Star Alliance is looking to include low-cost units of its members as partners as more and more people flock to budget carriers lured by cheaper fares. “Many of our members and many airlines around the world are moving a lot to lower-cost platforms,” CE Jeffrey Goh said at the Singapore Airshow. “We want to find a way of recapturing these markets offering the benefits and privileges that they used to have and enjoy. We want to use this connecting partner model.” Star Alliance’s move is a recognition that budget carriers have captured a significant chunk of global airline traffic with lower ticket prices and on-time flights. Low-cost airlines are doing much better than expected, and their next frontier would be low-cost, long-haul travel, Alexandre de Juniac, CE of IATA, Monday. <br/>
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The CE and CFO at Brussels Airlines were sacked amid a large-scale restructuring by its parent company, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines said Monday. CE Bernard Gustin and CFO Jan De Raeymaeker were fired as Lufthansa is proceeding with its plans to merge Brussels Airlines with Eurowings. Gustin and De Raeymaeker were let go because they opposed Lufthansa's plans to integrate Brussels Airlines into Eurowings, wanting to keep the airline as its own brand, local news agency Belga reported. Current CCO Christina Foerster will take over as the CE starting April 1. "Brussels Airlines will continue to grow - the professionalism, expertise and passion of the Brussels Airlines staff are a vital part on our joint path to success," said Eurowings CE Thorsten Dirks. <br/>
Nearly 100 Belgian companies called Monday for Lufthansa to keep Brussels Airlines based in Belgium and not to merge it with Eurowings, as the German carrier replaced the Belgian airline's top management. Lufthansa, which took control of the carrier in 2016, Monday appointed a new CE and COO at the airline. Executives at Belgian firms including Solvay and AB Inbev said in an open letter that the connectivity offered by Brussels Airlines was strategically important for Belgium and its ability to export products and services. "We are today advocating that Brussels Airlines remains a strong airline, anchored in Brussels, that meets the needs of the various segments in the market," they wrote in the letter published on the website of communications firm Akkanto. <br/>
Kumho Asiana chairman Park Sam-koo may stop monthly visits to Asiana Airlines' flight attendants following allegations that he made unwanted physical advances to female employees, the airline said Monday. The allegations came amid the #Me Too movement sweeping the world. "It is not an admission of any wrongdoing," a spokesman said. "But we will consider abolishing the visits, a tradition for our carrier for the past 20 years." Park, 74, has been visiting the carrier's headquarters in western Seoul the first Thursday every month to cheer up the flight attendants. On The Blind, an internet chatroom for company employees, comments have been made claiming that the executives encouraged the female employees to hug the leader of the carrier. <br/>