Air Transport

Ask the Editors: Widebody fleets are under pressure and smaller single-aisles are expected to remain popular.

GE Aviation and New York’s Albany International Airport have announced a digital-focused partnership involving a new app to help airport staff and customers track COVID-19 cleaning protocols.

Eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian ANSP faces what its president and CEO Neil Wilson has called “the toughest moment” in the company’s history.

At the moment, few airlines can look beyond a two-month planning window as COVID-19 has rendered traditional forecasting tools useless.

A focus on providing same-day return flights on European business routes will form a key part of Spanish flag-carrier Iberia’s winter schedule.

Latin American countries—which have implemented some of the most restrictive and lengthiest pandemic-related lockdowns on air travel in 2020—are starting to open up as the region enters its high season.

Rolls-Royce has successfully placed a new rights issue that will yield the manufacturer a much-needed £2 billion ($2.6 billion) in funding.

Southwest Airlines reported softening bookings trends for November and December, reflecting a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.S.

Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith is reportedly predicting leisure and business demand will rebound as soon as a COVID-19 treatment/vaccine becomes available or rapid tests are put in place.

DELTA AIR LINES announced plan to accelerate its $1.9b terminal modernization project at LAX by 18 months to mid-2023.

KRASAVIA acquired two ex-Braathens ATR 72-500s (930/TBA); TAM, Sweden performed heavy checks/refurbishment work.

The British government has again changed its list of countries from which air passengers may travel without having to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in the UK.

Thai Airways’ auditor has refused to sign off on the airline’s 2020 third-quarter (Q3) financial report.

The brand of Ryanair’s Austrian carrier Laudamotion will finally disappear from the market once and for all in the coming weeks, Laudamotion CEO Andreas Gruber said.

Airlink, the privately-owned Southern African airline, has revealed its new tailfeathers, distinguishing itself as a completely independent carrier.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and African Airlines Association (AFRAA) have joined forces with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) on a three-year safety project.

Singapore Airlines has raised S$850 million ($630 million) in a convertible bond issue exercise reserved for a “variety of institutional investors.”

Vietjet Air has announced a partnership with freight carrier UPS, allowing both airlines to leverage air cargo capacity on each others’ aircraft between the U.S. and Asia, and especially within Vietnam and Thailand.

OGMA will become a Pratt & Whitney-authorized maintenance center for the geared turbofan engine that powers the Airbus A320neo.

Avianca CEO Anko van der Werff tells ATW correspondent Kurt Hofmann about a year like no other and explains the airline’s future plans as it looks to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

North American passenger carriers were able to avoid the high-profile airline failures seen in other regions, but there is no clear indication when daily losses will cease.

AVENTURE AVIATION acquired ex-Air Astana 757-200 (28112) for part out by eCUBE SOLUTIONS, Wales.

AMAZON leased 737-800BCF (29938; ex-Ryanair) from GECAS; aircraft will be operated by ASL AIRLINES IRELAND.

YAKUTIA AIRLINES, Russia leased ex-SAS 737-700 (32684) from GECAS.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the entire industry off guard. While air transport has faced numerous previous crises, the fact that subsequent recoveries occurred at different rates had led to complacency and ill-preparedness for an event of such magnitude.