A Hong Kong air transport regulator said on Saturday it decided against suspending the license of Hong Kong Airlines, the city’s second largest carrier, after it scrambled for funding. The airline, part-owned by cash-strapped Chinese conglomerate HNA Group, said on Wednesday it had a cash injection plan enabling it to pay outstanding salaries to staff the next day. Air Transport Licensing Authority said Saturday the cash injection plans were satisfactory, adding that it would continue to closely monitor the firm’s operations. The regulator had warned the carrier it needed to shore up its financial position by Dec. 7 or risk suspension or loss of its license. “ATLA has given careful consideration to factors including public interests and the policy direction of maintaining Hong Kong as an international aviation hub,” an ATLA spokesperson said. “Hong Kong Airlines is here to stay,” the company said in a statement after the ATLA decision.<br/>
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Premium long-haul operator La Compagnie and carriers including Lufthansa, Wizz Air and TAP are among the beneficiaries of slots released at Paris Orly by the collapse of French airline Aigle Azur in September. French slot co-ordinator COHOR states that four new entrant airlines – Lufthansa, Hop, Wizz and EasyJet – will collectively receive 5,110 slots. These will cover routes to Munich, Frankfurt, Budapest, Sofia and Glasgow. Another five incumbent carriers – La Compagnie, Corsair, Air Caraibes, Transavia and TAP Portugal – will receive a total of 4,758 slots. No associated routes have been disclosed. While the slots are allocated for summer 2020, COHOR says airlines will be permitted to start operations during the winter 2019-20 season if they are willing to do so. COHOR says the collapse of Aigle Azur, as well as surrender of slots by other carriers, led to the release of 12,335 slots at Paris Orly.<br/>
Jetstar has launched its new route into Asia, with non-stop flights from the Gold Coast to South Korea's capital, Seoul, taking off on Sunday. It's the first time a low-cost airline has linked the two countries. Currently two Korean airlines, Asiana and Korean Air, fly between Sydney and Seoul, while Korean Air also offers direct flights from Brisbane. Jetstar will operate the route three times a week, codesharing with Korea's Jeju Air and flying a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner featuring 321 economy class seats and 21 business class seats. Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans said he expected South Korea would jump to the top of the list for many Australian travellers with the advent of the new route. "We knew that the lack of low fares in the market was a barrier to people taking the trip between the two countries," he said. Evans said low cost flights had been "unbelievably popular" with 15,000 seats already sold. Launch fares were on offer from $179 one way. He said one-way fares were currently about $300 to $400.<br/>
Jetstar Group and Tigerair Taiwan have entered a “virtual” interline alliance, enabling customers to book flights on both LCCs through their respective websites. The integrated system enables customers to select flights and purchase bundled and unbundled ancillary products. Connecting international travelers will be provided with seamless passenger and baggage transfers, the carriers said. The capability is powered by flight search engine and technology company Dohop. The Jetstar Group consists of flagship Jetstar Airways, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam and Jetstar Japan. All but Jetstar Airways have connections to Taipei, where Tigerair Taiwan is based. A fully owned subsidiary of China Airlines, Tigerair Taiwan serves 23 destinations, including 11 in Japan. “For Jetstar’s customers in Japan, this partnership opens up new services to incredible destinations, such as Cebu, Kaohsiung and Macau, while Jetstar’s customers in South East Asia will enjoy more options when travelling to Japan and Korea,” Jetstar head of alliances and regional GM-Southeast Asia Clive Ashmore Butler said. Similarly, the interline deal also opens new options for Tigerair Taiwan, such as Gold Coast, Melbourne and Phnom Penh<br/>
Tony Fernandes is evidently having a lot of fun transforming AirAsia Group into more than just an airline business. Having just launched the first fast-food chain featuring airline food last week, the group CEO unveiled at a press briefing in Kuala Lumpur on Friday a new music label, RedRecords, in partnership with Universal Music Group. So, okay, you can’t help but ask: Isn’t this going too far off the mark in transforming an airline? To some, it may come across as Fernandes being sentimental and going back to his roots as a music man. A music man turned airline man turned music man. He was with Warner Music Group for 12 years, from senior financial analyst to vice president for the Southeast Asia region. So he knows music. But a recording of the press conference shows there is meaning to the madness and that the move is the curtain opener for AirAsia Group to enter Asia’s events space, including organising music festivals, and selling concert tickets or full packages that include air, hotels, and event tickets. This space is huge particularly in Southeast Asia, with Traveloka — now a competitor of AirAsia.com — earlier this year going into it big time. “It’s a continuation of our journey as a lifestyle platform,” said Fernandes. “Music is a large element of lifestyle. So [we’re thinking] live events, streaming, festivals — we’re toying with the name RedVibes — ticket sales. We want to change the way you see concerts, [not just buying tickets] but hotels, packages. Story has more.<br/>