Asiana Airlines apologised for the ongoing shortage of in-flight meals, Tuesday. However, the company failed to specify when its food services will resume, raising speculation that the unprecedented disruption will be extended for the time being. Asiana president, Kim Soo-cheon, said that "the company is now making every effort to normalise the situation as soon as possible." The apology from the CE came as the carrier has been struggling to supply in-flight meals on its international flights since Sunday, triggering flight delays. Sunday, more than 50 flights were delayed by more than 1 hour, with 38 taking off without in-flight meals. The food shortage also caused delays of more than 1 hour for 7 long-distance flights, Monday. <br/>
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United Airlines is moving up in on-time performance. OAG has just released its annual On-Time-Performance (OTP) star ratings. The new ratings show that United Airlines has achieved a 4-star rating (5 is the highest) with an 80.7 OTP. United joins Delta Air Lines in the more-exclusive 4-star ranks. Delta's notched an 83.8 OTP. United was previously a 3-star-rated airline. American Airlines earned a 3-star rating (79.4 OTP) in the new report, as did Southwest Airlines. Southwest had a 78.0 OTP. The OTP star ratings survey measures on-time performance across a rolling 12-month period, in this instance from June, 2017 through May, 2018. United, of course, has made no secret of its efforts to improve on-time performance over the past year — offering employees bonuses for achieving specific on-time metrics. <br/>
SAS has signed a letter of intent with Swedish biofuels supplier Preem, with the aim of firming this into a binding cooperation agreement by September. “SAS has the ambition to replace today’s fuel volume for domestic aviation with biofuel by 2030,” SAS said. Preem is planning to expand the capacity of its Gothenburg refinery, as it works to develop biofuels based on Swedish forest residues. The company is aiming to produce 3m cubic meters of biofuels by 2030. The two companies will work together to produce the biofuel, which should be available from 2022, reserving a proportion for aviation use. “By Sept 2018, the parties will meet a binding and more detailed cooperation agreement. If the continued work goes well, SAS and Preem intend to also agree on future long-term supply contracts for biojet,” SAS said. <br/>
Lufthansa travellers flying on a long-haul flight out of Germany this summer will be offered the chance to sample a meal that's quite simply out of this world. To mark the space mission of German astronaut Alexander Gerst, who is currently living aboard the International Space Station for a 6-month stint, Lufthansa will offer its Business Class passengers the opportunity to dine like an astronaut. Developed by Lufthansa's catering and hospitality group LSG, the dinner will replicate Gerst's "bonus meal" created especially to be eaten on special occasions as a morale booster for the astronauts who are far, far, far away from home. Gerst's special meal request includes dishes from his home region Swabia in southwestern Germany like cheese spaetzli with bacon -- which comes canned -- and chicken ragout with mushrooms. <br/>
Ethiopian Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 July 2. The carrier has firm orders for 30 MAX 8 aircraft, the largest of the type in Africa. Ten options were firmed in June 2017. Ethiopian said the new variant consumes 15% less fuel compared to its current 737-700/800 fleet. Ethiopian Airlines Group CE Tewolde Gebremariam called latest acquisition an “affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation and the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.” He said the carrier’s fleet has an average age of less than 5 years. With the latest delivery, Ethiopian’s Boeing fleet includes 73 jets, including the 737NG, 737 MAX, 757, 767, 787 and 777s. The fleet also includes Airbus A350-900s and Bombardier Q400s. <br/>