Two JetBlue Airways planes collided on the tarmac at Boston Logan International Airport early Thursday morning, damaging both aircraft but causing no reported injuries. JetBlue Flight 777 was entering a de-icing pad lane before taking off for Las Vegas when its left winglet struck the right horizontal stabilizer on the tail of JetBlue Flight 551, which was on an adjacent de-icing pad on its way to Orlando, the FAA said in a statement. The collision occurred at 6:40 a.m., the F.A.A. said, adding that the agency would investigate. No passengers or crew members were injured, JetBlue said in a statement. “Safety is JetBlue’s priority, and we will work to determine how and why this incident occurred,” the company said. Casey Cunningham was beginning a vacation to Orlando with her mother when the plane she was on was struck. “The plane does jolt a little bit, we definitely feel the plane move,” Cunningham said in an interview. “The captain comes over the intercom and says, ‘We felt that, just so you all know.’” The captain, she said, explained “that another plane that was going to de-ice came into contact with ours.” Afterward, she praised the crew of her flight on social media for communicating well with passengers. All of the passengers were moved to new aircraft, JetBlue said, and both flights took off shortly after the incident, flight tracking data showed. JetBlue has been embroiled in a messy deal to acquire Spirit Airlines. A federal judge in January blocked the $3.8b acquisition in an antitrust case brought by the Justice Department. JetBlue is pursuing an appeal of the court decision but has also told investors that it might seek to back out of the deal.<br/>
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Spirit Airlines’ CEO said Thursday the domestic market is improving and defended the budget airline’s ability to generate cash even without an acquisition by JetBlue Airways, which a federal judge blocked earlier this year. Spirit expects to lose money in Q1, however, and said it projects revenue of between $1.25b and $1.28b, above analysts’ forecasts. It estimated it will be cash-flow positive in Q2 of the year “and beyond.” The budget airline is trying to find its footing after domestic fares fell last year, a Pratt & Whitney engine issue grounded dozens of its Airbus planes and the JetBlue deal failed in court. The two airlines are appealing that decision, though analysts have been pessimistic about the chances of reversing the ruling. The failed merger has helped drive Spirit’s stock down more than 55% so far this year as investors fretted about its financial future. Spirit’s looming debt payments ahead have prompted some calls that the airline could have to restructure, or even liquidate. “This misguided narrative has been advanced by an assortment of pundits,” Spirit CEO Ted Christie said on an earnings call Thursday. “Liquidity is always king, and we have enhanced our levels to give us the necessary flexibility to successfully close with JetBlue or to pursue our stand-alone plans.” Spirit ended 2023 with liquidity of $1.3b. On Thursday, Spirit reiterated that it is assessing options for 2025 and 2026 debt maturities. The budget airline has spent months looking for ways to cut costs, including adjusting its network and shifting its aircraft delivery schedule. “The Spirit team is 100% clear and focused on the adjustments we are currently deploying and will continue to make throughout 2024 to drive us back to cash flow generation and profitability,” Christie said in an earnings release.<br/>
Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out complimentary Wi-Fi via SpaceX’s Starlink on board commercial flights this week, the companies told CNBC, the first major U.S. airline to offer the satellite-based service. “SpaceX has really cracked the code – literally, in terms of the technology – to be able to deliver a wide bandwidth of very high quality connectivity to an airplane with a global reach,” Peter Ingram, Hawaiian Airlines CEO, told CNBC. Hawaiian’s plan for complimentary Wi-Fi comes as airlines ramp up their offerings for high-speed connectivity. JetBlue Airways offers Wi-Fi on board for free, and last year Delta Air Lines launched onboard internet free of charge for members of its loyalty program, after years of planning. Hawaiian has an extensive network of flights over the Pacific Ocean, serving the mainland U.S., Japan, Australia and New Zealand, among other destinations, from Hawaii.<br/>
Emirates airline has forged a multi-year sponsorship deal with America’s NBA basketball league, it said on Thursday, as the carrier seeks to raise its profile in the United States. The airline, part of Dubai’s state-owned Emirates Group, has long been a sponsor of high-profile sports including some of the world’s most famous soccer clubs, with Real Madrid, Arsenal and AC Milan featuring the airline’s logo as the main sponsor on their kits. “Our eyes have always been on the NBA,” said Emirates executive Boutros Boutros, during an event at the airline’s headquarters. The event was attended by NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, who won two NBA championships as a point guard with the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990. The NBA’s deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said that the NBA in-season tournament will be renamed the Emirates NBA Cup from next season and referees’ kits will feature the airline’s logo starting from this year’s All-Star Game. Neither executive disclosed the value of the deal, but Boutros said that the deal would generate $500m a year in advertising revenue according to the company’s estimates. Middle East sovereign wealth funds have also invested hugely in sports in recent years.<br/>
