Aircraft delivery delays from Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab are "extremely annoying" and cost Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), opens new tab lots of money, but the U.S. planemaker should be able to resolve its problems, the German airline's CEO said in a newspaper interview. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr was direct when asked by Switzerland's Neue Zuercher Zeitung how badly recent setbacks at Boeing and subsequent delivery hold-ups were affecting his firm. "This is extremely annoying and costs us a great deal of money," Spohr said in the interview published at the weekend. "However, I am sure Boeing will get the problems under control." The Lufthansa boss said the industry needs two strong providers, referring also to Boeing's European rival Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab. "Everyone has an interest in Boeing being able to build great aircraft more reliably again soon," he added. Asked whether he could imagine buying Chinese aircraft, Spohr played down the prospect. "Given the safety standards we apply at the Lufthansa Group, I don't think that's realistic for the coming years," he said. Spohr was optimistic that a planned stake purchase by Lufthansa in Italy's ITA Airways would get regulatory approval, and said he would not be prepared to give up transatlantic flights to North America as a concession to get the go-ahead.<br/>
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Greek carrier Aegean is entering a partnership with Saudi Arabian flag-carrier Saudia, which will include codeshare services. The two operators unveiled the deal at the Arabian Travel Market event in Dubai. Under the tie-up Aegean will place its ‘A3’ designator code on Saudia-operated flights to Athens from both Jeddah and Riyadh. Saudia’s ‘SV’ code will similarly be applied to Aegean’s services on the same routes. The Saudi carrier says the agreement includes transit visa services. The codeshare takes effect from 9 May. “It is in the intention of both airlines to gradually expand the joint route offering,” says Aegean. Aegean, which has served Saudi Arabia for nearly a decade, states that the co-operation will “provide more travel opportunities” for the customers of both carriers. Network planning director Yannis Rasoglou says Aegean will continue investing in the kingdom with more frequencies as well as “upgraded aircraft” from 2026.<br/>
Three female flight attendants from Taiwanese carrier Eva Air have been hailed as heroes after they broke up a scuffle between two male passengers, according to Taiwanese media. The incident took place on Tuesday (May 7) just three hours after Eva Air’s BR08 flight left Taipei for San Francisco, according to TVBS News. A video posted on X by user @AlexNewsweekly shows a male passenger in a white shirt grabbed by two female flight attendants from behind. He raises his fists and signals angrily at someone outside the frame. Another passenger in a blue striped shirt is shortly seen storming towards the man and aggressively swinging his fist, missing him by inches. A third female flight attendant placed herself between the two men with her hands outstretched to keep them apart. Screams from other passengers can be heard in the background as some got out from their seats in an attempt to move away from the fight. Another passenger is seen stopping the man in the blue striped shirt and calming him down. Eva Air told local media that the scuffle started when a male passenger felt uncomfortable when the person beside him started coughing, The man decided to move to a nearby seat which was empty but belonged to another passenger. As the passenger confronted the man, the argument escalated to a physical fight. The flight attendants swiftly followed operating procedures to pacify the passengers and moved the two men to seats in two separate areas of the plane to avoid further conflicts, Eva Air added. The Liberty Times reported that the plane’s captain notified San Francisco’s airport police shortly after the incident and that the plane arrived safely in San Francisco.<br/>
Air India has selected SIA Engineering (SIAEC) to develop its base maintenance facilities in Bangalore, as part of a strategic partnership between the two parties. Under the partnership, SIAEC will work with Air India on the planning, construction, development, as well as subsequent operationalisation of the facility. The base maintenance facility, which is expected to be ready in 2026, will have widebody and narrowbody hangars and associated repair shops, says Air India. The move follows the divestment of Air India by the Indian government in 2022, which saw only the airline business privatised. Former MRO unit Air India Engineering Services (AIESL), which used to provide base maintenance works for the national carrier, remained under government control, though Delhi is reportedly looking to similarly divest its ownership. Says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson of the latest partnership: “The collaboration with SIA Engineering Company will not only help Air India become more self-reliant for the maintenance of its own fleet but it also reiterates our commitment to strengthen India’s aviation infrastructure by boosting the growth of the country’s MRO industry.”<br/>