Asia Weekly Roundup: Feb. 26

Air New Zealand Slows Cash Drain After Cost Cuts

Credit: Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has slashed its cash burn by more than half compared to the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis thanks to its cost-cutting efforts, and it expects to reduce this further in the six months through June 30.

Qantas Targets October Relaunch For 22 International Routes

Credit: Qantas

Qantas expects to reopen almost all of its international routes by late October, although they will be operated by smaller widebodies as its Airbus A380s will remain parked.

Thai Airways Sinks To Record $4.7B Loss, Faces Being Delisted

Credit: Airbus / A. Doumenjou

Tourism-dependent Thai Airways has reported a record loss of THB141 billion ($4.7 billion) for 2020 after the sector collapsed following COVID-19-related border closures.

Rex Accuses Qantas Of ‘Predatory Behavior’ On Regional Routes

Credit: Regional Express Holdings Limited

Australian carrier Regional Express (Rex) plans to embark on “a major revamp of its regional route network” in response to “aggressive predatory moves by Qantas” into thin regional domestic routes.

Malaysia Airlines Achieves Key Restructuring Milestone

Credit: Joe Pries

Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) has gained court approval of a deal to reduce lease liabilities, which clears the way for a broader restructuring and a further funding injection by the government.

IndiGo Signs Lease On Seven A321neos

Credit: Airbus

Indian carrier IndiGo has signed a sale and leaseback agreement with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), covering seven Airbus A321neos.

Daily Memo: LCCs Strengthen Their Grip As Thai Market Rebounds Again

Credit: Rob Finlayson

Thailand’s domestic capacity has bounced back strongly since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, with LCCs leading the recovery and increasing their dominance of the Thai market.

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