JetBlue Airways gave this sneak peak of its latest tail fin design named Streamers on social media.
Ryanair launches new Leeds route to Vilnius, Lithuania
Ryanair has announced a new Leeds route to Vilnius, flying 3 times per week from October 26, 2020 as part of Ryanairโs British Winter 2020 schedule.
Ryanair aircraft photo gallery:
QANTAS to end its relationship with Rugby Australia and the Wallabies
QANTAS Airways has made this announcement:
Qantas has reviewed its five key sporting sponsorships as it continues to manage the fallout from COVID on the aviation industry.
The review examined how the national carrier could continue its association with existing partners using in-kind support (for example, commercial flights as well as access to Qantas-owned channels for marketing), given its need to conserve cash while travel restrictions remain in place.
As a result of the review and negotiations with partners, Qantas will continue its association with Cricket Australia and the Football Federation of Australia on an in-kind basis over the next 12 months, with a further review at that time.
The national carrier will also continue its association with the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia, with a view to supporting our athletes at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in 2021.
Regrettably, Qantas is not in a position to continue its 30 year relationship with Rugby Australia beyond the end of this calendar year.
Qantas Chief Customer Officer, Stephanie Tully, said: โIn an environment where thousands of our people have lost jobs and thousands more are stood down while they wait for flying to restart, we canโt maintain these sponsorships in the way we have in the past. While weโre dealing with this crisis and its aftermath, the cash cost of our sponsorships has to be zero.
โWithout exception, our partners have been incredibly understanding of the situation, particularly as most are facing their own COVID challenges.
Photo: Stuart Walmsley/Rugby AU Media
โQantas has had a very long association with Rugby Australia and the Wallabies, and weโve stuck with each other during difficult times. Unfortunately, this pandemic has been the undoing. Like all Australians, weโll continue to cheer them on from the sidelines.โ
โSadly, we will have to end several of our arts and community sponsorships, but weโve agreed to maintain a connection with a number of them, including the National Gallery of Australia and Museum of Contemporary Art in the hope there are projects we can work on together in future.
Copyright Photo: QANTAS Airways Airbus A380-842 VH-OQH (msn 050) (Go Wallabies – Stronger as One) LHR (SPA). Image: 931397.
โOur focus right now is getting through this crisis, which unfortunately means lots of difficult decisions like these. We know things will eventually recover and, when they do, weโll be ready to support Australian cultural and sporting life, in whatever form that takes.โ
Qantas remains committed to its work with Indigenous and regional communities, including through its five-year Regional Grants program. The national carrier will continue to work closely with Tourism Australia and state-based tourism bodies to provide in-kind support to stimulate domestic tourism as borders re-open, and promote Australia to the world once international travel resumes.
Boeing licenses Ultraviolet Wand to Healthe, Inc. to counter COVID-19
Boeing entered into a patent and technology license with Florida-based Healtheยฎ Inc. today under which Healthe will manufacture an ultraviolet (UV) wand designed to sanitize airplane interiors. Boeing designed and developed the UV wand as part of the company’s Confident Travel Initiative (CTI) to support customers and enhance the safety and well-being of passengers and crews during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The UV wand is designed to be more effective than similar devices. It quickly disinfects surfaces on an airplane and further strengthens other layers of protection for passengers and crew,” said Mike Delaney, who leads Boeing’s CTI efforts. “Boeing spent six months transforming an idea for the wand into a working model, and Healthe will now take that prototype and make it available to the world at large.”
Healthe will produce and distribute the commercial wand, helping airlines and potentially others combat the coronavirus pandemic. The technology could be available for airlines in late fall. The device is an addition to sanitizing and protective measures already in place, which include the use of high-efficiency particulate air filters that trap more than 99.9% of particulates and prevent them from re-circulating back to the cabin.
