Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Join this forum to discuss the latest news that happened in the world of commercial aviation.

Moderator: Latest news team

Post Reply
Poiu
Posts: 897
Joined: 14 Nov 2015, 09:38

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Poiu »

CTBke wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 15:16 I think Ireland's priority goes to Aer Lingus while obviously for the UK it goes to BA over Easyjet.
Why would that be so obvious?
EasyJet UK is assuring a lot of domestic routes in the U.K. and takes mainly Brits on holidays, whilst BA is focused on a hub and spoke model in LHR. Why use taxpayers money to fly Indians to New York, whilst at the same time many Brits would be unable to visit their family on the other side of the country or go on holiday?

Don’t underestimate the amount of money needed either, the Belgian government just announced they will pump 1 billion in the economy. How much does Brussels Airlines need to survive? Probably in excess of 100 million a month and they are far from being the only company in Belgium needing urgent life support. Not obvious at all to explain the tax paying public that a big chunk would go to a company which, despite repetitive state aid, already accumulated 90 million accumulated loss in the past.

User avatar
Yuqu12
Posts: 483
Joined: 04 Mar 2016, 09:41

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Yuqu12 »

For me it seems rather logic to do as much as possible to help all Belgian airlines. First of all, they guarantee quite some direct and indirect benefits to the Belgian economy. Secondly, why would the government only help restaurants and hotels in Belgium if there aren't any Belgian airlines bringing the tourists to Belgium? Saving the Belgian airlines is part of the help needed for hotels and restaurants. Next to this, if Brussels Airlines and others are saved, they might even benefit from other airlines not getting rescued by their government and take over their routes in the future.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by lumumba »

Poiu wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 15:55
CTBke wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 15:16 I think Ireland's priority goes to Aer Lingus while obviously for the UK it goes to BA over Easyjet.
Why would that be so obvious?
EasyJet UK is assuring a lot of domestic routes in the U.K. and takes mainly Brits on holidays, whilst BA is focused on a hub and spoke model in LHR. Why use taxpayers money to fly Indians to New York, whilst at the same time many Brits would be unable to visit their family on the other side of the country or go on holiday?

Don’t underestimate the amount of money needed either, the Belgian government just announced they will pump 1 billion in the economy. How much does Brussels Airlines need to survive? Probably in excess of 100 million a month and they are far from being the only company in Belgium needing urgent life support. Not obvious at all to explain the tax paying public that a big chunk would go to a company which, despite repetitive state aid, already accumulated 90 million accumulated loss in the past.
One important factor will be how much employees are working in those companies in each country because at the end that will be the most important to keep people working.
I don't know how much people work for Easyjet in the UK and Ryanair in Ireland?
Hasta la victoria siempre.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by lumumba »

Poiu wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 15:55
CTBke wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 15:16 I think Ireland's priority goes to Aer Lingus while obviously for the UK it goes to BA over Easyjet.
Why would that be so obvious?
EasyJet UK is assuring a lot of domestic routes in the U.K. and takes mainly Brits on holidays, whilst BA is focused on a hub and spoke model in LHR. Why use taxpayers money to fly Indians to New York, whilst at the same time many Brits would be unable to visit their family on the other side of the country or go on holiday?

Don’t underestimate the amount of money needed either, the Belgian government just announced they will pump 1 billion in the economy. How much does Brussels Airlines need to survive? Probably in excess of 100 million a month and they are far from being the only company in Belgium needing urgent life support. Not obvious at all to explain the tax paying public that a big chunk would go to a company which, despite repetitive state aid, already accumulated 90 million accumulated loss in the past.
And don't forget Brussels Airport is the first employment pool in Belgium!
It will have a big domino effect, restaurants in other hand will always exist maybe some will disappear but others will come.
If we lose Brussels Airlines it will go to other airlines and we will lose or HUB with a lot of jobs to other countries.
Last edited by lumumba on 16 Mar 2020, 16:21, edited 2 times in total.
Hasta la victoria siempre.

