Airlines & Lessors

The national carrier of southwestern African state Namibia has ceased operations.

Cathay Pacific will suspend a range of routes because of strict new quarantine rules for crew, dealing a further blow to a network already severely diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccine programs across Europe will translate into strong international traffic growth during the upcoming summer season, according to easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren.

Restructuring could bring more ownership changes in HNA Group’s stable of airlines, airports and lessors.

Irish MRO Atlantic Aviation Group has bought Flybe Aviation Service’s (FAS) former maintenance facility at Brize Norton airbase in the UK. The

Cargojet confirmed Feb. 10 that its recently secured C$365 million ($287 million) in funding will support the acquisition of five Boeing 767 freighters and at least two 777s.

Democratic House lawmakers proposed an additional $26 billion to help struggling airlines, airports and manufacturers survive the air travel downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aer Lingus and Dublin Airports Authority (DAA) have both benefited from financial support from the Irish government.

Lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) foresees a sharp improvement in airlines’ fortunes as early as summer 2021 and remains confident that the industry will regain its pre-pandemic pattern of growth.

With large parts of their fleets still grounded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe’s airlines might be burning precious little fuel at the moment.

While U.S. airlines lost nearly $45 billion in 2020, one unlikely carrier managed to close out 2020 without experiencing a single unprofitable quarter.

Etihad Airways said Feb. 9 that it had become the world’s first airline to have vaccinated all its operating pilots and cabin crew against COVID-19.

Emirates Airline president Tim Clark expects the recovery of air travel to be delayed beyond the upcoming summer season and foresees a substantial return of demand only in the 2021 fourth quarter.

Israel has extended the temporary closure of Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International (TLV) as the country looks to keep out new variants of COVID-19.

Air Canada is suspending service on 17 more routes until April 30 at the earliest as it grapples with new travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

U.S. leisure carrier Allegiant Air is adding 34 new nonstop routes to its summer schedule, plus a further nine limited-time services to support South Dakota’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.

Korean Air plans to reduce its passenger fleet again this year by delaying scheduled deliveries and returning some aircraft to lessors.

AirAsia Group recorded a strong recovery in passenger volumes in the 2020 fourth quarter (Q4), notably in domestic carriage across Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The big lessors are in much better financial shape than their customers, and their market share and influence will only rise as they provide customers financial help.

Sun Country Airlines intends to use a portion of the proceeds from its upcoming IPO (initial public offering) to re-pay a loan from the U.S. government to eliminate some of the more stringent restrictions of the financing package.

Italy reportedly may have to launch a tender at market prices for the sale of assets belonging to nationalized airline Alitalia, in order to get European approval for a relaunch plan for the carrier.

Lessors have been able to increase their share of the in-service aircraft fleet to almost half over the past few decades.

Star Alliance is in the process of giving up its headquarters at Frankfurt Airport.

British Airways is to invest in a sustainable aviation fuel plant to be built in the U.S. and anticipates receiving 7,500 metric tonnes a year of low-carbon jet fuel from the facility beginning at the end of 2022.

Icelandair will be ready to reintroduce its six Boeing 737 MAX once extensive updates and pilot training are completed.