AirAsia Japan is dead. Again. The second iteration of the ASEAN discount carrier’s operation in Japan ceased operations on Monday, bringing an end to the three year run the carrier flew from its base at Nagoya.
COVID-19
United Airlines introduces at-airport COVID testing for SFO-Hawaii flights
As the largest carrier between the mainland and Hawaii United Airlines has a lot to gain by increasing passenger numbers to the islands. Quarantine restrictions limited the viability for most visitors over the summer but a new policy allowing passengers with a negative COVID test to skip the quarantine could help boost traffic. United will soon offer testing at San Francisco International Airport to help meet that requirement.
A stalled recovery: Airline traffic retreating
The commecial aviation industry as we once knew it faces a dire situation. And none of the recent data offers much of the way in optimism for the coming months.
Spirit Airlines avoids pilot furloughs in October
Spirit Airlines will not involuntarily furlough any pilots in October when the CARES Act Payroll Support Program funding expires. The news comes just days after the company and the Air Line Pilots Association representing its pilots indicated that 117 positions were at risk.
ExpressJet to wind down operations on 30 September
ExpressJet will halt its regional operations for United at the end of September rather than trying to slowly trim the schedule through the end of the year.
JetBlue launches trial for Honeywell’s UV Cabin System (f/k/a GermFalcon)
JetBlue is the first US airline to press the Honeywell Aerospace UV Cabin System into service. The product, formerly known as GermFalcon, entered a trial program at the carrier on Tuesday. The move comes just weeks after Honeywell signed an exclusive deal with Dimer LLC covering production, marketing and sales of the solution.
ZIM Flugsitz seeks insolvency protection
German seating manufacturer ZIM Flugsitz filed an application for debtor-in-possession insolvency proceedings with the Local Court of Constance. The company cites a “persistent and considerable decline in sales” in recent months in forcing its need for legal protections.
Peek inside the largest converted cargo aircraft flying today
Given that the A380 has no real future as a true cargo aircraft (i.e. containers on the main deck, not just in the belly) this is likely the only time we’ll see the Whale flying with so much freight on board. And that’s awesome, even if it is for less than wonderful reasons.
JetBlue pilots secure no furlough deal through April 2021
With CARES Act Payroll Support Program funding set to expire at the end of September 2020 many airline employees are facing the very real risk of layoffs or furlough. But JetBlue pilots secured a major win this week.
Air Canada fights back on refund demands, disputes DOT authority
Facing dozens of customer complaints to the US Department of Transportation, Air Canada is fighting back. While the carrier has only filed one response publicly so far the contents suggest that passengers may well come up short in their efforts to get their money back. Not only does the airline intend to not provide refunds to passengers on flights it canceled, but it now also suggests that the DOT should not and can not regulate such policies.