Spirit Airlines is set to furlough approximately 330 pilots on January 31, 2025, as part of an ongoing cost-cutting strategy aimed at shoring up its finances amid a challenging aviation market. This latest round of furloughs follows an initial cut in September 2024, which saw 186 pilots furloughed. Additionally, Spirit plans to downgrade 120 captains…
The Portuguese Court of Auditors has identified non-compliance by Portugalia Airlines concerning the requirement for prior inspection on two amendments to an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) contract. The Court determined that Portugalia, a subsidiary of TAP Air Portugal, neglected to follow procedural compliance by omitting required inspections before implementing contract modifications. Accountability for…
El Al, Israel’s flagship airline, has officially withdrawn its bid to acquire a 45% stake in Isracard, the country’s largest credit card company, citing challenges in meeting the regulatory and acquisition requirements before the October 31, 2024, deadline. This retraction marks a strategic shift for El Al, which had initially sought the acquisition to diversify…
Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest low-cost airline, has increased its ownership stake in 1Aviation Groundhandling Services from 40% to 60%, establishing a majority position in the company. The stake increase was achieved through a debt-to-equity conversion, allowing Cebu Pacific to deepen its influence over ground handling operations, which are essential to the airline’s service efficiency…
The pilots’ union at South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has filed an injunction to prevent the sale of Asiana Cargo to fellow South Korean carrier Air Incheon. The union argues that the sale process involved improper exercise of voting rights, raising concerns about procedural fairness and transparency in the decision-making process. This legal challenge underscores the…
Air Tahiti Nui is exploring new partnership opportunities to strengthen its financial position and support a company-wide turnaround strategy. CEO Moetai Brotherson is actively seeking either a shareholder or strategic partner, with advanced negotiations currently underway with one party that could potentially provide aircraft and capital investment. This strategic search comes at a critical time,…
SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance has signed a four-year contract extension with CityJet, an Ireland-based wet-lease airline, to provide comprehensive maintenance services for CityJet’s CRJ 900 and CRJ 1000 fleet operating throughout Europe. This extended agreement covers all line maintenance needs, including regular hangar maintenance visits, which will be conducted from SAMCO’s Scandinavian Hub in Copenhagen and…
Viva Aerobus, a leading low-cost carrier in Mexico, expects approximately 25 of its aircraft to remain grounded into 2025, with issues anticipated to extend into 2026 due to ongoing challenges with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines. These groundings, while impacting operational capacity, have not deterred the airline’s growth outlook for 2025. Viva Aerobus forecasts a…
TAAG Angola Airlines is evaluating the addition of a second Boeing 737-800BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) and potentially a widebody freighter as it seeks to meet the growing demand for air cargo transport across Africa and beyond. This prospective fleet expansion would enhance TAAG’s capacity to handle increased cargo volumes on regional routes while also supporting…
Sichuan Airlines, one of China’s prominent regional carriers, has expanded its fleet with the addition of a new Airbus A321, serial number 2971. The aircraft, powered by V2533-A5 engines, enhances the airline’s operational capacity on high-demand routes across China and neighboring regions. Known for its reliability and fuel efficiency, the A321 is a valuable asset…
