Air Canada is revamping its Aeroplan loyalty program in an effort boost membership amid a global travel industry devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The relaunch on Nov. 8 will allow all members to book seats on any Air Canada flight using Aeroplan points, a change from the current model where seat inventory is limited. It will eliminate the carrier surcharge — which varies from less than $25 to the high hundreds — on flights purchased with points, though a $39 fee applies for trips operated by Air Canada's partner airlines. Members will also be able to share points with up to eight friends and family members, combining them in a pool anyone in the group may put toward a trip. The airline hopes the relaunch, planned after it reacquired the rewards program from Aimia Inc. in January 2019, will add another two million members before 2024 to the five million-plus who already hold Aeroplan cards. The new program, based in part on feedback from thousands of consumers, "is more important than ever as airlines compete to earn and retain customer loyalty in a rapidly changing environment," CEO Calin Rovinescu said Tuesday.<br/>
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EVA Air has entered negotiations with Boeing about its remaining 787-10 on orders, hinting at a possible deferral or cancellation of some aircraft. The Star Alliance carrier says it was doing so “in response to changes in market demand and continuous optimisation of…network and fleet”, as a result of depressed travel demand from the coronavirus outbreak. “Due to the commercial negotiations, the number and price of the changed aircraft will be announced after the contract is signed,” it discloses, without providing further details. Cirium fleets data indicates the carrier has 15 787-10s on order, with a further six on option. It began operating the 787-10 in 2019, and has five examples in the fleet now. The carrier in November 2015 finalised its order with Boeing for up to 24 787-10s and two more 777-300ERs. The order value then was more than $8 billion, making it one of the largest single commercial aircraft purchase then.<br/>
Air New Zealand is making mask wearing compulsory on all flights out of Auckland. For the duration of the change in alert levels, Air New Zealand's front of house employees and domestic cabin crew will wear masks and gloves, and pilots will wear masks when interacting with customers or walking through the terminal. Customers on flights departing from Auckland will be also be required to wear masks. They are welcome to bring their own, or these will be provided by the airline onboard. "Air New Zealand recommends that its customers traveling from other ports also wear masks, however this will not be a requirement." Jetstar says anyone travelling to/from Auckland during the next two and a half days and wishing to change their travel plans have a number of options available including an alternative flight in the next 14 days or a credit voucher. Jetstar says it may need to cancel some flights due to the level 3 restrictions. Where a domestic flight is cancelled, customers will be contacted directly with available options, which depending on the circumstances may include additional options. It says face masks are strongly recommended on all flights to and from Auckland.<br/>
Both HDC Hyundai Development Company and Kumho Industrial said on Tuesday that arrangements for face-to-face negotiations over the acquisition of Asiana Airlines are ongoing, which may effectively go on after the Wednesday’s deadline. One official at Kumho confirmed that the deadline no longer holds as the future of the deal depends on the planned talks between working-level staff at both companies. Another official at HDC said that “details have yet to be decided” and plans for the face-to-face talks are being discussed. Earlier this month, VP Choi Dae-hyun of Korea Development Bank, one of the creditors behind the troubled airline, said during a teleconference that the deal is left open to termination from Wednesday onwards, though whether to go forward depends on HDC’s final decision. The remarks had stoked concerns that the deadlocked deal could soon follow the fate of the Jeju Air and Eastar Jet acquisition talks which ended in tatters in late July. As it stands, the acquisition process between the building company and South Korea’s second largest airline is likely to continue following a tense turn of events over the past week and after HDC agreed to Kumho’s request for face-to-face negotiations.<br/>