Airline News

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Originally Posted by Shutree

My bet is that AirAsia will not be flying before the end of 2020.

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Well you would be wrong.. Nok is a very nice little low cost carrier. I have been flying with them for 10 years plus. Not any perks other than customer service that works, friendly ground staff and flight crews, and easy check in each and every time.

AA is a pain in the ass and I dont fly them for a simple reason. I get tired of having to tick away better seat extra luggage, and insurance. But they are the big player here in Asia. You will get some refund, but when and how much nobody knows. Most airlines take months to refund flights. This will be the same.

Good luck though, I would take it easy for a while and let this mess die down a bit. I hope!!

THAI Smile Airways will temporarily suspend all domestic flights from Tuesday until the end of the month, the airline said on Friday.

The airline said it decided to cease operating on all domestic routes until April 30 in line with government restrictions on travel in the campaign against the spread of the coronavirus.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Thai Airways International with a focus on regional budget services, THAI Smile stopped flying international routes on March 23. It also cancelled its route to Narathiwat on Wednesday.

It is still operating flights to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Krabi, Surat Thani, Phuket and Hat Yai. Their last flights will be on Monday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1892690/thai-smile-to-halt-domestic-flights-from-tuesday

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Originally Posted by Shutree

I had a flight booked on NokAir yesterday (30th) which was cancelled. Called their number, spoke to a very polite human being who promised a full refund into my bank account within a few days. Sorted.
Then I had a flight booked on AirAsia today (31st) CNX to Hanoi. Which was cancelled. I have tried repeatedly to use their online 'Assistant' and either get bounced off or stuck in a queue. The longest I have waited before giving up was 70 minutes. I understand that they are busy, so: get some more people! I paid for something they chose not to deliver. I want my money back. Should be simple.
Maybe I should put AirAsia on the Moan of the Day thread.

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Air Asia are absolute fuckers to get a refund out of at the best of times.

Got the "We're doing the best we can" impassioned plea email from Air Asia.

Emirates sent out something a bit more stoic about extending benefits until it's BAU again.

Air NZ was quite pessimistic with the suggestion that after this is all over it may act only as a regional airline for quite some time.

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Originally Posted by aging one

Nok is a very nice little low cost carrier.

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Low cost?, There on par with Thai air,and Thai smile the most expensive airlines in Thailand.

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Originally Posted by Chico

Low cost?, There on par with Thai air,and Thai smile the most expensive airlines in Thailand.

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Okay whatever you say. Being that you dont live here and are locked out I will disregard your stupid post..:)

He makes a good point. If people don't need refunds, they should settle for vouchers.

It doesn't benefit customers long term if airlines go out of business.

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KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - The founders of Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd (AIRA.KL) will not take salaries and its staff has agreed to an as much as 75% cut in pay due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the airline, its chief executive said late on Saturday.

Tony Fernandes said in an Instagram post that he and Executive Chairman Kamarudin Meranun “will not be taking a salary during this period”, while staff from across the business “have accepted temporary pay reductions of anywhere between 15-75%, depending on seniority, to share the impact this is having on our business”.

The budget airline has no incoming revenue and 96% of its fleet is grounded, Fernandes said.

“We still have significant ongoing financial commitments such as fuel suppliers and leasing agents,” he said.

The airline has retained all its staff.

AirAsia has also urged customers to accept credit offers for flights canceled instead of refunds.

AirAsia has suspended most of its flights since March and its long-haul arm, AirAsia X Bhd (AIRX.KL), parked most of its aircraft at its Kuala Lumpur hub until May 31.

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Malaysia's AirAsia founders not taking salary; staff accepts up to 75% pay cut - Reuters

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Originally Posted by Shutree

My bet is that AirAsia will not be flying before the end of 2020.

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"Fernandes said 96% of the group’s fleet is grounded."
AirAsia Gives Refunds On A Case-By-Case Basis If Passengers Decline Credit Voucher During COVID-19 Travel Cancellations

Not far off: only 4% flying. I am not saying that the group will go into liquidation. They have quite a cash pile and should survive 3 months of not flying, especially if the Malaysian government gives them a helping hand. I do believe some parts of the group will not make it though.

It was elsewhere reprted
AirAsia To Open Flight Booking From April 15
that AirAsia India would start accepting bookings from April 15th. I haven' t seen any updates to that story. The question is, who would pay for a flight that might not exist, knowing that they cannot get a refund?

South African Airways plans to lay off its entire 4,700-strong workforce after failing to persuade the government to provide more financial help, a move that threatens to ground the 86-year-old national carrier good.

