United Airlines tests digital Covid pass on UK-US flight in effort to reopen borders October 21, 2020 United Airlines will today test a digital coronavirus pass as part of a global pilot programme to establish a common international standard for Covid-19 test results. The nonprofit programme, called CommonPass, has been developed in the hopes it will speed up the reopening of borders, as the future of the airline industry remains precarious while [...]
UK airports losing £83m a week due to coronavirus October 20, 2020 The UK’s airports are losing £83m a week as a result of the coronavirus crisis, the Airport Operators Association (AOA) revealed this evening. Air travel has been decimated by the pandemic, with the collapse of passenger revenues on course to set the sector back £4.3bn this year. However, the trade body said that the real [...]
Flybe to fly again next year after administrators agree sale to Cyrus Capital October 19, 2020 Collapsed regional airline Flybe will take to the skies again next year after its administrators agreed for it to be sold to a firm controlled by hedge fund Cyrus Capital. Administrators from EY said they had agreed to a sale of Flybe’s business and assets, including the brand, intellectual property, stock and equipment, to Thyme [...]
Global airlines get nearly £100bn in state aid and bailout funding October 13, 2020 Easyjet last week became the latest airline to indicate that it may need more money from the state to deal with the financial hammering it has taken at the hands of coronavirus. Around the world, governments have already splashed out a whopping £98.7bn on airlines, a figure that could jump by another $25bn (£19.3bn) if [...]
British Airways boss Alex Cruz steps down amid industry’s ‘worst crisis’ October 12, 2020 Alex Cruz will step down as chief executive and chairman of British Airways with immediate effect, owner International Airlines Group said. IAG chief Luis Gallego said the management shake-up came as the firm navigated “the worst crisis faced in our industry” in his first major announcement since taking over from Willie Walsh. The pandemic has [...]
London City boss: Airport testing can be ‘shot in the arm’ for economy October 12, 2020 The boss of London City airport has urged the government’s new travel taskforce to lay out how it will implement a coronavirus testing regime. Robert Sinclair said that doing so would “deliver a much-needed shot in the arm for business air travel, boosting economic growth across every region and every sector.” “We know the demand [...]
London Southend boss: Airport testing NOW is the only way to make passengers feel safe and get UK flying again October 8, 2020 The chief executive of London Southend airport has said that the country’s airlines will only begin to recover when passengers are confident enough to fly again – and that means the government must impose a coronavirus testing regime now. Aviation leaders had hoped that ministers would announce plans to put in place an airport testing [...]
British Airways’ last ever Boeing 747 flight touches down October 8, 2020 The last British Airways Boeing 747 flight from Heathrow has touched down at Kemble Airport in the Cotswolds. The iconic jet has had its retirement brought forward due to the slump in air travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Two flights took off from Heathrow this morning, with the first touching down at St. Athan [...]
Heathrow boss: PM told me airport testing will be in place ‘in October’ October 7, 2020 Boris Johnson has told the chief executive of Heathrow Airport that the UK will begin airport testing for coronavirus in two weeks time. Speaking to Travel Weekly, John Holland-Kaye confirmed that the Prime Minister said that ministers were planning to begin trials in the second half of this month. “It would take a couple of [...]
IATA calls for worldwide airport testing to replace quarantine September 22, 2020 Global airline body the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said that all international passengers should be given coronavirus tests before departing in order to scrap current quarantine measures. Speaking at an online briefing, IATA director Alexandre de Juniac said that there was no alternative solution that was “less challenging or more effective”. He said [...]