Coronavirus

The FAA has approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for use by U.S. pilots and air traffic controllers, ensuring that essential aviation workers can get immunized without jeopardizing their medical clearances.

TSA reports it screened 865,014 pax at US airport security checkpoints on December 13 vs 2.3m a year ago.

CORSAIR, France received EC approval for state aid comprising €106.7m of restructuring aid and €30.2m to compensate company for damages suffered due

A small UK tech company says it has found an answer to the rapidly growing problem of fake COVID-19 certificates that threaten to undermine efforts to ensure air passengers are free of infection when they board an aircraft.

United Airlines’ declaration that it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 goes beyond the obvious goal of emissions reduction.

AEROMEXICO is expected to reinstate 737 MAX operations out of Mexico City on December 21; it currently has six.

HEICO increased its existing credit facility with banking syndicate to US$1.5b and extended maturity to November 2023.

US DOT says US scheduled pax airlines employed 368,162 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in October, down 18.9% (or nearly 86,000 FTEs) vs October

Star Alliance and Amadeus have launched a partnership aimed at making touchless travel more accessible—at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has brought touchless technologies and initiatives aimed at boosting traveler confidence into the spotlight.

Virgin Atlantic has pulled the planned launch of two routes between the UK and India that had been scheduled to start during the coming weeks.

Flybondi has resumed domestic flights in Argentina after backtracking on a decision not to transfer Buenos Aries operations to Ministro Pistarini International (EZE) while El Palomar (EPA remains closed.

The prospects for a quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand increased significantly after the New Zealand government said it is targeting a reopening early in 2021.

Demand trends during the pandemic and recovery should favor LCCs over larger legacy airlines.

U.S. back in human spaceflight business.

Virgin Atlantic has launched a new health-testing regime for passengers departing London Heathrow Airport as part of a study to validate the benefits of pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

ROLLS-ROYCE reports its year-over-year large civil engine flying hours are down 42% in 2020.

ROLLS-ROYCE has completed its £5b recapitalisation package that includes £2b of new equity, £2b in new bonds, and a £1b bank facility that remains

FINNAIR was granted export credit support of >€100m from Germany, France and UK for acquiring Airbus aircraft.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus is seeking permission to enter the UK-U.S. transatlantic market from next summer, with an initial three routes planned from a new base at Manchester Airport (MAN).

A rebound in its charter business and a new cargo operation with Amazon are helping ULCC Sun Country Airlines weather the COVID-19 crisis better than its larger legacy peers.

Ask the Editors: Aviation will see less demand due to COVID-19, so the introduction of long-haul narrowbodies is unlikely to gain steam.

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is preparing to restore its entire route network for summer 2021, when it aims to reach 64% of 2019 passenger volumes, the carrier said Dec. 10.

U.S credit rating agency Fitch Ratings anticipates further airline failures in 2021, although the COVID-19 vaccine could see pent-up leisure traffic rebound during the second half.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has approved the launch of four new international passenger routes, including services to destinations in Europe, Africa and North America.

In November, Lufthansa Group announced that Brussels Airlines CEO Dieter Vranckx would move to Zurich to become CEO of its Swiss International Air Lines subsidiary on Jan. 1, 2021.