Air Canada Announces Election of Directors

Air Canada has announced this week that all of the nominees listed in the management proxy circular dated May 4, 2020 were elected as directors of Air Canada at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders which was held in a virtual-only format on Thursday, June 25, 2020.

$1,360 million institutional placement with strong investor support reports Qantas

The Qantas Group is pleased to announce the successful completion of an approximately $1,360 million fully underwritten placement (Placement) of approximately 372.7 million new shares (Placement Shares) to institutional investors at a price of $3.65 per Placement Share (the Placement Price).

The Qantas Group received high levels of interest from both existing institutional shareholders and new investors, with demand to participate in the Placement significantly in excess of the funds that Qantas sought to raise.[1]

Fly One gets IOSA certification

Moldova's Fly One has been successfully registered as an IOSA Operator

Fly One, the largest Airbus operator in the Republic of Moldova, has successfully completed one of the most important international evaluations in the field of aviation - IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

The IOSA audit, which is carried out once in two years, has been conducted by Aviation Quality Services (AQS), an accredited audit organization with headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. A 5-member audit team assessed more than 900 internationally harmonized standards and recommended practices, in eight audited areas with a focus on: 

Organization and Management Systems, Flight Operations,
Flight Dispatch,
Aircraft Engineering and Maintenance,
Cabin Operations, Ground Handling, Cargo Operations,
Security Management.

IOSA standards are applicable to aircraft operators that conduct both commercial passenger and cargo flights. IOSA registration is recognized in the air transport industry for reliability and safety of an air carrier.

FLYONE General Director, Mr Mircea Maleca, said: "FLYONE’s top priority is the safety of passengers and its crew members. We aim to provide safe and comfortable flights at the lowest fares. The successful accomplishment of the IOSA audit is the result of the professionalism of FLYONE team and the efforts to ensure safe and pleasant flights!”.

Latin America's airline apocalypse signals a future with weak competition

Bankrupt LATAM Airlines and Avianca Holdings are dramatically retrenching their once-grand ambitions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing competition in Latin America as they mull once-unthinkable cooperation with rivals, reports Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo.

Since May, LATAM has exited Argentina, partnered with rival Azul SA in Brazil and cut back domestic operations in Chile, while Avianca has departed Peru.

LATAM is now open to a deeper alliance with Azul, even as the two airlines usually control a combined 60% of Brazil’s domestic market.

The scaling back could reshape air travel in Latin America, weakening competition regionally and driving up ticket prices while also helping some carriers survive. The moves show how the industry is already shrinking through attrition, as airlines are too cash-strapped to consider buying the competition.

Air New Zealand Carepoints donations total nearly 250,000 Airpoints Dollars

Air New Zealand’s Airpoints members have donated nearly 250,000 Airpoints Dollars to charity through the airline’s Carepoints programme.

The programme enabled the airline and its Airpoints members to give New Zealanders a helping hand by donating their Airpoints Dollars to any or all of three charity partners: KidsCan, Women’s Refuge and New Zealand Red Cross.

Air New Zealand General Manager Loyalty Kate O’Brien says Airpoints members have generously donated more than 89,000 Airpoints Dollars to KidsCan, more than 59,000 to New Zealand Red Cross and 100,000 to Women’s Refuge.

CDB Aviation and SAS Agree on Lease of Fleet of Four Airbus Aircraft

The leasing giant, CDB Aviation, a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing has confirmed today a new transaction with its long-standing customer, Scandinavia’s largest airline SAS, for a fleet of four Airbus aircraft, including three A320neos and one A350-900. The deliveries of these aircraft are expected to occur between June 2020 and May 2022.

“We are very delighted to carry out yet another transaction with SAS for these Airbus aircraft,” said CDB Aviation Chief Marketing Officer Peter Goodman, elaborating that “we look forward to further assisting in the reshaping of SAS’ fleet, particularly in support of efforts to advance environmental sustainability goals for their fleet operations.”

Goodman underscored that the lessor’s commercial team is pointedly expanding outreach in all aviation markets, energetically pursuing emerging opportunities for aircraft transactions, including in the sale and leaseback channel. “Airlines can leverage the strength and robust scale of our platform and capabilities to access financing solutions that address their rapidly changing operating requirements during these unprecedented times,” added Goodman.

Air France and Aviation Sans Frontières acting together in solidarity

Air France, a historic partner of Aviation Sans Frontières (ASF) for 40 years, continues to provide assistance and support thanks in particular to the involvement of company staff. Ground staff and flight crews are among the Air France volunteers working alongside ASF in its solidarity initiatives and humanitarian assignments worldwide, which includes providing air transport for sick children. Aviation Sans Frontières has been supported for many years by the Air France Foundation and the company’s Humanitarian Sponsorship Department, benefitting from financial and logistic support.

Air Canada Further Refines Industry-Leading Bio-Safety Measures, Re-Introduces Select Services Onboard Flights

Air Canada today announced it is advancing its industry-leading bio-safety measures by offering flexible rebooking options to Economy Class customers on flights that are close to capacity, introducing additional touchless processes at airports, and enhancing inflight service and amenities.

"As we rebuild our schedule, we are continually increasing the range of products and services available to safely and efficiently enhance our customers' travel experience. As of July 1, we will be transparent about flights booked close to capacity in Economy Class and will provide rebooking options for customers booked on such flights.

In addition, we are introducing industry-leading, streamlined, touchless airport processes such as TouchFree Bag Check and virtual queuing, and will be resuming meals designed by our Canadian chef culinary panel. We continue to assess new bio-safety initiatives to further build on the multi-layered, bio-safety approach our best-in-class Air Canada CleanCare+ Program features to give customers confidence in a safe, secure, and enhanced travel experience with Air Canada," said Andrew Yiu, Vice-President - Product at Air Canada.

