Airlines & Lessors

Russia’s largest airline Aeroflot plans to carry more than 1 million passengers from its new eastern Siberia hub in Krasnoyarsk this year.

A senior Spirit Airlines executive defended the ULCC business model on Capitol Hill, telling U.S. lawmakers that Spirit’s low fares empower first-time and infrequent flyers to select air transportation over other forms of travel.

Icelandair Group has taken another step toward disposing its portfolio of hotels, after fulfilling all conditions relating to the sale to Malaysia’s Berjaya Land Berhad.

Japan Airlines (JAL) will increase the scope of its India network through a significant expansion of its codeshare partnership with Indian full-service carrier Vistara.

With COVID-19 coronavirus cases multiplying in South Korea, Iran and Italy, Singapore has taken more steps to mitigate the risk.

A series of alliance deals signals American Airlines’ refusal to back down over its latest setback to Delta Air Lines in South America.

An aggressive cost cutting exercise could not help Thai Airways avert a chain of unforeseen disruptions as the flag carrier’s net loss for 2019 widened to THB12 billion ($380 million) from THB11.6 billion in 2018.

American Airlines and Delta Air Lines both suspended operations to Milan, as Europe’s worst outbreak of COVID-19 shows no sign of abating.

Kenya Airways’ directors have appointed Allan Kilavuka as the airline’s Group MD and CEO, effective Apr. 1.

Jeju Air has signed a deal confirming the purchase of a majority stake in fellow South Korean LCC Eastar Jet at a reduced price than previously estimated.

European airlines announced a new swath of cuts to service Mar. 2 as a result of the spreading COVID-19 epidemic.

Delta Air Lines will further ramp-up its presence at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), signaling an intention to fight back against the revamped West Coast alliance between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Provincial authorities of Hainan, China are interested in acquiring stakes in the foreign aviation assets of HNA Group, though nationalization of Hainan Airlines remains the focus of talks for rescuing the group, three sources familiar with the discussions said.

Vietnam’s Bamboo Airways will be launching flights to Munich from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi starting July 2020, as it begins to study more long-haul operations ahead of its planned flights to the U.S.

Tallinn-based Regional Jet is relaunching itself with a new identity, Xfly, as it seeks to capitalize on the growing requirement for capacity providers in Europe.

Chinese mainland airlines could lose almost CNY100 billion ($14.3 billion) if the coronavirus epidemic lasts 4-5 months, local aviation data company VariFlight said.

Luxemburg-based SES, which operates and is planning a multi-orbit constellation of satellites including the medium Earth orbit O3b system, will look to spin off its data business with a remaining, restructured company to focus on video services to airliners, ocean liners and the direct-to-home market, executives said March 2.

The aircraft leasing industry has been booming over many years, but now has too many players in the market to sustain good lease rates.

United Airlines became the first North American carrier to reduce service to Japan and Singapore on Feb. 28, reflecting intensified concerns about the spread of COVID-19 beyond China.

Lufthansa will further reduce capacity to contain the financial damage incurred by the continuing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Mexican ULCC Volaris is bracing for significant delays in Airbus deliveries for 2021 and has already baked in potential delays into its 2020 capacity forecast.

Avianca executives are confident that the carrier’s financial performance will trend toward profitability this year, following a challenging 2019 that saw the Bogota-based airline realize a net loss of close to $900 million.

Finnair issued a profit warning Feb. 28 and withdrew its previous capacity guidance of 4% growth for 2020, as it adjusts network capacity over the next several months to better fit demand related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The South African government is planning a new cash infusion to try to put financially troubled South African Airways (SAA) on a sound footing.

UK LCC easyJet is taking steps to cut back on discretionary costs in a bid to offset the expected impact of the COVID-19 virus on operations as demand slows.