Draft sent to the U.S. contained a probable-cause statement despite report’s status as an interim update

The European Commission has said airlines do not have to pay compensation for flights canceled because of travel restrictions put in place to slow the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak as they constitute “extraordinary circumstances.” 

Malaysia Airlines Berhad CEO Izham Ismail has said the hasty and unilateral decision to enforce a nationwide lockdown of Malaysia resulted in severe disruption to the flag carrier’s operations.

Following increased government travel restrictions and a massive drop in demand related to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, Brussels Airlines, Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic and Italian regional carrier Air Dolomiti have all decided to temporarily suspend operations.

Chinese authorities will not allow any international flights to arrive directly in Beijing beginning Mar. 18, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has told airlines.

Boeing called for the U.S. government to provide a minimum of $60 billion in aid to the aerospace manufacturing community in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis that has cratered air travel and could trigger a worldwide recession.

The European Commission (EC) has sent member states a draft of proposed changes to state aid rules give them more flexibility to support companies hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as airline and airport groups called for more support. 

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.