Nearly 60 cases of COVID-19 infection, including one ICU admission, were tied to a single long-haul flight arriving in Dublin over the summer. While stopping short of explicitly confirming the transmission on the plane, the report notes “the potential for in-flight/airport transmission exists in this outbreak.”
Airplanes and Airports
Delta, WestJet receive DOT approval for joint venture
Delta and WestJet scored a big win late on Friday as the US DOT issued a tentative approval for their proposed transborder joint venture. But the approval comes with a catch, requiring a shift of capacity at New York’s LaGuardia airport.
Cathay Dragon shuttered, 8,500 jobs eliminated
Cathay Dragon is the latest airline to be grounded as a result of COIVD-19, part of a massive restructuring at the Cathay Pacific Group as it seeks to stabilize its operations. In a stock exchange filing on Wednesday the company announced that the regional arm “will cease its operations with effect from today.”
Singapore Airlines launches JFK non-stop service
Singapore Airlines will launch non-stop service to New York City in November. The thrice weekly service brings back flights on the world’s longest route and, for the first time, will operate it to JFK airport rather than Newark.
JetBlue’s first A220 emerges with a new tail design
Welcome “Hops” to the JetBlue tail design collection. The new art appeared on the carrier’s first A220-300 as it emerged from the paint shop in Mobile, Alabama this week.
Hawaiian to cut ‘Ohana, if the DOT will allow it
Facing a continued downturn in demand Hawaiian Airlines announced plans to suspend its interisland flights operated under the ‘Ohana brand. The carrier must receive approval from the Department of Transportation for that move, however, and an adverse ruling could create a significant operational challenge.
APEX Weekly Wrap: Airline CEO Shuffles and Using Data to Manage Risk Volatility
This episode of the APEX Weekly Wrap reflects on a week of senior staffing news, following announcements that both British Airways CEO Alex Cruz and Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah will step aside, and way more.
Eastern Airlines plans Argentina, Bolivia flights
Eastern Airlines wants to Tango. The carrier filed with the US Department of Transportation on Wednesday to operate flights between Miami and Buenos Aires, using its Boeing 767 fleet.
Airbus, EASA warn on parked aircraft battery issues
With thousands of aircraft parked around the globe this year the industry is learning more and more about the impact of these long-term storage actions. This week Airbus and EASA issued an advisory regarding battery systems on the A320, A330, A340 and A380 family aircraft that “could lead to reduced battery endurance performance, possibly resulting […]
A Tale of Two Holidays: Memorial Day v Labor Day in US Traffic Numbers
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day the US commercial aviation market saw a 37% rebound in the number of passengers flying. Not surprisingly, however, the distribution of that growth was anything but consistent across the country.