Low-cost carriers

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair said it was carrying 129 million passengers in 2017, a new record despite labor disputes and slowing growth at the end of the year. The largest European passenger airline has had 10 percent more customers last year compared to 2016, which was also record for the Irish airline.

Turkish Airlines passengers flying from Turkey to the U.S. or vice versa before Jan. 9 can change their flights for free or get a free refund regardless of standard fare rules for any tickets issued on or before Oct. 9, the national flag carrier announced on Dec. 29.

Low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced further expansion from London's Luton Airport on Wednesday, weeks after picking up slots from collapsed airline Monarch at the airport.

Three new routes to Athens, Reykjavik and Bari plus additional capacity on Cyprus flights planned for 2018 will mean Wizz is increasing the number of seats it offers from Luton by 23 percent next year.

Ryanair executives told pilots in London last week that the company "grew too fast" and lost the trust of its pilots, but was working hard to restore it, the Irish Independent newspaper reported on Tuesday, quoted by Reuters.

Some Irish-based Ryanair  pilots served notice of a one-day strike on Tuesday and German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit said strike action was also possible in Germany in a growing push for better conditions at the Irish budget carrier, reported Reuters.

Low-cost airline Wizz Air made the scale of its ambitions clear on Wednesday as it announced an order for 146 new Airbus planes, taking its total outstanding orders with the European aerospace company to 282.

EasyJet has confirmed a €40m (£35m) deal with Air Berlin to buy part of the insolvent German airline's operations, in a move that will secure 1,000 jobs, reported BBC. 

EasyJet will buy some of the company's assets at Berlin Tegel Airport, including landing slots as well as leases for up to 25 A320 aircraft.

British airline easyJet has expanded its operations in Germany with the purchase of a part of Air Berlin's operations at Berlin Tegel airport, providing a solution for the bankrupt carrier's remaining assets.

Ryanair  will delay plans forcing non-priority customers to place any second larger carry-on bags in the hold to allow passengers "more time to familiarize themselves with the changes," it said on Tuesday, quoted by Reuters. 

An AirAsia flight heading to Bali from Perth plunged 20,000 feet shortly after take-off on Sunday (Oct 15) morning, leaving passengers terrified, Australian media reports said.
Flight QZ 535, with 145 people on board, was forced to turn back just 25 minutes into its journey after the pilot was alerted to a drop in cabin pressure, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.