The US Commerce Department on Thursday confirmed it had identified seven Boeing 737 Planes operated by Belarusian national carrier Belavia that are in apparent violation of US export controls. The seven Belarusian-operated aircraft are the first to be identified since restrictions on Belarus were tightened last week. The Commerce Department said restrictions that bar them from operating services abroad should effectively ground them from future international flights. The list of planes subject to\The list of planes subject to restrictions, imposed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now includes 146 Russian-owned or operated aircraft and seven Belarusian aircraft. Belavia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The export controls bar companies around the world from providing any refueling, maintenance, repair, or spare parts or services to the identified airplanes. The Commerce Department actions are part of the Biden administration's response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which the department said Belarus has enabled and supported.<br/>
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Frontier Airlines has settled a discrimination lawsuit brought by a group of flight attendants who claimed the carrier discriminated against them during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Denver-based Frontier agreed to keep or change several policies to address the needs of pregnant and lactating personnel in settling the litigation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, which represented the employees, announced Wednesday. In their 2019 federal lawsuit, the four employees alleged that Frontier forced them to take unpaid leave for pregnancy-related absences and did not make it possible for them to pump breast milk while working. Frontier at the time insisted that it offered “a number of accommodations for pregnant and lactating pilots and flight attendants within the bounds of protecting public safety, which is always our top priority.” Under the settlement, Frontier agreed to clarify that pregnancy-related absences are not subject to disciplinary action.<br/>
Shares in Wizz Air jumped on Thursday after the carrier said demand for air travel has built in recent weeks and outlined plans to increase its flying schedules. The airline, which is listed in London and based in Hungary, will fly 30 per cent more capacity than in 2019 between April and June, and 40% more in the following three months, the industry’s peak summer period. Jozsef Varadi, Wizz Air’s CE, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had initially “dented demand for air travel”, but the airline expected passenger numbers to build significantly into the summer, particularly as people book late. “We are starting to see recovery take shape as we move closer to the summer of 2022,” Varadi added Thursday. Shares in the airline climbed more than 7% in morning trade, as investors welcomed further signs of a rebound in air travel. “We view this update positively, as it confirms bookings are recovering strongly in a post-pandemic travel environment,” said analysts at Barclays. Other European airlines including Ryanair and easyJet have also reported sharp rises in bookings, particularly from leisure travellers during peak holiday periods. EasyJet this week said its capacity would rise to “near” pre-pandemic levels over the summer. Still, Wizz shares have fallen more than 30 per cent this year as the company’s exposure to eastern Europe and the soaring cost of oil have rattled investors. Wizz was unhedged when the oil price rose sharply in late February, but on Thursday said it had hedged 36% of its planned jet fuel consumption from April to August. “Management has sensibly capitulated on its no-hedging policy,” said analysts at Goodbody.<br/>
Emirates unveiled plans to expand the airline’s use of the Metaverse and launch NFTs, a plan intended to boost revenue and improve customer service. An NFT, or nonfungible token, is a unique asset -- often digital art -- that is registered on a blockchain. They have attracted growing interest from institutions outside of the cryptocurrency industry as a means to raise funds and awareness. Emirates’ NFTs are set to be both collectible and utility-based, according to a statement on Thursday. Nike Inc. unveiled a similar plan with the acquisition of a virtual collectibles company in December. The airline also plans to turn its pavilion at Dubai’s Expo into an innovation center that focuses on “future-focused projects,” including those related to the Metaverse, NFTs and Web3. Emirates is “committing a significant investment in financial and resourcing terms to develop products and services using advanced technologies,” said Chief Executive Officer Saeed Al Maktoum. “That will deliver on revenue, brand experience and business efficiencies.” <br/>