Southwest will boost revenue without breaking its long-standing policy of no baggage fees, the company’s CEO pledged Thursday, after rising costs at the airline spooked investors and sent its shares into an 8% nosedive. “We like the fact that we’re more customer friendly,” CEO Gary Kelly said, warning that reversing its no-fee policy could turn customers away. Southwest has built a reputation for offering lower fares versus legacy competitors such as United Continental and American Airlines, which have tried to counter rising jet fuel bills by slapping fees on everything from baggage to seat selections. Southwest allows passengers to check two bags at no extra charge and does not charge for ticket changes. The company’s shares dropped 8% after its forecast for a 3% rise in 2019 cost per available seat mile, excluding fuel and profit sharing expenses, overshadowed a quarterly profit beat. “The company has struggled to maintain their non-fuel unit cost structure all year as they integrate their MAX fleet,” Cowen analyst Helane Becker said.<br/>
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Ryanair signed an agreement Thursday with Belgian cabin crew and pilots to apply local law to their contracts from next year, part of a series of deals aimed at averting further strikes at the airline. The unions will meet with the Irish company four more times before the end of the year to negotiate agreements on working conditions, including salaries, and may strike again if progress is not made, CNE union representative Yves Lambot said. “If the negotiations do not advance, obviously we will have to strike again,” Lambot said. “But we first have to see what the negotiations bring.” Ryanair has reached similar agreements over the last week with Spanish, Portuguese and UK unions. “These signed union agreements in Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the UK again demonstrate the considerable progress we’re making in concluding union agreements with our people in our major EU markets,” said Ryanair’s Chief People Officer, Eddie Wilson. Agreements with cabin crew unions in Spain and Portugal will be quickly concluded, Wilson forecast.<br/>
A passenger on a Frontier Airlines flight leaving Cancun for St Louis Tuesday opened a cabin door, deploying the emergency slide, a spokesperson for the airline said Thursday. After the passenger said he was feeling ill, he became agitated, prompting the flight to return to the gate. On the way to the gate, however, the passenger became "physically violent" with a flight attendant and attempted to exit the aircraft. "Crew members, assisted by some passengers, restrained the individual until authorities arrived," the carrier said. "Officials transported the passenger for a medical evaluation." The aircraft was removed from service for a maintenance check due to the deployed slide, and Frontier re-booked passengers to other flights and provided hotel accommodations.<br/>
Norwegian Air said its unit cost has increased due to higher fuel prices as it posted a Q3 pre-tax result that lagged forecasts Thursday. The carrier is trying to crack the transatlantic market by undercutting established rivals, but has faced pressures to control costs and shore up its balance sheet in the face of competition. It also rebuffed takeover advances by BA parent firm IAG earlier this year. The firm’s 2018 unit cost is now expected in a range of 0.435-0.440 Norwegian crowns, up from a previous guidance of 0.425-0.430 crowns. The company blamed higher fuel prices for the increase. CE Bjoern Kjos reiterated that the growth in Norwegian’s investment would slow down and that the company would reap the bene “However, there is no doubt that tough competition, high oil prices and a strong dollar will affect the entire aviation industry, making it even more important to further streamline our operations and continue to reduce costs,” he said. The company reported a pre-tax result of 1.60b crowns ($191.86m), a 13% increase from a year ago and lagging the 1.74b crowns expected in a Reuters poll of analysts.<br/>
Romanian authorities say a Wizz Air flight from Georgia to Poland was forced to make an emergency landing in Bucharest because of a bomb threat. The Airbus A320 travelling from Kutaisi in Georgia to Warsaw, the Polish capital, landed safely after it was diverted to Romania Thursday afternoon. A Henri Coanda International Airport spokesman said that after the 173 passengers got off, the plane was taken to an isolated spot on the runway where authorities searched the plane and scanned the luggage. The plane took off for Warsaw five hours later, after Romanian authorities completed their search. Iordache said a woman made the bomb threat in a telephone call to Georgia's Kutaisi International Airport.<br/>
So long, free espresso. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is eliminating complimentary beverages such as cappuccino and soft drinks, and most snacks including almonds after modernizing its main departure lounge. Porter Airlines, the Canadian carrier that operates a majority of flights at Billy Bishop, confirmed the move in a series of Twitter messages Thursday. “These changes have come about with the new lounge upgrades and opening of new restaurants and cafes in mid-October," Porter said. “Passengers have asked for more choices in food and shopping, and these new options address their needs." Porter said it will continue to offer free beer, wine and snacks aboard its aircraft. The free in-flight beverages, along with snacks in its airport lounges, were a key marketing tool used by Porter when it started a dozen years ago to compete with Air Canada and WestJet. <br/>