Airlines & Lessors

China Eastern Airlines and Juneyao Airlines said they intend to set up an international airline on Hainan in association with provincial and minimal governments and travel agency Ctrip.

As the COVID-19 lockdown and border closures dragged into their second full month in Singapore, flag-carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) group saw May passenger volume plunge 99.7% year-on-year (YOY).

French all-business-class airline La Compagnie has secured a €10 million ($11.3 million) state-guaranteed loan to help it weather the COVID-19 crisis.

Indian LCC IndiGo plans to use its massive Airbus orderbook to focus in the medium term on fleet modernization rather than growth, CEO Ronojoy Dutta said during a televised interview.

The Qantas Group is moving closer to withdrawing from Vietnam-based Jetstar Pacific, as the joint-venture LCC changes its name and branding to align

Major European (LCCs have stepped up efforts to restore their flight schedules in time for the summer season, with Ryanair and easyJet announcing the restart of some French schedules after a further easing of restrictions.

Ask the Editors: LCCs are nimble and have strategies to stimulate demand for air travel.

Delta Air Lines will test its entire workforce for exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus, as airlines look to reassure passengers and crew about the safety of flying during the ongoing pandemic.

Air Transat plans to be operating eight aircraft for its anticipated resumption of flights on July 23, or 25% of its current fleet, but planned changes will mean some of the remaining aircraft never will return to service for the carrier.

American Airlines sees steady improvement in booking and demand trends heading into the peak summer period, signaling the worst stage of the industry downturn caused by COVID-19 has passed.

ULCC Ryanair plans a swift increase in its schedules over the summer, announced it will restore over 30 routes to and from Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine from July 1.

Air France plans to gradually build up its flight schedule over the coming months as its aims to serve close to 150—or 80%— of its regular destinations this summer.

Cathay Pacific has decided to apply for the Hong Kong government’s wage subsidy program as it confronts the severe financial hit it has taken from the COVID-19 crisis.

Beijing’s municipal government said it will build up international services at its two airports and put particular emphasis on freight services.

Brazilian airline GOL is working to reduce its fleet from 130 Boeing narrowbodies to 100 as it continues to rightsize its operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asiana Airlines has rejected claims that it has not provided sufficient information to prospective buyer Hyundai Development Co. (HDC) as a dispute between the two parties signals major complications in closing the takeover.

Airlines in Malaysia are preparing to resume flights with 100% load factor as the country removes onboard social distancing measures.

The moving of assets and access to technical expertise are cited as some of the biggest challenges for lease returns during the COVID-19 crisis.

Transborder restrictions, weak balance sheets are among the challenges for decimated airline networks.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu is pushing the Canadian government to rethink COVID-19-related travel restrictions, calling the current protocols “disproportionate” and “stifling.”

Ask the Editors: The return to pre-COVID-19 production rates will vary, but manufacturers are aware the process may be slow and arduous.

The president of Namibia has said that the country’s national carrier should be wound up because of its persistent financial losses.

Delta Air Lines estimates total revenues in the current quarter fell 90% from last year, offering a preview of what will likely be the biggest loss-making quarter in airline industry history.

Air Transat plans to resume flights on July 23, gradually rolling out a network of 22 destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, the U.S. and within its home market, parent company Transat A.T. said June 11.