBlue Airways, which became a minor JetSuite investor in 2016. The company also plans to relocate from Southern California to the Dallas-Fort Worth area this summer. Qatar Airways has invested in several major airlines, from Italy to London to Hong Kong. In August, the carrier ended its effort to acquire 10% of American Airlines Group after the carrier rebuffed its advances. Federal law limits foreign investment in a US air carrier to 25%. None of the companies involved in the JetSuite deal disclosed the size of their investments.<br/>
Kuwait Airways said Thursday it had stopped all flights to Beirut after a warning about flying close to Lebanese airspace. The security warning came from Cyprus authorities, the Middle East airline said early Thursday. The announcement came two days after Europe’s air traffic control agency told carriers flying over the eastern Mediterranean to exercise caution due to possible air strikes into Syria.<br/>
Air Tahiti Nui is preparing to inaugurate its Boeing 787s in early November, which will also mark the introduction of its new cabin configuration. The French Polynesian carrier is scheduled to take delivery of the first of its four 787-9s in October, and it is expected to begin operations Nov. 7, an airline spokeswoman said. The remaining aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in January, May and August of 2019. Two of the four are leased and the others owned, with the leased aircraft to be delivered first. Air Tahiti’s 787s will replace its current widebody fleet of five Airbus A340-300s, of which three are owned and two are leased. The A340s are expected to be phased out on a one-for-one basis as the 787s arrive, with the last two A340s to be phased out when the fourth 787 starts scheduled service in early September 2019. The airline’s initial 787 will be deployed on the route from Papeete to Auckland.<br/>