United Airlines has confirmed that it will park up to 38 Embraer E175 jets in favour of operating Bombardier CRJ900 jets from regional partner Mesa Airlines so as not to run afoul of its contract with its pilots. United is taking the Mesa jets after that carrier earlier this month severed its relationship with American Airlines to fly exclusively for United. “Mesa Airlines recently announced changes in its operation that mean we will replace up to 38 Embraer E175 aircraft in the United Express fleet with up to 38 of their Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft,” said Bryan Quigley, the Chicago-based carrier’s senior vice-president of flight operations, in an internal memo on 30 December. “It is important to note that there is no change to our scope provisions in the United Pilot Agreement. United will remove a corresponding number of Embraer E175 aircraft from its regional fleet.” Scope clauses are passages written into contracts between major US airlines and pilot unions that limit the number and size of aircraft that may be flown by the airlines’ regional affiliates. They generally prevent carriers from farming out more flying to regionals – like Mesa, Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines – thus protecting mainline pilot jobs. The Mesa CRJ900 aircraft will begin to transition to United as United Express from 1 March 2023, and will operate from the mainline carrier’s hubs in Houston and Denver “as capabilities allow”, Quigley writes. <br/>
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Turkish Airlines continues to strengthen its operation in Panama by increasing air operations and seat offering. At the end of October 2022, the company started non-stop flights between Istanbul and Tocumen International Airport. The airline celebrated the start of non-stop operations to Panama together with their codeshare partner Copa Airlines. The ceremony was attended by Panama’s Minister of Tourism, Ivan Eskildsen; the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Panama, Lebibe Gülhan Ulutekin; the SVP of Copa Airlines, Christophe Didier and the CEO of Turkish Airlines, Bilal Ekş. For the 2023 summer season, the company will operate to Tocumen Airport with Airbus A350-900 aircraft with a capacity of 329 passengers in two classes, offering on this route 4,417 weekly seats, a 4% increase compared to 2022 levels.<br/>
The head of South Korea's leading airline, Korean Air Co., said Monday he will focus on completing the acquisition of its smaller local rival, Asiana Airlines Inc., and preparing for pent-up post-pandemic travel demand. In November 2020, Korean Air signed a deal to acquire the controlling stake in Asiana in a deal valued at 1.8t won ($1.42b) that would create the world's 10th-biggest airline by fleet. The national flag carrier has said it aims to launch a merged entity with Asiana in 2024 after completing a takeover process by this year, and to streamline their routes and reduce maintenance costs. Korean Air Chairman and CE Cho Won-tae said he expects the airline industry to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and be back on track. "We need to analyze what destinations customers prefer after the pandemic, when they resume travel, and what in-flight services they want as a wave of reopenings will further spur a surge in demand for plane travel," Cho said in a New Year's message to employees. But he noted higher operating costs, global supply disruptions and changes in the way of post-pandemic travel as uncertainties for the airline sector in 2023. Global airlines were hit hard by the unprecedented pandemic in early 2020 as countries shut their borders to stem the spread of the virus. They have been struggling with poor earnings results and high jet fuel costs. Korean Air has focused on winning more cargo deals to offset a sharp plunge in travel demand in the past two years, while resuming services on some long-haul routes amid eased travel restrictions recently.<br/>
In the face of rising concerns about environmental degradation and a global move toward sustainability, two of Japan's top airlines have begun to transform their operations to greener practices. Japan Airlines has started experimentally operating what it calls a net-zero emissions charter flight, while All Nippon Airways has been using a "sharkskin" film that improves a plane's aerodynamics and allows less fuel to be burned. JAL operated its first such flight, from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Naha Airport in Okinawa, on Nov. 18. With the one-day tour costing 25,000 yen ($189) per person, the flight was boarded by some 250 tour-goers. The plane flew on 40% sustainable aviation fuel made from a variety of sources including recycled waste oil. To achieve net zero, the carrier also "offsets" emissions by investing in forest preservation and taking other measures. The flight's offset costs roughly 330 yen per person. JAL said it is also counting its use of the Airbus A350, which is more fuel-efficient than conventional aircraft, as part of its carbon reduction. To cut fuel consumption, JAL said the plane taxied with one engine, instead of two usually, and ascended faster than usual after taking off. JAL's green efforts continued in-flight with an environment-friendly, meat-free menu. ANA has signaled its move toward a more sustainable future by operating aircraft painted green, rather than its usual blue. It started to fly its green jet internationally in October and another one domestically in November. Since November, its first domestic flight was fueled by SAF. ANA has also begun experimenting on increasing the aerodynamism of its planes to reduce fuel consumption by applying its sharkskin film on fuselages. It is also using headrest covers that are made from plants, rather than plastic materials, and are biodegradable.<br/>
The aviation business was plunged into an unimaginable depth of despair during the more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has also set a new rule for the industry: shape up or ship out. Among the noted casualties has been the national flag carrier, Thai Airways International (THAI). In reality, the airline was in a precarious position before Covid-19 came along. The pandemic pushed the carrier, that had been on the verge, into bankruptcy. The Central Bankruptcy Court approved a recovery plan in September<br/>2020 after the coronavirus pandemic grounded most of its fleet as borders gradually shut, grinding air travel to a halt. THAI's total liabilities stood at 338.9b baht against total assets of 298.9b baht as of Sept 30 that year. The airline fought for its life by adopting drastic internal restructuring and implementing "survival" measures including foregoing half of its aircraft fleet. By biting the bullet, it managed to stabilise its debt situation and its losses narrowed as a result. THAI seems to be looking up based on this year's numbers. Story has chronology of how the situation unfolded for the flag carrier.<br/>