BRAZIL: Alitalia And Azul Ink Codeshare

Azul and Alitalia have signed a codeshare agreement which will significantly increase route options for both airlines’ customers. The agreement will be particularly important for Alitalia, which continues to struggle financially.

The codeshare deal will provide both airlines access to each other’s route network, which will particularly important for Alitalia. The Italian flag carrier hasn’t been profitable for a while now, and efforts to get it back on its feet have hit a number of hurdles.

Codeshare deals are signed between airlines all the time. Most of the time they’re signed by airlines located in neighboring regions.

A codeshare agreement allows one airline to sell seats on another airline’s routes as if they were their own. Gaining access to routes outside of their normal operating area is the main objective.

In the case of Azul and Alitalia, the new codeshare deal will allow them to offer a number of new routes on the other side of the Atlantic.

Alitalia will immediately gain access to the huge number of domestic destinations served by Azul.

According to Abhi Shah, Azul’s vice president of revenue, Alitalia customers will be able to connect to Azul’s more than 100 domestic destinations, more than half of which are exclusively served by Azul.

This could be a lucrative prospect for Alitalia, as it will allow it to connect Brazil’s large Italian/Italian heritage population with Italy itself.

On the other hand, Azul will be able to increase its trans-Atlantic presence, a key objective the airline has publicly stated it is aiming towards.

Azul also announced plans for a joint venture with TAP Air Portugal earlier this month. As the largest operator of scheduled trans-Atlantic flights between Europe and South America, TAP Air Portugal will be a key strategic partner for Azul.

Although the codeshare agreement with Azul will offer Alitalia customers many new South American destinations, Alitalia itself isn’t doing so well.

This year it seems there have been reports of new parties showing interest in an Alitalia acquisition every other week. But none of the rumors have amounted to much so far.

From easyJet and China Eastern in March to Lufthansa and even the owner of Rome’s S.S. Lazio, Alitalia has struggled to find investors to keep it afloat.

It seems Delta Air Lines has come the closest to signing an investment deal with Alitalia, but recent news of a larger bid from Lufthansa may have scared the American airline away.

Regardless of who invests in Alitalia, the airline still needs to sort out a new business plan for its relaunch.

While it seems the news of a codeshare agreement with Azul will be seen as a positive, there are a number of other much bigger issues to sort out before Alitalia can become a success again.

USA: Delta Increases Flights From Seattle To Florida

Delta Air Lines will connect Seattle/Tacoma and Tampa next year, its first new domestic route from Seattle for next year.

The SkyTeam Alliance carrier will offer a daily flight between the cities with Boeing 737-800 aircraft that seat 160 passengers, according to Diio by Cirium schedules.

Tampa (TPA) will be Delta’s second nonstop flight to Florida from Seattle (SEA), joining Orlando (MCO).

Tampa is the first domestic addition from Delta’s Seattle hub for 2020. The airline will begin flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from the Pacific Northwest city in March, a move that comes as it ends more than three decades of service at Tokyo Narita (NRT).

Delta Air Lines will connect Seattle/Tacoma and Tampa next year, its first new domestic route from Seattle for next year.

The SkyTeam Alliance carrier will offer a daily flight between the cities with Boeing 737-800 aircraft that seat 160 passengers, according to Diio by Cirium schedules.

Tampa (TPA) will be Delta’s second nonstop flight to Florida from Seattle (SEA), joining Orlando (MCO).

Tampa is the first domestic addition from Delta’s Seattle hub for 2020. The airline will begin flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from the Pacific Northwest city in March, a move that comes as it ends more than three decades of service at Tokyo Narita (NRT).


Delta established its Seattle hub in 2014 to support its growing Pacific gateway at the airport. The airline will operate up to 180 peak-day flights from the airport by next June, Diio schedules show.

Delta will compete with Alaska Airlines between Seattle and Tampa, according to Diio.

Tourism Observer

USA: Engine Trouble Makes Delta Go Into Emergency Landing

A Delta Air Lines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Monday after a problem with one of the plane's engines.

Flight DL-1425 was carrying 148 passengers from Atlanta to Baltimore when it declared an emergency and made an unscheduled landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 2.27 p.m. ET.

The MD-88 elected to divert after receiving an indication of an issue with one of the aircraft’s engines, Delta said in a statement, adding that the flight landed without incident.

One passenger described on Twitter hearing a loud bang and seeing smoke in the cabin, followed by a burning smell.

The vibrations of the roof and the cabin itself was intense, John Leonard, another passenger on the flight, wrote. The experience was beyond scary.

In a video posted by passenger Logan Webb, the plane's right engine is seen glowing red-hot while an engine part is visibly loose.

Residents left stranded as Tropical Storm Barry brings heavy rains, extreme floods

Passengers praised the crew's response, with one woman saying they "did an amazing job in staying and keeping us all calm, while preparing us for an emergency landing."

A Delta spokesperson said that passengers were placed on an alternate aircraft after the incident.

We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this diversion may have caused, she said.


Tourism Observer

USA:Delta Air Lines Flight Diverted After Crazy And Erratic Passenger Slaps Flight CrewThen Vomits

Passengers on a flight from Paris were in for a wild ride when a man snapped on the plane and set off a chain of very bad behaviour.

A Paris-bound Delta Air Lines flight was diverted after an unruly passenger caused a sky-high commotion and violently lashed out at a flight attendant.

