Aviation Daily Roundup: July 27

The Belgian Federal Government and Lufthansa have negotiated an agreement that secures the near-term future of Brussels Airlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ireland-based regional carrier Stobart Air has helped to backfill the gaping hole in Belfast City Airport’s schedules left by the collapse of Flybe.

Rising tensions in China’s international relations, especially with the U.S., raise questions about how Western airliner sales could be affected and the knock-on impact on the COMAC C919 program.

ULCC Ryanair said it could not rule out further redundancies or pay cuts if the economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic worsens this winter.

Regional aircraft lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) has used 236 aircraft as security for its $6 billion debt-restructuring program, which was approved by the Irish High Court July 21.

International Airlines Group (IAG) is considering a €2.75 billion ($3.2 billion) rights issue to strengthen its finances as the coronavirus crisis continues.

Southwest Airlines will refrain from laying off workers or cutting pay rates and benefits through year end, despite persistently weak customer demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TAP Air Portugal plans to ramp up operations to almost 40% of its pre-COVID-19 levels in September.

Author Michelle Dean said, “Crisis forces commonality of purpose on one another.”

Embattled African LCC fastjet is being forced to delist its shares as its funding troubles threaten to reach crisis point, and is facing a challenge over its stake in South African carrier FedAir.