US regional carriers Republic Airways and Cape Air are being sued by their respective pilots’ unions for offering contracts that include financial penalties of up to $250,000 if pilots leave before completing their contracts. In a civil complaint filed on 9 June in the US District Court Southern District of Indiana, the Teamsters Local 357 and Local 1224 unions argue that the pilot contracts violate US labour laws, listing Republic Airways and Cape Air parent company Hyannis Air Service as defendants. A Cape Air captain pathway agreement, presented as an exhibit in the lawsuit, contains a clause that prevents pilots from flying for “any airline that is in competition with Republic for a period of one year” if they quit or resign before completing three-year contracts. The agreement also requires pilots who fail to work the full three years to pay the company $250,000 “not as penalty but as liquidated damages” incurred from training costs. “The lawsuit asserts the employment contracts are an attempt by the airlines to change pilots’ working conditions unilaterally, in violation of federal labour law under the Railway Labor Act,” says the Teamsters Local 357 union representing Republic pilots. Specifically, the lawsuit says that the regional airlines are effectively avoiding collective bargaining negotiation and depriving pilots their right to union representation. “That Republic and Hyannis Air are able to compel individual pilots to enter these oppressive employment agreements on pain of job loss simply illustrates the grossly disproportionate economic and bargaining power of carriers toward individual employees,” the lawsuit states. The Teamsters seek a judgement declaring the pilot employment agreements null and void, and an injunction prohibiting the airlines from “taking any action to enforce individual agreements”. The Teamsters also request an order directing Republic and Cape Air to “permanently refrain from seeking to enter such agreements with any pilot in the future”.<br/>
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EasyJet canceled about 100 flights to and from London Gatwick Airport between Sunday and Monday because of thunderstorms that hit southern England. Flight-tracking site FlightAware showed that EasyJet was the No. 1 airline for disruptions, with 70 cancellations and 294 delays on Sunday and 26 cancellations and 181 delays on Monday. Gatwick said it canceled 48 outbound flights, a number the airport called normal for storm conditions. The budget airline, which has a hub at Gatwick, said storms limited the number of departures and arrivals, causing disruption. Cancellations and diversions on Sunday had a “knock-on impact” on Monday because some planes weren’t in position, a spokesman said in a statement. The flight disruption comes as the peak summer travel season is in full swing. Carriers such as EasyJet have reported high demand this summer as people rush to take to the skies after the Covid-19 pandemic restricted travel across the world. Many passengers last year were faced with flight cancellations, delays, and lost luggage as airlines suffered from staff shortages. EasyJet still operated 400 flights to and from Gatwick on Sunday, and the airline offered passengers whose flights were canceled a refund or the chance to rebook travel.<br/>
Ryanair is keen to buy the slots International Consolidated Airlines Group may be forced to dispose to get its planned acquisition of Air Europa approved by the European antitrust regulator, Cinco Dias newspaper reported on Monday. "We are following the process because we are interested in the possible liberation of slots in different airports," Elena Cabrera, Ryanair's country communications manager for Spain told the newspaper. "We are interested in slots in Canary and Balearic Islands and in Madrid, but the truth is that we are open to any opportunity as we are in growth phase in Spain," she added. Ryanair's press office confirmed the comments. In February, IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, agreed to buy the remaining 80% in Spanish carrier Air Europa it did not already own for E400m. The deal still needs anti-trust clearance by the EC.<br/>
Ryanair is to open its first flights from Albania, presenting a competitive challenge to budget rival Wizz Air which is set to expand its own route network from the capital Tirana. The Irish carrier has unveiled 17 routes on which it will commence operations in the upcoming winter season. All but two of the destinations – Manchester and Dusseldorf Weeze – will overlap with services already operated by Wizz, or set to be covered by the Central European airline’s own Tirana expansion. Wizz Air is adding 10 more routes from Tirana, seven during the winter and another three from the beginning of summer 2024. It is also reinforcing the existing Albanian network with increased frequencies on several connections. Wizz recently disclosed that it would be stationing another aircraft at Tirana – taking the based fleet to 11. The airline asserts that it is the largest carrier in Albania, and the new services will take its network to more than 60 destinations. “This strategic decision reflects our commitment to meeting the growing demand of our passengers,” says Wizz network officer Evelin Jeckel. Ryanair’s debut in Albania will bring to 37 the number of countries the Irish operator covers. It will offer about 200 weekly flights from Tirana. Chief of the airline’s operating company Eddie Wilson says the carrier aims to “drive inbound tourism and connectivity” to Albania. “These routes will allow millions of visitors from major cities across Europe,” he says. Ryanair will operate to such destinations as London Stansted, Paris Beauvais, Brussels Charleroi, Milan Bergamo and various other cities in the UK, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, the Czech Republic and Romania.<br/>
