unaligned

Southwest pilots will vote next month on a proposed new contract that would boost pay 50% over the five-year term of the deal and could end a multiyear round of negotiations and protests at the four largest US carriers. The board of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association decided Wednesday to send the agreement to its roughly 11,000 pilots for a vote, set for Jan. 8 through Jan. 22. The proposal would increase pay 29.15% when it is approved, followed by annual raises of 4% each on the first day of 2025, 2026 and 2027, plus a 3.25% increase on Jan. 1, 2028. The 50% boost is on a compounded basis, the union said. Approval of the contract, which the union said will cost $12b, would make Southwest the final pilot union among the four biggest carriers to sign a new deal in less than 12 months, following Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines Group Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. Aviators at all four carriers picketed often since travel resumed after the pandemic, rallying outside company offices and meetings and at airports as their unions sought new deals with higher pay and improved work-life balance as carriers pulled in record revenue. “Our membership has fought for almost four years to reach an agreement with Southwest Airlines,” said Casey Murray, union president. “They now have the opportunity to evaluate this deal and cast their vote accordingly.”<br/>

Pilots from smaller carriers are applying for jobs at Southwest Airlines only to leave months later to work for bigger rivals, the latest salvo in the U.S. aviation industry’s war for talent. The process, which Southwest COO Andrew Watterson called “resume washing,” is a way for ambitious pilots to sidestep policies he said large US carriers put in place to protect staffing for their associated regional airlines. Pilots normally take jobs at those smaller airlines to build enough flying hours to apply at bigger ones through agreements between the carriers. But some aviators can see their careers stalled if the larger rivals slow or stem that hiring process. Pilots stuck at these airlines have been frustrated to see major carriers reportedly use six-figure bonuses to lure pilots from cargo carriers like United Parcel Service Inc. and FedEx Corp. So they are increasingly looking to be hired at a low-cost carrier like Southwest, then leaving within a year to secure a job at Delta Air Lines or United Airlines. Regional pilots “know that if I get Southwest or another airline on my resume, I can get to where I want to go,” Watterson, the Southwest COO, said in a Dec. 13 interview in New York. “So they use us as a premeditated way station. They come to Southwest, get hired, trained, spend six months and then they flip their resume and apply somewhere else.”<br/>

LATAM Airlines has placed an order for five Boeing 787s, it said on Wednesday, adding more of the widebody aircraft meant for long-haul or larger capacity flights to its book. The carrier, in a joint statement with Boeing (BA.N) and engine maker GE, did not specify which model of the 787 it had ordered, though it referenced the more-common 787-9's carrying capacity. The aircraft will use GE's GEnX engines, making LATAM the first airline in South America to use them. LATAM's current Dreamliners use Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 turbofans, though durability issues grounded several planes in 2018. "Increasing the Boeing 787 fleet size will allow (LATAM) to operate with two different engine models, known for their cutting-edge technology and reduced environmental impact, in a complementary way," CFO Ramiro Alfonsin said in the statement. The parties did not name the price tag for the order. Last year, LATAM emerged from pandemic-related bankruptcy proceedings with an $8b reorganization plan. It now expects record earnings in 2024 as passenger numbers grow and its debt load lightens.<br/>

Dutch carrier Transavia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo jet, as it begins its transition away from operating an all-Boeing 737 fleet. The Air France-KLM low-cost unit received the CFM Leap-1A-powered example via lessor Air Lease, Airbus said on 19 December. It marks the debut of the A320neo family at Transavia, which is due to take a mixture of A320neos and A321neos in the coming months and years, following an Air France-KLM order placed in 2021 and a smaller lease deal announced with Air Lease earlier this year. Transavia France was also expecting to receive its first A320neo-family jet before the end of this year, as it similarly brings its all-Boeing era to a close. Together, the two Transavia units operated 115 aircraft as of 30 September this year, comprising 111 737-800s and four 737-700s. Stablemate KLM will also switch to A320neo-family jets from Boeing types. It recently indicated that it expects to receive its first example in 2024.<br/>

