COVID-19 News and Reference Thread

frmrCapCadet · Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:41 pm

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tr ... story.html

11,000 people potentially exposed in the US

This is behind a paywall, although you usually can read a few articles each month. Gist: there are few confirmed cases of transmission on planes, and apparently none in the US. Planes are likely safer and bars and restaurants, not so safe as staying home. Wear your mask (preferably N95 or equivalent), especially in toilets, don't touch things unnecessarily. Not mentioned in the story, carry a little hand cleanser and a few surface wipers.

Midwestindy · Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:21 pm

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/two-key- ... 38823.html
Two key Republican senators on Monday introduced legislation that would authorize $28 billion in payroll assistance to avoid thousands of airline industry layoffs set to begin Oct. 1.

Senators Roger Wicker, who chairs the Commerce Committee, and Susan Collins, who chairs the appropriations subcommittee overseeing airline issues, introduced the measure that would grant airlines a new bailout days before existing payroll support runs out.

The bill would tap $11 billion in new funds and $17.4 billion in funding repurposed from other unspent funds from prior coronavirus relief measures. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chris Reese)

TropicalSky · Tue Sep 22, 2020 8:55 pm

DAL delaying furloughs until Nov 1
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... 6D2IP?il=0

jayunited · Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:34 pm

WN CEO says the airline could cut service or drop cities entirely without additional COVID aide.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest ... virus-aid/

TWA302 · Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:56 pm

United Airlines will be the first U.S. airline to roll out a COVID-19 testing program for passengers. Starting October 15, flyers from San Francisco bound for Hawaii will be given the option to order an at-home testing kit or reserve a time for a rapid test at the airport.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-airlines-covid-testing-program/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e&linkId=100376553

jimbo737 · Fri Sep 25, 2020 5:36 am

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/5-more-flights-in ... -1.5119639

Since the start of September, there have been 50 flights involving airports in B.C. with cases of COVID-19 on board. That said, as of earlier this week, Health Canada said there had been no confirmed COVID-19 transmission on domestic flights within Canada, or on international flights to or from Canada.

AngMoh · Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:25 am

SIA drops "flights to nowhere" and instead uses an A380 as a restaurant. Main purpose is as a customer engagement initiative.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/si ... s-13159576

eta unknown · Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:29 pm

Royal Brunei finally started making foreign pilots redundant with more cost saving initiates to follow:
https://thescoop.co/2020/09/25/royal-br ... gn-pilots/

Revelation · Wed Sep 30, 2020 6:16 pm

IATA reduces air traffic outlook as crisis drags on

Global airlines reduced their 2020 traffic forecast on Tuesday, after a small summer rebound evaporated amid renewed coronavirus outbreaks and travel restrictions.

Full-year passenger traffic is set to decline 66%, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, compared with a previously forecast 63% decline.

“The improvement that we saw in the summer months has more or less stopped,” IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce said. August traffic was down 75.3% in terms that reflect passenger numbers as well as distance flown, compared with a 79.5% drop in July.
...
Load factors that measure the proportion of aircraft seats filled fell 27.2 points to a record low of 58.5% in August.

The only sector that isn't a total disaster is cargo, only down 12.6%.

Ref: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-heal ... SKBN26K28D

xwb777 · Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:12 am

Tony Douglas: Etihad A380 days are numbered:

Quote:
“ Anything with more than two engines is sadly not going to be able to sustain itself going forward, particularly if your brand is as serious about sustainability as Etihad is.””

