unaligned

A possible long-weekend strike at WestJet Airlines Ltd. has been averted. The federal government on Thursday directed the airline and plane mechanics into binding arbitration to resolve their dispute, a move all but certain to avoid a work stoppage that could otherwise have disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend. In a late-afternoon social media post, Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said he was invoking his authority under the Canada Labour Code to resolve the impasse between the two sides as the clock ticked down toward a Friday evening deadline. “Strong first agreements set unions and employers on the path of collective bargaining,” O’Regan said. “They set a strong foundation to build upon at the bargaining table and bring the parties one step closer to a strong second agreement and an even stronger third agreement — reached at the bargaining table. That’s what we want to see here.” The Canada Industrial Relations Board could opt not to suspend the right to a work stoppage as it hammers out a contract, but precedent suggests that outcome is unlikely.<br/>

Holidaymakers face more flight cancellations next week as Aer Lingus pilots consider further strikes following a break down of talks aimed at resolving their bitter pay row. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), part of the trade union Fórsa, met company representatives in a Dublin Airport hotel on Thursday morning as a pilots’ work to rule at Aer Lingus moved into its second day. However, talks broke down in early afternoon with each side blaming the other for failing to move from their respective positions. Capt Mark Tighe, Ialpa president, warned further strikes could follow the union’s planned eight-hour stoppage on Saturday morning, while pilots will also continue their strict work to rule. Aer Lingus branded further strikes “entirely inappropriate” given that the Labour Court asked the parties this week not to step up the dispute. The airline is weighing further flight cancellations to follow the 270 services it has axed through to next Tuesday, to limit the impact of the pilots’ action on customers, according to its chief corporate affairs officer, Donal Moriarty.<br/>

An investigation was launched after a Boeing 737 Max flown by Ryanair plunged at alarming speed during its final approach to London Stansted Airport, it has emerged. Flight data reveals that on December 4 last year, flight FR1269 dropped more than 2,000ft in a mere 17 seconds. The shocking incident occurred on the two-hour journey from Klagenfurt, Austria, when the aircraft's descent rate exceeded 8,000ft per minute at low altitude. Miraculously, none of the passengers or crew aboard the 197-seat aircraft were harmed, according to the I newspaper. Ryanair acknowledged the occurrence of an "unstable approach" before landing and confirmed its cooperation with the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). Aviation analysts have expressed grave concern, particularly in light of ongoing issues surrounding the 737 Max, including recent whistle-blower allegations and the January incident where a door detached from a jet mid-flight. The AAIB's incident log describes the aircraft experiencing a "high speed and high nose down pitch attitude" during a go-around procedure. This manoeuvre involves aborting a landing attempt and climbing to circle the airport before making another approach.<br/>

Etihad Airways is set to embark on an international roadshow to hire hundreds of pilots over the next 18 months, as part of plans to expand its route network and double its fleet by 2030. The Abu-Dhabi based airline will take its recruitment drive to eight European countries, including Cyprus, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Hungary and Poland, before expanding its search globally in the coming months, Etihad Airways said in a statement on Thursday. It is seeking pilots of all ranks who can operate aircraft from across the Etihad fleet, including the Airbus A320, A350 and A380, as well as the Boeing 777, 787 and 777 freighter. "We appreciate that pilots choose which airline to join for the length of their career, and as such we would like to highlight not only the career development and progression opportunities on offer at Etihad, but also the fantastic home and lifestyle that Abu Dhabi provides," said John Wright, chief operations and guest officer at the airline. In March, Etihad CE Antonoaldo Neves told The National that the airline planned to hire between 1,500 to 2,000 pilots, cabin crew, mechanics and engineers this year to drive its expansion. “In the second half of the year, we're going to be hiring to prepare for 2025,” he said at the time. This comes as Etihad aims to triple passenger numbers to 33m and double its fleet to 150 planes by the end of the decade. The airline is also preparing for a potential listing – a first for a major Gulf airline – as part of its growth plans.<br/>