A passenger has appeared in court in Singapore accused of stealing S$31,000 cash from three fellow flyers during a flight from Vietnam to Singapore. Zhang Xiuqiang, 52, from China, faces charges related to a three-hour Scoot flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Changi Airport on December 16. He is accused of taking S$50 and 510m Vietnamese dong from one passenger’s bag, another US$1000 and S$930 from inside an envelope in another piece of luggage, and finally S$600 and 3m Vietnamese dong from a backpack. A spokesperson said the budget airline was aware of the incident: “Our cabin crew was alerted by a passenger to a suspected theft in the cabin and activated the Airport Police Division. “The involved passengers were escorted off the aircraft by airport authorities for further investigation, and disembarkation proceeded as usual for the rest of our passengers.” If found guilty, Zhang faces up to three years' jail, reported Channel News Asia. Scoot is the budget carrier of Singapore Airlines. It has a fleet of 57 aircraft and flies to 16 countries and more than 50 airports across Asia, Europe and Oceania. While it does not fly to New Zealand, its destinations include Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in Australia.<br/>

Vietravel Airlines, a subsidiary of tour operator Viettravel, has held a meeting with representatives of Kagawa and Fukushima prefectures of Japan to share a plan to expand the flight network connecting Vietnam's tourist cities with the two Japanese localities. General Director of Vietravel Airlines Nguyen Minh Hai said the meeting is not only an important step in promoting the relationship between Vietravel Airlines and Fukushima and Kagawa prefectures but also a strategic element of the flight network expansion plan which will be carried out next year in the Japanese market by the airline and Vietravel Holiday. The Japanese representatives said the flight network expansion to these localities will bring many benefits to customers, while also contributing to the development of the aviation and tourism industries in the two countries, adding that Fukushima and Kagawa boast popular tourist destinations along with strong economies. Founded in late 2019, Vietravel Airlines conducted the first commercial flight on January 25, 2021, becoming the first travel airline in Southeast Asia and the fifth commercial carrier in Vietnam.<br/>

Sarawak's own airline is expected to start operations in Q2 or Q3 2024 after the takeover of MASWings Sdn Bhd is complete, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. The Sarawak Premier said due diligence is currently being done on MASwings' assets. He said the state Transport Ministry and Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry are involved in the due diligence process. "The Tourism Ministry is doing the market potential (analysis). After the whole process is finished, we will take over MASwings," he told reporters on Wednesday. Abang Johari said Sarawak wants to establish its own airline to stabilise air fares, especially during festive seasons, and as an infrastructure investment. He said the state would set a consistent fare even during festive seasons so Sarawakians can afford to fly home. "We are not profit-motivated. The Sarawak airline will not raise fares during festive seasons," he said.<br/>

Virgin Australia will bring its Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney international ramp operations in-house from next year. The move will see Virgin now insourcing both its domestic and international short-haul baggage handling, with around 40 ramp staff to be given extra training and upskilling. Melbourne and Sydney will begin the transition from February, with Brisbane to follow suit in May. Virgin currently employs around 1,000 ramp staff. The change will complement the airline’s existing structure in Adelaide, uniting all Virgin’s mainline domestic and international airports under the same model. “This is both the economically rational decision, and core to our commitment to upskilling our people and providing more hours to team members who want them,” a spokesperson said. Virgin Australia’s general manager airport experience, Paul Woosnam, said the airline’s short-haul international operations are important to both Virgin and its customers, with 10-12 flights per day to six Asia-Pacific destinations. “There are plans to grow in this area as we receive our new fleet of fuel-efficient aircraft, presenting great opportunities for Virgin Australia, as well as opportunities for our people to grow and develop,” he said. “Our decision to insource these roles demonstrates Virgin Australia’s commitment to further expand our workgroup and deliver additional work and career opportunities.<br/>