Norwegian Air is flattered by BA-owner IAG’s interest in making an offer for the budget airline, but has not decided whether to agree to formal talks, founder and biggest shareholder Bjoern Kjos said Friday. IAG, the owner of BA, Iberia, Aer Lingus and other airlines, said on Thursday it had bought a 4.6 percent stake in Norwegian and intended to initiate discussions, including on a possible offer, sending Norwegian Air’s shares up sharply. Kjos, who is also Norwegian’s CEO, controls about a quarter of the company’s shares and said he had not yet considered selling his stake. “Seen from the outside, IAG is a professional company, best in class,” Kjos told reporters at Norwegian Air’s headquarters. “We’re flattered by the interest.” While Norwegian’s shares rose some 50% following IAG’s announcement, hitting a 15-month high, Kjos said the current level still did not reflect the company’s underlying value and business potential. “I’ve not even thought of selling ... what’s interested me is to run the company, I’ve not thought about shares or a sale,” he added. Other airlines had also expressed an interest in Norwegian over the years, the CEO said, although they had not bought stakes and he declined to name them.<br/>
unaligned
The US and the UAE are nearing a deal to resolve a years-old spat over alleged government subsidies to Emirati airlines that the major US airlines claim have tilted the competition against them, four individuals familiar with the negotiations said. Under the budding deal, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways would agree to voluntarily open up their accounting books, long accused by the US airlines of obscuring billions in subsidies. The airlines will also assert to the US that they currently have no plans to add additional flights to the US from Europe or other destinations outside of the UAE. The deal will closely mirror one reached in January between the US and Qatar, the individuals said. The individuals weren’t authorised to discuss the deal ahead of its completion and requested anonymity. Although the deal has yet to be finalised and formally adopted, both sides have agreed to the broad outlines of the deal, the individuals said. The State Department said “discussions are ongoing” but declined to confirm the details of the emerging deal, adding that there was “nothing to report at this time.” <br/>
Passengers flying Hawaiian Airlines may soon get a complimentary language lesson as the company amplifies efforts to preserve traditional Hawaiian by incorporating it into everyday business. Cabin announcements and crew instructions were given in English and the traditional Hawaiian language on a Las Vegas-bound flight on Friday, marking the first time the language was utilized on a flight headed to the mainland, Hawaii News Now reported. The mission is for flight attendants to provide a "one-of-a-kind cultural experience by engaging with guests in both olelo Hawai'i and English" as preservation of the Hawaiian language continues to be a hot issue on the islands, the company said. The idea was tested earlier this month on four flights to Hilo. "The initiative is an extension of the airline's commitment to honor and share our Islands' unique culture with guests visiting Hawai'i," a company spokesperson said. Both the in-flight announcements and announcements at the gate were done in Hawaiian.<br/>
If you get a message on Facebook, Twitter or WhatsApp about Emirates promising free flights, be wary – it is a scam. Social media users are being warned of a viral message that is currently going around. It claims that Emirates has a new promotion that offers flyers a chance to bag free airfares in time for the airline’s anniversary. According to the airline, the social media post is a scam. “We are not giving away tickets,” a spokesperson said on Sunday. Emirates has not provided any further details about the latest scam, but according to OnlineThreatAlerts, fraudsters are again sending out fake messages, telling Internet users that Emirates is celebrating its 32nd anniversary and distributing two free air tickets to 500 lucky customers.<br/>