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by TLspotting »

La Compagnie suspends its flights from 19 March until 12 April 2020. Nice - New York route postponed until 1 June 2020.

3 777-300ER, 3 A318, 1 A320, 1 A319, 2 A343, 4 A388 Air France aircraft stored.

Algeria suspends flights (and sea link) with France from 17 March until 4 April.

14 days quarantine for foreigners when they arrive in Madagascar.
Transavia France add flights for passengers from Marrakesh & Agadir to Orly, 4 flights from Tunisia to Orly (1 flight from Monastir, 1 from Tunis and 2 from Djerba)

Morocco halts all international flights.
Air Canada loses 18% at stocks, losing the half of its worth in a month.
Qatar stops all inbound flights to Doha as of Wednesday for 14 days with the exception of cargo and transit flights.

Low hope to find a corporation to take over Alitalia. Rome has €3.5B for Alitalia if it is needed (incl. take over by the State).

IAG Group cuts capacity by 75% in April and May. Willie Walsh, CEO, will defer his retirement.

All flights to Spain of Transavia France are cancelled from 18 until 31 March 2020.

Egypt suspends all international flights from Thursday.

Chile suspends all international flights from Wednesday.

France : T1 at NCE to close from 16 March, all shops, bars & restaurants at TLS closes
Lufthansa Group saId its passenger airlines will operate only 10% of long-haul capacity and 20% of short-haul capacity, starting on Tuesday, LH Cargo maintained.
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

User avatar
Vic Diesel
Posts: 333
Joined: 06 Feb 2018, 10:10

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Vic Diesel »

Austrian Airlines announced that its fleet will be grounded from 19 March 2020 until further notice. Only flights to transport Austrians abroad back to Vienna operated after that date.
Best regards,
Viktor

(Budapest-born, Vienna-raised, Brussels-based)

Poiu
Posts: 897
Joined: 14 Nov 2015, 09:38

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Poiu »

Yuqu12 wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 16:09 For me it seems rather logic to do as much as possible to help all Belgian airlines. First of all, they guarantee quite some direct and indirect benefits to the Belgian economy. Secondly, why would the government only help restaurants and hotels in Belgium if there aren't any Belgian airlines bringing the tourists to Belgium? Saving the Belgian airlines is part of the help needed for hotels and restaurants. Next to this, if Brussels Airlines and others are saved, they might even benefit from other airlines not getting rescued by their government and take over their routes in the future.
Indeed many will need money and there won’t be enough for everyone, just as with intensive care beds in Italy.
Unfortunately choices will have to be made, far from easy and whatever choice will be heavily criticised.

Poiu
Posts: 897
Joined: 14 Nov 2015, 09:38

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Poiu »

lumumba wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 16:12 don't forget Brussels Airport is the first employment pool in Belgium!
It will have a big domino effect, restaurants in other hand will always exist maybe some will disappear but others will come.
If we lose Brussels Airlines it will go to other airlines and we will lose or HUB with a lot of jobs to other countries.
Other airlines will generate employment at Brussels Airport as well although to a lesser extend.
Aviation requires huge investments for a small return, putting the same money in other businesses would generate a lot more jobs.

User avatar
lumumba
Posts: 2059
Joined: 04 Sep 2003, 00:00
Location: brussels Europe

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by lumumba »

Poiu wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 16:30
lumumba wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 16:12 don't forget Brussels Airport is the first employment pool in Belgium!
It will have a big domino effect, restaurants in other hand will always exist maybe some will disappear but others will come.
If we lose Brussels Airlines it will go to other airlines and we will lose or HUB with a lot of jobs to other countries.
Other airlines will generate employment at Brussels Airport as well although to a lesser extend.
Aviation requires huge investments for a small return, putting the same money in other businesses would generate a lot more jobs.
I'm not sure about that but I'm not an economist.
I think the domino effect will be big even for DHL that use SN to Africa for example.
Hasta la victoria siempre.

