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.
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US airlines cut deep, but not deep enough
With loads teetering against the single digits the US carriers must cut deeper to rationalize their operations. And there are few good justifications for not making that move.
Spirit Airlines reportedly cutting 90% of flights
How deep can the US carriers cut? Spirit Airlines is now reported to be shedding 90%+ of its flights as it seeks to ride out the coronavirus market collapse.
JetBlue plans 70%+ cut in April operations
JetBlue continues to trim its operations as demand shows no sign of a near-term recovery. The carrier now expects to schedule approximately 300 daily flights in April 2020, down from more than 1000 on the initial schedule. The move allows the for “maintaining a critical level of service across our network” according to an internal […]
US carriers cut frequencies, not destinations as they seek federal funding
Getting that federal bailout cash means keeping all existing destinations in service for the US airlines. That could prove troubling for some as the cutbacks are already in motion.
JetBlue plans additional draw down in service
On Wednesday JetBlue indicated plans to remove 40% of its capacity for April and May. As with other airlines, however, the carrier continues to see demand free fall. On Sunday afternoon JetBlue President & COO Joanna Geraghty sent a note to inflight crewmembers indicating that further cuts are at hand.
Emirates, Turkish Airlines slash route networks, ground aircraft
Two more large airlines announced major cuts to their route networks this weekend. Emirates will suspend all passenger service while Turkish Airlines will cut nearly all its international destinations.
Qatar Airways plans 75% capacity cut in response to COVID-19
The vast majority of its passengers transit the home base rather than stopping. But with borders closing arround the globe Qatar Airways must respond. The carrier expects 75% of capacity to disappear in the coming days.
Beyond route cuts, airlines initiate extended suspension of operations
A week ago this level of cuts to airline route networks seemed beyond the pale. Now, it appears to be just the start.
Finding happier moments in an absolutely terrible week for the aviation industry
The past couple weeks offered up plenty of pain for the airline industry. There is, however, the occasional bit of fun, interesting or even good news coming through in response to the problems. Here are a few of those more positive stories to consider.