American Airlines Group Wednesday extended cancellations of Boeing 737 MAX flights through Jan. 15, running contrary to the US planemaker's promises that the grounded jets would be flying again before the year-end. The largest US airline, which had previously canceled about 140 flights a day through Dec. 3, upped its estimate for the impact of the groundings on Q3 pre-tax profit to $140m, $15m more than a previous estimate. Its shares, down about 16% in a rough year for airlines, rose, however, on the company's statement that lower fuel costs had boosted margins in the third quarter. Boeing shares, buffetted this week by conflicting signals on European regulators' attitude to the MAX, were also marginally higher. In July, American said full-year profit would be reduced by about $400m if the MAX remained grounded through Nov. 2, and that figure is likely to increase now with a spillover effect into 2020. Boeing's sales numbers on Tuesday also showed that by the end of September it had delivered only half the number of aircraft it did in the same period of 2018. Regulators are still reviewing proposed software changes to the grounded plane with no certain timetable for the jet's return.<br/>
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BA will offset all domestic flight emissions from next year, after its owner IAG became the first airline group to commit to net-zero carbon flying by 2050. IAG’s CE, Willie Walsh, said that the company would reach the net-zero target largely through offsetting but pledged its airlines, including Aer Lingus and Iberia, would also substantially reduce emissions through sustainable fuels and replacing older aircraft. Walsh said offsetting was the only way aviation could promise to carbon net zero and that electric or hydrogen planes would not be an option for most international flights. Offsetting allows companies to invest in environmental projects to balance out their own carbon footprints but it has been criticised as a get-out clause for highly polluting businesses. Walsh said: “We will continue to use a carbon-based fuel throughout. We don’t see a credible alternative. It’s going to be some time until we see an electric or hybrid-electric plane … you’re looking at smaller aircraft capable of flying up to 150 passengers up to 1,000km. The technology to cover the entire network is some time away.” However, he argued that aviation offsetting would invest in regulated, verified carbon-reduction schemes, whereas levies on flying would disappear into general taxation. He said: “In the past there have been concerns about the schemes. It’s very clear that any offsetting scheme has to be a permanent reduction in CO2, and verifiable.”<br/>
Australia and the Netherlands said on Wednesday they will pursue criminal prosecutions for those responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 that killed 298 people even if it takes many years. The airliner was shot down on July 17, 2014, over territory held by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine as it was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing everyone on board. A Dutch-led investigative team in June charged three Russians and an Ukrainian with murder, though the suspects are likely to be tried in absentia in the Netherlands. “We will not rest before that court case is closed in a way in which we all can feel and sense that justice has been done,” Netherlands PM Mark Rutte said. “That could take more years than we like,” Rutte said. Most of the MH17 passengers were Dutch, but several dozen Australians were also killed. “We stand shoulder to shoulder and we will continue to pursue justice on this matter for as long as it takes, and we won’t rest,” Morrison said. The joint investigation team formed by Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine found that the plane was downed by a Russian missile.<br/>
BA announced the launch of a new flight from London's Gatwick Airport to the Turkish resort of Antalya, once among Thomas Cook's most popular routes, as airlines jostle to fill the void left by its collapse. BA, owned by IAG, said on Wednesday the six-per-week service would begin next April, in conjunction with a promotional British Airways Holidays offer. Thomas Cook's British arm entered liquidation after the group's collapse last month. Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey were Thomas Cook Airlines' most popular destinations for UK travellers, according to data from airline database Cirium. A company spokeswoman said that the route announcement had been a long time coming and was unconnected to Thomas Cook's failure. BA already operates a summer flight to Dalaman. Thomas Cook's bankruptcy, which triggered a major repatriation effort aided by BA, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic, has prompted airlines to consider ways to replace its capacity to holiday destinations or bid for its airport slots. Besides BA, operators that were already flying to the two Turkish destinations from London or Manchester before Thomas Cook's collapse include easyJet, Dart Group's Jet2, tour group TUI, Turkish Airlines and its SunExpress joint venture with Lufthansa. Unless Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal, HSBC analyst Andrew Lobbenberg predicted on Wednesday, "easyJet should benefit this winter from the failure of Thomas Cook".<br/>
Aer Lingus is to begin talks with unions representing more than 200 catering staff whose jobs are in doubt because the airline plans to sub-contract the work to another company. The Irish carrier has told staff who work in providing food and drinks for its in-flight catering services that it intends to hire an independent company to provide this from next summer. Aer Lingus told the workers that it will begin consultations with their trade union representatives on its plans in coming weeks. “This process will involve detailed discussion of a range of options that will be available to catering staff,” the airline said in a bulletin to workers. Aer Lingus did not comment on the plans or the likely options available to the workers involved. However, these could include transferring to the business to which the airline is sub-contracting the service, redeployment within Aer Lingus or voluntary redundancy. Aer Lingus also said that the new catering provider will need the same number of workers as the division that now provides the service. The airline explained that the lease on the building in Dublin Airport that it uses for the catering service is due to end. It also pointed out that few airlines actually provide this service themselves. Most in the industry sub-contract the work to other companies that specialise in the field. Aer Lingus said that it was committed to speaking to catering workers about its plans over the coming weeks.<br/>