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A passenger broke into the cockpit of an American Airlines jet at an airport in Honduras and damaged the plane as it was boarding for a flight to Miami before being taken into custody, the airline said on Tuesday. Crew members intervened and the man, who was not immediately identified, was arrested by local authorities, American Airlines said. There were no reports of injury. ABC News reported that the suspect ran down the jetway and into the cockpit, damaging flight controls and attempting to jump out an open window as a pilots tried to stop him. “We applaud our outstanding crew members for their professionalism in handling a difficult situation,” American said. The damaged aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 121 passengers and six crew members, was grounded at Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the airline said.<br/>

American Airlines Group said on Tuesday its Q4 revenue fall would be narrower than it previously expected, sending the No. 1 US carrier's shares up about 2%. The company said it now expects revenue for the quarter to be down about 17% versus pre-pandemic levels, compared with its prior forecast of an about 20% fall. A rise in COVID-19 infections of the Omicron variant has forced airlines to cancel flights as pilots and cabin crew fell sick and needed to quarantine. read more Mass cancellations over the Christmas and New Year holiday period and higher incentives given to employees had an impact on carriers, with American Airlines forecasting higher Q4 costs. The company expects cost per available seat mile excluding items - the measure in the industry showing what it costs to fly one seat one mile - to be up between 13% and 14% versus 2019, compared with its previous guidance of a rise of between 8% and 10%. A writedown of excess spare parts inventory also increased costs, the airline added.<br/>

American Airlines will begin code sharing with Aer Lingus on flights between the USA and Europe, the US company says on 11 January. “We are excited to extend our relationship with our newest joint business partner, Aer Lingus, with this code-share agreement,” says American’s vice-president of alliances Anmol Bhargava. “Through our transatlantic joint business, customers have more choices to key destinations in Europe and now, Ireland.” The agreement will enable customers of both airlines to connect between US and European destinations via Aer Lingus’ Dublin hub, says Reid Moody, Dublin-based Aer Lingus’ chief strategy and planning officer. “Last week’s decision by the Irish government to remove pre-departure Covid-19 test requirements for double-vaccinated passengers is more welcome news.” American will place its code on Aer Lingus flights between Dublin and Amsterdam, Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester. Aer Lingus flights from London Heathrow to Belfast City, Cork and Shannon, Ireland will also carry American’s code.<br/>

Cathay Pacific Chairman Patrick Healy said the airline will cooperate with two government investigations after outbreaks of the omicron variant were traced back to crew who were allowed to skip strict quarantine requirements aimed at keeping the city Covid free. Hong Kong CE Carrie Lam Tuesday reimposed some of its strictest virus curbs since the pandemic began, with kindergartens and primary schools closing again. That comes after the city closed bars, beaches, beauty parlors and dining-in at restaurants after 6 p.m last week. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Chairman Patrick Healy said the airline will cooperate with two government investigations after outbreaks of the omicron variant were traced back to crew who were allowed to skip strict quarantine requirements aimed at keeping the city Covid free. Healy said the carrier will cooperate with investigations into whether crew failed to comply with self-isolation rules and the airline’s practice of rostering crew onto cargo-only passenger aircraft, which allowed them to avoid longer quarantine periods. “The decision to roster staff on cargo-only passenger aircraft to return to Hong Kong was the company’s decision and the company takes full responsibility for that decision,” Healy said. “I am very confident that this rostering practice was entirely in line with the government regulations, which were in place until” Dec. 29, he said.<br/>

Cathay Pacific has said its crews spent a combined total of 73,000 nights in quarantine last year as the airline struggles to keep flying through Hong Kong's strict zero-Covid controls. The city government says the carrier faces possible legal action over an outbreak of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus that began with two aircrew breaking home quarantine rules and has forced a tightening of social distancing measures. An ongoing government investigation is the latest setback for Cathay Pacific, which has been battered by the pandemic and seen rising anger from pilots and crew over Hong Kong's virus controls. Chairman Patrick Healy sent a video message to all staff on Tuesday thanking them for the sacrifices they have made during measures that often leave them separated from families for weeks. "What you have been through during the past two years is quite simply unparalleled," he said. "Collectively our crew spent over 62,000 nights in quarantine hotels in 2021, in addition over 1,000 of you have spent more than 11,000 nights in Penny's Bay," he added, referring to Hong Kong's government quarantine camp. Healy argued that a "tiny minority" of rule-breakers should not overshadow Cathay Pacific's contributions to Hong Kong and that he believed the airline's crew arrangements were in line with government policy. <br/>