Airlines & Lessors

Air cargo operators are gearing up to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine while fighting to overcome a capacity shortage.

Transat AT shareholders voted Dec. 15 to approve a revised takeover bid from Air Canada, marking a key step forward for the planned acquisition of Canada’s third-largest airline.

Outgoing IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac has indicated that further slot-rule waivers may no longer be needed once traffic stabilizes at 60-70% of 2019 levels.

December is shaping up to be the weakest air travel month in the U.S. since August, as rising COVID-19 case counts and new government restrictions threaten to undo the modest demand improvement seen during the 2020 third quarter.

IATA has renewed its call for governments to ensure that aviation-sector employees are counted among the essential workers who will receive COVID-19 vaccines early.

Los Angeles has been earmarked by Starlux Airlines as the Taiwanese carrier’s first U.S. destination as it builds on plans to grow its international network.

Qantas subsidiary Jetstar is planning to increase domestic flying during the first quarter of 2021 amid strong travel demand in Australia and the reopening of state borders.

TAP Air Portugal plans to reduce its fleet to 88 aircraft and cut 2,000 positions under a restructuring proposal, which has been submitted to the European Commission (EC) for approval.

The European Commission (EC) has approved state aid totaling more than €135 million ($164 million) to French leisure carrier Corsair.

United Airlines’ declaration that it aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 goes beyond the obvious goal of emissions reduction.

British Airways (BA) has formed a partnership with hydrogen-electric flight specialist ZeroAvia, aimed at accelerating the technology for commercial aviation.

AirAsia X, the long-haul subsidiary of LCC AirAsia, is looking to raise up to MYR500 million ($123 million) through a rights issue and offering stock to new investors.

Germany’s air transport sector committed to reaching net zero emissions as it rolled out its “masterplan climate protection” on Dec. 14., but tied the target to strong political support in replacing fleets and bringing synthetic fuels to market.

Virgin Atlantic has pulled the planned launch of two routes between the UK and India that had been scheduled to start during the coming weeks.

Flybondi has resumed domestic flights in Argentina after backtracking on a decision not to transfer Buenos Aries operations to Ministro Pistarini International (EZE) while El Palomar (EPA remains closed.

A business model that has long had its doubters will be facing tougher competition in the post-pandemic era.

Demand trends during the pandemic and recovery should favor LCCs over larger legacy airlines.

U.S. airlines shed 37,000 employees from their payrolls following the expiration of the CARES Act Payroll Support Program (PSP) in October.

South African LCC Lift has started services, entering a market that has been roiled by several airlines struggling for survival.

Virgin Atlantic has launched a new health-testing regime for passengers departing London Heathrow Airport as part of a study to validate the benefits of pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

Canadian North and Air Greenland have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to explore partnership opportunities for air service and sustainable tourism development between Greenland and Canada.

Southwest Airlines is not backing down from plans to aggressively expand into new markets, even after warning thousands of employees of possible furloughs beginning early in 2021.

Irish carrier Aer Lingus is seeking permission to enter the UK-U.S. transatlantic market from next summer, with an initial three routes planned from a new base at Manchester Airport (MAN).

A rebound in its charter business and a new cargo operation with Amazon are helping ULCC Sun Country Airlines weather the COVID-19 crisis better than its larger legacy peers.

Ask the Editors: Aviation will see less demand due to COVID-19, so the introduction of long-haul narrowbodies is unlikely to gain steam.