In a dramatic outburst, the man allegedly yelled, slapped a flight attendant and vomited, pushing flight crew to land early at Detroit Metropolitan Airport to remove the erratic passenger.

Delta flight 500 left Indianapolis for the French capital on Thursday. About 40 minutes into the trip, passenger Ian Robert James Morin began yelling and acting erratically, and the flight crew’s attempts to calm him down proved unsuccessful.

Moments later, the irate passenger became violent.

Morin hit one of the flight attendants with an open hand to the left side of her throat near her carotid artery, an FBI special agent later detailed.

He continued to yell and attempted to hit the flight attendant again. During the altercation, Morin threw up on the aircraft.

Passengers and crew members proceeded to restrain and handcuff Morin. The plane diverted to Detroit, where the 21-year-old Indiana man was taken into custody by law enforcement officials.

The remaining passengers were then removed from the plane and put up in hotels overnight.

Assigned a new flight the next morning, the customers arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on Friday morning — about 15 hours past schedule.

We apologise for the delay and inconvenience of our customers on Flight 500. As a matter of safety, the flight was diverted to Detroit to remove an unruly passenger, the spokesperson said.

Mr Morin appeared in Detroit Federal Court on June 14 and was released on bond.

A spokesperson for the Wayne County Airport Authority of Michigan further confirmed to the outlet the investigation had been turned over to the FBI.


Tourism Observer

CHINA: Chinese Citizens Warned Against Traveling To US, Airlines Face Hard Times

China has issued a travel warning against the U.S. through the end of 2019, the latest shot amid the worsening trade war. While the overall impact on the U.S. tourism would be manageable, it could pose a threat to some airline companies as well as casinos.

While Chinese tourists spend heavily around the world, contributing to $270 billion abroad last year alone, they only accounted for 3% of the $1.1 trillion U.S. travel market in 2018, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

In a worst-case scenario, the number of Chinese tourists to the U.S. could drop by nearly 50%, resulting in an $18 billion hit to travel spend, Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimated.

Chinese tourism is a big prize in global trade. On this front, the U.S. has more to lose than China, Robin Winkler, foreign exchange strategist at Deutsche Bank, said in a note.

The trade war would likely take a severe dent to household income growth to squash the new middle class’s appetite for passports and foreign travel. A weaker exchange rate could make foreign travel somewhat less affordable, Winkler added.

Chinese travel to the U.S. has already declined by 5.7% in 2018 from a year ago, compared to a 4% gain in 2017 and a 15% increase in 2016, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

The number is only going lower after the Chinese government issued an alert for Chinese tourists traveling to America, citing shootings, robberies and theft that have occurred frequently in the U.S.

Since only legacy airline companies offer flights to China, the negative impact from declining Chinese tourists would fall mostly on United Continental, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, according to Bank of America.

United carries the most flights to China with 47% of U.S. airline capacity, compared to about 25% for American Airlines and Delta, Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora said.

In the bank’s worst case scenario which involves a 50% drop in Chinese tourists, United’s unit revenues could see a 140 basis point drag and the impact would be 70 basis points for American Airline and Delta, Didora said.

Chinese travelers, who are big customers for casinos, might now turn their backs on gaming in the U.S. amid the travel advisory and intensified trade tensions. The casinos in Las Vegas are already feeling the pinch.

Las Vegas has already noted weaker Asian gambling trends. Baccarat gross gaming revenues are often a barometer for the health of the Asian consumer and are down 26% year to date, Didora said.

The weakness could weigh on casinos including MGM, Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts that have an exposure to baccarat, the analyst noted.

Luxury retailers could also take a hit. Tiffany & Co. on Wednesday blamed disappointing quarterly results on a sharp decline in Chinese tourism
because of the trade war.


Tourism Observer

USA: Alaska Airlines Goes To El Paso

Alaska Airlines launched operations from El Paso (ELP) on 19 February, with the carrier commencing flights to the airport from San Diego (SAN) and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA).

The airline will operate both routes daily using its fleet of E175s. There is no direct competition on the 2,198-kilometre sector from Seattle-Tacoma, however Southwest Airlines already offers eight weekly flights on the 1,109-kilometre link between San Diego and El Paso.

According to airport data, El Paso handled just over 3.26 million passengers in 2018, with this representing an 11% increase versus the 2.93 million that were handled during the previous year.

Alaska Airlines becomes the airport’s seventh scheduled airline, joining Southwest Airlines (46% market share of passengers in 2018), American Airlines (31%), United Airlines (13%), Delta Air Lines (6.9%), Frontier Airlines (1.9%) and Allegiant Air (1.5%).

Alaska Airlines is a major United States airline headquartered in SeaTac, Washington, within the Seattle metropolitan area of the state of Washington.

It is the fifth-largest airline in the United States when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and number of destinations served.

Alaska, together with its regional partners, operates a large domestic route network, primarily focused on connecting cities on the West Coast of the United States to over one hundred destinations in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.

Alaska Airlines is not a member of any of the three major airline alliances. However, it has codeshare agreements with 17 airlines, including member airlines of oneworld, SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and unaffiliated airlines.

Regional service is operated by sister airline Horizon Air and independent carrier SkyWest Airlines.

The airline operates its largest hub at Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, and it also operates hubs in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco and focus cities at San Diego and San Jose.

As of 2018, the airline employs over 21,000 people and been ranked by J. D. Power and Associates as having the highest customer satisfaction of the traditional airlines for eleven consecutive years.