“We are proud to be assisting Boeing as they work with their partner airlines to enhance in-cabin plane sanitization efforts. This could also benefit schools, hospitals, offices, wherever pathogens go,” said Abe Morris, Healthe executive chairman. “As we ramp up deployment of our cutting-edge UVC and Far-UVC 222 light solutions across many sectors, this new commercial-grade wand will be another powerful tool in the sanitization arsenal to protect passengers against the spread of harmful viruses.”
The UV wand uses 222 nanometer UVC light. Research indicates 222 nanometer UVC inactivates pathogens effectively.
Using the self-contained apparatus that resembles a carry-on suitcase, crews can pass UV light over high-touch surfaces, sanitizing everywhere the light reaches. The UV wand is particularly effective in compact spaces and sanitizes a flight deck in less than 15 minutes.
As part of CTI, Boeing solicited feedback from multiple industry sources, which aided in quickly validating this technology. Etihad Airways was the first to evaluate the device, and the UV wand was demonstrated on the Etihad 787-10 ecoDemonstrator airplane on Aug. 21.
The mission of Boeing’s Confident Travel Initiative is to be a leader in the global effort to provide passengers and crew a safe, healthy and efficient travel experience.
JetBlue plans to add four nonstop routes from Hartfordโs Bradley International Airport
JetBlue Airways today announced it is expanding service in Hartford, Conn., with four new nonstop routes between Bradley International Airport (BDL) and Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), San Francisco (SFO) and Cancรบn, Mexico (CUN)*. These routes are part of JetBlueโs strategy to add routes with high potential for leisure demand, and will set the airline up to be the largest carrier in Connecticut by 2021.
Last week, Connecticut simplified its travel advisory enabling all travelers visiting or returning to the state to provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours prior to or upon arrival to avoid the stateโs 14-day quarantine.
JetBlue has built a sizeable presence in Hartford with up to 12 flights per day pre-pandemic and has been instrumental in adding new routes and lowering fares for state residents. When the routes launch in the coming months, JetBlue will have the most nonstop destinations from Bradley International Airport of any carrier.
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Service between Bradley International Airport (BDL) and: |
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Cancรบn, Mexico (CUN)* Launching November 19, 2020 |
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Los Angeles (LAX) Launching December 18, 2020 |
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Las Vegas (LAS) Launching December 18, 2020 |
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San Francisco (SFO) Launching December 18, 2020 |
The announcement for new Connecticut routes comes shortly after the airline revealed a lineup of two dozen all-new nonstop destinations, plus expanded Mint service in Newark and Los Angeles. Each route plays to JetBlueโs strengths in the airlineโs focus cities, in Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean or on cross-country โ or transcontinental โ flying. Every market has been identified as one in which JetBlue anticipates increasing demand for leisure travel.
In anticipation of these recent network additions, JetBlue is readying some aircraft that have been temporarily parked. The airline is dedicated to remaining flexible, continuing to assess the airlineโs network and allowing market demand to determine how long a particular route continues to operate.
JetBlue aircraft photo gallery:
European Commission proposes a single European sky for ATC
European Commission has made this announcement:
Today (September 22), the European Commission is proposing an upgrade of the Single European Sky regulatory framework which comes on the heels of the European Green Deal. The objective is to modernise the management of European airspace and to establish more sustainable and efficient flightpaths. This can reduce up to 10% of air transport emissions.
The proposal comes as the sharp drop in air traffic caused by the coronavirus pandemic calls for greater resilience of our air traffic management, by making it ย easier to adapt traffic capacities to demand.
Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vฤlean, declared: โPlanes are sometimes zig-zagging between different blocks of airspace, increasing delays and fuel consumed. An efficient air traffic management system means more direct routes and less energy used, leading to less emissions and lower costs for our airlines. Today’s proposal to revise the Single European Sky will not only help cut aviation emissions by up to 10% from a better management of flight paths, but also stimulate digital innovation by opening up the market for data services in the sector. With the new proposed rules we help our aviation sector advancing on the dual greenย and digital transitions.โ
Not adapting air traffic control capacities would result in additional costs, delays and CO2 emissions. In 2019, delays alone cost the EU โฌ6 billion, and led to 11.6 million tonnes (Mt) of excess CO2. Meanwhile, obliging pilots to fly in congested airspace rather than taking a direct flight path entails unnecessary CO2 emissions, and the same is the case when airlines are taking longer routes to avoid charging zones with higher rates.