The state-owned airline has offered severance deals to all staff from the end of this month after administrators concluded that a successful turnaround is now unlikely, according to a proposal to eight labor groups seen by Bloomberg News. The basic value of compensation will be one-month pay per year of service and will depend on the successful disposal of assets such as real estate, according to the document.

SAA has relied on bailouts and state-guaranteed debt agreements for years, having last made a profit in 2011, and was put into a form of bankruptcy protection in December. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said earlier this week that the cost of staving off the Covid-19 pandemic in the country meant no more cash could be extended, while Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said the carrier's closure could help shore up state finances.

The coronavirus may prove the final nail in the coffin for SAA, which was reducing routes and considering job cuts even before the outbreak forced airlines around the world to ground planes. The industry could lose $314 billion in ticket sales this year, according to the International Air Transport Association, as lockdowns and travel bans take an increasingly heavy toll on the global economy.

SAA has been flying cargo planes and chartered flights to countries such as Germany and Brazil in recent weeks, but no commercial passenger services. The plan to offer severance packages to all staff was first reported by News24 website.

The team of administrators led by Les Matuson and Sizwe Dongwana will now look to sell assets and raise cash to repay creditors. Two prized nighttime operating slots at London's Heathrow Airport could be up for grabs, people familiar with the situation said in February.

SAA is among several South African state-owned companies to have become technically insolvent without financial assistance from the government, following years of mismanagement and corruption scandals - particularly under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, which ended in 2018.

The airline has seen at least nine chief executive officer changes in the past decade, hampering attempts at a turnaround, while responsibility for the carrier was passed from the Department of Public Enterprises to the National Treasury and back again.

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/covid-19-south-african-airways-nears-collapse-with-plan-to-fire-all-staff-1.1587202593617

^One of the early casualties, with many more to come. Those who continue to provide international cargo services, will likely survive. The demand for such cargo will only expand as lockdowns continue.
The big aircraft suppliers might as well burn their future order books for passenger aircraft.

Executive travel has been undermined by lockdowns, and video conferencing will become the replacement for premium travel options. Thes options often underwrite the cost of cattle class travelers.
The only good news for airlines is the plummeting oil price, but I’m sure a few are already tied in to longer term future prices as a hedge against high fuel costs.

No way out for airlines now. Even the Chinese must be looking in wonder at the effects of clean air, now travel and industrial pollution has been curtailed.

Well at least it will be cheap - if they bother making it.

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LONDON/PARIS/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Demand for flights and jet fuel could take years to recover from the coronavirus crisis as airlines struggle to survive their worst downturn, haunted by possible changes in the habits of tourists and business travellers.

Among the various fuels, jet has been hit hardest and industry leaders warn it will take years for all-important airline-industry demand to return to 2019 levels.

“Jet fuel consumption will be impacted for a longer time and maybe not recover fully even next year, as travellers remain concerned about long-haul vacations, and businesses get used to online meetings,” said Per Magnus Nysveen, head of analysis at Rystad Energy, a consultancy.

Exemptions for agriculture and freight from widespread lockdowns have offered some support to diesel and fuel oil, but jet demand remains weak as a significant slice of the world’s 23,000-strong commercial plane fleet is in storage.

Jet fuel prices in Singapore JET-SIN have slumped 61% over the last two months. Refining margins or cracks for jet fuel in Singapore JETSGCKMc1 are currently lingering at narrow premiums over Dubai crude after hitting minus $3.35 per barrel earlier this month, their lowest on record.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), representing airlines, has already warned of a slower recovery than in past crises. On Tuesday, it raised its forecast for 2020 revenue losses by 25% to $314 billion.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-jet-fuel/jet-fuel-demand-to-remain-low-for-years-as-airlines-buckle-up-for-tough-ride-idUSKCN21X1DS

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Probably the wrong thread for this, but it begs the question of long haul sea freight gaining ground on air cargo business.
Quarantine and disinfection business for shipping containers?

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Originally Posted by Switch

^One of the early casualties, with many more to come. Those who continue to provide international cargo services, will likely survive. The demand for such cargo will only expand as lockdowns continue.
The big aircraft suppliers might as well burn their future order books for passenger aircraft.

Executive travel has been undermined by lockdowns, and video conferencing will become the replacement for premium travel options. Thes options often underwrite the cost of cattle class travelers.
The only good news for airlines is the plummeting oil price, but I’m sure a few are already tied in to longer term future prices as a hedge against high fuel costs.

No way out for airlines now. Even the Chinese must be looking in wonder at the effects of clean air, now travel and industrial pollution has been curtailed.

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Well constructed, Chas.
More than likely, we'll be seeing the death or curtailment of numerous government subsidized carriers.
Among the survivors will be the airlines that are a nexus of independently private companies/slight government underwriting.

