Aviation Daily Roundup: August 13

Cowen & Co. analyst Helane Becker believes U.S. air traffic is on track to recover to 1 million passengers per day by year-end, a modest improvement from current levels, but still a far cry from the 2.5 million travelers who flew each day in 2019.

For three months between Aug. 15 and Oct. 15, transit service at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) will resume for passengers traveling inbound from mainland China, but not for outbound flights to mainland Chinese airports.

Although Cebu Pacific suffered substantial losses in the first half of 2020, the Philippine LCC predicts it will be able to secure enough extra funding to weather the COVID-19 crisis.

London City Airport plans to pause its development program at the end of 2020 after completing parts of work already underway.

Energy company Phillips 66 has announced plans to convert its San Francisco refinery into the world’s largest renewable fuels plant, producing 800 million gal. a year of renewable diesel and gasoline as well as sustainable aviation fuel.

Kuwaiti LCC Jazeera Airways has effectively written off 2020, at least financially, according to its chairman.

Embraer Commercial Aviation named Martyn Holmes as its new chief commercial officer Aug. 13 in the latest step of a sequence of leadership transitions at the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer following the departure of president and CEO John Slattery in May.

Airports Council International (ACI) World has published a “playbook” aimed at providing a simple summary of new airport security-focused guidance for mitigating risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the association said Aug. 13.

ULCC Wizz Air plans to open its second UK base at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

A leadership shuffle at the aerospace sector of Singapore Technologies (ST) Engineering will see deputy president Jeffrey Lam promoted from his current position to the role of president effective Oct. 1.

A faulty seal forced a Shenzhen Airlines flight to return to its departure airport on Aug. 9, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said.

Average repayment periods for Fly Leasing customers have increased in recent months, but the number of lease-deferral requests is decreasing, and the company has revised its expected total deferral-related financial exposure downward.

As the outlook for corporate and international travel remains weak, United Airlines is hoping that the coronavirus pandemic will not dampen demand for warm weather leisure destinations in the U.S. this winter.