One of the co-founders of India’s largest airline IndiGo has alleged violation of corporate governance rules at parent company Interglobe Aviation Ltd and asked the securities regulator to intervene. The move appears to indicate that a boardroom dispute is escalating after a report in May that the co-founders and two largest shareholders of India’s largest airline were at odds over its expansion. In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), co-founder Rakesh Gangwal alleged the company’s board decisions were in defiance of governance protocols and laws. SEBI, in its role as a stock market regulator, is empowered to protect the rights of investors in listed companies. Co-founders Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, along with their respective families, each control stakes of slightly less than 40% in the airline’s holding company, giving them both a major say in its strategy and plans. "I have vigorously attempted for almost a year to persuade the company to shore up its governance standards, and all my attempts have been thwarted by the IGE Group," Gangwal said in his letter to SEBI, published on the Bombay Stock Exchange website. SEBI has sought a reply from Interglobe Aviation by July 19.<br/>
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Federal aviation officials say a Southwest passenger flight from Baltimore was struck by lightning during its journey to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Southwest and FAA officials told news outlets Flight 2133 was diverted and landed safely in Orlando, Florida, on Monday. The airline said the diversion was made out of an abundance of caution. The plane was removed from service pending inspection and passengers were put on a different plane. There were no reports of injuries among the 168 passengers and six crew members. The FAA is investigating.<br/>
UK LCC easyJet will launch three new routes this winter from Manchester to Hurghada, Egypt; Rovaniemi, Lapland (Finland); and Verona, Italy. The new destinations add to recent growth at Manchester, where the airline has added 12 new routes in the past year, easyJet said. EasyJet UK country director Neil Slaven said: “Over the last year we’ve seen the delivery of five new aircraft to support our natural growth, which further reinforces our commitment to the expansion of our Manchester operations.” The twice-weekly Hurghada route will begin Oct. 30, while twice-weekly Verona flights will start Oct. 28 using an A320. Twice-weekly Rovaniemi flights will begin Nov. 21. EasyJet operates 67 routes and over 26,000 flights per year to and from Manchester.<br/>