Aviation Daily Roundup: Nov. 03

Thai Airways Offers Pilgrimage Flight-To-Nowhere

Credit: Thai Airways

Targeting Thailand’s religious and predominately Buddhist population, Thai Airways has announced a pilgrimage flight-to-nowhere event that will see an aircraft fly over 99 sacred sites while passengers say Buddhist prayers onboard. 

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China Approves Establishment Of China Southern Air Cargo

Credit: Joe Pries

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved an application by China Southern Airlines to set up China Southern Air Cargo, making it the last of the three state-owned carriers to put its cargo operations into a standalone entity. 

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KLM Pilots Sign Up To Agreement, Government Funding Back On Table

Credit: KLM / Twitter

The way to KLM receiving loans and loan guarantees from the Dutch government totaling €3.4 billion ($4 billion) seemed open late Nov. 3 after the final union in the Dutch airline’s workforce signed up to employment conditions attached to the deal.

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France To Require Rapid COVID-19 Tests For Arrivals From Outside EU

Credit: Paris Aeroport / Twitter

France will require travelers arriving from outside the EU to take rapid-result COVID-19 tests, which will be made available at the country’s airports.

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Helvetic Expects More ACMI Take-Up From Cash-Strapped Airlines

Credit: Helvetic Airways

Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways expects its wet-lease business will increase as airlines come to renew their regional fleets but find themselves short of cash after the losses incurred following the outbreak of COVID-19.

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Daily Memo: Building Pilot Resiliency During The Pandemic

Credit: VA Airline Training and Resilient Pilot

Stuart Beech is an Airbus A380 senior first officer with British Airways who last flew in early April, before the airline stored its A380s at Chateauroux Airport in central France because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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ACMI Operator Hi Fly To End A380 Operations

Credit: Hi Fly

Portuguese wet-lease specialist Hi Fly has announced it is phasing out its single Airbus A380 at the end of the lease term later this year.

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American Expands Pre-Flight Testing To Caribbean, Latin America

Credit: American Airlines

American Airlines will expand its current pre-flight COVID-19 testing program in November to include customers headed to a handful of additional Caribbean and Latin American countries, part of an effort to increase options for travelers seeking to avoid onerous quarantines upon arrival. 

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Arab Airlines Urge Unified Government Response To Pandemic

Credit: Emirates

Arab airlines have urged governments to ease border restrictions based on existing air services agreements and global health guidelines in a harmonized and transparent manner.

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Peru Commences Second Phase Of Resuming International Flights

Credit: Viva Air Peru / Twitter

Peru has launched its second phase of reinstating international flights, with several North American destinations now cleared for service.

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Pilots Want More Frequent 737 MAX Special Training

Credit: Boeing

Pilot groups believe several elements of new Boeing 737 MAX training should be expanded and required more frequently than the FAA proposes so pilots remain familiar with certain non-normal procedures and how a key flight-control function works.

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