South Korea's Supreme Court upheld Thursday a govt decision to suspend Asiana Airlines' Incheon-San Francisco route for 45 days, adding to the debt-ridden carrier's headaches as it battles rising competition and falling demand. The transport ministry suspended Asiana Airlines' once-daily US bound flight as a penalty linked to its deadly plane crash in San Francisco in 2013. Asiana had sought a court injunction against the measure. The Supreme Court said insufficient staff training was the main cause of the crash and the govt's punishment was legitimate. The flight ban will be implemented before the end of February, the transport ministry said. Asian said the punishment would cost it about US$9.3m in lost sales. <br/>
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Alitalia's rescue hopes received a boost Thursday with signs that Lufthansa could take a stake in the carrier and Rome agreeing to a E350m (US$389m) bridging loan to ease immediate cash worries. Until now railway group Ferrovie has been negotiating with Delta Air Lines and infrastructure group Atlantia, but the 3 potential partners have been divided on key aspects of the rescue plan including the size of their respective investments. Thursday, 2 people with knowledge of the matter said Lufthansa was now offering not only a commercial partnership, but could also take a stake in the Italian rival. Lufthansa would be open to making the investment if conditions, mainly regarding restructuring measures it deems necessary at its Italian rival, were met, one of the sources said. Lufthansa declined to comment. <br/>
Lawyers representing families of passengers killed in a Boeing 737 Max crash in Ethiopia in March are set to issue subpoenas to Southwest Airlines and American Airlines, the 2 biggest US operators of the jet, according to documents seen by Reuters. The subpoenas will be issued over the next couple of days, the lawyers separately told Reuters. The lawyers want to know what Boeing promised potential airline customers about flight crew training and the 737 Max certification process, and its communications with the 2 airlines following a Lion Air crash in Indonesia Oct 29, 2018, and before the Ethiopian Airlines crash March 10. While families of the Lion Air crash victims are in settlement talks with Boeing, the Ethiopian crash victims are pursuing a jury trial. <br/>
Air NZ has revealed it will be adding a new cabin class that will essentially fill a niche between standard economy and premium economy products. The product, known as “economy stretch,” will be introduced on the carrier’s widebody fleet next year. It will be offered on up to 42 seats depending on aircraft type. Economy stretch will be based on the same economy seat, but will have greater pitch and improved amenities such as pillows and headsets used in premium classes. The carrier will install the product on its Boeing 777-200ERs, -300ERs and 787-9s. It will be available from early 2020, and will be on all long-haul flights by late 2020. Economy stretch is a “comfort-led enhancement” to the standard economy product, offering “a step-up at a competitive price,” the airline said. <br/>