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American Airlines will now charge for checked bags on all basic economy tickets. The airline announced it would introduce a $75 fee for the first checked bags on its cheapest fares on transoceanic flights, saying the change is meant to make the terms of basic economy more consistent across its network. “We are simplifying our product offerings to make it easier for customers when they are shopping for travel. With this change, our Basic Economy product will include all of the same features whether a customer is purchasing it for a domestic or international flight,” Andrea Koos, an American Airlines spokesperson said. But for consumers, this is obviously a frustrating move. It means that on the longest flights, a ticket will cost nearly $100 more than the published price if you wind up needing to check a bag. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines continue to offer free first checked bags on transpacific flights for basic economy ticketholders, but like American, charge $75 on transatlantic flights. The Biden Administration and the Department of Transportation have been trying to crack down on airline fees, but so far there has been no formal change to restrict bag charges.<br/>

Finnair Tuesday raised its full-year 2023 operating profit target and said it expects travel demand to exceed expectations, sending its shares up 3%. The company now estimates that its comparable operating profit this year will reach or even exceed 2019's pre-pandemic level of E162.8m, it said. "As a result of the improved profit outlook, Finnair's strategic comparable operating profit margin target of at least 5% from mid-2024 onwards would be reached 12–18 months earlier than anticipated," the carrier said. However, it does not see its revenue for 2023 reach the 2019 level of E3.1b, Finnair added. Less-costly fuel prices also helped, the company said. However, high fuel prices and the closure of Russia's airspace still cause uncertainty, it added. Finnair had in late April predicted that its revenue and earnings would significantly improve this year but added at the time that the company would still lag levels seen in 2019, the last year before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>

Royal Air Maroc is putting the final touches to a tender to buy new long- and medium-haul aircraft to meet an expected rise in tourist arrivals to Morocco and expand its network. The state-owned carrier is looking to add “many new routes” mainly to Africa, Europe and the Americas, CEO Abdelhamid Addou said in an interview on Tuesday at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa conference in Marrakesh, Morocco. A larger fleet is key to becoming a more global airline and tap into Morocco’s status as a big draw for tourists, the CEO said. Royal Air Maroc wants to boost its base at Casablanca into a bigger transit hub for sub-Saharan Africa, he added, as “the continent’s potential is very large and has to be developed by African airlines.” Most African carriers have struggled for years due to weak finances and management issues — with the exception of Ethiopian Airlines Group. That’s enabled international giants such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines to grow a presence on the continent. Royal Air Maroc plans to raise debt to help fund the plane acquisitions though Addou declined to say whether that would involve a bond issue. The carrier has about 50 aircraft, most of which are Boeing Co. models, it said. <br/>

Malaysia will seek Interpol's assistance in tracking down and investigating a stand-up comic who mocked the country and made jokes about missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, its police chief said on Tuesday. Jocelyn Chia, a New York-based comedian, stirred controversy in Malaysia and Singapore this month after she posted on social media a clip of her live comedy set in which she joked about the plane that went missing nine years ago with 239 people onboard. Debris linked to the plane has been found over the years, but the fate and location of the aircraft remain a mystery. Chia, who performed the set at a comedy club in New York, was widely criticised in Malaysia, with the home minister describing her comments as insensitive and offensive. National police chief Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said Malaysia would this week ask Interpol for her location and full identity to facilitate further investigations, state news agency Bernama reported. He said Malaysia will investigate Chia's comments under its own laws related to provocation, incitement, and publication of offensive online content. A Malaysian police spokesperson confirmed the comments. It was unclear if or how Chia could be penalised for her act. Chia, a lawyer turned comedian who says she is originally from Singapore, could not be reached immediately for comment. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Chia said she stood by her jokes despite the controversy, but that the short clips on social media took them out of context.<br/>

Qantas will begin non-stop flights to New York from Auckland on Wednesday, the first time the airline has offered flights to the US city in three years, as the airline continues to expand its international network post-COVID. Originating in Sydney, the new route replaces a stop in Los Angeles (used before the pandemic) with New Zealand’s Auckland hub. Qantas will fly Boeing 787 Dreamliners on the route with 42 business-class, 28 premium-economy and 166 economy-class seats. “LA had a lot of issues with connectivity,” said CE Alan Joyce prior to the departure of the flight. “You had to pick up your bag, go through customs and immigration and then check in again for the Qantas flight that went to New York. And we never had the aircraft, until the 787s were available, to be able to do Auckland to New York.” QF3, scheduled to depart at 4.35pm (New Zealand time) Wednesday, will take 16 hours and 15 minutes to reach New York from Auckland, covering 16,371 kilometres and giving the airline three of the top-five longest flights in the world, measured by time. The high-demand Perth to London route (17 hours, 45 minutes) and Dallas to Melbourne (17 hours, 25 minutes) clock in slightly longer. The world’s longest flight title is still held by Singapore Airlines with its Singapore to New York route, which only seats business and premium-economy passengers for the ultra-long 18-hour, 50 minute flight.<br/>