Emirates still has the right to offer flights to Mexico City, the carrier said Sunday, after Aeromexico disputed an agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. Emirates said earlier this year it would start daily flights to Mexico City International via Barcelona in December, the airline's first service to Mexico. But a Mexican federal judge ruled in October, responding to a complaint by Aeromexico, that a 2016 pact between Mexico and UAE did not meet proper legal requirements. Emirates said that decision was being appealed. "We firmly believe that the (memorandum of understanding) is valid and the ruling of the court will be the subject of an appeal by the Govt of Mexico," an Emirates spokeswoman said. "Pending the outcome of this appeal all our rights remain valid and in force." <br/>
unaligned
Jet2 is experiencing an uplift in demand following the demise of Thomas Cook Group, and its parent is expecting higher full-year profits as a result. Dart Group states that its leisure travel division had already been observing "encouraging levels" of later-season bookings, with its package holiday and flight-only products "continuing to strengthen". But it adds that the collapse of Thomas Cook in the last week of September has generated "increased" customer demand. For its previous full year, to March 31, 2019, the company disclosed that 49% of its overall flown customers were package holiday passengers. Package holiday customer numbers also rose faster than those opting for the flight only. Dart Group's operating profit for its leisure travel arm rose by 63% during the year to nearly US$372m. <br/>
Lithuanian ACMI and charter carrier GetJet Airlines is looking at adding further widebodies, after signing a contract to operate its first long-haul flights with an Airbus A330 on services linking Warsaw to Toronto. The charter carrier took delivery of its first widebody earlier this year and began its first services to Canada in September under a contract with Canadian Sunwing Airlines. Those flights are operated with Airbus narrowbodies. It has now signed a contract to operate its A330 on flights between Warsaw and Toronto for LOT. In support of its strategic expansion in North America, the airline is working to receive Maltese AOC approval at the beginning of next year. Malta's FAA Category 1 safety rating status would enable GetJet to serve the US market. <br/>
Alaska Air Group and Spirit Airlines both revised their Q3 guidance to reflect improvements in unit revenue and non-fuel costs. Alaska said in an Oct 10 investor update that unit revenue, measured in TRASM, is expected to come in at 4.4%, near the higher end of its prior guidance of up 3%-5%. Non-fuel unit costs, measured in CASM-ex, grew by 3.4% in Q3, better than previous estimates of 5%. Alaska said the improved cost outlook was because of higher-than-planned capacity growth (3.4%), better productivity and some maintenance costs being shifted into Q4. The company was also helped out by cheaper-than-expected jet fuel, gains from securities sales and a diminished tax rate. <br/>
Indian Ocean equity partners Air Austral and Air Madagascar are to take 6 Airbus A220s, unifying their short- and mid- haul fleet renewals, starting with an initial firm order from Air Austral for 3 A220s. Oct 12, Air Austral CE Marie-Joseph Male announced a firm order for 3 Airbus A220s, configured with 132 seats (12 business and 120 economy). The A220s will completely replace Air Austral’s existing short-haul fleet, which comprises 2 Boeing 737-800s and a single ATR 72-500. Deliveries are provisionally scheduled for Nov 2020, Dec 2020 and March 2021. Male said the A220s will be deployed on all of Air Austral’s existing routes, cutting operating costs, while enabling the airline to upgrade its on-board product and add frequencies. <br/>