Again.. thats not a really credible source, but can help.
Source: https://samchui.com/2020/09/30/etihad-c ... 3W4TBbXeEd

767Forever · Thu Oct 01, 2020 7:31 pm

Turkey has been added to UK's quarantine list as of this Saturday Oct 3rd. Apparently Turkey has been under reporting the numbers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54376357

gunnerman · Fri Oct 02, 2020 10:40 am

American Airlines to launch preflight COVID-19 testing for Caribbean travel from MIA.
https://guyanaaviation.com/2020/09/30/american-airlines-to-launch-preflight-covid-19-testing-for-caribbean-travel/

lightsaber · Tue Oct 06, 2020 9:31 pm

Honeywell slightly lowered the 10 year business jet forecast (4% for a decade) due to Covid19:

https://finance.yahoo.com/amphtml/news/ ... 28570.html

Revelation · Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:18 pm

IATA warns airline bankruptcies are imminent:

Lowering its estimates for revenue passenger-kilometres, the airline association now expects December traffic levels to be 68% lower than last year, against a 55% reduction that it forecast in July. It does not see sector profitability returning until 2022.
...
At the heart of the problem is that while carriers have seen their revenues fall by around 80%, costs have declined only 50%, as aircraft and staff costs are difficult to reduce. “This is why airlines burning through cash and still making significant losses,” notes Pearce.

Ref: https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/i ... 93.article

jayunited · Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:03 am

WN seeks historic cuts from its Unions to avoid layoffs early next year.

"In a video message to staff on Monday, CEO Gary Kelly said the “time has arrived” for Southwest to begin discussions with its labor unions regarding concessions. The cuts are needed to forestall what are expected to be “billions” of dollars in quarterly losses until a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available."

https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest ... in-losses/

jayunited · Sat Oct 10, 2020 9:05 pm

Travel Corridor between the U.S. and London may exist by years end.

Travelers would be tested before boarding their fight and again upon arrival. White house National Security Council has already signed off on this plan just waiting for the okay from the British government.

https://thepointsguy.com/news/new-york- ... ronavirus/

TheSpaceCadet · Tue Oct 13, 2020 11:03 pm

Live Testing, Passenger Data and Simulation Show Low Risk of In-flight COVID-19 Transmission:

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/10/0 ... nsmission/

NB: "Among the 1.2 billion passengers that have traveled with commercial airlines since the beginning of 2020, there have been 44 cases of COVID-19 reported where transmission occurred in-flight ..."

>>> The above figures equate to ~ 0.00000004 %

YYZYYT · Wed Oct 14, 2020 8:56 pm

Westjet to make more cuts to Atlantic Canada - 4 destinations suspended entirely, flights to YHZ and YYT cut as well. Quebec City is also suspended:

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/w ... 45020.html

rbretas · Thu Oct 15, 2020 7:14 am

ANA eyes 5% monthly wage cut as part of cost-saving amid pandemic

ANA is targeting an average 30% cut in annual pay for its employees with the cost-cutting package, which will also include scrapping winter bonuses and asking workers to shoulder 50% of pension premiums, up from the current 30%, according to the sources. Its employees have already seen their summer bonuses halved.

ANA's parent company, ANA Holdings Inc., reported a record net loss of ¥108.82 billion ($1.03 billion) in the April-June quarter, citing reduced demand for air travel.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/ ... ronavirus/

readytotaxi · Thu Oct 15, 2020 9:29 am

Ryanair has announced big cuts to its winter flight schedule, saying it will operate at only 40% of last year's capacity. The airline is closing its bases in Cork, Shannon, and Toulouse for the winter, but expects to maintain 65% of routes with reduced frequencies.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54551297

AngMoh · Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:29 am

Singapore and Hong Kong are planning to establish a travel bubble which includes tourism.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/si ... t-13285802

DIRECTFLT · Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:56 pm

TheSpaceCadet wrote:
Live Testing, Passenger Data and Simulation Show Low Risk of In-flight COVID-19 Transmission:

https://www.aviationtoday.com/2020/10/0 ... nsmission/

NB: "Among the 1.2 billion passengers that have traveled with commercial airlines since the beginning of 2020, there have been 44 cases of COVID-19 reported where transmission occurred in-flight ..."

