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The U.S. Transportation Department on Tuesday finalized its awards of five new daily round-trip flights from Washington Reagan National airport to major airlines. The flights at the busy airport in Arlington, Virginia, outside the nation's capital were mandated under legislation signed in May by President Joe Biden. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines all are receiving new flights after the department made tentative awards in October. Carriers are to start new flights within 90 days.<br/>

A new partnership between NOAA and United Airlines will soon help federal scientists keep better tabs on domestic greenhouse gas emissions. The project, set to begin next year, will equip a single Boeing 737 with scientific instruments designed to monitor carbon dioxide, methane and other climate-warming gases. As the aircraft zigzags across the country, stopping in as many as five cities a day, it will collect valuable data on emissions over both rural and urban landscapes, scientists say. That information can help scientists verify emissions measurements gathered in the same places by other methods, such as satellites or on-the-ground instruments. And it can help cities and land managers pinpoint locations where they may be underestimating their own emissions. “It’s a real opportunity to go to where all the action is in terms of understanding the emissions,” said Colm Sweeney, associate director of science at NOAA’s global monitoring laboratory and lead scientist at the lab’s aircraft program. “We’re not trying to regulate any emissions — we’re just trying to understand what those emissions profiles look like.” The project is part of a wider federal strategy to coordinate and improve greenhouse gas monitoring efforts across federal agencies. That effort is intensifying in the final weeks of the Biden administration, amid fears that the incoming Trump administration will deprioritize or dismantle the so-called national greenhouse gas monitoring strategy.<br/>

Air Canada sees itself on a glide path to becoming a C$30b ($21b) annual revenue company by 2028. The Montreal-based carrier released full-year 2024 guidance during its 17 December investor day that shows the company generating some C$22b in operating revenue during the 12 months ending 31 December. The Star Alliance carrier plans to reach C$30b in annual revenue in four years and to exceed that figure by decade’s end. ”Our strategy, which builds on and leverages the unique strengths developed over the last decade, is to rise even higher with consistent margin expansion and structural cash generation while maintaining a strong balance sheet and a responsible risk profile,” says Michael Rousseau, Air Canada’s CE. ”Our plan includes expanding the network, improving the customer experience, taking care of our employees, enhancing financial performance and continuously investing in the business to generate long-term value for investors.” Anticipated deliveries of new Airbus A220s and A321XLRs and Boeing 787-10s are expected to expand Air Canada’s capacity and drive some C$8b of revenue growth through 2028, with an increasingly modern fleet expected to lower fuel and maintenance costs between 15-20% in that timeframe. Air Canada plans to invest about C$1b in fleet enhancements through 2028, including free wi-fi that will start rolling out in May, more cabin storage and “modern and comfortable seating”. <br/>

Portugal's top court has ruled that 1,200 TAP cabin crew members on short-term contracts who were laid off and later reinstated as staff should get retroactive pay, a decision that could cost the airline as much as E300m.<br/>The Supreme Court ruling, dated Dec. 12 and seen by Reuters on Tuesday, said TAP must treat the cabin staff as if they had always been on permanent contracts and compensate them with back salaries dating from the start of their employment. The ruling affects flight personnel who were initially hired for one year in 2020 and 2021 but whose contracts were renewed by TAP over the following three years. TAP avoided paying them the much higher salaries it awards to its permanent staff, as well as overtime and other allowances, despite both performing exactly the same tasks, the Supreme Court ruling said. A TAP spokesperson declined to comment on the legal process. The Supreme Court decision has a "unifying" character that sets jurisprudence for future rulings by other courts, in which dozens of cabin crew have already filed lawsuits against TAP. Ricardo Penarroias, who heads civil aviation flight personnel union SNPVAC, told Reuters the ruling could also apply to another several hundred cases over contracts signed in 2006. This would affect a total of 2,000 employees, potentially costing TAP between E200m and E300m as staff pay can easily be double that of short-term workers. Portugal's flag carrier, now immersed in a privatisation process, underwent an extensive restructuring imposed by a Brussels-approved E3.2b rescue plan in 2021.<br/>

