Aviation Daily Roundup: Feb. 22, 2021
February 23, 2021
Daily Memo: Air France-KLM Highlights State Aid Complexities
Credit: Air France-KLM
Ever since it became obvious that the state loans and guarantees allocated to Air France-KLM to help it survive the COVID-19 crisis would not be enough, executives and ministers in the group’s home countries have been scrambling to come up with a new solution.

U.S. Carriers Back CDC Contact Tracing Proposal
Credit: Joe Pries
A group of major U.S. carriers announced plans to implement voluntary contract tracing for international arrivals, part of a Biden administration effort to better track and contain the spread of COVID-19 through commercial air travel.

Irish Government Pledges Support For Aer Lingus
Credit: Airbus
The Irish government will not allow national carrier Aer Lingus to collapse, the country’s deputy prime minister has said.

Japanese, South Korean Airlines Ground PW4000-Powered 777s
Credit: Joe Pries
Japanese and South Korean carriers have suspended operations of Boeing 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines, although the limited numbers of these flying mean there have been few schedule disruptions.

NTSB Will Decommission, Dismantle TWA 800 Training Aid
Credit: NTSB
WASHINGTON—The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will decommission and dispose of its TWA 800 reconstruction, which the agency has used as a training aid for nearly 20 years at its Ashburn, Virginia, training academy.

Heathrow CEO Pleads For Government Plan To Exit Crisis
Credit: Rob Finlayson
LONDON—UK aviation must have a roadmap out of the depths of the current effective shutdown of international air transport if it is to survive and support the country’s return to normal economic activity, the CEO of London Heathrow Airport has said.

Air France Job Cut Plan For HOP! Faces New Government Hurdle
Credit: Joe Pries
PARIS—France’s government has written to Air France asking it to revise its job cut plan for regional unit HOP!

British Airways Improves Available Funding Levels
Credit: Joe Pries
LONDON—British Airways (BA) has moved to further bolster its liquidity levels through the finalization or announcement of two financing agreements that will see the flag-carrier increase its available funds by £2.45 billion ($3.43 billion).

United Fires Warning Shot At JetBlue With Transatlantic Expansion
Credit: Joe Pries
Transatlantic competition from Boston Logan (BOS) is set to intensify later in 2021 when United Airlines launches a new route to London Heathrow (LHR).

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.

Finnair CEO Expects Structural Profitability To Improve Post-Crisis
Credit: Finnair
Finnair’s CEO says that the flag-carrier will emerge from the COVID-19 crisis as a leaner business and will focus on repaying debt before investing in new narrowbodies.

Thai Airways Could Buy Up To 30 New Aircraft In 2025
Credit: Airbus / A. Doumenjou
Thai Airways is reportedly looking to acquire 20 to 30 new aircraft in 2025, by when the air transport industry is expected to have recovered.
Air France-KLM highlights state aid complexities, U.S. carriers back CDC contact tracing proposal, Irish government pledged support for Are Lingus and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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