AIRLINE NEWS

EASYJET has taken delivery of its first 186-seat A320. Until now, its A320s have been configured with 180 seats. The airline says that the new “Spaceflex 2” configuration has allowed both the average seat pitch and minimum pitch across the fleet to remain the same, by “using previously unused space at the rear of the aircraft” for an extra row. It also features a new tray table design on which customers can stand a tablet device. AIR CHINA has unveiled the first of 15 B7879s, which it will use to expand its international network. Configured in three classes, it has 30 seats in business class, 34 in premium economy and 229 in economy. SKYTEAM will open a lounge at Beijing Capital International airport in the fourth quarter of this year. It will be the sixth Skyteam-branded lounge, joining Heathrow, Istanbul, Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai. ETIHAD AIRWAYS has rostered its A380 and B787 aircraft on two Australian routes. One of the carrier’s two daily flights to Melbourne (EY460 and EY462) features the Airbus superjumbo (replacing a B777-300), while the Dreamliner has been added to the daily Abu Dhabi-Perth route, replacing an A330-200. EMIRATES has added a second live sports channel to its Ice TV IFE system, available on more than 90 B777 aircraft and selected A380s. Sports 24 Extra will enable the carrier to show more live sport events this summer, including the Rio 2016 Olympics. START-UP CARRIER POP AIRLINE has launched a “rewards-based crowdfunding campaign”, with the aim of launching flights between the UK and India. Standing for “People Over Profit”, POP says it will give at least 51 per cent of its profits to charitable causes in the communities it serves. It is initially targeting nonstop routes between London Stansted and two Indian cities – Amritsar and Ahmedabad. HAINAN AIRLINES has taken delivery of its first B787-9, becoming the first Chinese carrier to operate both versions of the Boeing Dreamliner. It will deploy the aircraft on a new long-haul route between Beijing and Las Vegas in September. AIR CANADA has resurrected its seasonal service between Manchester and Toronto. Flights are being operated by its leisure subsidiary Air Canada Rouge using a B767, and will operate up to six times a week until September 30.