Dubai-based dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, has expanded its long-standing partnership with American Airlines to support the carrier’s growing business in India. The Texas-based airline currently operates daily flights between New York and Delhi, as well as offering domestic services through its partnership with IndiGo, with plans for further expansion. dnata Representation Services will provide a comprehensive range of sales and marketing services to American Airlines as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India. It will act as the essential link between the carrier and local trade, supporting its commercial operations in the market. dnata’s vast network, extensive experience in airline representation and broad marketing, sales and operational expertise will help American Airlines enhance its market presence to meet rapidly increasing demand across the country. dnata Representation Services, part of the dnata Travel Group, has served as GSA for American Airlines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates for more than 45 years.<br/>
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Alaska Airlines has announced an agreement with Shell Aviation to expand the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) market beyond a standard fuel supply agreement. The agreement includes commitments to deepen understanding of SAF technology, infrastructure, carbon accounting systems, and public policy support needed to bring SAF to more markets. SAF is a certified drop-in fuel that meets the jet fuel standards to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 80% of lifecycle emissions. The companies state that they will focus on enabling supply to the US West Coast and alleviating fuelling infrastructure challenges in the Pacific Northwest. Shell Aviation will also supply up to 10m gallons of neat SAF to Alaska Airlines at their hub in Los Angeles. “With Shell’s world-class fuel supply chain and deep technical knowledge, we’re aiming to transform West Coast fuel supply,” said Ann Ardizzone, Alaska Airlines VP of strategic sourcing and supply chain management.<br/>
Cathay Pacific is in talks with aircraft lessors as it seeks to source as many as 50 of Airbus SE’s A320neo-type aircraft, people familiar with the discussions said, with Hong Kong’s main carrier aiming to ramp up and potentially expand following the scrapping of Covid curbs. Given Airbus’s order book that stretches out several years, Cathay and its low-cost unit HK Express are initially looking at the leased-jet market to get planes faster, said the people, asking not to be identified as the discussions aren’t public. While the company would like to buy new jets directly from Airbus, the planemaker is booked up through 2029. Together, Cathay and HK Express currently have a combined 222 aircraft in their fleet, including 40 A320 family jets. After three years of effectively closed borders and crippling quarantine rules, Cathay is seeking a comeback, with new CEO Ronald Lam eyeing a return to net profit on resurgent flight demand. CEO Lam said in a recent interview with Bloomberg News that the carrier was assessing its options when it comes to aircraft. “We have replacement needs for the widebody fleet and we have growth needs for the narrowbody fleet, and we will look at all options and make sure that we get the most suitable deals,” he said. Cathay was hit particularly hard by the pandemic, as Hong Kong imposed stringent measures on travelers and crew, including mandatory hotel quarantine. That left the airline with just a few hundred passengers a day in the depths of the crisis. <br/>
The ACCC has granted interim authorisation for Qantas and Emirates to continue coordinating their flight schedules days before their existing deal was due to expire. The arrangement between the two airlines was first agreed upon in 2013, but was due to expire on 31 March 2023. The pair are ultimately seeking to extend it for another five years. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in 2021 called the partnership one of “the most significant” in aviation. “The international aviation market will take years to fully recover so close collaboration between airline partners is going to be more important than ever,” he said. The partnership requires ACCC approval because it allows a level of collaboration that may otherwise break Australia’s competition rules. Under the deal, the Flying Kangaroo’s customers can book tickets through Dubai, connecting to the larger airline’s huge network, while Emirates passengers enjoy similar perks in reverse. Tim Clark, president of the state-owned Emirates, said last year, “As borders re-open, we look forward to restoring our Australian flight schedules, including our popular A380 services.” The positive news for Qantas comes days after the ACCC delayed making a ruling over whether it would allow the national carrier to purchase FIFO operator Alliance.<br/>