The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) has finalized its order spelling out minimum service levels for carriers receiving federal aid, adding greater flexibility for ULCCs and smaller airlines while sticking to the general goal of preserving connectivity for all regions during the COVID-19 crisis.
IATA’s latest Airline Safety Report shows commercial aviation accidents fell to 53 in 2019, compared with 62 in the prior year, equating to 1.13 accidents per million flights.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s updated guidance on aviation-specific loans available via the $2 trillion stimulus package indicated that applications will start being accepted soon but leaves several large questions about the $46 billion program unanswered.
Eurocontrol’s member states have agreed to let airlines defer the payment of up to €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) in air traffic control (ATC) fees in the coming months.
IATA plans to hold a series of regional meetings with governments and other stakeholders to determine under what conditions air traffic can be resumed once the coronavirus crisis is under better control.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has extended the temporary ban on all international flights to the country from April 6 to April 18 as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) is urging aviation stakeholders to only seek financial help from Malaysia’s government “as a last resort” with fiscal resources stretched amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Aviation industry labor unions called on the U.S. government to enforce medical guidelines to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, saying their members risk ongoing exposure to infection despite a dramatic decline in air travel.
Transport ministers in France, Germany, Italy and Spain have written to European Commissioner for Transport Adina-Ioana Valean asking for funding to help COVID-19 crisis-hit transport companies.
The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) has put airlines on notice that customers must be “refunded promptly” for all flights canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The three largest unions representing U.S. airlines flight attendants called on U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin not to seek ownership stakes in carriers receiving federal grants, warning that doing so could lead to massive job losses if airlines decide to forego aid.
Airlines need more stringent requirements to ensure pilots are protected from exposure to COVID-19, and the FAA should enforce U.S. Centers of Disease Control guidance on making workers aware of exposure to sick colleagues and ensuring work areas are adequately cleaned, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said.
Updated EASA guidance for operators still flying during the coronavirus pandemic recommends masks for most crew members and suggests turning off recirculation fans to help refresh cabin air more often.
The Turkish government has announced strict measures in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country, banning all international flying from the end of March 27 until May 1.
A trade group representing leisure airlines and ULCCs said the U.S. Government’s proposed “continuation of service” obligation for carriers receiving federal aid unfairly discriminates against airlines with seasonal demand profiles.
The FAA has released long-awaited policy on using video links and other “remote technology” to conduct inspections and help validate regulatory compliance, adding to a growing set of procedural changes meant to accommodate social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
The European Commission (EC) has approved a French scheme allowing airlines to defer the payment of some taxes to help them weather the COVID-19 crisis by reducing pressure on their cash flows.
A group of nine U.S. Senators urged U.S. carriers to issue full cash refunds to customers for all flight cancellations made during the COVID-19 crisis.
Air navigation service providers (ANSPs), particularly those that are privately owned, are taking tough steps to ensure they can survive the slump in air traffic caused by the coronavirus crisis.
