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Riyadh Air signed a preliminary cooperation agreement with Delta Air Lines as the Saudi Arabian startup looks to establish ties with carriers globally ahead of its launch next year. The carriers plan to work toward a marketing agreement that would let them book customers on each other’s flights, according to a joint statement by the companies on Tuesday. The deal will make Delta Riyadh Air’s exclusive partner airline in the US. The pact is also Delta’s first tie-up with a Gulf carrier, after declining earlier opportunities, CEO Ed Bastian said in an interview. “We were waiting for the opportunity to work with an airline that actually has a real population mass and has the economy and capital to be a standalone, independent, profitable carrier for decades to come,” Bastian said. The plans, which are subject to regulatory approvals, will allow the carriers to expand in regions where they do not have existing partnerships. Delta and Riyadh Air said the partnership could eventually encompass other areas including maintenance, repair and overhaul work, ground handling and training, according to the statement. Delta and Riyadh Air also intend to explore a joint venture to further expand the partnership in the future by allowing them to coordinate routes and flight times, they said.<br/>

Romanian flag-carrier Tarom has reached an agreement with flight personnel to restore normal operations, after multiple claims of sickness forced the airline to cancel a large number of services. The airline cancelled over 20 flights on 8 July after flight staff made “individual declarations of unfitness to fly”. Tarom says the “temporary unavailability” of crew meant it had to cancel international services to destinations in the Middle East and Europe, as well as a number of domestic links. It described the situation as “unprecedented” and the action resulted in the carrier’s having to reschedule flights and rebook passengers. Tarom says it is continuing dialogue with representatives of flight crews, in the wake of the disruption.<br/>It states that it has reached an “agreement for normality” and that all scheduled services on 9 July – domestic and international – are operating according to the regular timetable. Tarom says the discussions have led to a deal on salary issues, and that these measures will be negotiated individually with employees. The president of the united trade union at the carrier, Narcis Pascu, told outlet Europa FM that the carrier was suffering from a shortage of pilots and engineers.<br/>

Vietnam Airlines has taken delivery of the first of three Airbus A320neos, and has confirms that more Boeing 787-10 aircraft will be delivered “in the near future” The A320neo (VN-A513) arrived in Vietnam on 7 July from Airbus’s Toulouse facility. The aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, is configured to seat 182 passengers in a two-class layout, with eight business-class seats and 174 economy-class seats. Vietnam Airlines says the delivery marks “an important addition” given a global supply chain crunch – as well as ongoing engine reliability issues – which has led to delays in aircraft deliveries. “The introduction of the Airbus A320neo reaffirms Vietnam Airlines’ commitment to fleet modernisation and operational enhancement to meet the increasing travel demand, especially during the summer travel season,” the SkyTeam member adds. It will deploy the aircraft primarily on domestic flights, operating from its two hubs of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. The remaining two A320neos on order will be delivered by the end of the year. The airline adds that it expects to receive more 787-10s soon, but did not specify a timeline. The aircraft is the largest aircraft type in Vietnam Airlines’ fleet. The airline’s fleet currently comprising mostly Airbus jets, comprising A321s and A350-900s. Vietnam Airlines also operates 15 787s, comprising 11 -9s and four -10s. <br/>