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Passenger »


TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by TLspotting »

airBaltic (like LOT) suspends all flight operations from March 17 until April 14

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/airb ... -april-14/

Flight changes due to travel restrictions: KLM will operate flights to allow passengers to return to their homes

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... eir-homes/

Tour operator Corendon cancels all trips until March 31, 2020

https://www.aviation24.be/tour-operator ... h-31-2020/

TUI Belgium stops taking travellers for holiday packages

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/tui- ... -packages/

Aeroflot adjusts flight schedules to Europe

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brus ... to-europe/

Spain in lockdown – Air traffic to be reduced by 40 to 60 %

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... -40-to-60/

Wizz Air suspends flights to Poland, Latvia and Moldova following respective decisions to ban international travel

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/wizz ... al-travel/

Eurocontrol: “airlines are seeing a strong reduction across their networks”

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... -networks/

Brussels Airlines requests state aid amid weakened demand

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... ed-demand/

SAS temporarily halts most of the traffic

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/sas/ ... e-traffic/

Air New Zealand cuts 85% of international capacity, lays off staff

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... off-staff/

Finnair cuts capacity by 90% from 1 April, maintains critical air connections for Finland

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/finn ... r-finland/

A picture is worth a thousand words

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... and-words/

TUI temporarily suspends vast majority of all travel operations due to COVID-19

https://www.aviation24.be/tour-operator ... -covid-19/

Noting continuation of the COVID-19 crisis, Air France-KLM takes exceptional measures

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... -measures/

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance member airlines call on governments and stakeholders for extraordinary support

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... y-support/

COVID-19 crisis will fly most airlines into bankruptcy by the end of May

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... nd-of-may/

Alitalia puts in place special flights for repatriation of Italians abroad

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/alit ... ns-abroad/

LOT also puts in place special flights known as "LOT do domu".

Finavia to adjust operations to the reduced air traffic at Finnish airports

https://www.aviation24.be/airport-opera ... -airports/

Travel restrictions and coronavirus grounds Lauda fleet until 9 April

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ryan ... l-9-april/

Ryanair grounds majority of its fleet over the next 7 to 10 days

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/ryan ... o-10-days/

Virgin Atlantic takes drastic action and reduces flights by 80% to safeguard future against Covid-19

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/virg ... -covid-19/

Norwegian to cancel 85 percent of its flights and temporarily lay off approximately 7,300 employees

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/norw ... employees/

Belgium and Morocco reach an agreement to repatriate stranded tourists

https://www.aviation24.be/miscellaneous ... -tourists/

Almost 40% of flights cancelled at Brussels Airport this Monday – This situation is likely to worsen in the next days

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/brus ... next-days/
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

globetrotter
Posts: 1229
Joined: 14 Nov 2005, 00:00

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by globetrotter »

Oman has banned entry of foreigners for a month, except those with resident permit and transit passengers.

User avatar
Vic Diesel
Posts: 333
Joined: 06 Feb 2018, 10:10

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Vic Diesel »

Vic Diesel wrote: 16 Mar 2020, 16:22 Austrian Airlines announced that its fleet will be grounded from 19 March 2020 until further notice. Only flights to transport Austrians abroad back to Vienna operated after that date.
Addendum: The grounding is not "until further notice", but until a preliminary date of 28 March 2020 (which can of course change as the Covid-19 situation evolves.
Best regards,
Viktor

(Budapest-born, Vienna-raised, Brussels-based)


User avatar
sn26567
Posts: 40828
Joined: 13 Feb 2003, 00:00
Location: Rosières/Rozieren, Belgium
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by sn26567 »

AirAsia X and Lion Air have reportedly stopped all payments for A320 leased aircraft. The coronavirus also attacks the finances of airlines!

AirAsia is cancelling its domestic flights to/from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila from 15 March to 14 April 2020, in compliance with the Philippine government’s directive imposing travel restrictions due to the current public health situation.

