El Al is looking at the possibility of using its assets to continuing strengthening its balance sheet, although it has yet to confirm whether these include its landing slots. The airline says it is examining “various outlines” and “all the options available”, working in co-operation with a number of entities, both Israeli and foreign. But El Al says a definite action plan remains “uncertain” and depends on a number of factors over which it has no control. The airline has been negotiating with a foreign bank for a loan with slots at destination airports as collateral, according to an Israeli press report. El Al recently obtained $50m in financial assistance, part of a previous agreement between the government and its owners to support the carrier. This sum included $20m from its controlling shareholder, Kanfei Nesharim, provided on 8 February, while Israel’s government transferred the $30m balance about a week later. El Al is in the process of organising a merger with Israeli leisure airline Arkia.<br/>
unaligned
China Southern has taken delivery of a pair of Airbus A319neos, becoming the first airline operator of the smallest and least-popular Neo variant. The two aircraft, registered B-328A and B-328C, were delivered on 18 February to the Guangzhou-based carrier, according to Cirium fleets data. Powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines, the narrowbodies are configured with 136 seats in a three-class layout, says China Southern. It has not specified the destinations that will be served by the re-engined twinjets, but media reports have indicated that the carrier is keen to operate it at high-elevation airports. The A319neo, the smallest member of the A320neo-aircraft family, has proved markedly less popular than its larger siblings: Airbus has taken orders for just 70 units, according to the airframer’s latest order and delivery data, compared with 3,752 for the A320neo and 4,037 for the A321neo. Prior to the deliveries to China Southern, just four examples had been handed over, all to VIP operators, which account for seven of the total orders. China Southern is not listed as a customer for the aircraft, though Airbus has 30 orders for undisclosed customers, its data shows.<br/>
Thai AirAsia parent Asia Aviation saw revenues drop sharply and operating losses balloon in 2021, as it continued to grapple with travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Operating losses for the 12 months ended 31 December 2021 widened to Bt11.9b ($367b) compared with Bt7.6b in 2020, says Asia Aviation in its full-year results statement. Revenue for the year collapsed, falling 76% to Bt4.5b, while full-year net losses widened to Bt12b compared with Bt8.7b a year earlier. The company attributed the dismal showing to Covid-19 outbreaks over the course of the year, namely the Delta and Omicron variants. It notes that the suspension of Thailand’s ‘Test & Go’ scheme for vaccinated travellers amid the Omicron outbreak was particularly disruptive. Over the course of 2021, Thai AirAsia carried 2.93m passengers, down 69% from 2020. Capacity as measured by seats fell 66%, and by ASKs fell 70%. RPKS declined 73% from a year earlier, load factors fell seven percentage points 68%. CASK climbed 97% in 2021 from a year earlier, while CASK ex-fuel quadrupled. Thai AirAsia’s aircraft utilization was low in 2021, at just 5.6h per day for active aircraft compared with 7.4h in 2020. As of 31 December 2021, Asia Aviation’s cash and cash equivalents stood at Bt5.3b, up from Bt1.1b a year earlier, with the increase largely due to fundraising activities during the year.<br/>