KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Gradually Increases Capacity

After a hard stop in April, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has revealed gradually increasing capacity for the summer months. In July the carrier expects to operate 5,000 European flights and in August – 11,000. Intercontinental numbers are around 1,900 in July and 2,100 in August.

As to intercontinental flights, these are restored more slowly because of travel restrictions still in force in many countries globally. Therefore, intercontinental numbers are around 1,900 in July and 2,100 in August.

Currently on half of intercontinental flights KLM carries only cargo. Nevertheless, the company hopes after softening travel restrictions, these numbers will increase.

In April KLM operated 1,116 flights within Europe and 612 intercontinental flights.

As to destinations, “KLM has opted to restart as many destinations as possible first in order to offer customers a wide choice and then to increase frequencies and capacity”.

This means that in July around 80 percent of the normal number of European destinations and around 75 percent of intercontinental destinations (half of flights only cargo) will be offered. In August this will be around 95 percent and 80 percent respectively.

Although a total of 20,000 flights for the two busiest months of the peak season is not a skyrocketing record (compared to 2019, when KLM in the months of July and August KLM operated a total of some 22,000 flights), it is still a positive trend compared to April.

Credit: Aviation Voice

Bombardier concludes sale of CRJ Series

Bombardier concludes sale of CRJ Series regional jet program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Bombardier has closed the previously announced sale of the CRJ Series aircraft program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, for a cash consideration of approximately US$550 million, subject to post-closing adjustments and the assumption of liabilities by MHI related to credit and residual value guarantees and lease subsidies amounting to approximately US$200 million. Under the agreement, the Corporation’s net beneficial interest in the Regional Aircraft Securitization Program (RASPRO), which is valued at approximately US$170 million, has been transferred to MHI.

Through this sale, MHI acquires the maintenance, support, refurbishment, marketing, and sales activities for the CRJ Series aircraft, including the related services and support network located in Montréal, Québec, and Toronto, Ontario, and its service centers located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Tucson, Arizona, as well as the type certificates.

Bombardier will continue to supply components and spare parts and will assemble the remaining 15 CRJ aircraft in the backlog as of March 31, 2020 on behalf of MHI until the complete delivery of the current backlog, expected in the second half of 2020.

Bombardier retains certain liabilities representing a portion of the credit and residual value guarantees totaling US$288 million as of March 31, 2020. This amount is largely fixed and not subject to future changes in aircraft value and is mainly payable by Bombardier over the next four years.

 AvTourNet Group

Ryanair makes U-turn, opts for all-Boeing fleet

Having had talks with Airbus in March 2019 about a potential order for 100 A321s and thus create a dual Airbus-Boeing fleet of aircraft, Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier, has announced its intention to cancel any existing deliveries of Airbus aircraft, all of which would have been from leasing companies.  As part of the U-turn, Ryanair CEO told Reuters news agency that 30 jets destined for its Lauda subsidiary would be replaced with Boeing 737 jets, of which Ryanair currently has 450. Currently O’Leary sees holding any talks with Airbus as a waste of time, saying that:  “We would not initiate talks with Airbus until such time as Airbus wants to initiate talks with us,” adding that: “Until they need an order from the Ryanair Group, frankly we are wasting our time talking to Airbus.”  Until the Covid-19 pandemic decimated worldwide air travel, Ryanair had anticipated expanding the Lauda fleet from 23 to 38 Airbus jets by the summer of this year, but instead it is now in talks with unions at Lauda concerning a new labor agreement and also pay cuts. As the Austrian union is currently refusing to engage in negotiations with Ryanair, O’Leary has made it very clear that if nothing changes, he will simply close down the home base of Lauda in Austria. He also made it clear that talks with Boeing regarding a new order and possible compensation for losses incurred through the grounding of the 737 would be unlikely to conclude before a previously given deadline of May 18-19 and that such negotiations would be unlikely to conclude until the grounding of the 737 was lifted, which is currently expected to be in August or September this year. Credit: AviTrader

