Canadian North and First Air are pleased to confirm that our respective ownership groups, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) and Makivik Corporation, have received regulatory approval to combine our people and resources into a strong, unified new pan-Arctic airline that will provide safe and sustainable air service to Northern customers and charter clients under the name ‘Canadian North’.

Makivik and IRC have released a separate announcement (shown here) that reaffirms their commitment to ensuring that the merged airline continues to meet the needs and expectations of Northerners throughout the integration and beyond. They will now prepare to complete the necessary transaction that will formalize this merger and enable us to begin the multi-phase integration of our operations. Detailed information about the upcoming start of the integration process will be provided when the merger transaction is completed within the coming weeks. In the meantime, Canadian North and First Air will continue to operate as two separate entities, providing safe, friendly and reliable air service to our respective customers. Canadian North and First Air commend everyone who contributed to this approval process, for recognizing the many benefits that this merger will provide to the residents of Northern Canada who depend on the availability of safe and sustainable year-round passenger and cargo service for all aspects of their lives. By combining our people and resources into a strong, unified airline, we will be able to operate far more efficiently and the improved sustainability we achieve will create new paths for us to invest in our long-term growth and renewal, for the benefit of everyone we serve.

Source: FirstAir website

EVA Air cabin crew have gone on strike over pay and working conditions after the latest round of negotiations with airline management reached an impasse. The strike, led by the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union, began at 16:00 local time on 20 June, and comes two weeks after the union voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking industrial action. At least 12 EVA flights due to depart in the evening of 20 June had to be cancelled, including flights from Taipei Taoyuan and Chicago, Hong Kong and Paris. One flight from Kaohsiung to Guangzhou was also cancelled. At least another 30 flights on 21 June have also been cancelled. The airline says it is still estimating the financial impact of the strike. Union representatives say they wanted “more sincerity” from the airline, with “concrete solutions”. It adds that it was still open to discussing “mutually agreeable” resolutions with the carrier.

Source: FlightGlobal

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency order prohibiting US carriers from flying in the overwater area of Iranian-controlled airspace until further notice. The order, issued in the early hours of 21 June, states that the prohibition is in place “due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions in the region”. On 19 June, an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down a Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) over Kuh Mubarak, a coastal area of Iran at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian government later claimed responsibility for shooting down of the spy drone, which it said had violated Iranian airspace. United Airlines cancelled its scheduled flight between Newark and Mumbai on 20 June, hours before the emergency order was issued. United is the only US carrier to fly between the United States and India.

Source: FlightGlobal