Aviation Covid-19 Situation Report (30th-31st March 2020)
March 31, 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.
Argentina
LATAM Argentina is claiming that they intend to reduce the salaries of workers by 50% despite a subsidy of 35% of its labour costs by the Argentinian government.
Australia
Virgin Australia is seeking $865m in financial support from the Australian government, a move supported by ITF affiliates. (See below)
ITF affiliate, the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) has written to the Australian government in support of a bailout package earmarked for Virgin Australia. In its letter the ALAEA stated that it has had a positive industrial relationship with the company who have provided a good income for many Australian families, in particular after the collapse of Ansett Australia.
Brazil
Unpaid leave for up to 12 months has been offered by LATAM to its workers as a voluntary programme agreed by unions. Unions are in dialogue to manage a suspected 50% reduction of salaries being requested by the company.
Canada
Chile
LATAM has offered reductions of 50% of salaries but has guaranteed a “minimum ethical floor” of 870 USD for all workers. Unions are not accepting the offer and have help meetings to support workers who are receiving threats from the company.
Colombia
Unions have reached an agreement with LATAM which protects jobs and the current CBA between management and unions.
Ecuador
LATAM is pushing workers to accept a 50% pay reduction, despite workers having not received a pay rise in 7 years. LATAM has offered a “ethical minimum salary” of 650 USD to workers. The union remains in negotiations with local management.
European Union
EasyJet grounds entire fleet for indefinite period.
France
Transavia France has extended the cancellation of all flights until May 3.
Germany
Indonesia
Citilink has suspended 10 domestic and international routes and reduced frequency on 4 others.
Japan
JAL will operate only 28% of its international flights between 29 March – 30 April. It will operate 46% of flights to the Americas, and 27% of flights to Europe.
Malaysia
Malaysia Airlines will reinstate flights to Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Jakarta and Guangzhou from 1 April to 18 May.
Netherlands
Transavia has extended the cancellation of all flights until May 6.
New Zealand
Air New Zealand has announced it is to begin the process of cutting up to 3,500 jobs this week.
Russia
Russian low-cost carrier Pobeda has halted production until the end of May.
Paraguay
Asuncion airport has closed and ceased all operations.
Peru
LATAM has offered a 50% reduction in salaries to all workers, pilots have accepted but other workers have salaries of up to 10 times smaller. If unions reject this offer, the company is threatening to force workers to stay at home for 90 days without salary and mass dismissals.
Senegal
All local flights to/from Dakar have been suspended from March 22.
South Korea
Spain
Airbus to pause majority of production in Spain until 9 April.
Thailand
Thai Airways will ground 69 of its 82 aircraft as it tries to boost its finances.
Thai Unions and the Thai Airport Workers Alliance have released a press release calling on the Thai government to support workers in outsourced arms of Thai Airways. These workers earn minimum wage and Thai Airways have announced that contracts with outsourced companies such as their catering and ground handling companies, will be the first to go.
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vietnam
Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19