Emirates posts 32nd consecutive year of profit

The Emirates Group has posted a US$456 million profit for the full year 2019/2020, that ended on March 31, 2020, down 28% from the previous year. Emirates recorded a 5% revenue fall to US$28.3 billion with a 15% cash balance increase to US$7 billion. The company announced that it is not paying a dividend in order to protect its liquidity.  During the year, the airline took delivery of six A380s from Airbus and retired six of its older (4 B777-300ER, 1 B777-300 and 1 B777-200F) aircraft. As part of its long term fleet planning, in November 2019, Emirates announced an order for 50 A350-900 XWB and 30 B787-9 aircraft at list prices of US$24.8 billion. The latest generation A350 and B787-9 aircraft will be delivered to Emirates starting from financial year 2023 and the aircraft will complement Emirates’ fleet mix, support network growth, and give more flexibility to serve seasonal or opportunistic demand better. With this, Emirates now has on order 203 aircraft – 8 A380, 50 A350, 115 B777-X and 30 B787-9, excluding options and purchase rights. Credit: AviTrader

Emirates SkyCargo operating 100 daily cargo flights

Emirates SkyCargo is leading the global cargo industry during these critical times in delivering essential supplies and commodities to people around the world, operating close to 100 daily cargo flights to a destination network spanning more than 65 cities across six continents.

The air-cargo carrier is currently operating 11 Boeing 777 freighter aircraft, each with a capacity to transport about 100 tonnes of cargo per flight and around 60 of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft as dedicated cargo aircraft, with a 40-50 tonne belly hold cargo capacity per flight.

In a bid to further optimise cargo operations and capacity, Emirates SkyCargo has also started loading cargo in the overhead bins and seats of its Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft. This move has been made in response to growing customer demand out of key markets.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo said: "We took a measured approach to the loading of cargo inside the cabins of our Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft. Safety of our people and operations is the first priority for us and we had to therefore evaluate the demand from the market against potential risks to our operations. We have now, after a complete evaluation, rolled out a detailed set of guidelines and procedures including strict rules on the kind of cargo that can be loaded inside the cabin."

"We have operated flights from stations such as Tokyo and New Delhi with cargo in the overhead bins and seats and are now in a position to be able to safely and optimally respond to customer demands for additional cargo capacity from main global production markets. We will be operating more flights over the coming weeks with cargo in both the belly as well as inside the main cabin. In addition, we are also looking at other measures including the removal of seats from select aircraft to deploy on high demand trade lanes," added Sultan.

For the loading of cargo in the seats and overhead bins inside the passenger cabin of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the air-cargo carrier has developed a robust set of guidelines for its global teams on handling procedures and has also introduced a smart calculator application to help its employees around the world to calculate optimal loading capacity inside the passenger cabin.

Emirates SkyCargo is able to provide up to 24 tonnes of additional cargo capacity with complete loading of overhead bins and seats in its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Source: khaleejtimes

Air Arabia cuts jobs due to Covid-19 crisis

Sharjah-based airline has made 57 redundancies 'taking into consideration the current market realities'

Air Arabia, the UAE's only listed airline, is reducing its workforce by about three per cent, joining global carriers in taking measures to cope with the plunge in air traffic demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Sharjah-based carrier, which has about 2,000 employees in total, cut 57 jobs this week, a spokesperson confirmed in an emailed statement.

"It is unfortunate that we had to take the decision to lay off a small number of our staff members this week," the statement said. "This is the first time in our history that we were forced to do so taking into consideration the current market realities.”

Airlines around the world are taking unprecedented measures to survive and preserve cash by slashing flight schedules, grounding planes, and undertaking staff furloughs or lay-offs. The International Air Transport Association, an industry lobby group representing some 290 airlines, forecasts global carriers could lose $314 billion (Dh1.15bn) in passenger revenue this year – a 55 per cent drop compared to 2019.

Low-cost carrier Air Arabia, along with other UAE airlines, suspended scheduled passenger flights since March 25, but operates a mix of repatriation flights and cargo services.

Air Arabia did not provide information on the type of jobs that it had cut.

"Since the start of Covid-19 outbreak, we have taken a series of measures to protect the jobs of our employees while sustaining the business," Air Arabia spokesperson said. "We will continue to do everything possible to safeguard our employees by keeping layoffs to the minimum and only as a last resort."

