Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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sn26567 wrote: 06 Apr 2021, 17:26 Air France-KLM announces the following measures in relation to Air France, which have been approved by the EU in its decision to authorize a €4 billion French State measures to recapitalise Air France and its Holding company. The Netherlands is still in talks regarding potential capital-strengthening measures for KLM. Additional measures to further strengthen the Group’s capital are currently under consideration. Additionally, the French state-backed loan of €4 billion has been extended with a final maturity date in 2023.

Air France-KLM expects the operating result for 1Q 2021 to be around negative €1.3 billion, and EBITDA to be around negative €750 million.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... aris-orly/
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Bangkok Airways anticipates it will not return to profit until 2024, though it sees investment opportunities in MRO services in the Eastern Economic Corridor for long-term growth.

Qatar Airways called for countries to safely reopen borders, with its chief executive Akbar al-Baker warning that more airlines would need state aid in 2021 to avoid going bust.

SKY Airline of Chile will suspend its flights to international destinations during April 2021, leaving only some frequencies of its Santiago – Lima route operational after the government shutdown borders.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Austral will receive new financial support from the State, with a loan guarantee of €30 million.

IATA says airlines will fight attempts by suppliers and airports, including London Heathrow, to cover pandemic losses by raising charges.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Malta, as well as other airlines, will be allowed to resume international flights in/out of Malta from June 2021.

Aircalin of New Caledonia will need state financial support, says CEO Didier Tappero, as the carrier does not envisage a return to normal traffic before 2024.

BRA to start flying most of its domestic routes, mainly to and from Stockholm Bromma, starting on 12 May 2021.

Jet2.com postpones resumption of flights to 24 June due to continuous uncertainty.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/jet2 ... o-24-june/

Southwest Airlines is recalling over 2,700 flight attendants to support its summer 2021 schedule, ending a voluntary furlough programme introduced during the pandemic.

Morocco closes its airports and airspace until 10 May 2021, with the sole exception of overflights, medical flights and cargo flights.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Caraibes of French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe and sister carrier French Bee are asking the French State for help to be on par with its competitors, ensuring that they are the only ones in their sector not to have yet obtained public support.

Air India operated a flight from Delhi to Sydney on 10 April 2021, soon after the announcement that the New Zealand government decided to suspend travel from India.

IATA Regional VP for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al Awadhi, says several airlines in the Middle East face a heightened risk of bankruptcy – despite the industry receiving US$4.8 billion in government aid in 2020.

Qantas may not be able to restart international flights on 31 October 2021 as the government is unsure it will meet its vaccinations target.

Saudia is preparing for full-capacity operations on 17 May 2021 ahead of the lift of the travel ban.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Canada announced that it has entered into a series of debt and equity financing agreements with the government of Canada, which will allow the carrier to access up to US$4.6 billion in liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility program. As part of the financial package, Air Canada issued an aggregate of 14,576,564 warrants exercisable for the purchase of an equal number of Air Canada shares. The airline will also complete its acquisition of 33 A220s and existing firm order of 40 B737 MAX.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... nd-equity/

Air France-KLM launches a capital increase without shareholders’ preferential subscription rights, by way of a public offering and with a 3-day priority subscription period on an irreducible basis and on a reducible basis granted to existing shareholders, for an amount of approximately US$1.1 billion, which may be increased to a maximum amount of $1.35 in the event of the exercise in full of the increase option.

EasyJet is eyeing future growth across European airports by securing take-off and landing slots from struggling rivals. London Heathrow flights may be on the cards as well.

SKY Airline of Chile says it has managed to overcome the crisis by renegotiating financial commitments. In addition, it is evaluating new financing alternatives to obtain fresh resources, while remaining open to the issuance of debt in the market. The idea of ​​the bond is also still alive, but there are other options, which the carrier is exploring.

Bangladesh has issued a week-long ban on international and domestic air travel on 14 April 2021, with the possibility of extension, due to a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Canada is extending its suspension of most sun destination flights to the Caribbean and Mexico until 04 June 2021.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce believes the airline will reactivate its entire fleet of 12 A380s once the pandemic subsides.

Qantas has seen domestic leisure travel rebound to pre-pandemic levels, but demand in the corporate travel market is lagging about three months behind. The airline plans to fly 80% of its pre-pandemic domestic capacity in the quarter ending 30 June 2021.

