When United Airlines announced the launch of its own aviation academy last year, the very first flight school to be initiated by a major U.S. airline, there was also a promise of opening new pathways, particularly for underrepresented groups of aspiring pilots. Thirty-eight-year-old Ricki Foster is one of the few who made history as a member of the first class of the United Aviate Academy. Foster was born in Jamaica but was living with her family in Atlanta, Georgia, when she first entered the world of aviation as a flight attendant. After a decade in that job, Foster rediscovered her passion as a pilot when a pilot co-worker suggested she consider the role and took her on a discovery flight. She was training at a local school in Georgia soon after when she heard about United’s Aviate — more importantly, its initiative to diversify the flight deck. When she did a bit of her own research, she was blown away. “You mean, there’s an actual company, a big company, that is not afraid, that is not shying away, that is not backing down, that’s not just doing a one-hour seminar that’s voluntary about diversity and Inclusion. They’re actually pursuing this? To me, that was really attractive, and long overdue,” said Foster. “I pursued a path here because I felt like this is where I needed to be.” United Airlines was faced with an enormous response from students across the country when it made the announcement to open a flight school committed to forwarding diversity and inclusion. What’s more, the need is growing for more pilots as a pilot shortage is hurting the entire industry right now.<br/>
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EgyptAir announced on Monday the resumption of its flights to, Mumbai of India after hiatus of more than two years due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19_ pandemic. The Egyptian state-owned company added in a statement that it would operate four flights a week and the first flight had actually taken off from Terminal 3 at Cairo International Airport at 4:50 p.m. This comes in line with the company’s plan to expand its lines, especially to Asia. Meanwhile, Air Canada will start operating direct flights to the Cairo International Airport on Wednesday, May 4, between Montreal and Cairo, after a 6-month hiatus due to the precautionary measures taken by several countries against the Coronavirus, Youm7 reported sources at the airport. Air Canada is scheduled to operate 3 flights per week on a regular basis, between Montreal and Cairo, provided that the flights increase according to the rates of operation and demand.<br/>
Asiana Airlines has filed a complaint with the prosecution against Gategroup for allegedly colluding with former Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo, while filing a civil lawsuit to nullify its 30-year in-flight meal contract with the Swiss catering service provider, according to industry officials, Monday. The series of legal actions are viewed as part of Asiana's efforts to minimize potential damage to Korean Air, which has been pushing ahead with its acquisition of the nation's second-largest air carrier. Asiana confirmed that the criminal and civil suits had been filed in March and January, respectively, although it declined to comment on the ongoing litigations. The carrier reportedly suspects Gategroup's former Chairman Xavier Rossinyol, former Asia-Pacific President Jann Fisch and two other top executives had colluded with Park, when he allowed the Swiss company to pay only 133.3b won ($105m) in 2016 for the exclusive right to serve its in-flight meals on Asiana's planes until 2047. At that time, the exclusive right was estimated to be worth around 500b won. Park has been on trial for the allegation of asking Gategroup to acquire 160b won worth of bonds with warrants for cash-strapped Kumho Buslines, in exchange for securing the exclusive right to serve in-flight meals.<br/>
New Zealand welcomed thousands of travellers from around the globe on Monday as the country opened its borders to visitors from around 60 nations including the United States, Britain and Singapore for the first time since COVID-19 hit in early 2020. Maori cultural performers sang songs at the arrivals gate in Auckland and travellers were handed popular locally made chocolate bars as the first flights came in from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Friends and family hugged and cried as people were reunited for what was for some the first time in more than two years. New Zealand had some of the toughest curbs in the world during the pandemic and only recently started to ease the increasingly unpopular measures, hoping to boost tourism and ease labour shortages now the Omicron variant is widespread domestically. Borders were opened to New Zealanders and Australians in February and March. Now visitors from around 60 visa-waiver countries can enter as long as they are vaccinated and test negative for COVID. There are no requirements for isolation. On Monday, 43 international flights were scheduled to arrive or depart from Auckland International Airport (AIA.NZ) carrying around 9,000 passengers. Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said demand had exceeded expectations with many of the services filling up. "This is welcome news for the New Zealand tourism industry who has weathered a difficult storm," she said.<br/>