Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (16th March 2020)
March 16, 2020
To keep our affiliates updated, we will be posting daily Covid-19 situation reports on our blog. These reports will focus on the effect the virus is having on the aviation industry, and specifically on aviation workers. These reports are a compilation of publically available information provided to us by our affiliates and media outlets.
If you have information to provide please contact us at civilaviation@itf.org.uk.
The ITF cannot guarantee that the information provided is accurate at the time of reading. This update is not complete as we can only post what information we have been given by our affiliates or on news outlets.
Austria
- Qantas have suspended operations to Beijing (until mid-July) and Shanghai (until further notice).
- Flight to San Francisco will be suspended from April 18th.
- There has been reductions in services to Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand but no cancellations.
- Jetstar have suspended flights to Bangkok and Seoul until further notice. They have reduced services on some flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh and Denpasar.
- Virgin Australia have cancelled all flights to Hong Kong, Tonga (from May 1) and Rarotongo (from July 21). They will reduce services between Auckland-Melbourne and Sydney (from May), Tokyo (March 29-May 3) and Los Angeles (early May-early June).
China
Denmark
- Similar to Norway, Denmark is also facing the SAS operation suspension, resulting in a temporary unpaid leave of 10,000 workers, approximately 4,000 of which are based in Denmark.
- Workers are being given some pay by SAS with the support of the Danish government.
- There has been no permanent layoffs.
- It is expected to run until April 9th.
Djibouti
European Union
- The European Commission is proposing a fund to support workers during the crisis.
- It is also expected to announce advice against non-essential travel within the bloc this evening. (16th March 2020)
- Ryanair is expected to reduce 80% of its entire operations in Europe.
France
- Due to the flight restrictions imposed by the USA, French airline La Compagnie has suspended all operations.
- Air Tahiti Nui is temporarily suspending a layover in Los Angeles on its service between Papette and Paris CDG. The route will now run direct.
- Air France will suspend 90% of its operations by the end of the week and temporarily lay off up to 80% of its workforce.
Germany
- Lufthansa is expected to make further reductions to services in the coming days.
- Cargo operations in Germany remain healthy.
- The German government is expected to announce further measures this evening (16th March 2020).
Hong Kong
Ireland
- Flights to Spain will be likely be suspended from Thursday 19 March.
- Swissport issued redundancy warning letters to 1,000 of its workers in Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.
Italy
- Both Easyjet and Ryanair have cancelled all services to Italy until 3rd.
Jordan
Latvia
New Zealand
Norway
- Unions have come to an agreement to protect its members jobs and salaries in SAS with the support of the Norwegian government. SAS is temporarily laying off approximately 10,000 workers predominantly in Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
- Norwegian Airlines will cancel 85% of its flights and temporarily lay off 7,300 workers (90%).
Poland
- Due to advice from the Polish government, LOT has suspended all operations to/from Poland with the exception of rescue flights.
- These suspensions have been extended to LOT’s operations in Hungary.
- Low-Cost Carrier Buzz (part of the Ryanair Group) is not providing any support for its workers in Poland who were forced to accept self-employment contracts in 2018. The carrier is currently seeking support from the Polish government rather than pay its staff itself.
Qatar
Spain
- Flights are being reduced into and out of Spain, as well as on domestic services. It is expected that only essential services will remain.
- Cargo operations remain healthy.
- Workers on temporary contracts are expected to face the worst of the layoffs, while permanent workers are expected to be put on unpaid leave or temporary paid redundancies.
- Easyjet have announced that all flights to Spain will be suspended from March 17-29.
Tanzania
UK
- Unite the Union has called on the UK government to take a number of substantive actions to support and protect the aviation industry in the UK.
- Jet2 has suspended operations to some countries, the majority of others will be cancelled between 16-23 March and cancellations will continue until mid-April.
- Ryanair is denying statutory sick pay for those workers who have entered into quarantine as they may have come in contact with someone carrying the virus.
- Virgin Atlantic will operate just 6 aircraft and have asked staff to take 8 weeks unpaid leave. It has additionally offered a one-time voluntary redundancy offer, sabbaticals of between 6-12 months, a pay cut for the entire leadership team, and a reduction in pension contributions for a year.
USA
- All flights from the USA to the European Schengen area, and UK have been suspended.
- This suspension will extend to Ireland and the UK from 17th.
- The CDC has issued advisories and restrictions on domestic US travel.
- American Airlines is expected to reduce international flights by 75% from March 16 – May 6, and domestic flights by 20% in April and 30% in May.
- Delta Airlines is reducing its capacity by 40%. It has agreed the cuts with its pilot union, but as the airline has continued to block unions to represent any other group of workers, representatives of ground handling and cabin crew workers were not consulted.
- Both American Airlines and Delta Airlines have suspended all flights to Europe for Spring 2020.
- United Airlines will cut 50% of all services in April and May. This is likely to extend into the summer. It is in talks with unions on ways to reduce payroll, and its corporate officers will take a 50% salary cut.
Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19