Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (25th March 2020)

March 25, 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.

Australia

• Virgin Australia is reducing its domestic capacity by 90% in addition to suspension of all international flying. Reductions will from March 27 – June 14.
• Tigerair has suspended all operations effective immediately.

Austria

Austrian Airlines have extended the temporary suspension of operations until April 19.

Bahrain

• Gulf Air will operate just 13 of its 49 destinations including flights to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Dubai (DXB), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), and Mumbai (BOM). All flights to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Morocco remain suspended.

Brazil

• Azul Airlines has cut its planned capacity by 90% through 30 April. All international flights have been suspended except for flights departing Campinas.
• Gol has cut its domestic capacity by 92% and its international capacity by 100%.

Canada

• Westjet have removed 6,900 (appox. 50%) of its workforce through a combination of early retirements, early outs, and both voluntary and involuntary leave. About 90% of those being made redundant accept it voluntary for a period of at least three months and some permanently.
• Bombardier has suspended work at its Canadian and Belfast operations effective March 24.

Colombia

• Avianca has suspended domestic flights in Colombia until at least 12 April as the country will close it’s airspace from 25 March.

European Union

• The European Transport Workers’ Federation have released a statement calling on the European Commission and member states to take necessary action to protect passengers and workers and to ensure the viability of the industry into the future.

Italy

• After suspending all operations, Air Dolomiti have announced that they will operate a daily connection between Milan Malpensa and Frankfurt to ensure a route remains between the two countries.

Malaysia

• Malaysia Airlines is now operation at 20% capacity and expects to further reduce operations in the coming weeks due to stringent travel restrictions being placed by governments.
• Malindo Air is currently operating at 15% capacity having grounded 26 of its 36 aircraft.
• Air Asia has grounded about 100 aircraft, or 75% of its fleet. The airline is operating at about 10% capacity in Malaysia on mostly domestic passenger flights. It is operating some flights as cargo only.

Netherlands        

• Eindhoven Airport is operating with reduced hours. From 25 March onwards the terminal will only operate between 06:15 and 20:00. Staffing levels have been reduced and fewer retail facilities are open to the public.

New Zealand

• Air New Zealand will operate services to enable essential travel (mostly to Australia and Pacific Islands) and maintain cargo operations despite its 95% cut in operations from 30 March to 31 May.

Northern Ireland

• Bombardier has suspended work at its Canadian and Belfast operations effective March 24.

Oman

• Oman Air have announced that they will need to cut jobs, but have not specified how much jobs will need to be cut due to this crisis.

Philippines

• Cebu Pacific have reduced its operations by 90%. It has said it will maintain connectivity “where operationally feasible”.

South Korea

• ITF affiliate, the Korean Public Transport Union (KPTU) has called on the South Korean government to declare the Yeongjong-Incheon Airport Region an ‘Employment Crisis Zone’. Since the beginning of the crisis the passenger numbers at ICN has decreased by 95% and insecurity is felt by workers particularly in low-cost carriers and subcontracted workers. Some workers such as Korean Air’s outsourced cabin cleaners and ground handlers are facing layoffs.

Switzerland

• Almost all Swiss Intl. Airlines operations have been stopped in Zurich and Geneva. The only remaining routes are a flight to New York Newark and some repatriation flights that will continue until the end of March.
• Workers there are working on short-time work until June and are on 95% of their salaries. The additional 5% will be compensated by the airline before the end of 2020.
• Similarly to many other European carriers, there has been a number of measures taken on board including no cash handling, air conditioning on during boarding/disembarking, no training flights, additional hand disinfectant, larger crew buses and an adapted boarding process to ensure social distancing. Cabin Crew are being allowed to stay at home without consequences due to a “fear clause” in the union’s CBA.
• However, the use of facemasks and gloves is still not being permitted.

Thailand

• It is rumoured that Thai Airways will use this crisis to shed about 50% of its permanent workforce. The airline has been in financial difficulties for a number of years and has previously sought liquidity through the sale of aircraft.
• Thai Airways will suspend all operations until at least May 31.
• Thai Smile will suspend all international flights from 23 March until further notice.

United Kingdom

• The British government is said to be unhappy with certain airlines who are still paying out shareholders dividends. The decision is said to have stemmed from an announcement by EasyJet that it would continue to pay out a £147 million dividend to its shareholders.
• Bristol Airport will be closed at night from 22:00-07:00.
• London City Airport will close to civilian operations until the end of April. It will remain open for military operations.
• ITF affiliate Prospect has reacted furiously to the news that Ryanair engineers with less that one year’s service are being let go despite the UK government offering to fund 80% of their wages. 

United States of America

• American Airlines has suspended its inflight services on some flights, and reduced its service on others in a measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect workers.

Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19