>>> The above figures equate to ~ 0.00000004 %

GMA did a report on this today:

A landmark study from the Department of Defense and United Airlines conducted 300 tests in over six months with dummies in-flight to examine the possible spread of droplets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWbHh1I_Cd8

What the study didn't seem to factor in was people removing their masks on a flight to drink and to eat. I'm assuming people still get to eat and drink on flights...

JayinKitsap · Sun Oct 18, 2020 8:06 pm

A NY Post article covers Scott Kirby's expectations that it will be 3 years before business travel recovers. I personally feel like at least 20% of business travel is gone forever.

https://nypost.com/2020/10/15/united-ce ... ntil-2024/

lightsaber · Mon Oct 19, 2020 1:26 am

In these reference threads, please limit posts to a link, a brief quote, and a small insight on your part.

Users have requested links to go back through the history without wading through discussion.

Lightsaber

AngMoh · Tue Oct 20, 2020 11:06 am

SIA is restarting non-stop flights to New York 3x week from 9 Nov. But it is JFK, not EWR this time.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/si ... 9-13321000

“Operating to JFK International Airport would allow Singapore Airlines to better accommodate a mix of passenger and cargo traffic on its services to New York in the current operating climate,” SIA said.

adambrau · Wed Oct 21, 2020 1:57 am

Cathay Pacific to lay off 8,500 and retire Cathay Dragon regional brand.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/pol ... 22-billion

flee · Wed Oct 21, 2020 5:42 am

Cathay Pacific Group announces corporate restructuring - Group will cease Cathay Dragon operations, and reduce workforce and passenger capacity as it adapts to the new travel reality

https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathay-p ... tructuring

adambrau · Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:44 pm

Canadians now banned from EU Travel.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/eu-tra ... -1.5770782

frmrCapCadet · Thu Oct 22, 2020 3:10 pm

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/22 ... oronavirus

Lead to the article is the impact American, Southwest, and Alaska discussing the impact of Covid-19, revenues down 70-80%.

lightsaber · Mon Oct 26, 2020 4:40 pm

CAPA is predicting airline bankruptcies in Europe. Note, this article is just on Europe due to the ~25% loads vs. 2019.

https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/ ... ies-541102

malaysia · Tue Oct 27, 2020 7:43 pm

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronav ... l/2689051/

41 States Now on NY Quarantine List as New U.S. Cases Soar; Holiday Travel Warnings Mount

frmrCapCadet · Tue Oct 27, 2020 10:06 pm

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2 ... ght-covid/

A fairly detailed report of multiple infections on one flight.

readytotaxi · Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:21 am

Gatwick Airport job losses affect 40% of employees, the airport would be operating at between 10 and 15% of its capacity during the winter months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-54648338

TheSpaceCadet · Wed Oct 28, 2020 12:45 pm

"Aerosol microdroplets inefficient carriers of COVID-19 virus: Modeling shows SARS-CoV-2 isn't spread very well by the small droplets that linger longest."
"Based on the current insights, we actually see that aerosol-wise, it's relatively safe to go into well-ventilated modern buildings, such as airports, train stations, modern offices, etc.," American Institute of Physics (10/27/2020)

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 111234.htm

ro1960 · Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:24 pm

France: nationwide lockdown initially until December 1

President Macron said intra-European borders will remain open but it is unclear who will be allowed to travel.

lightsaber · Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:06 pm

The article is on a Raytheon Technologies loss, layoffs, and the new North Carolina plant.

