GOL, JetSMART partnerships boost American's LatAm results

US DOJ prepares to file suit to block JetBlue, Spirit merger

The United States Department of Justice has been sending out depositions in preparation for a lawsuit to block the shareholder-approved USD3.8 billion merger between JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) and Spirit Airlines (NK, Fort Lauderdale International), a deal that could create the fifth largest US airline to compete with the four mainline US carriers.

News and data service provider Dealreporter cites unnamed well-placed sources saying the DOJ - under the new administration - was always expected to take action against the proposed deal. The Department is already taking JetBlue and American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth) to court over their so-called Northeast Alliance commercial partnership announced in July 2020. A hearing on that case was held in September 2022 and is awaiting a final decision from a judge. Should the Northeast Alliance be unwound, it would be easier for JetBlue to win a potential case to purchase Spirit, according to Dealreporter.

The merger was approved by Spirit shareholders in October 2022 following a protracted bidding war between JetBlue and Frontier...

Airlines slam Heathrow 2023 interim price cap

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and airline community representatives have slammed as too high, an interim 2023 London Heathrow passenger charge price cap imposed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which came into effect on February 1. Still, the airport argues the charge is too low and puts pressure on Heathrow’s ability to deliver passenger services.

The GBP31.57 pounds (USD38.19) interim price cap – up from GBP30.19 (USD36.51) - is calculated on projected passenger numbers for 2023 and represents the amount Heathrow charges airlines per passenger.

In a statement, the UK CAA said the interim price cap for 2023 replaces a one-year holding cap that was put in place in 2022, and which expired at the end of 2022. “It is required to protect the interests of consumers in the short term as our final decision and licence modifications for a five-year price control will not be made until later in 2023.”

Heathrow has asked for the cap to be raised to GBP41.95 (USD50.63) per passenger...

Air Canada ties European growth to A321(XLR)s

Japan Airlines to send the A350-1000 to JFK from 4Q23

JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) has locked in its IATA 2023 international summer schedules and confirmed that it will deploy the A350-1000 next winter on the Haneda - New York JFK route. Ahead of that happening, the airline says the increasing demand on the long-haul route will see the existing daily B777-300(ER) flights go to double daily this summer.

In a media statement issued on February 2, Japan Airlines said there would be a "sequential introduction" of the A350-1000 on the 13,156-kilometre route from November. "With the introduction of the Airbus A350-1000, we are developing new cabin specifications for international flights to provide a new unprecedented experience for each and every one of our customers," the statement said, before adding that details of those new specifications were not yet finalised.

The existing Japan Airlines B777-300(ER) product on the route seats 244 passengers, including 147 in economy, 40 in premium economy, 49 in business, and eight in first. The A350-1000 typically seats between 350 to 410 passengers in a standard three-class...