China Southern said its net profit fell 9.0% in 2019 as a rise in interest expenses offset revenue growth. Net profit for the year was 2.64b yuan ($371.8m), down from CNY2.90b in 2018, the Guangzhou-based company said late Monday. Operating revenue grew 7.5% from a year earlier to CNY154.32b, while interest expenses, primarily on lease liabilities, rose 83% to CNY5.85b, the airline said. China Southern said the spread of Covid-19 has cut into its business in 2020, with revenue-ton kilometers in the first two months of the year down 37% from the same period in 2018. "The group estimates the outbreak will have an adverse impact on the group's business operation and operating revenue, which casts uncertainties in the group's operating environment," it said.<br/>
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The Dubai government pledged financial support for Emirates to help the world's largest long-haul airline cope with the impact from the coronavirus pandemic. The government of Dubai will inject equity into the state-owned company given its strategic importance to the economy and its role in transforming the emirate into a global travel hub, according to a statement on Tuesday from the Dubai Government Media office. "Dubai is fully committed to supporting Emirates airlines in the current critical period," Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said. "As a shareholder of Emirates airlines, the Government of Dubai will inject equity into the company, considering its strategic importance to the Dubai and UAE economy and the airline’s key role in positioning Dubai as a major international aviation hub." The government pledge to help the airline surmount the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic comes after the UAE suspended passenger flights for a two-week period starting March 25 to limit the spread of the virus. The amount of state funding Emirates would receive isn't clear yet, but further details will be announced at a later stage, Sheikh Hamdan said.<br/>
JetBlue expects to slash flights 70% next month and deeper cuts are likely in the carrier’s home base in New York, as the spread of coronavirus erases travel demand. Daily departures will fall to 300 from about 1,000, JetBlue said Tuesday. Flights leaving New York-area airports are slated to tumble to 60 but may dip to as few as 40, which would amount to an 80% reduction. “With coronavirus driving demand for air travel to historic lows across the globe, we expect to make further reductions on a daily basis throughout April,” the airline said. JetBlue is deepening cuts to its April schedule as bookings dry up and the US government rushes to complete rules for distributing $50b in aid to passenger airlines. The New York-area cuts include flights at LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International, as well as Newark Liberty International in New Jersey and Westchester County Airport near White Plains, New York. <br/>
Southwest will offer the first all-cargo flights in its 48-year history as passenger demand keeps sliding amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The flights will be offered on a charter basis, and only pilots and other needed crew members will be on board, the airline said in a blog post Tuesday. Unlike some larger carriers, Southwest will confine freight to the bellies of its Boeing 737 aircraft instead of converting planes for cargo. Southwest is joining American Airlines, Delta and United in offering cargo-only operations to help offset the decline in travel that has left many flights with only a handful of passengers. “For many of our cargo customers, time is of the essence as we often carry life-critical medical treatments, medical supplies and even food products,” the airline said. “Additionally, we carry many e-commerce goods that you’re purchasing online.” Southwest’s announcement came as it disclosed plans to cut flying capacity by more than 40% starting in May, reducing operations to about 2,000 daily flights. The carrier trimmed operations by about 1,500 departures a day starting March 27.<br/>