Other Gulf carriers have also announced measures to cope with the worst crisis in the aviation industry's history, including cutting salaries and asking staff to take unpaid leave.

The pandemic "had an impact on the aviation industry, which is forcing airlines all around the world to seek aid and escalate internal measures to ensure their business continuity", the Air Arabia spokesperson said.

Reuters had earlier reported the Air Arabia job cuts.

Iata has repeatedly urged governments around the world to protect their airlines with urgent financial rescue packages or risk their collapse along with job losses.

Source: thenational.ae

Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs in the U.K.

Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.

The shock announcement comes after rival British Airways said it could not rule out closing its Gatwick operation. Pilots' union Balpa described it as "devastating".

Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.

The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people. Virgin Atlantic, which is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the government, said that jobs will be lost across the board.

"We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many," said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss.

'Dire situation'

Balpa the union said: "This is another terrible blow for the industry and is evidence of the dire situation facing UK aviation. Balpa general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: "Our members and all staff in Virgin Atlantic will be shocked by the scale of this bombshell. We will be challenging Virgin very hard to justify this." Virgin Atlantic also said it will move its flying programme from Gatwick to Heathrow. It said it intended to keep its slots at Gatwick "so it can return in line with customer demand".

However, Mr Weiss said there was no certainty when the air travel industry would recover from the coronavirus crisis.

"After 9/11 and the global financial crisis, we took similar painful measures but fortunately many members of our team were back flying with us within a couple of years.

"Depending on how long the pandemic lasts and the period of time our planes are grounded for, hopefully the same will happen this time."

Gatwick said the company was "very saddened" to hear of Virgin Atlantic's plans.

The airline has flown from the airport since 1984, and Gatwick said: "Virgin Atlantic will always be welcome at Gatwick and we will continue our efforts to explore ways to restart the airline's operations as soon as possible, in the knowledge that they intend to retain their slot portfolio at Gatwick for when demand returns."

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of aviation industry group Airlines UK, said: "The challenges facing UK aviation cannot be overstated. There is currently close to zero passenger demand and many airlines have ceased operations altogether.

"We do not know when countries will start to reopen their borders, or whether restrictions will remain in place for some time.

"Airlines are having to adapt to a sector that will be smaller and leaner in future, with no guarantees as to when we will return to pre-crisis levels."

It was 28% at British Airways. Now 30% of jobs will be lost at Virgin Atlantic.

The UK's aviation sector is shrinking in size. No airline or airport is immune.

Virgin Atlantic was Gatwick's ninth-largest airline, so it's a blow, but not a knock-out punch.

However, British Airways, which is Gatwick's second-biggest customer, has indicated that it also might not restart its Gatwick operation.

If BA does pull out, it would carry deeper ramifications. Just a few weeks ago, several UK airports had elaborate, expensive and very controversial expansion plans in the pipeline. The big ones were operating at or very near capacity.

But the whole aviation sector is living a new reality. When lockdown restrictions ease and flight schedules are increased again, there will be fewer passengers, fewer and probably more expensive flights and sadly thousands of cabin crew, pilots and ground staff will have lost their jobs.

And the consensus is that it will take years for the aviation sector to bounce back to where it was before the pandemic.

Commenting on its own future, Gatwick said: "We remain very optimistic about the long-term prospects of Gatwick Airport and our resilience as a business, and having remained open throughout this pandemic we are in a strong position to extend our current operations quickly to meet demand."

Other airlines have already announced that they intend to cut jobs because of the collapse in demand for travel due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, British Airways said it was set to cut up to 12,000 jobs from its 42,000-strong workforce. It also told staff that its Gatwick airport operation might not reopen after the pandemic passes.

Ryanair has also said it will cut 3,000 jobs - 15% of its workforce - with boss Michael O'Leary saying the move was "the minimum that we need just to survive the next 12 months".

Virgin Atlantic said it had begun a 45-day consultation period on the job losses with unions Balpa and Unite.

Virgin Atlantic also plans to reduce the size of its fleet of aircraft from 45 to 35 by the summer of 2022.

It hopes to restore about 60% of its pre-pandemic flying capacity by the end of 2020.

