Delta says a top executive has resigned just one month after he arrived at the carrier. The Atlanta-headquartered airline tells FlightGlobal on 18 February that Scott Laurence, vice-president for network planning, has left the company. “He informed the network team this week of his resignation,” the airline says. The carrier did not give reasons for the abrupt departure and attempts to reach Laurence directly have been unsuccessful. On 10 January, Delta said it had poached Laurence from JetBlue Airways, where the manager had spent the last 14 years of his 20-year aviation career. Most recently he had been head of revenue and planning for the New York-based carrier. In that position he played a key role in launching the airline’s “Northeast Alliance” with American Airlines. Delta said at the time that Laurence would begin work on 18 January and report to Joe Esposito, senior vice-president of network planning. He was tasked to “further strengthen Delta’s global network and joint venture partnerships while positioning the airline for continued success and long-term growth opportunities”.<br/>
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Air France-KLM has gained shareholder approval for its proposed capital increase and is ready to move swiftly, French financial newspaper Les Echos reported on Sunday. The airline had announced on Thursday that it plans to raise up to E4b as it seeks to repay state pandemic handouts, but neither terms nor timing were disclosed. The recapitalisation will take place in the next few months with main shareholders including France, the Netherlands, Delta and China Eastern, the paper said. Air France-KLM aims to issue convertible bonds while also selling some assets as soon as air transport sector stock prices rise, Les Echos reported.<br/>
Korean Air Lines announced Friday it will use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on the flight from Paris, France to Incheon, Korea, as a part of its commitment to reduce carbon emissions. SAF is eco-friendly jet fuel made from oils and waste products, which has a small carbon footprint. During the life cycle from procurement of raw materials to consumption, carbon emissions can be reduced by as much as 80%. Currently, SAF takes up a 0.1% share in the global jet fuel market as it remains costly due to lack of production facilities and distribution channels. SAF is about two to five times more expensive than the existing fuels. Korean Air serviced a route from Chicago, the U.S. to Incheon, Korea with a SAF-fueled aircraft for one time in November 2017 for the first time among Korean airlines. Last year, it signed an MOU with Hyundai Oilbank to establish the basis for use of biofuel to power aircrafts. It has purchased carbon-neutral jet fuel for domestic routes from SK Energy and partnered with Incheon International Airport Corporation, Airbus and Air Liquide for cooperation on supply of hydrogen and development of infrastructure.<br/>