Aviation

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) plans to further strengthen its positioning as a premium air carrier by introducing a new Premium Economy Class on its long-haul aircraft fleet.

The Lufthansa Group announced its February 2019 traffic figures. The Lufthansa Group airlines welcomed around 9 million passengers, an increase of 1.9 percent compared to the previous year’s month.

Beginning June 20, 2019, Spirit Airlines will begin nonstop service from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. 

Lufthansa Group is continuing modernization of its long-haul fleet. Its Supervisory Board approved the purchase of a total of 40 state-of-the-art aircraft for the group’s airlines.

On March 13, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all U.S.-registered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including the 8 and 9 variants, as a precautionary measure. 

Beginning June 20, 2019, Spirit Airlines will begin nonstop flights three times daily between Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) and McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

The Flughafen Wien Group (Vienna Airport, Malta Airport and Kosice Airport) announced strong growth in February 2019 traffic results.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) welcomes the recent grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, and is calling on all remaining civil aviation authorities to follow suit to ensure the safety of both passengers and workers.

Qatar Airways revealed seven new destinations to be added to its global route network in 2019.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched a new industry certification—the Center for Excellence for Perishable Logistics (CEIV Fresh)—to improve the handling and the transport by air of perishable products.

Ethiopian Airlines announced that following the tragic accident of ET 302/10 March B-737-8 MAX (ET-AVJ), Ethiopian Airlines has decided to ground all B-737-8 MAX fleet effective yesterday March 10, 2019 until further notice.

China has called on domestic airlines to ground Boeing’s 737 Max 8 following yesterday’s Ethiopian Airlines crash.

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 plane travelling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi with 157 people aboard crashed on Sunday.