Eva Airways has canceled 550 more flights scheduled through mid-July as a cabin crew strike entered its 14th day, after latest negotiations on work conditions and wages broke down this week. Flight attendants at the airline went on strike Jun 20 after a months-long discussion between the two yielded no results, disrupting over 2,000 flights and impacting about 405,000 passengers including the latest cancellations. The strike, the longest in Taiwan's aviation history where labour unrest is uncommon, has led Eva to estimate a revenue loss of about US$56m. There was no indication of any resolution early Wednesday with a union representing Eva flight attendants urging the firm to come back to the negotiation table, saying no renewed contacts between the parties had been initiated. <br/>
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Group Mach says it is withdrawing its bid for Transat, stating the tour operator chose to ignore its proposal even though it featured a higher price than Air Canada's offer. Alfred Bugge, head of mergers and acquisitions at Group Mach, says Transat was well aware of the Quebec developer's C$14-per-share proposal last week but forged ahead with an Air Canada takeover agreement priced at $13 per share. Under the definitive agreement, Transat shareholders will convene by Aug 26 to vote on the Air Canada deal, valued at $520m. Until then Transat can accept competing offers that would have to be at least $14 per share on top of a $15m break fee for Air Canada, which could opt to match the superior bid. The current deal faces legal and regulatory scrutiny along with resistance from Transat shareholders. <br/>
Due to closure of airspace by Pakistan, Air India lost INR491b till July 2, according to data presented by Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri Wednesday. Pakistan closed its airspace after the IAF's Feb 26 Balakot strike. Since then, it has only opened 2 of 11 air routes and both of them pass through southern Pakistan. On its part, the Indian Air Force announced May 31 that all temporary restrictions imposed on Indian airspace post the Balakot strike have been removed. However, it is unlikely to benefit any commercial airliners unless Pakistan reciprocates and opens its complete airspace. Post the airstrike, Air India had to re-route, merge or suspend many of its international flights that connect India with European and US cities. <br/>
A third attempt to auction bankrupt Avianca Brasil will go ahead July 10, barring yet another last-minute restraining order. Even if the July 10 slot auction occurs, the final outcome remains unclear. Gol, Latam, and Azul have each advanced up to US$35m to keep Avianca Brasil operating and can use that money as part of a bid, getting slots as a way of extracting their money. But if, as Azul claims, its larger competitors seek to keep it out of Congonhas, as long as the Avianca slots situation remains unresolved, that goal is accomplished. The smaller regional airlines might not control the resources to buy the slots at auction as an Avianca asset, but they could hope to win them in a redistribution by ANAC. If history serves as any guide, the appeals process could drag on. <br/>