Jetstar and its pilots' union will return to the negotiating table at the end of the month and try to end a bitter pay dispute that has so far resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations. The two parties have not met since November, when the airline called off meetings scheduled with union negotiators ahead of pilots taking protected industrial action before Christmas. Jetstar cancelled 90 flights over 2 days in mid-December when Australian Federation of Air Pilots members took part in 4-hour work stoppages. The airline also proactively cancelled 10% of its flying capacity - or close to 900 flights - through January in case pilots continued to strike, with the disruptions costing the Qantas-owned airline almost A$25m. Jetstar and the union are scheduled to meet Jan 28, both parties confirmed, where they hope to break the deadlock. <br/>
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Iran said Sunday it was trying to analyse the black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that its military shot down this month, denying a report that a decision had been taken to send the voice and flight data recorders to Ukraine. Canada, which had 57 citizens on the Jan 8 flight, said Sunday there were still no firm plans for downloading the recorders. Ottawa and other capitals have called for the black boxes to be sent abroad. The military has said it downed Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in error in the aftermath of tit-for-tat strikes by the US and Iran. But authorities delayed admitting this, prompting days of protests on Iran's streets. Ukraine has previously said it expected the recorders to be handed over. <br/>
Collapsed Adria Airways’ AOC is set to be auctioned Jan 23, and the administrator for the bankrupt company is formally inviting bids. The invitation says the lot being presented for auction effectively amounts to the whole business of Adria, in particular all permits to operate air services – including the AOC. It warns that the buyer will need to obtain other required licences before commencing commercial air transport, in accordance with EC regulations. The buyer must also be prepared to “remedy” at its own expense any legal “discrepancies” arising from previous decisions by Slovenia’s civil aviation authority to suspend the carrier’s certificate, it adds. Bidders will be expected to offer a starting price of E45,000 for the assets under auction, increasing by E500 steps. <br/>
Air Greenland has tentatively agreed to take a single Airbus A330-800 to replace the carrier’s ageing A330-200. The 305-seat aircraft – currently the subject of a memorandum of understanding, according to Airbus – is set to be delivered in 2021. It will mark a powerplant switch for the airline, because its 22-year old A330 is fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines while the A330-800 will have Rolls-Royce Trent 7000s. Air Greenland will use the aircraft to serve not only its trunk route between Copenhagen and the capital Nuuk, but also the new airport at Ilulissat from 2023. Chairman Kjeld Zacho Jorgensen says the development will “unlock Greenland in a whole new way” by increasing tourism. Greenland premier Kim Kielsen says the investment decision by the carrier is “extremely positive”. <br/>
Flybe has dismissed suggestions by rivals Ryanair, EasyJet and IAG that the UK regional carrier is receiving unfair and illegal state subsidies, following the govt’s decision to provide a bailout package. Flybe asserts that media reporting of its bailout has been inaccurate, and says the payment plan agreed with UK tax authorities covers a debt of less than GBP10m (US$13m). “This agreement will only last a matter of months before all taxes and duties are paid in full,” it adds. It stresses that this represents a standard “time to pay” agreement which any business in financial difficulties may use. Ryanair argues that any financial assistance provided to Flybe would constitute unfair state aid, and is threatening to challenge the decision in the UK and European courts. <br/>