Passengers onboard Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) airlines will no longer be required to turn off their electronic devices starting July 1 due to a new feature called Gate-to-Gate connectivity. MAG in a statement on June 27 said the airline has been given regulatory approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to enable Gate-to-Gate connectivity for passengers on its airlines namely Malaysia Airlines, Firefly, and MASwings. It said that passengers can stay connected on their personal or portable electronic devices (PEDs) such as mobile phones and tablets throughout the journey on air by enabling flight mode. “Passengers will no longer be required to switch off their PEDs during take-off and landing, as was previously required due to regulatory and aircraft requirements. PEDs include mobile phones, tablets, and other small hand-held devices that are stowable in the passenger’s seat pocket,” MAG said in the statement. All business suite, business class and Enrich platinum members will receive complimentary WiFi on Malaysia Airlines from July 1 until Dec 31. The offer will be available on 20 aircraft equipped with WiFi.<br/>
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Nearly 300 passengers on a Cathay Pacific Airways flight to Los Angeles suffered a 12-hour delay after water was spotted leaking from the aircraft, the second incident to hit Hong Kong’s flag carrier within three days. The carrier said flight CX880, which had been expected to depart from Hong Kong for Los Angeles early on Monday, was delayed because of a leakage found while servicing one of the aircraft’s water tanks. Photos circulating on social media platforms show water pouring to the ground from the aircraft in multiple spots. The leaks were caused by a water tank defect, Cathay told the Post on Tuesday. “Another aircraft was deployed to operate the flight with a revised departure time to accommodate the lifting of the night curfew at Los Angeles International Airport,” an airline spokesman said. “Overnight hotel accommodation was provided to the affected passengers. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers’ journeys.”<br/>
Qantas has signalled it is on track to meet its forecast FY23 profit of more than $2.4b as its capacity nears pre-pandemic levels. The Flying Kangaroo says its domestic capacity has reached pre-pandemic levels, while international capacity is “climbing towards” that mark, as the group predicts more than 4m passengers on Qantas and Jetstar services over the winter holidays. “Top domestic leisure destinations include the Gold Coast and Cairns, while new international routes including Sydney-Auckland-New York and Perth-Rome are heavily booked,” the airline said. “Travel demand remains strong and data shows that consumers continue to prioritise travel over other spending categories.” The national carrier says it has taken delivery of six new aircraft since the start of the calendar year, including Airbus A320neo planes for Jetstar and Boeing 787 Dreamliners for Qantas, as part of its major “Project Winton” fleet renewal program. In its guidance last month, Qantas said fuel prices, fares, and operational buffer costs are all moderating, with jet fuel prices “remaining elevated” but falling. Fares are declining from peaks seen in the first half of the financial year owing to the return of capacity, but yields are “expected to remain materially above pre-COVID levels” through the 2023–24 financial year, especially internationally.<br/>
Qantas Airways overhauled its leadership, including naming a new CFO and creating a role to oversee risk, as the Australian airline prepares for its post-Covid era under incoming CEO Vanessa Hudson. Current strategy, people and technology head Rob Marcolina will become CFO when Hudson takes the reins from longtime CEO Alan Joyce in November, according to a statement from Qantas. It’s just one of six high-profile management changes announced Wednesday by the carrier, some of which will focus on years-old pain points at Qantas — including its reputation for bruising exchanges over pay and conditions with labor unions. The company will introduce a chief people officer to lead both human resources and industrial relations — which are currently split — as Qantas attempts to hire 8,500 people in the next decade without getting derailed by union bust-ups. At the same time, Catriona Larritt becomes its new chief customer and digital officer, charged with repairing fraught relations with passengers who’ve become frustrated with flight delays, cancellations and inconsistent service levels since the pandemic. “The structural changes announced today are about increasing our focus on a few key areas as we move from recovery to growth,” Hudson said in the statement. Story includes summary of changes.<br/>