The CE of EasyJet has predicted further consolidation and failures in the aviation sector. Following the collapse of Primera earlier this month, Johan Lundgren said Wednesday that he foresaw further airline failures. He also predicted more consolidation in the market: “I do think there is more consolidation to come and particularly now the fuel price being up will put some of the weaker players in a more difficult situation. Meanwhile, Lundgren was quick to hit back at claims by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary in the media that some of the strikes affecting his company were “promoted and coordinated by rival airline employees”. <br/>
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Vietnamese startup Bamboo Airways’ plans to start flying this month have been delayed while it waits for a license from the country’s aviation authority. Bamboo, owned by local construction company FLC Group, hoped to launch domestic flights this month as a ‘hybrid’ airline, combining traditional and low cost models, and offering 5-star service on all flights. Vietnamese media reported, however, that the Civil Aviation Authority had not completed licensing of the new airline, and it was not now expected to launch until December. <br/>
Police at a Florida airport removed a passenger who refused to get off a Cleveland-bound flight after she was found carrying an "emotional support squirrel." Passengers had already boarded Frontier Airlines Flight 1612 at Orlando International Tuesday night when they were told there was a "situation" and everyone needed to get off the plane. Frontier says the passenger had noted in her reservation that she was bringing an emotional support animal with her on the flight, but she did not indicate it was a squirrel. Rodents are not one of the emotional support animals allowed on Frontier flights. <br/>
TUI plans to renew its jetliner fleet as rising oil prices begin to push weaker rivals to the wall. TUI is likely to turn options for close to 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft into firm purchases, giving it a total of 120 orders for the upgraded model, and is switching to more of the largest variant to boost capacity, David Burling, who heads TUI’s airline operations, said. It’s also evaluating a new mid-range Boeing jet as a replacement for its larger 757 and 767 planes. The collapse of Air Berlin and Monarch Airlines in 2017 provided a boost for TUI. <br/>
David Burling, CE of Tui’s airline, has hit out at engine manufacturers for contributing to the worst European flight delays on record this summer. Burling said there had been few spare aircraft to lease this summer because of problems with engines including Rolls-Royce’s for Boeing, which meant deliveries of new airplanes were delayed. This forced airlines awaiting those planes to lease other aircraft and left Tui and rivals unable to hire all those they needed to maintain their flight schedules through a severe period of air traffic control delays. <br/>