Onex Corp slashed its proposed offer for WestJet Airlines as a result of the grounding of the airline's Boeing 737 Max aircraft and other uncertainties before agreeing to pay C$31 per share for the carrier. The private equity fund March 25 made a written, non-binding offer of $35.75 per share to purchase the airline, with terms including satisfactory due diligence. The offer followed a few weeks of conversation, but coincided with the grounding of the world's fleet of 737 Max planes after 2 fatal crashes. WestJet operates 13 737 Max plan and has another 57 on order. After the model was grounded, WestJet suspended financial guidance and interrupted several routes. It is not clear when the planes will be cleared to continue flying. <br/>
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The former head of a budget Thai airline goes on trial in Paris Monday over a deadly 2007 plane crash that killed 90 peoples. Filed by the families of the nine French victims along with one survivor, the civil suit says the crash was an "accident waiting to happen". It raises a string of allegations against the now-defunct airline, running from exhausted pilots to falsified flight logs. The crash happened on the resort island of Phuket Sept 16, 2007, when a One-Two-GO passenger jet carrying 123 passengers and 7 crew skidded off the runway and burst into flames while trying to land in driving rain and heavy winds. The victims' families have accused the airline of trying to cover up a series of failings which led to the crash, with Monday's case levelling a manslaughter charge against One-Two-GO president Udom Tantiprasongchai. <br/>
Pakistan International Airlines is working to catch up with the digital ancillary services market as part of a roadmap it laid out 3 years ago. The airline has not been able to pursue digitalisation “for many reasons: political or economic reasons, changes of strategic plans in terms of several management changes, etc.,” project manager-information and communication technology Osama Sheikh said. PIA needs to improve its services and look for market partners who can grow alongside the carrier, “to provide the best customer experience and best technology,” he said. The carrier’s first ancillary business, launched in May, was the sale of bulkhead seats. “This is the very first move for us and we are getting a very good response from passengers,” Sheikh said. PIA is also working to reduce costs and improve efficiency and margins. <br/>