Aviation

  DUBLIN/ Reuters Ryanair is all set to launch its first loyalty scheme in decades, introduce customer satisfaction surveys and allow “one-tap” upgrades using mobile phones as it extends its efforts to rid itself of a reputation for poor service. The Irish low-cost airline, Europe’s largest by passenger numbers, has seen profits and passenger numbers soar since Chief Executive Michael ...

  Riga / AFP Latvia’s airBaltic, which will be the first airline to operate Bombardier’s CS300 plane commercially, said it had increased its order with the Canadian manufacturer from 13 to 20 aircraft. “This brings the total order for 20 planes to a book price of around $1.5 billion” (1.3 billion euros), airBaltic spokesman Janis Vanags said. The Latvian flag ...

Bloomberg Airbus Group SE lost an order for two A380 superjumbos from Indian Ocean carrier Air Austral, which had aimed to fit the planes with the highest-capacity seating layout in the history of civil aviation. The aircraft, whose planned 840-seat configuration had led them to be widely labeled by the media as “flying sardine cans,” were removed from Airbus’s order ...

Zurich / Bloomberg Chinese conglomerate HNA Group Co. agreed to buy Swiss airline catering company Gategroup Holding AG for 1.4 billion francs ($1.5 billion), as billionaire Chairman Chen Feng continues on an acquisition spree of aviation-related assets around the world. Gategroup shares jumped the most in almost seven years. Shareholders would get 53 francs a share as well as the ...

TEHRAN / AP Iran said that the US has allowed Boeing to have direct talks with Iranian airliners following reports that a Boeing delegation will visit the country, the official IRNA news agency reported. The report quoted Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, as saying “Boeing intends to launch its talks with Iranian companies with permission from the ...

Bloomberg Air France-KLM Group will enter into talks with an exclusive buyer for its in-flight service unit Servair within the next few weeks, a person familiar with the plan said. The company won’t sell the entire business, said the person, who declined to be identified because the discussions are private. Servair, the world’s third-largest in-flight caterer, was valued at about ...

Managua / AFP Nicaragua is to start a new national airline and expand its international airport under a deal with Russia involving Russian aircraft and a loan of up to $300 million, state media reported. Government officials did not immediately respond to queries seeking to verify the information. According to a report by the online news website 19 Digital, a ...

EMIRATES BUSINESS Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), has announced additional flight frequencies from Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao to key domestic and international destinations, to accommodate passenger demand during the summer peak travel period. The airline also launched an exclusive seat sale for its routes between the GCC region and the Philippines. Travelers looking to book flights between ...

Bloomberg Delta Air Lines Inc. is nearing a decision on upgrading its single-aisle fleet as four planemakers bid furiously to win the order, people familiar with the matter said. Airbus Group SE, Boeing Co., Bombardier Inc. and Embraer SA are competing for the sale as the second-largest US carrier seeks to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-88 workhorse jets for shorter ...

Male / AFP The Maldives government has kicked off a controversial $800-million expansion of the country’s main airport by a Chinese company, a move likely to irritate giant neighbour India. President Abdulla Yameen inaugurated construction work in a ceremony this week in the capital city Male. The expansion means the Airbus A380 will be able to land at the airport ...