Prices flying in and out of Austria are set to rise. And at least one airline is happy with the news, though expect lawsuits aplenty before the matter is fully settled.
Low Cost Carriers
Volotea plans for growth into a COVID-affected Summer
At least one airline is bucking the current market trends. European LCC Volotea is showing its flexibility, altering its route network in hopes of carrying more passengers this year than evern before.
IATA recommends against blocked middle seats, favors "layered" protections
How can airlines best ensure the safety of their passengers on board? Airline trade group IATA used its weekly briefing to highlight several factors that play into the reduction of potential virus transmission with blocking middle seats seen as a wholly unnecessary measure, so long as other practices are followed.
Temperature scans in, 767s out for Air Canada, Rouge
Air Canada will be the first airline in the Americas to require temperature screening of passengers prior to travel. The carrier will also retire 79 of its oldest planes, clipping the wings of its Rouge LCC arm.
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.
No, Avatar is not buying 30 new Boeing 747s
A “Letter of Intent” making the rounds online last week suggested that Avatar wants to buy thirty 747-8i planes from Boeing. Despite being shared as a credible potential order by some outlets nothing could be further from the truth.
Wizz Air plans Abu Dhabi expansion
Abu Dhabi is suddenly a hot market for low cost carriers. Wizz Air is the latest player, announcing plans to establish a Middle East-based outpost of its operations in the UAE captial. It expects to launch service in the second half of 2020.
Norwegian Argentina sold to JetSMART Airlines
Citing slipping foreign exchange returns and a general lack of profitablility Norwegian is exiting the Argentinian domestic market. The carrier sold its entire operation to JetSMART, effective immediately.
Thomas Cook halts operations, moves to liquidation
Airlines come and airlines go. Especially in the low cost arena. It is hard to get too excited or broken up as it happens. This is not even the first to go this month. But with Thomas Cook the story is somewhat different.
XL Airways halts ticket sales
French discount carrier XL Airways halted ticket sales on Thursday evening. That’s bad news for the LCC and could potentially spill over to the business class market as well, bringing La Compagnie down with it.