South America’s largest commercial airlines suspended nearly all international flying and slashed domestic capacity, as the financial fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis reverberates across all corners of the global airline industry.

UK regional airlines have started to replace failed carrier Flybe on some of the latter’s network of routes.

The British airline industry has broadly welcomed government plans to make £330 billion ($405 billion) worth of funding available to get business through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Southwest Airlines announced plans to trim capacity by 20% in April and May, citing a “dramatic decline” in net bookings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing government travel restrictions. 

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is realigning its management board as a result of the challenges posed by the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Cathay Pacific is preparing to operate a “skeleton” passenger flight schedule for April, reducing capacity around 90% after travel demand plummeted. 

Increasingly strict border and quarantine requirements are curtailing international air travel across Asia as governments across the continent ramp up their response to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

France’s economy minister Bruno Le Maire has pledged to support big companies, including Air France, by any means necessary as the government unveiled an initial €45 billion ($49.6 billion) package of financial aid for struggling businesses hit by the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.