Daily Memo: Ligado Order Points To Need For Telecom Reform

Airbus HelicoptersAirbus H145

Airbus Looks To Autonomy Applications Beyond ATTOL Project

Credit: AirbusAirbus conducted six dedicated test flights over nine months as part of the research project that culminated in April with the milestone first fully automatic vision-based taxi, takeoff and landing by an A350.

Austrian Airlines Works Toward Restarting Vienna Hub

Credit: Rob FinlaysonAustrian Airlines hopes to be operating at least a basic hub again at Vienna by the end of July.

IATA Unveils New Security Intelligence Platform

Credit: Thierry Monasse / Getty ImagesIATA has launched a new incident reporting tool designed to help airlines reduce and manage security risks.

Delta Will Add Flights Through August Before ‘Pause’

Credit: Rob FinlaysonDelta Air Lines plans to continue reshaping its network by adding 1,000 daily departures in August, building on a similarly sized expansion of July’s timetable, before “taking a pause” and evaluating fall demand trends, CEO Ed Bastian said.

Hong Kong Airlines Seeks More Government Aid, Gets HNA Cash

Credit: Rob FinlaysonFollowing Hong Kong government’s HK$39 billion ($5 billion) recapitalization for flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, the territory’s third-largest operator Hong Kong Airlines hopes the government will extend its aid.

Japan Airlines Seeks More Financing To Shore Up Liquidity

Credit: Rob FinlaysonJapan Airlines (JAL) intends to raise another ¥300 billion ($2.8 billion) in financing to help it operate through the COVID-19 crisis.

Poland Scrapping Restrictions On Domestic Aircraft Capacity

Credit: Lodz AirportAirports across Poland have convinced Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to relax air travel restrictions put in place at the height of the COVID-19 crisis as of July 1.

Thailand’s International Flights May Resume In August

Credit: BoeingThe Thailand government on June 17 approved a THB22.4 billion ($719 million) domestic-tourism stimulus for locals and medical personnel, with the government subsidizing hotel stays, domestic flight fares, inter-provincial bus fares and car rental fees.

Frontier Adding Three U.S. Routes, Increasing Frequencies On Others

Credit: Rob FinlaysonDenver-based Frontier Airlines is expanding its domestic network by launching three routes and adding frequencies on seven others.

Laudamotion To Become Wet-Lease Carrier For Ryanair And Other Airlines

Credit: LaudamotionAustria’s Ryanair subsidiary Laudamotion plans to become a wet-lease carrier; however, it will have to implement several survival measures deemed necessary to face post-COVID-19 competition.

Volotea Restoring Commercial Operations, Creating 200 Jobs

Credit: VoloteaSpanish LCC Volotea expects in the next few days to continue restarting commercial flights in several countries and to create 200 additional jobs.

China Eastern Building Up At Zhengzhou With Focus On Freight

Credit: Henan Airport GroupChina Eastern Airlines will build up at the north-central city Zhengzhou, creating a freight hub for the surrounding region and helping to fill the expanding cargo capacity of the city’s airport.

Iberia’s Airbus A340s Reach The End Of The Road

Credit: Rob FinlaysonIberia is to retire its fleet of Airbus A340s this year, several years earlier than planned, as it seeks to right-size its fleet amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harsh Market Reality: LATAM Cuts Domestic Operations In Argentina

Credit: Rob FinlaysonLATAM Airlines Group’s decision to exit Argentina’s domestic market indefinitely reflects the tough conditions the country’s remaining airlines face, and there is a distinct possibility state-owned Aerolineas Argentinas could be the last carrier standing.