Aviation Daily Roundup: Jan. 21, 2021

United Airlines Still Uncertain About Timing Of Demand Recovery

Credit: United Airlines / Twitter

United Airlines is confident there will be an “inflection point” in the path of demand sometime in 2021, although executives are keeping mum about when exactly that might occur.

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WestJet Flight Marks 737 MAX’s Return In Canada

Credit: WestJet

WestJet re-launched Boeing 737-8 services with a routine flight from Calgary to Vancouver Jan. 21, becoming the first Canadian carrier to operate a 737 MAX-family aircraft following a 20-month global grounding. 

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Seoul Incheon Becomes Asia’s Busiest International Airport

Credit: Incheon International Airport

Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) became Asia’s busiest international airport in 2020 in terms of passenger volume, dethroning Hong Kong (HKG). 

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Buttigieg Backs Mask Mandate During Confirmation Hearing

Credit: Bill Carey

WASHINGTON—U.S. President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) pledged Jan. 21 to enforce a presidential directive requiring people to wear masks during interstate travel to prevent against the spread of COVID-19.

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FedEx Express To Cut European Workforce, Pare Down Liège Hub

Credit: Liege Airport

Small package specialist FedEx Express plans to shrink its European organization as it approaches the final step of integrating package carrier TNT.

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Air France CEO ‘Counting On’ Recovery Starting In Second Quarter

Credit: Air France

PARIS—Air France is looking toward a second quarter recovery, with hopes to be operating around 70% of pre-crisis capacity by the end of 2021, CEO Anne Rigail said. 

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Norwegian’s Short-Haul Plan Wins Government Backing

Credit: Norwegian Airlines

Norway’s government will provide a hybrid loan to Norwegian Air Shuttle providing private investors also back the LCC’s restructuring.      

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KLM Reviews Long-Haul Network After New COVID-19 Restrictions

Credit: Joe Pries

KLM is reviewing its long-haul routes from the Netherlands and may suspend them from Jan. 22 following the introduction of tougher measures in the country designed to stop the spread of COVID-19. 

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Biden Executive Order Makes U.S. Travel Mask-Wearing Mandatory

Credit: American Airlines / Twitter

WASHINGTON—As part of a “mask up for 100 days” campaign that new U.S. President Joe Biden has prioritized in his first days in office, most air travelers in America will be required to wear a mask until April.

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Daily Memo: Vaccine Distribution Drive In The Spotlight

Credit: United Airlines

Over a year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported, airlines devastated by the pandemic are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now that the rollout of long-awaited vaccines has begun. 

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LOT Polish Airlines To Cut Workforce By 300

Credit: LOT Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines has reached an agreement with its trade unions to reduce its headcount by up to 300 to improve efficiencies as it seeks to honor the conditions of state aid. 

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Malaysia Airlines Makes Progress On Restructuring Approvals

Credit: Rob Finlayson

Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) is taking more important steps toward finalizing its restructuring plan and gaining approval from courts and creditors.

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Norwegian Startup Flyr To Operate 737-800s

Credit: Flyr

Norwegian startup Flyr has outlined a strategy to fly domestic and short-haul international routes using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

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Qatar Airways, Etihad Add Post-Blockade Routes

Credit: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are poised to reinstate routes that have been suspended for more than three-and-a-half years. 

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From United Airlines remaining confident about the demand recovery and Air France counting on recovery starting in Q2 to Biden's executive order making U.S. travel mask wearing mandatory. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news. 

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