Aviation Daily

U.S. airlines carried approximately 60% fewer passengers in 2020 than in 2019, according to new data from the U.S. Transportation Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

In a sign of optimism over the future of the cargo market, Ireland-based ASL Aviation Holdings (ASL) confirmed Feb. 16 that it is taking up 10 options for the 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF).

Southwest Airlines lowered its cash burn estimate for the 2021 first quarter (Q1) after observing stronger than expected revenue and booking trends in February.

Portuguese finance minister João Leão has acknowledged that TAP Air Portugal could need further financial support in 2021, beyond the €500 million ($606.5 million) in state funding already provisioned.

Mixed opinions on the fortunes of commercial aviation in the Middle East are evident in two newly published reports.

The next chapter for South African Airways (SAA) appears to be drawing closer, with three shortlisted equity partners in contention and a further R5 billion ($345.4 million) government injection to fund employee severance packages.

European air traffic reached just a third of 2019 levels in the second week of February, as ongoing travel restrictions and national lockdowns kept a lid on demand, network manager Eurocontrol said in its latest update.

Charity UNICEF has launched an initiative with 16 airlines to ensure consignments of COVID-19 vaccine and other humanitarian supplies reach the areas where they are most needed.

The government of Singapore will pour another S$870 million ($657.5 million) into its aviation sector, in an effort to help the Singapore air hub edge out competition as the industry claws its way to recovery.

Air Senegal has reignited a long-standing ambition to start flying to the U.S. and hopes to launch its first route later this year.

Airlink is launching a fourth route to Namibia in the wake of the southwestern African country’s national carrier ceasing operations.

Two weeks after securing an air operator’s certificate (AOC), United Nigeria has begun commercial operations.

New leisure carrier Vietravel Airlines has begun operating seven domestic routes in Vietnam.

The potential demand forecast for tens of thousands of delivery drones and air taxis means there is a growing need for propellers and rotors with better performance, lower noise and easier producibility.

IATA is urging the Hong Kong government to allow exemptions from new crew quarantine rules as quickly as possible, highlighting the damage the requirements will cause to airlines.

UK leisure carrier Jet2 has raised approximately £422 million ($585 million) to help weather further COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns.

Garuda Indonesia and Indonesia’s ministry of state-owned enterprises (BUMN) have moved to cut short a lease for 12 Bombardier CRJ1000 regional jets and return them to lessor Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC).

U.S. pilot unions are joining airlines and manufacturers in opposing a potential coronavirus test requirement for domestic U.S. airline passengers, though a mandate to move forward with the proposal does not seem imminent.

Air Canada believes improvements regarding Canada’s travel restrictions—particularly on quarantines—could begin in late April.

Boeing and Safran have put their APU joint venture on hold because of changes in the commercial aviation market due to COVID-19, a Safran spokesperson has confirmed.

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the duration of its 80% limit on how much pre-COVID-19 capacity airlines in the country are allowed to fly.

Boeing delivered 20 long-idled 737 MAXs from its stored backlog to customers in January and one from its production line, an Aviation Week analysis shows.

Embraer delivered 71 jets in the fourth quarter of 2020, consisting of 43 executive jets and 28 commercial aircraft, for a total of 130 aircraft delivered during the year, a 35% decrease from 2019.

Hamilton, New Zealand-based aircraft manufacturer Pacific Aerospace has succumbed to financial difficulties and shut down its operations.

The EU is pressing on with increasing the performance of its navigation satellites, despite slow adoption among airlines.