A U.S. Army civilian has tested positive for the COVID-19 disease at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, the home of several aviation- and space-related acquisition, research and testing organizations, base officials said on March 17.

After a record 2019, VistaJet recorded a “strong start” to the first 10 weeks of 2020, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. 

As the Pentagon and defense companies begin to encourage workers to telecommute when possible, the department has begun conducting daily calls with defense trade associations to discuss the impact of COVID-19, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

A coalition of six general and business aviation trade groups are asking that government financial relief assistance sought by air carriers in response to the impact from COVID-19 include business aviation charter providers and fractional operators. 

The European Commission (EC) has sent member states a draft of proposed changes to state aid rules give them more flexibility to support companies hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as airline and airport groups called for more support. 

South America’s largest commercial airlines suspended nearly all international flying and slashed domestic capacity, as the financial fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis reverberates across all corners of the global airline industry.

The British airline industry has broadly welcomed government plans to make £330 billion ($405 billion) worth of funding available to get business through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Southwest Airlines announced plans to trim capacity by 20% in April and May, citing a “dramatic decline” in net bookings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing government travel restrictions.