More than 140 US House Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday urged Delta Air Lines to remain neutral in ongoing efforts by employees to organize a union among flight attendants and ground workers at the airline. Several unions are working to try to organize Delta technicians, flight attendants and ramp, cargo, and tower workers in forming their union. In a letter to Delta CEO Ed Bastian, the lawmakers, who include Representatives Donald Norcross, Debbie Dingell, Frank Pallone, Mark Pocan, Rosa DeLauro and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, said the airline has a history "of deploying union busting tactics". These include threatening employees with termination of their benefits, distributing anti-union literature, and hosting an anti-union website, they said. The lawmakers said a neutrality agreement consisted simply of an employer agreeing not to engage in pre-election activities that influence workers' freedom to form a union. Delta said in response the airline "believes every employee has the right to choose or reject union representation without interference". It added it "also has the right and responsibility to ensure our people can make their choice with an informed perspective". It said its employees had repeatedly declined union representation over the past 20 years. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Association of Flight Attendants and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in November 2022 announced a coordinated campaign to organize 45,000 Delta employees.<br/>
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Dutch carrier KLM has unveiled a slightly modified livery which will feature on its Airbus A321neo twinjets. The airline is expecting to start operating its first A321neo – out of a fleet of around 30 – in August. KLM has disclosed initial destinations for the aircraft including Berlin, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Its external scheme will retain the familiar blue-and-white colouring, although the lines of the design will change around the nose. “This will ensure that, in the event of an emergency replacement, a new [radome] can be fitted without disrupting the signature blue markings,” says the carrier. The aircraft will also feature black lining around the cockpit windows. KLM adds that the aircraft will offer “wider seats”, fitted with a tablet holder and USB port, and the cabin will be equipped with “mood lighting”. “Crew members will also have more room for manoeuvre thanks to the wider aisle and easy-to-reach overhead bins,” it says. KLM states that its A321neo interior has been “meticulously designed” with additional blue detailing and special lighting at the entrance.<br/>
Garuda Indonesia will add eight aircraft to its fleet over calendar 2024, according to Indonesian news outlets, which cite comments by CEO Irfan Setiaputra. Those aircraft reportedly include four B737-800s, two B777-300ERs, and two A330-300s. However, the reports, notably concerning the widebodies, contradict Setiaputra's comments to ch-aviation during a late January 2024 interview in Jakarta where he said: "We may take up some additional widebodies later this year, but it is not confirmed. Meanwhile, we are focusing on our network assumptions on what aircraft we have today." Garuda Indonesia does plan to procure additional wet-leased widebodies over the Hajj season. Setiaputra told ch-aviation that negotiations were well-advanced, but he was yet to lock in all the leases. The temporary use of wet-leased aircraft over the busy religious pilgrimage period is an established practice at Garuda.<br/>