Coronavirus: Airports hit back at Rishi Sunak over aviation rescue u-turn March 26, 2020 The UK’s airports have hit back at chancellor Rishi Sunak’s choice to “row back on [his] vital decision to stand by the aviation sector”, saying that the chancellor seems to have “little recognition” of the fact that airports have different operating models to airlines. On Tuesday Sunak said that state aid would only be given [...]
Royal Navy shadowing Russian warships in the Channel and North Sea March 26, 2020 The Royal Navy has been tracking seven Russian warships after detecting “unusually high levels” of activity in the Channel and North Sea. “The Navy has completed a concentrated operation to shadow the Russian warships after unusually high levels of activity in the English Channel and North Sea,” the Royal Navy said. Nine UK warships were [...]
Coronavirus: London Southend Airport to close for four days a week March 26, 2020 London Southend airport will shut for more than half of the week from Monday due to the complete collapse in passenger demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak. From next week, the airport will only be open between 16:30 and 21:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays due to severely reduced service. Due to the onset of [...]
US senate unanimously approves $58bn package for airlines March 26, 2020 Late last night the US senate voted unanimously in favour of a $58bn (£49bn) rescue package for its struggling aviation industry, which has been decimated by the plunge in travel demand caused by coronavirus. Almost half – $25bn of the total package – comes in the form of grants, which airlines will use to continue [...]
Coronavirus: UK airlines ask government to waive regulatory charges March 25, 2020 The UK’s airlines have again called for the government to implement rescue measures to protect the industry against the impact of coronavirus, which has decimated the sector. The plea comes despite chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday telling firms that state aid would only be considered as a “last resort” after they had exhausted other means of [...]
Coronavirus: What if I want to cancel a flight? March 25, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has effectively brought global air travel to a standstill, leaving thousands of Brits wondering what to do about future flights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s advice against all foreign travel until 16 April means that airlines and travel agents are obliged to cancel flights and holidays, and issue refunds or allow passengers [...]
Logistics industry calls on government to extend Brexit transition period to ease pressure on sector March 25, 2020 The UK’s logistics sector body the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling on the government to extend the current Brexit transition period to allow firms to concentrate on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the industry body said that “the challenges posed by the Covid-19 virus will make the effective implementation of any new [...]
Qantas raises over AU$1bn to guard against coronavirus disruption March 25, 2020 Australian flag carrier Qantas has secured over AU$1bn (£501m) worth of new funding as the airline seeks to bolster its financial position against the ongoing coronavirus disruption. The debt, which has been taken out against seven of the airlines’ 787-9 planes, will hold for 10 years at an interest rate of 2.75 per cent. This [...]
Boeing plans to restart production of 737 Max in May March 25, 2020 Planemaking giant Boeing is planning to restart production of the grounded 737 Max in May, sources told Reuters, despite disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The US manufacturer, which is currently in negotiations with the federal government about state aid to help it through the current crisis, suspended production of the model in January due [...]
Australian authorities investigating Qantas over Virgin claims March 24, 2020 Australian competition authorities are investigating claims from Virgin Australia that rival carrier Qantas has been briefing the media that it is not financially viable and should be excluded from any state bailout of the struggling sector. The Financial Times reported that Virgin has sent a letter to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod [...]
