The grounding of its Boeing 737 Max jets is causing United Airlines to trim growth plans for this year, and the carrier expects to discuss potential compensation with Boeing. United claims to be managing the grounding relatively well by pressing spare jets into duty and delaying discretionary maintenance work on other planes. That approach, however, comes with extra costs - sometimes the airline uses bigger and less fuel-efficient 2-aisle jets to replace the missing single-aisle Max on domestic routes. Max planes account for 1.4% of United's passenger-carrying capacity. Uncertain how long the planes will be lost, United cut its planned 2019 growth from about 5% to 4.5% heading into the crucial summer travel season. Executives said they are covering most Max flights by using spare jets and deferring maintenance jobs. <br/>
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United Airlines has had relationships with JPMorgan Chase and Expedia Group for years, but Wednesday the airline’s executives suggested both companies may need to improve their offers to maintain the carrier’s business. Simply put, it’s not 2009 anymore. Then, with airlines facing higher fuel costs and a recession, they would take cash anywhere they could find it. Now, however, United can be more aggressive with its partners. On the credit card side, executives have been negotiating with JPMorgan Chase on a new contract, asking for terms as generous as Delta Air Lines received earlier this month from American Express. As for Expedia, executives confirmed Wednesday they plan to pull their flights from the group’s consumer sites by Sept 30. United executives said Expedia no longer provides enough value, given its cost. <br/>
GECAS will repossess 8 aircraft leased to financially troubled Avianca Brazil, as the fleet-depleted airline cancels hundreds of flights during this week's Easter travel season. The lessor will repossess the aircraft beginning April 22, immediately after the Easter holiday to minimise further travel disruptions for passengers, says Brazil's aviation regulator ANAC. With the GECAS repossession imminent, Avianca Brazil's in-service fleet is slated to shrink to around 22 aircraft next week – or less than half of the 50-over aircraft it operated late last year. The airline has already cancelled more than 300 flights in Brazil from April 17 to April 22, blaming the fleet reduction. The cancellations – to hit during the busy Easter travel peak – are likely to cause widespread disruption. <br/>