Through the airline's parent company, Alaska Air Group, it is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol ALK and is part of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the S&P 500 Index.

For the fiscal year 2017, Alaska Airlines reported earnings of US$1.028 billion, with an annual revenue of US$7.933 billion, an increase of 33.8% over the previous fiscal cycle. Alaska Airlines shares traded at over $63 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at US$7.5 billion in October 2018.

Alaska Airlines has 23,400 employees. Alaska's pilot group is represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International and its over 5,872 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants.

Since May 2005, the airline's baggage-handling operations have been outsourced to Menzies Aviation. This was in response to rejection of a contract between IAM the union which represented the baggage handlers, and Alaska Airlines.

It also allowed the airline to save an estimated $13 million a year. In late 2016, Alaska Airlines created a wholly owned subsidiary McGee Air Services which would compete with Menzies Aviation for ground handling contracts in select Alaska cities.


Tourism Observer

USA: Regional Jet Operator ViaAir Makes New Connections

ViaAir launched flights between Orlando Sanford (SFB) and Columbia (CAE) on 21 December.

The US regional operator will serve the 573-kilometre route four times weekly, with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The carrier will operate the sector using its fleet of 30-seat EMB 120s, with no other airline currently flying the airport pair.

Situated in South Carolina, Columbia Airport handled 1,077,188 passengers in 2017. During the first eight months of 2018, 772,614 people have used the airport, up 8.6% versus the same period of 2017 based on statistics published by the airport.

ViaAir becomes the airport’s fourth operator, with it already served by the USB3 carriers of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

ViaAir has launched its second route from Austin (AUS), with the US regional operator starting a link to Tucson (TUS) on 18 January.

Joining its existing service to Hayden/Steamboat Springs which began 13 December, the carrier will operate the 1,278-kilometre route between Austin and Tucson three times weekly using its ERJ 145s, with no other airline currently serving the city pair.

The regional jet operator will launch a third connection from Austin on 1 March, a three times weekly link to Oklahoma City.

The airline previously served Austin from Branson in Missouri, but the route is no longer bookable on the carrier’s website, the last service flew in November.

ViaAir has commenced flights between Austin (AUS) and Oklahoma City (OKC). Inaugurated on 22 April, the US regional operator will fly the 578-kilometre sector six times weekly, with it facing no direct competition on the airport pair.

The airline will utilise its 50-seat ERJ 145s on the city pair. Based on MIDT data, some 24,900 passengers travelled indirectly between the two airports in 2017, with Dallas/Fort Worth being the leading hub for connecting traffic.

Demand on the Austin to Oklahoma City airport pair grew by 4.2% last year versus the number of passengers travelling between the two points in 2016.

ViaAir is a US domestic regional airline offering scheduled service across the United States. The airline originally focused on scheduled Essential Air Service from Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beckley, West Virginia, Parkersburg/Marietta in Parkersburg, West Virginia to Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Via Airlines was established on March 27, 1997 and operated public and private charter flights for corporations, sports teams, casinos, and air travel functions before expanding to scheduled passenger flight services with ViaAir.

ViaAir began its EAS scheduled flights in December 2014, with the inaugural flight to Beckley, WV taking place on December 3. Prior to ViaAir beginning flights, air service was operated by United Express.

The same day as the inaugural Beckley flight, ViaAir announced it would be operating seasonal unsubsidized nonstop service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Northeast Florida Regional Airport in St. Augustine, Florida, with its inaugural flight taking place on December 19, 2014.

After a seasonal trial, an agreement was reached to continue service to St. Augustine from Charlotte and Beckley. In early November 2015, ViaAir announced it would extend its St. Augustine service into 2016.

ViaAir, with flights operated by the Charter Air Transport fleet, offers additional air travel options with its AirCruise and Air Tours products. ViaAir's aviation products began in 2009 with its Air Tours, and introduced AirCruise in 2011.

AirCruise introduced a concept similar to naval cruises, but that transports passengers by plane instead of by boat. While naval cruising is limited to ports, AirCruise is able to reach landlocked destinations.

On November 15, 2017, ViaAir announced two new destinations from Austin (Oklahoma City and Tucson), taking its total destinations from Austin up to four.

Coinciding with this information was the announcement that ViaAir plans to base crews and maintenance at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, positioning its Austin based operations to expand.

We will roll out additional cities throughout next year as we hope to be known as Austin’s hometown airline.

On February 9, 2018 Via announced two new destinations from Austin (Little Rock and Tulsa), bringing the total of destinations served from Austin up to six.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta Air Lines Staff Allege Sexual Harassment And Fired For Speaking Korean

Four former Delta employees who were allegedly told by a manager not to speak Korean because it made other workers feel uncomfortable are accusing the airline in a lawsuit of discrimination after they were fired last year.

The employees, Ji-Won Kim, Lilian Park, Jean Yi and Jongjin An were Delta customer service agents at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport who say they were reprimanded for speaking Korean, even though they were assigned to work flights to South Korea, according to their suit.

Many other employees frequently spoke to each other in their native languages during their shifts and were not admonished or coached not to do so, read the suit, which was filed May 31.

The women started speaking publicly about the case this week.

The complaint says the women were told they were being fired in May 2017 for allegedly offering unauthorized upgrades to customers, which the women said was standard practice.

The lawsuit, initially filed in state court in Seattle but moved to federal court on Delta's request, also claimed the women were sexually harassed by another customer service agent and were retaliated against after complaining about it.