In a Tuesday conference call, Hayes indicated Raytheon could slash between 10 percent and 15 percent of its office space as a result of what he anticipates will be a prolonged period of staff working remotely. That would be on top of a 10 percent reduction in office space as a result of overlap from the UTC portfolio.

https://www.nhregister.com/business/amp ... 677703.php

To myself, this implies less travel in the future.

flee · Thu Oct 29, 2020 2:08 am

Hawaiian Airlines Defers First Boeing 787-9 Delivery to 2022
https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/hawaiia ... y-to-2022/

keesje · Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:25 pm

Apparently, a large national outbreak of COVID-19 linked to air travel, Ireland, this summer. The plane was only slightly filled, had Hepa filters and the passengers wore mask. This study seems to contradict studies published by OEM, IATA, DoD or sponsored by those parties.

https://www.eurosurveillance.org/conten ... l_fulltext

lightsaber · Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:15 pm

Please post a link, a quote, and a brief comment. This is a reference thread, not a discussion thread

musapapaya · Mon Nov 02, 2020 10:49 am

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-nationa ... 5-november

National lockdown in the UK from 5th November onwards. Uncertain how this will impact the aviation industry as non-essential travel both domestically and internationally will not be allowed.

mxaxai · Tue Nov 03, 2020 1:51 pm

Ryanair reports a FY21 H1 loss, which covers April - September 2020. This is the first loss in this period since over 30 years of operations. FR expects H2 to create even higher losses.

Ryanair has renegotiated several contracts to cut costs including a full restructuring of Lauda. They're in talks with airports and aircraft manufacturers to "reflect the new COVID-19 reality".

https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryan ... ?market=en

ro1960 · Tue Nov 03, 2020 11:09 pm

Qantas closes bookings on US, UK flights to Oct 2021

“Although new Qantas bookings to London and the USA can no longer be made through to late October 2021, the flights themselves have not been cancelled and existing bookings remain active.

While this provides Qantas with the flexibility to reinstate sales in the unlikely event that conditions change, it also officially precludes would-be passengers from claiming a refund from the airline.”

lightsaber · Wed Nov 04, 2020 5:51 pm

Spare engine inventories are high:
This means that the engine lessors’ ‘period in inventory’ will be lengthening and the experience of recent years where demand exceeded supply has now reversed a full 180 degrees,” says Barrett.

There is nothing earth shattering, it shows:
1. How well the distributors were doing in the good times
2. This part of the distribution channel is effectively "stuffed" (old business term where the OEMs shift inventory to distributors to make the OEM sales look better at the cost of future sales since the distributor inventory is high)

https://aviationweek.com/shows-events/m ... -evaporate

Lightsaber

Revelation · Wed Nov 04, 2020 6:09 pm

A picture says a thousand words:

Ref: https://twitter.com/lesliejosephs/statu ... 1037591552

ro1960 · Fri Nov 06, 2020 12:23 pm

British Airways is set to suspend flights from Gatwick Airport during the second lockdown.
Due to the reduction in flights because of the latest lockdown, operations will be paused at the airport until early December.

Gatwick Airport: British Airways to suspend flights due to lockdown 2

AngMoh · Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:49 pm

SIA announces loss of $3.5B for Q2 (Jul-Sep) 2020. This includes write-off of roughly $1.6B and this includes 26 aircraft.

From the press release: "An impairment of $1.333 million pn the carrying values of older generation aircraft, with 26 aircraft deemed surplus to fleet requirements after completion of a review of the longer-term network, both indicated in the Business Update issued in July 2020. These comprise seven A380s, four 777-200/200ER, four 777-300, nine A320s and two A319s."

https://www.singaporeair.com/saar5/pdf/ ... fy2021.pdf

xwb777 · Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:35 am

Etihad has trimmed and merged several leadership positions to better navigate through the storm.

https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transpo ... irus-storm

Aceskywalker · Mon Nov 09, 2020 3:18 pm

AC is deferring A220s and outright cancelling (10) 737 MAXs and (12) A220s

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... ce=twitter

readytotaxi · Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:24 pm

Norwegian Air faces 'very uncertain future' Extra loan guarantees would be too "risky" and "not defensible", the country's government said.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54841427

smokeybandit · Mon Nov 09, 2020 8:32 pm

Airline stocks blast off after upbeat news on potential COVID-19 vaccine

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/airli ... latestnews

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