Meanwhile, the airline industry has said it must be ready with a series of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus before air travel can resume.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it recommended mandatory face-coverings for passengers and masks for crew, as one of several actions to reduce what it called "the already low risk of contracting Covid-19 on board aircraft".

Source: bbc

US airlines burn more than $10bn in cash a month as passenger demand plummets

US airlines are collectively burning more than $10 billion (Dh36.7bn) in cash per month and averaging fewer than two dozen passengers per domestic flight in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, industry trade group Airlines for America said in prepared testimony ahead of a US Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Even after grounding more than 3,000 aircraft, or nearly 50 per cent of the active US fleet, the group said its member carriers, which include the four largest US airlines, are averaging just 17 passengers per domestic flight and 29 passengers per international flight.

"The US airline industry will emerge from this crisis a mere shadow of what it was just three short months ago," the group's chief executive, Nicholas Calio, will say, according to his prepared testimony.

Net booked passengers have fallen by nearly 100 per cent year-on-year, the testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee said. The group warned that if air carriers were to refund all tickets, including those purchased as nonrefundable or those cancelled by a passenger instead of the carrier, "this will result in negative cash balances that will lead to bankruptcy".

US airlines have cancelled hundreds of thousands of flights, including 80 per cent or more of scheduled flights into June as US passenger traffic has fallen by 95 per cent since March. They are conducting additional cleaning measures and requiring all passengers to wear facial coverings.

Mr Calio said airlines "anticipate a long and difficult road ahead … History has shown that air transport demand has never experienced a V-shaped recovery from a downturn".

The US Treasury has awarded nearly $25bn in cash grants to airlines to help them meet payroll costs in exchange for them agreeing not to lay off workers until September 30. Major airlines have warned they will likely need to make additional cuts later this year to respond to a long-term decline in travel demand.

United Airlines said on Monday it plans to cut at least 3,450 management and administrative workers on October 1, or 30 per cent of those workers.

Also testifying at the hearing on the state of the aviation sector is Eric Fanning, who heads the Aerospace Industries Association. Boeing said last week it will cut 16,000 jobs by the end of the year, while GE Aviation plans to cut up to 13,000 jobs and aircraft supplier Spirit AeroSystems is cutting 1,450 jobs.

Todd Hauptli, who heads the American Association of Airport Executives, will also testify.

Source: thenational.ae

Passenger demand won't return to pre-crisis levels until 2023: Emirates, Etihad

Two of the Middle East’s biggest airlines are warning that 85% of carriers globally face insolvency by the end of the year without government intervention. Passenger demand won’t return to pre-crisis levels until 2023, Emirates President Tim Clark and Tony Douglas, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, warned in a joint statement issued by the US-UAE. Business Council.

The coronavirus has wiped out demand across the world, including the neighboring hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi that serve as homes for Emirates, the industry’s largest long-haul carrier, and Etihad, respectively

Lasting restrictions such as two-week quarantines, testing and social distancing will impact demand and operations, they said, adding that the way passengers fly will be different until an effective vaccine becomes widely available

Dubai-owned Emirates received assurances for government support last month.

Airlines have been hit with an unprecedented near-total shutdown of travel as the health emergency sweeps across continents and governments close borders and order populations to stay at home. About 70% of global carrier capacity is idled and the industry stands to lose $314 billion in 2020 in ticket sales, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Source: Arabian Business

American Airlines retires Embraer E190 and Boeing 767 fleets

As flying schedules and aircraft needs are fine-tuned during this period of record low demand, the carrier will take the unique step of retiring a total of five aircraft types.

American has officially retired the Embraer E190 and Boeing 767 fleets, which were originally scheduled to retire by the end of 2020.The airline has also accelerated the retirement of its Boeing 757s and Airbus A330-300s. Additionally, American is retiring 19 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft operated by PSA Airlines.

These changes remove operating complexity and will bring forward cost savings and efficiencies associated with operating fewer aircraft types. It will also help American focus on flying more advanced aircraft as it continues receiving new deliveries of the Airbus A321neo and the Boeing 737 MAX and 787 family. American’s narrow-body fleet also becomes more simplified with just two cockpit types – the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 families. This benefits American’s operational performance through training efficiency and streamlined maintenance.