The suit also said the harassment continued after two of the women reported it to Delta leadership.

The women's lawyer, Jennifer T. Song, said her clients want a recognition that they were wrongly terminated, as well as unspecified damages for economic and emotional distress and back pay.

Delta, through a spokesperson, said that while it does not tolerate workplace discrimination or harassment of any kind, it had looked into the women's allegations and found no violations.

We take allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination very seriously, and our investigations into allegations made by these former employees were found to be without merit, the airline said in an email.

These former employees were unfortunately but appropriately terminated because the company determined they violated ticketing and fare rules.

Delta is confident that these claims will ultimately be determined to be without merit.

The lawsuit also claimed that the four women, all of whom were born in Korea and immigrated to the U.S. were never offered additional pay to make announcements in Korean, while Delta employees of other national origins who spoke other languages received this benefit.


Tourism Observer

USA: Alaska Airlines Eliminates Preflight Alcohol To First Class Passengers

Alaska Airlines has eliminated preflight alcoholic beverages for first-class passengers, a standard perk on other carriers.

The new policy took effect Aug. 1. The change was made to align the policies of Alaska and merger partner Virgin America, according to Alaska spokeswoman Ann Johnson.

Alaska bought Virgin America in 2016 and officially combined the airlines earlier this year, eliminating the Virgin America brand.

Virgin America offered preflight alcoholic beverages but Alaska did not, except on flights to Hawaii, where it offered sparkling wine.

Travelers who liked the free drinks before takeoff are not happy.

Country music star Brett Young called out Alaska in an Instagram story last week, citing a post on popular frequent flier site FlyerTalk.

There is good news for first-class passengers who like to toast before takeoff. Beginning Nov. 1, Alaska will introduce complimentary sparkling wine predeparture in first class on all flights after 10 a.m.

Bottled water and orange juice will be the other preflight options.

So for two-thirds of passengers, they are actually gaining access to sparkling wine at predeparture, Johnson said.

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all offer preflight cocktails for first-class passengers.


Tourism Observer

USA: Man Arrested After Jumping Fence At LAX, Heading To Delta Air Lines Plane

Los Angeles International Airport police took a man into custody after he scaled a fence and approached a Delta airplane as it prepared to depart, officials said.

The man scaled an outer perimeter fence near Lincoln and Sepulveda boulevards Monday shortly after 2 p.m.

Officers spotted the man climb the fence and took him into custody as he appeared to be getting closer to a Delta plane that was staging for departure.

A passenger on the Delta flight said it appeared the man was doing pushups before he was apprehended.

He got underneath the plane. He was jumping up, trying to touch the wings.

He ran to the other side of the plane, was touching the engines. He got down on the ground, started doing some push-ups. By that time, all the police and security got down on him.

Police later identified the man as Luis Aguilar, 23, of Los Angeles.

Police said Aguilar appears to be a transient with mental health issues. Aguilar was booked for trespassing.

He will receive a mental health evaluation when he is released by police.


Tourism Observer

USA: Southwest, Delta, American, Korean And Alaska Drop And Open New Routes

Alaska Airlines will drop a Midwest route from San Francisco; Southwest hints at Hawaii and begins new service out of Los Angeles and Denver; American will fly a new transpacific route temporarily and adds a pair of domestic routes.

Korean plans to add a new U.S. gateway; and Frontier begins code-sharing to Mexico and announces another spate of new routes.

Last fall, Alaska Airlines started service between San Francisco and Indianapolis. And this fall, it will drop that route, effective September 30.

There has been lower than expected demand for these flights and we need to utilize this aircraft to add capacity on other routes, said a spokesperson of Alaska Airlines.

This change is another example of how we are looking across the network and making some tough decisions to ensure we are running as efficient of an operation as possible, so we can continue to offer our customers low fares. Alaska will continue to operate its Seattle-Indianapolis service.

The SFO-Indianapolis route is also served by United with it's cleverly numbered Flight 500, and Southwest has nonstop service between Oakland and Indianapolis.

Southwest made a few more hints this week about its new Hawaii service, revealing details such as its plans to serve meals on flights to and from the mainland.

Schedules are expected to be announced in October with flights starts a few weeks later, we predict November timeframe. Flights will have satellite based wi-fi and movies, too. No word on fares yet.

Southwest Airlines this week kicked off its newest transcontinental non-stop, with daily service between Los Angeles International and Tampa. The LAX-Tampa route is also served by Delta and Spirit Airlines. And at Denver, Southwest this week started new daily non-stops to Cincinnati.

For 10 days in January, American Airlines' usual Chicago O'Hare-Tokyo Narita non-stop will operate via an intermediate stop in Las Vegas.

American said that from January 4 to 14, the daily 787-8 LAS-NRT flight will be marketed by its joint venture partner Japan Airlines to carry passengers to and from the giant Consumer Electronics Show. JAL will continue to offer its own daily non-stops between Chicago and Tokyo during that period.

Meanwhile, American will add a couple of new domestic routes in the months ahead. On November 4, it will launch one daily roundtrip between Dallas/Ft. Worth and Cheyenne, Wyoming, operated by Skywest with a CRJ-200.

On December 22, it will begin one flight a week between its Charlotte hub and New Haven, flown by PSA Airlines with a CRJ-200.

Korean Air is coming to Boston next spring, with plans to begin Boston-Seoul Incheon service five days a week beginning April 12. Korean will use a 787-9 on the route, equipped with six first class suites, 18 lie-flat seats in business class and 245 seats in the main cabin.

