Qatar Paints Airbus as the Bad Guy in London Courtroom
Qatar Airways began legal action in its dispute with Airbus over the paint the carrier claims is adversely impacting its fleet of A350s. The suit in the Technology and Construction division of the High Court in London comes about a week after Airbus threatened legal action on Qatar.
Qatar has been voicing its concerns over the paint on its A350s for several months now with the manufacturer dismissing the charges. Qatar has grounded 21 of the 53 A350s in its fleet over the paint degradation issues which its CEO Akbar Al Baker said is a “serious matter that we don’t know if it is an airworthiness issue, we also don’t know that it is not an airworthiness issue.”
Airbus maintains that the issues are cosmetic and do not pose any harm for the airplanes or their passengers and has brought in experts from Estee Lauder and Revlon to help make its case. The cosmetic experts are expected to testify in court next week.
Brazil’s ITA Runs Out of Cash
ITA – the Brazilian version – was grounded over the weekend by the Brazilian government as the carrier ran out of money. The carrier called it a “temporary cease of operations for internal restructuring,” which is a nice way to say “we’re broke and can’t afford fuel, much less paying our staff.”
This ITA was formed last year and flew its first flight this past summer. Commercial flights began on June 30, which means the airline almost lasted long enough to celebrate its six-month anniversary. It reportedly reached out to Italy’s ITA – Alitalia reincarnated – to discuss a merger or codeshare but its books were so bad even that ITA wouldn’t touch it.
Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority – ANAC – is insisting the shuttered carrier find alternative accommodations and refunds for all passengers. The government also suggested that passengers with flights on the carrier this week do not go to the airport without making alternate plans, which seems like sound advice. The government also advised Brazilians not to show up at any stores that have gone out of business or call phone numbers that have been disconnected.
Jet Airways Looks to Accelerate Relaunch
Jet Airways, the reincarnated Indian carrier currently in bankruptcy, now plans to return to the skies early next year. To speed the process along, the consortium funding the relaunch has asked the National Company Law Tribunal to permit an expedited recapitalization of their plan. The plan itself was approved back in June, but moving the timeline up requires an additional sign-off from the government.
The new carrier is requesting permission to allow them to pay all stakeholders and former employees what’s owed to them by this week. The carrier has an active Air Operator Permit valid through 2023 and has an interest in getting in the air as quickly as possible to keep the permit active. By doing so, it can renew its current permit next year before its expiration in 2023, a much easier process than applying for a new one.
Jet expects to operate six narrowbody at its launch but is in discussions with both Airbus and Boeing to up its fleet to over 100 by 2027.
- American had several flights depart DFW without ice on Sunday. Luckily cooler heads prevailed and the carrier rectified the situation later in the morning.
- Avelo is the latest airline to become part of the TSA PreCheck family.
- Bamboo Airlines will launch nonstop service between its Ho Chi Minh hub and Melbourne in April 2022. Service will operate twice weekly with the ability to upgrade to 4x-weekly if demand warrants it.
- Delta signed a reciprocal codeshare agreement with ITA — the one that’s operating flights (for now), that will see cooperation on Delta-operated flights to 92 destinations, beginning Wednesday.
- easyJet plans to return to London/Southend (SEN) this summer, two years after the airline left the airport.
- Jin Air added its first B737-900.
- Lufthansa Group made several changes to its senior leadership including naming Jens Ritter as CEO of Lufthansa and Annette Mann as CEO of Austrian. All of the individuals promoted are reported to be efficient, have disdain for small talk and a niche sense of humor.
- Norse Atlantic Airways, the startup founded by three guys named Bjørn, took delivery of its first aircraft — a B787-9 Dreamliner over the weekend.
- Philippines Airlines restructuring plan was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says his airline still plans to operate Brisbane-Chicago/O’Hare. The city pair was supposed to launch in April 2020 and was delayed indefinitely before it ever got off the ground.
- Uganda Airlines is acquiring the first narrowbody jets in the carrier’s history. The airline is currently deciding between the A220 and E195-E2.
- Ukrainian National Airlines will receive a $37 million aide package from the Ukrainian government.
How do the elves clean Santa’s sleigh on the day after Christmas?
They use Santa-tizer.