Allegiant reported preliminary passenger traffic results for July 2020 this week show a cash burn of $1 million a day.

The U.S. budget carrier Allegiant has reported preliminary passenger traffic results for July 2020 which demonstrated the airline was burning around $1 million a day.  The airline carried 896,478 people during July this year, down from 1,750,065 last July, a reduction of 48%.

"Gross bookings came in at roughly $2 million per day for the month of July," stated Gregory Anderson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Allegiant Travel Company. "Holding July daily gross bookings constant for the duration of the quarter, we continue to anticipate average daily cash burn to be just over $1 million for the third quarter, which includes half of the $20 million expected settlement to Sixth Street Partners (formerly TSSP) related to the termination of the loan agreement intended to finance the development of Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor. We operated roughly 75 percent of our originally planned schedule during the month of July, with available seat miles down 9.8 percent year over year. This is consistent with expectations for the remainder of the quarter. We recognize that market conditions continue to evolve; therefore, we will refine capacity to better match the demand environment as needed."      

Scheduled Service
	July 2020	July 2019	Change
Passengers	894,679	1,740,997	(48.6%)
Revenue passenger miles (000)	768,714	1,483,724	(48.2%)
Available seat miles (000)	1,516,821	1,682,024	(9.8%)
Load factor	50.7%	88.2%	(37.5pts)
Departures	10,370	11,832	(12.4%)
Average stage length (miles)	843	834	1.1%

                                                                       

Total System*
	July 2020	July 2019	Change
Passengers	896,478	1,750,065	(48.8%)
Available seat miles (000)	1,533,852	1,725,577	(11.1%)
Departures	10,559	12,165	(13.2%)
Average stage length (miles)	838	833	0.6%

*Total system includes scheduled service and fixed fee contract.  System revenue passenger miles and system load factor are not useful statistics as system available seat miles include both ASMs flown by fixed fee flying as well as non-revenue producing repositioning flights used for operational needs.  Fixed fee flying is better measured through dollar contribution versus operational statistics.

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Boeing's 2020 MAX cancellations near 400 in July

Boeing lost another 43 orders for its grounded 737 MAX planes in July, bringing the total cancellations for the jet this year to 398, while delivering only four of its other aircraft to customers, monthly numbers showed on Tuesday.

Based on a tighter accounting standard, Boeing said order cancellations now stand at 857 for the MAX, whose recertification is still hanging in the balance more than a year after its worldwide grounding due to two fatal crashes.

The four deliveries - one each of 767 and 777 freighters and two 787 Dreamliners - were down from 19 a year earlier, taking the total to 74 planes so far this year. Boeing delivered a record 806 aircraft in the whole of 2018, before the 737 MAX crisis erupted.

Air Canada Unveils Details of Transformed Aeroplan Program, Offering More Value and New Benefits

•  Loyalty program will relaunch November 8, 2020
• Smooth transition for all members by maintaining their existing Aeroplan numbers, with all Aeroplan Miles automatically honoured on a one-to-one basis
• Every seat for sale on every Air Canada flight will be available for flight rewards with Aeroplan points and no cash surcharges
• The first loyalty program in Canada purpose-built for families, with points and benefits sharing
• Other new features include predictable pricing, all-new Aeroplan credit card benefits, additional partners, and redemption for travel extras such as upgrades

Air Canada today revealed the details of its transformed Aeroplan loyalty program, outlining the program attributes and credit card benefits members can enjoy when the new program launches November 8, 2020. The new Aeroplan program offers customers more personalized, flexible and easier-to-use features, delivering a truly rewarding loyalty experience. Additionally, the program is poised to provide better value for Aeroplan credit card holders redeeming flights on Air Canada than the value provided by major Canadian bank travel programs.

"Air Canada promised an outstanding new Aeroplan that would be among the best travel loyalty programs in the world, and we are fulfilling that promise," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada. "The new Aeroplan program, which has been extremely well thought through, has been eagerly anticipated as a key driver of our ongoing transformation, this is more important than ever as airlines compete to earn and retain customer loyalty in a rapidly changing environment."

U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin Complete Another Successful Hypersonics Test

U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin Complete Another Successful Hypersonics Test

The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin successfully flight tested the second AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) on the service’s B-52 Stratofortress out of Edwards Air Force Base, California, on Aug. 8, 2020.

This captive carry flight was conducted with tactical hardware and fully instrumented to collect thermal, mechanical and digital data from the flight vehicle. This is the first time a tactical ARRW missile has been assembled. Additional ground and flight testing will follow over the next two years.

