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NEWS First Eurowings A320 to take off Feb. 1; Germanwings to go by year end

Lufthansa Group’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings will perform its maiden flight Feb. 1 from Hamburg to Prague, with its first 162-seat Airbus A320. Link

NEWS Near-midair collision shakes JetBlue passengers

The FAA has opened an investigation into a JetBlue flight involved in a close call with another plane over Westchester County Airport. About 1:45 p.m. Sunday, JetBlue Airways Flight 94 from Orlando was preparing to land at the airport when its pilots received a safety alert from air-traffic controllers about a plane in the vicinity,…

NEWS RAF E-3D Sentry deployed to fight ISIL

Royal Air Force’s E-3D Sentry airborne control and command aircraft has joined the formidable array of coalition aircraft operating against ISIL forces this week. Link

NEWS Spirit Airlines takes a swipe at the expensive Super Bowl ads

Spirit Airlines has created perhaps the cheapest “Big Game” Ad ever. No Hollywood actors, no pyrotechnics, no elaborate sets and of course no expensive television buy. A few puppets and some stock footage promote Spirit’s ultra-low Bare Fares. Link

ALERT Editor's note: The 2 balloon pilots who crossed the Pacific just landed about 300 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Their flight, which began in Japan a week ago, covered 7,000 miles. – Tom

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ALERT Pilots in helium-filled balloon land in Mexico after record-setting flight across the Pacific Ocean – @AP

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ALERT Pilots in helium-filled balloon land in Mexico after record-setting flight across the Pacific Ocean – @AP

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ALERT France opens formal criminal investigation into crash of AirAsia flight 8501, which was downed on December 28 killing all on board – @AFP

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NEWS Gulf Air steps up Larnaca service

Gulf Air is increasing its Bahrain – Larnaca service to six weekly services, consisting of 3 direct weekly operations and 3 weekly operations via Kuwait International Airport, effective immediately.

NEWS Etihad boosts South Asia, North America connectivity

Etihad Airways has made a number of schedule changes to the airline’s flights between its Abu Dhabi hub and Chicago, New York, and Toronto, which will start on Sunday 29 March 2015.

NEWS Ryanair steps up services for business travellers

Ryanair has extended its Business Plus fast-track security service to London Gatwick, Rome Ciampino and Eindhoven with plans to roll out the initiative to other European airports.

NEWS Finnair steps up Finnair Plus programme

Finnair has enhanced its Finnair Plus programme enabling members to book Classic award flights to Europe, Tel Aviv and Dubai without having to pay the fuel surcharge fee.