Chinese domestic airline activity has virtually recovered to its 2019 levels as airlines have laid on more capacity than is profitable, in an apparent move to promote a revival in tourism and business travel.
Danish charter specialist Sunclass Airlines plans to lay off up to 375 personnel as it struggles with a drop in the number of passengers taking holidays amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.
Southwest Airlines revised down its estimated capacity for the third quarter (Q3) of 2020, despite observing “modest improvement” in revenue and demand trends recently.
As cabin seat innovators look for ways to make economy class more comfortable for passengers and more profitable for airlines, new seat designs are attracting attention.
Cargo profits at China’s Juneyao Airlines quintupled during the first half (H1) of 2020, reflecting the carrier’s concentration on chartered cargo flights during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when most passenger services were halted.
Qatar Airways, a five-star oneworld alliance airline, was among the first to operate all-cargo flights on passenger aircraft in the pandemic, as well as being among the first to restart routes and introduce additional hygiene measures on aircraft, including using ultraviolet cleaning and requiring face shields as well as masks.
