Air Transport

U.S. passenger airlines recalled approximately 26,000 full-time employees after Congress extended the payroll support program (PSP) in December 2020, new data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reveals.

ATR’s earlier hopes that regional turboprops would spearhead the recovery have yet to materialize, and management now only expects a slight upturn this year on the extremely slow sales it reported for 2020.

US DOT says US scheduled pax airlines employed 397,999 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers in mid-January 2021, down 12.8% vs mid-January 2020.

US TRAVEL ASSOCIATION reports travel’s economic footprint in US shrank 42% in 2020 from $2,600b to $1,500b; travel-supported jobs dropped 65%.

IATA has postponed its 77th Annual Meeting from June 27-29 to October 3-5 in Boston, MA; JETBLUE AIRWAYS is host.

High-rate composites manufacturing technology for the aerospace, automotive and air mobility industries is at the heart of a £90 million ($125 million) UK government-industry investment in five research and development projects.

Sun Country Airlines raised $218 million from its initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq, as investors bet on a rebound in leisure travel demand.

AZMAN AIR, Nigeria has temporarily suspended operations to undergo safety audit; it has six 737CLs and one A340-600.

Ghana’s government has given formal approval for the establishment of a new national airline.

AIR TRANSAT plans to resume service on June 14 with 26 aircraft A321s/A330s; it plans to return 737-800 (30696) to lessor.

The European Commission (EC) has approved a state loan to another European flag-carrier as a result of the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on airline finances.

Sylvester Lavender to CFO of Denver Intl. Airport; Mike Nakornkhet to Deputy CFO and Chayot Ing-aram to SVP-Financial Planning.

Bjorn Tore Larsen to Chief Executive Officer of Norse Atlantic Airways, Norway.

UNITED purchased another ex-Southwest 737-700 (32666) from GECAS as part of overall deal for 19 (SPNWS; July 19, 2019).

A year after the coronavirus pandemic forced airlines to shut down much of their operations, governments have pumped $215 billion in financial support into the sector, according to IATA.

CHORUS AVIATION secured capital investment from RBC CAPITAL MARKETS for C$100m in stock units for resale to public; concurrently, it plans private

STERLING AIRWAYS, FL received US DOT/FAA certification to resume scheduled services out of Jacksonville (aircraft TBA).

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES priced previously announced IPO of 9.1m shares at $24 each; offering is expected to close March 19.

AMERICAN agreed to lease six E170s (294/296/298/300/302/305) from Azorra Aviation, which is acquiring aircraft from BA CityFlyer (SPNWS; March 12)

AZORRA AVIATION secured $350m in new funding from its founders and OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT to expand its commercial aircraft leasing business with

LAM MOZAMBIQUE AIRLINES leased ex-SA Express Dash 8-400 (4175) from Nordic Aviation Capital.

The UK government has launched a competition for up to £15 million ($20 million) in grant funding to spur the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

UK lessor Falko Regional Aircraft is to participate in the development of Electric Aviation Group’s (EAG) hybrid-powered regional airliner.

The European Commission (EC) has put forward a plan for a Digital Green Certificate to provide proof of a passenger’s COVID-19 health status, with the aim of facilitating a travel recovery within the EU.

Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with the African Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (Africa CDC) for the implementation of the African Union Trusted Travel Pass to make continental travel easier and safer amidst the COVID -19 pandemic.