COVID-19 And Long-Haul LCCs’ Survival

The long-haul affiliate of the AirAsia Group that operates Airbus A330s, suspended all of its operations in March and has no firm timeline for resuming services.

It aims to reestablish itself as a smaller but more financially viable carrier, with a reduced network, fleet and workforce and plans to resume flying with just two aircraft in the first quarter of 2021, before adding more routes and aircraft by the end of that year.

Europe’s biggest long-haul LCC, Norwegian, is hoping to restructure after obtaining creditor protection, a step that came after the Norwegian government declined to allocate it more financial aid, leaving its future uncertain, the airline says.

Qantas subsidiary Jetstar is also operating 787s on long-haul routes and A320s on short-haul flights. Jetstar has parked its 11 787s and is operating most of its narrowbodies, because Australian domestic demand is returning, but the international markets where Jetstar operated widebodies remain closed.

In Japan, major airlines are setting up widebody LCCs, which they see as well-suited to their predictions for the post-COVID market.

ANA said Oct. 27 that it plans to launch a new low-cost widebody unit in the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2022, operating medium-haul flights using 787s configured with 300 seats in two classes—a higher density than ANA’s current full-service 787-8s and -9s.

JAL launched its own international widebody LCC this year, Zipair Tokyo, starting with just two 787-8s, but the carrier is aiming for “steady growth as demand recovers.”

Scoot is operating some international routes using its Boeing 787s, with nine in service out of a total of 20, while all of its A320s are either parked or in storage, according to Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery database. The SIA group believes Scoot will offer a competitive advantage in the post-pandemic environment by giving it more flexibility when routes resume.

JetBlue Airways plans to introduce flights among New York John F. Kennedy International and Boston Logan and London Heathrow airports on Airbus A321neoLR jets beginning in late 2021. The New York-based carrier had been planning to add continental European destinations beginning in 2023.