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Air France said Monday it hoped to double the number of cities it serves, including over 40 European destinations, by the end of June as nations begin to lift coronavirus travel restrictions. "Between now and the end of June and subject to travel restrictions being lifted, Air France plans to gradually resume its flights," the airline said. Like other airlines, Air France grounded most of its planes as governments imposed stay-at-home orders and demand for travel evaporated. Air France said it was currently operating between three and five percent of its usual schedule and serving 43 destinations for essential passenger traffic as well as cargo. The airline, which received a E7b rescue package from the French government, listed more than 90 destinations it hopes to serve by the end of June. That would be equivalent to 15% of its normal schedule, and use 75 of its fleet of 224 aircraft.<br/>

Delta plans to restore 100 flights in June, providing a hint that travel demand may be poised to inch up after almost disappearing because of the coronavirus pandemic. The additions are based on “customer demand,” federal health guidelines and government travel restrictions, Delta said Monday. The company cautioned that the schedule remains subject to change “due to the evolving nature of Covid-19.” Delta’s capacity this quarter will be 85% below last year’s level, including a 90% reduction on international routes. But adding flights on a handful of marquee routes suggests the potential for the beginnings of a rebound. In addition to Paris flights, Delta plans to resume dropped service next month from New York to Amsterdam, Paris and Tel Aviv. The carrier has been flying from Atlanta to Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris, and between Detroit and Amsterdam and London. Delta also will restore daily flights to Shanghai from Detroit and Seattle, subject to government approval. The company already is flying to Seoul from Detroit and Seattle, and from Seattle to Tokyo. The airline will restart a dozen routes to the Caribbean, including Aruba, Jamaica and the Bahamas; four between Atlanta and cities in Central America, and five to cities in Mexico including Cancun and Mexico City. Delta said it was increasing domestic flights as well, particularly from its Atlanta hub to cities in Florida and the western U.S. and between its New York hub and Florida.<br/>

Delta will pare its fleet of Boeing 717 jets by at least half over the next year, continuing to cull older, more costly planes amid the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The change means Delta will stop flying the 110-passenger plane in Minneapolis and the New York City area, according to a memo sent to pilots May 15. New York service will move to Airbus SE A220s and A320s, while Minneapolis flights will be made on A320s and Boeing 737s. The move toward newer, more fuel-efficient planes that need less maintenance highlights the ongoing shift of equipment and employees at US carriers amid a drop of more than 90% in demand from a year ago and uncertainty about when passengers will return. Delta already has said it would retire its Boeing MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft and Boeing 777 planes by the end of this year. That will leave a surplus of pilots at the Atlanta-based carrier.<br/>

Czech Airlines owner Smartwings said on Monday it is seeking state loans or guarantees, but has no interest in opening the way for the Czech government to take up to 100% control. Industry Minister Karel Havlicek had floated the possibility of the Czech state owning up to 100% of Smartwings to help it through the coronavirus crisis, which has taken a heavy toll on the global airline industry as planes have been grounded. Havlicek said Saturday that state ownership was one of the options, adding a decision should come by the end of June. Czech Airlines resumed some flights on Monday after a month-and-a-half disruption due to the coronavirus pandemic. Smartwings is controlled by Czech businessman Jiri Simane and partners, who own 50.1% of the group, with the remainder held by Chinese state-owned CITIC Group. Although Smartwings had welcomed talks on possible state support, it said on Monday that it had never had any interest in the government taking a stake in the company.<br/>