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AIRLINER WORLD’S COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF WORLDWIDE NEWS
EASYJET HAS secured an Austrian Air
Operator Certificate (AOC) as part of its
Brexit contingency plan.
The Luton-based airline, which already
has a wholly owned subsidiary in
Switzerland, revealed it was looking to
shift at least part of its operation to the
continent amid uncertainty created by
last year’s referendum in which the UK
voted to leave the European Union.The carrier said its accreditation process
in Austria is “well advanced” and, having
now secured its AOC, it will establish
a new offshoot, easyJet Europe,
headquartered in Vienna, which, it says,
will enable it to continue operating across
the continent and domestically within EU
countries after the UK has left the union.
While the airline has made little secret of
the fact it was drawing up contingencyarrangements, it had remained silent on
the particulars, but says Austria offers
the “best fit” for this plan, adding it will
continue to push for the UK and the EU to
reach an “aviation agreement which, at a
minimum, will enable flights between the
UK and EU to continue as normal”.
Around 100 of easyJet’s aircraft currently
based in Europe will form the basis of its
new subsidiary. However, whileadditional jobs will be created in Austria,
the carrier said none will move from
the UK.
Meanwhile, easyJet is on the hunt for
a new CEO after Dame Carolyn McCall
announced her departure after seven
years at the helm. She will take over
as the chief executive of commercial
broadcaster ITV early next year.
(Photo James Ronayne)Norwegian UK
Edges Closer...
NORWEGIAN UK (NUK) has been
granted tentative approval by the US
Department of Transportation (DOT)
for a foreign air carrier permit which,
once finalised, will enable Norwegian’s
British offshoot to operate direct flights
between the US and Europe.
Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos said:
“Tentative US approval for our UK
subsidiary takes us a positive step
towards being able to offer millions of
passengers even more new routes and
lower fares.”
He added: “We look forward to final
DOT approval for Norwegian UK’s
foreign air carrier permit soon, allowing
us to continue delivering more flights,
more choice and more jobs on bothsides of the Atlantic.”
NUK’s application, submitted almost
two years ago, has attracted fierce
opposition from US majors including,
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines
and United Airlines, and from US pilot
and cabin crew unions, which objected
to Norwegian’s flight crew hiring
practices.
But a statement from the DOT issued
on July 17 said the primary arguments
raised by NUK’s opponents had been
considered by the department in its
final decision on the application of sis-
ter carrier Norwegian Air International.
The Oslo-based airline’s Irish subsidiary
gained its permit last December, three
years after it had initially applied.EasyJet Plans for Brexit
First Boeing for KlasJet
KLASJET HAS acquired its first Boeing
jet. The former Continental Airlines and
Transaero Airlines 737-524, LY-KLJ
(c/n 28923), is fitted with an executive,
56-seat all-Business Class layout and,
according to the Lithuanian company,
“is ideal for sports teams, large business
groups and government officials”.
KlasJet CEO Vitalij Kapitonov added:
“This business jet will be one of a kind
in Eastern Europe and is already gaining
attention from our current customers as
well as new potential clients.
“Having the ability to avoid long queues
at the airport, and sometimes tiresome
attention from the fans, is very much
valued by sports teams, let alone the
legroom to save as much energy as
possible for future wins. The same goes
for bands, entertainment groups and
business travellers – the comfort and
convenience is undeniable.”
Ahead of its entry into service, the 737
underwent an extensive refurbishment
with Vilnius-based MRO FL Technics,
including a complete cabin overhaul plus
new lightning and carpets. Kapitonov
confirmed the operator hopes to acquire
two more 737s by the end of the year.
(Photo KlasJet)Orion Airways is one of several new Cypriot airlines to emerge following the demise of former
flag carrier Cyprus Airways in 2015. Its first aircraft, former Jordan Aviation Boeing 737-
JY-JAX (c/n 23955), is seen at Larnaca ahead of the launch of services expected later this year.
MARKUS SCHMALAnother Cypriot Start-up