“The team overcame significant challenges driven by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve this significant milestone for the program,” said Dave Berganini, ARRW program director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This captive carry mission is the pre-cursor for our first booster test flight planned for the early 2020s.”

Hypersonic weapons provide rapid response, time-critical capability that will overcome distance in contested environments using high speed, altitude and manoeuvrability. An operational hypersonic air-launched weapon enables the U.S. to hold fixed, high value, time-sensitive targets at risk in contested environments from stand-off distances.

Lockheed Martin has played a significant role in the research, development and demonstration of hypersonic technologies for more than 30 years. The corporation has made significant investments in key technology and capability development. We have developed deep expertise in the engineering of hypersonic systems and associated challenges through our work with manoeuvring reentry vehicles, air-breathing engine design, avionics, and aero/thermal flight sciences.

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RAF use A400M over the English Channel to support Border Force

On Monday 10th August 2020, the Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, approved the use of a Royal Air Force A400M to support the Home Office and UK Border Force in their operations in the Channel.

The aircraft will provide surveillance and intelligence, feeding information directly to the UK Coastguard and Border Force, which will facilitate the quicker interception of boats. The Border Force will then be able to take the appropriate action that best fits the situation, whilst also complying with Maritime law.

The deployment of the A400M Atlas, permits surveillance to be carried out with a greater field of vision over a wider area. It therefore represented the most effective use of available resources. This constitutes the MOD’s initial offer of support to the Home Office, and further work is being carried out to determine who the MOD can further assist in the Channel.

This is the first time that a military aircraft has flown in support of the Border Force, but the Royal Navy has previously offered support, most notably in January 2019.

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Sentinel-1C radar antenna has spread its wings for the first time

Sentinel-1C radar antenna has spread its wings for the first time

 Fixed to a special device, simulating zero gravity conditions, the 12.3 metre wide and 860 kg SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) radar antenna of the Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite has successfully spread its wings at the Airbus Integrated Technology Centre in Friedrichshafen (Germany) for the first time.

Sentinel-1C is the third of the Sentinel-1 radar satellite series and will ensure data continuity for the many services offered by the EU’s Copernicus programme. The Sentinel-1C satellite equipped with the SAR Instrument (C-band radar) will provide radar images of the entire Earth’s surface as part of the Copernicus programme funded by the European Union and the European Space Agency (ESA). Thales Alenia Space is prime contractor for Sentinel-1C and its twin Sentinel-1 D. Airbus Defence and Space is responsible for both radars.

American Airlines Extends Travel Waiver Through Dec. 31

American Airlines has extended its offer to waive change fees for customers who purchase tickets by Sept. 30, 2020 for travel through Dec. 31, 2020. The offer is available for any of American’s fares. The change fee will be waived but customers may still owe any difference in ticket price when rebooking a trip.

Any ticket purchased by Sept. 30, 2020 for travel through Dec. 31, 2020, will not incur change fees prior to travel. Customers must pay any fare difference, if applicable, at time of ticketing of the new fare.

All AAdvantage® award tickets are included in this offer.

Customers are allowed to change their origin and destination cities as part of this offer.

Additional updates on existing travel alerts can be found on aa.com/travelalerts.

Qatar Airways rebuilding its US schedule with flights to Houston and Philadelphia

Qatar Airways will offer 56 weekly flights to eight U.S. gateways by mid-September, maintaining its position as the largest international carrier operating services to and from the U.S.

U.S. passengers can connect via the Best Airport in the Middle East to over 55 destinations in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East while strong partnerships with American Airline and JetBlue will enable international passengers to connect onto hundreds of U.S. cities via Qatar Airways’ eight U.S. gateways

The national carrier of the State of Qatar will also increase frequencies to Los Angeles to daily from 12 August and double daily to New York from 1 September

Qatar Airways – the only Gulf carrier that never stopped flying to the U.S. during the crisis in an effort to take over 160,000 stranded people home – has continued to work closely with the U.S. government and airports as the airline rebuilds its U.S. network. The national carrier of the State of Qatar is thrilled to build on its commitment to the U.S. market with the resumption of flights to two additional U.S. gateways, Houston (IAH) and Philadelphia (PHL) along with expanding frequencies to daily to Los Angeles (LAX) from 12 August and double daily to New York (JFK) from 1 September. This news, which will add three weekly flights to Houston from 2 September and four weekly flights to Philadelphia from 15 September, will see the airline’s U.S. operations grow to eight gateways including Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C., strengthening its position as the leading international carrier operating services to and from the U.S.

Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club Is Redefining Loyalty Programme With a Newly Enhanced Qmiles Policy

Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme embarks on a journey of change designed with members’ needs in mind, starting with Qmiles that last longer than ever

Members can earn and spend Qmiles when flying or via a range of travel, lifestyle or banking partners

 Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, is pleased to announce a change to its Qmiles policy in efforts to enhance the programme to further honour members loyalty. When a member earns or spends Qmiles, their balance is valid for 36 months.

Members can now earn or spend their Qmiles for as long as they stay active with the programme. This enhancement is among the initial steps in Privilege Club’s journey of change in exceeding expectations from the airline passengers can always rely on.

Mesa Air Group Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results

                                             

Mesa Air Group, reported its third quarter fiscal 2020 financial and operating results on Monday, which showed a net income of $3.4 million. Mesa's Q3 2020 pre-tax income was $4.9 million, compared to $3.9 million for Q3 2019. Mesa's Q3 2020 adjusted pre-tax income1 was $4.9 million, compared to $13.4 million for Q3 2019.   In addition, Mesa's Adjusted EBITDA1 for Q3 2020 was $35.9 million, compared to $58.8 million in Q3 2019, and Adjusted EBITDAR1 was $51.5 million, compared to $58.8 million in Q3 2019.

The primary reason for the $8.5 million decrease in adjusted pre-tax income from Q3 2019 to Q3 2020 was $16.0 million of deferred revenue. The $16.0 million revenue deferral is a GAAP concept, which requires the Company to recognize revenue related to fixed monthly payments received under capacity purchase agreements over time, based on completed flights relative to the estimated number of flights expected over the term of the agreements. The deferred revenue will be recognized over the remainder of the capacity purchase agreements based on the estimated number of completed flights.

Air Asia X' disappointing results

AirAsia X Berhad has announced its operating statistics for the second quarter of 2020 (“2Q20”).

The Company had announced the temporary hibernation of its fleet towards the end of the first quarter of 2020. To date, the hibernation remains in place as international borders at our destinations remain closed. In 2Q20, the Company posted a Passenger Load Factor (“PLF”) of 38%, while the number of passengers carried was recorded at 2,291, which came on the back of flights ferrying cargo with minimal passenger take-up during the month of April 2020. The Company’s Available Seat Kilometres (“ASK”) reduced to 31 million from 8,442 million during the quarter under review.                                    

Qatar Airways expanding services to Pakistan - 4 gateway cities and up to 49 weekly flights

The airline increases its schedule of flights to Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar today

Passengers travelling from Pakistan can connect via the Best Airport in the Middle East to over 80 destinations in Canada, Europe, South East Asia and the US

Doha, Qatar — Qatar Airways is pleased to increase its services to Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar today. The airline now operates 49 weekly flights to four gateways in Pakistan with its Boeing 787 and A350 aircraft.

Flights to Islamabad have increased from 11 to 14 weekly flights, to Karachi from 10 to 14 weekly flights, to Lahore from 11 to 14 weekly flights, and to Peshawar from five to seven weekly flights. The airline has effectively increased its flights to Pakistan by 32% so that they are now in line with operation levels before the COVID-19 crisis started. All flights can be booked on qatarairways.com or through travel agents.

AirAsia Wins ‘Premium Selected Social Responsibility Pioneer Airlines of The Year’ Award at China’s 2020 Premium Travel Awards Ceremony

 Asia’s leading low-cost carrier, AirAsia has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to China during the Covid-19 pandemic through a ‘Premium Selected Social Responsibility Pioneer Airlines of The Year’ award at the 2020 Premium Travel Awards last Friday. 

The airline was voted best in the social responsibility excellence category for the significant role it played to assist the community in China during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, AirAsia has leveraged its strong network in Asia Pacific to transport critical medical and protective supplies such as face masks, gloves and other protective materials, as well as helping organisations and individuals worldwide who donated humanitarian goods and equipment to frontliners in China.

CEO of AirAsia Group Tony Fernandes said, “We are deeply honoured to receive this award. Our heart is with China and we are humbled to see that our small assistance actually contributed to the efforts in combating Covid-19 by the Chinese government and frontline fighters. The principle of sustainable development, focusing on the essence of corporate development and fulfilling corporate social responsibilities has always run through AirAsia’s strategy and business. I would like to dedicate this award to our Allstars in China and across the Group who have worked hard and dedicated themselves to this noble cause.”