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The coronavirus pandemic has created a range of new realities for the global airline industry, spanning from the challenges of managing down the debt accumulated to stay afloat, to new start-ups hoping to capitalise on perceived opportunities stemming from the crisis.
There’s also been an evolution of the role of aircraft lessors because those companies had to work with airlines to create some short term relief as demand vaporised.
But the chairman of Air Lease Corporation, Steven Udvar–Házy, aka Steve Házy, believes airlines will lean on lessors even more, since the leasing community can simply borrow at much more favourable rates.
May 2021 165 US-based JetBlue Airways has taken delivery of its first of 13 A321LR aircraft featuring Airbus’ new Airspace interior. The new A321LRs back the airline’s plan to open its transatlantic services, starting with direct flights to London. In addition to these 13 new A321LRs, the airline also has on order another 57 Airbus aircraft comprising other A321neo variants – which will also feature Airspace cabins. By bringing Airspace to the Single-Aisle Family, JetBlue’s A321 cabins will be the very first to feature Airbus’ new award-winning cabin design-language and passenger-pleasing cabin features which are consistent with Airbus’ A330neo and A350 Widebody aircraft.
Routes: New Calif. airline, Alaska lounge at SFO, more OAK routes, Hawaii rule changes, more
A weekly roundup of air travel and airport news
Jim Glab
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Testing rules have changed again if you are heading to Kauai and Maui.Seth K. Hughes/Getty Images
In this week’s roundup, a new California-based airline will take to the skies later this month; Alaska Airlines takes over American’s former Admirals Club at SFO; Delta and Southwest kick off new routes from Oakland; Alaska revives some SFO and San Jose service; the U.S. works with airlines to set technical standards for COVID passports; Kauai and Maui change their COVID testing rules for arriving mainland visitors; Greece plans a mid-May opening for international; tourists; JetBlue reveals enhanced economy cabin for its upcoming London flights; some United domestic flyers are testing “touchless” procedures at San Francisco International, and the airport expands its ban on plastic containers; and a new COVI
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It may seem like a lot longer, but it has been about a year since the initial surge in COVID-19 cases caused Asia-Pacific airline capacity to crash, in Mar-2020.
Since then the airline industry has been through a downturn as deep as any it has ever experienced.
As the prospect of recovery looms closer, now is a good time to look ahead at some of the questions facing the region’s airlines.
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