Major pilots’ union Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) continues decrying what it calls a “loophole” of regional carriers operating scheduled flights under the guise of Part 135 charter operations. In a 6 July filing with the US Department of Transportation (DOT), the union calls on federal regulators to close the “loophole… being exploited” by semi-private jet company JSX and recently launched SkyWest Charter, and to reject the latter’s request for commuter air carrier status. ALPA argues that ”a complicated regulatory loophole allows charter flights to run so frequently that enterprising carriers can market them as scheduled service, but be free from the Part 121 safety regime that governs most scheduled flights”.<br/>“Part 121” refers to a group of rules governing the vast majority of commercial flights in the USA. The union cites JSX as an example. The “hop-on jet service” – which bills itself as a “unique public charter operator” – has achieved an operational scale that is “untenable”, ALPA says. ”JSX applied to operate 110,305 scheduled departures in 2022 with its 37-aircraft operating fleet – more scheduled departures than comparably sized regional Part 121 operators” such as Piedmont Airlines, ALPA says. “To the consumer, unaware of fine-line regulatory distinctions… JSX’s flight are scheduled, just like its Part 121 competitors.” Targeted at affluent markets, the company operates point-to-point routes mostly in the South and Southwestern USA, with its main base at Hollywood-Burbank airport and headquarters in Dallas. Cirium fleets data show that JSX currently has 42 Embraer ERJ-135s and -145s in service, all configured with 30 seats. JSX declined to comment on ALPA’s filing. However, in a response to ALPA and American Airlines last month – which complained of “unfair competition” from the start-up – JSX argues that “no such ‘loophole’ exists” and that it is fully compliant with all safety regulations. The union also accuses JSX of allowing passengers and their luggage to ”bypass the screening regimen that all other scheduled commercial airline passengers and bags must go through”. The company responded by touting that it has “operated securely” since 2016 and has voluntarily implemented “state-of-the-art security practices and technology”. ALPA has argued for months that regional US carrier Skywest Airlines’ new charter unit, SkyWest Charter, is attempting to bypass safety laws that apply to Part 121 carriers. Story has more.<br/>
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US aviation regulators report that US start-up regional carrier Connect Airlines has been struggling to meet Federal Aviation Administration certification requirements ahead of its plan to launch flights between the USA and Canada. The Massachusetts-based carrier on 16 June had asked the US Department of Transportation to extend until 5 October its deadline to begin flying. The carrier’s FAA-issued interstate and foreign operating authorities had required it to start flights by July and September 2023, respectively. The company is working to launch flights using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s, starting with routes from Philadelphia and Chicago to Billy Bishop Toronto City airport. In a 5 July response, the DOT stopped short of granting the extension but allowed Connect until 4 August to provide evidence it is making progress on completing FAA requirements. “It does not appear that Connect has made satisfactory progress toward obtaining FAA authority,” the DOT’s response says, adding, “The FAA previously notified the department that Connect’s proving flights were terminated”. “Connect must provide adequate evidence that it still meets the department’s fitness criteria and that the applicant is making satisfactory progress in obtaining the required safety authority from the FAA,” the letter reads. The DOT also cites Connect’s “predominate foreign capitalisation” as an obstacle to certification, requiring the carrier to present evidence it has “obtained equivalent capital contributions from US citizens”. “Connect provided no information with its waiver and extension request to enable us to determine that Connect continues to be fit, or evidencing additional capital contributions from US citizens,” the DOT says. The airline provides a differing account of its certification progress. Scott Brownrigg, Connect’s director of public affairs, says the company will fly more proving runs for the FAA, and that the certification process has ”many phases”. “There is an error in the DOT letter, as Connect’s certification process is continuing,” he says. “We continue to work with the FAA and as part of the normal certification process. They will be doing final manual reviews very shortly.”<br/>
Canadian private airline Zara Airways will start direct flights from Toronto to three major cities in Pakistan this year, CEO Zara Airways Syed Quli said Sunday. Quli said that airline was seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Canadian government before it can start operations. He further said that the airline will operate three weekly flights from Toronto to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. The CEO further said that airliner will use two Boeing 777 aircraft initially and may increase the number of aircraft depending on demand. It is pertinent to mention here that the launch of Zara Airways is a boost for the Pakistani aviation industry. In recent months, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has approved Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and SunExpress to operate flights in Pakistan. Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines has announced the resumption of direct flights between Karachi and Addis Ababa. The route was previously suspended in 2004.<br/>
Belgian Ryanair pilots will go on strike on July 15 and 16 in demand of higher wages and better working conditions, their union told Belgian broadcaster VRT on Friday. Pilots residing in Belgium had given the Irish budget airline until Friday to reconsider its ideas to reduce the number of rest days for pilots, which they claimed were unlawful. The pilots also demand higher wages to compensate for inflation. The strike could potentially affect around 140 flights from Charleroi airport at the height of the summer holiday season. It is, however, unclear yet how many pilots will join the strike and how many flights will need to be cancelled.<br/>
A resolution professional appointed to oversee the insolvency process for Go Airlines has invited Expression of Interest for the sale of the carrier as part of the process, a newspaper advertisement showed on Monday. The last date for receipt of interest for the airline is set for Aug. 9, according to a advertisement. The airline did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.<br/>
Virgin Australia is to spend around A$110m ($73.6m) to refresh its older Boeing 737 cabins, as it takes delivery of new 737 Max jets in the coming months. Work to upgrade business and economy class cabins – to products similar to its new 737 Max fleet – will begin later in the year, the airline says, and will span two years. The carrier on 8 July unveiled the cabin products of the 737 Max fleet, which will enter commercial service in end-July. The aircraft is configured to seat 182 passengers in a two-class seating, with Virgin Australia touting an “entirely new seat configuration” with a new cabin divider design that allows for up to 12 more economy class “without changing the legroom experience”. The eight business class seats will feature legrests with extendable footrests, with storage compartments and personal device holders. Economy class seats feature “a ribbed backing to elevate comfort and ergonomics”. Virgin Australia has eschewed installing seatback inflight entertainment in the new cabins, choosing instead to allow passengers to stream entertainment through their mobile devices. The airline’s older 737-800s and -700s will now feature new seats in business and economy classes that are similar to the Max 8 fleet. “Once the cabin refresh program is complete, the unified inflight offering will deliver more seats for travellers and a consistent guest experience across all flights operated by Virgin Australia Boeing 737 aircraft,” the carrier states. <br/>