Category: Top Stories

Qantas Group projects domestic capacity to return to 90% of pre-COVID levels in Q4 FY21

©Qantas

Qantas Group has released encouraging projections for Q4 FY21, ending June 30, highlighting its recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on air travel. While Group domestic capacity should reach 90% of pre-COVID levels for the last quarter, subsidiary Jetstar looks likely to exceed 100% thanks to a strong leisure demand. Forward projections into FY22 should see Qantas operating at 107% pre-COVID level and Jetstar at 120%. According to Group CEO Alan Joyce: “Corporate travel, including the small business segment, is now back to around 65% of pre-COVID levels, and increasing month-on-month.” The Group had been hard hit by Read more

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Norwegian Air to raise additional NEK6 billion before exiting bankruptcy protection

©Norwegian

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) has increased its target of cash being raised prior to exiting bankruptcy protection. Courts in both Dublin and Oslo had recently agreed for the airline to convert debt to stock, but only on the condition that it raised a further NEK4.5 billion. However, that figure has been increased to NEK6 billion in fresh capital to shore up its resources prior to exiting bankruptcy protection, despite the precarious situation being faced by commercial airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, Norwegian’s Chief Executive Jacob Schram said in a statement: “We want to take a conservative approach at Read more

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29 planes delivered by Boeing in March – records positive net orders two months running

©Boeing

Boeing has recorded a year-on-year nine plane increase in monthly deliveries with 29 delivered in March 2021 compared to 20 in 2020, while also maintaining a positive net order book for the second month running. February saw the first positive net orders for 14 months as confidence slowly returns to the company’s customers. Orders for 196 of the 737 family of jets made up March’s total orders which, net of cancelations and conversions, resulted in 40 new orders for 737 jets. Boeing confirmed its March gross orders included a previously announced order for 100 737 MAXs by Southwest Airlines and Read more

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France to scrap certain domestic flights where the train offers a viable alternative

©AirTeamImages

As part of a series of beneficial climate and environmental measure, French MPs have voted to ban all domestic flights in France where trains offer a viable alternative in two and a half hours or less travel time. It is estimated that planes that fly these short-haul routes produce 77-times the volume of CO2 per passenger compared to trains. However, the measure, which was put forward by the climate set up by President Macron has been seen by many as only a half measure as the original proposition was to include all flights where routes were also covered by train Read more

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16 airlines warned to check certain 737 MAX jets for electrical grounding fault

United Airlines need to ground 16 MAX planes for inspection ©AirTeamImages

With the Boeing 737 MAX only recently cleared to take to the skies again in the U.S. Boeing has now announced that there is a potential electrical problem with a certain number of the jets. “Boeing has recommended to 16 customers that they address a potential electrical issue in a specific group of 737 MAX airplanes prior to further operations,” the company said. Before returning to operational status airlines will need to verify that one of the components of the 737 MAX’s electrical system has been properly grounded. Boeing is working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in relation Read more

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Air cargo demand bucks the trend with 9% February increase on pre-pandemic levels

©IAG Cargo

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released figures for the global air cargo markets for February 2021, clearly showing that demand continues to exceed pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Strong month-on-month growth compared to January 2021, February’s demand exceeded February 2019 levels by 9%. Current demand has now reached the same level seen in 2018, prior to the US-China trade war. Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons to follow are to February 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. Global demand, measured in cargo ton-kilometers (CTKs), Read more

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EU gives go-ahead for €4 billion Air France state bail-out, despite Ryanair protestations

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The EU has given the green light for the French government to inject up to €4 billion into Air France by increasing its current 14.3% stake in Air France KLM to 30%. The deal has been subject to weeks of negotiations as the EU has always been keen to ensure that any aid given to European carriers does not give them an unfair advantage. To mitigate the situation, the commission, which is the EU’s anti-trust regulator, has demanded Air France to release up to 18 slots per day at Paris’ second-largest airport, Orly. “This gives competing carriers the chance to Read more

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VistaJet orders ten Bombardier Challenger 350 business jets

©Bombardier Challenger 350 business jet

Bombardier has confirmed that worldwide fleet operator VistaJet is the customer for a previously disclosed firm order for ten Challenger 350 business jets. Bombardier announced the sale involving its best-selling Challenger platform on December 23; it was one of the biggest jet orders of 2020. VistaJet said in a press release that its firm order for ten Challenger 350 business jets is in response to “a growing and urgent demand” in the super-midsize segment. The Bombardier Challenger 350 aircraft represents the total package of performance and cabin experience. It is the ideal business jet to respond to a growing interest Read more

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Arrangement Agreement between Transat and Air Canada terminated by mutual consent

©Air Transat

Transat A.T. (Transat) has released that the contemplated arrangement with Air Canada under the revised Arrangement Agreement between Transat and Air Canada dated October 9, 2020 (the Arrangement Agreement) has been terminated by mutual agreement of Transat and Air Canada, effective immediately. The parties have reached this agreement after having been advised by the European Commission that it would not approve the transaction. In connection with the termination of the Arrangement Agreement, Air Canada has agreed to pay a CA$12.5 million termination payment to the corporation and to waive its entitlement to a US$10 million termination fee in the event of Read more

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Boeing obtains approval for 737 MAX 8200 – now one step closer to Ryanair deliveries

©Ryanair

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the design for the Boeing 737 series MAX 8200 variant, which also includes all of the design improvements recommended for the 737 MAX following a 20-month review after the two fatal air crashes. The approval from the FAA moves Boeing one step closer to delivery of the jet to Ryanair as approval is still awaited from the European Union Air Safety Agency (EASA). Ryanair placed its first order for the 197-seat 737 MAX 8200 in 2014. In December 2020 the Irish low-cost carrier placed an additional order for a further 75 of Read more

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