Japanese long-haul low cost carrier startup ZIPAIR sees challenges on the horizon, but it continues to push forward with its plans to launch service this year, including between its Tokyo hub and Honolulu later this Fall.
Airplanes and Airports
Inflight social distancing will kill short-haul LCC travel: IATA
Blocking middle seats or even sitting passengers every other row is not a problem when load factors hover in the mid-teens, occasionally peaking at 30% for an especially busy flight. But if social distancing rules remain in place IATA executives believe the LCC market could collapse as a financially unsustainable endeavor.
DOT grants exemptions to Delta, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines under CARES Act obligations
Flights to Hawaii will remain limited for the foreseeable future. The DOT will allow reductions between the mainland and the islands as it pays out billions to help keep airlines flying.
Stuck in the past, DOT botches its CARES Act implementation
Empty planes will be flying by the hundreds, spewing excess emissions and placing more airline employees at risk. But at least the DOT did not have to adjust its view of the industry to account for the new reality.
FAA sets new minimum requirements for 737 MAX autopilot
Fewer exceptions will be permitted for missing indicators or controls when the 737 MAX returns to the skies thanks to new guidance from the FAA.
Air Canada replaces seats with cargo in 777-300ER cabin
Air Canada is boosting its cargo capabilities with some creativity in the passenger cabin of its 777-300ER aircraft. Three of the planes, the largest in the carrier’s fleet, no longer have seats on board. Instead the large space will be used to increase cargo carrying capacity on board.
Caribbean Airlines plans new "milk run" routes to connect the islands
The island nations of the Caribbean depend heavily on air connectivity for tourism and commerce. But they’re also small markets and the interisland route networks are far from robust. Caribbean Airlines is planning a regional expansion for later this summer, bridging several islands with new flight opportunities.
Deeper cuts, reprotect options coming for JetBlue
JetBlue will further consolidate operations in April, The move will see service suspended at eight stations and even larger cuts to capacity than previously planned. There is some good news, however, with domestic re-protect options coming online.
Lufthansa announces major, permanent fleet restructuring
Lufthansa is not particularly optimistic on the industry’s return to pre-crisis levels. As a result the airline announced significant fleet changes today, with many aircraft to be removed from service.
DOT adjusts, finalizes airline route requirements for CARES Act funding.
US airlines will need to fly far more than demand dictates if they want to receive CARES Act funding for employees. But the obligations are reduced in the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) final order compared to the initial proposal. The DOT took feedback from all stakeholders into account in trying to strike an appropriate balance of service versus demand, slightly revising the rules.