Qantas has removed the inventory for nearly all of its international flights until March of 2021, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to batter air travel. The carrier will only maintain a few flights to New Zealand, which are currently grounded until mid-August of this year. Removing inventory means that the routes in question are no longer bookable, and typically precedes full cancellation. Previously booked flights have not been cancelled, but no new bookings can be made. Qantas did not reply to request for comment at time of publishing. As pandemic lockdowns set in around the world and countries closed their borders to travellers, Qantas in March announced the suspension of all international flights until October, a date that now looks as though it has been extended to a full year. Alan Joyce, Qantas Airways CEO, told Australian media in June that he doesn’t see a substantial restart in airline services until at least July of next year. <br/>
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British Airways is selling its multimillion-pound art collection, including work by Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst, as it attempts to raise funds while the Covid-19 crisis continues to devastate the aviation sector. The Sotheby’s sale will include several artworks that could fetch six-figure sums and have previously decorated BA’s executive lounges and company headquarters. Riley’s Cool Edge, which featured in her Hayward Gallery retrospective last year and has an estimate worth of up to £1.2m, is the standout piece from the BA collection that will be auctioned at the Rembrandt to Richter evening event on 28 July. Another online sale is taking place in July. The auction is likely to only scratch the surface of BA’s losses during the coronavirus crisis after the carrier grounded most of its fleet in late March, with most routes only restarting later this month. Carolina Martinoli, British Airways’ director of brand and customer experience, said: “We are fortunate to have been able to showcase a wealth of artists and creativity through our artwork collection, many of which have been a special part of the design of our lounges worldwide. During this unprecedented time we have made the decision to work with Sotheby’s, one of the world’s leading and most trusted auction houses, to sell a number of pieces by artists including Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst.”<br/>