As KLM is fighting low demand due to the coronavirus, the airline plans to retire its Boeing 747s one year earlier than expected. KLM will retire its remaining seven Boeing 747-400s by late March to cut capacity and save costs. The retirement was planned in 2021, 50 years after introducing the Jumbojets into the fleet.…
In order to fight low demand due to the Coronavirus, Emirates is grounding part of its long-haul fleet. 8 Airbus A380 are grounded at Al Maktoum. 12 Airbus A380 are grounded at Dubaï Airport. 7 B777-300ER are grounded at Al Maktoum. According to Bloomberg, Emirates is looking to defer delivery of its final 8 Airbus…
Today, Eurocontrol announced that the European network was down by 16% yesterday compared to a normal day. Nearly 4,600 fewer flights in Europe than on the equivalent Thursday in 2019. Traffic at Italian airports down 70% but others also affected: Munich -28%, Barcelona -18% and Paris CdG -16%.
Australia’a Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) today announced that Qantas had agreed to repay $A7 million to almost 640 staff that have been underpaid between June 2011 and June 2019. The underpayments affected head office, corporate and administrative staff of the airline. Interest on the back pay will cost an additional $A2 million. Qantas had self-reported…
Virgin Australia has confirmed a female cabin crew member has tested positive for COVID-19. The airline has refused to reveal the route or flight number in order to protect her privacy. Health authorities are tracking down anyone at risk of contracting the virus. Virgin CEO Paul Scurrah said, “I can confirm that we have a…
Norwegian Air Shuttle has stumbled from crisis to crisis in recent years but the coronavirus-inspired fall in demand is the most serious test yet for Europe’s third-largest low-cost airline. 40 percent of long-haul capacity to be cancelled From March 13th to March 29th, majority of long-haul flights to the U.S. from Amsterdam, Madrid, Oslo, Stockholm,…
Rome authorities said they will shut Ciampino airport and close the terminal at Fiumicino as Italy contends with a coronavirus outbreak. As of Tuesday 17 March, at “Leonardo da Vinci” airport, Terminal 1 will be temporarily closed. All check-in procedures, security checks and baggage reclaim procedures will be carried out at Terminal 3, which remains in operation. In…
The European Commission on Tuesday announced that it will put forward targeted legislation to temporarily alleviate airlines from their airport slot usage obligations under EU law. According to Εuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the proposed measure will help both the European industry and the environment. “It will release pressure on the whole aviation…
In a Wednesday evening address from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would issue a thirty-day travel ban for travel from the European Union, a ban that would exclude the United Kingdom and has a number of notable exceptions. The steps are the latest effort by the government to tamp down…
Government of Kuwait announced that it will halt all commercial flights from midnight Friday 13 March 2020. The Government decided in an extra ordinary meeting held on Wednesday, to suspend all international flights “until further notice” over the coronavirus outbreak. Incoming flights will be restricted and Only Kuwaiti citizens and their immediate relatives will be…
This morning, three Airbus A319 left British Airways fleet. The aircraft left London Heathrow Airport to St Athan at 09.00. G-EUOC (18 years) G-EUOD (18 years) G-EUPE (20 years)
Korean Air Lines warned that the coronavirus outbreak could threaten its survival after more than half of the world restricted passengers entering from South Korea. Woo Kee-hong, Korean Air’s president, said more than 80% of South Korea’s biggest carrier’s international capacity had been cut as a result of travel restrictions globally, compared with a 18%…
