All Air Transport articles – Page 361
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NewsLatest SpaceJet M90 test aircraft embarks on first flight
Mitsubishi Aircraft’s SpaceJet M90 flight-test vehicle 10 took off on its maiden sortie on 18 March. The aircraft, FTV10, registered JA26MJ, took off from Nagoya and conducted a series of performance tests over the Pacific Ocean. Two hours later, the aircraft returned to Nagoya. Source: Mitsubishi Aircraft Flight ...
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NewsPressured SA Express suspends services until further notice
South African regional carrier SA Express is suspending operations until further notice, in response to various pressures on the airline. While it mentions the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, SA Express indicates this is only one consideration behind its decision, attributing the suspension to “adverse recent developments”. The airline had ...
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NewsChicago Midway airport control tower closes due to coronavirus infection
The air traffic control tower at Chicago Midway International airport has temporarily closed after three members of the staff tested positive for the coronavirus.
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NewsPresident Trump: US will ‘protect’ Boeing from coronavirus fallout
President Donald Trump says the US government will “protect” Boeing from the adverse effects of the coronavirus downturn, suggesting financial aid to Boeing and other aerospace companies may be part of a pending economic relief plan.
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NewsUS airline group details $58bn government aid request
The group, as previously reported, has asked for $50 billion in support of passenger airlines. But it also requests $8 billion for cargo carriers, and tax breaks from a fund that generated almost $16 billion in fiscal year 2018 revenue. It is receiving criticism after many airlines spent free cash flow on stock repurchases recently.
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NewsBrussels Airlines to shut down for a month
Brussels Airlines has become the latest carrier to shut down services in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, suspending all scheduled flights for a month. It says the services will be gradually wound down and then halted on 21 March and will not restart until 20 April. “We need to ...
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NewsSwiss bolsters senior management to face coronavirus fallout
Swiss has shored up its management teams in order to provide greater corporate stability as the Lufthansa Group carrier deals with the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. It has installed Markus Binkert as its chief financial officer – a position which had been left vacant – and appointed Thomas Frick ...
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NewsAlitalia to be renationalised under broad emergency decree
Italy’s government has indicated that it will renationalise struggling flag-carrier Alitalia as part of a broad set of emergency measures in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The government says, in a decree published on 16 March, that the epidemic is being formally recognised as a “natural disaster and exceptional event”. ...
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AnalysisPandemic heaps fresh pressure on Boeing as 737 Max grounding continues
The coronavirus pandemic, combined with the 737 Max grounding, could leave Boeing facing challenges more significant than it has experienced in perhaps 50 years, say some aerospace analysts.
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Airline BusinessHow coronavirus could impact airliner fleets across the globe
Worldwide fleet comprises over 25,000 aircraft, but what could effect be across regions?
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NewsEU plans 30-day travel ban and state aid framework
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled proposals for a 30-day restriction of travel to the European Union, as well as development of a framework for state aid to affected businesses. Von der Leyen says EU member states have been taking measures intended to reduce pressure on the ...
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NewsStartled 747 excursion crew delayed cutting power after engine stall
Dutch investigators have concluded that a Boeing 747-400ERF crew was startled by an engine compressor stall during the take-off roll, and consequently failed to reduce thrust in time to prevent a runway excursion. The Turkish-registered MyCargo Airlines aircraft had been operating from Maastricht, bound for Jeddah, on behalf of Saudia ...
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NewsIAG not seeking state aid as Virgin appeals for government credit
IAG has not approached governments for state aid to assist the company through the coronavirus crisis, chief executive Willie Walsh has disclosed. Speaking during a 16 March briefing, Walsh said the company had not followed other individual carriers in seeking financial assistance from governments. “Governments would expect airlines to look ...
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NewsIAG looks at recruiting passenger jets to serve critical freight lines
IAG is considering recruiting some of its passenger aircraft for air freight operations, to ensure that essential cargo supplies are maintained as the coronavirus crisis persists. Chief executive Willie Walsh, speaking during a 16 March briefing, said that governments “need to appreciate” that there is a strong cargo demand, and ...
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NewsIAG to accelerate retirement of older BA and Iberia aircraft
British Airways and Iberia parent IAG is considering accelerating the retirement of older aircraft in the fleet – including some Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A340-600s – as part of the capacity-reduction measures being introduced to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking during a 16 March briefing, IAG chief executive Willie ...
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NewsTUI seeks state guarantees as travel market collapses
Leisure group TUI is applying for state-aid guarantees to support its business until it can restore normal operations, after suspending most of its travel operations. TUI says it is halting the “vast majority” of its package travel, cruise and hotel activities to assist with the efforts to counter the coronavirus ...
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NewsIAG delays management changes as it braces for 75% capacity cut
British Airways and Iberia parent IAG’s management team is to remain in place for the time being, to help steer the company through the coronavirus crisis, as it prepares to cut capacity by 75% for April and May. IAG chief Willie Walsh is delaying his retirement, and his successor – ...
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NewsFinnair to slash 90% of capacity as it warns of heavy losses
Finnair has followed neighbouring Nordic carrier SAS in making dramatic operational cuts, slashing 90% of its normal capacity from the beginning of April. The Finnish flag-carrier says the cuts – in response to a substantial fall in demand following the coronavirus outbreak – will be maintained “until the situation improves”, ...
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NewsIcelandair expects 25% cut in summer capacity
Icelandair Group is expecting a summer season capacity cut of at least 25% on the previous forecasts, and is working with unions to secure salary reductions. The airline operates a business model based on transatlantic connections via Reykjavik, and has been hit by US-European travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus ...
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NewsUnited grounds half its total capacity in response to coronavirus
United Airlines will reduce capacity by half in April and May and has cut executive officers’ salaries 50% in response to a pandemic United’s executives say makes operating an airline “nearly impossible”.