More aircraft orders and more international investments could be on the cards as Qatar Airways tries to put its toughest year behind it. But could further losses be on the way too? Last month, Qatar Airways revealed a US$69m loss in the 12 months to the end of March 2018. That was a radical reversal from the $770m profit it made during the previous year – a change the airline said was due to the travel and trade boycott imposed in June 2017 by 4 of its neighbours, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The airline's CE Akbar Al Baker said the situation has stabilised this year, with growth resuming in terms of both passenger numbers and its route network. However, Al Bakers problem of having too many planes in its fleet is now a thing of the past. “We don't have any excess aircraft. As a matter of fact we are short of aircraft,” he said. <br/>
oneworld
Finnair will wet-lease an Airbus A330 from Air Italy to operate its Helsinki-Chicago O’Hare and Helsinki-Miami routes Oct 12-31. Finnair A330-300, registration OH-LTS, was damaged at O’Hare International Sept 25 when a high loader accidentally hit it. Finnair said the wet-lease will allow for operation of its flights to Chicago and Miami while the damaged aircraft is being repaired. Finnair COO Jaakko Schildt said, “The aircraft damage in Chicago was very unfortunate. With a high-quality wet-lease from Air Italy, we can continue operating our Chicago and Miami flights regardless of the aircraft change.” Beside the Air Italy crew, the flights will have 2 Finnair cabin crewmembers on board to ensure delivery of the airline’s specific customer services. <br/>
IAG is preparing a response to the UK competition regulator after it opened a probe into the transatlantic joint business agreement in which 4 carriers participate. The business agreement – which was previously examined by the EC nearly a decade ago – includes BA and Iberia and their Oneworld alliance partners American Airlines and Finnair. When the EC cleared the pact, it had accepted undertakings from the airlines to open competition on 6 transatlantic routes – of which 5 were focused on London. Since this period is due to expire in 2020 – and given the London-centric nature of the commitments – the UK Competition and Markets Authority says it is to “review afresh” the competitive impact of the joint business agreement. “No assumption should be made that the [agreement] infringes competition law,” the authority stresses. <br/>