Coronavirus

AIRASIA says it will have completed two batches of lease restructuring by end 3Q21 with full exercise completed by end 2021.

AIRASIA GROUP had RM720m net loss in 2Q21 (vs RM1.2b loss in 2Q20); aviation revenue rose 176%. It says it continues to evaluate funding, potential

US DOT says aUS scheduled pax airlines employed 715,312 full-time/part-time workers in July, down 3.7% vs July 2019.

BANGKOK AIRWAYS says it is currently using only eight of its 39 aircraft; it is operating only domestic service.

Accelerating vaccine rollouts should lead to more travel lanes and travel bubbles for vaccinated passengers, the group’s president for airlines said.

Avianca’s post-bankruptcy business plan rests on a leaner cost structure and fewer aircraft overall.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES made vaoluntary decision to undergo financial restructuring under US Chapter 11 process as part of a set of major agreements

An effective global COVID-19 vaccine rollout, improved coordination of government travel policies and luck with variants will be needed.

An incumbent LCC and a new-entrant hybrid carrier both have ambitious growth plans.

Having a vaccinated workforce offers multiple benefits for airlines, but one of the key questions airlines must confront is what happens to workers that either do not want to be vaccinated or are medically unable to receive the vaccine.

COVID-related shortages impinge on launch schedules and satellite manufacturing

Saudia reinstated normal seat capacity for domestic flights as of Sept. 1 after Saudi Arabia relaxed measures designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.

NBAA announced it is requiring that attendees of NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas, on October 12-14, be vaccinated for COVID-19.

SCHIPHOL GROUP reduced its original traffic forecast of 27m-37m pax for 2021 to 21m-28m and now estimates pax volumes to return to pre-pandemic levels

IATA reports global pax traffic was down 53.1% in July 2021 (vs July 2019) on 45.2% lower capacity; cargo increased 8.6%.

Air New Zealand is considering significantly expanding the number of its employees that are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The carrier, based in the French overseas department of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, has been hit hard by travel restrictions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A consortium relationship with a Japanese manufacturer could be a win-win for Boeing and Japan’s aviation industry.

The EU’s suggestion to remove the U.S. from its safe list, as COVID-19 infections among Americans rise, is yet another blow to airlines that have been hoping for a long-haul recovery to match their summer short-haul boost.

Air Canada is joining fellow Canadian carrier Porter Airlines in mandating COVID-19 vaccines for its employees.

Virgin Australia intends to join the list of airlines requiring workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, although it will conduct employee consultations first.

South African carrier Comair has confirmed it will resume flights Sept. 1, after South Africa’s third COVID-19 wave triggered it to voluntarily ground itself July 5.

AIR NEW ZEALAND lost NZ$289m for year ended June 30 (vs NZ$270m net profit in FY19) on 57% lower revenues vs FY19; it ended year with A$1.3b in total

QANTAS says it is currently planning a gradual restart of international service (initially to destinations in North America, UK, Singapore and Japan)

LAX handled 5.56m pax in July 2021, down 34.4% from 8.47m in July 2019.