A former JetBlue employee is facing up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in a Boston federal court Friday to scamming the airline of nearly US$1m in flights. Tiffany Jenkins, a former gate agent, used her position to convert low-cost flights to more expensive flights and destinations for friends, family and acquaintances, according to the US Attorney’s Office. Jenkins had access to JetBlue’s computer reservation database and had the ability to use a special code, “INVOL,” which is short for involuntary exchange, to change flights for customers at no additional cost. During a 15-month period, Jenkins used the code approximately 505 times for more than 100 different passengers. The US Attorney’s Office said many of those exchanges occurred after the passenger first booked low-price domestic flights. <br/>
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Oman is considering setting up a new regional airline that could take over domestic operations from Oman Air, 2 sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. A request for proposal was issued this month by state entity Oman Aviation Group for a feasibility study into operating the new airline, ‘Oman Link,’ the sources said. Setting up a new airline for domestic flights would allow Oman Air to focus on its international network where it competes with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways. The new airline could partner with Oman Air with both carriers connecting passengers to each other but would have its own independent management, the sources said. The new airline would use regional jets for domestic flights and potentially later to other cities in the region. <br/>
The govt failed to follow the advice of its own official report in dealing with the collapse of Thomas Cook, MPs have been told. Diana Holland, assistant general secretary at Unite, said the govt ignored recommendations from the Airline Insolvency Review, published in May, which would have allowed Thomas Cook to take part in the repatriation efforts, prevented such an abrupt end for staff, and may have allowed for a sale of the profitable airline division. The Airline Insolvency Report was commissioned by the govt in the wake of the collapse of Monarch Airlines in 2017. One of its key recommendations was legislation to “ensure an insolvent airline can continue flight operations for a short period after entering administration so that passengers can be repatriated using the airline’s own aircraft, people and systems.” <br/>
Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, says net adjusted income fell 16% to US$81.5m in Q3 of 2019 compared to the same period a year ago as increased competition weighed on airline’s results. Still, executives at the carrier are optimistic the combination of its new “main cabin basic” fares, as well as international travel expansion, is a recipe for success. The company's leadership are banking on that strategy to entice more passengers to travel to the state. “We are competing from a position of strength and have all the elements in place as the carrier of choice for guests traveling to, from and within the Hawaiian Islands,” said Hawaiian CE Peter Ingram Tuesday. “These results are solid considering the capacity increases in the last 2 years.” <br/>