Southwest has scaled back its aircraft-cleaning procedures between flights to prevent reduced staffing and busier operations from keeping aircraft on the ground longer than scheduled. Starting Aug. 1, Southwest stopped wiping down arm rests and seat belts after every flight, as well as other areas around seats that had been occupied. Tray tables and lavatories, considered the most “high touch” areas, will still be disinfected before each takeoff, the company said Monday. Passengers can also ask for sanitizing wipes if they want to clean other surfaces amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Southwest is committed to retaining a level of cleaning before every flight -- even as loads and daily flights have increased,” the company said by email. The Dallas-based airline will monitor customer and employee feedback on the change “as we adapt to the new normal in air travel while ensuring we are always keeping safety as our top priority.” Minimizing the time that planes spend on the ground between flights is a key part of Southwest’s lower-cost business model. Turnaround averaged about 47 minutes in March, the carrier said. It’s now about 50 minutes.<br/>
unaligned
IAG is striving to close the acquisition of Air Europa by the end of this year, undeterred by the impact of the air transport crisis, although it is reviewing the structure of the E1b deal in response to the downturn. While outgoing IAG chief Willie Walsh has previously stated that the “best form of consolidation is when the weak disappear” – underlining his belief that inefficient airlines should not be saved by investors – he stressed during the company’s half-year briefing that Air Europa, even under the pressure of the current crisis, was not among these weak operators, and that IAG believes its pursuit is justified. “We firmly believe Air Europa will not fail,” he insists. “That has been a fundamental factor in our decision.”<br/>
Airline firms, including El Al, will be obliged to reimburse customers whose flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis until October 1, broadcaster Channel 13 reported Monday. The move is led by Economy Minister Amir Peretz and supported by Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn. The outline was formulated with the agreement of Likud’s Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Companies that will not be able to prove at least a 70% income decrease will be required to return the sum to clients immediately. According to Channel 13, the decision means that El Al will have to reimburse more than NIS 1b ($290m). El Al came to an agreement with the state a little less than a month ago which includes a bailout plan, in effect nationalizing the airline. Following the agreement, the owners and the management workers committee signed a deal in which 1,500 employees will be laid off in order for the company to receive NIS 250m from the government. However, the pilots have not yet signed the new deal, and unless they do so, the bailout funds could come off the table.<br/>
Australia’s Alliance Aviation has signed for 14 Embraer E190s — in a move to “position us for the next phase of growth” — but has stressed that its fleet of Fokker aircraft will remain in service for the foreseeable future. The deal, valued at $79.4m, sees Alliance entering into an agreement with US-based lessor Azorra Aviation for the purchase. Apart from the 14 aircraft, the deal also covers options for a further five E190s, as well as the purchase of six spare GE Aviation CF34 engines, and options for full flight simulators and other related training equipment. Alliance states that the deal will be funded by proceeds from its share placement and share purchase plan announced in June. Alliance in June said it was looking to raise around A$122m in equity capital, for acquiring aircraft to take advantage of growth opportunities. The first E190 jet will be delivered in September, over a period of eight months, the carrier discloses. While the aircraft will be used predominantly on regional routes, Alliance has not ruled out using it on mainline routes, given a fall in passenger travel demand on such routes in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Cirium fleets data reveals that Alliance has a fleet of 40 Fokker aircraft in operation, with another eight in storage. <br/>
Emirates will deploy its Airbus A380 to Guangzhou, China, from August 8, after launching flights to Amsterdam and Cairo with the mammoth aircraft this week. The Dubai carrier had also and introduced a second daily A380 service to London. Emirates so far has resumed A380 services to five cities, and will gradually deploy the aircraft on more "depending on travel demand and operational approvals". The Airbus A380, the largest passenger plane ever built, is “highly sought-after” by travelers for its spacious cabins, Emirates said, as COVID-19 measures call for more social distancing on flights. Emirates has 115 A380s in its fleet, which used to fly 50 destinations before the pandemic severely disrupted air travel. The airline plans to gradually expand its passenger services to 68 cities in August, returning to 50% of its pre-pandemic destination network.<br/>
Nok Air’s CFO Nuanwan Bhuprasert has resigned effective Tuesday, less than three weeks after starting the job and four days after the airline filed for bankruptcy protection. The budget carrier’s CE Wutthiphum Jurangkool will resume the role of acting CFO, effective 4 August. Nok Air did not give a reason for Bhuprasert’s resignation in its disclosure to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, filed on 3 August after market close. The airline said on 31 July that it had filed for business rehabilitation with a view to restructuring the company. <br/>