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American Airlines Group's pilot leaders have rejected efforts to join the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), union spokesman for the U.S. carrier's aviators, Dennis Tajer, said on Friday. Support from the Allied Pilots Association (APA) board fell short of the two-thirds needed to start merger talks with fast-growing ALPA, the world's largest pilots' union, which recently joined forces with aviators at Air Canada. Pilots at North American carriers are making workplace gains in new contracts as travel rebounds from the pandemic. Allied, which reached a tentative deal last month that boosts pay by 21% in 2023, agreed in November to create a merger committee to look at joining forces with fast-growing ALPA. The group AA Pilots for ALPA, which supported a merger, said in a statement they were disappointed by the APA board of directors' decision which was made on Thursday afternoon.<br/>

Qatar Airways, which routinely pockets the top prize at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, won’t have first-class berths on its next-generation long-haul aircraft, according to Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. Al Baker said the investment in the most luxurious seats doesn’t justify the returns, given that Qatar’s business-class offering provides much of the same perks. “Why should you invest in a subclass of an aeroplane that already gives you all the amenities that first class gives you,” said Al Baker, speaking in an exclusive hour-long interview in Istanbul on Saturday. “I don’t see the necessity.” Phasing out first class on long-haul routes isn’t without strategic risk. The move runs counter both to Qatar’s five-star image and an industry trend that has seen airlines from Deutsche Lufthansa AG to Qantas Airways Ltd to Air France doubling down on their high-end offerings. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said more leisure travelers are looking for a special treat, and that the front of his aircraft have never been fuller. For Al Baker, however, the future lies in business class, which Qatar has branded its “Q-suite” product. That’s why there will be no first class on its future next-generation Boeing Co. 777X aircraft. These jets will become the biggest that the airline operates once it eventually retires all 10 of its Airbus SE A380s, which still contain 8 first class seats. Cabin classes have become more elastic over the years, with carriers squeezing in premium economy between business and budget seat rows. First class has remained more of a gimmick that corporate clients limit to top executives, or that attracts ordinary passengers splurging on a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. The aviation supply chain remains a great source of concern for Qatar Airways, as shortages of parts and snowballing backlogs in the production line hit plane deliveries. Al Baker, speaking ahead of the annual IATA gathering of some 300 airlines, said his airline is about 15 planes short of the 25 it expected to take over of this year — pointing to issues on the Boeing 787, the Airbus 321neo and the A350 jets.<br/>

Australian aviation is at a “critical juncture”, with policy shortcomings allowing for a duopoly marked by higher air fares and poorer service, the consumer watchdog warns, as it loses extra resources to scrutinise the sector. Qantas Group – including budget carrier Jetstar – and Virgin Australia have carried 90% of domestic passengers over the past two decades, and as many as 94% in April this year, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) quarterly domestic aviation monitoring report released on Monday, the final edition of the three-year task. Average revenue per passenger – while down from last December’s record air fare peak – remains just above pre-pandemic figures even when adjusted for inflation but the number of passengers and seats flown by airlines hovers just under 2019 levels. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb noted the high market concentration in Australian aviation is rivalled only by natural monopolies such as electricity grids and rail networks. “Without a real threat of losing passengers to other airlines, the Qantas and Virgin Australia airline groups have had less incentive to offer attractive airfares, develop more direct routes, operate more reliable services and invest in systems to provide high levels of customer service,” Cass-Gottlieb said. Cass-Gottlieb’s comments echo the alarm sounded by her predecessor, Rod Sims, and Australian Airports Association chief James Goodwin in the Guardian last week about the need for an ongoing investigation of the aviation industry, with the latter declaring Australians “are paying too much for airline tickets” as carriers are slow to pass on the almost halving of the cost of jet fuel and labour-force savings to consumers.<br/>