AirlinesWhich European Airlines Have Received Coronavirus Aid Packages? Coronavirus has put many airlines around the world in financial distress. Europe, out of all the continents, has seen the most widespread effects of coronavirus. Since early March, the European airline industry has been on the back foot. Flights out of major country markets like the UK, France, Germany, and Spain were at a time not even a small fraction of their past levels. Around early-April 2020, total traffic in Europe was down by 89% compared to the same time last year.
LinkDavid Neeleman's Breeze Now Won't Launch Until 2021 Airline startup Breeze Airways has quietly postponed its official launch from 2020 to 2021. Discovered in recent weeks, the subtle yet significant change was made on the US carrier’s website and confirmed by additional sources. This move likely reflects the continuing devastation this pandemic has had on the aviation industry around the world.
LinkRomanian LCC Blue Air Seeks Insolvency Protection Romania’s low-cost airline, Blue Air, has been given a new lease of life after Bucharest’s municipal court approved its request to enter a form of bankruptcy protection. The procedure allows the carrier to continue operations and generate revenue for the next 18 months without having to pay back creditors or refund passengers. The agreement between the airline and its creditors will see the airline repay loans in full at a later date.
LinkWhere You Can Still Fly On A Boeing 747 After COVID While an imminent retirement was on the cards pre-pandemic, the haste with which we have had to say goodbye to many 747s across the globe has been, well, a little heartbreaking. Should you wish to make another journey on the Queen of the Skies before she leaves them forever, there are still some airlines that have yet to announce her departure.
LinkLufthansa CEO Renews Claims That €9.99 Fares Are Irresponsible Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr has renewed his claims that super-low fares are irresponsible. The comments come almost a year after similar comments reignited a long-running spat between Lufthansa and Ryanair.
LinkAlaska Airlines CEO Predicts Air Fares Will Fall Post-COVID A hot topic for debate throughout the COVID crisis has been what effect this situation will have on air fares? Many believe that all the extra costs involved with providing a safer passenger environment, coupled with the sizeable loans airlines need to pay back, will cause prices to rise. However, Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden doesn’t think so and says that what he sees right now is actually quite the opposite.
LinkRoyal Air Maroc To Sell 20 Planes Including Boeing 787s And 737s As a result of the COVID-19 medical emergency Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is reportedly preparing for massive layoffs and the sale of 20 planes, including Boeing 787s and 737s. The country’s national flag carrier is also planning to reduce its staff by 30%.
LinkBiman Bangladesh Airlines Eyes Toronto Flights Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman, has its eyes set on a new route originating in Dhaka. The carrier aims to open up direct flights to Toronto starting October 2020. Passengers can then choose to fly on to New York with Air Canada.
LinkAir Canada Suspends 30 Routes And Closes 8 Stations Amid Cost Cutting Last week, Air Canada announced it was suspending services on 30 routes and cutting eight stations from its network. The reason for this, per the carrier, was part of the airline’s cost-cutting program to reduce cash burn. Also, these destinations showed week leisure and business demand.
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