France and the Netherlands appear to be readying for a clash with the EC over a fresh aid package to debt-laden carrier Air France-KLM. Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra warned lawmakers on Wednesday he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the airline will be asked by European regulators to give up airport slots in exchange for approval for more state aid. His comments to a parliamentary committee followed stronger wording from his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, who suggested the country would oppose any requirement for Air France to relinquish slots at Paris-Orly airport. “The point is not to weaken Air France, it’s to strengthen Air France,” Le Maire told France Info TV Tuesday. “When we took a decision to support Air France at the beginning, it’s not to give it up in the end.” A tussle over landing rights at Orly would come amid crucial talks between France and the Netherlands, which together hold a combined 28% of the company, and are considering more financial help to the airline. The states have already provided a 10.4 billion-euro lifeline in the form of direct loans and guarantees to keep the carrier afloat during the pandemic. Air France-KLM has said it needs fresh equity.<br/>
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The role of the CEO has dramatically shifted as companies learn to walk a fine line between stakeholder capitalism versus meeting the needs of their company’s balance sheet. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said that he never expected he would be addressing the pace of change we are seeing in the world. “I think it’s a new normal,” Bastian said. “Once you are committed to bringing everyone forward in an equitable manner, I don’t think there’s another path.” Bastian detailed the company’s road back to profitability after a year of loss and unprecedented political and social unrest. Delta saw its stock tumble 30% in the past 12 months. The carrier reported a Q4 net-loss of nearly $12.4b for fiscal year 2020. Bastian said that with continued government support, vaccine distribution and mask compliance he believes people will feel more comfortable flying this summer. Bastian added that Delta’s decision on whether to keep the middle seat blocked, the only airline to do so through March 2021, will be determined in the coming weeks. Beyond pandemic pressures weighing on its bottom line, Delta has remained focused on its efforts regarding diversity and environmental, social and corporate governance, with Bastian pushing for continued growth at the company. “We found that our Black colleagues have not had the opportunity that our White colleagues have had for advancement, development and opportunity,” he acknowledged. “I’m very focused on correcting that.” Story has more.<br/>
Korean Air is taking steps to launch its own international sightseeing flights without landing, the airline said on Wednesday. “We are taking necessary steps to operate chartered flights and the sales dates are under discussion,” one official at the airline said. The airline’s first international “flight to nowhere” has been given the green-light by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to take off on Feb. 27, the official added. The travel route is yet to be decided, while the plausible “destination” is likely to be Japan. The national carrier flag is set to become the latest to join the long list of airlines in the country to launch so called destination-less flights – a niche travel product born out of the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the aviation industry.<br/>