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A group of US lawmakers is demanding that airlines refrain from outsourcing jobs if they want to be eligible for a third round of federal payroll aid, after learning that United Airlines has sought bids to outsource catering work at five airports. Around two dozen members of US Congress made the request to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, according to letters released by Unite Here, the union representing more than 2,500 workers whose jobs are at risk under United’s proposal. Chicago-based United has received $7.7b in two COVID-19 relief deals, known as payroll support programs (PSP), to help the airline industry weather the pandemic and protect jobs. United stands to receive another $2.8 billion under a third package set to run through Sept. 30. “We respectfully request that any new PSP payments to United Airlines and other carriers make clear that any outsourcing of jobs while receiving PSP payments would violate the terms of the program,” seven senators wrote in a May 4 letter to Yellen, who has authority over the terms of the aid. Treasury did not immediately comment on the letter.<br/>

Air NZ's first direct passenger flight from Aotearoa to Adelaide in over a year has landed. After the COVID-19 pandemic decimated international travel, Flight NZ191 left Auckland International Airport on Wednesday morning at 8:20am, on schedule. The flight appeared to be about a quarter full and passengers were treated to a glass of bubbles for the occasion. It's the first time Air NZ has flown the route since late March last year. The airline says it'll now fly Auckland-Adelaide direct three to four times per week using its A321neo and A320 aircraft. It's the seventh Australian city the airline now operates trans-Tasman bubble flights to, which chief customer and commercial officer Leanne Geraghty says is "really positive".<br/>