Air Transport

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.

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

Airports in the US and China recorded the most flight departures in the third quarter.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International handled more passengers than any other airport in the first eight months of 2020.

Norbert Kettner, CEO of Vienna Tourism, explains that the Austrian capital, which used to be one of the most successful tourism destination in the world, is suffering dramatically from massive reduced air-connections from all over the world.

“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.

Africa is now steeling itself for a second wave of Covid-19 while it is still responding to the first wave. Aviation advisory service Osprey monitors the effect on different countries and today issue a stark analysis of the current situation.

Future carbon-neutral commercial aircraft should benefit from a favorable tax policy to help the technology gain traction, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said.

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.

Construction of a new terminal at Chongqing Jiangbei International (CKG) will begin next month, the city government said, preparing for a two-thirds rise in traffic by 2025.

The Worldwide Airport Slot Board (WASB), comprising Airports Council International (ACI World), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the Worldwide Airport Coordinators Group (WWACG) released a joint recommendation for airport slot use relief for the northern summer 2021 season.

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.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the latest airline looking to bolster its balance sheet through a major new share offering, which will be partly used to fund future aircraft deliveries.

As part of its efforts to roll out a touchless flying experience, Singaporean LCC Scoot will be introducing an inflight mobile portal for its passengers starting from late December.

Russia’s cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr has grounded its entire fleet of Antonov An-124 super heavy freighters, an airline representative confirmed Nov. 27.

Air India has revealed plans to launch two new long-haul routes to the U.S. early next year, one of which will become the farthest service in the airline’s network.

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.

The sale of French leisure carrier Corsair will be completed shortly to a consortium based in the French Caribbean, according to Peter Oncken, MD of controlling shareholder INTRO Aviation and Corsair chairman.

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

As aero suppliers struggle with the worst downturn ever and the market share shifts from Boeing to Airbus, should suppliers shift, too?

Willie Walsh is joining IATA with a clear agenda as its next director general.

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.

Air Astana has repositioned the business-class cabins in its fleet of Embraer 190-E2 regional jets as premium-economy sections, in response to feedback from pas