A US government watchdog will audit the Federal Aviation Administration’s oversight of maintenance practices at United Airlines Holdings Inc. after a series of mishaps involving the carrier. The Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General “will evaluate FAA’s actions to address maintenance non-compliances and violations” at United, according to a memo posted on the watchdog’s website. The audit will begin later this month. The inquiry follows a series of mishaps involving United flights earlier this year that triggered an FAA review of the carrier’s operations. The spate of incidents included a wheel that flew off a plane after takeoff, a fuselage panel lost during flight and an aircraft that skidded off a runway shortly after landing. The incidents “serve to remind us that FAA oversight of maintenance programs is paramount,” Nelda Smith, assistant inspector general for aviation audits, said in the memo. United declined to comment. An FAA representative said the regulator welcomes outside scrutiny and will fully cooperate with the watchdog’s audit. The audit will be carried out at the FAA’s headquarters in Washington, DC, and the regulator’s offices that oversee United. The watchdog will also visit maintenance hubs for the carrier in Chicago, Houston and San Francisco, according to the memo. The FAA has blocked United from adding new aircraft or starting service to new cities during its safety review, curbing the carrier’s ability to grow. That review began in March, and the agency has declined to say how long it will last. The FAA has increased its presence at United’s operations as part of the evaluation and is reviewing processes, manuals and facilities. The carrier also launched its own review of the incidents and its employee training.<br/>
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Thai Airways International expects to wrap up its restructuring this year, capping off close to four years of business rehabilitation amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In comments following the release of its first-quarter results, the carrier adds that it aims to return to positive equity this year, allowing it to resume trading on the stock exchange. An embattled Thai filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 as it was heavily impacted by a collapse in air travel during the pandemic. Since then, it has undertaken a wide-ranging restructuring exercise aimed at turning its finances around. The airline swung to a full-year net profit in 2023, amid restructuring gains and travel recovery. In the quarter ended 31 March, Thai remained in the black, though an increase in costs - coupled with a reduction in restructuring gains - ate into its profitability. It reported a quarterly net profit of Bt2.4b ($65.2m), down 80% compared to the year-ago period, where it recorded gains from restructuring and foreign exchange. Revenue rose about 11% year on year to Bt46b, with passenger revenues rising about 10%. Thai carried close to 3.9m passengers during the quarter, representing a 10% increase against the year-ago period. Traffic and capacity both grew around 10% as well, with passenger yields holding steady against 2023 levels. <br/>
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has launched direct flights between Zurich and Seoul, South Korea. The airline is operating the route with three flights per week using Airbus A340 aircraft. Flight LX122 is scheduled to depart Zurich (ZRH) at 13:40 on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, landing in Seoul Incheon (ICN) at 08:25, the following day. Flight LX123 is slated to leave Seoul Incheon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 09:55, arriving in Zurich at 16:50. “We are delighted to welcome SWISS to Korea,” said Leandro Tonidandel, General Manager Korea SWISS. “With 17 weekly flights, Lufthansa Group now operates non-stop services to Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich where we offer Korean passengers direct connections from our hubs to the largest network in Europe. We have connected Korea with Europe for 40 years and the introduction of flights with the national airline of Switzerland represents our commitment to this important market.”<br/>