Alaska Airlines' ground staff and airport customer service agents have ratified a two-year contract extension, with "significant" increases in regular and longevity pay included. The new contract replaces one which was due to become amendable in September 2024. It runs until 27 September 2026. The contract covers about 5,300 Alaska Airlines airport customer service agents, stores, cargo, ground service and reservations agents, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Alaska Airlines says the contract passed overwhelmingly and includes increased pay with market reviews to ensure wage rates stay competitive, as well as increases in longevity pay. Job security has also been extended until 27 September 2028. "IAM negotiators strongly advocated for employees' needs, which included significant improvements to the wage structure," says Jenny Wetzel, vice-president of labour relations at Alaska Airlines. "I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement that improves our employees' quality of life and is good for our company's long-term success." IAM says the deal places its Alaska Airlines members at "the top of the airline industry's pay scale for the first time in the carrier's history". Base wage rates for all classifications will rise to between 8.9% and 17.4% on 10 August, with an additional 2.5% increase on 10 August 2023, says the union. Base wage rates will increase by a minimum of another 2.5% in August 2024 and 2025, subject to an industry review. "This newly-ratified IAM agreement at Alaska Airlines has raised the bar for the entire airline industry," says IAM general vice president Richard Johnsen. The pay deal comes at a time when airlines throughout the USA and elsewhere are grappling with staff shortages and strong demand for air travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Five entities controlled by Russian lessor GTLK have been sanctioned by the US government. The lessor's head office in Russia, along with four overseas entities, were added to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC) specially designated nationals list, according to a 2 August announcement from the US Treasury. Dublin-based GTLK Europe and GTLK Europe Capital, Hong Kong-based GTLK Asia and Dubai-based GTLK Middle East Free Zone are the overseas entities affected. Individuals and companies on OFAC's SDN list, whose most recent edition published 2 August have their assets blocked and US persons are "generally prohibited from dealing with them", according to the Treasury's website. GTLK has been sanctioned by the European Union since April. The EU said at the time that GTLK was "financially supporting and benefitting" from the Russian government, which it said was responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine. Data shows that GTLK has an in-service and stored fleet of 270 aircraft. GTLK Europe owns nine aircraft, including five Boeing 737-800s, two Airbus A321s and two Bombardier CRJ200s, all on lease to Russian carriers. GTLK Asia – via entities called GTLK Asia A1 and GTLK Asia A2 – owns two 737-900s on lease to Lion Air. GTLK Middle East owns one A220-300 on lease to Air Manas, based in Kyrgyzstan, as well as one 777-200 on lease to Emirates. It also manages one A220-300 itself, which was scheduled to be leased into Air Manas but is now in storage.

Indian carrier Vistara is planning to ramp up frequencies on flights to and from Frankfurt in Germany and Paris in France as it gears up to receive its third Boeing 787-9 on lease. Starting 30 October, the carrier says it will operate six weekly flights between Delhi and Frankfurt, up from the current thrice weekly frequency. Meanwhile, connectivity between Delhi and Paris goes up from twice weekly to five times a week. Vistara's 787-9 comes with a three-class cabin configuration and will also feature fully flat business class seats, each with direct aisle access, and a separate premium economy cabin. In May, the airline scaled up frequencies on several international routes, including Delhi-London and Mumbai-Singapore to daily flights, besides bolstering its other international and domestic routes. Chief commercial officer Deepak Rajawat states: “Europe has been a key focus market for us since the very beginning, and we are glad that our customers appreciate our offerings on these long-haul routes. We have been wanting to ramp up frequencies on these sectors and we are delighted to be able to finally do that.”