Thread: Airline News

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

British Airways has told staff that its Gatwick airport operation may not reopen after the coronavirus pandemic passes.

The admission came in a memo, written by the head of BA's Gatwick hub and seen by BBC News.

BA's Gatwick operation, which is currently suspended, is roughly a fifth as big as its Heathrow hub.

In a separate letter to pilots, BA said it cannot rule out suspending the rest of its Heathrow operation.

In the memo to Gatwick's staff, the company says: "As you know, we suspended our Gatwick flying schedule at the start of April and there is no certainty as to when or if these services can or will return."

In the letter to pilots, BA notes that some of its rivals abroad are facing tough competition. It adds that a quarter of BA's 4,300 pilots are set to lose their jobs.

"We need to ensure that our remaining operation is efficient, flexible and cost-competitive to enable us to survive in an increasingly lean and unpredictable industry," says the letter from senior management.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52489013?

Haven't BA been trying to close its Gatwick operations for some time now. I mean, over ten years ago they were talking about it and moved a lot back to Heathrow. I think they had problems with unions about a complete pull out from Gatwick and now they just have an excuse to do what they wanted all along.

Originally Posted by Troy

Haven't BA been trying to close its Gatwick operations for some time now. I mean, over ten years ago they were talking about it and moved a lot back to Heathrow. I think they had problems with unions about a complete pull out from Gatwick and now they just have an excuse to do what they wanted all along.

I think the issue was availability of slots as Heathrow. Since that isn't a problem for the foreseeable future, they are probably waiting to see what happens.

They're also probably big supporters of the third runway.

Those that might be hoping for the best, should be prepared for the shock.

Airlines and airline travel will be reshaped in the coming years - probably to an extreme or another - in the post-pandemic period
....and not in a good customer friendly manner.

^ what will that do to your cargo cult job ?

^^ Where there is a will, there is a way. People have got used to air travel and it will bounce back. Not sure how long it'll take though. All depends on the next couple of months.

Originally Posted by Troy

^^ Where there is a will, there is a way. People have got used to air travel and it will bounce back. Not sure how long it'll take though. All depends on the next couple of months.

I suspect it's going to be expensive and very inconvenient for quite a while after it resumes.

An interesting article about IAG (owners of BA).

One point of note is that it has had to take a 1.3Bn euro charge for fuel hedging. It must suck having to take a dump of that size, but their traffic is only 6% of what it was and they've committed to the purchases.

And of course, the benefits of hedging in the current situation are offset by the fact the no-one is flying.

Coronavirus: Why BA announcement will send a chill through government | Business News | Sky News

What lockdown?

Planes allowed 12-hour window for take-off and landings at airports

Aircraft will be allowed to take off and land at airports between 7am and 7pm as part of efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, said on Sunday (May 3).

Airports that have reopened for domestic flights are: Phitsanulok, Phrae, Mae Sot in Mae Hong Son province, and Lampang province.


Airports for both domestic and international flights are: Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Buri Ram, Roi Et, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Ranong.

The government has eased some lockdown restrictions but has urged people to avoid inter-provincial travell unless there are urgent reasons.

The government also extended the ban on incoming International flights until the end of May, except for some special flights allowed by the authorities.

Special flights that are allowed include state or military aircraft, emergency landing, technical landing, humanitarian aid, medical and relief flights, repatriation of Thai nationals and cargo aircraft.

Thailand also maintains a state of emergency, and night curfew from 10pm to 4am.

Planes allowed 12-hour window for take-off and landings at airports

Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.

The shock announcement comes after rival British Airways said it could not rule out closing its Gatwick operation. Pilots' union Balpa described it as "devastating".

Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.
The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people.

Virgin Atlantic, which is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the government, said that jobs will be lost across the board.

"We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many," said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52542038

Originally Posted by Klondyke

What lockdown?

Indeed

Is it to early (risky) to buy air tickets to Thailand for this January? Korean Air: Washington D.C.-Seoul-CNX

With the inevitable price hikes it would be nice to lock in at the usual price.

Originally Posted by naptownmike

January

January??? Sweet black baby Jesus . . . if this C-19 crap isn't well and truly over by then the world is screwed completely. I'm going back to KL as soon as business and flights are open and I feel it's safe . . . probably July, after ramadan/hari raya/balik kampung etc...

Mid June for the brave and mid July for the more cautious is my guess. There are a lot of vouchers to get rid of by December. Too expensive and they will lose too many sales. All depends on the route. Some are going to be extortionate...

We made reservations on ANA for SFO-Haneda-Bangkok July 1 returning September 1. Reservation was made through UAL to take advantage to use the value of a self-cancelled U.S. domestic flight to a free-change international flight.
Need to get home to pack up our home and move here permanently as there are too many memories attached to things.
Hope to return a year later (September 2021) to visit with friends and family without masks. That trip would be westbound to the East Coast of the U.S. and then, as it is being paid for by miles, UAL permits a free hop across the U.S. to SFO or Portland and then back to Bangkok - cost in miles would be the same as a simple east-bound round-trip.

Not sure if the July 1st date is really feasible, but if not we can push it out a bit more as the carrying cost of our U.S. life is quite modest.

steve

I think it’s quite safe to book from July onwards. We’re either going to be on the way back to normalcy or we’re really in the shitter and it won’t matter. Most airlines are allowing some flexibility on full refunds on bookings through the end of the year but check first. I’m on ANA to the states in August and it’s refundable with just a few conditions.

This might be a way forward, a 'travel bubble' between Australua and New Zealand.

