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British Airways is to extend its exclusive loyalty-flights initiative to long-haul, starting with a service to Dubai next year. The airline unveiled a scheme in April offering flights for which every seat is available to purchase through its Executive Club loyalty programme, using the credit of its Avios points currency. British Airways inaugurated the scheme with Avios-only flights on the London Gatwick-Sharm el-Sheikh and London Heathrow-Geneva routes. It subsequently expanded to cover additional destinations in the Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Chief executive Sean Doyle, speaking during an event at Heathrow on 11 December, said the airline was “doing a lot to improve loyalty and improve satisfaction” of the Executive Club programme. “[We’re] working hard to make sure you can earn and spend Avios in many more ways than you used to be able to do,” he says. “We’re going to launch a long-haul Avios-only flight. That will be to Dubai…in October 2024. That’s going to be very popular with families. [This is] just another example of the way we can promote the utility and benefits of our Executive Club loyalty programme.”<br/>

British Airways allegedly advised its female crew members to wear specific undergarments with their new sheer uniforms, but have since removed the recommendation. According to The Sun, the airline’s old instruction was updated after the new branded uniform was released. Previously, per the newspaper’s report, the British Airways requirement stated: “Undergarments should be plain white or nude, with no lace, patterns or writing.” The new British Airways uniforms, designed by Ozwald Boateng, were first announced in January. It wasn’t until September that the brand-new garments were handed out. Until then, the airline hadn’t made any changes to its uniforms in 20 years. Female crew members were supposedly feeling embarrassed due to the number of passengers who commented on their bra visibility. Now, the old dress code has been overturned. Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for British Airways detailed the requirement reversal. “We’ve removed a recommendation from our uniform guidelines and will continue to listen to our colleagues about what works best for them,” the representative proclaimed. This change comes after resistance by the flight attendants’ union.<br/>

Airline group IAG said on Monday that it had sought antitrust approval from the European Union for its previously announced plans to buy out the whole of Spanish low-cost airline Air Europa. IAG, which owns British Airways and Iberia, said it was ready to offer an ambitious and broad set of remedies to address the European Commission's concerns over the deal, and it was committed to closing the transaction as quickly as possible in 2024. "We have notified our proposed acquisition of Air Europa to the European Commission today. The deal will deliver benefits for consumers and the wider Spanish economy, as well as improve Madrid's competitiveness with other European hubs," IAG CE Luis Gallego said. In February, IAG said it had agreed to pay E400m to Spain's Globalia for the remaining 80% of Air Europa which it did not already own. IAG will likely sound out various rivals, both EU and non-EU ones, to see if they are interested in taking its remedies. Airline mergers usually involve giving up airport slots to address competition concerns as well as offering access to loyalty programmes.<br/>

Japan Airlines will initially deploy its new Airbus A350-1000 on the Tokyo Haneda-New York JFK route, as it contemplates the replacement of its Boeing 777-300ERs. The first A350-1000 service will depart to JFK on 24 January, as JAL awaits its second example before the end of its 2023 fiscal year on 31 March 2024, says the carrier. The arrival of the second A350-1000 will allow the type to serve JFK daily. Upon the arrival of the third A350-1000, JAL will deploy the type on the Tokyo Haneda – Dallas Fort Worth route. JAL has orders for 13 A350-1000s. In November, company officials had told FlightGlobal that it would receive two A350s before the end of 2023, with five additional jets in 2024. JAL’s JFK announcement suggests that deliveries of the first two aircraft have slipped. Original plans had called for JAL’s first A350-1000 to enter service in November, coinciding with the start of the Northern Winter schedule, but supply chain delays pushed the launch timeline to the right. “The operation of the latest fuel-efficient equipment enables a reduction of 15-25% in CO2 emissions,” says JAL. “Furthermore, in line with the expansion of the A350-1000 fleet, JAL plans to replace the amount equivalent to 1% of the onboard fuel with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on Japan-bound flights to reduce CO2 emissions and further minimize environmental impact.”<br/>

The Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) is adding 248 flights in its domestic and international network to meet travel demands through to March 2024. MAG said the additional frequencies are offered on both Malaysia Airlines and Firefly departing from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1, Subang Airport and Penang International Airport. MAG CCO of airlines Dersenish Aresandiran said the group is anticipating a surge in travel demand. “The substantial increase in flight frequencies represents the airline’s strategic approach to meeting the expanding requirements of travellers, offering them a wider range of travel dates for added flexibility and convenience. We urge travellers to plan and secure their seats early to ensure a seamless and enjoyable travel experience, particularly during peak travel seasons, including Christmas, year-end and Chinese New Year celebrations.” Malaysia Airlines and Firefly are ramping up extra flights during the peak periods in December to meet heightened travel demands. <br/>