The union representing about 2,500 Southwest Airlines mechanics voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ratify a new contract proposal, ending a labour impasse that lasted nearly 7 years and wound up in court twice. The 5-year deal gives the mechanics US$160m in back pay to cover the period since the last contract ended in Aug 2012, increases salaries 20% immediately and includes 3%t annual raises, according to the union, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. The union said that the proposal was better than one it rejected in September, and that more than 90% of its members had voted to approve it. The union said its major concession was allowing Southwest to continue outsourcing some mechanics’ work to foreign contractors. <br/>
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Despite getting a bad rap from customers for its service over the years, Spirit Airlines CE Ted Christie said the carrier’s recent spike in passengers is proof it’s getting past that reputation. Last year Spirit saw a 25% jump in passenger volume at McCarran International , going from 3.41m in 2017 to 4.26m in 2018. The carrier has seen that surge spill over into 2019, seeing a 21% spike in passengers through March. The strong growth suggests travellers are looking at the airline in a different light, said Christie, who took the helm of the airline Jan 1. “I think that perception was grounded in the execution of the product,” Looking to build off its recent growth even further, Spirit will launch two new nonstop routes between Las Vegas and Sacramento and Burbank, California, next month. <br/>
Virgin Atlantic is to resume flights between London Heathrow and Mumbai following the suspension of Jet Airways' own service on the route. The carrier says it will begin a daily service to the Indian city from October, operated with a Boeing 787-9. Virgin Atlantic previously offered flights to Mumbai between 2005 and 2015, before halting the Indian service as a part of a wider network revamp putting more focus on its transatlantic operations. It did continue to codeshare on the route with Jet Airways. However, the Indian carrier was forced to suspend flights in April. Virgin says the new Mumbai flight will not only enhance a vital link between India's commercial centre and the UK's capital, but it also provides "seamless connections" via Heathrow between India and the USA. <br/>