Air Transport World

British Airways and Iberia parent International Airlines Group (IAG) have signed a non-binding agreement covering Aer Lingus’ London Heathrow slots.

United Airlines and Continental pilots have ratified a joint collective bargaining agreement with United Continental Holdings (UCH).

UK leisure carrier Monarch Airlines is planning a tender for 45 new leased and purchased aircraft to renew and expand its existing fleet.

AirBaltic will launch weekly Riga-Heviz Bombardier Q400 service May 4 and 3X-weekly Riga-Prague Bombardier Q400 service Jan. 1. Copa Airlines increased its Panama City-Cancun service to 5X-daily Dec. 4. The airline started operating this route with 5X-weekly service in 2000. Qatar Airways will launch 3X-weekly Doha-Chengdu Airbus A330 service March 19. It launched 4X-weekly Doha-Warsaw Airbus A320 service Dec. 5.

Kazakhstan-based Air Astana has taken delivery of its first A321 out of an order for six A320 family aircraft.

LOT Polish Airlines launched its first Boeing 787 service from Warsaw to Prague.

Ryanair will open two new bases in Europe in April, and will also launch services at three new Swedish airports.

United Continental Holdings (UCH) named president and CEO Jeff Smisek as chairman of the board, effective Dec. 31.

Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab said the alliance model is still working, even though many airlines are strengthening their positions through codesharing and partnerships.

India’s IndiGo Airlines posted a loss of $17 million in its 2011-2012 financial year, according to a report in Business Standard, quoting an Indian Parliament statement.

Qatar Airways is considering taking part in the privatization of CSA Czech Airlines.

Air France-KLM has added an extra €500 million ($654 million) to its savings target for 2013-14, in an effort to match the margins of its peers.

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has withdrawn the air operator's certificate for Krasnodar-based Kuban Airlines.

UK low-cost carrier easyJet announced its second route to Russia. On March 28, easyJet will launch 4X-weekly Manchester-Moscow service.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines reported a year-end net loss of SEK985 million ($148 million), worsened from a SEK338 million net income in the year-ago period.

Mxi Technologies announced its Maintenix version 8 is now available commercially. The software offers an HTML5 line maintenance application to synchronize maintenance tasks, MELs and ETOPs requirements; systematically factored planning functions; and an updated interface design.

Embraer received Interstate Aviation Committee type certificates for its 112 to 124-seat E-190 and E-195 jets to operate in Russia and the CIS.

Hong Kong Airlines’ affiliate Hong Kong Express Airways will rebrand as a low-cost carrier (LCC) by mid-2013.