Aviation Daily Roundup: May 1

Spring Airlines Profit Streak Ends As COVID-19 Strikes
Credit: Nigel Howarth/Aviation WeekCOVID-19 has ended Spring Airlines’ year-long run of double-digit quarterly profit increases as China’s largest LCC recorded a CNY227 million ($32 million) loss for Q1 2020.
Asset Disposals Keep Hainan Airlines Profitable In 2019, Massive Loss in Q1
Credit: Nigel HowarthTroubled Hainan Airlines managed to get back into the black for fiscal 2019, posting a net profit of CNY543 million ($77 million) as it was kept afloat by a series of asset disposals.
Airbus Developing Main Cabin Freight Capacity System
Credit: AirbusWith an increasing number of carriers pressing passenger aircraft into service as temporary freighters during the COVID-19 pandemic, Airbus is developing a main cabin cargo-stacking modification for its A330 and A350-family aircraft.
British Airways Could Leave Gatwick Airport
Credit: Nigel Howarth/Aviation WeekBritish Airways (BA) could pull out of London Gatwick Airport (LGW) as part of plans to downsize operations once the COVID-19 pandemic subside
Delta Air Lines To Retire MD-88s, MD-90s In June
Credit: Joe PriesThe last McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 jetliners will disappear from U.S. skies by summer, as Delta Air Lines prepares to retire both types in June.
ICAO Outlines Potential COVID-19 Airline Industry Losses
Credit: Joe PriesICAO believes that the world airline industry could face a contraction of as much as 1.5 billion international air travelers this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Avianca Launches Cargo Flights To China Using 787-8
Credit: Avianca via TwitterAvianca has operated its first cargo flight between Colombia and China using a Boeing 787-8 passenger aircraft reconfigured to carry general cargo and medical supplies.
Ryanair May Cut 3,000 Jobs; Predicts 35% Drop In Annual Passengers
Credit: RyanairRyanair Holdings is expecting a net loss of over €100 million ($110 million) for its fiscal first quarter (Q1), with further losses during the peak summer season—a direct effect of the precipitous decline in traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Embraer Commercial Eyes Corporate Realignment, Shelves Turboprop
Credit: Embraer / TwitterEmbraer’s commercial operation has shifted focus to realigning with the rest of the company and conserving cash, with new-product development—including a notional turboprop—put on hold while the business regains its footing amid the Boeing deal collapse and coronavirus crisis, Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO John Slattery said.A daily roundup of air transport news.
Subscribers of Aviation Daily can access all these articles in full. Log in now.
Not a subscriber? Sign up here.