Korean will operate the route as part of its joint venture partnership with Delta, which recently announced plans to launch its own new service to Seoul from Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning in 2019.

Later this month, Frontier Airlines and Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris will begin a massive program of code-sharing that will put Frontier's code onto 51 routes operated by Volaris and will see the Mexican carrier's code go onto 120 routes operated by Frontier.

The new code-sharing will apply to Volaris flights from San Francisco to Mexico City and Guadalajara, and San Jose to Guadalajara, Morelia and Zacatecas, among many others.

Meanwhile, Frontier has announced another spate of new domestic routes, mostly starting in mid-November. From Phoenix, Frontier will begin new service to Norfolk, Ft. Myers, Grand Rapids and Madison. From Tucson, it will add service to Denver.

At Tampa, Frontier will start flying to Syracuse, Grand Rapids, Portland (Maine), Norfolk, and Greenville, S.C. And at Ft. Myers, it will kick off seasonal service to Albany, Las Vegas, Phoenix., Portland (Maine), Salt Lake City and Syracuse.

Most of the new routes will offer two or three flights a week.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta Air Lines Staff Allegedly Smuggling Cash Money

A couple caught smuggling hundreds of thousands of dollars through the international airport in Atlanta, in order to then transport that money out to California, have officially been charged; the couple used the husband’s status as a Delta Air Lines employee to make the smuggling operation go smoothly.

Bubacarr Drammeh, a Delta Air Lines employee, and his wife, Matako Drammeh, have officially been charged in a smuggling operation that brought hundreds of thousands of dollars through Atlanta’s international airport in order to then transport that money to California.

Between November 2016 and September 2017, the two used Bubacarr’s employee status to skip security screenings and thus sneak the money through, and then the unscreened money was carried on flights to California.

It’s estimated the couple took more than 50 trips with smuggled money.

Bubacarr also allegedly bribed airport employees whenever he got caught in order to get the cash through.

One particular incident occurred on September 2, 2017, when he tried to carry a bag of $140,000 cash through employee security.

The security screener called out the cash, and Bubacarr allegedly offered the screener $8,000 to not report the money.

Instead, the screener called the police.

The multi-layered approach to security at ATL addresses passengers and employees alike, airport spokesman Andrew Gobeil said.

We work constantly with our law enforcement and airline partners to maintain a safe, secure environment at the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.

Additionally, we will continue to assist the federal authorities as needed in this investigation.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta's Dog Troubles Continue After Pomeranian's Death

Delta's difficulties with transporting animals continued, following the death of a dog traveling in the cargo hold of one of its planes during a cross-country flight.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said its investigating the death of a Pomeranian named Alejandro, who was found dead after traveling from Phoenix to Newark via Detroit.

The Atlanta-based airline issued a statement saying: We know pets are an important member of the family and we are focused on the well-being of all animals we transport.

Delta is conducting a thorough review of the situation and have been working directly with Alejandro's family to support them however we can.

As part of that review, we want to find out more about why this may have occurred to ensure it doesn't happen again and we have offered to have Alejandro evaluated by a veterinarian to learn more.

Delta and other airlines have struggled with the surging number of animals being transported in their cabins. The company altered its service animal policy on March 1, saying a lack of regulation that has led to serious safety risks involving untrained animals in flight.

The airline then drew the ire of two Boise, Idaho families later that month, when their puppies were allegedly inadvertently flown thousands of miles around the country.

Chicago-based United Airlines has also faced scrutiny for its publicized mishandling of animals, including the death of a French bulldog puppy that died after being placed in an overhead bin.

The airline, which is a unit of United Continental Holdings Inc., said last month it would no longer accept animals other than cats and dogs, and banned dozens of dog breeds from its cargo hold.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta Enticing Flight Attendants A $1K Bonus For Extra Summer Duty As A Thank you

Delta Air Lines has its ways of enticing frontline employees to go that extra hour this summer, which, as we all know, is peak travel season.

Delta Air Lines this year is offering every flight attendant who works at least 100 hours each month during June, July and August a “thank you” bonus payout of $1,000.

According to a Delta spokeswoman, for the last three years the carrier has offered some kind of bonus incentive to keep flight attendants on the job for a minimum of 100 hours a month during the summer.

Of course, Delta flight attendant sources see both the upside and downside of this "thank you" incentive. The upside is easy. It’s more cash in their pockets.

The downside is that flight attendants who want that extra cash may push themselves to work more hours than they would be comfortable working.

Or it may push them to work hours even when they are under the weather, or possibly even suffering from some more serious malady, like the flu, which wouldn’t be good for the employee or for those who work or fly as passengers in close proximity to said employee.

But keeping more workers, especially flight attendants, on the job during peak travel season is good for Delta, for sure.

It gives Delta more flexibility when flights run the risk of being delayed or worse yet cancelled because of crew-related issues.

And such a scenario is definitely not something Delta wants. Delta has become the preeminent carrier when it comes to on-time arrival performance among the four largest domestic carriers, which also include United Continental Holding Group Inc.'s United Airline, American Airlines Group Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co.

Having the flight attendants at hand to keep planes running on time has to be one of the secret or now not so secret tactics Delta is employing to ensure the airline maintains it leadership status in on-time performance.

