Air Transport

US DOT estimates US airlines carried 25.1m pax in Septembear, down 65% vs Sept 2019 (smallest annual drop since March).

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES plans in 1Q21 to begin service at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, its 10th airport served in Florida.

Sandy Stelling to Vice President-Strategy, Analytics and Transformation of Alaska Airlines, Seattle.

Airlines for America (A4A) forecast a modest pick-up in air travel demand over the Thanksgiving holiday, but warned that the outlook for carriers remains “dire” amid a third wave of COVID-19 in the U.S.

Brett Catlin to Vice President-Network and Alliances of Alaska Airlines, Seattle.

Sanjeev Taneja to Chief Financial Officer of Spicejet, India.

AEROCENTURY lost $4.1m on $3.2m lease revenues in 3Q20 vs $8.2m loss on $6.7m in 3Q19; it has 11 aircraft.

CHINA EXPRESS AIRLINES took delivery of its first ARJ21-700 (141) as part of order for up to 100 (SPNWS; October 23).

EMIRATES GROUP lost AED14.1b for six months ended Sept 30 (vs AED1.2b profit a year ago) on 74% lower revenues and ended period with AED20.7b in cash

In the roller coaster that is the COVID-19 pandemic, bigger is not always better.

FLY LEASING had $8.1m net loss on $60m revenues in 3Q20 vs $51.7m profit on $139m in 3Q19; it now has 86 aircraft.

LONDON HEATHROW handled 1.2m pax in October, down 82.4% vs October 2019; air cargo fell 23% to 108,482 tonnes.

FRANKFURT AIRPORT handled 1.1m pax in October, down 83.4% vs October 2019; air cargo rose 1.6% to 182,061 tonnes.

Aireon on Nov. 12 announced an agreement with the FAA allowing the agency access to its satellite-routed aircraft surveillance data to evaluate different air traffic control applications.

Tougher travel restrictions imposed across parts of Europe to help curb a second wave of COVID-19 cases have forced KLM to cut its planned seat capacity and flight frequencies.

Eurowings expects that demand from leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) travelers will drive the recovery and so plans to expand its offering to these customers.

Boeing remains bullish about China’s standing in the global passenger aircraft market, estimating 8,600 aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years, growing at 4.4% annually.

Australian carrier Regional Express Holdings (Rex) has revealed new details of its ambitions to rapidly ramp up its proposed new jet services on domestic trunk routes.

Virgin Atlantic would be willing to partner with Flybe should the UK regional airline’s planned resurrection come to fruition.

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 52nd Annual General Assembly ended on an upbeat note with a rallying call for airlines to take specific measures to build resilience and emerge stronger after the crisis.

The prospects for Southern Africa’s economic recovery and future growth, along with securing millions of jobs in the region, has received a welcome boost, with President Ramaphosa’s re-opening of South Africa to all international tourists. However, Chris Zweigenthal, CEO of AASA, said ‘we are not out of the woods yet.'

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging Africa’s health and transport authorities to accelerate and expand the harmonised implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Task Force’s (CART) guidance for the safe resumption of air travel and tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emirates expects a “steep rebound” in air travel to take place once a COVID-19 vaccine is available, according to its chairman and CEO Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

As it continues to work through a Chapter 11 restructuring, Avianca Holdings is planning to emerge from the process as a much leaner airline.

Groundings and layoffs shift attention to pilots’ well-being as well as competency.