Italy's air transport regulator has written to Ryanair over what it says were repeated violations of measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and said it could suspend the budget carrier from flying to Italy. The warning from ENAC, the national civil aviation authority, came after airlines resumed flights to many holiday destinations in countries balancing the need to attract tourists with fears of a resurgence in coronavirus cases. Ryanair said in a statement that ENAC's assertions were "factually incorrect." Italian rules require passengers to maintain distance from others unless other precautions are taken including controlled boarding and disembarkation to avoid close contact, temperature tests and the wearing of face masks. But ENAC said Ryanair had systematically violated rules aimed at limiting the risk of contagion for passengers. "Not only has the requirement for distancing between passengers not been observed but the conditions which allow an exemption have not been met," ENAC said Aug. 5. If the "improper and disrespectful" failure to observe the regulations continued, it would stop exemptions to social distancing rules for Ryanair with the result that the company would have to operate flights at no more than 50% capacity.<br/>
unaligned
Israel's Government Companies Authority said it would recommend allowing Eli Rozenberg to buy control of cash-strapped El Al Israel Airlines. Rozenberg last month offered to funnel $75m into the airline in return for a 45% stake. He is the son of American businessman Kenny Rozenberg, who is CEO of New York-based nursing home chain Centers Health Care. The authority said it would allow control of Israel's flag carrier with a stake of over 40% conditioned upon proof of Rozenberg's Israeli citizenship or residency. Israel would retain a golden share. Israel's finance and transport ministers also need to approve Rozenberg becoming the controlling shareholder. El Al's board had agreed to a bailout that could put the carrier back under state ownership after the coronavirus crisis pushed it to the verge of bankruptcy. The government has offered to back $250m in bank loans while El Al must issue $150m in shares, which the state will buy if no one else does. The carrier's unions have already agreed to a significant cost-cutting measures.<br/>
Jeju Air Wednesday reported poorer-than-expected results in the second quarter to paint a dismal picture for the entire LCC community whose players survive barely on lifeline from their majority shareholders and dirt-cheap domestic tickets. The carrier said Wednesday it incurred an operating loss of 84.7b won ($71.5m) in the April-June period, widening from the loss of 65.7b won a quarter ago and 27.4b won a year earlier. Net loss contracted 18% on quarter but expanded 182.1% on year to 83.2b won, while sales plunged 84.3% and 88.5%, respectively, to total 36b won in the period. Jeju Air shares rose 0.32% to close at 15,500 won on Thursday. The result was worse than the market consensus of 81.9b in operating loss amid virus-driven hiatus in air travel. Jeju Air currently operates only four routes to overseas out of all 76 international routes, with eight domestic routes. For H1, the company logged an operating loss of 150.5b won, reversing from a profit of 29.5b won a year ago. It swung to a net loss of 184.6b won, and sales shrivelled 62.4% to 265.3b won.<br/>
Norwegian Air’s July passenger volume fell by 90.4% from a year earlier as most of its fleet remained grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic, it said on Thursday. The budget carrier flew just 356,093 passengers during the month compared to 3.71m in July 2019. “Although customer demand has increased compared to the almost non-existent levels in April, May and June, the market situation remains challenging,” Norwegian said. Norwegian used only 20 of its aircraft in July, up from eight in June, but more than 100 jetliners are still parked amid a sharp fall in global travel. The company, which revolutionised transatlantic travel by offering cheap fares, won backing in May from owners and creditors for a conversion of debt to equity and aims to rebuild operations, albeit on a smaller scale. “Norwegian will continue to evaluate demand, travel advice and infection control measures while adjusting its network accordingly,” it said.<br/>