Air Tanzania has outlined initial cargo services including cities in the Middle East and India, after introducing a Boeing 767-300 freighter to its fleet. The airline states that its cargo network will include flights to Dubai and Mumbai, as well as the African destinations of Kinshasa and Lubumbashi from 26 June. Air Tanzania received the new-build twinjet – registered 5H-TCO, and powered by General Electric CF6 engines – on 3 June, after ordering it in mid-2021. Boeing says the transfer is its first direct delivery of a 767 cargo jet to an African carrier. “We are looking forward to expanding our imports and exports industry that require timely delivery,” says Air Tanzania managing director Ladislaus Matindi. “Arrival of the aircraft will open opportunities for global businesses to transport commercial cargo goods to various parts of the world, which will boost national economic growth.” Air Tanzania operates a fleet which includes Boeing 787s, Airbus A220s and De Havilland Dash 8s, and it has another 787 and two 737 Max jets on order.<br/>
Riyadh Air, an airline owned by the Saudi wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund), heralded new era in travel when its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flew on low altitude over several notable landmarks in the Riyadh skyline, including KAFD, Boulevard city and some of the iconic main towers, thus thrilling residents with a glimpse of their new airline. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is the first of Riyadh Air’s two liveries to be revealed. The liveried aircraft took flight over its home city ahead of its public debut at the 54th Paris Air Show. The Dreamliner, painted with the modern and striking livery, was revealed in Riyadh at King Khaled International Airport, at a ceremony attended by several top executives and official dignitaries. Riyadh Air's brand identity reflects the modern and forward-thinking theme of Saudi Arabia. It is inspired by the warmth and hospitality of the kingdom and the vibrant lavender colours that carpet the desert in the spring, the beautiful livery is one of a series which will continue to push boundaries in aviation. It has been designed to incorporate visual references to the kingdom and the city which include the sweeping curves of Arabic script with the global campaign tagline 'The Future Takes Flight.' The aircraft flew on low altitude over several notable landmarks in the Riyadh skyline, including KAFD, Boulevard city and some of the iconic main towers, thrilling residents with a glimpse of their new airline while sharing the pride of seeing the new national carrier in the Kingdom. <br/>
The family of IndiGo's co-founder Rakesh Gangwal was likely to sell between 5% and 8% stake in the Indian airline's parent InterGlobe Aviation, worth up to 75b rupees ($909.58), CNBC Awaaz said in a report, citing sources. Rakesh Gangwal and his wife, Shobha Gangwal, hold 13.23% and 2.99% respectively in InterGlobe as of March 31, while their Chinkerpoo Family Trust holds a 13.5% stake, according to exchange data. The Gangwal family will likely sell stake in block deals when the lock in for shares open on July 15, the report said. Shobha Gangwal had cut her stake in the company by over 4% in February. Interglobe Aviation and a representative for the Gangwal family did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Rakesh Gangwal resigned from the company's board in Feb. 2022 and had said that he would cut his stake in the airline over five years.<br/>Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, who co-founded IndiGo in 2006, fell out in early 2020 when the former sought to modify certain rules in the company's articles of association.<br/>
Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines has defended imposing weight requirements on flight attendants after reports of the new policy went viral on social media and sparked a public backlash. State media initially reported that the airline, one of the country’s biggest, introduced a new policy in early June that threatened to ground female attendants if their weight exceeded the “standard limit.” The rule was part of a series of broader guidelines on appearance issued to cabin crew, with the “standard” weight calculated by height, according to state-run Global Times. For instance, an attendant measuring 158 centimeters – the average height of a Chinese adult woman – would be required to stay within 48 kilograms. Flight attendants who are less than 5% over that standard will have their weight monitored monthly and undergo a review, while those weighing 10% over the standard will be immediately suspended and put on a “weight reduction plan” supervised by the company, Global Times reported On Monday, Hainan Airlines confirmed that they used a “weight reference standard” – but said it applied to all flight attendants regardless of gender.<br/>