Coronavirus

NAVEO reports that aircraft utilization in 2020 and for first five months of 2021 remains >50% down vs 2019 levels; data reinforces how domestic

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES ended its Prachter operation after 15 months; it transported 4,500 tons of relief supplies from Asia to Europe using two 777-200ERs

AEROMEXICO has US Bankruptcy Court approval for 75-day extension of exclusive period to propose a plan of reorganization.

Boeing has delivered 103 aircraft in the first five months of 2021, compared to Airbus’ 213.

AIR NEW ZEALAND has deferred first delivery of eight 787s by one year from FY23 to FY24; further 787 deferrals are possible.

Next set of issues is likely to include sustainability and urban air mobility initiatives.

European airports, which did not receive government aid to the same extent as airlines, are looking to recoup their losses, but carriers are urging them not to undermine the nascent recovery.

The Hong Kong government intends to further ease entry requirements imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting quarantine periods down to a week for most vaccinated travelers.

International Airlines Group (IAG) and Virgin Atlantic have put their support behind legal action that is challenging the lack of transparency around how the UK government classifies countries under its traffic light framework.

A study from the European Travel Commission (ETC) indicates that 70% of respondents are planning to travel in the next six months, up from 56% in February.

KLM says its network in Asia and the Middle East is as good as fully recovered this summer.

The development is welcome news for airlines on both sides of the pond hoping for a recovery in transatlantic travel.

CZECH AIRLINES TECHNICS was approved to provide A320 heavy maintenance; Novair is launch customer for two aircraft.

Irish LCC Ryanair, Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and other unnamed major UK airlines are backing a court case against the UK government’s traffic-light system of coronavirus travel restrictions.

QANTAS expanded its QantasLink agreement with Alliance Airlines from 14 E190s to 18 as part of plan to increase domestic capacity to 107% of pre-COVID

ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Southern California says pax volumes in May were 77.2% of pre-pandemic levels; air cargo was higher than May 2019.

Travelers fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should not be subject to testing or quarantine except in particular circumstances, according to EASA and the European Center for Disease Control.

LUFTHANSA GROUP says it is in the process of evaluating options for the partial divestiture of LUFTHANSA TECHNIK.

LUFTHANSA GROUP says it is targeting €3.5b in gross savings by 2024 (vs 2019) via personnel cost savings, operational simplification/overhead

AIR ANTWERP ceased operations and is being dissolved; it was founded in 2019 to fly Antwerp-London City with a Fokker 50.

British Airways (BA) CEO Sean Doyle has appealed to the UK government to take advantage of the country’s successful COVID-19 vaccine roll-out to restart air services.

AVIANOR, Montreal completed/certified temporary pax cabin cargo modifications on three 767s for LATAM Cargo.

SWOOP plans in 4Q21 to begin service to Orlando Sanford, San Diego and St. Petersburg, FL (737-800).

DORIC, Germany joined Destination Next project to promote post-pandemic advantages of A330.

AIRBUS confirmed previously announced plans to produce 45 A320 Family aircraft per month in 4Q21, increasing to 64 by 2Q23 and possibly 70 by 2024 and