And as Delta and its competitors know all too well, the peak summer travel season with rampant thunderstorms and packed planes aplenty is when United States based carriers’ ability to keep planes operating on schedule is tested to the max.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta To Recruit 8,000 Pilots In The Next Decade

Delta is clearing a path for its current employees and a diverse swath of young aviators to become pilots through a new program aimed at filling thousands of future voids inside the cockpit.

Delta Air Lines Inc. launched its Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program, which includes a three-pronged approach at developing the next generation of flyers.

With many pilots approaching mandatory retirement age Delta said it expects to hire more than 8,000 pilots over the next decade.

The Propel program supplements the airline’s current recruiting structure, which includes recruiting and hiring pilots currently flying in the airline, military and corporate sectors.

Delta conducted several years of research to create a pilot outreach and pathway program that will inspire and attract the next generations of high-quality talent, said Steve Dickson, Senior Vice President – Flight Operations, in a news release.

As a global industry leader, we are taking a holistic approach to expanding the opportunities available to aspiring pilots.

We listened to feedback from students, parents, faculty, administrators and Delta employees to help overcome barriers for potential pilot candidates such as career path uncertainty and the Certificated Flight Instructor shortage.

Delta is initially partnering with eight universities with accredited aviation programs, including Middle Georgia State to interview collegiate aviation students.

The internal career path is a highly selective program that provides current Delta employees an unpaid leave of absence opportunity to attend flight school.

Applications for the program will start being accepted in August. Delta detailed an estimated 42-month timeline that would direct students and employees to piloting mainline aircraft.

Delta is also looking for aspiring pilots, including engagement with kindergarten through high school students.

Among Delta's partnerships are: Conyers Middle School – Center for Technology and Engineering, National Gay Pilots Association, National Flight Academy, Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals and Women in Aviation International.

Delta's more than 13,000 pilots are thinning because of the federally mandated retirement age of 65, or leaving for other companies.

Meanwhile, The Boeing Co. estimates a global need for 637,000 new pilots by 2036, 18 percent of which are in North America. The Bureau of Labor of Statistics listed the median pilot salary in May at $78,740.

Delta Air Lines is asking flight attendants, ticket agents and other employees to consider taking a seat at the cockpit controls.

Concerned about a shortage of pilots, the second-largest U.S. airline is offering its workers the chance to take an unpaid leave of absence to attend flight school. On the other end a job flying a Delta jet.

Delta estimates it will need to hire more than 8,000 pilots over the next decade, as its ranks of more than 13,000 pilots thin due to the federally mandated retirement age of 65, or leave for other companies.

The initiative is part of a broader program Delta unveiled on Tuesday that also includes conditional job offers for certain college students.

Pilots are aging while air travel demand grows globally. The high cost of training and low starting salaries are hurdles to the field. Boeing, the world's largest airplane manufacturer, estimates a global need for 637,000 new pilots by 2036, 18 percent of them in North America.

Fight school doesn't come cheap. ATP Flight School, one of the schools Delta is encouraging its internal applicants to attend, costs about $80,000 for someone with zero flying experience. Students also have to train longer than they used to.

After the 2009 crash of a Colgan Air plane due to pilot error, the Federal Aviation Administration five years ago raised the minimum number of hours of flight experience to become a passenger airline pilot to 1,500 from 250.

Delta declined to disclose pilot pay, but the median pilot salary in May was $78,740, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Air Line Pilots Association, the union that represents Delta, United and several other airlines' pilots, said pay at regional carriers, which offer a hiring pool for big commercial airlines, can be less than half that amount. Captains at major airlines can make more than $100,000.

If you pay them, they will come, Roger Phillips, an ALPA spokesman, said about hiring new pilots.

Other airlines are pursuing their own programs to recruit pilots. American Airlines earlier this year started offering loans for student pilots.

The Delta Propel Pilot Career Path Program, which works with both students and employees who have an interest in flying, aims to make that path more attractive, the company said in announcing the program.

The airline is accepting applications in August from students at eight universities with an accredited aviation program, including Auburn University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of North Dakota.

Students can continue their benefits with Delta as long as they pay a share of the costs. The company declined to detail the costs.

Delta estimates they can get a job with the airline within 42 months after flying for the airline's private jet arm, instructing other students, flying for Delta's regional partners or flying military aircraft.

For its employees in the program, Delta said they would work for up to 42 months at a Delta regional airline, which pays less and flies shorter routes, before coming back to work for the mainline operation.

Both employees and students will be paired with an active Delta pilot as a mentor.

The airline, which said it developed the recruiting program over several years, is also working with professional associations such as the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation International, the National Intercollegiate Flying Association and the National Gay Pilots Association to encourage students through high school age to pursue a career in aviation.


Tourism Observer

ST MAARTEN & ST MARTIN: Tourism Recovering With New Flights And Hotels Reopening

The tourism industry in St Maarten/St Martin continues to recover at a rapid pace as airlines add new service and hotels reopen following the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria last September.

American Airlines recently announced that it has increased seat capacity on its daily flight from Miami upgrading their Miami International Airport (MIA) – Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) route to a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 160 passengers.

In addition, American Airlines will be adding a daily nonstop flight to St Maarten from its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) starting November 4, 2018, as well as a second daily nonstop from Miami effective December 19, 2018.

Both new flights are currently bookable and will be operated by Airbus A319 aircraft with a capacity of 128 passengers.

St Maarten’s Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) continues to report great progress in terms of improved connectivity as the year progresses.

As of May 2018, two-thirds of all carriers that provided flights to and from the award-winning airport have resumed regular service.

