Among the strong and freely offered opinions of David Neeleman, America’s most successful living airline entrepreneur, is that the world has largely overreacted to Covid-19. “I think people who wear masks outside when they’re social distanced are complete morons,” he says. Double-maskers drive him particularly nuts: “I just want to go up and shake them and go, ‘What the f--- is wrong with you!’ ” On the sunny March day when we met, in an indifferently furnished office suite in Darien, Conn., Neeleman did have a mask with him. Plain and black, it didn’t bear the logo of his new airline, Breeze, or his next-newest one, the Brazilian carrier Azul SA, of which he remains the chairman and controlling shareholder (and in whose satellite office we were talking). Nor was it from JetBlue, which he founded in 1999 at the age of 39 and ran until he was pushed out as chief executive officer eight years later. Indeed, with his mask on his broad, still impish face, the 61-year-old looked like anyone else doing their part to end a global pandemic. Neeleman was there to tell me about Breeze Airways, a budget domestic carrier, headquartered in his hometown of Salt Lake City, that will start flying by summer. The business plan borrows from previous generations of low-cost airlines: a point-to-point network of smaller airports, as pioneered by Southwest in the 1970s and 1980s; trips limited to the days of the week when vacationers are most likely to travel, a discipline perfected in recent years by Allegiant Air; and a shiny, state-of-the-art fleet manned by young, low-cost crews, not unlike JetBlue Airways in its startup days. Neeleman has dubbed Breeze “the world’s nicest airline.” Feature-style story has more.<br/>
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US low-cost start-up Avelo Airlines is one of 20 carriers affected by a reservations system outage, leaving the airline unable to sell tickets one week before it plans to begin operations. The provider, Orlando-based Radixx, a subsidiary of reservations giant Sabre, says on 22 April that earlier this week it experienced “an event impacting its Radixx reservation system” that affected airline customers including Avelo. “On April 20, 2021, Radixx noticed unusual activity related to its Radixx Res application. An investigation indicated that malware on the Radixx system caused the activity. Radixx’s highest priority was to identify and contain any issues and to restore service as soon as possible,” the company says. The issue has affected “approximately 20 Radixx airline customers”, it adds. Houston-based Avelo, one of two new low-cost airlines scheduled to begin flights in the coming weeks, appears unable to take reservations. The carrier’s website does not allow bookings; a note on its homepage appeals to customers’ patience.<br/>
Alaska Airlines has banned an Alaska state senator for refusing to follow mask requirements. “We have notified Senator Lora Reinbold that she is not permitted to fly with us for her continued refusal to comply with employee instruction regarding the current mask policy,” spokesman Tim Thompson told the Anchorage Daily News on Saturday, adding that the suspension was effective immediately. Reinbold, a Republican of Eagle River, said she had not been notified of a ban and that she hoped to be on an Alaska Airlines flight in the near future. Last week, Reinbold was recorded in Juneau International Airport arguing with Alaska Airlines staff about mask policies. A video posted to social media appears to show airline staff telling Reinbold her mask must cover her nose and mouth. Reinbold told the newspaper that had been inquiring about a “mask exemption with uptight employees at the counter." Reinbold has been a vocal opponent to COVID-19 mitigation measures and has repeatedly objected to Alaska Airlines’ mask policy, which was enacted before the federal government's mandate this year.<br/>
Wizz Air is expecting to fly 60% to 80% of its previous capacity this summer, its chief executive said on Friday, as the Hungarian low-cost airline prepares for European travel to re-open but with many restrictions still in place. CE Jozsef Varadi said the uncoordinated approach of different European governments and changing restrictions left him feeling cautious ahead of the critical summer travel season. "I'm pretty sure summer is going to be better than where we are today," Varadi said Friday. "My view is not demand-driven from the consumer or not supply-driven from the airline, it is the unpredictability of the government actions, and government imposed restrictions." The 60% to 80% capacity plans at Wizz, whose main markets are Hungary, Poland, Romania and Britain, match those of bigger competitor Ryanair (RYA.I), which said in March it would fly 80% of its normal schedule in July, August and September. read more Varadi also said Wizz could ramp capacity up to 100% if conditions allowed.<br/>
