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Air Canada's pilots have ended a decade-long contract framework, opening the door to "full bargaining this summer," their union leadership said on Monday in a note to members seen by Reuters. Air Canada pilots have previously said they are pressing for "historic" gains to narrow the earnings gap with higher-paid aviators at US carriers. Their counterparts at Onex Corp's WestJet Airlines reached a tentative agreement that would offer a 24% hourly raise over four years, plus other pay and benefits. The estimated 4,500 pilots at Canada's largest carrier have received a 2% wage increase per year since reaching a deal in 2014. The union had a Monday deadline for using a type of escape clause that would allow for negotiations this year. The agreement now runs until Sept. 29, 2023, although its provisions will apply beyond that date. "We were willing to meet with the company if they wanted to provide us with a substantial proposal that would further our membership’s goals," said the letter, adding Air Canada did not seek to open discussions. The Air Canada pilots group, which joined the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) this month, said in a separate document it expects a notice to bargain to be provided in early June. "Our pilots may elect to use the option that was available to them to initiate bargaining for a new collective agreement," Montreal-based Air Canada said in an emailed statement. "The current agreement, which has been in place for nine years, is testimony of the productive relationship we have with our pilots."<br/>

Flying with Turkish Airlines just got even more stylish, as the airline debuts premium travel kits from luxury brand Ferragamo, packed with sustainable and rejuvenating amenities. From this spring, business class travelers on intercontinental flights with Turkish Airlines will receive “timeless” bags designed by Ferragamo, available in a range of collectible colors throughout the year and for both male and female passengers. With a chic and functional design, the bags are designed to be carried off the plane and used far beyond the trip. That luxurious and sustainable ethos continues in the contents of the comfort kits. The bags contain plush socks, first-class eye masks, and earplugs made from recycled plastic. The toothbrush is made from wheat straw, and the brochure is printed on stock certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – paper made from responsibly sourced wood fiber. The kit also includes skincare products so travelers can arrive at their destinations refreshed and leave the plane’s dry air far behind.<br/>

Singapore Airlines and Garuda Indonesia are seeking to deepen ties with a commercial pact to coordinate on fares and flight schedules, the carriers announced Monday. Singapore’s flag carrier and Indonesia’s main airline said the arrangement, which expands on a memorandum of understanding the two signed in November 2021, will likely cover routes between Singapore and Denpasar in Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya, a port city in Java. The arrangement also envisages the implementation of new initiatives, including joint fare products and corporate programs. The deepening ties, which are subject to regulatory approvals, are a win for Singapore Airlines as the city-state’s carrier widens its influence across Southeast Asia at a time many of the region’s other airlines are still recovering from the financial stresses of Covid. Singapore Airlines struck a similar arrangement with Malaysia Airlines in November last year, and another via a strategic partnership with Thai Airways International Pcl in December. The partnerships will funnel ultimately more passengers from the region onto Singapore Airlines’ long-distance flights between Europe and Asia, reinforcing its role as Southeast Asia’s dominant carrier. They may also help solidify Changi Airport’s position as the prime aviation hub in the region, augmenting the case for the massive new Terminal 5, which is expected to begin construction in 2025. Garuda President and CEO, Irfan Setiaputra, hailed the agreement, saying the deal was linked to the Indonesian carrier’s efforts to boost its own performance. Singapore Airlines’ CEO Goh Choon Phong, said the relationship was also a firm commitment to increase flights between the two countries, and regionally.<br/>

Air India is currently expanding in every way possible. One of the most significant growth areas is its fleet and network, and finding qualified crew to operate its aircraft has been challenging. The carrier’s decision to hire expat pilots to operate some planes was criticized, but now Air India's CEO has clarified that it is only a temporary solution to a temporary problem. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has clarified the airline’s position on expat pilots. In an interview with The Hindu and Businessline, he explained that the airline’s current expansion has been unlike anything it has witnessed in recent years. For many years the carrier was actually shrinking, with several planes grounded and many others flying after cannibalizing other aircraft for parts. But after the Tatas took over, there was ample financial backing to get the grounded fleet back in the air and also welcome additional planes on short-term leases. But this posed a new challenge. Finding qualified crew with enough experience quickly, particularly for some of its widebody fleet, has been a challenge. Air India has been able to lease 11 Boeing 777s and will also receive six Airbus A350s in the coming months. This amounts to an increase in widebody fleet by 17 aircraft in 12 months. Wilson explained that hiring expat pilots to fly some of these planes is, in fact, just a temporary solution, saying, “The expatriate pilot plan, I need to make this very clear, is a temporary solution to a temporary problem … 17 aircraft [are] coming in [in] the space of less than 12 months. You do not have the pipeline ready to fly those aircraft overnight, as it takes time to build. And clearly we would want to build it from within and staff these aircraft from within... the time is just too short. The intention was and remains for them to fly only so long as it takes to recruit and promote from within. And that is actually happening faster than we expected.”<br/>

For the month of June, Air New Zealand will be weighing customers travelling on international flights out of Auckland Airport to update its average passenger weight data. The airline says the process "is essential to the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft and is a Civil Aviation Authority requirement". Airlines must carefully calculate the weight, balance and fuel requirements of every flight to fly safely and efficiently, which means every now and then they have to make sure their average passenger weight is correct. When they get it wrong, it can mean luggage gets left behind if the plane needs to reduce weight, as happened with Air NZ's inaugural flight from New York to Auckland last year. In 2021, Air NZ weighed passengers on its domestic network, but next month the airline will be asking more than 10,000 passengers on international flights to take part in the weight survey. But people set to fly overseas with Air NZ who may be worried about their weight becoming public information don't need to be concerned. "We know stepping on the scales can be daunting. We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere," said the airline's load control improvement specialist Alastair James. "No one can see your weight - not even us! It's completely anonymous. It's simple, it's voluntary, and by weighing in, you'll be helping us to fly you safely and efficiently."<br/>