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For the last two and a half years, Rejean Landry has been caught in a legal battle with Air Canada, seeking compensation after his family arrived at their final destination more than 24 hours late. In November, a judge in Ontario's small claims court ruled in the Ottawa man's favour, ordering Air Canada to pay almost $15,000 dollars. "And we were happy, satisfied, relieved for a few weeks," Landry said. "Until yesterday, when I got a notice of appeal from Air Canada." Experts say that large companies are increasingly willing to appeal decisions and fight passengers in court to avoid compensating them, despite the hefty legal fees they incur. Air Canada declined to comment to CBC because Landry's case is still in court. When Landry decided to take his children, Sebastien and Emali, on a vacation to Lisbon in July 2022, he knew there could be some complications. Pandemic restrictions had eased and Canadians were packing airports across the country. But when they arrived at the airport in Montreal, they watched as their flight was delayed "over and over and over," Landry said. Panicked and desperate, Landry said he bought three new tickets for the next day. When they arrived in Toronto for a layover and spoke to the woman at Air Canada's desk, she told him he would be refunded. They eventually landed in Portugal, more than 24 hours later than they planned. Story has more.<br/>

TAP Air Portugal, voted ‘Europe’s leading airline to South America’ by the World Travel Awards, has recently hit an astounding milestone. TAP Air Portugal, part of the Star Alliance network of airlines, provided a total of 2m passengers on its flight path from Portugal to Brazil in 2024. An achievement never before reached in a single year. TAP Air Portugal provides more than 1,250 weekly flights between 30 countries worldwide, including: Africa, Europe and North and South America. TAP Airlines, known for their cheap flights and excellent service, allows for lift-off in over 2,500 flights in the air every day. Luís Rodrigues, the CEO of TAP, commented on the companies accomplishment, adding that: ”TAP is proud to connect two countries with a shared history and a promising future. This record reflects our commitment to the quality of our services and our passengers’ confidence in our work. We thank everyone who has chosen and continues to choose TAP for their journeys between Portugal and Brazil and we remain committed to offering an exceptional flight experience”.<br/>

Investigators believe a damaged retaining pin within the overhead fire-control panel on a TAP Portugal Airbus A321neo led to an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown, when it released a fire push-button during turbulence. Portuguese investigation authority GPIAAF says the aircraft (CS-TJL) had been cruising at 37,000ft en route from Milan to Lisbon on 23 October last year. While the captain was alone in the cockpit – the first officer having left for the lavatory – the jet encountered moderate turbulence. The aircraft subsequently alerted the captain to a shutdown of the right-hand CFM International Leap-1A engine. After the first officer returned a few seconds later, the crew declared an emergency, commenced a descent to 22,000ft and twice attempted, unsuccessfully, to relight the engine. The crew diverted to Barcelona where the jet landed safely. None of the 201 occupants was injured. As the A321neo was parking, the crew noticed that the fire push-button for the right-hand engine had popped from its normal location, and its guard was open. There had been no fire, and the button did not illuminate. But its release had triggered the automatic shutdown of the engine in flight. This resulted in arming of the extinguishers and an engine-shutdown alert message to the captain. Airbus’s and TAP’s operating procedures did not require the condition of the overhead fire-control panel to be checked after an in-flight shutdown, says the inquiry. GPIAAF found that the panel, built in 2009, had originally been installed on an A320.<br/>

Shareholders in Italian carrier ITA Airways have approved a capital increase of E325m enabling Lufthansa Group to take a shareholding in the operator. ITA Airways says Lufthansa Group will be offered the capital, adding that it needs to subscribe by 15 January. This will enable the German company to enter the shareholder structure of ITA with a 41% stake. Newly-approved company by-laws to regulate the joint management will also become effective upon Lufthansa’s entry to ITA, and a shareholders’ meeting will be held to appoint a new board of directors and formally implement agreements signed last year. “Completion of these formalities will mark the beginning of a new era for national and continental air transport,” says ITA. Lufthansa Group secured competition clearance for its planned investment in ITA in November after the European Commission accepted remedies for certain routes and airport slots.<br/>

The flag carrier of Poland has opened its first business lounge in North America. The new LOT Polish Airlines business lounge at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is open now. It is accessible to travelers flying on other Star Alliance carriers and walk-up visitors. The LOT Business Lounge is located in the central area of Terminal 5 of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). It is open daily for passengers from 07:00 to 00:00 and is designed with a minimalist style, subtle colors like amber, and accents inspired by Poland. The space is located close to both TSA security and the gate leading to the aircraft and offers a panoramic view of the airport apron. The space spans over 617 square meters and offers relaxation, work, and dining areas. Izabela Leszczyńska, Director of the Product Development and Customer Experience Office at LOT Polish Airlines, noted how exciting this moment is for the carrier: "The opening of the new Business Lounge in Chicago is undoubtedly a significant milestone for us, symbolising the growth of LOT Polish Airlines. It also marks another step in our mission to redefine travel comfort. We want every passenger to feel valued, no matter the purpose or type of journey. Our lounge blends modern design, top-quality services, and practical solutions, offering the ideal environment for both work and relaxation. The LOT Business Lounge is a true reflection of Polish hospitality, serving as a seamless link between the airport and the aircraft. We warmly invite all travelers to experience our new business lounge."<br/>

Smoke in the cockpit and cabin of a Swiss-operated Airbus A220-300 during a 23 December flight forced the crew to make an emergency landing in Graz, Austria. In a post on social media platform X, the Lufthansa Group carrier confirmed “an incident” involving flight LX1885 – which was carrying 74 passengers and five crew members from Bucharest to Zurich. ”The cockpit crew decided to make an unscheduled landing in Graz,” the carrier says. ”The aircraft is currently on the runway, the passengers have been evacuated.” Local reports suggest that the aircraft suffered from engine issues, which caused thick smoke to enter the cabin. Multiple passengers and crew members were reportedly hospitalised as a result, with one crew member requiring an airlift. Images shared on social media purportedly show passengers evacuating the A220 via emergency slides. <br/>