Airlines operating in France are gearing up for strike-related disruption as Norwegian Air Shuttle cabin crews plan to down tools from April 24 over pay and working conditions and the powerful French union the SNPL threatens a week-long walkout in May. Norwegian is facing possible disruption as cabin crew at its Paris Charles de Gaulle base plan to go on strike April 24, 25 and 26, a spokesperson for the airline said. “We always take a constructive approach and negotiate in good faith, but it’s still too early to say whether any flights will be disrupted.” Separately, the SNPL pilots’ union is calling for members to go on strike from May 6 to May 11, French media reported, saying that the union sent a strike notice to govt to protest a draft law due to be debated in May that they believe would give pilots less representation. <br/>
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In an ongoing battle to gain control of Hong Kong Airlines, 4 of its board members have been served with a court order preventing them from making business related-decisions on the airline. The carrier confirmed the order, saying “the orders are temporary, pending further confirmation by the court and are subject to change.” According to the South China Morning Post, the injunction was taken by the airline’s former director Zhong Guosong against incumbent chairman Hou Wei and directors Wang Liya, Sun Jianfeng and Tang Kit. April 16, Zhong led a hostile take-over of the company and declared himself as chairman with a new board of directors. Third-party security and lawyers were called in to deal with the issue. The Hong Kong govt gave the airline an April 24 deadline to confirm its chairman and board members. <br/>
Ryanair has been ordered to pay 8 Dutch pilots between E380,000 and E480,000 by a court in the Netherlands, as a bitter dispute over contracts ends. The court also agreed to dissolve the 8 pilot’s contracts from May 1, arguing that there is no likelihood of a ‘purposeful continuation’ and that Ryanair is to blame for the current situation. The dispute dates back to last year following Ryanair’s decision to close its base at Eindhoven airport where pilots had twice gone on strike in protest at changes to their pensions and other benefits. The district court in Den Bosch then ruled there was no business case to shut the base and said the decision had ‘all the appearance of a sanction following the earlier strikes.’ Ryanair has yet to comment on the court ruling. <br/>
Fastjet reported a narrower Q1operating loss Tuesday and said it expected to be marginally profitable in 2019, after a cash crunch nearly drove it into administration last year. The airline has faced numerous issues related to its dwindling cash pile and was saved from going under after striking a deal to raise funds late last year. Fastjet was also forced to divest operations in Tanzania, its home market, after battling tough trading conditions there. "Whilst these cost-cutting measures were at times painful, our newly-sized operations provide Fastjet with a materially enhanced strategic position to pursue the growth opportunities on offer on the continent," CE Nico Bezuidenhout said. The company reported a Q1 underlying net operating loss of about US$0.2m, excluding a one-off item of $6.2m related to its Zimbabwe operations. <br/>
Belavia Belarusian Airlines took delivery of 2 Embraer E-Jets, an E195 and an E175, April 20 and 21. The carrier expects delivery of another E195 by the end of April. The aircraft, leased from Nordic Aviation Capital, are configured in a dual class, with the E195 seating 107 passengers and the E175 seating 76. The E-Jets, set to begin operations April 23, will be used on most of Belavia’s network, including new routes to Moscow Sheremetyevo and Tallinn, Estonia, the carrier said. Belavia’s fleet includes 17 Boeing 737-300/500/800s, 3 Bombardier CRJ200LRs, 3 E175s and 4 E195s. The carrier ordered 3 E195s and 2 E175s from Nordic Aviation Capital in April 2018. That was the biggest order for the airline. The last two aircraft from the order are set to be delivered at the end of 2019 and in April 2020. <br/>
Oman Aviation Group is seeking about US$6b to fund the building of new airports and an expansion of the loss-making national airline. The state-owned holding company plans to raise the funds through a sale of assets or by taking on more debt, CE Mustafa Al Hinai said Tuesday. The firm is in talks with international banks for a multi-tranche loan starting June 2020, he said, while a privatisation plan is likely to take as many as 3 years to put together. Oman’s finances have been battered by a slump in oil prices. Investment in the aviation industry would help the govt develop tourism as a greater contributor to the economy, but credit rating agencies say much is yet to be done. Oman Air, which receives state support to fund loss-making internal routes, is expected to make a profit in 2026, said Al Hinai. <br/>
Uganda's govt has taken delivery of 2 new passenger jets in a bid to revive the national carrier that collapsed years ago. Uganda Airlines is set to begin operations in June. It will fly to regional destinations at first. Fanfare marked the arrival Tuesday of 2 jets from Bombardier at the Entebbe International Airport. Two more Bombardier jets have been ordered, as well as 2 Airbus planes. The old Uganda Airlines collapsed in 2001 amid alleged mismanagement. Long-time president Yoweri Museveni is championing the revamped airline as a symbol of national pride, calling it "a new baby." Authorities acknowledge challenges ahead but hope Uganda Airlines will survive as the East African nation becomes an oil producer. <br/>