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EU anti-trust regulators have opened an investigation to establish whether a massive rescue loan to struggling Italian carrier Alitalia was illegal. Brussels said it had received a number of complaints. Alitalia went into government-controlled administration last year and received a public loan of E900m to keep the carrier afloat after staff in 2017 rejected a last-ditch cost-cutting plan. "The Commission has the duty to make sure that loans given to companies by member states are in line with EU rules on state aid," EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said, noting that Brussels had received several complaints from a number of competing airlines. Vestager indicated the EU executive was acting on suspicion that the granted loan may be used longer than the six months allowed under EU rules. Italian Industry Minister Carlo Calenda said such fears were unfounded, insisting that Alitalia had barely used the state loan so far.<br/>

Jet Airways Monday said that it will operate flights between India and Mexico under a codeshare agreement with AeroMexico. According to the company, the agreement enables codeshare sales effective from Monday "for travel commencing May 1, 2018 between Delhi and Mumbai in India and Mexico City via the Heathrow Airport in London". "This agreement will provide guests connectivity options and access to the networks of both airlines, thus strengthening connectivity between the carriers' home countries of India and Mexico," the airline said. "The two countries have seen a 15% compounded annual growth rate over the last three years and this codeshare arrangement will further help strengthen ties in the areas of trade and tourism between both regions."<br/>