Coronavirus

TAP AIR PORTUGAL had €118.7m net loss for 3Q20 (vs €1.2m profit in 3Q19) on 81% lower revenues. It plans Dec 10 to submit restructuring plan to EC; it

LATAM AIRLINES GROUP plans to exit Chapter 11 in 2H21; it initiated voluntary reorganization and restructuring in May 2020.

JETBLUE AIRWAYS increased its projecting year-over-year capacity decline to 45-50% for 4Q20 due to volatile booking trends, resulting in an increased

EMIRATES expects to have all of its A380s in service by late 2021/early 2022; it has no idea when its first 777X will arrive.

AERO HYGENX, Canada is working with De Havilland Canada to develop RAY, an autonomous robot to deliver HF UVC light to disinfect Dash 8 cabins.

EMBRAER issued SB to install HEPA filters on ERJ 145s; kits for first 70 aircraft are currently being assembled and should be delivered by mid

Regional turboprop manufacturer ATR is ready to start training pilots on a new piece of commercial aviation safety equipment—an enhanced vision system (EVS) and accompanying head-mounted display.

AMERICAN AIRLINES says it tested transportation of thermal packaging in preparation to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.

CAE completed previously announced C$345m public offering (includes over-allotments) and C$150m private placement of common shares for aggregate gross

ETIHAD AIRWAYS plans December 7 to begin weekly Abu Dhabi-Beijing (787).

Lithuanian narrowbody wet-lease specialist Avion Express is seeking creditor protection as it battles the ongoing financial impact of the COVID-19 downturn.

US DOT reports 10 marketing carriers scheduled 345,294 domestic flights in September vs 398,470 in August 2020 and 660,712 in September 2019; 2,523 of

Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers believes airlines could emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with a more flexible approach to capacity planning, while airports will be forced to speed up their digitalization plans.

Defense officials have said UK plans to develop a laser directed energy weapon are “on-track” despite the program suffering a year-long delay.

Air traffic in Europe fell to 35.5% of 2019 levels in the week to Nov. 29, Eurocontrol figures showed, as COVID-19 travel restrictions and national lockdowns continued to affect demand for travel.

“It’s been a hard year, and people are tired of being pent-up. But we can’t let our guard down,” Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian says.

Australasian airlines have grounded almost all widebodies, but some carriers see opportunities post-COVID-19.

Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s MD of Air Hub Development, tells ATW’s Chen Chuanren about what the hub airport is doing to facilitate international travel and how the pandemic is spurring automation.

Joint-venture partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic have separately announced COVID-19 testing trials on specific transatlantic routes.

Ask the Editors: The certification campaign may be long and expensive, but most of the development money has been spent.

ICAO’s council has adopted decisions on eligibility units and sustainability certification, clearing the path for the implementation of CORSIA, the carbon-offsetting scheme for airlines.

Condor expects to operate up to 75% of its pre-crisis capacity next summer after COVID-19 vaccines have become available and quick testing infrastructure is established.

The number of unique city-pair connections has dropped by more than 7,000 this year and London has lost its crown as the world’s best-connected city, according to a report published by IATA.

Ask the Editors: Mandating something that most people will not have access to for months makes little sense for airlines.

The numbers of airline accidents and accident fatalities are tracking down this year, although a factor in the decline will be the big drop in flights caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.