Lufthansa (LH) Group is implementing several measures to improve the group’s efficiency, including streamlining its fleet and better integrating its business units . Speaking to ATW June 1 during the inaugural Boeing 747-8I Frankfurt-Washington Dulles flight, LH chairman and CEO Christoph Franz said LH wants to “retain our position as the aviation powerhouse of Europe.” One measure includes better integration of its business units, he said. LH will also streamline its fleet, which Franz said has been too complex in the past.
Mediated talks between American Airlines (AA) and its pilots on a new labor pact, which took place June 4-7 under the supervision of a judge, are slated to continue the week of June 10 as the sides seek to avoid a bankruptcy-court imposed solution later this month.
International Airlines Group (IAG), parent company of British Airways and Iberia, has completed the sale of British Midland International’s bmi regional to Sector Aviation Holdings (SAH), a group of Scottish business investors.
Virgin Australia (DJ) has launched an eight-week biodiesel trial in a baggage tug and push-back vehicle at Brisbane Domestic Airport. The biodiesel blend is derived from tallow and used cooking oil (20:80 conventional petrodiesel); it is produced by Ecotech Biodiesel in Queensland.
The Indian minister of civil aviation and Air India (AI) management have announced a contingency plan to help the airline resume full operations after an ongoing pilot strike has crippled the airline.
KLM and Flybe (BE) have launched a codeshare agreement on two routes between Amsterdam (AMS) and the UK. KLM will now operate three flights a day between AMS and Southampton, as well as a daily flight between AMS and Inverness.
The Chinese government will inject about CNY2 billion ($315 million) into China Southern Airlines (CZ) for its fleet expansion, according to an industry insider.
Abu Dhabi (AUH)-based Etihad Airways (EY) confirmed Tuesday it has acquired a 3.96% equity stake in Virgin Australia (DJ) Holdings, and almost immediately increased that stake to 4.99% a day later.
Air France (AF) has taken delivery of its eighth Airbus A380 and has launched a daily A380 service between Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Los Angeles (LAX).
Thai Airways International (TG) outgoing president Piyasvasti Amranand told the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand that TG has good future prospects.
Flybe (BE) and the UK’s air navigation services provider, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), have joined forces on a collaborative safety initiative known as FLOSS (Flybe Line Operational Safety Survey).
