United Airlines Still Uncertain About Timing Of Demand Recovery

By Ben Goldstein Jan 21, 2021
United Airlines is confident there will be an “inflection point” in the path of demand sometime in 2021, although executives are keeping mum about when exactly that might occur.
Airlines & Lessors

WestJet Flight Marks 737 MAX’s Return In Canada

By Sean Broderick Jan 21, 2021
WestJet re-launched Boeing 737-8 services with a routine flight from Calgary to Vancouver Jan. 21, becoming the first Canadian carrier to operate a 737 MAX-family aircraft following a 20-month global grounding. 
Airlines & Lessors

Buttigieg Backs Mask Mandate During Confirmation Hearing

By Bill Carey Jan 21, 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden’s nominee to head the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) pledged Jan. 21 to enforce a presidential directive requiring people to wear masks during interstate travel to prevent against the spread of COVID-19.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Biden Executive Order Makes U.S. Travel Mask-Wearing Mandatory

By Karen Walker Jan 21, 2021
As part of a “mask up for 100 days” campaign that new U.S. President Joe Biden has prioritized in his first days in office, most air travelers in America will be required to wear a mask until April.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

FedEx Express To Cut European Workforce, Pare Down Liège Hub

By Alan Dron Jan 21, 2021
Small package specialist FedEx Express plans to shrink its European organization as it approaches the final step of integrating package carrier TNT.
Airlines & Lessors

Air France CEO ‘Counting On’ Recovery Starting In Second Quarter

By Helen Massy-Beresford Jan 21, 2021
Air France is looking toward a second quarter recovery, with hopes to be operating around 70% of pre-crisis capacity by the end of 2021, CEO Anne Rigail said.
Airlines & Lessors

Airbus Slows Down Production Rate Increase

By Jens Flottau Jan 21, 2021
Airbus plans to raise single-aisle production rates later in 2021, but the ramp-up will be slower than previously planned “in response to the market environment.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

Daily Memo: Vaccine Distribution Drive In The Spotlight

By Helen Massy-Beresford Jan 21, 2021
Over a year since the first COVID-19 cases were reported, airlines devastated by the pandemic are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now that the rollout of long-awaited vaccines has begun. 
Airlines & Lessors

LOT Polish Airlines To Cut Workforce By 300

By Kurt Hofmann Jan 21, 2021
LOT Polish Airlines has reached an agreement with its trade unions to reduce its headcount by up to 300 to improve efficiencies as it seeks to honor the conditions of state aid. 
Airlines & Lessors

Malaysia Airlines Makes Progress On Restructuring Approvals

By Adrian Schofield Jan 21, 2021
Malaysia Airlines Group (MAG) is taking more important steps toward finalizing its restructuring plan and gaining approval from courts and creditors.
Airlines & Lessors

Norwegian Startup Flyr To Operate 737-800s

By David Casey Jan 21, 2021
Norwegian startup Flyr has outlined a strategy to fly domestic and short-haul international routes using Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Airlines & Lessors

Qatar Airways, Etihad Add Post-Blockade Routes

By David Casey Jan 21, 2021
Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways are poised to reinstate routes that have been suspended for more than three-and-a-half years. 
Airports & Routes

KLM Reviews Long-Haul Network After New COVID-19 Restrictions

By David Casey Jan 21, 2021
KLM is reviewing its long-haul routes from the Netherlands and may suspend them from Jan. 22 following the introduction of tougher measures in the country designed to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Airports & Routes

Norwegian’s Short-Haul Plan Wins Government Backing

Guy Ferneyhough Jan 21, 2021
Norway’s government will provide a hybrid loan to Norwegian Air Shuttle providing private investors also back the LCC’s restructuring.
Airlines & Lessors

Seoul Incheon Becomes Asia’s Busiest International Airport

By Chen Chuanren Jan 21, 2021
Seoul's Incheon International Airport (ICN) became Asia’s busiest international airport in 2020 in terms of passenger volume, dethroning Hong Kong (HKG). 
Airports & Routes

UK Studies Air Taxi Connection Between London Airports

By Graham Warwick Jan 20, 2021
Transporting passengers between London City and London Heathrow Airports is one potential application of urban air mobility in the UK that will be studied by a consortium led by Eve, the spinoff from EmbraerX.
Urban & Unmanned Aviation

Spirit Airlines Projects Its Size Will Surpass 2019 Levels This Year

By Lori Ranson Jan 20, 2021
By the end of 2021, Spirit Airlines looks to surpass its 2019 size as a steady stream of expected aircraft deliveries will expand the ULCC’s fleet. 
Airlines & Lessors

Aircastle Says Mid-Life Aircraft Demand Still Evident

By Sean Broderick Jan 20, 2021
Aircastle is seeing demand for some of its older-generation models but expects several of the 16 aircraft it had off-lease as of Nov. 30, 2020 to be sold for part-out, its top executive said.
Airlines & Lessors

West Atlantic Freighter Damaged In Hard Landing

By Alan Dron Jan 20, 2021
The future of a West Atlantic Boeing 737-400SF freighter is uncertain after it sustained apparently significant damage during a reported hard landing in the UK.
Airlines & Lessors

U.S. Air Fares Fell To Lowest Level In Decades During 2020 Third Quarter

By Ben Goldstein Jan 20, 2021
U.S. commercial air fares plunged to their lowest recorded levels in at least two decades during the 2020 third quarter (Q3), new data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) shows.
Airlines & Lessors

Daily Memo: Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways Near Restructuring Deals

By Adrian Schofield Jan 20, 2021
Two Southeast Asian flag-carriers are moving closer to completing major restructuring efforts that will help them reduce debt commitments and operate efficiently once demand returns.
Airlines & Lessors

Lessor BBAM Signs On For More Boeing 737-800 Converted Freighters

By Victoria Moores Jan 20, 2021
U.S. lessor BBAM has placed a firm order for six more Boeing 737-800 Converted Freighters (737-800BCFs), with options on a further six, increasing its commitment to 15 of the type.
Aircraft & Propulsion

IAG Secures Discount On Air Europa Buy

Guy Ferneyhough Jan 20, 2021
International Airlines Group (IAG) has negotiated a lower price for Air Europa as it presses ahead with the strategic acquisition of the Spanish carrier despite the COVID-19 crisis.
Airlines & Lessors

Singapore Airlines Adds COVID-19 Test Booking To Travel Pass Platform

By Chen Chuanren Jan 20, 2021
Singapore Airlines (SIA) is trialing a new function in its digital travel portal that will allow passengers to book COVID-19 tests and receive results on one platform. 
Airlines & Lessors

Thai AirAsia Set To Furlough 75% Of Staff

By Chen Chuanren Jan 20, 2021
LCC Thai AirAsia will reportedly put 75% of its staff on no-pay-leave from February as it resizes the company to meet current passenger demand.
Airlines & Lessors