Star Alliance is delighted that four of its member airlines achieved the highest possible rating among airlines graded in the inaugural APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying audit program for COVID-19 certified airlines. Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines are among the 12 launch airlines that have fully completed the audit, and among only seven that have been certified as “hospital-grade” DIAMOND level. APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying provides a scientifically based 58-point validation process designed to encourage airlines to reach beyond governmental requirements to a higher standard. All airlines worldwide may participate in the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying process. After completion of an initial audit with proof points, a step-by-step verification process occurs with airlines, followed by standard level notification. “Early on during the COVID-19 crisis, Star Alliance member airlines adopted six unified commitments for customer health and hygiene safety,” Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh said. “We are deeply proud that four of our member airlines have gone on to be the first to reach the highest Diamond Health Safety level in the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying audited program. It is a testament of their customer-centric efforts and that customer hygiene safety is paramount for members of Star Alliance.”<br/>
star
United said Thursday it expects to be a big winner of post-pandemic international travel as other airlines retire large planes or retreat from long-haul markets. United was the largest US operator of international flights before the pandemic that has thwarted global travel and led many countries to restrict entry. It is among US airlines actively lobbying the new US administration to reopen borders for people who test negative for COVID-19 before travel or have been vaccinated. <br/>
Lufthansa is losing E1m every two hours, which represents “a significant improvement” over the low point of the Covid-19 crisis, CE Carsten Spohr said Thursday. Lufthansa, which was racking up losses at twice that rate at one point last year, has cut costs and pared flights to those generating positive cash flow thanks largely to buoyant cargo rates, Spohr said in a webcast interview hosted by Eurocontrol.<br/>
THAI and Asiana Airlines, both undergoing restructuring, have disclosed details about selling off non-core subsidiaries. Thai Airways completed on 19 January the sale of a 15.5% stake in Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services (BAFS) to Ratch Group for Bt2.7b ($90m), at Bt27.40 per share, it said in a same-day statement. Thai Airways states that this is a third-party transaction, and that BASF’s core businesses include aviation fuel storage system and aviation refueling system in airports across Thailand. All three entities are listed on the Thailand stock exchange. Ratch Group’s website indicates it is operated as a holding company that invests in energy, power generation, and infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines has selected Kumho Petrochemical as the preferred bidder in the sale of its shareholdings in subsidiaries Kumho Resort and Kumho Holdings, it states in separate corporate disclosures dated 20 January.<br/>
Air NZ restarted commercial flights from Rarotonga, on the Cook Islands, to Auckland on Thursday, following the announcement of a one-way travel bubble. The A321-271NX, ZK-NNB msn 08542, departed Avarua Rarotonga Airport at 7:48am as flight NZ941 and landed at 11:03am in Auckland. It comes after New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said Cook Island residents would able to fly into the country without quarantine but not the other way around – in an effective reversal of the country’s bubble with Australia. The airline’s CE, Greg Foran, said he was encouraged by bookings following the announcement of the bubble, particularly for January and February. “The first couple of flights inbound have had strong uptake, which is terrific,” Foran said. “We knew there was pent up demand from Cook Islanders waiting to come to New Zealand without quarantining. We’re thrilled to bring the first wave of Cook Islanders who meet the quarantine-free requirements into New Zealand. We see this as a really positive step towards a two-way airbridge with Rarotonga.”<br/>