United Airlines has operated humanitarian flights into Guam International after the US territory was battered by Typhoon Mawar late last week. The flights came as United CEO Scott Kirby expressed his concerns about the airline's 800 employees based on the island, as well as crews on layovers caught by the weather event. The eye of Typhoon Mawar passed over Guam late on May 24, with the island's A.B. Won Pat International Airport recording winds of 114 kilometres per hour. The airport was closed to regular operations until May 29, but was allowing humanitarian and essential cargo flights in. Via social media, Kirby said United Airlines had operated a humanitarian flight in from Manila Ninoy Aquino International on May 26 and sent a B777-300ER loaded with relief supplies, including plasma products, down to Guam from San Francisco, CA. That flight landed mid-afternoon on May 28. "We are in the process of conducting wellness checks on nearly 800 employees based there, as well as with our layover crews," wrote Kirby. "At the same time, we’re focused on getting the help needed as quickly as possible. United is coordinating humanitarian efforts with American Red Cross and Airlink, Inc. to send essential supplies, first responders and cargo to Guam."<br/>
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The pilots union at the country's largest airline has opened the gate to bargaining ahead of time - as early as next month, amid peak travel season - adding pressure to an industry under scrutiny after a rocky year. The Air Canada pilots group said Tuesday it has invoked a clause to end its 10-year collective agreement a year early and launch negotiations over a new one. The move comes after about 1,800 pilots at WestJet and budget subsidiary Swoop settled on a tentative deal this month that secures a 24% wage increase over four years, as well as more flexible scheduling and a big boost to per diems. Since landing on an agreement in 2014, Air Canada pilots have received a 2% pay hike each year. The current deal will remain in force until Sept. 29, but its provisions will still apply after that date, both parties said. “The Air Canada pilots are looking forward to working with the company towards a contract that addresses career progression and job security issues for its pilots, and closes the growing wage gap between the U.S. and Canada,” said Air Line Pilots Association spokeswoman Camilla Castro in an email. “The current agreement, which has been in place for nearly a decade, is a testimony of the productive relationship we have with our pilots. We expect the upcoming negotiations to be conducted in this same spirit,” Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an emailed statement. The Air Canada pilots group, whose 4,500-odd members two weeks ago joined the Air Line Pilots Association, can kick off negotiations with a notice to bargain as early as June 1. The union expects to serve it to management early next month, said Castro. The merger with the Air Canada Pilots Association, which WestJet flight crews also belong to, means 95% of professional Canadian pilots are represented by a single union, according to Charlene Hudy, the Air Canada union's council chair. <br/>
Colombian carrier Avianca has announced the hiring of 730 new employees, including pilots, cabin crew members, maintenance technicians, service agents, and more. Avianca will give priority to former employees of Viva Air and Ultra Air, the two bankrupt Colombian carriers that ceased operations earlier this year. On Tuesday, Avianca announced that considering the current situation of the airline industry in South America, Colombia’s connectivity needs, and the company’s plan to incorporate additional aircraft, it would hire up to 730 new employees. CEO Adrán Neuhauser said, “It is time to think about the future and maintain the country's connectivity, so we will seek to add aircraft to our operation and begin finding the best talent and joining the Avianca team. This effort to open the call for 730 experts seeks to provide options and protect the sector's stability.” As of May 2023, Avianca expects to receive at least 96 new aircraft in the coming years. The airline’s order includes four new A320ceos and 91 A320neos. Following its successful exit from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, the airline has launched many new routes, announced new strong partnerships (including the creation of the Abra Group Limited with Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aéreas), and shifted its business model to a more low-cost-oriented one. Avianca’s new hiring process will be mainly aimed at operational and technical positions in the Colombian and El Salvador markets. The carrier has domestic branches across several countries in Latin America, also including Ecuador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.<br/>
A US judge ruled late on Tuesday that relatives of those killed in a 2019 Boeing 737 MAX Ethiopian Airlines crash may seek compensation for pain and suffering of passengers before the plane hit the ground. Boeing in 2021 agreed to acknowledge liability for compensatory damages in lawsuits filed by families of the 157 people killed in the fatal Ethiopian 737 MAX crash. In February, the US planemaker sought to exclude any evidence of pain and suffering that passengers may have experienced before the crash. "There is sufficient evidence to support a reasonable inference that these passengers experienced pre-impact fright and terror, and that experience is part of the 'process or manner of death,'" US District Judge Jorge Alonso in Illinois wrote in his ruling, rejecting Boeing's motion.<br/>Boeing did not immediately comment. Alonso added a jury could reasonably infer from evidence that the passengers "perceived that they were going to crash, horrifically, to their certain death." A total of 346 people were killed in two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes - including the earlier October 2018 Lion Air crash in Indonesia. The Ethiopian Airlines crash prompted the worldwide grounding of the MAX in March 2019 for 20 months, costing Boeing more than $20b. As a result of the 2021 agreement, lawyers for the Ethiopian Airlines victims agreed not to seek punitive damages and Boeing did not challenge the lawsuits being filed in Illinois. As of early May, cases involving around 80 victims had been settled leaving around 75 pending. The first of a series of trials is set for June 20.<br/>
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson is not happy about the recent uptick in the number of unruly passengers in the South Asian country. Wilson highlighted the problem of unruly passengers as an international one, but his comments come at a time when such cases have significantly risen in Indian aviation. In particular, Air India has experienced the bulk of such incidents lately compared to other Indian carriers, the most recent of which came only a few days ago on a domestic flight. The airline official said AI was taking such incidents extremely seriously and intended on holding all such passengers accountable. However, despite the consequences, Wilson admitted such episodes continue to happen. In an interview with the PTI, Wilson said, "As an airline, we needed to and have taken a firm line on unruly behaviour onboard aircraft... there is a level of behaviour that we expect from people when they fly. Also, imparting that same message to the crew when supporting them. When they happen, we take action and hopefully in the process, we remind people of what the standard is and we remind people of consequences when the standard is not met." As travel recovery increases in post-pandemic aviation, incidents of hostile travelers have also seen a dramatic increase in India. So far in 2023, there have been almost a dozen such cases.<br/>
Air New Zealand has reclaimed the crown of the world's best airline, according to AirlineRatings.com. The safety and product rating website has unveiled its awards for 2023, which sees the national carrier take the title back from Qatar Airways. It is now the seventh time since 2013 that Air NZ has been named the best. The judges look at 12 key criteria that include the age of the airline’s fleet, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, product offerings, and staff relations. Qatar finished second, ahead of Etihad Airways, Korean Airlines and Singapore Airlines. It wasn’t the only honour for Air NZ, it also won the best economy class. It’s been a good 24 hours for Air NZ after being named the “most attractive” employer in the country for the seventh time on Tuesday, according to Randstad research. Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said he was delighted at the recognition of the hard work of the staff. “We owe our success to the dedication and hard work of our 12,000 Air New Zealanders who wake each morning to connect Kiwis with each other and the world,” said Foran. “This award belongs to them for their grit, commitment, and the exceptional service they deliver every day. It is a sign that we have got our swing back and that our relentless focus on doing the basics brilliantly and delivering our Kia Mau strategy with precision and ambition is working.”<br/>