Three Italian unions representing cabin crews, pilots and ground crews called for its members to strike Feb 10 to protest against Ryanair's plans to negotiate labour issues exclusively with one union. Ryanair has said it would negotiate with Anpac, the main pilots' association in Italy, but not other unions representing cabin crews, ground crews and pilots who are not members of Anpac. "There must be an immediate discussion about salaries and safeguards for all of the workers, and not just a portion of them," the Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl and Uiltrasporti unions said. "It is unacceptable that the company is choosing which unions it speaks with, in total disregard of the most elementary principle that is part of our legal system that says workers can choose freely who they want to represent them," the unions said. <br/>
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Airline Niki filed for insolvency in Austria Thursday, in a move to safeguard an agreed sale of the Austrian arm of failed Air Berlin to IAG, its insolvency administrator said. Niki filed for insolvency in Berlin last month, but a Berlin regional court said earlier this week that Niki was not under German jurisdiction. The ruling, which Niki has appealed, has put a question mark over the deal with IAG. Niki's German administrator now aims to safeguard the sale by filing for a secondary insolvency in Austria. Austria's Korneuburg regional court said: "If the court accepts Niki's application, the main proceedings will stay in Germany with Lucas Floether as Niki's administrator." If the court supports a separate claim by Fairplane, a group representing airline passengers, the whole insolvency process would have to start from scratch. <br/>
Alaska Airlines and Virgin America have been granted a single operating certificate by FAA, a key milestone in the integration of the two carriers. Alaska cautioned that passengers should not expect to see “immediate differences,” adding, “For now, [passengers] will still use respective Alaska and Virgin America mobile apps, websites and airport terminals when traveling. But when Alaska and Virgin America move to a single reservations system in late April 2018, [passengers] can expect a more streamlined travel experience, with the Alaska mobile app and website serving their travel needs.” But the single operating certificate does mean regulators have been convinced that the two airlines’ operating policies and procedures are now in alignment. <br/>
AirAsia achieved its goal of adding 22 more aircraft to its fleet by Dec 31, 2017 as the group ramps up its growth. Group CE Tony Fernandes outlined the fleet expansion targets in August and November. An AirAsia spokeswoman said the goal of a year-on-year net increase of 22 aircraft for 2017 was met, boosting the group’s fleet of Airbus narrowbodies to 196. The group includes the core Malaysia operation, as well as joint ventures and affiliates in Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and India. The 2017 increase was the group’s highest growth rate in the past 4 years, following a period of consolidation. AirAsia is planning to add another 33 Airbus narrowbodies in 2018, with aircraft allocated throughout the group. AirAsia intends to increase its group fleet size to 500 aircraft by 2027. <br/>