Norwegian Air Shuttle said it was operating nine aircraft after “positive” Christmas bookings, representing a small improvement in its activities from the six aircraft it had been operating in previous weeks.
Lessor BOC Aviation has reported a fairly stable year-on-year operational performance for 2020, while AerCap appeared to report a more significant drop in its full-year activity as COVID-19 took its toll.
Air New Zealand has expanded the number of quarantine-free routes it flies to Australia, although airlines are still waiting for a two-way bubble to emerge before a significant rebound in this market can occur.
Eastern Airlines has launched a 2X-weekly flight between Miami International (MIA) and Asunción (ASU), adding direct service to Paraguay’s capital city.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to restore ties with Qatar, ending a blockade that has been in place for more than three years.
The Tata group’s purchase of a larger holding in joint venture AirAsia India (AAI) could help spur consolidation in the Indian airline industry as it rebounds from the COVID-19 crisis.
Ethiopian Airlines, DHL and African Electronic Trade Group (AeTrade Group) were among the first companies to transport cargo under the new African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which became operational on Jan. 1.
Amazon has purchased 11 used Boeing 767s from Delta Air Lines and WestJet, as the online retailer looks to expand the size of its cargo operation to accommodate surging e-commerce and global freight demand.
Nigerian domestic carrier Azman Air is planning to add another Airbus A340-600, three Boeing 737-800s and five regional aircraft, under an ambitious growth strategy for 2021.
The blockade imposed on the State of Qatar and consequently its flag-carrier Qatar Airways by neighbors including Saudi Arabia and the UAE has been lifted.
Emirates Airline launched scheduled premium economy class services on Jan. 4 between Dubai (DXB) and London Heathrow (LHR) aboard its recently delivered Airbus A380.
China Eastern’s new subsidiary OTT Airlines is planning to launch at least five routes during the first quarter of 2021 as it seeks to gain a foothold in China’s domestic market.
The board of Vietnam Airlines has approved a proposal for the flag carrier to issue VND8 trillion ($346 million) worth of new shares to tide it over for 2021.
Airlines For America (A4A) is urging the U.S. government to expand required testing of international airline travelers for COVID-19 and lessen restrictions on travel between the U.S. and foreign destinations.
France plans a recapitalization for Air France-KLM to help it face up to the post-COVID-19 operating environment, transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said Jan. 3.
Canada is adding another layer onto its travel restrictions through a requirement that all travelers entering the country must present a negative COVID-19 test while maintaining a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
European air traffic is set to return to just 51% of 2019 levels in 2021 according to the latest forecast by the continent’s network manager Eurocontrol, highlighting the challenges European airlines face as the new year gets underway.
