Aviation Daily Roundup: Mar. 10, 2021
March 11, 2021
Alitalia Unions Meet New Commissioners Amid Relaunch
Credit: Alitalia
Alitalia unions called for pay guarantees after a March 10 meeting with new commissioners appointed by Italy’s government to help map out the airline’s next steps.

United Sees Transatlantic Strength As Low-Cost Competitors Exit
Credit: Rob Finlayson
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby believes the European market should be one of the strongest performers once the coronavirus pandemic is over.

U.S. House Approves $14B Payroll Support Extension
Credit: Delta Air Lines
WASHINGTON—U.S. airlines are set to receive another $14 billion in payroll support after House lawmakers approved the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on March 10.

Norway Blocks Planned Sale Of Rolls-Royce Business
Credit: Rolls Royce
The Norwegian government has stepped in to impose a pause in Rolls-Royce’s plans to sell its Bergen Engines division.

Southwest CEO Looks Ahead To Resurgent Summer Season
Credit: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly believes the airline is moving beyond the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic as widespread vaccinations could help move the needle on demand later in 2021.

EASA Publishes UAV Airport Blueprint
Credit: Gov.UK
EASA has published guidance for aviation operators and national authorities to manage UAV incidents near airports.

Dutch Airports Group Foresees Slow Traffic Recovery
Credit: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
The Royal Schiphol Group, whose major asset is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, does not anticipate passenger volumes returning to 2019 levels before the middle of this decade, the airport said in its annual report.

737 MAX Activity Reflects Pandemic Restrictions, Effect On Demand
Credit: Boeing
As Boeing 737 MAX fleet activity grows, airframe-level utilization shows that while usage is ramping up, pandemic-related travel restrictions and reduced demand are lowering average flight-segment times as well as total activity levels.

Daily Memo: Testing Disappointment, Vaccination Hopes
Credit: Kurt Hofmann
Governments have had many plans to reopen borders, but they have been forced to revise them many times since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Air Iceland Connect To Be Subsumed Into Icelandair
Credit: Air Iceland Connect
Icelandair is discontinuing the domestic Air Iceland Connect brand and integrating the two carriers’ networks.

Spirit Adds LaGuardia’s Farthest Route, Abiding By Saturday Rule
Credit: Joe Pries
Spirit Airlines is adding three new destinations from LaGuardia (LGA) this summer, one of which will become the New York airport’s farthest route at some 2,470 mi. (3,975 km).

Caribbean Airlines Adds Sixth Route To New York JFK
Credit: Joe Pries
Caribbean Airlines will launch service between Barbados (BGI) and New York John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport from April 1, subject to regulatory approvals.

Eurowings Targeting Additional Bases In Europe To Expand
Credit: Eurowings
Eurowings’ CEO says the LCC is targeting additional bases throughout Europe when demand recovers.

Cathay Pacific Seeks To Convince Government To Ease New Crew Rules
Credit: Boeing
Cathay Pacific is engaged in talks with the Hong Kong government to remove onerous crew quarantine requirements that have severely disrupted the carrier’s operations.

Jetstar Shifts A320s From Overseas Units To Australia
Credit: Joe Pries
The Jetstar LCC group is moving aircraft from its units in Japan and Singapore to Australia in order to adjust to varying recovery rates in its markets.

China Reveals Own Digital Health Passport; New Year Traffic Down
Credit: Chinese state media
A day after Singapore Airlines announced that it will trial the IATA Travel Pass mobile application China announced its own version of a digital health certificate.
United Airlines sees transatlantic strength as low-cost competitors exit, U.S. house approves a $14b payroll support extension, Southwest CEO looks ahead to the resurgent summer season and more. Take a look at the daily roundup of air transport news.
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