Airflow launches electric short-take-off and landing aircraft

June 11, 2020

Airflow, an aerial logistics company building next-generation aircraft and services, is developing the first electric Short-Take-Off and Landing (eSTOL) aircraft designed for middle-mile logistics. Airflow’s aerial logistics network can move short-haul cargo quickly and cost-effectively over road traffic by utilizing the unused airspace around cities. Five former Airbus Vahana team members, who have over 60

France unveils full extent of €15 billion aerospace rescue package

June 10, 2020

The French government has announced that a total rescue package of €15 billion is in place to protect the country’s aerospace industry. €7.0 billion of this has already been earmarked to support Air France during a time when demand for air travel has fallen by up to 95%, along with an acceleration of orders for

Malaysian government appoints new chairman for Malaysian Airlines

June 9, 2020

Ailing government-owned Malaysian Airlines Berhad (Malaysian Airlines) has a newly appointed non-executive chairman, YBhg Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin (Wan Zulkiflee), effective July 1, taking over from Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof who resigned in March. Malaysian Airlines has been struggling in the wake of the disappearance of Flight MH370 and the downing of

Singapore Airlines secures S$10 billion in fresh liquidity

June 8, 2020

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has raised S$10 billion of liquidity through its recent Rights Issue, as well as a mix of secured and unsecured credit facilities. This puts SIA on a steady footing as it tackles the challenges posed by the global Covid-19 outbreak. SIA secured S$8.8 billion in liquidity through the successful completion of the

Greek holiday industry hit by Qatar Airlines flight which had 12 passengers who tested positive for COVID-19

June 4, 2020

Greece has been forced to decide from which countries it will allow holidaymakers to arrive from. The decision to create a shortlist of acceptable countries from where it would allow flights to arrive has been made more prescient after a Qatar Airways flight with 91 passengers on board arrived, after which 12 of the passengers

Final two bidders in race to buy Virgin Australia revealed

June 3, 2020

Deloitte, who was appointed as administrator when Virgin Australia went into administration at the end of April this year have announced that it has narrowed down five prospective purchasers for the struggling carrier to a final two candidates. Bain Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners, two “well-funded” U.S.-based private equity firms with “deep aviation experience” have

Embraer looks towards India and China as potential business partners after Boeing debacle

June 2, 2020

Brazilian planemaker Embraer has confirmed that it would consider a new partnership with China, India, Russia and possibly other countries in relation to its commercial jet division as part of a revised restructuring plan after Boeing abruptly backed out of a deal. Embraer Chief Executive Francisco Gomes Neto has said that the company is looking

German government takes 20% stake in carrier as Lufthansa bailout is agreed

June 1, 2020

In return for a €9 billion (US$9.8 billion) bailout package, Germany’s flag-carrying airline Lufthansa will relinquish up to a 20% stake in the carrier to the German government. In addition, Lufthansa will have to relinquish over 24 of its take-off and landing slots at Frankfurt and Munich airports to new competitors. There will be a

BALPA caught off guard as easyJet announces massive wave of job cuts

May 29, 2020

BALPA, the British Airline Pilots’ Association and pilots’ union has criticized easyJet for its announcement of a shedding of up to 30% of its staff without prior consultation. The union sees this volume of layoffs as totally unnecessary and that it would need “a lot of convincing” that easyJet needed to make “such dramatic cuts.”

6,700 forced job losses follow on from Boeing’s VLO program

May 28, 2020

Having laid off over 5,520 workers through its Voluntary Lay Off program, Boeing has announced that the company’s current financial plight will require the shedding of many thousands more jobs over the coming months, starting with an initial tranche of 6,700 compulsory redundancies. The world’s second-largest planemaker has been struggling with the financial fallout from

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