Flight attendants at Eva Airways urged the airline Thursday to restart negotiations to end a week-long strike that has seen hundreds of international flights cancelled. Eva Air said a total of 368 flights, or 40%, will be cancelled from July 1 to July 5. Nearly 300 flights were already cancelled since its cabin crew went on strike June 20. The week-long strike, which is the longest in Taiwan's aviation industry where labour unrest is uncommon, has led Eva to estimate a revenue loss of about T$1.34b. The union made several concessions Thursday on its demands to improve work conditions and pay, having failed to reach an agreement with the airline's management after a months-long negotiation. "The union has adjusted our proposal and is urging Eva Air to restart the negotiation as soon as possible," it said. <br/>
star
Air Canada has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Air Transat's parent, with an unanimous vote in favour of the deal by Transat's board. Air Canada's cash purchase of outstanding Transat stock at C$13 (US$9.90) per share is estimated at $520m and still requires approval from regulators and shareholders. The two companies expect to close the deal in "early 2020". "Travellers will benefit from the merged companies' enhanced capabilities in the highly competitive, global leisure travel market and from access to new destinations, more connecting traffic and increased frequencies," says Air Canada CE Calin Rovinescu. Transat decided on Air Canada's proposal at the advice of a special committee of independent directors it formed to evaluate the bid formally submitted in May. <br/>
United Airlines is jettisoning merger partner Continental from its parent company’s formal name, saying the change will “show the world we’re truly a united United” almost a decade after a rocky tie-up that combined the two carriers. United Continental Holdings became United Airlines Holdings, effective after the close of New York trading, the carrier said in a regulatory filing Thursday. The company will continue trading under the UAL ticker. “The name change reflects our desire to move our airline forward,” United told employees in a memo. “The change marks another step on our journey of showing, not just investors but the world, that we’re one team and are singularly focused on becoming the best airline for our employees, customers and everyone we serve.” <br/>
India clarified Thursday that plans to sell debt-laden Air India were still on track, hours after a junior minister told parliament the privatisation was on hold because of high oil prices and volatile exchange rates. India failed last year in its attempt to sell a 76% stake in loss-making Air India due to a lack of interest from bidders, but said it would return with an alternative proposal soon. The govt injected US$573.67m into the airline in the fiscal year that ended March 31 and hived off some debt and the Ministry of Civil Aviation said Thursday that the carrier was ready for sale. It issued the statement to correct comments earlier in the day by the country's junior civil aviation minister, who told parliament conditions were still not right to attempt another sale. <br/>
SIA and Malaysia Airlines signed an MOU June 27 to enhance the partnership between the two airline groups. The scope of the deal will expand existing codeshare arrangements between the two countries and will possibly include codesharing beyond Singapore-Malaysia routes. Other potential cooperation between the carriers could also cover cargo and MRO services. Subject to regulatory approvals, the deal will be finalised in the “coming months,” the airlines said. The agreement will also include SIA subsidiaries Scoot and SilkAir, and MAB subsidiary Firefly. An SIA spokesman said “specific details” of the agreement will be revealed when it is finalised. However, he did confirm it will not involve investment by SIA into MAB. <br/>