With a potential global health crisis looming aviation authorities around the world are stepping up efforts to identify and quarantine travelers who may be carrying the SARS-like coronavirus that first appeared in Wuhan, China. Authorities confirm six deaths and nearly 300 patients diagnosed with the illness. Cases identified in South Korea, Thailand, and Japan in recent days have health authorities on edge.
Airplanes and Airports
Airbus brings A321 production to Toulouse, replacing A380 work
Out with the A380, in with the A321neo. Airbus announced its intention to convert its A380 Lagardère facility in Toulouse to a final assembly line for the spectacularly popular and well-selling A321neo. The transition is expected to occur by mid-2022.
South African Airways suspends some flights as losses deepen
Just a day after announcing “flights to all its destinations continue as normal” South African Airways made cuts to its operation. Domestic flights to Cape Town and Durban are affected, as is the Munich route.
Connections, competition spur Delta growth in Miami
It is not quite a hub. Nowhere close, really. But with forty one daily flights to ten US airports planned by mid-Spring Delta Air Lines very much sees Miami as a key part of its route network. Some of the growth can be justified by the new investment in and partnership with LATAM. But not all of it.
JetBlue confirms network shift to the east, cuts at Long Beach, closing Oakland
JetBlue will cut its Long Beach focus city to just 15 flights a day. The move, first tipped last night, is the latest in a shift of the airline’s resources away from the west coast as it optimizes the route network and pushes for greater profitability.
Air Canada launches A220 flights
Air Canada inaugurated service on its new A220-300 today, the latest carrier to bring the type to passengers.
Shake-up expected for JetBlue’s Long Beach Focus City
JetBlue’s struggles at its Long Beach focus city are no secret. Has the time finally come to end that experiment??
Allegiant looks to big cities in Summer 2020 expansion
Limited frequency seasonal service is the hallmark of Allegiant’s network planning approach. How well will that work as the company targets three larger cities as part of its Summer 2020 expansion plans?
Premium products, loyalty continue to drive Delta’s growth
lta Air Lines closed out 2019 much the way it started the year. Revenue is up and costs are mostly under control. Perhaps most important, however, is that the company is seeing gains in premium revenue and the SkyMiles loyalty program.
US continues crackdown on Cuba flights
In December 2019 the US government blocked commercial flights between the US and a number of Cuban cities, increasing economic pressures on the Cuban government. Today the Department of Transportation, acting on behalf of the Department of State, upped the ante.