I can also envision that most airlines will suspend their respective flying mileage points programs, which was a no win for most from the start.....as one might have noticed the periodic modification/restrictions of most frequent flyer policies over the years. Become an albatross on an already delicate industry.

Slow boat to China beckons.

Conference calls have their drawbacks. Many meetings end up inconclusive due to Company policies on security/confidential matters. Meeting minutes don't get agreed especially when it comes to actions. Nothing like having the people there face to face. That's my experience anyway..

Airlines are going to struggle is stating the obvious. The ability to get to training facilities for airline and cargo pilots must be a problem for those not normally located at hubs. Low cost carriers will feel the most pain.

Not sure what prices will be like this year and next. Too big a price hike will kill the tourist industry. I prefer to keep some optimism for the future though.

Never underestimate a bean counter, especially one wh hates spending company money.

In essence, I agree. I have just postponed my Bahasa Indonesia course because the only current option is online.
Blue chip companies will have been using video conferencing for a long time now so they will be aware of the drawbacks mentioned. It simply means fewer jollies for employees. It will still expand, because costs have to be justified, particularly for premium travel.
Dismissing it as unworkable simply means that some older employees will be resistant to change.
You were thinking of retiring anyway, so here’s some more wood for your pyre.

Businesses will have to embrace encryption.

But in recent years governments have been fighting hard against this tech being available to Joe Public. If you could find a non-CIA/non-CPC/non-Social Network owned/funded company supplying this to invest in you could be onto a winner.

I did a course in London in February, there were 8 of us in the classroom and 4 doing it remotely. Seems bean counters look at the travel expenses as something to avoid.

I have to say the online participants didn't participate much, the vast majority of questions and discussions were in the room.

I stay in touch with the instructor, he's a good lad. He tells me he's still doing courses, but running them out of his garage and all the participants are online.

The bean counters will have noticed.

So it's even going to hurt hotels and travel in the UK, and presumably in other countries the same way.

Even my boss was commenting on it.

Fortunately I don't do courses very often, this was more for compliance. I prefer conferences and you can't get the networking sat at a computer.

There are quite a few emails I'm getting these days inviting me to attend "virtual conferences", and I just don't bother, if I want to see a particular speaker I'll watch the Facetubegram video on demand.

Anyone wanna buy an airline?

Looks like Virgin Aus might be going cheap soon.

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Virgin Australia is preparing to go into voluntary administration, sources say, unable to survive under the weight of enormous debts and starved of cash by the coronavirus travel shutdown.

Australia's number two airline had already appointed Deloitte to looking at potential restructuring options and the accounting firm is expected to run the administration process, including trying to find new owners to keep it flying.

Virgin's board of directors were meeting on Monday. One well-placed source said the announcement of it going into administration was "imminent".




Virgin employs around 10,000 people directly and supports another 6000 jobs indirectly.

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Coronavirus: Virgin Australia set for voluntary administration | Stuff.co.nz

Thai Airways cancelled my June flight. I thought they were going to reassess at the end of April. I was a little surprised as I thought flights to Germany would reopen by then.

Anyone heard anything regards when scheduled flights might start to ramp up? I thought they may start a service to major hubs only to start with but no news on Thai website since 8 April.

AirAsia set to resume domestic flights in Thailand on May 1

AirAsia is set to resume domestic flights in various Asian countries, commencing with Malaysia on April 29, followed by Thailand (May 1), the Philippines (May 1), India (May 4) and Indonesia (May 7), subject to government approval.

The resumption of services will initially start with key selected domestic routes, which will increase gradually to include international destinations once the situation improves and governments lift border and travel restrictions. The flights are already open for booking via the Airasia.com website and mobile application. Passengers can use their credit accounts to redeem points for these flights.

MORE AirAsia set to resume domestic flights in Thailand on May 1

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Originally Posted by Plan B

Anyone wanna buy an airline?

Looks like Virgin Aus might be going cheap soon.

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No loss there. I wouldn't want to fly on an airline that doesn't go all the way.

rat-a-tat-*ching*

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I wouldn't want to fly on an airline that doesn't go all the way.

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I find it more worrying that they haven't previously done it

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Originally Posted by misskit

AirAsia set to resume domestic flights in Thailand on May 1

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Do they fly to the Arab States?
They could stop off there next month, pick up some free fuel and a bonus payment for doing so.

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Originally Posted by Plan B

Do they fly to the Texas?
They could stop off there next month, pick up some free fuel and a bonus payment for doing so.

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FIFY.

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Originally Posted by Plan B

Do they fly to the Arab States?
They could stop off there next month, pick up some free fuel and a bonus payment for doing so.

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Air Asia X did fly to Scabby Dhabi but I don't know if they still do.