Turkish Airlines announced a partnership with Apple to introduce a baggage tracking system aimed at preventing lost luggage troubles. The initiative is expected to enhance operational efficiency while addressing baggage-related disruptions. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Professor Dr. Ahmet Bolat wrote in his LinkedIn post. Bolat highlighted the collaboration with Apple, explaining that with the release of iOS 18.2, passengers will be able to share the location of their luggage using devices equipped with AirTag or Find My technology. By providing this data to Turkish Airlines’ teams, the company aims to swiftly locate and return baggage, further improving the travel experience.<br/>

Asiana Airlines, which has been incorporated as a subsidiary of Korean Air, is expected to withdraw from the airline alliance Star Alliance soon, increasing interest in Asiana Airlines mileage. The information regarding Asiana Airlines mileage has been organized in a Q&A format.<br/>─What will happen to the mileage if it merges with Korean Air?<br/>“For the next two years, Asiana Airlines will be operated as a subsidiary of Korean Air. Until 2026, Asiana Airlines mileage, known as 'Asiana Club', will be operated independently. When the integrated Korean Air is launched two years later, Asiana Airlines mileage will be merged into Korean Air's SkyPass.”<br/>─Where can Asiana Airlines mileage currently be used?<br/>“The most basic use of mileage is for issuing flight tickets. A promotion is being conducted allowing the use of mileage for 96 Gimpo-Jeju flights until the 31st of this month. Mileage can also be used for seat upgrades, excess baggage, lounge access, unaccompanied minor services for teenagers traveling alone without a guardian, pets, and extra fee seat services. There is also the OZ Mile Shop where various partnership products can be purchased, but most items are currently out of stock.<br/>─What will change if it withdraws from Star Alliance?<br/>“It will no longer be possible to purchase tickets for Star Alliance member airlines using Asiana Airlines mileage. While the specific withdrawal schedule has not yet been determined, it is expected that the process will occur soon. If Asiana Airlines, which specializes in the Incheon hub, exits the alliance, it could complicate transfer schedules at Incheon International Airport.” Story has more.<br/>

Juneyao Air has officially made its debut in Australia, providing travelers with a new way to connect to destinations across China. The airline’s inaugural flight, HO1669 landed at Sydney Airport at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Juneyao is the ninth carrier from mainland China to begin operations at the airport. The new service includes four weekly direct flights between Shanghai and Sydney, boosting Sydney Airport’s seat capacity to mainland China to levels surpassing pre-pandemic numbers. Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham highlighted the importance of this development, noting that increased aviation capacity is vital to supporting the $50b annual visitor economy in New South Wales.<br/>

Air New Zealand has made its biggest ever purchase of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), buying 30m litres. It will be used on flights across the Pacific from San Francisco and Los Angeles. SAF is made from raw materials such as animal fat waste and used cooking oil and is mixed with conventional jet fuel to create the overall fuel mix that powers an aircraft. However, SAF will only make up 1.6% of the airline’s total fuel supply and Air New Zealand's chief sustainability officer, Kiri Hannifin, admits more needs to be done. “1.6% is still a very small proportion of our total fuel use, but it’s four times more than we carried last year, so I am thrilled with the trajectory,” said Hannifin. “Like all airlines, we urgently need to move away from our high reliance on fossil fuels as quickly as we can. Securing year-on-year higher volumes of SAF is critical.” The national carrier hopes to be using 10% SAF by 2030. “We’ve invested in two feasibility studies to understand if New Zealand production from feedstocks like woody biomass could become a reality and we are delighted that it can be. We’re pulling every lever available to us because sitting on our hands is not an option. The climate crisis is worsening, and we are responsible for changing the course of action to protect our natural environment for future generations”.<br/>