Norwegian Air is expecting one of its strongest summer seasons ever, but is concerned a shortage of Danish air traffic controllers could lead to problems, the budget airline said on Friday. The comments, which came as the company reported a loss for its seasonally weaker first quarter, chime with those of rivals as airlines see a surge in demand in the wake of the pandemic but fret about a repeat of last year's disruption at airports. "Norwegian prepares for what is expected to be one of the company's strongest summers ever," the airline said in a statement, adding that average fares booked so far for the June-August period were up 25% compared to last year. However, CEO Geir Karlsen highlighted the risks from a shortage of Danish air traffic controllers that has triggered delays and cancellations at Copenhagen Airport. "We are concerned that there won't be enough staff over the summer," Karlsen said in an interview on the sidelines of an earnings presentation. Naviair, the company controlling air traffic in Danish airspace, shed 46 air traffic controllers in voluntary layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving remaining staff to take additional paid shifts as travel later recovered. But Naviair controllers in late April began turning down the extra work in a conflict over work hours, leading to delays and cancellations. "We are following it very closely... Copenhagen is very, very important to us," Karlsen said, adding Norwegian Air and Nordic rival SAS had jointly written to Denmark's government pushing for a solution to the delays. Karlsen said his company was looking for alternatives for its customers, including moving flights to the nearby Malmoe Airport in southern Sweden. "For the full-year of 2023, the company is forecasting a significant increase in unit revenue from last year," Norwegian said.<br/>
unaligned
One country, two major airlines operating world-class long-haul fleets out of different major aviation hubs located close to one another. On paper, the United Arab Emirates’ ownership of two powerhouse global longhaul carriers with largely overlapping international air networks that converge so closely might seem an extravagance too far. Isn’t one enough? And so, the announcement by Emirates and Etihad of a new deal to work more closely will inevitably revive rumors of a potential merger between the two: something long discussed at a kind of academic level in aviation circles, particularly during tough economic times, but one potentially stymied by local politics – and the fact that their status symbol hub airports are an hour apart on the ground. Earlier this month, the two airlines, both still coming back from the disruption caused by the pandemic, agreed on a so-called “interline” partnership. The move raises questions about what that means for passengers, and whether a new regional super airline is finally on its way. Emirates and Etihad are both flag carriers of the UAE, the small Gulf country made up of seven emirates. Emirates, established in 1985, is based in Dubai and is one of the world’s largest airlines by most metrics. Etihad is newer, established in 2003 and based in Abu Dhabi. Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport are fewer than 150 kilometers (100 miles) apart and the drive between them takes around 75-90 minutes depending on traffic. By and large, the Emirati capital city Abu Dhabi is known for being smaller and quieter than its glitzy, livelier northeastern neighbor Dubai, but both certainly have their draws for travelers in addition to being regional economic centers. One of the big questions that pops up every time Emirates and Etihad are mentioned in the same announcement is whether it means a closer partnership – reciprocal agreements for frequent flyer benefits, codeshare flights and even a prospective merger. Addison Schonland, partner at consultancy AirInsight Group, plays down the prospect of a merger, characterizing the interline agreement as “primarily a regional tourism marketing effort.”<br/>
Iraq’s civil aviation regulator has clarified its measures to restrict Iraqi Airways Airbus A220 operations, citing engine damage to two airframes. The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority states that it took the decision to suspend A220 operations over a “sense of responsibility to preserve the safety of passengers and air traffic”. It says an initial technical inspection of one aircraft on 30 April revealed damage to the inner engine lining and the fan blades after arrival at Baghdad. The authority adds that a second A220 suffered “the same damage to one of its engines” during a flight to Tunisia two days later. Iraqi Airways is stressing that, contrary to certain information circulating about the situation, there was no “engine explosion” on the aircraft in Tunisia. The Civil Aviation Authority points out that several A220 operators have been “exposed to the same technical problems”, referring specifically to EgyptAir and Swiss. Iraqi Airways has a fleet of five A220-300s, which are exclusively powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines. According to a document circulating on social media, apparently from the Civil Aviation Authority and dated 3 May, the engine incidents affected YI-ARG and YI-ARI – delivered respectively in December last year and January this year. “It was decided to stop operating all aircraft of the [A220-300 model] immediately and until further notice until the completion of the investigation procedures,” the document states. Iraqi Airways has been taking delivery of Boeing 737 Max jets as part of its fleet renewal, and recently returned a Bombardier CRJ900 (YI-AQA) to service after five months, following work including replacement of its landing-gear in Spain. Fleet modernisation also includes introducing Boeing 787-8s, the first of which (YI-ATC) has started undergoing flight tests at the airframer’s facility in Charleston.<br/>
India has been placed on a watchlist with a negative outlook by a global aviation leasing watchdog, which said it had failed to comply with international aircraft repossession norms after airline Go First was granted bankruptcy protection. The move by the Aviation Working Group, a UK-based entity that monitors leasing and financing laws, could raise leasing costs for Indian airlines and hurt lessors' confidence just as the world's third-largest domestic market faces record growth. Such an outlook will "have a direct and material impact on future financing and leases to Indian airlines", AWG told Go First in a letter copied to India's aviation minister. Go Airlines (India) filed for bankruptcy protection last week, blaming "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines for the grounding of about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. Pratt, part of Raytheon Technologies, says the claims are without evidence and divert attention from the airline's financial woes. In granting protection, the Indian tribunal ordered a freeze on Go First's assets even though some lessors had already terminated leases and placed requests with the aviation regulator to repossess more than 40 planes. Failure to process the applications before the freeze was imposed, "results in a negative outlook", AWG said a notice. India's aviation ministry and regulator were not immediately available to comment.<br/>