From the United States, travelers can fly to St Maarten with United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines, and Seaborne Airlines.

Service from Toronto is available on WestJet, and Dominican carrier Air Century, and Panama-based Copa Airlines have returned as well.

Due to the collaborative efforts by all stakeholders and the community at large, St Maarten has been able to make a quick turnaround, said St Maarten minister of tourism, Cornelius De Weever. We are grateful to the return of all airlines and the reopening of our properties.

This shows the confidence American Airlines has in the comeback of St Maarten/St Martin, the public and private sector have been working continuously with American Airlines to ensure that the flights return in a balanced way complementing the re-opening of various accommodations, added St Maarten’s interim head of tourism, May-Ling Chun.

As of May 2018, there are just fewer than 2,000 bookable rooms available across the entire island.

122 villas and condos are open for business island-wide, boutique hotels and guest houses are ready to accommodate travelers, and several larger properties have conducted soft openings in order to welcome back guests.

Some 87 percent of all on-island activities are also available for guests to enjoy.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta To Launch Mumbai Flights Next Year

Delta Air Lines has unveiled plans to launch nonstop flights between the United States and Mumbai, India, next year.

Delta also intends to expand its existing codeshare relationship with partner Jet Airways to provide seamless connections to other destinations within India, subject to government approvals.

The Mumbai announcement follows agreements between the U.S. and the governments of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to address the issue of government subsidies provided to state-owned carriers in those nations.

The framework created by the agreement allows Delta to move forward with flights to India.

It is exciting to be able to announce Delta's return to India from the U.S. as part of our vision to expand Delta's reach internationally, said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

We are thankful to the president for taking real action to enforce our Open Skies trade deals, which made this new service possible.

We are looking forward to providing customers in the U.S. and India with Delta's famously reliable, customer-focused service operated by the best employees in the industry.

The service is subject to government approval and full schedule details are expected to be announced later this year.


Tourism Observer

ICELAND: WOW Introduces Iceland To Texas Route

WOW air is the first of three airlines to start flights between Reykjavik/Keflavik (KEF) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) this summer, with the ULCC having launched a three times weekly A330-300-operated service on 23 May.

From 30 May Icelandair will launch the 6,009-kilometre route with four weekly 757-200-operated flights, while American Airlines will be the third carrier to join the sector party when it begins the route on 7 June.

The oneworld member plans to link its Texan hub with the Icelandic airport daily, with it, like Icelandair, planning to use its 757-200s on the route.

To launch three connections in as many weeks to such a large international hub is a sign we remain on the road of rapid growth and airlines continue to recognise the opportunities available, commented Hlynur Sigurdsson, Commercial Director, Isavia on the addition of Dallas/Fort Worth to Reykjavik/Keflavik’s summer network.

The new flights will not only represent substantial choice for our customers via Dallas/Fort Worth’s immense network, but also allow travellers from North Texas to benefit from our own ever-expanding route map.

This giving them access to Iceland as well as numerous further destinations.

WOW air introduced Cincinnati (CVG) to its ever-growing North American network, with it now linking its Reykjavik/Keflavik (KEF) hub to the US city four times weekly.

Launched 9 May, the LCC will operate the uncontested 4,833-kilometre airport pair using its fleet of 220-seat A321s.

Connecting the Tri-State community with additional international destinations has been a priority for Cincinnati, commented Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati Airport.

We’re excited that WOW air is now providing local travellers with the opportunity to travel non-stop from Cincinnati to Iceland, as well as a one-stop, low-cost service to more than 20 destinations across Europe, Israel and the Canary Islands.

This becomes the US airport’s second transatlantic service, with it joining Delta Air Lines in the European arena.

The SkyTeam member presently offers a daily service to Paris CDG, a route that it flies using its 767-300s.

WOW air has now begun service to Tel Aviv (TEL), with the carrier having inaugurated a four times weekly service from Reykjavik/Keflavik (KEF) on 12 September.

The 5,272-kilometre route, the only connection operating between Iceland and Israel, will be operated by WOW air on its fleet of A321s.

Flights leave Reykjavik/Keflavik at 18:15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Tel Aviv at 04:40 the following morning.

Return flights leave Tel Aviv at 08:25 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, getting back into Iceland at 13:30.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta Air Lines Introduces DeltaOne Suites After Upgrading Boeing 777s

Delta Air Lines has revealed the upgraded seat map of its Boeing 777-200(ER)/(LR) fleet, featuring the new DeltaOne suites.

Last year, the airline introduced the suites, along with the all-new Premium Select class, on its new flagship, the Airbus A350-900.

Delta promised that the 777s would be all retrofitted with the upgraded cabin as well.

The first retrofitted Boeing 777-200 with the upgraded cabin will go into service in July 2018 on the Detroit-Beijing route, starting July 2, 2018; and Los Angeles-Sydney, beginning March 31, 2019.

The Detroit-Beijing route will operate on alternating days with A350-900.

Up front, the DeltaOne Suites are laid out in the same 1-2-1 configuration the A350 has to offer, spread out through the first eight rows.

Immediately after, six rows of Premium Select are available on a 2-4-2 configuration, also the same as on the A350.

Each seat offers 38 inches of pitch, and 18.5 inches in width, together with individual in-flight entertainment screens, power ports, and internet connectivity.

In economy class, however, there’s a big surprise. The airline has kept the 3-3-3 configuration immaculate, staying away from the ubiquitous 3-4-3 layout that airlines like Emirates and Air France have decided to install on its tight 777s.