The CE of Qatar Airways has poured cold water on hopes for a rapid recovery in aviation and warned of a need for more co-operation in creating vaccine passports to save the industry. “I think the aviation recovery will not happen for quite a long period of time . . . I don’t see that the worst is over yet,” Akbar Al Baker said. The Qatari executive struck a more pessimistic tone than the bosses of many big European and American airlines, who predict a rebound in flying in the coming months. US airline bosses have said the worst impact of the crisis had passed, while in Europe there are hopes for a revival in travel once border restrictions ease. But Al Baker believes vaccines are only a “stopgap” solution because it is still not known how long they offer protection against Covid-19. The UK could end up with fourth, fifth or sixth waves of cases after it opens up its borders to international travel, he warned. Al Baker urged countries and bodies such as the World Health Organization to work more closely to develop vaccine passports. “Every country is producing their own apps, their own protocols, and this will, at the end, not work,” he said. Several digital health passes are being developed, including airline group Iata’s travel pass, which Qatar Airways is involved with. The apps allow passengers to show proof of a vaccination or a negative test when they travel, but no agreement has been reached on a global set of standards for the technology. “These travel passports are only as good as the system you will implement in it. If each country has a different protocol, each country has a different system, each country has a different requirement, it confuses passengers, and it will confuse the airlines,” he said.<br/>
Middle Eastern carriers Saudia and Gulf Air are to enter a co-operation agreement which will include a codeshare between the two airlines. The codeshare will take effect during the summer schedule. Saudia says the tie-up will involve placing its ‘SV’ designator on Gulf Air’s services from Bahrain to Riyadh and Jeddah, plus the routes to Tbilisi, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Baku and Multan. In turn, Gulf Air’s designator ‘GF’ will be carried on Saudia’s flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to Bahrain, as well as the Saudi cities of Abha, Jizan, Yanbu, Al Jouf and Hail, and the Tunisian capital Tunis. “Both airlines have a long history of partnership, in which this expanded codeshare agreement further enhances connectivity, convenience and flexibility for travellers,” says Saudia chief Ibrahim Koshy.<br/>
Low-cost carrier Mango appears to be the latest South African operator to run into financial difficulties amid reports the airline could temporarily suspend flights in May and seek to enter a formal restructuring until it can secure state funds. South Africa’s airlines have been particularly hard hit by the crisis. Comair, state-owned flag carrier South African Airways and regional operator SA Express have all been forced into formal restructuring – though the challenges and business rescue processes at the latter two airlines pre-date the pandemic. SAA’s problems ultimately prompted the South African government in October to fund a R10.5b ($640m) rescue plan for the airline. While moves have been under way to allocate some of this funding package to SAA subsidiaries, South African news site Fin24 reports Mango as saying it will not receive these funds before June. Citing a company memo from Mango’s acting CE William Ndlovu, Fin24 reports that creditors have given the state-owned budget carrier an end-April deadline for payment. Without the funds, Ndlovu says its aircraft will be grounded from May.<br/>
Nigerian start-up carrier Green Africa Airways has received its first aircraft, an ATR 72-600, at its base in the city of Lagos. Green Africa is taking three ATRs through an agreement with ACIA Aero Leasing, which is part of Mauritius-based ACIA Aero Capital and has leasing offices in several countries including Ireland and France. The initial turboprop (5N-GAE) was originally delivered to Brazilian carrier Azul in 2012 and subsequently operated by Air Tahiti. It arrived at Lagos Murtala Muhammed airport on 23 April bearing the temporary South African registration ZS-XZD. Green Africa says a second former Azul aircraft and a third ATR, have also undergone painting and that the Nigerian carrier is on the “final lap” of the air operator’s certificate process. This will include demonstration flights on the network. CE Babawande Afolabi, the airline’s founder, says ACIA has been a “very supportive partner”.<br/>
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia Group expects clarity on its fundraising efforts in the next two to three months, as the company continues talks with prospective funders, its CE said Friday. AirAsia has been looking to raise up to 2.5b ringgit ($608.42m) to weather the pandemic-induced slump in global travel, initially aiming to secure the funds by the end of last year. The airline said last month that it expects to secure 1b ringgit in loans from three Malaysian banks pending regulatory approvals. “Everything that we’ve discussed is ongoing and our timeline is over the next two or three months, you’ll be able to see all of it coming to fruition,” Group CE Tony Fernandes said at the launch of its fintech platform offering financial products. He also said fundraising efforts for the group’s digital business was going well.<br/>