The European Green Deal, but also new technological developments such as wider use of drones, have put digitalisation and decarbonisation of transport at the very heart of EU aviation policy. However, curbing emissions remains a major challenge for aviation. The Single European Sky therefore paves the way for a European airspace that is used optimally and embraces modern technologies. It ensures collaborative network management that allows airspace users to fly environmentally-optimal routes. And it will allow digital services which do not necessarily require the presence of local infrastructure.
To secure safe and cost-effective air traffic management services, the Commission proposes actions such as:
- strengthening the European network and its management to avoid congestion and suboptimal flight routes;
- promoting a European market for data services needed for a better air traffic management;
- streamlining the economic regulation of air traffic services provided on behalf of Member States to stimulate greater sustainability and resilience;
- boosting better coordination for the definition, development and deployment of innovative solutions.
Next Steps
The current proposal will be submitted to the Council and the Parliament for deliberations, which ย the Commission hopes will be concluded without delay.
Subsequently, after final adoption of the proposal, implementing and delegated acts will need to be prepared with experts to address more detailed and technical matters.
Background
The Single European Sky initiative was launched in 2004 to reduce fragmentation of the airspace over Europe, and to improve the performance of air traffic management in terms of safety, capacity, cost-efficiency and the environment. A proposal for a revision of the Single European Sky (SES 2+) was put forward by the Commission in 2013, but negotiations have been stalled in Council since 2015. In 2019, a Wise Person’s Group, composed of 15 experts in the field, was set up to assess the current situation and future needs for air traffic management in the EU, which resulted in several recommendations. The Commission then amended its 2013 text, introducing new measures, and drafted a separate proposal to amend the EASA Basic Regulation.
Lufthansa to make further fleet and personnel cuts
Lufthansa has made this announcement:
The outlook for international air traffic has significantly worsened in recent weeks. With the summer travel season coming to an end, passenger and booking figures are declining again, after slight signs of recovery were still evident in July and August. In view of these developments, the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved the third package within the Group-wide “ReNew” restructuring program today and informed the Supervisory Board accordingly.
In detail, the Executive Board adopted the following resolutions:
- The capacity outlook for the passenger airlines will be significantly revised; the previous assumption that an average production level of 50 percent of the previous year’s value would be reached in the fourth quarter of the year no longer seems realistic. If the current trend continues, the available seat kilometres will probably only be in a range between 20 and 30 percent, compared to the previous year.
- The medium term fleet planning will be adjusted and currently foresees ย a permanent, Group-wide capacity reduction of 150 aircraft by the middle of this decade (starting point is the Group fleet including wet-leased aircraft).
- In addition to the fleet changes already communicated, the following decisions have been made: After six Airbus A380s were finally taken out of service in the spring, the remaining eight A380s and ten A340-600s, which were previously intended for flight service, will be transferred to long-term storage and removed from planning. These aircraft will only be reactivated in the event of an unexpectedly rapid market recovery. In addition, the remaining seven Airbus A340-600s will be permanently decommissioned.
- Copyright Photo Above: Marcelo F. De Biasi.
- The fleet decisions mentioned above will result in a further impairment of up to EUR 1.1 billion. The amount is expected to be accounted for in the third quarter of the current year.
- The previously announced personnel surplus amounting to 22,000 full-time positions will increase as a result of the decisions taken in regards to the third package within the restructuring program. The change in permanent staffing levels within flight operations will be further adjusted in regards to market development. The compensation and reduction of personnel surplus will be discussed with the responsible employee representatives.