Dr. Jim Chung explains the Air Canada CleanCare+ program from Air Canada on Vimeo.

Saab Receives Order for Gripen Support and Maintenance Operations

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) on behalf of the Swedish Armed Forces to provide support and maintenance services for Gripen from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021. The total order value amounts to MSEK 687.

The order is a nine-month extension of a contract signed with FMV late May 2017, regarding performance-based support and maintenance of Gripen and cover the period 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021. The order includes support and maintenance services essential to aviation operations with Gripen. The order covers, for example, design and support, component maintenance, the provision of logistics, technical system support, publications, spare parts, repairs, ground support equipment and pilot equipment.

"With this order, Saab will continue to provide support for an effective operation and availability of Gripen," says Ellen Molin, head of Saab business area Support & Services.

Work will be carried out at Saab's facilities in Linköping, Arboga, Järfälla, Gothenburg and Östersund.

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Wizz Air to start Cyprus route from Eindhoven

Wizz Air at Eindhoven                                                                       Photo Eindhoven Airport

Starting on the 1st of August, the budget carrier Wizz Air will be flying three times a week between Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands and Larnaca in Cyprus, the airline and airport have confirmed.

This will provide Eindhoven Airport with a direct connection to Cyprus for the first time. Wizz will operate the flights three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with an Airbus A320 featuring 180 seats. 

Larnaca airport is the largest airport in Cyprus with 8.3 million passengers in 2019 and will be a welcome addition to the Eindhoven Airport destination network. It is a popular holiday destination. In addition, the island in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea is a business interesting destination for companies active in shipping.

Airport extends deal with PSV Eindhoven

Frans Janssen (PSV) en Roel Hellemons (Eindhoven Airport). Partnership

AirAsia 'Unlimited Pass' starts in Thailand

               

Supporting domestic tourism, AirAsia presents the "AirAsia Unlimited Pass" for the first time in Thailand, offering a limited number of tickets for only THB2,999  for unlimited travel across its domestic routes.  Tickets go on sale from today until 5 July 2020 with the flight redemption period beginning today until 26 November 2020 for travel from 20 July to 17 December 2020.  

With this offer, guests can enjoy many amazing domestic destinations such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Had Yai, Nan, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and many more, covering 23 popular destinations.

airBaltic joins EASA programme to monitor COVID-19 operations in practice and carries more than 27,000 passengers since restarting flights

The Latvian airline airBaltic has joined the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) charter for the return to normal operations under COVID-19, pledging to work with their national authorities to put measures in place to support health safety.

Pauls Cālītis, COO of airBaltic: “Safety and health of our passengers stand above all. We at airBaltic are working hard to ensure that the passengers can travel safely and with confidence and have thoroughly followed guidelines issued by both EASA and local authorities. Our dedicated and professional airBaltic team will continue work in order to safeguard airline’s smooth operations. airBaltic will provide essential feedback to European authorities, for the improvement of travel for all passengers.”

Since resuming scheduled operations on May 18, airBaltic has introduced various additional safety measures to limit the spread of the virus and protect its passengers. An example of the new proactive measures introduced is temperature screening of all airBaltic’s departing passengers at Riga Airport.

50 percent of the fleet back in the air says Lufthansa Group

Due to the significant changes in the booking wishes of their passengers, the airlines in the Lufthansa Group are switching from short-term to longer-term flight planning and are now completing their flight schedules by the end of October. The new summer timetable will be implemented in the booking systems today, 29 June, and is thus bookable. It is valid until 24 October, the end of the normal summer season.

This means that the airlines will offer in the upcoming month over 40 percent of their originally planned flight program. A total of over 380 aircraft by the Lufthansa Group carriers will be used for this purpose until October. This means that half of the Lufthansa Group's fleet is in the air again, 200 aircraft more than in June.

Lufthansa Group airlines publish flight schedules through the end of
October, encompassing autumn holidays
Demand for longer-term bookings increasing
380 aircraft back in service by October – 200 more than before
Hygiene concept for entire Airline Group takes effect

Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Dubrovnik and Athens, are the favorite destinations of Spanish healthcare workers............Iberia free ticket draw finds.

The Spanish airline Iberia has found that the most popular destinations for Spanish healthcare works that won tickets in the company's draw are Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, ​​Bilbao, Malaga, Alicante and Santiago de Compostela, domestically. The most popular European destinations Athens, Dubrovnik and Paris.

The airline, along with partners Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, Vueling and Aena (which is responsible for airport fees) have already given away 50,000 tickets to Spanish healthcare professionals as part of a nationwide show of appreciation for their efforts during the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis.  

In this first week, more than 12,500 healthcare workers have already booked their tickets, opting mainly for destinations including, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma, in order of preference. Plus the Balearic Islands in this order Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza.  

As for the dates of reservations, many of the winners of the free tickets have chosen the second fortnight of July, the whole month of August and also the first fortnight of September have proved popular.

To continue the programme, the Iberia Group and Vueling have given away another 50,000 tickets so that these professionals can have a well-deserved rest after having provided their services on the front-line against COVID19.   

In other news,  the airlines CEO  warns Iberia must downsize to survive. 

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Open Letter to EU Ministers and European Commissioners on EU COVID-19 Green Recovery Funding for the Decarbonisation of Civil Aviation

• Sectors hardest hit by the crisis require particular attention and assistance.
• Funding for decarbonisation projects and future technologies must be prioritised.
• Sustainable air transport and tourism are key for Europe’s green recovery.

With the gradual restarting of passenger air transport in the coming weeks, leaders from over a dozen air transport associations1 representing Europe’s aviation sector, including A4E, today issued an urgent call for EU leaders to prioritise specific decarbonisation initiatives in their allocation of future COVID-19 recovery funding.