Airlines

China Southern Airlines May Join oneworld Alliance

China Southern Airlines could join up for the Oneworld Alliance.

According to those familiar with the situation, the Global airline alliance Oneworld is in talks to include China Southern Airlines in its membership. The largest airline in the country, China Southern, has hubs in Beijing and the southern city of Guangzhou, where it is based.

China’s top 3 airlines will purchase nearly 300 Airbus A320neo aircraft.(Opens in a new browser tab)

By having it join Oneworld, other member airlines may get useful access to what, before Covid, was one of the aviation markets that was expanding the quickest worldwide.

Following its separation from rival alliance SkyTeam in 2019, China Southern has been establishing relationships with a number of airlines, many of which are Oneworld members. American Airlines and Qatar Airways each own about 5% of China Southern, which also has a strong business relationship with British Airways and a codeshare arrangement with Finnair.

Southwest Airlines becomes official airline of Paul Quinn College, joins list of partners for urban work college program(Opens in a new browser tab)

Oneworld’s spokesman stated, “With regard to additional potential members, at any time, we are in contact with new candidates but do not comment on any specifics until those negotiations have matured to the point where public announcements can be made.”

The pandemic-related recovery of international travel has made alliances even more crucial by providing worldwide connection for airlines and their customers, it was said.

Source:

Airlines

A Costly Mistake: Passenger Pays for Fuel After Disruptive Flight

A Western Australian man has learned a costly lesson after his unruly behavior on a flight resulted in the aircraft having to turn back. The passenger was ordered to pay over $5,000 in fuel costs, along with a significant fine, for causing the plane to divert.

The incident occurred in September 2023 when the man, who was not publicly named, became disruptive on a flight from Perth to Sydney. Due to his behavior, the pilot was forced to turn the plane around and return to Perth, which required dumping fuel to land safely.

The passenger pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly behavior and non-compliance with safety instructions. As a result, he was ordered to pay $8,630 to the airline to cover the cost of the wasted fuel and was also fined $6,055. This combined penalty of over $11,000 is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disruptive behavior on flights.

While this is not a typical punishment, other cases of in-flight misconduct have resulted in hefty fines. One passenger in the United States was fined over $40,000 for a series of offenses, including bringing their own alcohol on board, being intoxicated, attempting to smoke marijuana, and sexually assaulting a flight attendant.

The Australian Federal Police emphasized that disruptive behavior on flights will not be tolerated. They warned that individuals who cause disturbances can face significant financial penalties and legal consequences. The case of the Western Australian passenger serves as a clear message that obeying airline staff and adhering to safety regulations is essential for a smooth and safe flight.