Aviation Daily Roundup: September 11

A deal for the takeover of Southern Korean carrier Asiana Airlines by a consortium led by Hyundai Development Co. (HDC) has collapsed, with both sides confirming that the sale agreement had been canceled.

EASA has completed Boeing 737 MAX flight testing, clearing the way for joint regulatory agency evaluations of the grounded model’s updated training later in September.

ULCC Wizz Air has been forced to delay the operational launch of its new subsidiary Wizz Air Abu Dhabi by two weeks because of COVID-19-related travel restrictions.

Cathay Pacific Airways will not apply for the latest round of government wage subsidies for its main operating units, raising the likelihood that the Hong Kong carrier will cut its workforce as part of restructuring efforts.

The governments of Japan and Singapore have agreed to launch a reciprocal “green lane” for essential and official business between the two countries starting Sept. 18.

Lauda Europe received its new Maltese AOC on Sept. 4 and operated its first flight on Sept. 11, co-CEO Andreas Gruber confirmed in an exclusive interview with Aviation Daily.

Russia’s Red Wings airline has reintroduced Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft to its fleet.

With its original Airbus A350-900 deliveries delayed because of the COVID-19 crisis, Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines will now lease eight A330-900s to ensure that its fleet expansion plans are not derailed.

Vancouver Airport Authority, scaling back ambitious growth plans in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, has canceled a four-part infrastructure improvement project that targeted Vancouver International Airport’s (YVR) energy usage.

Canadian airline Air Transat will permanently lay off at least 2,000 employees, representing around 40% of its total workforce, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to completely shut down operations for nearly four months between April and late July.