ITF aviation blog » Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (1st-3rd April 2020)

Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (1st-3rd April 2020)

April 3, 2020

To keep our affiliates updated, we will be posting bi-weekly 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 information that is publicly available and provided to us by our affiliates.

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.

Australia

According to local media reports, it is looking unlikely that the Australian government is willing to bail out Virgin Australia.

Belgium

TUI Belgium has cancelled all trips until May 10.

Social security is paying 70% of Ryanair workers’ salaries in Belgium, but Ryanair is being forced to pay as little at €9 per day, which it does not want to do. Workers are being paid 70% of net pay, including flying pay, basic pay and commission.

Commercial operations are expected to resume at Brussels Charleroi on Sunday 3 May.

As Brussels Airlines is entering “virtual bankruptcy” a high-level group of experts is looking at the possibility of the Belgian government taking ownership of an airline to save it.

China

China’s domestic capacity continues to slowly rise as the country continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

European Union

IAG has cancelled its planned dividend payment to shareholders.

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) have called on the European Union to put together an aviation rescue plan to help the industry.

Germany

Eurowings secures basic operations at Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Koln/Bonn and Stuttgart.

Germany is considering nationalising Condor Airlines after a planned deal for the purchase with LOT Polish Airlines has reportedly fell through.

Lufthansa and the German government about a potential state aid package for the airline.

Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific has further cut flights after carrying just 582 people in a day.

Italy

Ryanair has agreed to pay workers in its Malta Air subsidiary but not those in agencies. Malta Air will pay 40% of salaries, and the government will pay 60% for 9 weeks.

India

Low-Cost Carrier SpiceJet will be forced to pay a bill of over $20m for its leased aircraft. Most of which are in storage.

Ireland

Leasing company Avolon has cancelled or deferred over 100 aircraft orders over the next 4 years.

Israel

ITF affiliate, Histradut has expressed its concern at a lack of support package for the Israeli aviation industry. In an update it stated that “the industry requires a unique recovery plan that will bail out the entire sector as thousands of employees at El Al and other airlines are currently on furloughed leave”.

Latin America

LATAM has slashed its April capacity by 95%.

Latvia

Air Baltic has decided to resume operations as an all-Airbus A220 operator. It will retire its fleet of Boeing 737s and Dash 8s early.

Netherlands

Amsterdam Schiphol airport is to close more of its operations as it closes its C, G, and H/M piers as well as some of the B-pier gates.

Qatar

Despite saying it will continue to operate all its services, Qatar Airways has suspended operations to New York JFK, Madrid and Barcelona.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Airlines has suspended all operations for the next two years and explains the current challenge is the worst in its 40-year operational history.

Spain

Ryanair has agreed to pay salary for its workers for April and May. From that point on workers will receive payment from the government.