The major pilots union in North America and the union representing Air Canada pilots have had initial talks about a merger at a time when airlines are under pressure to staff up to meet rebounding travel demand, representatives of the unions told Reuters. The Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) represents about 4,500 pilots who fly passengers and cargo for the airline. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the world's largest pilots union, represents more than 60,000 pilots in the United States and Canada. A merger of the unions could give the ACPA access to additional bargaining resources as members press to make gains in future bargaining after a pandemic-induced slump in travel. “ALPA and ACPA pilot leaders met this week for an initial discussion about a potential merger and the benefits of being stronger together," the unions said in a statement to Reuters. "Any decision on whether to formalize a partnership would ultimately rest with the pilots and their elected leaders at each union," the statement said. Air Canada declined comment on internal union matters. ALPA has grown as the North American airline industry as consolidated over the years. The union has added pilots at 12 carriers in Canada and the United States since 2019. "With fewer airlines to represent, they seem to be doing a better job of representing all pilots," said Helane Becker, an analyst at investment Cowen who tracks the industry. <br/>
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Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are circling collapsed UK regional airline Flybe to try to obtain its take-off and landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported on Saturday. Lufthansa and Air France-KLM declined to comment. The Telegraph said the two airlines were in talks with the administrators of Flybe, which a week ago ceased trading and went into insolvency for the second time in three years, with all flights cancelled and 276 workers made redundant. Administrators from Interpath Advisory may have just days to agree to a rescue that would avoid the business being wound up, the newspaper said, citing sources in London's financial community. Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are interested in Flybe's seven pairs of take-off and landing slots at Heathrow and five pairs at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, the report said. Suitors would need to take on many of the bankrupt airline’s liabilities as well as the potentially lucrative assets, it quoted one source as saying.<br/>