Deutsche Lufthansa AG clinched a wage accord with cabin crew, ending months of intense negotiations that had been punctured by crippling strikes at Europe’s largest airline group. The deal will give about 19,000 members of Lufthansa’s cabin personnel a 16.5% wage increase in three steps over 36 months, Lufthansa said in a statement. The accord is valid until at least the end of 2026 and protects Lufthansa from strikes until then. Workers will also get a E3,000 bonus as part of an inflation-compensation payment, as well as some other concessions including additional pay for higher-level employees like pursers and an increase in vacation pay, according to the statement. The accord with one of Lufthansa’s biggest unionised groups ends months of acrimonious battles for higher pay. Lufthansa had long resisted the demands, saying they’d put too much pressure on the airline at a time when the recovery from the pandemic remains fragile, while workers pointed to record earnings at the company and demanded their fair share of the spoils. Germany has endured waves of strikes not only by Lufthansa employees but also from workers at train operators in recent months. The conflicts coincided at times, all but halting air and rail travel in Europe’s largest economy. <br/>
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Mubadala Investment Company’s Sanad Group has signed a five-year contract extension to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for Asiana Airlines. Under the agreement, worth $145m, Sanad will maintain 30% of the V2500 engine fleet that powers the South Korean airline's Airbus A321 aircraft at its facilities in Abu Dhabi. Sanad first signed the agreement with Asiana Airlines in 2018. The V2500 engine, produced by International Aero Engines, powers a significant fleet of the 7,600 Airbus A320 and A321ceo aircraft worldwide. Sanad, which has provided maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for more than 35 years, has serviced more than 600 V2500 engines since 2012. Its current client base includes more than 30 airlines and 10 strategic partners from across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. “Sanad's unique standing as the sole V2500 full overhaul MRO centre in the Middle East has been pivotal in supporting V2500 customers worldwide since 2012,” said Mansoor Janahi, managing director and group CE of Sanad. “With over 250 inductions in the past five years, we demonstrate our profound expertise in the aviation MRO sector.” Consulting firm Oliver Wyman said the global MRO sector will grow almost 3% in 2024, reaching $104b, and will expand 1.8% annually on average to 2034. In the Middle East, it is expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.3% to just over $15b by 2034, driven by order book growth and investment in MRO facilities.<br/>
Nearly 800,000 people are set to fly with Air New Zealand over the upcoming school holidays, while Auckland Airport is preparing for the approximate equivalent of the population of Tauranga to pass through its arrivals and departures areas over the weekend. Air New Zealand said 790,000 customers were booked to fly with the airline over the two-week holiday period, including more than 4000 unaccompanied minors and 250 pets. Some 519,000 customers will make domestic trips, while the remaining 271,000 will travel internationally. The most popular overseas destinations over the New Zealand and Australian school holidays, which run from April 13-28, are Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Singapore and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, close to 160,000 travellers are expected to pass through Auckland Airport between Friday and Sunday, with the latter being the busiest day for international departures. The busiest day for international arrivals is set to be Sunday April 28. Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker said that, while there are nearly 15% fewer flights than at the same time before the pandemic, those flights are expected to be full. Australia, China, the United States, Singapore and Fiji are the most popular destinations for international passengers passing through the airport, while the top destinations for domestic travellers are Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, Dunedin and Nelson.<br/>