Alaska Air Group will immediately reduce capacity for April by at least 10% and May 2020 by at least 15%; pursue additional borrowing of approximately US$500 million; suspend at least $300 million of our capital spending; suspend share repurchases; offer employees unpaid leaves of absence, and freeze hiring.

Alsie Express of Denmark halts operations until 13 April 2020 due to travel restrictions. The carrier says it will survive.

ANAC (the Brazilian CAA) suspends airport slots rules until October 2020, allowing airlines to adjust capacity at will amid the downturn.

Azul is reducing consolidated capacity by 20%-25% in March and by 35% to 50% in April 2020 and beyond. As of 16 March, all international flights, except flights leaving from Sao Paulo Campinas, will be suspended. Some aircraft will be grounded, and all new aircraft deliveries will be suspended.

Cathay Pacific and subsidiary Cathay Dragon cut March and April 2020 flight capacity by 65% — HK Express by 50% — with 90% of flights to Mainland China suspended. Aircraft are being down-gauged to meet demand.

Cathay Pacific said it expects a “substantial” loss in fiscal 1H 2020 as the impact of the coronavirus outbreak takes it toll. The 1H is expected to be “extremely challenging financially”.

Cathay Pacific is in talks with Boeing and Airbus over possible deferral of aircraft deliveries in 2020, as the coronavirus outbreak impacts its fiscal performance.

Croatia Airlines has suspended international flights from airports in Split, Dubrovnik and Rijeka as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Cyprus Airways announced the suspension of all planned flights from 17 March until 30 April 2020, following additional measures announced by the Cypriot government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are both in talks with the US government about potential assistance. Delta and its pilots’ union have agreed to let the carrier offer partially paid time off for aviators through June 2020, and possibly longer, as coronavirus devastates travel demand.

Delta will cut planned Capital Expenditure by US$2 billion in 2020. The cuts will fall primarily on aircraft deliveries, as the carrier will defer new deliveries and delay aircraft modifications and IT initiatives in order to preserve cash. Overall capacity will be reduced in the next few months by 40%, flying to Europe will be eliminated, and up to 300 aircraft will be parked. The situation is fluid and likely to be getting worse. Talks with the government for support are in progress.

EasyJet has undertaken further significant cancellations. These actions will continue on a rolling basis for the foreseeable future and could result in the grounding of the majority of the fleet. Financial guidance for fiscal 20 has been postponed.

Hawaiian Airlines to temporarily suspend nonstop service between Honolulu and Sydney and Auckland starting late March 2020 due to new government entry restrictions.

Hawaiian will reduce flight capacity systemwide in April and May 2020 by 8-10% and 15-20% respectively, in response to declining demand caused by the pandemic.

IAG is grounding surplus aircraft, reducing and deferring capital spending, cutting non-essential and non-cyber related IT spend, freezing recruitment and discretionary spending, implementing voluntary leave options, temporarily suspending employment contracts, and reducing working hours as part of further initiatives in response to this challenging market environment.

IAG now expects ASKs in 1Q 2020 to be reduced by around 7.5%, and at least 75% for April and May 2020.

IAG will keep Luis Gallego at the head of Iberia for the next few months to lead the response in Spain, while CEO Willie Walsh, who was expected to retire, will continue to act as Group chief executive and Javier Sanchez will remain in place as Vueling chief executive.

Icelandair has adjusted capacity of up to 30%. It is likely that the capacity will be reduced even further while such extensive travel restrictions are in effect and the situation might change quickly.

Japan Airlines to postpone the launch of service from Tokyo Narita to Bengaluru, scheduled to start 29 March 2020, due to the pandemic.

Jazeera Airways announces that its fleet of 14 aircraft has been placed at the disposal of the State of Kuwait to support its efforts to return Kuwaiti citizens to the country. The carrier also announces that all its departing and returning flights from and to Kuwait was suspended starting 13 March 2020.

Korean Air is hoping to use its passenger aircraft as freighters to help overcome the current crisis.

