Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (19th March 2020)
March 19, 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.
Keep up to date on all transport covid-19 stories at https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news-events/covid-19-updates
Canada
- Air Canada will cut capacity by about half due to a “severe drop in traffic”. This will include most US and other international flights.
- Air Transat is gradually suspending flights and expects to temporarily lay off staff.
- Sunwing Airlines has suspended all international routes.
- Porter Airlines has temporarily suspended flights and laid off staff.
European Union
France
- Lufthansa is discontinuing its long-haul operations in Munich, long-haul operations will now only operate from Frankfurt.
- Lufthansa Cityline will operate services only from Munich.
- In total Lufthansa Group will ground 700 of its 763 aircraft.
- Lufthansa Cargo is operating its regular services with the exception of flights to China.
Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific will cut 90% of its network capacity in April.
Ireland
- Connect Airways, the holding company of Stobart Air, has fallen into administration. Connect Airways was one of the previous owners of FlyBe.
- Aer Lingus workers have been informed that will implement short time working and a temporary salary cut of 50%. This cut will apply to all workers including senior management.
Netherlands
- Schiphol airport is working to ensure that only pier’s D and E are in use from 24 March. Other stands will be used for parking.
- Transavia will cancel all flights from 23 March-5 April.
- KLM will increase reductions to 90% and retire its 747 fleet.
New Zealand
Switzerland
Turkey
- On 18 March 2020, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced that value-added tax for domestic aviation was cut to 1% from 18%.
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
- Delta will increase cuts from 40% of flights to 70%.
- United Airlines will increase the cut on its services from 50% to 60%.
- JetBlue will cuts at least 40% of its flights in April and May, with further substantial cuts expected in June and July.
- Sprit Airlines is cutting April capacity by 20% and May capacity by 25%.
- Allegiant Air is cutting its capacity by 15% in April and May.
- There has been frustration among American Airlines cabin crew as the company offered them voluntary leave of absences while offering pilots the same option but with 55 hours flying pay per month.
Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines is grounding all international flights for at least a month from 25 March.