EVA Air members of the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union will walk 27 kilometers to the Presidential Office Building Friday, as their strike enters its 16th day. Last weekend, a vote showed the flight attendants accepting a deal to end their strike, which has led to the cancellation of about 1,000 flights affecting more than 200,000 passengers, but further rounds of talks failed to lead to the signing of a final accord. The union said the aim of the march was to show EVA Air management, the public and the govt that the flight attendants were determined to defend their rights. A meeting Wednesday evening failed to reach any consensus, with the union still suspicious of EVA Air moves to retaliate against strikers, and management trying to prevent alleged untrue accusations by the union. <br/>
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SIA customers can look forward to bigger spaces, upgraded facilities and more food selections when they visit SIA lounges at Changi Airport Terminal 3 from 2021. The airline said Thursday it will spend more than S$50m to revamp its SilverKris and KrisFlyer lounges to make them look "modern yet homely". Hospitality designer Hirsch Bedner Associates has been engaged to "inject a fresh look", SIA said. “The new lounges will offer more generous open spaces, upgraded facilities and a wide array of F&B selections, all tailored to the needs and preferences of our customers," the airline added. Marvin Tan, SIA's SVP Customer Services and Operations said: "The project is a key part of our commitment to constantly elevate the customer experience, on the ground as well as in the air". Renovation is set to start in August. <br/>
Troubled SAS is now smaller than a bus company. Its market value has dropped to just SEK5.09b (US$546m), after its shares slumped almost 40% so far this year. That means that Nobina, the Nordic region’s largest public-transport service provider, is now bigger, with a market capitalisation of SEK5.11b. SAS has had a tough year, with challenges such as a competitive market, increasing jet fuel prices and a weak Swedish krona exacerbated by a pilot strike grounded some 4,000 flights. It will be a challenge to make a profit before taxes this year, SAS has said. To make matters worse, SAS is also grappling with so-called flying shame. The phenomena, in which Swedes shun airplanes in favour of more climate friendly alternatives or abstain from travelling altogether, is seemingly having a real impact on travel patterns. <br/>
The families of victims of an Ethiopian air disaster Thursday criticised Boeing's plan to donate US$100m to unspecified charities and communities affected by 2 crashes, saying it was too vague and that families should have been consulted first. Some of the families said Wednesday's announcement from the planemaker also triggered an avalanche of unwelcome phone calls from relatives and acquaintances who believed they had just received compensation. One Kenyan man, who asked not to be identified, said his family was also concerned about security in a nation where kidnappings for ransom occur frequently. "Boeing also want to show they have a good name, but they could be putting the victims at risk," he said, adding he did not oppose Boeing supporting charities, but that it could be done more discreetly. <br/>
Noting that the govt is committed to disinvestment of Air India, minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri said keeping this in view a detailed plan has been worked out to revive the national carrier to make it operationally viable. The minister said Air India is set to make profit during the current financial year, as there has been a steady improvement in finances of the airline. He asserted that the national carrier is currently generating daily revenue of INR150m He said, “Our plan is to revive Air India, make it more operationally viable and then to disinvest it. So far, as Air India is concerned, the govt is committed to the privatisation of Air India. Let there be no ambiguity on that.” The minister said, by the end of this year Air India should make profit and then it will be disinvested. <br/>