La Compagnie will cease operations from 13 March for 30 days in light of the US-EU travel ban. Furthermore, the launch of the seasonal New York – Nice service is being pushed to 01 June 2020.

Malaysia Airlines has warned that travel bans and plummeting demand around the world due to the coronavirus outbreak have put many global airlines at risk of going bankrupt including the loss-making national carrier.

S7 Airlines is considering restructuring the contracts of lease payments on the background of large-scale reduction of international flights due to the pandemic coronavirus.

Smartwings and sister carrier Czech Airlines will suspend all flights to/from the Czech Republic in response to government travel restrictions. Smartwings said it would ground up to 23 planes, half of its fleet.

TAAG will suspend flights from Luanda to Porto, due to increased spread of new coronavirus in the European country.

Thai Airways International forced to cut its flights by 30% resulting in the cancellation of 2,100-2,500 flights a month.

Turkish Airlines cancelled all Mainland China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Nakhchivan, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, and Israel flights, as well as some European flights.

Virgin Australia expects capacity for the six months through 30 June 2020 will be down by 6% year-over-year due to the coronavirus impact The capacity cut will increase to 7.7% for the following six months through 31 December 2020.

Wideroe to lay off 1,000 employees to cope with the fall in demand.

Madagascar to suspend air links with Europe, Mauritius and Reunion to help fight the pandemic.
André
ex Sabena #26567

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by TLspotting »

Air Senegal suspends Paris and Marseille from 17 March for 30 days.
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

TLspotting
Posts: 3075
Joined: 19 Mar 2017, 10:22
Location: Uccle/Ukkel, BE
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by TLspotting »

Cathay to sell 6 777-300ER, for $703.8M.

Airlines for America asks for assistance through grants, loans and tax relief
https://www.aviation24.be/organisations ... ax-relief/

Luxair publishes reduced flight schedule until 26 April

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luxa ... -26-april/

Air Belgium organises repatriation flights from the French Antilles

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/air- ... -antilles/
Hi. I'm Thibault Lapers. @ThibaultLapers & @TLspotting

User avatar
Ozzie1969
Posts: 752
Joined: 03 Sep 2004, 00:00
Location: Brugge, Flanders + Annan, Scotland + Ormoc,Philippines
Contact:

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Ozzie1969 »

Looking at www.flightradar24.com these days is a clear indication of how severely aviation has been hit.

Homo Aeroportus
Posts: 1489
Joined: 24 Feb 2007, 18:28
Location: 2300NM due South of North Pole

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Homo Aeroportus »

SN long haul got a hit today.

SN359 to LAD-FIH : Cancelled
SN501 to JFK : Cancelled
SN277 to ACC-LFW : Cancelled
SN299 to ABJ-COO : Cancelled.
SN371 to DLA-NSI : Cancelled.

SN223 to BJL-CKY : Delayed dep till 1300. According to Flightstats.com delayed early this morning, OO-SFG.
SN201 to DSS : Delayed dep till 1545 per FR24, but BRU and Flightstats.com maintain normal.
SN243 to FNA-ROB : Usually this flight leaves BRU at 1205 but today BrusselsAirport announces 1505 as normal. FR24 gives ETD 1405 and Flightstats.com puts is as delayed till 1505 as of yesterday evening.

Seems some destinations are about to be closed like DSS (local rumor) so maybe a sit-and-wait delay before deciding whether going or not.
Personally I gave up two days ago an attempt to reach Bamako via CMM with RAM. Seems there are better place to be confined : HOME (if you can).

H.A.

Passenger
Posts: 7266
Joined: 06 Dec 2010, 20:54

Re: Impact of the coronavirus crisis on aviation

Post by Passenger »

copy/paste from the topic "Brussels Airlines in 2020":
Passenger wrote: 17 Mar 2020, 10:00 Etienne Davignon: "On Tuesday or Wednesday, Brussels Airlines will ask the Belgian governement for temporary state aid".
https://kanaalz.knack.be/nieuws/brussel ... 77387.html

Post Reply