Source: AviTrader

Boeing posts 1st-quarter net loss of US$641 million, will reduce workforce

Boeing has posted first-quarter revenue of US$16.9 billion, net loss amounted to US$641 million, primarily reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 and the 737 MAX grounding. Boeing recorded operating cash flow of US$-4.3 billion.

As the pandemic continues to reduce airline passenger traffic, Boeing sees significant impact on the demand for new commercial airplanes and services, with airlines delaying purchases for new jets, slowing delivery schedules and deferring elective maintenance. To align the business for the new market reality, Boeing is taking several actions that include reducing commercial airplane production rates. The company also announced a leadership and organizational restructuring to streamline roles and responsibilities, and plans to reduce overall staffing levels with a voluntary layoff program and additional workforce actions as necessary.

Boeing has also taken action to manage near-term liquidity, as it has drawn on a term loan facility; reduced operating costs and discretionary spending; extended the existing pause on share repurchases and suspended dividends until further notice; reduced or deferred research and development and capital expenditures; and eliminated CEO and Chairman pay for the year. Access to additional liquidity will be critical for Boeing and the aerospace manufacturing sector to bridge to
recovery, and the company is actively exploring all of the available options. Boeing believes it will be able to obtain sufficient liquidity to fund its operations.

Source: AviTrader

Crisis at British Airways as U.K.s flag carrier plans to lay off 12,000 staff

Having posted its worst-ever quarterly loss, British Airways (BA), part of IAG, has announced its intention to lay off over 25% of its 45,000-strong workforce. Alex Cruz, BA CEO, has written to staff making it clear that there is little point in continuing with the U.K. government furlough scheme where 80% of staff wages up to a maximum of £2,500 per month are covered by the U.K. taxpayer as that could never be  a long-term solution and there was no sign of any bailout from the British taxpayer. 

In his letter, Cruz said: "In the last few weeks, the outlook for the aviation industry has worsened further and we must take action now. We are a strong, well-managed business that has faced into, and overcome, many crises in our hundred-year history. We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too. There is no Government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely. We will see some airlines go out of business." 

Currently, in Europe, Germany’s Lufthansa is preparing to file for bankruptcy if it is unable to secure an €8 billion rescue package from the German Government. Virgin Atlantic has been turned down for a £500 million U.K. taxpayer loan and Sir Richard Branson is now actively seeking private investment in the long-haul, trans-Atlantic carrier. 

IAG has also announced first-quarter revenue had fallen 13 per cent with operating losses of £535 million, while also being hit by a €1.3 billion charge for financial hedges on fuel and foreign currency. IAG, which also owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, has also warned that with passenger numbers falling by 94 per cent, “The group expects its operating loss in the second quarter to be significantly worse than in the first quarter. Recovery to the level of passenger demand in 2019 is expected to take several years, necessitating group-wide restructuring measures.” 

BA has opened talks with trade unions, which said they were devastated and pledged to fight the job cuts. (£1.00 = €1.14 or US$1.24 at time of publication.)

Source: AviTrader

Qatar airways repatriate over a million people since mid-February

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for the global aviation industry. While the airline continues to maintain operations where possible to take people home and to transport essential supplies, overall demand for air transport has declined significantly. Qatar Airways has said that it helped over one million passengers to return their homes, operating a mix of scheduled and charter services plus extra sectors. In the past several weeks, the airline has helped repatriate over 45,000 passengers back home to France, 70,000 to Germany and over 100,000 people back to the United Kingdom. The demand to help get stranded travelers home has also seen Qatar Airways operate flights to new destinations such as Brisbane, Christchurch and Toronto. The national carrier of Qatar continues to operate approximately 60 scheduled flights a day to around 40 destinations and is working closely with embassies across the globe to arrange charters to repatriate stranded citizens.

