Scandinavian Airports Increase Security: Airline Pulse News and Notes for March 23

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India to Become Third Largest Air Travel Market The IATA has backed up a prediction by India's air travel governing body that the country will soon have the world's third largest air travel market. The IATA has said that India will be behind only the U.S. and China in terms of number of fliers within a decade.

Southwest to Resume Negotiations with Pilots and Mechanics Southwest is going to resume contract negotiations with unions representing its pilots and mechanics. The two groups have gone more than four years without a new deal. The last contract offer made by the airline was overwhelmingly rejected by its pilots during a November vote.

China Eastern Flies into O'Hare China Eastern has started service from Shanghai to Chicago O'Hare. This is the fifth U.S. route for the Chinese legacy carrier. It will be up against stiff competition, however. Both American and United are already well established on the Shanghai to Chicago route.

Activist Investors Want New Chairman of the Board at United Activist investors from two major United Airlines shareholders are asking for a new chairman in the airline's boardroom before they vote on new directors. The investment firms oppose a plan to give current CEO Oscar Munoz the chair.

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Police in Scandinavian countries have said that they have increased the number of police patrols at airports. Denmark, Sweden and Finland have all increased security at their air hubs and Norway has temporarily allowed its police officers to carry weapons.

Bloomberg has made a deal with Delta Air Lines to create three half-hour programs that will be added to the carrier's in-flight entertainment offerings. Bloomberg already creates special daily business programs for United, British Airways, American Airlines and Air Canada.

Southwest Airlines is getting fliers involved in its effort to be approved for flights to Cuba. The airline has sent a petition with 25,000 signatures to the U.S. DOT in support of its bid to fly from three U.S. cities to Cuba.

United Airlines is consolidating its operations at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. Despite dropping flights from the Ohio hub, the carrier has just renewed its lease for certain gates. The new agreement substantially reduces the number of gates that United will use at the airport, but it does guarantee that they will still be a presence at the airport for some time to come.

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