SAS swung to deep loss in its fiscalQ3, it reported Tuesday, as cost cuts did not make up for the collapse in air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic from which the industry is now slowly emerging. The airline, part-owned by the governments of Sweden and Denmark, said losses before tax in the May-July period amounted to 2.07b Swedish crowns ($235.8 million), compared with a profit of 1.49b a year earlier. Sales tumbled to 2.51b crowns from 13.4b. “Demand continues to return slowly and in line with the estimated ramp-up plan we presented in the second quarter,” CEO Rickard Gustafson said. “During the fourth quarter, we will continue to ramp-up production and we expect to reach 30%-40% of prior year available seat kilometers by the end of Q4,” he said. <br/>
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The Lufthansa Group has announced that it will be tightening its mask policy from 1 September. The group was one of the first to make wearing masks on board mandatory in May. The only exception was young children as well as those with certain medical conditions, who were required to provide a medical certificate completed by their doctor. But from 1 September, those with medical conditions that require them to be mask-free must supply a completed medical certificate as well as a negative Covid-19 test, taken no later than 48 hours before departure, in order to be exempt from wearing a face covering on board flights. The airline group said: “This ensures maximum safety for the passengers travelling with them.” It comes as the IATA launched an appeal to all passengers to wear masks on board flights in response to recent reports of people refusing to do so. The association said that while the incidents only concern a few individuals, some incidents have become violent, resulting in costly and extremely inconvenient diversions to offload these passengers.<br/>
Thailand’s bankruptcy court on Tuesday said it will hand down its decision on Thai Airways International’s request for restructuring on Sept. 14. The court held two additional hearings on Aug. 20 and Aug. 25 when minor creditors opposed the carrier’s restructuring request. “The court will allow those who oppose the plan to submit their petitions within seven days from today,” the court said. Thai Airways submitted its petition for bankruptcy protection in May and received a stay on its debt. “On the whole today’s hearing went well and the prospects are good,” Thai Airways’ acting president, Chansin Treenuchagron, said in a statement. In September, the court is expected to approve or reject the airline’s request and appoint a committee that will oversee the restructuring plan.<br/>
Air NZ is looking to sublet up to 5000 square metres of office space at its headquarters in Auckland as part of coronavirus cost savings. In response to Covid-19 Air New Zealand undertook radical cost-cutting measures across its business, part of which involved letting go of more than 4000 staff. As a result much of its once bustling headquarters at 185 Fanshawe St in Wynyard Quarter is now surplus to requirements. Air New Zealand was the first and sole tenant to move into the six-level 20,000sqm building in 2006. The airline has now engaged Colliers to find tenants for between 845sqm to 5000sqm of fully fitted office space. “Air New Zealand has identified an opportunity to optimise its footprint at its head office,” the listing says. It's offering short or long term leases with flexible size and configurations. The office has two inter-connected buildings with up to 5000sqm of shared space.<br/>