- Irrespective of the negotiations on reconciliations of interests and social plans for redundancies within the Lufthansa Group, the Executive Board’s objective remains agreeing on crisis packages with the collective bargaining partners that limit the number of necessary redundancies.
- Despite the worsened outlook, the revised financial planning intends to further reduce cash outflows through strict cost management. The outflow of liquidity is to be reduced from currently around EUR 500 million per month to an average of EUR 400 million per month in winter 2020/21. The previously communicated Group target of returning to positive operating cash flows during 2021 is being reinforced.
- A streamlined management structure with a 20 percent reduction of management positions is to be implemented in the first quarter of 2021. To simplify and clearly define responsibilities, the functional process organization (matrix) will be focused on core functions of Lufthansa Group Airlines. For all other areas, a new management model with clearly assigned responsibilities (decentralized or centralized, depending on the process) will be introduced.
- The administrative office space will be reviewed worldwide and reduced by 30 percent in Germany.
In the Executive Board’s assessment, the continuing high level of uncertainty in global air traffic makes short-term adjustments to the current market situationย unavoidable for the foreseeable future. ย The Board considers the expansion of corona tests prior to departure an essential prerequisite for the resumption of global mobility. Consistent testing is possible, increases safety for travelers and is a better alternative than changing inconsistent entry and quarantine regulations.
Lufthansa aircraft photo gallery:
Air New Zealand grounds Boeing 777 fleet until September 2021
Air New Zealand made this announcement:
In May 2020 the airline grounded the majority of its seven Boeing 777-300 aircraft until the end of the 2020 calendar year. At the same time the company also signalled it was unlikely to fly its eight 777-200 aircraft in the foreseeable future and began preparing to send these into long term storage overseas.
Four of Airย Newย Zealand’s 777-300 aircraft will be stored in Victorville in the Californian desert, while the remaining three will stay in Auckland where they are able to be returned to service if required. The airline’s 777-200 aircraft will be sent to long-term storage facilities in both Roswell, New Mexico and Victorville, California from later this month.
The North American locations were chosen for their arid conditions and existing storage facilities which will ensure aircraft are kept in a condition that will enable them to be returned to service within six to eight weeks if required.
Airย Newย Zealand Chief Operating Officer Carrie Hurihanganui says the recovery of the airline’s international network post-COVID-19 is now looking to be slower than initially thought.
“The recent resurgence of cases in New Zealand is a reminder that this is a highly volatile situation. We are not anticipating a return to any 777 flying until September 2021 at the earliest, which is why we have made the decision to ground the fleet until at least this time next year.”
The 777s are the largest aircraft in Airย Newย Zealand’s fleet and have operated the majority of the airline’s long haul routes over the past 15 years. The airline’s international schedule will be operated by the more fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, along with A320s and A320/21neos for trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes.
Air New Zealand aircraft photo gallery:
Helsinki Airport to use COVID-19 sniffing dogs
Finavia has made this announcement:
COVID-19 dogs will soon start working at Helsinki Airport. The dogsโ sensitive noses are expected to speed up the process of identifying those infected with COVID-19. The city of Vantaa believes that the dogs will be an efficient method of ensuring health and safety at airports.
โThe pilot that will be kicked off on Tuesday is unique and a world first. No other airport has attempted to use canine scent detection on such a large scale against COVID-19. We are pleased with the city of Vantaaโs initiative. This might be an additional step forward on the way to beating COVID-19,โ says Airport Director Ulla Lettijeff from Finavia.
Detecting COVID-19 is easy for dogs and results have been encouraging. According to preliminary tests conducted by a research group at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Helsinki, dogs are able to smell the virus with almost 100% certainty. They can also identify the virus days before the symptoms have even started. This is something that laboratory tests fail to do.
