Aviation Daily Roundup: July 31

Dutch airline KLM said it would cut 4,500-5,000 jobs as it embarks on a post-COVID-19 road to recovery that is set to be “long and fraught with uncertainty.”

Thailand’s Nok Air has become the latest airline to seek a restructuring through the courts after succumbing to the financial pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extensive home-country travel restrictions on top of downward pressure on air travel demand worldwide continues to constrict Air Canada, leaving the airline focusing on cargo revenues while it waits out the COVID-19 pandemic.

Europe’s airline and airport associations have written to lawmakers across the continent warning that inconsistent COVID-19 travel restrictions are hampering consumer confidence.

China has listed Russia and Thailand among the first eight countries for which it will require pre-flight COVID-19 testing for China-bound travelers.

Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC) has made a vital step in the development of the PD-35, its largest turbofan engine.

Mexican ULCC Volaris believes that by year-end demand in its domestic market could reach 65-75% of 2019 levels.

United Airlines is ending its contract with ExpressJet, the regional carrier which operates exclusively for United under the United Express brand.

Hawaiian Airlines has told unions it may have to furlough more than 2,000 employees as the carrier looks to realign the size of its workforce with the new operating environment.

Passenger numbers in the Middle East are expected to fall by around 56%—or more than 113 million passenger journeys—in 2020, according to IATA.

International Airlines Group (IAG) has confirmed plans for a capital increase of up to €2.75 billion ($3.2 billion) to bolster its cash reserves, as it announced a net loss of €3.8 billion for the first half of 2020.