Qantas has criticised Perth Airport for blockading Virgin aircraft according to WAtoday. A Qantas spokesperson told media, “Even by Perth Airport’s standards, this is extraordinary behaviour. Protecting your interests is one thing but parking a bulldozer in front of an aircraft while saying you’re ‘working to secure an agreement’ is ridiculous. It’s no way to…
The Italian government will take full control of Alitalia in June, Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli said on Thursday, adding the airline would have gone bust due to the coronavirus crisis otherwise. Speaking before a parliamentary committee for transport, the minister said the government would create a new company at the beginning of June that would…
Ryanair is asking French airports to remove or reduce taxes until October 2021 in order to resume flight operations. In a letter signed by Niall O’Connor, Director of Route Development, the Irish airline says it is preparing to relaunch its operations “as soon as the travel restrictions are lifted by the States”. Reading O’Connor, it…
Perth Airport in Western Australia blockaded 4 Virgin Australia planes over $16 million of unpaid invoices. Perth Airport told ABC News that taking the action is standard practice. A spokesperson told ABC, “Maintaining a two-airline system in Australia post-COVID-19 is absolutely essential for the aviation and tourism sectors, and the broader economy. Virgin has significant…
Ryanair planes won’t return to the skies if the airline is forced to leave the middle seat empty, Michael O’Leary, has said. O’Leary said that Ryanair had already told the Irish government that if it imposes the restriction, then “either the government pays for the middle seat or we won’t fly”. The Dublin-based carrier’s business…
Virgin Australia’s administrators have released a 7-point pitch, along with a three month sales timeline, as more than ten potential investors express interest in purchasing the embattled airline. Deloitte’s Vaughan Strawbridge, one of Virgin’s administrators appointed following the airline’s entry into voluntary administration earlier this week, has indicated that the recapitalisation process “is about working…
As Air France already planned the retirement of its Airbus A380 fleet by 2022, the Covid-19 crisis makes the near future uncertain. As a result of a reduction in capacity, Air France has grounded its entire Airbus 380 fleet in the past weeks. F-HPJC has arrived in Tarbes, France from Abu Dhabi (after maintenance) for…
Air Canada announced that the airline will suspend scheduled service to the U.S. Air Canada announced that it will suspend scheduled service to the U.S. after April 26 as a result of the agreement between the governments of Canada and the United States to extend border restrictions by an additional 30 days, effective today. Air…
A Titan Airways, Airbus A318 has landed on St Helena today, bringing long-awaited Covid-19 test kits and other medical supplies. The aircraft was also carrying approximately 10 passengers, including three new medical workers to supplement the island’s health service. St Helena’s regular air service, provided by SA Airlink, is currently suspended while South Africa is…
In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, Virgin Australia confirmed confirmed it had placed itself into Voluntary Administration. The statement said the move would enable a recaptilisation of the business. pic.twitter.com/b7xW5NDANo — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) April 20, 2020 Vaughan Strawbridge, John Greig, Sal Algeri and Richard Hughes from Deloitte have been appointed as the…
With the confirmation of reports that Virgin Australia is entering voluntary administration earlier this morning, frequent flyers and the Australian public have voiced concern over what lies ahead for the troubled airline. Virgin Australia Holdings Limited, under the strain of around A$5.3 billion in debt and the Australian Government rejecting its requests for $1.4 billion…
