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The Senate's No. 2 Democrat asked the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines to answer questions on rising passenger complaints and higher ticket prices and fees. Senator Dick Durbin said on Thursday he was taking a closer look at legislation proposed in January to require refunds for delayed flights and transportation on rival carriers, and prohibiting unnecessary airline fees as part of sweeping new consumer protections. Durbin's queries come as major airlines have clashed with him over credit card fee legislation as well. Durbin, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, asked both airlines in a letter how they are "ensuring that this profit is not earned at the expense of a fair, pleasant, and affordable travel experience for consumers?" Durbin also sought answers on how airlines are ensuring "consumers are not saddled with excessive or unnecessary fees." The Biden administration earlier this year asked Congress to mandate airlines to pay cash compensation for delays of three hours or more when carriers are responsible, and provide new requirements for transparency over fees such as for baggage when booking tickets. Congress has so far largely ignored those requests. A House aviation policy bill approved in July would bar airlines from charging family seating fees but would not set minimum seat sizes or impose new rules for compensation for delays. Durbin's letter also went to Nick Calio, who heads Airlines for America, an industry trade group. United, American and the trade group did not comment. Major airlines have heavily lobbied Congress in recent months to reject legislation co-sponsored by Durbin they say threatens their ability to offering rewards credit cards that give consumers frequent flyer miles for making transactions.<br/>

Star Alliance members United and LOT Polish Airlines have allowed their long-standing codeshare agreement to lapse. The agreement expired during the last week of September, according to the website AeroRoutes, which sources airline schedule changes within the GDSs, on individual airline websites and using the data provider OAG. United declined to comment. United had placed its code on LOT routes onward from Warsaw, Poland, to Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and London Heathrow. LOT was placing its code on 17 United-operated routes, all from Chicago. The two airlines did not codeshare on flights between Poland and the U.S. Due to the carriers' continued relationship as part of the Star Alliance, United MileagePlus members can still earn and redeem frequent flyer points on LOT flights. LOT currently flies seven U.S. routes, serving five U.S. destinations, Cirium flight schedule data shows. No other airline flies nonstop between Poland and the U.S.<br/>

Air France-KLM maintains a strong interest in Portugal's national carrier TAP and the purchase of a stake in Scandinavia's SAS does not affect its ability to take part in TAP's privatisation, a spokesperson said on Thursday. Portugal's government plans to sell at least a 51% stake in state-owned airline TAP, the government said last Thursday after the cabinet approved the legal framework for the privatization process. The airline's privatisation has already attracted interest also from Lufthansa and British Airways owner IAG.<br/>

LOT Polish Airlines is scheduled to operate daily direct flights from Cairo International Airport to Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport starting 29 October and until 30 March 2024, according to a statement by the embassy of Poland in Cairo on Wednesday. The Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft will depart from Cairo at 12:15pm and arrive in Warsaw at 3:25pm daily, according to the embassy's statement. The return flight from Warsaw will take off at 5:20pm and arrive in Cairo at 10:20pm. Direct flights between Cairo and Warsaw resumed in May 2022 after a 9-year hiatus, with 5 flights per week. In September, EgyptAir launched its first direct route from Cairo to São Paulo, operating a flight every two weeks. Earlier in August, EgyptAir announced the launch of a new direct route from CAI to Port Sudan New International Airport, with daily flights. EgyptAir also resumed its direct route from CAI to Narita International Airport in Tokyo by mid-September, with one weekly flight. Other direct routes have been launched this year including flights to Manchester, Dhaka, and New Jersey. <br/>

Ethiopian Airlines is interested in operating fifth-freedom long-haul flights from Accra (Ghana) to the Canadian destinations Toronto Pearson and Montréal Trudeau, pending requisite approvals from the Ghanaian and Canadian civil aviation authorities, according to CCO Lemma Yadecha Gudeta. "Yes, we are interested in a 5th Freedom Right [from Ghana to Canada]," he confirmed to AviationGhana during a visit to Accra last week. He said the airline was awaiting authorisation from Canadian authorities for more slots to fly there. "Hopefully, we are going to get more slots to fly to Canada. So, for sure, we will connect the western part of Africa to Canada," he assured. Such rights would allow the Ethiopian carrier to carry passengers and cargo from Ethiopia to Ghana and then on to Canada. According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Ethiopian Airlines currently operates 4x weekly fifth freedom flights via Dublin International (Ireland) to Toronto Pearson. Canada is a popular destination for Ghanaian travellers, but there are currently no direct flights between West Africa and Canada. Ethiopian Airlines aims to meet equal high demand from East Africa by increasing capacity and potentially operating via West Africa, Gudeta explained. The carrier is looking to boost its frequencies from Addis to daily services to Toronto and 4x weekly to Montreal. "If you are going to have more frequency, what I suggested to the authorities over there was also to operate via West Africa. The only thing I didn't mention was which country in West Africa. That is not in our hands because we have to talk to the authorities and we have to get authorisation, but we are very keen to operate to Canada via West Africa," he said.<br/>

South Korea's airlines are resuming service to regional airports in Japan, tapping demand from leisure travelers taking advantage of the weak yen to enjoy affordable golf and hot spring vacations. Korean Air Lines will resume service from Seoul to Kagoshima, Okayama and Niigata on Oct. 29, with three round trips each per week. Flights to larger cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya also will be increased. Asiana Airlines resumed service between Seoul and Miyazaki on the island of Kyushu in September with three round trips weekly. The carrier will increase flights to Sendai in northern Japan starting Oct. 29. Low-cost carriers (LCC) also are boosting service to Japanese regional airports. Jeju Air has service connecting Seoul with Hiroshima, Shizuoka and hot spring hot spots Oita and Matsuyama, while T'way Air is flying to the Kyushu island city of Kumamoto and Jin Air has resumed service to Kitakyushu. Asiana LCC subsidiary Air Seoul plans to restart service Oct. 25 linking Seoul and Yonago, a city on the Sea of Japan coast, after increasing flights on its Seoul-Takamatsu route earlier this year. In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, 25 airports in Japan offered regular service to South Korea's Incheon International Airport. In addition to inbound South Korean tourists, demand came from Japanese tourists traveling to Western countries via Incheon. Venturing into rural areas during a visit to Japan has recently become popular among South Korean travelers, particularly among those who have visited major cities like Tokyo and Osaka multiple times.<br/>

Passengers can look forward to using their own headphones and wireless charging as Air New Zealand’s new jets begin arriving next year. The airline has eight new 787 Dreamliners on order, which will feature a completely new cabin design. Some of the most publicised features include the Skynest sleep pods and Sky Pantry snack bar, but there are a few other exciting developments that have flown under the radar. Gone are the days of the little packet of headphones that deliver average sound. The new in-flight entertainment screens will feature Bluetooth connectivity, which will allow a connection straight to your own wireless headphones. For anyone who owns a pair of noise-cancelling headphones, this will make your entertainment experience significantly better. Not only will your sound be better, but your picture too. Currently, Air NZ’s Dreamliners offer a 9-inch screen in Economy, which is a little underwhelming. The Emirates A380 is considered to have one of the best entertainment screens for Economy passengers, coming in 13.3-inches. However, the new Air NZ Dreamliners will match that, which will be a significant improvement for passengers. The screens in Premium Economy and Business Premier are also getting larger.<br/>