unaligned

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has tentatively approved a plan by US regional airline SkyWest to begin operating charter flights under a new subsidiary, coming down against powerful labour groups that have sought to squash the plan. Those unions, however, are still urging the agency to reconsider its tentative finding, warning about the safety of the planned operation. The DOT on 13 February approved a proposal from SkyWest to begin charter flights under SkyWest Charter. SkyWest had applied for the authority in 2022 and had failed to receive it under the administration of President Joe Biden. The 13 February tentative green light says the DOT finds no reason not to approve SkyWest Charter to begin flights, though the agency has given interested parties 14 days to voice opposition. Parent SkyWest, which is the USA’s largest regional airline, has said the charter arm will let it continue flying to small communities that might otherwise lose air service. Its 2022 application came amid a broad shortage of pilots and other pressures that contributed to a years-long-reduction in air service to small US communities. Charter operators, flying under FAA Part 135 rules, can employ pilots with 1,200h of flight time, less than the 1,500h required for scheduled airlines flying under Part 121 rules. Other airline-like charter operations have sprung up in the USA in recent years, including one called JSX. Such operations have been opposed by labour groups and some major airlines.<br/>

Aer Lingus reported a E20m fall in operating profits for 2024, blaming industrial action over the summer and an increase in competition for transatlantic traffic. The airline operator – part of International Airlines Group (IAG), which reported a 26.7% surge in operating profits to E4.44b for last year on Friday – said it carried 11m passengers in 2024, up by close to 3% from 2023 after it expanded its North American route network in the year. Still, operating profits at Aer Lingus slid almost 9% in the year to E205m. Aer Lingus said its second and third financial quarters were “impacted by industrial action “and an increase in transatlantic competitor capacity”. The pilots’ row cost E55m over the second and third quarters, the airline said previously. But speaking to reporters on a conference call on Friday afternoon, Aer Lingus cCE said An Bord Pleanála’s (ABP) draft ruling that would cap the number of night-time flights at Dublin Airport to an average of 35 a day from more than 100 currently could be a barrier to the airline’s future growth in the Republic.<br/>

With the new Coalition having committed itself to resolution of the Dublin Airport passenger cap row in the programme for government, there is some hope the tiresome back and forth over issue might finally reach a denouement in the foreseeable. An even bigger headache for Aer Lingus CE Lynne Embleton, it seems, is the planning watchdog’s draft ruling last year on Dublin Airport night flights. For those in need of a refresher, the short version is that in a planning appeal taken by local residents, An Bord Pleanála largely found in favour of DAA in September, agreeing to replace the existing cap on night-time aircraft movement at the airport with a noise quota system. However, the decision also included what Embleton described on a conference call with reporters on Friday as the “strange insertion” of an annual cap on the number of flights that can arrive and depart between 11pm and 7am from the north runway. Essentially, An Bord Pleanála’s proposal would slash night-time flights by about 60%, a decision she said was “absolute madness”. “It’s not as prominent in the discussion as the passenger cap,” Embleton said after the airline and its parent, IAG, reported annual results for 2024 on Friday morning, “but I believe it’s got the potential to be even more damaging.” That’s quite a statement, given the anguish that convulsed various stakeholders over the passenger cap row last year. But Embleton’s reasoning certainly gives food for thought. If implemented, the decision would clearly impact Aer Lingus’s transatlantic offering, she said. “If you think about the functioning of an airport,” she said, “you think about a hub where passengers can come in from Europe and from the US and connect onwards. You just can’t do that with this level of reduction.”<br/>

Etihad Airways and Spanish-based Air Europa are forming a strategic partnership to enhance commercial and operational ties, offering wider travel options, higher-quality services, and increased value to passengers.<br/> Etihad is increasing its flights to twice daily to Air Europa’s hub in Madrid from summer 2025, providing seamless access between Abu Dhabi and Spain. The partnership would further strengthen connectivity between Europe and Latin America, and the Middle East and Asia, creating seamless travel options across these key regions. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial of Etihad Airways, said: " We are in discussions to establish a strategic partnership covering a range of activities, including deepening our codeshare and frequent flyer programme, enabling both airlines to expand into new frontiers, and a potential wet lease operation with an Air Europa aircraft between Madrid and Abu Dhabi. “Any partnership will work towards benefiting customers of both airlines, underscoring our commitment to providing our valued customers with a seamless travel experience and access to a wider network, including Air Europa’s leading Latin America Network.” “We are very pleased to expand our partnership with Etihad Airways into a scenario that will be even more rewarding for our customers. By initiating our operations between Madrid-Barajas and Abu Dhabi, it will further extend our reach to the Middle East and Asia, opening up more possibilities to connect both regions to the Americas via Europe, while offering the highest standards of quality,” said Richard Clark, Air Europa's General Manager.<br/>

Malaysia's Capital A Berhad, owner of budget airline AirAsia, swung to an annual loss in 2024 due mainly to foreign exchange fluctuations, it reported on Friday, but said it expects to return to profit this year. Capital A made an attributable loss of 475.1m ringgit ($106.5m) for 2024, from a profit of 255.3m ringgit in the previous year. The company said the loss was largely due to 1.4b ringgit in one-off forex losses mainly in its aviation business, which also caused the company's fourth-quarter loss to swell to 1.57b ringgit from 345.3m ringgit a year earlier. Capital A was hard hit by pandemic travel restrictions and classified by Malaysia's stock exchange as 'PN17', or financially distressed, in 2022. It is seeking to exit PN17 status. Excluding the impact of the one-time charges, the aviation business benefited in the fourth quarter from an upsurge in domestic and international travel, although that was partly offset by higher marketing costs and user charges. The aviation division expects 19 aircraft currently in storage to be active by the second quarter of the year, Capital A said in a statement. Capital A is in the process of selling its AirAsia aviation business to long-haul unit AirAsia X Bhd, which counts Capital A as one of its top shareholders. The move was announced a year ago to consolidate long and short-haul operations under a single AirAsia brand. The company said it expects to post earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations of between 500m ringgit and 600m ringgit this year. That is a significant turnaround from an EBITDA loss from continuing operations of 663.2m ringgit in fiscal 2024.<br/>

A plane’s cabin was filled with smoke – reportedly from a burning power bank – on Feb 24, sparking concern among hundreds of passengers and crew aboard the Batik Air flight. Fortunately, the aircraft, which had taken off from Johor Bahru at 11.20am, was just 30 minutes away from landing at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. A TikTok video posted by user kentmaherr, which has racked up more than 2.1m views, shows smoke coming out from an overhead luggage compartment at the front of the plane. “All passengers were shocked by the thick smoke coming out of the luggage compartment, with the smell of fire stinging their noses,” he wrote in the video caption. In the video, three flight attendants are seen running their hands over several overhead baggage compartments, seemingly checking for a source of heat. Seconds later, they ask some passengers seated directly below the affected compartment to leave their seats before they open the compartment slightly and use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. After several minutes, they open the compartment completely and white smoke pours from it.The crew assist passengers in removing their bags from the compartment before a man, who had been sitting in the aisle opposite the compartment, stands on a seat to retrieve a black bag. Holding the bag, he is then escorted to the rear of the plane by a crew member carrying an extinguisher. Kentmaherr, who noted the situation was brought under control within minutes, thanked the crew for their swift action. Upon landing at the airport, the fire brigade and ambulances were on standby to ensure the safety of all passengers, kentmaherr added.<br/>