Coronavirus

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has opened the refurbished and expanded Departure Hall 1 with the aim of increasing passenger flow.

Canada takes baby steps in lifting travel restrictions.

European airlines are facing a further obstacle in the road to recovery as EU leaders step up calls for coordinated quarantine for arrivals from the UK, in a bid to limit the spread of the coronavirus Delta variant.

As the gradual lifting of travel restrictions sets the stage for a swift traffic recovery this summer, Airbus and Boeing plan on sticking to strategies that can now be described as proven.

WestJet is ramping up summer domestic flying by restarting nearly 40 routes and affirming it will start 11 new nonstop services across Canada, signaling growing confidence in the country’s travel-demand recovery, the airline said June 25.

US DOT says US scheduled pax airlines employed 391,501 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in April, the lowest since 2014.

WESTJET is re-establishing majority of domestic services throughout Canada.

Airports Council International–North America EVP Matthew Cornelius says the lack of connectivity is “the biggest hole in our business” and “a huge problem that remains unsolved.”

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.