Coronavirus

A draft of the House Appropriations Committee’s (HAC) mark of the fiscal 2021 defense funding bill, released July 7, would give the Pentagon $9.3 billion for 91 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, an additional 12 aircraft above President Trump’s budget request.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has launched a new effort to help the business aviation industry get back to work following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With so much going on within the aviation sector we want to know your views on the key topics and stories.

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) vowed to introduce a bill blocking the sale of middle seats on domestic flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, following a viral selfie snapped by the lawmaker on a packed American Airlines flight.

The COVID-19 crisis has shaken up the whole of the air transport industry—and for some of the major domestic markets in Europe, the changes in landscape could be permanent.

BAIN CAPITAL was selected by Deloitte Australia (as Adminstators) as preferred bidder for VIRGIN AUSTRALIA over Cyrus Capital Partners (SPNWS; June 5)

NBAA launched BizAv Back to Work program to help members and overall business aviation industry reopen from COVID-19.

SAS reports it is now operating 45 aircraft, up from 15 in mid-June. It added 251m ASKs in June compared to May.

AERCAP executed 10 lease agreements in 2Q20 vs 48 in 2Q19, and says it raised $3b in funding during quarter.

AVOLON executed 16 lease transactions in 2Q20 vs 24 in 2Q19; it cancelled another 27 737 MAXs (now 102) and one A330neo, and deferred three A320neos

Korean Air has selected a buyer for its inflight catering and duty-free business as part of measures to improve liquidity and meet debt obligations.

The sponsors of a global student contest to virtually design small lunar race cars have chosen four winners.

AirAsia Group has posted a net loss of MYR953.3 million ($223 million) for Q1 of 2020, the largest loss the company has recorded since its listing in 2004.

Most airlines in the region want to defer deliveries due this year, and early widebody retirements are also planned.

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES (Lufthansa Group) received European Commission approval for €150m in state aid (subordinated loan convertible into a grant) to

U.S. airlines are pushing ahead with plans to ramp up capacity this summer, as competition heats up over a modest rebound in domestic travel demand.

With so much going on within the aviation sector we want to know your views on the key topics and stories.

GARUDA INDONESIA had US$123.5m net loss for 1Q20 (vs 19.7m net profit in 1Q19) on 30% lower revenues.

AIRASIA GROUP posted RM953m net loss for 1Q20 (vs RM102m profit in 1Q19) on 15% lower revenues.

AEROMEXICO is expected to return 23 aircraft (10 737NGs/nine E170s/four E190s) to lessors as part of its reorganization.

SKYWORKS has been retained by bondholder group in LATAM 2015-1 EETC to manage repossession/emarketing of 17 aircraft (11 A321-200s/four 787-9s/two

AVIATION CAPITAL GROUP announced it has to date agreed to defer about $61m in lease payments (about 6% 2019 revenues). It also expects to defer

Business aviation manufacturers are laying off employees although flight activity is “recovering smartly,” said Brian Foley, a consultant with Brian Foley Associates.

JetBlue Airways and its pilots struck an agreement that will remove the possibility of involuntary furloughs through May 1, 2021, the first deal of its kind at any U.S. airline during the COVID-19 crisis.

Ask the Editors: The French government and France’s Big Four aerospace manufacturers partner up to infuse ailing suppliers with capital.