COVID-19: Middle East And Africa Market Update

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation WeekWelcome to Routes’ weekly look at how the Middle East and African aviation markets are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping you understand the schedule changes and manage the impact so we can navigate through this crisis together.

COVID-19 Flight Restrictions Deal Vietjet Its First Quarterly Loss

Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation WeekFast-growing LCC Vietjet Air has posted its first quarterly loss since listing on the Ho Chi Minh stock exchange in February 2017, attributable to COVID-19 flight restrictions and passenger drop-off.

ATR Records Orders Uptick; Market Outlook Unclear

Credit: ATRTurboprop manufacturer ATR enjoyed a significant increase in orders in 2019 and believes that the regional market will be one of the first to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Virgin Australia Sale Process Draws 19 Prospective Bidders

Credit: Virgin AustraliaThere are now at least 19 entities expressing interest in buying Virgin Australia during the airline’s administration proceedings, according to court documents.

Brussels Airlines Cutting Workforce, Fleet ‘To Survive’

Credit: Joe PriesLufthansa-owned Brussels Airlines plans to cut its 4,000-strong workforce by a quarter and reduce its fleet by 30%, an overhaul driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Infographic: The Global Picture, May 12, 2020

Credit: NASAAs airlines and airports around the world respond to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, Routes looks at the current state of the global aviation market.

Etihad To Resume Melbourne-London Route

Credit: Rob FinlaysonEtihad Airways plans to restore service from Melbourne, Australia (MEL) to London Heathrow (LHR) via its hub in Abu Dhabi (AUH) after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Ryanair Plans Major Uptick In Summer Flight Schedules

Credit: Ryanair via TwitterULCC Ryanair plans a swift increase in its schedules over the summer with 40% of its usual flights set to operate from July 1, the carrier said May 12.

China Organizing 24 Repatriation Flights From U.S.

Credit: China Southern AirlinesChinese airlines will run 24 evacuation charter flights from the U.S. between May 14 and June 1.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Drops SpaceJet M100 Version

Credit: Mitsubishi Aircraft CorporationMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has suspended development of the M100 version of the SpaceJet regional jet as one measure in stanching the cash bleed from the program.

Singapore Changi Airport To Suspend Terminal 4 Operations

Credit: Changi Airport GroupTwo weeks after the planned closure of Terminal 2, Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) has announced the suspension of Terminal 4 operations starting May 16 as demand for air travel is yet to bounce back.

Virgin Group Eyes Virgin Galactic Share Sale To Fund Other Businesses

Credit: Virgin AtlanticRichard Branson’s Virgin Group is considering selling up to 25,000,000 Virgin Galactic shares to raise funds for the group’s travel businesses, which have been hard-hit by COVID-19.