Coronavirus: 'Travel bubble' plan to help kick-start flights - BBC News

The PM is going on about it constantly, placing the onus on Australia just in case it doesn't work so it won't rub off on herself. The warriors, an NZ rugby team flew over to be based in Tamworth, north of Sydney, for the start of the NRL season.

A lot to be said about opening up this bubble to Oz . . but people will still be reluctant to travel and the expected Oz dollar bonus to NZ won't be forthcoming

So Qatar Airways are firing pilots and them asking them to pay back their training costs.

Nice.

Qatar Airways Firing Pilots - And Sending Them A Bill - View from the Wing

Avianca has filed for bankruptcy.

Latin America'''s Second-Biggest Airline, Avianca, Driven to Bankruptcy by Coronavirus - The New York Times

Originally Posted by OhOh

"Actually there’s more to the story when you check and translate what’s been going on on her Twitter account before.
First: the pilot in question is a qatar national and is requesting to rather lay off foreign staff.
Second: in 7 years she’s has not managed to reach her type qualification.
So she might be a licensed pilot, but she can’t fly!
Sometimes there’s more to the story than the great headlines of someone being fired in bad terms. Check before posting and contributing to unjustified qatar bashing (in this case)."

"“Been told by a colleague in the Middle East that the “true” reason they asked to recoup money was that she got married not long after finishing training and her husband refused to allow her to fly and the airline had no choice but to terminate. Allegedly not covid related. I can’t say for sure this version is correct but it came from someone out there.”

"This is all over the internet right now with no backstory. Another Qatari pilot commented that this pilot was a cadet who had a scholarship for training from zero hours to Qatari pilot. Four years ago she was supposed to start her jet training, then got pregnant twice in succession while drawing a large salary and not flying while on LOA. Upon returning from maternity leave and doing her IOE, her husband decided he did not want her flying. She was also said to have had issues with mgmt, “attitude problems”, and was calling sick. So her employment was terminated by *mutual agreement*. After she was let go, she started waging a social media war against Qatar."

Comments from
Qatar Airways Firing Pilots - And Sending Them A Bill - View from the WingQA disinformation or concerned wistle blowers safely out of Qatar?

I would expect the company to launch a social media campaign to discredit her to be honest.

Their reputation (which was already one of using their staff as slave labour) has been further tarnished.

Aviation authority announces new timings for airports

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has finalised new opening and closing times for airports all over the country.


Following the pandemic crisis, the CAAT has rearranged schedules for each airport in Thailand.

7am to 7pm (18 airports): Nan Nakhon, Phitsanulok l, Phrae, Mae Sot, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Buri Ram, Roi Et, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Chumphon, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Ranong


5am to midnight: Surat Thani Airport 6am to 6pm: Hua Hin Airport 6am to 10pm: Samui Airport 6am to midnight: Chiang Mai Airport and Hat Yai Airport.


Open 24 hours: Krabi, U-Tapao, Chiang Rai, Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

International flights are still not allowed until June 1 and CAAT provides further details on [www.caat.ot.th/corona] website.

Aviation authority announces new timings for airports

Boeing reports more 737 MAX cancellations as CEO offers grim outlook
PUBLISHED : 13 MAY 2020 AT 07:45

NEW YORK: Boeing reported another round of 737 MAX cancelations Tuesday as the company's CEO warned the industry downturn in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic could force a major airline out of business.

Data on the aviation giant's website showed 108 orders for the 737 MAX were canceled in April, and Boeing also downgraded contracts for another 101 of the planes, an accounting move that lowered its backlog to below 5,000 planes for the first time since 2013 and indicated weakening demand for its aircraft.

The MAX has been grounded since March 2019 following two deadly crashes, but demand for the plane, like other commercial aircraft, has also been hammered by the massive slump in airline traffic caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Major carriers have taken thousands of planes out of service as overall US air travel has shrunk to less than one-tenth of its volume before the outbreak.

Boeing Chief Executive David Calhoun said in an interview on NBC that he expects airlines to trim headcount, and it was "most likely" a major US carrier would go out of business.

"Traffic levels will not be back to 100 percent, they won't even be back to 25. Maybe by the end of the year, we approach 50," Calhoun said.

Calhoun was asked whether he foresaw additional Boeing job cuts after the company announced last month it was trimming its headcount by 10 percent and lowering its production rate on leading aircraft.

"We really do believe there's stability in there," Calhoun said of the company's "medium-term" production outlook over roughly three years. The interview was taped Monday.

After shutting down plane production in late March, Boeing has resumed manufacturing most commercial aircraft while employing social distancing and other safety measures to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

Calhoun expressed confidence in a long-term recovery, but said it would take three-to-five years for the industry to reach the levels of 2019.

"Apocalyptic does actually accurately describe the moment," Calhoun said. "I don't think it describes the recovery, and I don't think it describes medium- or long-term for the airline industry or aviation in general."

Shares of Boeing fell 1.4 percent to $127.08 in afternoon trading.

Boeing reports more 737 MAX cancelations as CEO offers grim outlook

Phuket airport to remain closed in a U-turn by the CAAT

The decision comes just one day after the CAAT agreed to reopen the airport for limited domestic operations this Sunday.


Today’s CAAT announcement said that, although the spread of coronavirus appears to be under control, there remains a substantial risk that the contagion will reemerge, hence the need to monitor the situation closely in the southern resort province.


Phuket is still regarded as high-risk province for COVID-19 infection, with cumulative cases second only to Bangkok.

Phuket airport to remain closed in a U-turn by the CAAT – Thai PBS World