Aviation Daily Roundup: Jan. 19, 2021

Credit: Boeing

Air Canada plans to resume commercial Boeing 737 MAX operations beginning Feb. 1. The phased return of Air Canada’s 737-8 fleet comes on the heels of Transport Canada’s decision to lift a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) banning MAX services in the country beginning Jan. 20, several days after publishing an Airworthiness Directive detailing conditions under which the aircraft is allowed back into service.

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Credit: United Airlines

WASHINGTON—The FAA has flagged a subset of Boeing MAX-family aircraft as needing post-production re-work after the manufacturer discovered a sealant was not applied to certain components during manufacturing.

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Credit: Rob Finlayson

Union representatives of the former Alitalia expressed concern over the nationalized carrier’s relaunch plan.

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Credit: Spirit Aerosystems

WASHINGTON—Leading Tier 1 supplier Spirit AeroSystems and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) have inaugurated a new kind of federally backed, discounted-rate lending for aerospace suppliers—beginning with a $40 million transaction based on receivables from Spirit’s lower-tier providers.

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Credit: Telegram Channel 112

MOSCOW—A prototype of Russia’s new Irkut MC-21-300 narrowbody passenger aircraft skidded off the runway at Zhukovsky Airport near Moscow on Jan. 18.

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Credit: Reagan Airport

The FAA has extended slot relief at seven major U.S. airports for the entire summer 2021 season to help airlines cope with the “dramatic and extraordinary” impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Credit: American Airlines

American Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to roll out a “health passport” app for inbound international travelers from all destinations it serves, a move the airline believes will help it support international flying as the COVID-19 crisis continues.

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Credit: APEX

The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and marketing strategy firm SimpliFlying—which have developed a new, independent safety standard for airlines—have revealed the first 12 airlines to receive its new “APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying” certification.

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Credit: Delta Air Lines

IATA believes new testing requirements required by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are a positive development as the industry continues its push to lift restrictions preventing travel from certain markets. 

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Credit: Safran

Olivier Andries took over from Philippe Petitcolin as Safran CEO on Jan. 1 after the latter took drastic measures in 2020 to keep the engine-maker afloat.

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Credit: Emirates Airlines

UAE carriers Emirates Airline and Etihad Airways will become two of the first airlines globally to trial the IATA Travel Pass, which aims to help passengers navigate changing government requirements for traveling during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

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Credit: Conair aerial firefighting

Canada’s Conair Group has bought 11 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 aircraft formerly operated by UK-based regional carrier Flybe for conversion to airtankers. 

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Credit: Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka has announced a new senior leadership group, mostly comprising people from outside the company.

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Credit: GOVSG / Youtube

SINGAPORE—Singapore has launched an inoculation plan for 20,000 frontline aviation workers, including airline crew, ground handlers and airport staff, as part of its Sea–Air Vaccination Exercise (SAVE). 

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Credit: Eurowings

Lufthansa’s LCC Eurowings may hire 130 flight attendants for the summer 2021 season after reaching an agreement with trade union Verdi. 

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Credit: Air France-KLM

PARIS—France and the Netherlands are holding discussions to resolve their differences over how they should approach a planned recapitalization for Air France-KLM to get through the COVID-19 crisis.

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Credit: Avolon

Aircraft lessor Avolon and consultancy firm IBA have each issued 2021 forecasts and both predict a regionally fragmented recovery, depending on the pace of COVID-19 vaccine rollouts.

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Credit: Joe Pries

WASHINGTON—Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump lifted travel restrictions on European and Brazilian airline passengers on his penultimate full day in office, but the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden immediately responded that it would not allow the travel bans to be lifted. 

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