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Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier JetSmart has signed a memorandum of understanding to purchase Colombian domestic carrier Ultra Air. The Santiago-based carrier said on 16 March that the deal now enters a 30-day due-diligence period, during which Ultra Air will continue to operate under current management. The move comes just weeks after Colombian discount airline Viva Air ceased operations due to financial difficulty. Numerous Latin American airlines have been jockeying for position to benefit as well. “We believe in the potential of the Colombian market and we are determined to contribute and add to the development of the tourism and employment in the country,” JetSmart CE Estuardo Ortiz says. “We have seen the operational and commercial qualities of Ultra Air and we have reached an agreement on the terms of the purchase of the airline.” According to Cirium data, Ultra operates five Airbus A320s and serves 13 destinations on 15 routes, all within Colombia. JetSmart says the airline would be a helpful addition to its network as Ultra is focused on domestic routes, and JetSmart currently only operates flights to Bogota, Cali and Medellin from Chile. “The possible purchase of Ultra Air will empower it to offer more routes, affordable prices and more options to all passengers,” says Ortiz. Earlier this week, Colombian civil aviation regulator Aerocivil approved 27 domestic routes for JetSmart, and the airline said it was beginning the process of applying for certification in that country as a local carrier. <br/>

EasyJet cabin staff in Portugal will go on a three-day strike in early April to demand higher wages to compensate for the soaring cost of living, the SNPVAC union of civil aviation flight personnel said on Friday. Workers at the British low-cost airline, who also seek better working conditions, are planning to walk out between April 1-3. "Due to the economic climate, easyJet workers have lost purchasing power over the last three years," SNPVAC said. "The increase in the cost of living suffocates workers and jeopardises the well-being and comfort of their families." It also pointed out that easyJet's Portuguese bases and routes are among the most profitable, and that in other countries where profitability is lower, employees had had "significant increases". The union did not specify the size of the increases it was seeking. The airline, which expects some disruption to their flying programme to and from Lisbon, Porto and Faro during the strike, said it takes its responsibilities as an employer seriously and employs all crew under local contracts, agreed with trade unions. "It is not possible to compare terms and conditions across different jurisdictions. We are disappointed with this action, especially given the significant investment we have made in the country in recent years which has created hundreds of new jobs in Portugal and hope that SNPVAC will resume a constructive dialogue with us." <br/>

The United Nations aviation council on Friday voted to hear a case against Russia over the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the foreign ministers of Australia and the Netherlands said. Australia and the Netherlands initiated the action over MH17 last year at the ICAO. The passenger jet was struck over rebel-held eastern Ukraine by what international investigators and prosecutors say was a Russian-made surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people on board. Australia has said Russia was responsible under international law and that taking the matter to ICAO would be a step forward in the fight for victims who included 38 Australians. The ICAO upheld its jurisdiction to hear the matter during a session on Friday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a written statement. "This decision is an important step in our collective efforts to hold to account those responsible for this horrific act of violence," Wong said. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra called the decision to hear the case "an important step towards establishing the truth, justice and accountability". "Together with Australia, we will continue to do everything in our power to find closure for the loved ones of the 298 victims of flight #MH17," Hoekstra said on Twitter. Russia has denied any involvement in the incident, and Russia's ICAO delegation was not immediately available for comment. While the outcome at ICAO is uncertain, experts said the move may be seen as a further way to force Russia into negotiations over the incident.<br/>

Qantas has told pilots to fly through radio interference and GPS jamming reportedly coming from Chinese warships in Asia Pacific. In standing orders issued to pilots, Qantas says that some aircraft have experienced interference on VHF channels “purporting to represent the Chinese military” and GPS jamming from ships “off the north-west shelf of Australia”. But the orders added that the interference had not caused any safety problems and that pilots should report any incidents to air traffic control. It comes after the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) issued a statement confirming the interference, and warning pilots not to respond to any of the communication coming from the warships. They say they are aware that some aircrafts have been called on particular platforms by military warships in the Pacific region, notably the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. They also added that in some cases, flights were provided with vectors to avoid using the airspace over the warship. “IFALPA has been made aware of some airlines and military aircraft being called over [radio frequencies] 121.50 or 123.45 by military warships in the Pacific region,” the statement read. “IFALPA is engaging with IATA and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to ensure that all parties are aligned with our procedures and to prevent this from occurring in the future.” The Australian and International Pilots Association president, and Qantas captain, Tony Lucas said that pilots were aware of the communication, and were well equipped to deal with them. “Our members are aware of recent reported communication and electronic interference.”<br/>

Australia's Alliance Aviation Services said Monday the country's competition regulator has delayed a review until April 20 of the proposed acquisition of the charter operator by Qantas Airways. This marked the fourth delay so far by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the carrier's A$610.8m ($409.97m) acquisition offer of Alliance Aviation. Last May, Qantas announced plans to buy the remaining 80% stake in Alliance Aviation in an all-stock deal to expand its footprint in the charter business. "Due to recent announcements by Qantas and Alliance about key developments regarding their existing wet-lease agreement, and fleet expansions by Alliance, the ACCC requires more time to gather and consider further information from the parties," an ACCC spokesperson said on Monday.Under the agreement, Qantas said the number of wet-lease aircraft options available from Alliance Airlines, a unit of Alliance Aviation Services, will be up to 12 additional Embraer E190 aircraft. Alliance Aviation said last month that it had entered an agreement to purchase additional 30 Embraer E190 jet aircraft, with deliveries and payments to be completed in January 2026. Qantas, which has previously "expressed disappointment" at ACCC delaying its decision, said in an emailed response on Monday that its position on the matter has not changed.<br/>