Qatar Airways Cargo has increased operations to ensure the continuity of global trade and movement of essential medical and aid supplies. The Cargo division of the company operates a significant cargo schedule with almost 100 flights per day. Last month, the operator has worked closely with governments and NGOs to transport over 70,000 tonnes of medical and aid supplies to impacted regions around the world on both scheduled and charter services, the equivalent of roughly 500 fully loaded Boeing 777 freighters. To continue to fulfil demand the Group’s cargo division is also utilizing passenger aircraft to carry freight-only to destinations in China, Europe, India and the Middle East.

“The entire team at Qatar Airways has worked incredibly hard to take people home over the past few weeks. We have built a strong level of trust with our passengers, governments, travel trade and cargo businesses as a reliable partner when we were needed the most and we continue to offer a schedule where possible and allowed by governments," Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H E Akbar Al Baker, said.

“We also introduced an employee pay deferral scheme which the Company will credit salary back as soon as possible when circumstances allow. Many other work groups overseas and across all job levels have also offered to take voluntary salary deferrals in solidarity with their colleagues, reinforcing the fact that the Qatar Airways Group family is one who has the best interests of each other and the airline at heart,” Al Baker added.

Qatar Airways says that it maintains the highest possible hygiene standards, which include the regular disinfection of aircraft, the use of cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and thermal screening of the crew. In addition, Qatar Airways’ aircraft feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection. All the airline’s onboard linen and blankets are washed, dried and pressed at microbial lethal temperatures, while its headsets are removed of ear foams and rigorously sanitized after each flight. These items are then sealed into individual packaging by staff wearing hygienic disposable gloves.

Source: Airline Watch

Dubai Airports planning for phased travelre-startafter Covid-19 restrictions lift

Dubai Airports, operator of the world's busiest airport by international traffic, is planning for "gradual remobilisation" once travel restrictions aimed at containing the spread of Covid-19 are eventually lifted. It is also offering relief measures for its aviation and commercial partners under a "business stabilisation framework", Dubai Airports said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Flexibility is more important now than ever,” said Eugene Barry, executive vice president of commercial at Dubai Airports.

“Of paramount importance is that we protect and retain our aviation and business partnerships, which have been carefully built over a number of years, and ensure that our revenue and service drivers will be in a position to remobilise, in line with approvals from federal authorities."

The coronavirus pandemic has led to a near-total shutdown of global travel leading to expectations that it will cut airlines' passenger revenue by more than half, or about $314 billion ( Dh1.15 trillion) this year, and threatening the loss of 25 million jobs worldwide, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Dubai Airports said it responded to the Covid-19 crisis through an assistance programme for aviation partners, tenants and concessionaires covering the period from March 1 to May 31. The programme includes includes waiving 100 per cent of minimum guarantees or equivalent fees for partners who have been required to cease trading due to the suspension of airport operations caused by the global pandemic.

For those that have maintained partial operations, other measures are in place to address the reduction in aviation activity, including "rescheduling and other financial adjustments", it said without elaborating.

"We have taken a number of unprecedented measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 to our own business, as well as those of our partners," Mr Barry said. "Our futures are intertwined, and dependent on our ability to maintain core relationships, but also on adapting to unprecedented conditions and new behaviours.”

IATA, an industry body representing some 290 carriers, has warned that cash-strapped airlines are in need of government rescue packages to survive the crisis or face the risk of bankruptcy.
The Dubai government has already stepped up support for its airline, Emirates, pledging an equity injection at the end of last month.

Passenger operations at Dubai International and Dubai World Central (DWC), with the exception of repatriation flights, were suspended by UAE authorities on March 24. The suspension is in place until further notice, Dubai Airports said.

Cargo operations, which are excluded from the ban, are surging at Dubai International as 12 airlines, including Emirates SkyCargo and flydubai, have been given permission to operate an average of 110 weekly flights weekly in response to "heightened demand" for pharmaceuticals, food, and other essential goods, the operator said.

Source: TheNational.ae

Etihad Cargo deploys cargo-only Boeing 787s to complement freighter fleet

Following the directive issued by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, and the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates to temporarily suspend all passenger services to and from the UAE, Etihad Cargo continues to play a vital role in connecting key cargo markets and ensuring the UAE’s import and export needs are adequately covered in line with current demand.

