Coronavirus

Aviation Horizons has acquired a Boeing 737-400SF converted freighter and plans to bring two more into its fleet; Emirates SkyCargo is increasing its temperature-sensitive pharma and vaccine-handling capabilities in Dubai.

The loan was initially offered to Cathay Pacific in 2020 to support the airline at the peak of the coronavirus crisis.

Leaders expect a smaller, more streamlined supply chain to emerge as aircraft OEMs struggle to reach or exceed pre-pandemic rates.

AFRAA reports African airlines carried 34.7m pax in 2020 vs 95m in 2019; ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES was largest at >5m.

For a European tourist hotspot, major LCC activity to Croatia was relatively small or non-existent, even before the pandemic hit.

El Al Israel Airlines is strategizing on how to deal with both the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis and changing market conditions in a post-pandemic environment.

U.S. Navy cancels JSOW-ER; SM-6 misses target; Brazil’s Air Force may cut KC-390; USAF buys jet for BACN; GA-EMS cross-link contract.

US DOT reports fuel cost for US airlines was $1.75/gallon in April vs $1.38 in April 2020; consumption fell 30% vs April 2019.

AMERICAN says as of June 2, its 7-day moving average of its net bookings is now approximately 90% of corresponding 2019 levels; it continues to expect

AIR ZIMBABWE resumed domestic service (Harare-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls) with ex-Trans States ERJ 145 (373).

Plans for Ecuadorian startup Ecuatoriana Airlines were finalized in late 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the aerospace industry, and prior to the demise of the country’s former flag carrier Tame.

BERLIN BRANDENBURG AIRPORT handled 362,000 passengers in May, an increase of almost 100,000 more than in April.

ALASKA AIRLINES plans to expand operations at Paine Field (Everett, WA) from current five daily flights to 13 (including -Tucson, AZ) by end of

ATR has secured French Govt funding for its big data project under 3-year, €300m plan to support investments to help industry recover from COVID-19.

A pair of U.S. senators sharply rebuked the airline industry’s collective response to criticisms of refund policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that questions raised in a recent letter to seven airlines were not properly addressed.

PORT AUTHORITY OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY reports pax volumes at its airports for the week of May 17-21, 2021 were down by 52% vs pre-COVID May 2019

IATA, AIRBUS, BOEING and EMBRAER are jointly calling on governments to use data to drive policies to safely plan and coordinate restart of global

KLM says its North American network of destinations is practically back to its pre-COVID-19, 2019 level, serving 16 destinations in summer 2021

LUFTHANSA SYSTEMS was selected to provide (establishment/training) consulting services to Air Montenegro for operational startup on June 1.

AIRASIA X received shareholder approval for corporate restructuring; it is being advised by New York-based Seabury Capital.

Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are making slow progress in restoring their networks as key border reopenings remain elusive.

Starting June 2, Italy will waive its mandatory 10-day quarantine rule.

AEROFLOT GROUP had RUB25.1b net loss in 1Q21 (vs RUB22.5b loss in 1Q20) on 39% lower revenues; traffic dropped 34.2%.

AAPA members flew 4.6b RPKs in April, up 124% vs April 2020; capacity rose 138% to 17.2b ASKs. PLF was 26.4%.

Airlines have long hoped for restart to transatlantic travel by summer, plans likely on hold as governments slow-walk reopenings.