News from FlightGlobal – Page 457
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NewsDraft plan indicates restructured SAA would lose R20bn in first three years
Preliminary projections for a restructured South African Airways indicate the carrier would lose close to R20 billion ($1.1 billion) over the first three years, before it started turning a profit. The operation would have a fleet of 40 aircraft, according to a draft business plan obtained by the country’s political ...
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NewsJet2 parent to focus on airline after selling logistics business
UK budget carrier Jet2’s parent, Dart Group, has sold its sister logistics business to investor Culina Group. The divestment of Fowler Welch, for a gross cash consideration of £98 million, leaves Dart Group able to concentrate exclusively on the leisure airline operation. Jet2 is based at Leeds Bradford airport and ...
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NewsHong Kong airport gradually reopens to transit passengers
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has, from today, resumed allowing some transit passengers to use the airport. “From 1 June 2020 until further notice, only transit/transfer passengers who have been checked through at the origin port and take transit/transfer flights operated by the same airline group are accepted at HKIA,” ...
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NewsEmirates concludes that job cuts are required as coronavirus takes toll
Emirates plans to cut an unspecified number of jobs as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on the Gulf carrier. The Dubai-based airline said on 31 May that it has come to the conclusion that “we unfortunately have to say goodbye to a few of the wonderful people that worked ...
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NewsCompetition watchdog keeps eye on Qantas’ stake in Alliance
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has provided an update on its investigation into Qantas’ acquisition of a 19.9% stake in Alliance Aviation, the parent company of Alliance Airlines, on 1 February 2019. “The Australian aviation industry is in a state of major upheaval and now, more than ever, ...
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NewsBritish Airways boosts two 777s’ cargo capacity
Two of British Airways’ Boeing 777-200s have had their seats and interiors removed to increase their cargo-carrying capacity. One of the jets is today being flown to Beijing in order to collect personal protective equipment, food, medicine, and other cargo. “With demand for passenger travel still very low, working with ...
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NewsDemand for air travel to remain low until 2023: S&P
Airlines face a prolonged uphill climb before air travel demand recovers to pre-pandemic levels, as passenger numbers are likely to remain below last year’s levels until 2023, S&P Global Ratings has suggested in a new report. The ratings agency forecasts a “swoosh-shaped” recovery in which, after plummeting up to 55% ...
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NewsWake-vortex crash probe baffled by tight separation decision
Investigators have not been able to explain why the captain of a Diamond Aircraft DA62 calibration flight repeatedly breached minimum separation distances from commercial traffic at Dubai before a fatal wake-turbulence accident. Analysis of the accident sequence indicates the UK Flight Calibration Services DA62, conducting approaches to runway 30L, had ...
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NewsLufthansa board approves revision to financial aid conditions
Lufthansa Group’s executive board has accepted European Commission commitments in order to secure a financial package negotiated with a federal German stabilisation fund. But the supervisory board must still back the commitments, after it previously withheld approval. The company claims the scope of the conditions “has been reduced” compared with ...
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NewsMD-82 almost stalled at low level after go-around thrust overlooked
Bulgarian investigators have revealed that a Boeing MD-82 almost stalled while nose-high at low level, after the crew did not engage go-around thrust during a missed approach at Tarbes-Lourdes airport. The Bulgarian Air Charter aircraft descended to about 40ft while still nearly 500m from the runway, flying close to the ...
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NewsIATA criticises South American governments for lack of aviation support
Airline trade group IATA has criticised Latin American governments for essentially leaving their airlines out to dry as the coronavirus devastates the industry in the region, questioning when the sector will return to its previous strength or even if individual carriers can survive the pandemic at all.
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NewsAdient Aerospace upbeat as it unveils new single-aisle business-class seat
Despite the immediate impact of the coronavirus on air transport, seating manufacturer Adient Aerospace – part owned by Boeing – is pressing ahead with the launch of a new lie-flat business-class seat for single-aisle jets.
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NewsSAA rescuers request time to consult on government proposals
South African Airways’ rescue practitioners are seeking an extension to the deadline for publishing a business plan for the troubled flag-carrier. Under South African legislation a business plan is normally required within 25 days of a company entering business rescue, but extensions can be granted if necessary. SAA, however, has ...
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NewsNorway to extend airline loan guarantee scheme
Norway’s government plans to extend its state loan guarantee scheme for airlines until the end of October saying the crisis is lasting longer than envisaged when the programme was intially launched.
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NewsANA Holdings undertakes $3.3 billion debt financing
All Nippon Airways’ parent company has decided to undertake a fresh round of debt financing from the Development Bank of Japan, amounting to Y350 billion ($3.3 billion). The agreement is subject to a 29 June borrowing deadline and the debt financing will be repaid over the long term, “determined by ...
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NewsKuwait Airways to lay off 1,500 staff
Kuwait Airways is to shed 1,500 foreign personnel in response to the problems presented by the coronavirus crisis. The flag-carrier states that the “difficult decision” follows the “great hardships that the company is facing” as a result of the impact on the air transport sector. As a result of the ...
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NewsUIA expects to restore long-haul hub services next year
Ukraine International Airlines is to put 14 aircraft into operation once it starts restoring services, as it expects government restrictions to lift on 15 June. But chief executive Yevhenii Dykhne says it has “stopped employing” around 900 personnel following a “substantial decline” in the airline’s operations. “We aim at sustaining ...
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NewsChallenges ahead in Thai Airways business rehabilitation
The 60-year-old Thai Airways International, now in court-supervised business rehabilitation, carries the burden of legacy issues, a history of failed restructuring and transformations, and being ill-equipped to tackle industry challenges.
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NewsSAS pushes A320neo deliveries to 2024
SAS has agreed with Airbus to delay delivery of four A320neos and is in talks with the airframer on further deferrals as the Scandinavian carrier prepares for a slow recovery in traffic after the coronavirus crisis.
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NewsBullish Wizz to open Milan and Larnaca bases in July
Central European budget carrier Wizz Air has given a further indication of its expansive approach to the post-crisis environment by detailing plans to open bases at Milan Malpensa and the Cypriot resort of Larnaca.