To complement its fleet of Boeing 777 Freighters, Etihad Cargo is introducing a fleet of Boeing 787-10 aircraft as passenger freighters to operate 34-weekly flights, serving 10 markets initially. Each aircraft will provide capacity for 12 lower-deck pallets and four containers, carrying up to 45 tons of payload.

The passenger freighter network will introduce capacity, subject to permits, into India, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and other places where borders remain open for cargo. On top of that, the current freighter schedule will be enhanced by additional flights into Riyadh, London, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

By utilizing the Boeing 787 in addition to its freighter fleet, Etihad Cargo will ensure the continuity of vital imports into the UAE including fruits, vegetables, meat, medical supplies, mail and ecommerce.

Source: AviTrader

Air France to ground A380 fleet, KLM Boeing 747 fleet

Faced with growing restrictions on the possibility of travelling and a strong downward trend in demand which has resulted in a drop in traffic and sales over the last few weeks, the Air France-KLM Group released that it is obliged to gradually reduce its flight activity very significantly over the next few days, with the number of available seat kilometers potentially decreasing between -70% and -90%. 

This reduction in capacity is currently scheduled to last two months, and the Group will continue to monitor the evolution of the situation on a daily basis andadjust it if necessary. As a result of this reduction in capacity, Air France will ground its entire Airbus 380 fleet and KLM its entire Boeing 747 fleet. 

The Group has already taken a number of strong measures to secure its cash flow. Last week, the Air France-KLM Group drew a revolving credit facility for a total amount of €1.1 billion and KLM drew a revolving credit facility for a total amount of €665 million. As of March 12, the Group and its subsidiaries had more than €6 billion in cash and cash equivalents. 

Source: AviTrader

Emirates Disinfect all Aircraft Cabins

Emirates has introduced complete disinfection of all aircraft cabins for flights departing Dubai in response to the Coronavirus.

The extra steps go above and beyond industry and regulatory requirements to ensure its passengers’ health and comfort, and provide them with confidence and peace of mind when planning their travel.

On all aircraft departing from its hub in Dubai, Emirates says it has implemented enhanced cleaning and complete disinfection of all cabins as a precaution.

In line with the latest expert medical finding that the COVID-19 virus is primarily transmitted by touch, Emirates has placed its greatest focus on surface cleaning.

The airline says it is using an approved chemical that is proven to kill viruses and germs, leaves a long-lasting protective coating against new contamination of viruses, bacteria and fungi on surfaces, and is eco-friendly.

The cleaning process includes a comprehensive wipe down of all surfaces – from windows, tray tables, seatback screens, armrests, seats, in-seat controls, panels, air vents and overhead lockers in the cabin, to lavatories, galleys and crew rest areas. All of this is done in addition to other normal procedures such as changing headrest covers on all seats, replacement of reading materials, vacuuming, and more.

To complete this thorough cleaning process within an hour while the aircraft is preparing for its next mission, requires a team of 18 trained cleaners on a Boeing 777, and a team of 36 for an A380. In a 24-hour period on an average day, some 248 aircraft go through this process.

On any aircraft that were found to have transported a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case, Emirates would go even further and implement deep cleaning and disinfection in a process that takes between six to eight hours to complete.

This includes the defogging of cabin interiors and misting with disinfectant across all soft furnishings, and replacement of seat covers and cushions in the affected area. The aircraft’s HEPA cabin air filters will also be replaced.

All of Emirates’ aircraft are fitted with HEPA cabin air filters which are proven to filter out 99.97% of viruses. They also remove dust, allergens and microbes from the air recirculated into the cabin and cockpit, which helps to provide a safer, healthier and more comfortable environment for the passengers and crew.

The airline has also added flexibility, choice, and value for passengers with the ability to change their travel dates without change and re-issuance fees. This waiver policy applies to all booked tickets issued on or from 7 March until 31 March 2020.

Boeing released new series of Boeing 777X pictures

Boeing has released a new series of pictures of the Boeing 777X from one of its test flights last month.

Boeing says the aircraft is performing well, with more than 25 takeoffs and landings in just over five weeks since first flight.

“We’re now in a planned maintenance period, where we’re also installing and calibrating test instrumentation to support upcoming testing,” a spokesman said.

