A year that began with plenty of reasons for optimism about the industry’s prospects quickly turned into 12 months of unprecedented challenges, dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic
The Iranian armed forces admitted to accidentally shooting down a Boeing 737-800 flown by Ukraine International Airlines on 8 January.
Source: Shutterstock
Singapore air show went ahead, albeit with fewer exhibitors and attendees than expected, as Covid-19 cases were identified beyond China
Source: Max Kingsley-Jones / FlightGlobal
The meeting of European airlines association A4E in early March was meant to focus on the huge challenge of sustainability, but coronavirus was already becoming the main talking point.
Source: Ed Telling Photography
Long-suffering UK regional carrier Flybe ceased operations and filed for administration in early March, before the full impact of the pandemic was felt by the industry
.
Source: Shutterstock
As the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear, thousands of commercial aircraft were grounded.
Source: Shutterstock
Lufthansa was among the airlines to eventually receive billions of dollars in government bailouts, following negotiations that took weeks and months to finalise in many cases.
Source: Shutterstock
The USA's large domestic market meant its operators had more options to deploy capacity than those in many other jurisdictions, but many jets were still grounded
Source: Pittsburgh International Airport
With travel demand predicted to be depressed for some time, many airlines took the decision to retire aircraft early. Larger jets were a notable casualty, with Air France immediately retiring its Airbus A380s in May.
Source: Air France
The world's newest international hub, Istanbul airport, was not spared, as Turkish Airlines jets sat idle at the gates.
Source: IGA
Airports were largely empty during the second quarter, as lockdowns and travel restrictions spread across the world.
Source: Shutterstock
Amid swingeing travel restrictions, some airlines – including KLM – maximised the space available for freight in their passenger jets by using seating areas.
Source: KLM
Many carriers – including RwandAir – undertook special flights to transport crucial PPE and medical supplies.
Source: RwandAir
Aeromexico was another airline to use its skeleton services to transport important medical equipment.
Source: Aeromexico
NokScoot was among the airlines to fail during 2020 – although the number of casualties was perhaps smaller than expected, with government support helping many operators to survive into the 2020-21 winter season.
Source: Shutterstock
But a lack of government support in Latin America meant three of the region's largest airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection: Chile’s LATAM Airlines Group, Mexico’s Aeromexico and Colombia’s Avianca Holdings.
Source: Shutterstock
Qatar Airways said in early July that all passengers flying in economy class would be required to wear face shields as well as masks, as carrier across the world introduced onboard safety measures in response to the crisis.
Source: Qatar Airways
The crisis was particularly challenging for airlines that were already in trouble pre-pandemic. South African Airways was a prime example, with creditors approving a business rescue plan in July.
Source: Shutterstock
Farnborough air show was cancelled, replaced by a virtual event
Source: FIA Connect
In mid-July, British Airways said goodbye to its fleet of Boeing 747s, as the economics of twin-engined widebodies became irresistible in a depressed market.
Source: British Airways
Some regions, including European leisure destinations such as Portugal, saw traffic increase in the summer months as virus cases temporarily subsided.
Source: Shutterstock
Despite some respite during the third quarter, most airports – including Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International – reported passenger numbers still well down year on year.
Source: Shutterstock
China’s three biggest carriers recorded year-on-year domestic passenger traffic growth in September, for the first time since the coronavirus outbreak began, cementing the country's status as an outlier in an industry seeing severly depressed demand everywhere else.
Source: Shutterstock
Dedicated cargo carriers benefited from a capacity crunch in freight markets caused by so many widebody passenger jets being grounded.
Source: Cargolux
Tens of thousands of jobs losses were seen at airlines across the world during 2020. Here, flight attendants from US airlines protest in Washington DC, demanding an extension to payroll support under the government's CARES Act.
Source: Association of Flight Attendants
As the year progressed, many Asia-Pacific markets remained largely closed to international air travel, as countries such as New Zealand succeeded in getting the virus under control with closed borders
Source: Air New Zealand
FAA administrator Steve Dickson personally piloted a Boeing 737 Max on 30 September, with the type eventually being cleared for a return to service in mid-November.
Source: FAA
Ministers from the Israeli and United Arab Emirates governments signed an air services agreement in October, enabling airline flights between the two nations following the normalisation of diplomatic relations.
Source: Isreali government
Berlin's much-delayed Brandenburg airport finally opened on 31 October.
Source: Berlin Brandenburg airport
In a surprise move, IATA announced on the eve of its AGM in November that director general Alexandre de Juniac would be stepping down, to be replaced by former IAG chief executive Willie Walsh in April 2021. (FILE PHOTO)
Source: Ed Telling Photography
Alexandre de Juniac used his final IATA AGM as director general to call for urgent action on the introduction of Covid-19 testing and further government financial support, with airline cash burn expected to continue well into 2021.
Source: IATA
United Airlines began offerign free Covid-19 testing for passengers on its Newark to London route in mid-November. Testing regimes are being pushed by IATA as the best way to open up international travel going into 2021.
Source: United Airlines
News in November that Korean Air was looking to purchase compatriot Asiana Airlines came as many people predicted that the crisis would lead to consolidation within the airline industry.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
In a year marked by a high turnover of staff at the top of airlines, Virgin Australia appointed Jayne Hrdlicka (right) as chief executive in December.
Source: Virgin Australia
In December, Ryanair became the first airline to sign up for more Boeing 737 Max jets since the FAA authorised the type's return to service after its global grounding in March 2019.
Source: Ryanair
Gol was the first carrier to put the Boeing 737 Max back into service. The 11 December flight was the type's first commercial operation since the March 2019 grounding. (FILE PHOTO)
Asiana Airlines narrowed its full-year loss in 2020 and managed to rebound to profitability in the fourth quarter, despite the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Aero India show in Bengaluru will be the first major international air show in nearly 12 months, but attendees will have ample reminders of the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest round of passenger traffic figures exposes the stark difference in fortunes being experienced by carriers in the Asia-Pacific region that rely on international traffic versus those that can fall back on large domestic markets.
It made sense for Willie Walsh to use his first briefing as IATA director general to insist that Covid-related health measures – such as pre-flight testing and vaccination certificates – should only be in place for as long as is necessary.
News
