Aviation Daily Roundup: August 4

Pacific Airlines Unveils Branding, Starts Recruitment Drive
Credit: Pacific AirlinesVietnam’s Pacific Airlines has unveiled its livery and branding, transitioning from its former guise Jetstar Pacific after Qantas announced its exit from the joint venture in mid-June.

Manila Flights Suspended After COVID-19 Spike
Credit: Nigel Howarth / Aviation WeekPhilippine Airlines (PAL) and other carriers from the Philippines have canceled all domestic flights to and from the key Manila market due to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

Chinese City To Take Stake In Privately Held Ruili Airlines
Credit: Ruili city governmentA city government in eastern China will take a stake in privately held Ruili Airlines, extending a trend toward growing state ownership in the country’s commercial aviation sector.

Australia’s Alliance Plans To Add 14 Embraer Jets
Credit: Alliance AirlinesAustralian regional and charter carrier Alliance Aviation is buying a fleet of Embraer E190s to take advantage of growth opportunities it foresees in the local market.

SkyWest Accelerates Shift To E175s From Smaller CRJs
Credit: EmbraerSkyWest Airlines is accelerating its transition away from 50-seat Bombardier CRJ-200s as it looks to replace them with 76-seat Embraer E175s, which are now favored by major airlines.

EasyJet To Increase Capacity After Better-Than-Expected Bookings
Credit: easyJetEasyJet expects to fly around 40% of planned capacity in its 2020 fourth quarter (Q4), based on current travel restrictions—up from the 30% previously announced after better-than-expected summer bookings.

SpiceJet Secures Heathrow Slots, Plans September UK Flights
Credit: Rob FinlaysonIndian LCC SpiceJet has secured slots at London Heathrow (LHR), which will allow the airline to commence flight services to the UK in September.

Third Boeing 777-9 Joins Flight Test Campaign
Credit: BoeingDespite Boeing’s recent decision to push back the commercial debut of the 777X from next year to 2022, the 777-9 test program continues to ramp up with the third development aircraft completing its first flight on Aug. 3.

Global Capacity Creeps Above 50% Of 2019 Level
Credit: RyanairThe number of scheduled seats being offered by airlines across the world will top 60 million this week (w/c Aug. 3) for the first time in four months, meaning global capacity is now at 50% of the level achieved in 2019.

EASA Reminds Airports To Validate Ground-Services Capabilities
Credit: Munich AirportEASA is urging European airport operators to ensure ground-handling companies at their facilities are prepared to handle increased traffic as airlines steadily rebuild their networks amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
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