Island Air, based in Grand Cayman, will cease its scheduled flights to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman on July 4.
The privately-owned carrier, which opened flights to the two Sister Islands back in 1989, said it could no longer compete with the Twin Otter service offered from Grand Cayman by CAL Express, the commuter arm of Cayman Airways, the national flag carrier.
Vietnam Airlines signed earlier this week a firm agreement for the purchase of four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The new airplanes, which are valued at $500 million at list prices, are scheduled for delivery in 2009 and 2010. The agreement also includes purchase rights for eleven additional airplanes between 2010 and 2013.
"This is another great step as Boeing and Vietnam Airlines continue to build our strong, longstanding relationship," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The competitive advantages of the 787 Dreamliner will help Vietnam Airlines continue its incredible growth and the development of its global route structure."
Virgin Atlantic announced it has teamed up with its Australian sister airline Virgin Blue for a codeshare agreement effective from the end of July onward.
In keeping with both Virgin airlines´ history of innovation, the codeshare is possible due to cutting-edge technological breakthroughs.
Passengers traveling on electronic tickets (e-tickets) will benefit immediately from the closer cooperation between Lufthansa, BMI and LOT Polish Airlines.
From now on, the e-ticket service will also be available on flights to the worldwide destinations served by Lufthansa´s partner airlines BMI and LOT in addition to the destinations served directly by Lufthansa. Passengers will then be able to fly to a total of 370 cities throughout the world without a paper ticket.
The European Union approved a controversial restructuring plan for troubled Italian-flag airline Alitalia that had been opposed by competing carriers as illegal state-sponsored aid.
Under the plan -which includes an Italian government loan of 400 million euros (about $492 million)- Alitalia will be broken up and receive a capital increase of up to $1.48 billion.
Continental Airlines has just joined the short list of U.S. commercial airlines allowed to fly to China.
With last week´s flight from New Jersey´s Newark Liberty International Airport, Continental is the latest U.S. carrier to take advantage of the agreement between China and the US Department of Transportation in 2004.