It is unclear, however, if Delta has also refurbished the Economy Class seats or kept the same it currently has.

The Atlanta-based giant introduced the Airbus A350 in October 2017, and since then has taken delivery of nine aircraft.

The most recent, N409DN, was delivered in April 2018.


Tourism Observer

USA: Delta, Air France, KLM And Virgin Atlantic To Form Alliance

Delta Air Lines and partners Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic announced a bold business deal Thursday that the carriers hope will strengthen their position in the lucrative trans-Atlantic market.

Delta will buy a 10% stake in Air France-KLM for €375 million ($438 million), deepening an already entrenched partnership between the companies. Meanwhile, Air France-KLM is buying a 31% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £220 million ($287 million).

The airlines hope the move paves the way for a formidable joint-venture alliance between the four airlines.

Delta already owns a 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic in a deal that closed in 2013, allowing those two carriers to launch a joint-venture of their own.

The partnership lets Delta and Virgin Atlantic to coordinate flights and fares, helping them against rivals in the trans-Atlantic market.

But, until Thursday’s announcement, Air France and KLM were not closely aligned with Virgin Atlantic. Air France and KLM merged in 2003 to become a single company (Air France-KLM), though each continues to operate under its own brand.

In selling part of his stake in the company, Virgin Group tycoon Richard Branson said the move would help the airline he founded in 1984 to better compete with British Airways and other rivals flying across the Atlantic.

Delta has helped us considerably with feed from America, but because we don’t have more slots at Heathrow or Gatwick we’re unable to enjoy feed from Europe or provide extra onward journeys for those customers we are now carrying to London,Branson said in an open letter to Virgin Atlantic employees.

To address this we’ve been in discussions with Delta’s partners in Europe, Air France and KLM, to give us that network and connections.

The intention, Branson says, is to form a four-way strategic joint venture.

Branson continued in the letter, appearing to get nostalgic in explaining a new path for his airline.

As I get a little older, I want to be certain that all the necessary building blocks are in place for Virgin Atlantic to continue to prosper and grow for the next 50 years, the 67-year-old wrote.

The airline industry has consolidated over Virgin Atlantic’s lifetime and it’s now our turn to put ourselves at the heart of an important alliance, to create a stronger customer champion and build an airline which provides great opportunities for our team around the world.

That alliance theme also was played up Virgin Atlantic's potential new partners.

With our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic, we are pleased to reinforce our trans-Atlantic partnership, offering our customers even more choice between Europe, UK and the United States via twelve hubs on both sides of the Atlantic, Air France CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac added.

Specific passenger-facing details weren't spelled out, but the deals could greatly expand the reach of the carriers via connections and their share resources.

On the connecting front, the airlines could for example sell a single-ticket itinerary where a passenger flies KLM from Amsterdam to London to catch a Virgin Atlantic flight to Las Vegas.

Such a scenario would match the set-up already in place between Delta and Virgin Atlantic and between Delta and Air France-KLM.

Such an alliance could also allow the carriers to pool their slots at coordinate schedules at crowded airports, notably at London Heathrow, where Virgin Atlantic has a big presence.

Delta, Air France and KLM are all key members of the SkyTeam frequent-flier alliance, while Virgin Atlantic is not.

There already had been speculation Virgin Atlantic's closer relationship with Delta might lead it to join SkyTeam.

Now, if Virgin Atlantic does end up in cahoots with Air France and KLM, that chatter is only likely to increase.

Ahead of such speculation, the deals announced on Thursday still must win shareholder and regulatory approval.

If OK'd, Branson's Virgin Group would retain a 20% stake and the chairmanship of Virgin Atlantic, according to that airline.

Virgin Atlantic would retain its independence as a UK airline with a UK operating certificate, and will continue to fly under the Virgin brand, Virgin Atlantic said in a statement, appearing to try to address concerns about whether the carrier would remain in compliance with the United Kingdom's laws on foreign ownership of airlines.

Beyond Virgin Atlantic, the strategic business deals announced by Delta and its partners didn’t end with the trans-Atlantic development. In addition to Delta’s 10% stake in Air France-KLM, Shanghai-based China Eastern – also a partner of Delta – said it also would take a 10% in Air France-KLM.

The strategic, commercial and equity investment of these partnerships will position Air France-KLM as the European pillar of the leading global airline network,Air France-KLM said in a statement announcing the deal.

The deals come as the involved parties faces intense competition both from aggressively expanding low-cost carriers such as Norwegian Air and WOW and from high-end Gulf carrierssuch as Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Combining forces to offer coordinate schedules and fares and to offer more connecting options -- would theoretically strengthen the hand of Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM against those foes.

The moves also underscore a recent trend in the airline industry where airlines buy equity stakes in partner carriers.

Qatar Airways, for example, is now the single largest sharehold in the parent company of British Airways. Each are members of the oneworld frequent-flier alliance and now offer reciprocal flight benefits and codeshare connections on certain routes.

Delta also has taken stakes in several of its key partners. Aside from Virgin Atlantic, Delta recently bought its own stake in China Eastern and has similar deals with Aeromexico and Brazilian carrier GOL.

Still, the strategy has risks. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad has been one of the most aggressive in pursuing so-called equity partnerships, but not all have worked out.

Etihad's sizable investment in Italy's perennially troubled Alitalia failed to stem losses at that airline, which has since filed for bankruptcy protection again.



Tourism Observer
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