More travellers from the United States could soon be passing through Changi Airport to other parts of the region following a landmark agreement between SIA and United. The move could also lead to an additional option for Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights to Singapore, and in the long term, pave the way for lower fares and more flights between Singapore and US, said experts. SIA had announced the partnership with United Airlines in an internal circular earlier this month. It said the carriers had signed a memorandum of understanding to work on supporting the resumption of connectivity between Singapore and the US. "This milestone signals the start of a deeper partnership between both airlines, which could offer enhanced options and benefits for customers in line with the applicable laws and regulations," said SIA. It said the move is part of its strategy to build partnerships with major airlines around the world, which would help increase connectivity to and through Singapore, and support the recovery of Singapore's air hub.<br/>
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Airlines are adding flights and capacity in the hope that passengers are eager to jump back onto flights after more than 18 long months of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We've been going through the equivalent of about 11 years of historical growth over the past six months, so the growth has been really tremendous over a very, very short period of time," says John Weatherill, CCO at WestJet. After a near-grounding of flights, the Calgary-based airline expects to be at about 70% its pre-COVID capacity by the end of December, fully restore its domestic business by next summer and see its international capacity fully return by the end of 2022. Air Canada, with its larger network and increased service to international destinations and business travellers, is projecting that it will be back to where it was before the pandemic struck by 2023 or 2024. "But those dates are very movable depending on how things develop over the next six months," said Mark Galardo, senior VP of network planning and revenue management at Air Canada. Future waves of COVID could upset these plans, although airlines expect a growing number of vaccinations will help to address any new health challenges. "We're feeling generally good that the worst is behind us," he said. Galardo said COVID has been an eye-opening experience that wiped out a decade of growth.<br/>
Air Canada said employees working remotely must gradually return to the office starting Nov. 15 and be fully vaccinated, as Covid-19 cases ebb across Canada. The country’s biggest airline described its plan on Friday as “a balanced approach” that allows employees to keep working some “set days” remotely. CEO Michael Rousseau cited Canada’s high vaccination rate as part of the company’s rationale for bringing workers back. Almost 74% of Canada’s population has been fully vaccinated, according to data compiled by CTV News. That compares with nearly 76% in Air Canada’s home province of Quebec, which has been gradually lifting restrictions at restaurants and theaters. All employees and visitors need to be fully vaccinated to enter company buildings, and staff will be “strongly encouraged” to wear a face mark when outside of personal workspace, the company said.<br/>
China's three biggest airlines on Friday posted wider third-quarter losses than in the previous quarter as a resurgence of local COVID-19 cases drove a sharp decline in domestic travel and international borders remained closed. The losses highlighted one of the consequences of the country's policy of seeking to eliminate COVID-19 within its borders. Each time there is an outbreak, flight numbers fall sharply before rebounding once cases are controlled. The fourth quarter is facing similar though so far less severe issues. This week's scheduled airline capacity in China is 4.8% lower than last week because of minor outbreaks, according to data firm OAG. Beijing-based Air China said its net loss attributable to shareholders rose to 3.5b yuan ($547m) in Q3 from 578m yuan in Q2, taking the nine-month net loss to 10.3b yuan.<br/>
Japan's biggest airline, ANA Holdings, said it expected to report an operating loss in the current financial year, down from an earlier prediction of a profit, and that it would reduce staff numbers by 20% within five years. The airline Friday announced the plans to eliminate 9,000 roles through attrition and retirement as it steps up digital interaction with customers in an investor presentation after reporting a weaker-than-expected first half result due to travel curbs. The operating loss of 116b yen ($1.02b) for the six months ended Sept. 30, however, was narrower than a 280.95b yen loss a year earlier due to cost-cutting. ANA, which has reported losses for seven consecutive quarters, said it expected to return to a profit in Q4 due to a forecast recovery in passenger numbers. But for the 12 months ended March 2022, it expects to report an operating loss of 125b yen, down from its earlier guidance for an operating profit of 28b. "The revised forecast reflects the findings that projected second-half revenue will not be sufficient to cover lack of revenue during the first half of the fiscal year," the airline said. Japan lifted a state of emergency at the end of last month that had been in force across much of the country. While domestic tourism is seen slowly recovering, there is no sign that international travel, particularly inbound tourism, will return in a big way anytime soon.<br/>