North America Market Update

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation WeekWelcome to Routes’ look at how the North America aviation market is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Routes is part of the Aviation Week Network.

UIA Outlines Plans To Resume Flying Mid-June

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation WeekUkraine International Airlines (UIA) expects to restart passenger operations June 15, assuming anticipated relaxations on entry and exit restrictions for both Ukrainian and foreign nationals by that date occur, the flag-carrier said May 28.

Taiwanese Investors Want To Start Kinmen Islands-Based Airline

Credit: ATRDespite COVID-19 taking its toll on air travel in Taiwan, investors from the country’s Kinmen Islands are hoping to raise TWD5 billion ($167 million) to set up a new international airline based there by October.

Gulf Carriers Reduce Staff As COVID-19 Continues To Bite

Credit: Rob FinlaysonEmirates Airline and Kuwait Airways are the latest companies to embark on redundancy processes as they attempt to slash their costs in a world of minimal air services.

China Subsidizes Passenger Aircraft Hauling Cargo

Credit: Jay LeeChina is financially backing cargo-haulage by passenger aircraft, adding to measures to support air freight operations during the coronavirus pandemic.

Daily Memo: Asia-Pacific Sees Early Signs Of International Restart

Credit: Korean AirAs an increasing number of domestic air travel markets reopen in the Asia-Pacific region, some countries are also starting to lay the groundwork for the more complex process of resuming international flights.

Greece Offers Aviation Support Package; Cyprus Prepares Reopening

Credit: Rob FinlaysonThe Greek government has offered the country’s airlines a package of support measures totaling €115 million ($128 million) as the nation prepares to restart its crucial tourism industry.

Delta, Pilot Union Seek To Avoid 2,300 Furloughs

Credit: Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines will negotiate with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to avoid furloughing roughly 2,300 pilots, following a “surplus bid” process intended to align the carrier’s staffing levels to its summer 2021 schedule.

Lufthansa Board Approves Rescue Package

Credit: Joe PriesLufthansa’s board of directors has approved a compromise reached by the European Commission and the German government that clears the way for the airline to receive a €9 billion ($9.9 billion) bailout and fend off an insolvency filing.

Norway To Extend And Simplify Aviation Loan Scheme

Credit: Joe PriesNorway plans to extend its aviation loan guarantee scheme by four months and relax some of the original requirements as the impact of COVID-19 has proven “more protracted and serious” than originally anticipated.