The longest flight was on February 9th that lasted just over six hours. Total flight time thus far is 61 hours 19 minutes.

All flights, except for the first flight, have been conducted from either Boeing Field just south of Seattle or Spokane, WA.

Highlights to come will be the first flight of the second 777X, N779XX and the roll out from the paint hangar of the first Emirates and Lufthansa 777X aircraft.

The 777-9X seats more than 400 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices. With a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km), the aircraft will have the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial aircraft says, Boeing.

The second member of the family, the 777-8X, will be the most flexible jet in the world claims Boeing. The aircraft will seat 350 passengers and offer a range capability of more than 9,300 nautical miles (17,220 km).

The driving force behind the aircraft is
Former Emirates President Sir Tim Clark and calls the 777X an “absolute peach.”

“There will not be a city on the planet — aside from the mid-Pacific — we can’t reach,” Sir Tim said. “This (777X) will be poetry in motion . . . it will have enormous versatility.”

Key to the enthusiasm is the aircraft’s incredible economics, being 20 per cent more efficient per seat than the 777-300ER.

The 777X combines the best features of the current 777, with a longer fuselage, new engine and the composite wing design from the Boeing 787.

It also features 20 per cent larger windows, lower pressurization altitude to reduce jet lag and a wider cabin.

Since the launch with Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar and Etihad Boeing has sold the 777X to Singapore Airlines, British Airways , Cathay Pacific Airways and All Nippon Airways.

U.K.’s Flybe goes into liquidation six months after Thomas Cook collapses

Only six months after the collapse of Thomas Cook which left over 150,000 passengers stranded across the globe, the U.K.s Flybe has now gone into liquidation, despite promises six weeks ago from the government to bail out the ailing domestic carrier. 

Flybe, which employed over 2,000 staff, announced that all further flights had been grounded as of today (Wednesday March 5). Flybe had been operating at an annual loss of £20 million (US$26 million) per annum when the domestic carrier, which was responsible for approximately 40% of all domestic U.K. flights, was taken over by Connect Airways, a consortium comprising Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Aviation and Cyrus Capital Partners some nine months ago. 

At the beginning of January, the government was approached to aid the loss-making carrier in the form of deferring an overdue tax payment, providing a potential loan and a review of air connectivity along with air passenger duty (APD) charges. The principal bone of contention was that APD charges were levied on all passengers departing a U.K. airport but, as Flybe’s flights were domestic, the APD charge was doubled for them on either leg of a return flight. 

The carrier was also struggling with increased fuel costs and disruption to flight demand caused by uncertainty through Brexit. However, the ‘final straw’ came with the outbreak of COVID-19 and the consequent reduction in passenger numbers. Unite’s national officer for aviation, Oliver Richardson, said: “The UK economy is highly dependent on a viable and supported regional airline and airport network. For central government not to support and nurture this, especially as we deal with the twin uncertainties of the Covid-19 virus and the changes that will come with Brexit, is unhelpful and irresponsible.” 

Shadow Transport Secretary Andy McDonald said the loss of Flybe would create “real anxiety” across the U.K. The British Airline Pilots’ Association, BALPA, hit out at the government and Connect for the collapse. The trade union’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, commented: “Six weeks ago, when the ownership consortium lost confidence, the government promised a rescue package, apparently at that time recognizing the value of Flybe to the regional economy of the U.K. Throughout, pilots, cabin crew and ground staff have done their jobs brilliantly, while behind the scenes the owners and, sadly, government connived to walk away. Flybe staff will feel disgusted at this betrayal and these broken promises.” 

Source: AviTrader

Ryanair February traffic grows 9%

Ryanair Group (Ryanair and Lauda) has reported its traffic statistics for February 2020, reporting traffic increase of 9% compared to the previous year and a load factor of 96%, the same as in February 2019.

Since Ryanair has cancelled up to 25% of its Italian short haul program (mainly to/from and within Italy) for the 3-week period from 17th March to April 8, traffic and load factor in the months of March and April is likely to be lower than normal due to the fall in bookings during that period in response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak in a number of European countries. 

Source: AviTrader