An Israeli airliner made an emergency landing due to a "violent passenger" Thursday. Security guards aboard El Al Flight LY2522 apprehended a passenger who tried to break into the cockpit on a flight from Prague to Tel Aviv, N12 first reported. The incident forced the plane to land in Thessaloniki, Greece. Sky marshals described the man as "apparently of Arab descent," and escorted him off the plane after coordinating with Greek authorities. "El Al takes the incident seriously and takes all the necessary measures according to the procedures and the law in coordination with the relevant enforcement authorities," the airline said in a statement, as reported by the Israeli news site N12. "We show zero tolerance for violence and will continue to take care of the safety and security of our passengers." The aircraft continued on its planned journey to Tel Aviv after the situation was resolved. <br/>
South Korean low-cost carrier T’way Air Co. announced that it will launch its first European route to Zagreb, Croatia, in May. According to industry sources on Wednesday, the budget carrier has finalized its plans to launch flights to Zagreb on May 16. Originally targeting a new route introduction in mid-June this year, the airline opted to bring forward the launch by about a month, considering Croatia’s travel peak season starting in June. The regular service on the Incheon to Zagreb route is set to operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with the service period extending until October 26. Korean travel agencies swiftly began offering package deals utilizing these flight options since the end of January. Major travel agencies are already promoting 9-day packages to two Balkan Peninsula countries, Croatia and Slovenia, with the new T’way Air flights scheduled for mid-May. According to the package details, T’way Air will operate large A330-300 aircraft with a range of around 1,800 kilometers, enabling flights on medium to long-haul routes such as Eastern Europe or Sydney, with a flight duration estimated at 10 to 11 hours.<br/>
Wet-lease specialist Avia Solutions Group’s newly-established Asian carrier BBN Airlines Indonesia is expanding its fleet with four Boeing 737s. The aircraft comprise three 737-800s for passenger service, and a single 737-400 freighter, which will complement its pair of 737-800 converted freighters. BBN Airlines secured its air operator’s certificate in the August last year. It is based in Jakarta and serves the air charter, air freight and wet-lease markets. It undertook the acquisition of the additional 737s in November and the aircraft have since been subject to maintenance checks. But BBN Airlines says it expects to put the aircraft into domestic and international operation in early March. It states that the expansion is a “strategic step” for the carrier to “improve its charter flight services” in Indonesia. “We are very confident that we can increase the [load factors] and also be able to open new routes in the future,” says chair Martynas Grigas. The new carrier’s activities have included operating supply flights to Vanuatu and transporting medical aid on behalf of Indonesian government ministries.<br/>
Charter operator Alliance Aviation recorded a three-fold jump its half-year profit, helped by a sharp rise in contracted wet-lease activities. For the six months to 31 December 2023, the company posted a statutory pre-tax profit of A$37.7m, significantly higher than the A$9.5m in the year-ago period. Operating revenue for the half-year rose 27% to A$299m, led by “significant growth” in wet-lease revenue, which doubled year on year, offsetting a decline seen in its aviation services business. Its major customer is national carrier Qantas, which has a contract to wet-lease up to 30 Embraer E-190s for domestic and short-haul operations. Qantas also has options to take another three E-190s by end-June, with one more in July. On its resources charter operations, Alliance managing director Scott McMillan adds: “Contract charter provides the foundation for fleet expansion activities, with increased activity in the half year. Our market leading on time performance coupled with our ability to react quickly to capacity demands is our competitive advantage.” Still, it warns that its operating expenses “continue to be impacted” by inflation, supply chain woes, as well as other economic challenges. Alliance adds: “The group continues to focus on managing these challenges as they arise however some recent contract negotiations have resulted in increases to the cost base and passed through where contracts allow.” <br/>