Republic Airways filed for bankruptcy Thursday, blaming a lack of pilots for its failure to succeed when major airlines are enjoying record profits. Republic operates a fleet of smaller planes that provide flights for larger airlines including American Airlines Group, Delta Air Lines and United Continental Holdings. Although it landed a 3-year union contract with its pilots last year, the company still had to ground aircraft just as it was trying to renegotiate agreements with the larger carriers and to rework terms of aircraft leases. “It’s become clear that this process has reached an impasse and that any further delay would unnecessarily waste valuable resources of the enterprise.” Bryan Bedford, Republic’s chairman and CE, said Thursday. <br/>
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Norwegian announced Thursday that it will join the new alliance Airlines for Europe (A4E), which will see it collaborate with Ryanair and others. “Norwegian has always believed in healthy competition among airlines to create more choice and lower fares for passengers. But we also firmly believe in an industry where low-cost and network carriers can unite to tackle the many issues we all face together," Norwegian CE Bjørn Kjos said. Rumours had been circulating that Norwegian and Ryanair were working on a so-called feeder agreement in which Ryanair’s short-distance routes will be slotted in to Norwegian’s long-haul routes. Ryanair transported 7.5m travellers in January, but the airline has no long-haul aircraft that can range across the Atlantic. Norwegian, meanwhile, has been steadily adding to its long-distance routes. <br/>
Nok Air will extend the use of charter flights until at least March 10 as the airline grapples with a lack of pilots. Transport minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said Thursday he was informed the airline will rely on 20 charter flights a day. The carrier earlier notified authorities they would use charter flights only until the end of the month. The extension is required since the airline is still trying to overcome its pilot shortage problem, Arkhom said, adding that the carrier could resume normal services after March 10. Responding to reports that 17 Nok Air pilots had quit the airline, the minister said the airline's CE Patee Sarasin had admitted this but said the carrier will recruit 15 more. A Transport Ministry source said Nok Air will use a total of 250 charter flights to cater to its passengers from Friday to March 10. <br/>
Bmi regional will launch 4 new routes from Munich to increase its network from Lufthansa’s second hub to 8 destinations. The carrier will base 3 Embraer Jets in Munich. New routes include services from Munich to Milan Bergamo (12X-weekly) from March 31; Norrköping (daily) from April 15, Rostock (daily from March 31); and 12 weekly services to Southampton starting April 15. All routes operate as codeshare flights with Lufthansa. “Munich is now our largest hub in the heart of Europe with more than 160 weekly flights. This move is increasing seats by more than 70% compared to last year,” CCO Jochen Schnadt said. Bmi regional operates an all-jet fleet, comprising 18 Embraer E135 and E145 aircraft, on more than 300 scheduled flights a week to 25 destinations in 11 European countries. <br/>
Wizz Air is installing an advanced Airbus A320 family aircraft cockpit simulator at its crew training centre in Budapest, which will be operational this summer. It will supplement Wizz Air’s full-motion simulator, giving the company added flexibility and allowing additional scheduling options to continue to meet the training requirements for Wizz Air’s planned growth. The simulator, an exact replica of the A320 flight deck, is identical to a full-flight simulator without the motion and includes a high quality visual system combined with rumble and audio to provide a realistic flight environment. The device, supplied by MPS, also includes type rating training and some cabin crew training. The new facility is expected to further lower Wizz Air’s operating costs. <br/>
The govt Thursday formally announced to launch a new airline with title of Pakistan Airways Limited (PAL) saying the decision was taken when the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) employees through their strike prevented sale of 26% shares of the carrier. “The new airline will not be an alternate to the PIA but it will generate a healthy competition with PIA,” minister of state for parliamentary affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said while responding to points of order raised by the opposition members in the National Assembly. “Recruitments in the PAL will be made on contractual basis whereas none of the PIA employees is going to be laid off,” he said. Trying to allay concerns of the opposition members, Shaikh Aftab said all the new aircraft would be obtained on dry lease and none of the PIA planes would be handed over to the PAL. <br/>