Coronavirus

AirAsia Japan’s shareholders are reportedly preparing to shut down the carrier, as the AirAsia Group focuses its attention on its Southeast Asian operations.

Misfortune and its own missteps in culture, leadership and technology have sapped the British engine maker of its value.

Water vapor from hydrogen-fueled aircraft will generate more contrails, but research is needed to understand persistence and mitigation.

One unexpected bonus of the coronavirus crisis will be a boost for air cargo’s previously slow digital transformation.

Aviation Week flight data shows that utilization rates have indeed stalled across three major regions, Europe, China, and the US, in August.

The COVID-19 crisis had a significant impact on the air cargo sector, with initial demand for transporting medical supplies leading to some airlines temporarily converting grounded passenger aircraft into freighters.

Airlines will have to use some of the money they receive from governments to get them through the COVID-19 crisis to continue to pursue environmental initiatives, JetBlue Airways’ CEO said Sept. 30.

Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) has released a report, detailing specific actions to hit industry sustainability targets by 2050, but the analysis also predicts that COVID-19 will have a 16% impact on traffic 30 years from now.

American Airlines will offer passengers pre-departure COVID-19 tests on select routes to Hawaii, Jamaica and the Caribbean beginning in October, as carriers look to passenger testing as a means to stimulate demand amid the ongoing pandemic.

REX, Australia agreed to lease six 737-800s from two separate unidentified lessors to launch domestic jet services, funded by PAG ASIA CAPITAL, in

SKYWEST secured 5-year, $573m loan facility from US Treasury Department under CARES Act; it accessed initial $60m.

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS announced $500m in private offering (originally $400m) of senior secured first lien notes due 2025.

Travelers from Vietnam and most of Australia will no longer be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Singapore, starting Oct. 8.

The Government of Mauritius announced the phased easing of travel restrictions from Oct. 1, allowing financially troubled flag-carrier Air Mauritius to resume international operations.

System would automatically scan anyone who enters the cabin, adding a layer of defense against virus transmission.

EgyptAir is gradually re-opening its African network as it starts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

IATA reports year-over-year pax traffic decline of 75.3% in August 2020 on 63.8% lower capacity; cargo fell 12.6%.

IATA downgraded its 2020 traffic forecast and now expects year-over-year drop of 66% in 2020 vs previous estimate of 63%.

LAX handled 1.7m pax in August, down 79% vs Aug 2019; cargo fell 8.5%.

Breeze Airways has pushed back its planned commercial launch date and now intends to begin operations with scheduled routes from two U.S. airports, rather than fly charter services as previously planned.

Ask the editors: Despite massive overcapacity of aircraft now, airlines do have incentives to retain at least some orders.

For the air cargo sector, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a reversal in fortunes–with complex travel restrictions suppressing passenger demand, suddenly airlines’ cargo activities are the better performers.

A mask over mouth and nose is small ask of the passenger, but a significant contributor to that risk reduction. It’s the right thing to do in a pandemic for yourself, your fellow passengers and the flight crew.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is opening the doors to its training center and offering an A380 dining experience under the banner “discover your Singapore Airlines” as it searches for alternate revenue streams.

Swiss International Air Lines CEO Thomas Klühr is to leave the Lufthansa subsidiary at the end of 2020 after some five years in Zürich and more than 30 years within the Lufthansa Group.