Aviation Daily Roundup: Feb. 16, 2021

Daily Memo: What To Expect In Aerospace M&A In 2021

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation Week

Green shoots keep emerging in commercial aviation in the form of used vaccination needles, but despite those shots in the arm and recent OEM trimming of production rates—i.e., the long-awaited certainty of the other shoe to drop—mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in aerospace production look set for a mixed year at best.

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United Nigeria Begins Commercial Operations With Fleet Of ERJ145s

Credit: United Nigeria

Two weeks after securing an air operator’s certificate (AOC), United Nigeria has begun commercial operations. 

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U.S. Airline Passenger Levels Fell 60% In 2020

Credit: Delta Air Lines

WASHINGTON—U.S. airlines carried approximately 60% fewer passengers in 2020 than in 2019, according to new data from the U.S. Transportation Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

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Cargo Specialist ASL Takes Freighter Options Earlier Than Anticipated

Credit: ASL Airlines

In a sign of optimism over the future of the cargo market, Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings (ASL) confirmed Feb. 16 that it is taking up 10 options for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF). 

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Vaccinated Crew Should Bypass Hong Kong’s Quarantine Rule, IATA Says

Credit: Joe Pries

IATA is urging the Hong Kong government to allow exemptions from new crew quarantine rules as quickly as possible, highlighting the damage the requirements will cause to airlines.

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Southwest Airlines Lowers Cash Burn Target On Improved Leisure Demand

Credit: Rob Finlayson

Southwest Airlines lowered its cash burn estimate for the 2021 first quarter (Q1) after observing stronger than expected revenue and booking trends in February.

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TAP Air Portugal Could Need Further State Support In 2021

Credit: Airbus

Portuguese finance minister João Leão has acknowledged that TAP Air Portugal could need further financial support in 2021, beyond the €500 million ($606.5 million) in state funding already provisioned.

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Airlink Expands Namibia Service After National Carrier Folds

Credit: Airlink

Airlink is launching a fourth route to Namibia in the wake of the southwestern African country’s national carrier ceasing operations.

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Vietravel Airlines Launches With Seven Routes

Credit: Vietravel Airlines

New leisure carrier Vietravel Airlines has begun operating seven domestic routes in Vietnam. The airline, a subsidiary of Vietnamese tour operator Vietravel, was granted an air operator certificate from Vietnam’s civil aviation authority in December 2020. Commercial flights began in late January and the carrier is now serving six destinations across the country.

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Middle East Growth Will Return, But Slowly, Reports Say

Credit: Rob Finlayson

Mixed opinions on the fortunes of commercial aviation in the Middle East are evident in two newly published reports. 

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Three Bidders On Shortlist For South African Airways

Credit: Rob Finlayson

The next chapter for South African Airways (SAA) appears to be drawing closer, with three shortlisted equity partners in contention and a further R5 billion ($345.4 million) government injection to fund employee severance packages.

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Traffic At One-Third Of Pre-COVID-19 Levels, Eurocontrol Says

Credit: Rob Finlayson

PARIS—European air traffic reached just a third of 2019 levels in the second week of February, as ongoing travel restrictions and national lockdowns kept a lid on demand, network manager Eurocontrol said in its latest update.  

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Air Senegal Eyes U.S. Service By September

Credit: Air Senegal

Air Senegal has reignited a long-standing ambition to start flying to the U.S. and hopes to launch its first route later this year. 

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Cargo Carriers Unite To Ensure Vaccine Deliveries

Credit: Astral

Charity UNICEF has launched an initiative with 16 airlines to ensure consignments of COVID-19 vaccine and other humanitarian supplies reach the areas where they are most needed.

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Singapore Commits Another $658M To Boost Aviation Sector Recovery

Credit: Rob Finlayson

SINGAPORE—The government of Singapore will pour another S$870 million ($657.5 million) into its aviation sector, in an effort to help the Singapore air hub edge out competition as the industry claws its way to recovery. 

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From what to expect in Aerospace M&A in 2021 to reports stating Middle East growth will return, but slowly. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news. 

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