Starting this week, the budget carrier Flair Airlines is back for another summer at the Saint John Airport, but with more flights than offered in 2022. Flair will offer service to Toronto three days a week this summer, an upgrade over the two days offered last year. The airline hasn't flown out of Saint John since October 2022, as it's been offering a seasonal service that ceased during the fall and winter seasons, according to Lori Carle, manager of marketing, public and corporate relations for the airport. "They're coming every year — we would like them to stay longer," Carle said during an interview with Information Morning Saint John. "Anecdotally, talking to their marketing people, they said 'our schedulers' plan is to build out in Saint John and to add more [flights].' So that gives us a lot of hope." Flair recently made national headlines when four of its planes were seized in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo, Ont., during what the company called a commercial dispute, causing flights to be cancelled. The leased aircraft were seized by a New York hedge fund.<br/>
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A European airline has been hit with a E30,000 fine (NZ$52,000) for its ‘sexist’ uniform rules for female cabin crew. Budget carrier Vueling was fined by Catalonian authorities following a complaint by the union representing the staff, Stavla, reported El Periódico. The airline’s rules dictating that female cabin crew had to wear high heels and had to follow strict make-up guidelines were deemed unfair compared to the dress code for male staff. The men only had to keep a "clean and neat appearance”, while women had rules on lipsticks, foundation, the length of eyelashes, as well the height of their heels. Vueling has now changed its policy to remove its "gender distinction or obligation to wear make-up”, and is reviewing its style guide and “has been working on an inclusive image for more than a year”. “The company’s aim with the dress code is to always ensure comfort and safety in all environments. In fact, the style guide was drafted with the cooperation of the crew member representatives,” the airline said in a statement to The Independent.<br/>
Saudi Arabia will launch another state-owned airline in early 2025, entering an already crowded field as Gulf states turn to tourism in a bid to decrease their dependence on oil revenue. Riyadh Air, which will be based in the Saudi capital, aims to fly to 100 destinations by 2030 and capture a large share of the Asian market, according to the CEO Tony Douglas, who spoke with Nikkei Asia. Riyadh Air has agreed to purchase 39 Boeing Dreamliners, with options for 33 more jets. The airline is expected to add $20b to Saudi Arabia's non-oil GDP growth and create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. The carrier is an important part of the Saudi Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy, Douglas said. But Riyadh Air, which will be owned entirely by the Saudi government's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, faces intense competition from well-established long-haul Gulf rivals including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. Gulf airlines have leveraged their strategic geographic positions between Europe, Asia and Africa. Layovers in the Gulf are common for flights between Europe and Asia, particularly since the war in Ukraine has made many flight paths longer, with airlines avoiding Russian airspace. There is debate over whether a new long-haul Gulf carrier would spark a price war. Douglas told Nikkei Asia that "airline fare prices are dictated by market conditions correlated with supply and demand." Riyadh Air, he added, will be "a full-service provider, with an obsessional attention to guest experience, offering Saudi hospitality, and the world's first digital native airline." Tarek Fadlallah, CEO at Nomura Asset Management, Middle East, told Nikkei Asia, "The skies over the Gulf region are getting crowded and it is unlikely that another new airline will help improve the sector's profit outlook." It is unclear, moreover, how a new Gulf carrier would capture market share in Asia and compete with the likes of Cathay Pacific. McKinsey & Co. forecast that mainland China would see 4m air passengers a month by April, pushing air travel back up to 40% of pre-COVID-19 levels. McKinsey's report also states that Chinese carriers are well prepared and that there are over 200 large aircraft China can reactivate quickly for international flights.<br/>
Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Christchurch Airport today (March 27), marking the resumption of its daily service from Dubai to Christchurch via Sydney after more than three years. The special service was greeted by a crowd of spectators at the Christchurch Airport boundary, who watched as the iconic aircraft taxied through a ceremonial water canon salute, before parking in view of trade, media, and VIP guests at the international terminal. Outbound EK412 left Dubai at 10:15 local time, stopping briefly in Sydney before arriving in Christchurch at 13:55 hours the next day, New Zealand time. On board the first flight back to Christchurch, Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia, Emirates, said: “Seeing the water cannon salute after we touched down in the first Emirates A380 flight in more than three years is a reminder of how special the aircraft is to Christchurch, since its first arrival in 2016. The significance of the occasion was also clear on the faces of the other passengers on board, who understood what this service means for Christchurch and connecting it to the world.<br/>