London Air Travel’s Monday Briefing provides a weekly digest of air travel news from London and around the world.
Here is our archive of posts from 2020:
Quick Links
January 2020
Monday 13 January 2020 – International Airlines Group prepares for life after Willie Walsh as Luis Gallego is appointed Chief Executive of the group.
Monday 20 January 2020 – As Flybe seeks support from the UK Government, will the Connect Airways consortium be able to turn around the airline?
Monday 27 January 2020 – South African Airways is forced to deny speculation that it is to suspend operations as its Business Rescue Practitioners prepare a restructuring plan for the airline.
February 2020
Monday 3 February 2020 – The world’s airlines suspend services to mainland China following the Coronavirus outbreak.
Monday 10 February 2020 – Europe’s airlines recover from Storm Ciara/Sabine. Meanwhile South African Airways undertakes a radical restructuring of its route network.
Monday 17 February 2020 – Tensions arise between Qantas management and its pilots over plans to launch ultra long-haul flights between London & Sydney. PriestmanGoode rebrands Aegean Airlines.
Monday 24 February 2020 – The world’s airlines cut back capacity in response to Coronavirus.
March 2020
Monday 2 March 2020 – The world’s airlines now prepare for months of depressed demand due to Coronavirus.
Monday 9 March 2020 – Aviation faces its biggest ever crisis in Coronavirus.
Monday 16 March 2020 – Global aviation comes close to a complete shutdown.
Monday 23 March 2020 – Governments prepare to provide state support for airlines around the world.
Monday 30 March 2020 – Airlines race to bolster their balance sheets.
April 2020
Monday 6 April 2020 – Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia plead for state support.
Monday 13 April 2020 – As scheduled passenger flights come close to a halt, airlines focus on cargo operations.
Monday 20 April 2020 – Virgin Atlantic continues to plead for state support.
Monday 27 April 2020 – Virgin Atlantic scrambles to secure new private sector investment.
May 2020
Monday 4 May 2020 – British Airways, under the watchful eye of its parent company IAG, plans a radical restructuring without state support.
Monday 11 May 2020 – Private equity firms circle Virgin Atlantic.
Monday 18 May 2020 – UK politicians scrutinise planned changes at British Airways; Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou seeks to oust easyJet directors and the administrators of Virgin Australia short list second round bidders.
Monday 25 May 2020 – BA engages in a war of words with its trade unions over job losses, Virgin Group raises cash to support Virgin Atlantic and Sir Stelios is undeterred having failed to oust four easyJet directors.
June 2020
Monday 1 June 2020 – Europe’s smaller airlines begin to resume flights from mid-June whilst the UK prepares to introduce a mandatory quarantine regime.
Monday 8 June 2020 – The UK’s mandatory quarantine regime comes into effect. BA braces for a showdown with its trade unions and progress with its pilots union BALPA falters.
Monday 15 June 2020 – The House of Commons Transport Select Committee strongly criticises BA over planned redundancies and changes to staff terms and conditions.
Monday 22 June 2020 – Passenger flights resume at London City Airport an Lufthansa faces a crunch shareholder to approve a government bailout.
Monday 29 June 2020 – Outgoing IAG CEO Willie Walsh says the worst is not over for aviation, and 2021 will be the toughest year ever.
July 2020
Monday 6 July 2020 – BA starts to reinstate short-haul routes at London Heathrow, ahead of the restart of flights at London City and Gatwick.
Monday 13 July 2020 – Virgin Atlantic closes in on its refinancing; BA returns to Gatwick. Creditors to vote on South African Airways’ restructuring.
Monday 20 July 2020 – BA prepares for life after the Boeing 747 and Virgin Atlantic restarts scheduled passenger flights.
Monday 27 July 2020 – IAG prepares for a rights issue to raise up to €2.75 billion from its shareholders
August 2020
Monday 3 August 2020 – Air France-KLM and IAG race to conserve cash amid mounting debt levels. Remembering BA149 from August 1990, “The last flight to Kuwait”.
Monday 10 August 2020 – British Airways contemplates its future at London Gatwick.
Monday 17 August 2020 – Bondholders seek to stop sale of Virgin Australia to Bain Capital and Iberia officially retires the Airbus A340.
Monday 24 August 2020 – Virgin Atlantic creditors are to vote on a restructuring plan. Qantas does not expect to restart international operations until July 2021 at the earliest.
Monday 31 August 2020 – British Airways prepares to restart routes to Africa and the Middle East, Comair’s Business Rescue Practitioners receive a final bid for the airline and remembering the Dawson’s Field hijacking of 1970.
September 2020
Monday 7 September 2020 – Campaigners call for rapid airport testing to replace mandatory 14 day quarantine on passengers arriving at the UK. IAG CEO Willie Walsh prepares to handover to Luis Gallego as it faces criticism over bonuses at its AGM.
Monday 14 September 2020 – Is the airline industry in a state of denial about its future? BA CEO Alex Cruz to appear before Transport Select Committee. Remembering Sir Terence Conran.
Monday 21 September 2020 – Where did airlines fly passengers to in August? Comair’s Business Rescue Plan approved.
Monday 28 September 2020 – Airlines pleed for UK-US links to be restored. BA publishes its October route network. Virgin Atlantic appoints a new CFO.
October 2020
Monday 5 October 2020 – Hopes rise of COVID-19 testing at UK airports. Alex Cruz to speak at FlightGlobal event.
Monday 12 October 2020 – Qantas operates a “flight to nowhere” and SBS Australia looks back at 100 years of civil aviation. Changes to BA’s long-haul route network in October.
Monday 19 October 2020 – Sean Doyle replaces Alex Cruz as Chief Executive Of British Airways. BA reinstates short and long-haul routes at Heathrow as the winter timetable begins on Sunday 25 October.
Monday 26 October 2020 – IAG prepares to release a dire set of third quarter results. Heathrow grapples with a £17 billion debt burden. The UK government considers waiving quarantine for the “jet set”.
November 2020
Monday 2 November 2020 – The UK government bans outbound international travel except for work and educational purposes. BA merges its Heathrow cabin crew fleets. Berlin Brandenburg airport finally opens.
Monday 9 November 2020 – Qantas prepares to mark 100 years since its incorporation in November 1920. Norwegian gives warning that it faces an uncertain future as the government in Norway declines to provide further sate support.
Monday 16 November 2020 – Qantas celebrates 100 years since its formation on 16 November 1920.
Monday 23 November 2020 – The UK government is expected to relax its mandatory 14 day quarantine regime for arriving passengers.
Monday 30 November 2020 – Former IAG CEO Willie Walsh has been appointed Director General of IATA, which also proposes that “use it or lose it” slot rules are waived for the summer 2021 season.
December 2020
Monday 7 December 2020 – British Airways resumes long-haul flights at Gatwick this week. Virgin Atlantic will also operate its inaugural flights to Pakistan. London City Airport publishes an updated masterplan.
Monday 14 December 2020 – The most challenging year for the airline industry in modern times comes to an end. Virgin Atlantic sells and leases back aircraft from Bain Capital.
