Airline News

Al Salmi appointed Oman Air chief operating officer
Nasser Al Salmi brings more than three decades of hands-on industry know-how to the carrier, including pivotal operational expertise from his most recent role as chief operating officer at Gulf Air.

Air Astana seeks to bounce back after Covid-19 losses
The Kazakhstan flag-carrier has restored flights to Moscow, Dubai, Tashkent, Frankfurt, Seoul, Bishkek, Kiev, Istanbul, Antalya and Sharm El Sheikh in recent months.

Aviation leaders call for further support in Budget
Leaders of gateways in all parts of the north of England have written to Boris Johnson urging him to recognise the importance of aviation to his “levelling-up Britain” ambitions.

Amadeus partners with IAG for NDC rollout
Through the agreement, content from IAG operators, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling, will be made available for travel sellers via Amadeus’ NDC-enabled solutions.

Emirates passengers offered chance to purchase adjoining seats
With demand for air travel still low following the Covid-19 pandemic, Emirates has begun offering passengers a chance to snap up empty seats in economy class.

International Airlines Group reports €7.4bn loss for 2020
The group – which includes Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus and others – saw revenue fall 69 per cent to €7.8 billion for the year to December as Covid-19 halted travel around the world.

Qantas delays international return until end of October
Qantas and Jetstar are hoping to restart regular international passenger flights to most destinations from October 31st. The delay represents a four-month delay on existing plans.

Embleton appointed chief executive of Aer Lingus
International Airlines Group has appointed Lynne Embleton to the role of chief executive of Irish flag-carrier Aer Lingus. She will start her new role on April 6th.

Norwegian reports £1.4bn loss for fourth quarter
Out of a current fleet of 131 aircraft, the low-cost carrier said an average of 15 were operational during the fourth quarter, mainly on domestic routes in Norway.

Gatwick looks to recovery following £465m loss
Passenger numbers at Gatwick fell 78 per cent in the year to December as the Covid-19 pandemic closed borders around the world. The airport hopes to see a return this year.

Skyscanner finds flight prices may fall by a third for summer trips
Skyscanner has released a detailed breakdown of the emerging trends for summer 2021 following an uptick in bookings – with prices falling for trips to Spain, Italy, Greece and elsewhere.

IATA expects airlines to lose at least $75bn in 2021
The International Air Transport Association has released new analysis showing that the airline industry is expected to remain cash negative throughout 2021.