ARC NEWS
Qantas pilots withdraw strike in favour of mediation
November 02, 2023
Pilots at Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation will not proceed with a 48-hour work stoppage that was to have started on 1 November with mediated talks scheduled to take place over the next week. The Australian Federation of Air Pilots says it will attend a bargaining session mediated by the Fair Work Commission on 7 November, with potential for further sessions over the following days to 10 November. "AFAP members – who make up 90% of the pilot group at Network Aviation – have given an undertaking that they will not engage in any protected action until next week’s bargaining sessions are completed," it adds. Pilots have been seeking to bring their pay in line with other narrowbody pilots across the Qantas group. Network Aviation operates Airbus A320ceos and Fokker 100s under the QantasLink banner on a mix of scheduled and charter services in Western Australia and from Perth to Darwin.


WestJet completes Swoop integration
November 02, 2023
WestJet has completed the integration of its former ultra-low-cost carrier Swoop into its mainline operations. Following the ratification of a new contract with pilots at Swoop, WestJet announced its plan to integrate the ultra-low-cost carrier into the mainline operations by 28 October. "By keeping costs low, Swoop was able to offer the most competitive fares and appeal to Canadian travellers of all demographics. As we conclude this integration, we will learn from Swoop's successes to best serve our guests with diversified product offerings that meet a variety of needs," says WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech. The airline has laid out plans to add more dense seating the rear section of its 737s and providing a spectrum of in-flight offerings from ultra-low-cost to premium across its fleet, all under a single brand. At its peak in 2022, Swoop operated 11 737-800s and six Max 8s, most of which have been absorbed into WestJet's mainline fleet. The Calgary-based carrier now operates 77 737NGs, 26 737 Max 8s and seven 787-9s, while it has 59 more Max jets on order. Swoop's withdrawal from the market comes as other Canadian ultra-low-cost carriers Flair Airlines and Lynx Air continue to expand their networks across Canada, to the USA and the Caribbean. WestJet is also planning to integrate Sunwing Airlines' operations onto its air operator's certificate by October 2024, having completed its acquisition of the Toronto based carrier in May.


Korean orders 20 more A321neos
November 01, 2023
Korean Air has placed a follow-order for 20 Airbus A321neos. The SkyTeam carrier says that delivery will start after a previous tranche of 30 A321neos it ordered is complete. Of the 30, Korean has taken delivery of eight. The first arrived in December 2022 and the remaining are set to be delivered by 2028. The dual-class 182-seater A321neos have been deployed on regional routes to Southeast Asia, China and Japan. A memorandum of understanding Korean signed in 2015 covered 50 A321neos, including options for 20. Fleets data lists 20 A321neos options as having been cancelled or lapsed in June 2020. The airline expects to take deliveries of 110 new aircraft "in the coming years", including the 20 A321neos, 10 Boeing 787-9s, 20 787-10s and 30 737-8s, and is retiring its A330-300s and 777-200ERs.


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