LATAM Spurns Azul, Ready to Move On
LATAM filed its reorganization plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court with the carrier proposing an $8.2 billion cash injection to help fund its next incarnation. At the same time it told Azul “it’s not you, it’s me,” in rejecting the Brazilian carrier’s request to go steady.
Azul had made overtures about acquiring all of LATAM in a takeover, but LATAM rejected the offer as “incomplete” and “insufficient” while also stating that Azul “wasn’t really it’s type,” and that the carrier is very happy with its sugar daddy from Atlanta for now.
The carrier expects to have debts of about $7.6 billion against just $2.67 billion in liquidity. It’s restricting plan is supported by its primary group of creditors and some LATAM shareholders. The reorganization will be assessed in court on January 27. The carrier says 71% of its creditors approve the plan, above the minimum threshold of 66%.
LATAM reported losses of almost $700 million during the third quarter as it struggles with the lack of a demand for the return of international travel.
Spirit Passenger Attacks Two Flight Attendants
A Spirit Airways passenger on Saturday night attacked two flight attendants, reportedly punching one and pulling the hair of another. The unidentified 42-year old woman reportedly lost control of her emotions when finding out that Spirit charged for carry-ons and that a bottle of water was not free onboard the ULCC carrier.
Nashville airport police met the flight after it landed from Fort Lauderdale around 7 p.m. and arrested the unruly passenger for public intoxication and general idiocy. Upon being met by law enforcement, the passenger, who had been zip tied by a fellow traveler challenged the police to “shoot me” as they arrested her. Despite the hopes of the Spirit flight crew, the police only took her into custody.
When asked to comment, other passengers on the flight said they barely noticed the incident, instead reveling in the joy that their Thanksgiving weekend flight on Spirit actually operated – the fact it left and landed on-time was an added bonus.
An affidavit from the Davidson County Sherriff’s Office said that the flight crew did not want to press charges against the passenger. Records show she was released from jail Sunday and her case was dismissed.
Emirates Suspends Launch of Tel Aviv Flight due to COVID-19
Emirates Airline said over the weekend that is suspending the launch of direct service between its Dubai hub and Tel Aviv indefinitely. The route was supposed to begin on December 6, and when it does begin, will mark the first scheduled service on Emirates to Israel.
The Israeli government recently imposed new border controls due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, electing to prevent non-Israeli citizens and permanent residents from entering the country for the time being. Emirates says it is still committed to launching the flight once the concern over the new strain fades and Israel reopens its borders to non-Israelis.
Israeli citizens are allowed into the country but are required to take a PCR test on arrival and go through a three day quarantine and then receive a second negative test upon arrival. Israelis are currently prohibited from visiting a list of 50 countries that either pose a higher risk of infection from the new Omicron strain or are known to offer hard and inedible bagels.
- Air New Zealand extended its status match offer to elite members from Qantas and Virgin Australia until June 2022.
- Avian had its payment plan from its reorganization approved by an Argentinean court on Friday.
- Cebu Pacific took delivery of its first A330neo aircraft.
- China Airlines took delivery of the first of 25 A321neo aircraft it has on order today.
- Fly Niu received permission from the Tongan government to purchase state-owned Lulutai Airlines.
- Swiftair added its first B737-800 aircraft today, taking delivery of the plane in swift fashion.
- Vietnam Airways operated its first regularly scheduled direct flight to the United States today, a B787-9 Dreamliner from Ho Chi Minh city to San Francisco.
- Western Aircraft has applied to the DOT for permission to operate regularly-scheduled flights using aircraft with nine seats or less.
- WestJet revealed in a DOT filing that it intends to link Spokane with its network using regional subsidiary WestJet Link.
- World Atlantic Airlines plans to wet-lease an A320 aircraft.
When I was little, I always wanted to be an astronaut, but my parents would talk me out of it. They always told me I could do anything I wanted and that the sky’s the limit.