Volaris of Mexico plans to reduce its costs by US$100 million due to the pandemic. Some of the savings will come via payment deferrals and optimisation of its fleet.

Israel will be reopening its borders to international travellers on 23 May 2021 after more than a year.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Malta sold its brand name to the government for US$25 million, as the carrier needs capital. Malta asked the EU for permission to pump US$347 million into the struggling airline, while it works on a five-year financing plan for the company.

AirBaltic could request additional funding from the state in the amount of US$60-120 million in 2021, according to information published in the company’s last year’s financial report. The carrier will take delivery of seven more A220-300s in 2021.

Cathay Pacific said a relaxation of quarantine requirements for its cargo crews would help to boost air freight capacity and lower its cash burn at a time when it has only a skeleton passenger service.

Qatar Airways confirms it took an impairment on five of its A380s, which will not return. The remaining five may also suffer the same fate depending on how long the pandemic lasts.

Portugal’s government plans to inject €1 billion into TAP in 2021, a measure classified as temporary and whose effect on public accounts is reversed in 2022 and 2023,
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air France-KLM may raise more capital to bolster its balance sheet as travel begins to recover from the pandemic in the coming months.

Air Nostrum becomes the third airline to request a rescue with public money from SEPI after requesting €100 million. The carrier incurred a loss of €125 million in 2020 as a result of COVID-19.

Aircalin from New Caledonia seeks new state aid to survive, as the suspension of international flights has been extended until the end of October 2021. The year 2022 promises to be even more difficult,

Qantas and Jetstar resume regular flights between Australia and New Zealand with the opening of the two-way trans-Tasman bubble.

Tunisair has withdrawn four A320s from its fleet even as it looks to rebuild its fleet following the grounding of 21 aircraft due to the crisis. The carrier expects its first two A320neo in October 2021.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport proposes the government offer solutions to support domestic airlines affected by the epidemic, such as postponement, tax reduction, and loan interest reduction, especially support for credit.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Air Algerie is set to request US$910 million from the government to avoid bankruptcy.

Pakistan International Airlines plans a full-fledged return to the skies in 2H 2021 after most of its aircraft were grounded in early 2020. The carrier has held talks with financiers for rescheduling its loans, returned a couple of leased aircraft and slashed its workforce by 14%.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Bangkok Airways is suspending services on the Phuket – Hat Yai, Bangkok – Sukhothai and Bangkok – Trat routes, and postponing the introduction of the planned Bangkok – Mae Sot service due to the pandemic.

Cathay Pacific to close its Canadian pilot base, while Australia and New Zealand bases may follow, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. The carrier will also re-evaluate its European and US pilot bases later in 2021.

Emirates may need to raise more cash in 2021, possibly through another equity injection from the Dubai government, if demand for air travel does not pick up soon.

Etihad will no longer operate B777-300ER after 2021, as it accelerates planes to become a smaller airline. The carrier is targeting to return profit in 2023 as part of a five-year restructuring plan.

GOL has postponed the restart of its international routes, until at least October 2021.

Virgin Atlantic aims to get all of its planes flying by October or November 2021. The carrier expects to lose more than US$1.4 billion in 2021, and be profitable from 2022.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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sn26567 wrote: 27 Oct 2020, 11:04
Passenger wrote: 27 Oct 2020, 09:40 6 x Lufthansa 747-400's, parked at Twente Airport ENS/EHTW for storage, are not allowed to take off for a flight to their final destination for dismantling. Since their landing in Twente in June/July, the Dutch aviation authority ILT (Inspection Environment and Transport) had amended the airport's permits. "The initial plan was to dismantle the 747's at Twente, and it's unsafe for such big aircraft to take off from Twente", ILT states.
On request of Twente Airport, a judge will now have to decide. EHTW runway 05-23 is 2.987m (wiki).

Source:
https://www.tubantia.nl/enschede/patste ... ~af9dae0d/
In English, on aviation24.be: https://www.aviation24.be/airports/twen ... therlands/
Twente Airport (and thus Lufthansa and/or the lessor(s)) have won this court case: the permission to leave is extended till 01st June 2022.

