Coronavirus

After piloting a number of health verification applications since the start of the year, China Airlines and EVA Air will now trial the IATA Travel Pass.

Qantas has become the latest airline to set a deadline for its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, although one of its unions is objecting to the requirement.

Latest outbreaks cause carriers to cut flights and furlough employees due to lockdowns and travel restrictions.

Kuwaiti LCC Jazeera Airways remains confident of an uplift in business toward the end of 2021 and foresees opportunities in several new routes.

US DOT reports US airlines carried 66.4m pax in June, down 21% vs June 2019; traffic bottomed out at 3m in April 2020.

As Aeromexico works to exit bankruptcy and Volaris and Viva Aerobus continue to capitalize on opportunities in the marketplace, Mexico’s domestic market is now comprised of one full-service operator and two ULCCs.

The domestic passenger total in July was up by 60.9% compared to June as COVID-19 cases declined.

ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CA reports, at nearly 478,000 pax, its July traffic reached 97% of pre-COVID levels.

Traffic results for Air China, China Eastern and China Southern showcase up-and-down movements between the second quarters of 2020 and 2021. Although

COVID-19 vaccination requirements are set to be put in place for all commercial air travelers in Canada, part of a sweeping program of preventative measures put forward by the Canadian government.

Epic Flight Academy talks about its unique experience launching an aircraft mechanic training program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kuwait-based airport services provider National Aviation Services (NAS) plans to partner with global healthcare company Abbott to introduce COVID-19 rapid testing solutions at major airports across Africa and the Middle East.

FRANKFURT AIRPORT handled 2.85m pax in July, down 58.9% vs July 2019, but up 115.8% vs July 2020.

LONDON HEATHROW handled 1.5m pax in July (highest since March 2020), down 81% vs July 2019, but up 74% vs July 2020; transatlantic service is rising.

The commercial aviation fleet continues to expand as domestic traffic picks up and transborder travel increases.

Britain’s Heathrow Airport reported a relative surge in passenger traffic in July but warned that overall numbers were still down 80% on pre-pandemic levels.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES says it is seeing a deceleration in bookings and increase in trip cancellations in August 2021, which are believed to be driven by

AIR CANADA completed >C$7.1b in refinancing transactions, comprising senior secured notes, term loan and credit facility.

Southwest Airlines warned that it does not expect to be profitable in the 2021 third quarter (Q3), as a spike of COVID-19 infections associated with the new delta variant appears to be harming demand for air travel.

The latest surge of COVID-19 cases in Australia has dealt a crucial blow to local airlines that were beginning to recover some momentum based on their domestic strength.

LATAM AIRLINES GROUP is expected to lease five ex-Norwegian 787-9s from Avolon (3) and Orix Aviation (2).

LATAM AIRLINES GROUP had US$770m net loss in 2Q21 (vs US$62.8m loss in 2Q19) on 62.5% lower revenues. It formally cancelled two A350s, four 787s and

JETRAN agreed to purchase nine 767-300ERs from LATAM Airlines Group, which received Court approval for deal on June 30.

BRUSSELS AIRLINES lost (EBIT) €143m in 1H21 (vs €211m loss in 1H20) on 45% lower revenues; it operated 55% fewer flights.

The 2021 second quarter marked a turning point in the North American air travel recovery, as major airlines reported their first quarterly net profits since the COVID-19 pandemic devastated travel demand in March 2020.