News from FlightGlobal – Page 558
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NewsAirlines would struggle under empty-seat rule: IATA
IATA is opposing any regulation that would require airlines to leave empty seats between passengers, arguing that such a measure would severely affect operators’ economic prospects and yet deliver no “significant improvement in safety” for travellers. Keeping middle seats empty on narrowbodies with standard 3-3 cabin layouts will reduce capacity ...
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NewsQantas puts up another three 787-9s for $350 million
Qantas has secured an additional A$550 million ($350 million) in debt funding, secured against three wholly owned Boeing 787-9s. In March, the airline secured a A$1.05 billion, 2.75% interest loan for 10 years, posting as collateral seven of 11 787-9s described as unencumbered aircraft and “bought with cash in recent ...
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NewsSAS finalises $335 million state-backed credit facility
Scandinavian carrier SAS has signed an agreement for a SKr3.3 billion ($335 million) three-year revolving credit facility which is 90% guaranteed by the Swedish and Danish governments.
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NewsSouth Africa’s Comair files for business rescue
South African carrier Comair has become the latest operator in the country to enter business rescue, as it aims to restructure to deal with the coronavirus crisis. Comair made a pre-tax loss of R645 million ($35 million) for the six months to 31 December. “While we had started making good ...
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NewsVirgin Atlantic to cut over 3,000 jobs and cull 747-400 fleet
UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic is to cut over 3,100 jobs and retire its Boeing 747-400s in an effort to address the financial pressure of the coronavirus crisis. The airline says it will “immediately suspend” the use of all seven of its 747-400s and is still intending to retire four ...
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NewsLufthansa reluctant to accept state aid with conditions attached
Lufthansa Group is holding “intensive talks” with governments in Germany, Austria and Belgium about the provision of state aid to help its airlines survive the coronavirus crisis, but the company appears reluctant to accept any support that comes with conditions attached. In a speech to shareholders at Lufthansa’s annual general ...
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NewsExcessive derotation on landing buckled Delta 757’s fuselage
Portuguese investigators believe a failure to control the derotation of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 resulted in a heavy nose-gear impact severe enough to buckle the fuselage. The aircraft (N543US), arriving in the Azores from New York JFK on 18 August last year, had touched down normally with its ...
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NewsRyanair carries out just 600 scheduled flights in April
Europe’s biggest passenger airline Ryanair operated just 600 scheduled flights carrying 40,000 people in April as the airline was all but grounded by the coronavirus pandemic.
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NewsAsia-Pacific governments cautious on cross-border travel
Asia-Pacific governments are taking a tentative approach to opening up international travel as the coronavirus pandemic starts to abate, with the possibility of a “bubble” containing Australia and New Zealand. In a press briefing following a virtual meeting with Australia’s national cabinet, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Arden said that ...
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NewsQantas puts Project Sunrise on hold
Qantas is putting Project Sunrise on hold, citing the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on air travel. “We do think there is a huge potential for Project Sunrise but the time is not right now given the impact that Covid-19 has had on world travel,” chief executive Alan Joyce said ...
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NewsATSB, ATR clarify ignition settings for flameouts
Following a double engine flameout on a Virgin Australia ATR 72-600, the airframer issued a clarification about the appropriate use of automatic and manual ignition. The incident occurred during the early evening of 13 December 2018 as the aircraft (VH-FVN) operated flight VA660 on the Sydney-Canberra route in stormy weather, ...
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NewsAeroflot Superjet crash probe awaits fire and structural analyses
Russian investigators probing the Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 crash at Moscow Sheremetyevo a year ago are still awaiting results of specific fire and structural analyses before releasing their final findings about the accident. But the Interstate Aviation Committee says some of the work – including US manufacturer Curtiss-Wright’s assessment of ...
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NewsAir Canada expects recovery to take three years
Air Canada incurred a C$1.05 billion ($744 million) net loss in the first quarter of 2020, compared with a C$285 million net profit a year ago, and is warning that it will take “at least three years” for revenue and capacity levels to return to those seen in 2019.
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NewsNorwegian shareholders approve survival plan
Norwegian’s shareholders have voted in favour of its plan to convert debt to equity and relaunch operations with a smaller fleet and fewer destinations from 2021. The airline should now be able to access the rest of its NKr3 billion ($288 million) bailout package from Norway’s government, which is conditional ...
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NewsFlybe administrators work to sell aircraft support operations
Administrators of collapsed UK regional carrier Flybe are finalising the sale of its aircraft support operation, Flybe Aviation Services, which has continued to trade. The EY administrators, in a statement of proposals, say they are aiming to complete the transaction “in the coming days” after receiving offers for the division. ...
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NewsNorwegian secures bondholder and lessor support ahead of crunch vote
Norwegian expects to convert more than Nkr10 billion in debt to equity after reaching agreement with more lessors and bondholders, clearing the path to unlocking crucial further state aid.
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NewsHainan optimistic of rebound amid steep Q1 loss
Hainan Airlines swung back into the red for its first-quarter results for 2020, joining other Chinese carriers who reported losses amid the coronavirus outbreak. However, the carrier, China’s fourth largest, is optimistic its financial results will improve in the second quarter, as it “adjusts its business strategy” and cuts ...
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NewsIcelandair Group reduces cash drain as it faces $200m first-quarter loss
Icelandair Group is expecting employee cuts to reduce its cash outflow by $12 million per month over the next three months, taking into account measures by the government to pay partial salaries. The company is expecting to reveal a first-quarter loss of $208 million when it details its performance for ...
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NewsJuneyao Air slips into first-quarter loss
China’s Juneyao Air swung to a loss in the first quarter of this year and expects further losses for the remaining first half of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic puts a damper on demand. The Shanghai-based carrier posted a net loss of over CNY491 million ($69.5 million) in the first ...
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NewsVirgin Australia targets end-June sale: administrator
Twenty parties are interested in recapitalising Virgin Australia, administrator Deloitte said after the first creditors meeting held virtually on 30 April, and the airline aims to receive binding offers in June. “A large number of parties have expressed an interest, eight have signed non-disclosure agreements and negotiations are continuing with ...