Court verdict:
https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inzie ... :2021:1697

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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

SAS sent a five-year-old A330-300 for long-term storage in Castellon, Spain.

Spirit Airlines says its focus in the near term is to bring its parked aircraft back into service and get crew levels ready to run the full airline, growing from current 140 aircraft to 173 by 2021 end.

Bangladesh government decided to resume domestic flights in a reduced capacity after weeks of suspension amid the pandemic.

Canada suspends flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days from 22 April 2021.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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S7 owner part time owner of Cyprus Airways is selling its stake in Cyprus Airways.

https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/r ... 06.article

https://www.philenews.com/oikonomia/kyp ... us-airways

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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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The Netherlands has imposed a flight ban for passenger flights from India:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/ni ... rbod-india

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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Islands reports 2020 net loss of US$17.0 million. The company has received $16.3 million from the state and must postpone the delivery of new A320neos until 2027/28. The current two A320neos must be returned after an eight-year leasing agreement.

Delta Air Lines entered into a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement with the US Treasury and expects to receive approximately $3.1 billion in payroll support payments, which must be used exclusively for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries and benefits.

The European Commission has found a €400 million Portuguese support measure in favour of TAP to be in line with EU State aid rules.

Hawaiian Airlines received US$89.8 million as its first instalment out of $179.7 million that it will get from the Payroll Support Program 3 agreement with the US Treasury.

SkyWest has entered into a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement with the US. Treasury to receive a total of approximately US$250 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additionally, SkyWest also announced it received an additional $35 million payroll support funding from the Treasury.

Hong Kong and Singapore announce plans to relaunch the bilateral Hong Kong-Singapore Air Travel Bubble soon.

Iranian airlines, except for four that have yet to complete their loan reception process, have taken out a total of US$106 million in government loans under Covid-19 relief assistance, The airlines are estimated to have suffered an aggregate of over $166 million in lost revenues since the pandemic.

Norway’s government plans to extend its government loan guarantee scheme for airlines until the end of October 2021, as the crisis will last longer than expected.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Ellinair (Greece) is going to ask for state aid. They have gone down to 4 aircraft from 7. They ask that all Greek airlines get some form of aid (depending on their size, operations, input to the economy) rather than just give all aid to Aegean (A3). Ellinair got also a recent recapitalization from its shareholders.

https://www.metaforespress.gr/aeroporik ... %81%ce%b9/

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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Jet2 expects to lose US$521-535 million for the year to the end of March 2021 in the wake of the pandemic. The company currently plans to restart operations in late June 2021.

London Heathrow Airport will be allowed to increase airline fees on a limited basis to help it ride out the crisis, says the UK’s aviation regulator. Heathrow can claw back US$416 million after submitting an application to recover $3.6 billion.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

Austrian Airlines expects to operate 100% of its pre-COVID leisure capacity in summer 2021, while the overall network will reach maybe 50% of the pre-COVID level by July or August.

Cathay Pacific is offering its Hong Kong-based pilots, cabin crew and airport staff voluntary redundancy, part of a deepening effort to cut costs as the airline warned its business was not improving.

Croatia Airlines has begun work on a ‘Post Covid Strategy’ and is seeking advisors who can assist with the strategy.

Fiji Airways and Fiji Link have now extended the flight cancellations of domestic and international repatriation flights until 09 May 2021.

Lufthansa Technik and Airbus team up to offer customers a reversible Cargo-in-Cabin solution to satisfy urgent demand, with up to 15t of additional payload. The solution for the A330 family comprises the STC as well as material kits. Finnair is the first airline to modify an A330-300 with the solution.

https://www.aviation24.be/manufacturers ... for-a330s/

Pakistan International Airlines will lay off half of its 14,000 employees, replace some of its fleet and permanently close loss-making routes in a bid to become profitable by 2023. The fleet will be kept under 30 aircraft, and flights to Tokyo and Manila will be some of those ended.
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Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

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Daily review:

AAPA (Asia Pacific airlines) reports only 1.1 million international passengers flew on the region’s carriers in March 2021, with available seat capacity averaged 27% of the previous year’s volumes, with international PLF fell by 29.4 points to average 23.8% for the month.

Transavia targets 80% capacity by 3Q 2021 as the carrier focuses on restarting as many routes as possible in summer 2021.
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