Hawaiian Airlines appointed Doreen Lawrence as VP-inflight services. Lawrence fills the position previously held by Louis Saint-Cyr, who was appointed VP-customer services in May. Alaska Airlines named Constance von Muehlen MD-airframe, engine and component MRO. Von Muehlen previously served as Alaska Airlines’ director of engine maintenance.
Emirates and Qantas have secured conditional approval to begin selling tickets under a new partnership, although a final competition ruling is not expected until March.
Lanyon acquired by private equity firm Room 77 raises $30m; Expedia joins list of investors Travelport, AA could be on verge of settlement Shorts Travel Management enhances Bookit application Agilysys releases latest version of Visual One software suite Nexion to establish agency hosting business in Canada World news briefing
American Express said it will eliminate about 5,400 jobs this year, reducing overall staffing by 4% to 6%. The deepest cuts will be felt in its Global Business Travel unit, which currently employs about 12,000 people. “Online servicing is the preferred channel,” Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer, said during a conference call with investment analysts. “As our online capabilities improve, one outcome is that we can serve our growing customer base with lower staffing levels.”
Airbus delivered a company record of 588 aircraft to 89 customers and exceeded its order target of 650 by winning 914 gross orders, the company announced Thursday.
Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed it has temporarily suspended use of its Boeing 787s following FAA’s emergency airworthiness directive issued on the aircraft.
All Boeing 787 operators have grounded their aircraft following FAA’s emergency airworthiness directive (AD); European regulatory authority EASA also adopted the AD.
Chile-based LAN Airlines has become the first non-US carrier to announce it will comply with the US FAA recommendation and temporarily suspend its Boeing 787 operations.
The US FAA has grounded US operators of the Boeing 787, saying it will issue an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk.
Air Berlin is expanding codesharing activities with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi to Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai, as well to Tokyo Narita and Nagoya. It will launch daily Berlin service to Sofia and Bucharest Otopeni Jan 28. Finnair will operate 3X-weekly Helsinki-Xi’an service June 14-Oct. 26. Loganair will operate weekly Norwich-Guernsey service April 28-Sept. 29.
Finnair has denied reports that president and CEO Mika Vehviläinen is leaving the airline to take up a similar role at Cargotec, a cargo handling equipment maker.
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has named Lynn Deavers US Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) accountability officer to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).
US House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) has named Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) chairman of aviation subcommittee for the 113th US Congress.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending an official to Japan to assist in the investigation of Tuesday’s emergency landing of an All Nippon Airways (ANA) Boeing 787.
