Aviation Daily Roundup: September 28
September 28, 2020
Singapore Airlines Shelves Seat Refit On 737-800s, For Now
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will not refit its SilkAir Boeing 737-800s with new lie-flat business class seats, as the regional unit reintegrates with the parent carrier.

Aegean Defers Aircraft After $185M H1 Net Loss
Aegean Airlines CEO Dimitris Gerogiannis is facing the “most challenging and least predictable winter ever” after the airline posted a €158.8 million ($184.7 million) net loss for the first half of 2020.

Logistics Provider Takes Stake In Owner Of Air Caraïbes, French bee
French maritime transport and logistics specialist CMA CGM has agreed to take a stake in Groupe Dubrueil Aero, the parent company of Air Caraïbes and French bee, with an eye on the air freight sector.

GE9X Engine For Boeing 777X Earns FAA Certification
GE Aviation’s GE9X, the largest aircraft engine yet developed, has received FAA certification, marking a major step toward entry-into-service on the Boeing 777-9, the first of the 777X family, in 2022.

South Africa's Mango In Crunch Talks With Maintenance Provider
South African LCC Mango is in “sensitive” talks with maintenance provider South African Airways Technical (SAAT), triggering questions over the airline’s continued operations.

Daily Memo: Cabin-level Pandemic Risk Mitigation That’s Easy To See
On the front lines of pandemic risk reduction, the aircraft cabin is getting its fair share of attention. From highlighting existing technology such as HEPA filter-equipped air purification systems to special light-emitting treatments that kill viruses between flights, the onboard arena is not being ignored.

Qatar Airways Reports Heavier Loss; Government Provides Infusion
A combination of exceptional items, namely the COVID-19 pandemic, the continuing diplomatic row with surrounding nations, new accountancy standards and the failure of one of its airline investments, helped push Qatar Airways Group to a net loss of QAR 7 billion ($1.9 billion) for the 2019-20 financial year.

MAX Jets Back On The Agenda For Somon Air
Tajikistan’s Somon Air is mulling the possibility of adding the currently grounded Boeing 737 MAX to its fleet, 15 months after pulling out of a deal to lease the narrowbody.

JAL, Matternet To Test Drone Deliveries In Tokyo
Drone delivery system developer Matternet has announced a partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) to demonstrate the transport of medical supplies by drone in Tokyo.

European Air Fares Fall In Bid To Attract Fliers
Air fares between major northern and southern European markets have been tracking 15% lower for the September to December period, according to booking-data analyst ForwardKeys.

United Pilots Approve Deal To Delay Furloughs If Payroll Support Expires
Pilots at United Airlines ratified a deal that would avoid planned furloughs in the next several months, pushing off any possible involuntary actions until mid-2021 if the U.S. Congress does not provide additional support for the country’s airline industry.

Volaris Sees Opportunities In Mexico, Works To Strengthen Balance Sheet
Mexican ULCC Volaris continues to see opportunities in the coronavirus crisis to build on its already-strong position in the domestic market as some of its competitors rightsize.

Aeromar Hopes ‘Common Sense Approach’ To Network Will Win Out
Aeromar is poised to open a second service to the U.S. over the coming days—one of three new routes being launched in October—as the Mexico City-based carrier rebuilds and reshapes its network in response to travel demand.
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