Dogs are also able to identify covid-19 from a much smaller sample than the PCR tests used by health care professionals. The difference is massive, as a dog only needs 10-100 molecules to identify the virus, whereas test equipment requires 18,000,000.
The Helsinki Airport COVID-19 dogs are trained by Wise Nose. Nose Academy, the research groupโs start-up company, is running the operation at the airport. In the future, customs dogs might replace the current operatives. Official COVID-19 testing with trained dogs can only begin once a corresponding legislative amendment has been passed.
โWe are working with Finnish Customs to prepare for a potential scenario where it takes charge of the operation,โ says Susanna Paavilainen, CEO of Suomen hajuerottelu – WiseNose Ry, and research coordinator of University of Helsinkiโs DogRisk research group.
Taking a COVID-19 dog test at Helsinki Airport will not include direct contact with the dog. Instead, the dog will perform its work in a separate booth. Those taking the test will swipe their skin with a test wipe and drop it into a cup, which is then given to the dog. This also protects the dogโs handler from infections. All the tests are processed anonymously.
If the test result is positive, the passenger will be directed to a health information point maintained by the city of Vantaa, which is located at the airport.
COVID-19 dog Kรถssi learned to detect COVID-19 in seven minutes from samples.
In the future, four dogs will work at the airport during a shift. The duration of each shift depends on the dogs. A total of 10 are being trained for the job.
โDogs need to rest from time to time. While two dogs are working, the other two are on a break. The service is mainly intended for passengers arriving from outside the country,โ Paavilainen says.
Almost all of the dogs have done scent detection before. How long it takes to learn to identify COVID-19 depends on the dogโs background. One of the dogs that will soon work at Helsinki Airport is an 8-year-old greyhound mix called Kรถssi, who learned to identify the scent in just seven minutes.
โNot all dogs can do it as they operate in different ways. Kรถssi has a lot of experience from identifying biological samples.โ
Avianca Holdings S.A. files motion for approval for approximately $2.0 Billion in Debtor-in-Possession financing
Avianca Holdings S.A. has ย announced that it has secured commitments for debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing totaling just over US$2.0 billion and has filed a motion to approve the financing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
The DIP financing โ inclusive of rollups of existing debt and purchase loan consideration โ is expected to be approximately US$2.0 billion, consisting of a US$1.27 billion Tranche A senior loan and a US$722 million Tranche B subordinated loan. The DIP financing includes approximately US$1.217 billion of new funds consisting of US$ 881 million in Tranche A and US$ 336 million in Tranche B.
On August 28, 2020, as part of syndicating the Tranche A DIP loan, the Company entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement (“RSA”) with an ad hoc group of holders representing a majority of Avianca’s 2023 senior secured notes who will provide US$ 290 million in new funds (inclusive of US$ 63 million of backstop) and roll up US$ 220 million of their existing notes into Tranche A.
US$240 million of the Tranche A financing has been structured as a backstop commitment, to allow for the eventual participation of one or more governments.
The US$722 million Tranche B DIP loan includes US$336 million of new money financing, as well as a rollup of approximately US$386 million of secured convertible debt issued in December 2019ย and January 2020 (the “Existing Convertible Debt”). The new money financing was provided by certain of the Existing Convertible Debt lenders, including Kingsland Holdings S.A, as well as third-party investors; certain other Existing Convertible Debt lenders, including United Airlines, participated solely in the Tranche B loan rollup by refinancing their Existing Convertible Debt.
The DIP loans are secured by Avianca’s key assets (including the Company’s ownership stakes in its LifeMiles and cargo subsidiaries, as well as by its key brands and cash accounts). Both tranches are secured by a lien on all available collateral, with Tranche B subordinated in right of repayment to Tranche A. The collateral pool for these DIP financings was recently substantially increased via a series of agreements previously announced by Avianca.
The financing is subject to U.S. Court approval, with a hearing scheduled for October 5, 2020, and other customary conditions.
Avianca aircraft photo gallery:
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