Air Transport

EasyJet founder and shareholder Stelios Haji-Ioannou is insisting that the UK LCC cancel its Airbus order and slim its fleet down to 250 aircraft.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged G20 leaders to act quickly to support the aviation industry in order to prevent irrecoverable damage to international connectivity arising from the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

A research program that could allow the design of future commercial aircraft to begin with the passenger cabin has been launched by German aerospace center DLR.

China’s big three state carriers Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines have released their operating numbers for February, revealing the damage of the COVID-19 lockdown on their performance.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has disrupted operations at U.S. airport towers, approach control facilities and en route centers.

A question for U.S. leaders: Is it worth taking Boeing up on its bailout bid? The answer is likely yes, but not for the obvious reasons.

FLYBONDI, Argentina is suspending operations through end of April due to COVID-19 crisis; it has five 737-800s.

QATAR AIRWAYS has added 10,000 extra seats to its network with extra flights to Paris, Perth and Dublin; it is now operating to 75 destinations

Brazil’s Embraer is analyzing how to start manufacturing ventilators and respirators, replacing components in imported ventilators, and developing

EUROCONTROL reports that year-over-year air traffic in Europe was down 77% (21,254 less flights) on March 24.

ASL AIRLINES IRELAND acquired ex-EAT Leipzig A330-200F (1032); aircraft was originally operated by Etihad Airways Cargo.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES has suspended all service due to COVID-19 crisis; current plans call for restarting on April 15.

AEROMEXICO is cutting domestic capacity by 35% and international capacity by 50%, and has parked 40 aircraft, which it says will probably increase. It

NORTHERN AIR CARGO took delivery of ex-West Atlantic UK 737-400SF (25267) from Cargo Aircraft Management.

China will strengthen its air cargo industry under a new policy that includes encouraging mergers with logistics companies and expanding aircraft fleets.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) commercial passenger flights are now suspended until 11:59 p.m. local time Apr. 7, after the government accelerated its previously announced flight lockdown.

South Africa announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19, triggering the suspension of operations by the country’s airlines.

Air Canada and its pilots have agreed to cost-cutting moves that include reduced pay, modified retirement terms and up to 600 layoffs, the Air Canada Pilots Association said.

U.S. Senators and the Trump Administration reached a preliminary accord that would send U.S. carriers $61 billion in grants and loans to survive an extended period of anemic air travel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid signs that Boeing is hoping to resume production of the 737 MAX in May the company says flight tests of the three current versions of the model, the -7, -8 and -9, are continuing despite the general shutdown of its Puget Sound facilities because of the coronavirus.

QANTAS GROUP secured A$1.05b loan against part of its unencumbered aircraft fleet (seven 787-9s), increasing its available cash to A$2.95b (with

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES expanded its flight schedule reduction to 37.5% (1,500 of about 4,000 daily flights), including all international service, through

AIR CANADA began using 787-8 pax aircraft for cargo-only flights (can carry >77,000 lb) to Europe and (later) South America.

TDA, The Netherlands acquired ex-Virgin America/Alaska A320-200 (3359) for part out; aircraft was manufactured in late 2007.

ACI reports year-over-year pax growth of 1.9% in January; cargo dropped 4.4%.