Holidaymakers face potential disruption next month as Ryanair pilots ballot for strike in a row over pay. Members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) – part of trade union Fórsa – directly employed by Ryanair met Tuesday over the carrier’s lack of response to a pay claim they submitted in February. The pilots began balloting for industrial action, up to and including strike action, at noon Tuesday. The vote is due to end Aug 9th, indicating that any stoppages could begin in the middle of next month. “This reflects the frustration and disappointment with the lack of meaningful engagement with Ryanair,” The union said, describing progress on the pay claim as “glacial”. If pilots vote for industrial action, the union will have to serve at least 7 days’ notice before its members strike. <br/>
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JetBlue Airways expressed dismay with Airbus after the carrier learned it will get less than half the A321neo jets it was expecting this year because of production snarls that are delaying deliveries of the planemaker’s biggest single-aisle model. The airline will get a maximum of 6 of the aircraft this year, compared with the 13 that were originally planned, CFO Steve Priest said Tuesday. Next year, JetBlue will receive 14 of the jets, or 1 less than previously scheduled. The delays have forced JetBlue to adjust flight schedules in the second half of this year and trim next year’s growth plans. JetBlue’s reproach echoed criticism earlier this month by IAG, which said that frustration with Airbus contributed to its decision to reach a 200-jet deal for Boeing’s beleaguered 737 Max. <br/>
WestJet Airlines shareholders have approved the C$5b takeover bid by Onex Corp, paving the way for the private equity firm to take the airline private. WestJet said Tuesday that shareholders “overwhelmingly voted” to approve the Onex offer. Of the votes cast at Tuesday’s meeting, 92.53% were in favour of the deal. WestJet’s board of directors had unanimously recommended that shareholders approve the agreement. The deal required the approval of at least 66.67% of shareholders. Onex will acquire outstanding WestJet shares for $31, a 67% premium on the closing price of the airline’s shares May 10, the last trading day before the blockbuster deal was announced. Canada’s minister of transport has approved the transaction, but it still requires several regulatory approvals. <br/>
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has granted an AOC for startup Vietstar Airlines. Vietstar Airlines was incorporated in 2011 by state-owned companies and the Vietnamese air force, with a registered capital of VND400b (US$17.6m); the carrier has been providing ground-handling services, aircraft maintenance and pilot training ever since. The carrier will operate a mixed fleet of Embraer Legacy 600 and Beechcraft King Air B300 aircraft and has set a domestic target of 500,000 passengers and 32,000 tonnes of cargo by the first year. Vietstar’s commercial director Trinh Quoc Cuong said in March 2018 that it plans to begin operation with 5 leased Boeing 737-800s, and expand to 15 aircraft by 2020. The move beats conglomerate Vingroup’s plan to launch Vinpearl Air. <br/>