Mayday: Year from hell in aviation as empty flights crash-land by staggering 71 per cent from pre-pandemic levels December 29, 2021 Covid-related travel restrictions led to a 71 per cent reduction in the number of international flights to and from UK airports this year compared with pre-pandemic levels, new analysis shows. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said around 406,060 international flights served UK airports during 2021 up to December 22, compared with 1,399,170 in the pre-pandemic period [...]
South Africa demands compensation from UK for economic damage caused by Covid travel red list in response to Omicron variant December 27, 2021 South Africa is calling for compensation from the UK for the economic damage the country suffered after it was placed on Britain’s Covid travel red list in November. South Africa’s Department of International Relations is demanding compensation after the movement of people was severely restricted, saying Africa’s largest economy took a serious beating because of [...]
November crowned best month for aircraft orders despite Covid uncertainties December 27, 2021 November has registered the highest number of aircraft orders since 2014, despite ongoing industry concerns over the Omicron variant. Driven mainly by the Dubai Airshow, industry stakeholders have ordered 16 wide-body and 411 single-aisle, for a total of 427 planes. Deliveries also reported an increase, going up 30 per cent compared with October to 92 [...]
Lufthansa cancels record 33,000 flights after dramatic crash in demand December 24, 2021 German carrier is reportedly planning to slash around 33,000 flights as a result of the Covid-induced reduction in passenger demand this winter. According to the airline’s boss Carsten Spohr, Lufthansa was currently operating 60 per cent of its flights, as bookings for the mid-January to February period were hit the hardest, especially in the group’s [...]
Union Unite calls on government to deliver ‘urgent’ support to aviation December 22, 2021 The union Unite has called on the UK Government to deliver ‘urgent’ support to the aviation industry following Whitehall’s £1bn package for the hospitality sector. Unite has urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to help the industry weather the uncertainty caused by the Omicron variant, “so that it can rebuild sustainably and with resilience.” “Since this crisis [...]
Flights to Canary Islands cancelled as volcano emits toxic gases December 15, 2021 Flights to the Canary Islands were still being cancelled this morning after toxic gasses from the volcano in La Palma were detected across the island. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 21 flights were cancelled to and from airports in the Spanish archipelago yesterday, with a further two cancelled today. To face the situation, yesterday [...]
Pilot union calls for winter resilience fund as Omicron hinders sector’s recovery December 15, 2021 The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) has written to the government asking for a winter resilience fund to help aviation face the Omicron variant. Citing the restrictions’ financial impact, Balpa has asked for around £15m for the development of pilot training schemes, arguing they will prove fundamental for the industry’s recovery. “Just when we thought [...]
UK airlines ask PM to remove travel restrictions as Omicron pushes shares down December 13, 2021 Bosses of major UK airlines have sent Prime Minister Boris Johnson a letter asking the government to remove travel restrictions , as stocks today continued to plummet. Easyjet, as well as British Airways’ (BA) owner IAG and Ryanair, saw their stocks go down 4.72, 5.29 and 3.46 per cent respectively because of fears of further [...]
American Airlines boss to step down after 20 years in the business December 7, 2021 American Airlines’ boss Doug Parker announced today he will step down as the carrier’s chief executive at the end of March, retaining his role as chairman. Parker’s announcement caused the airline’s shares to go up 2.4 per cent to $18.36 at market opening. “After a legendary 35-year career in aviation, our CEO, Doug Parker, will [...]
Babcock recovers from heavy pandemic losses with £400m disposals plan and UK contracts December 7, 2021 Babcock has recovered from heavy losses to report an operating profit of £75.4m, following a £400m disposal plan and a growing contract backlog.