ANA will add 3 new international routes from Tokyo Narita by the end of its fiscal year March 31, 2020, as the carrier continues to grow its international network. The airline is scheduled to launch flights from Narita to Perth, Australia, Sept 1, the only direct service on this route. ANA also plans to introduce flights from Narita to Chennai, India, Oct 27, 2019, and to Vladivostok, Russia, in March 2020 (2019 winter schedule). These additions will boost the airline’s international network to 47 cities and 68 routes, including Tianjin that has only a freighter flight. ANA will suspend its route between Nagoya, Japan, and Shanghai Pudong International from Oct 27, and will also cut frequency on its Narita-Chengdu, China route. The airline will continue to introduce new or reconfigured aircraft onto its international routes. <br/>
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Air NZ has appointed CFO Jeff McDowall as interim CE to succeed Christopher Luxon, who will step down from the position Sept 25. The carrier said McDowall “is not seeking permanent appointment to the [CE] role.” Stephan Deschamps, GM for corporate finance, will be acting CFO. Air NZ said McDowall will lead the company “while the final phase of [CE] recruitment is underway.” Luxon announced June 19 that he would be stepping down as CE, although the carrier said he would be staying on in an advisory role to support his replacement. A global search is being undertaken, overseen by board member Therese Walsh. The position “has attracted strong interest from candidates within New Zealand and overseas,” Walsh said. <br/>
Lufthansa CE Carsten Spohr has committed to lowering the airline group's greenhouse-gas emissions through the use of new eco-friendly fuels such as synthetic kerosene. Spohr says that synthetic kerosene offered a realistic means of achieving carbon-neutral flying, but highlighted the need for a "strong, joint commitment from industry and politics to promoting sustainable fuels". Spohr believes that govts should move to incentivise climate protection within the industry. "It would make sense to invest in the market development of CO2-neutral fuels or other measures that make air transport more climate-friendly," he says. At a cost of around E1.2b (US$1.3b), this could be funded by the German federal govt through aviation tax, Spohr suggests. <br/>