The trade union representing cabin crew at Germanwings decided Wednesday not to continue their strike for the time being after 3 days of stoppages led to dozens of flights being canceled. The Ufo labour union, which called strikes from Monday to Wednesday at Germanwings, will discuss Sunday how to proceed in the dispute with the company after deciding not to extend the strike, a spokesman said. The cabin crew strike had led to only 20 of 220 scheduled Germanwings flights taking off in the 3 days, although Lufthansa subsidiaries have given seats to stranded passengers, limiting the impact on customers. The deadlocked collective bargaining dispute for the 22,000 cabin employees concerns pay and working conditions among other issues. <br/>
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Hong Kong’s Airlines has been hit with another lawsuit over unpaid rent in excess of US$2.9m after its near collapse earlier this month. The airlines was sued Monday by Awas Leasing One for outstanding rent of US$2.925m over 2 Airbus planes as of Dec 29. The Dublin-based plaintiff also accused the crisis-hit airline of failing to comply with its grounding notice Dec19, effective the following day. It is now seeking repayment plus interest, and injunction in respect of the airline’s alleged non-compliance and breach of 2 leases over the aircraft. The legal action came 3 weeks after another company, Alafco Irish Aircraft Leasing Sixteen, sued the airline for allegedly failing to settle a payment of more than US$34.5m. <br/>
IndiGo now has more than 250 planes in its fleet after inducting at least 4 neo aircraft Dec 31, according to an official. IndiGo, which has a domestic market share of more than 47%, is also the first Indian carrier to have over 250 planes. Recently, the carrier also became the first airline to operate 1,500 flights per day. The official said the airline inducted 4 planes -- 3 A321 neos and 1 A320 neo -- Dec 31. According to an aircraft deliveries tracking website, IndiGo has taken deliveries of 257 planes, including 222 Airbus 320 or A320 Neos, 10 A321 Neos and 25 regional jet ATRs. <br/>