A US pilot union has called SkyWest Airlines’ planned cancellation of flights to 29 secondary cities “an egregious miscarriage” of the federal government’s nearly $2b in financial aid to the carrier during the coronavirus pandemic. In a 21 March letter to transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) says the St. George, Utah-based regional airline’s request earlier this month to cut the routes – later denied by the DOT – is an “outrageous affront” to taxpayers and other stakeholders who made sacrifices during the global health crisis. SkyWest says the USA’s current drastic pilot shortage necessitates the flight reductions. “SkyWest Airline’s recent filing… in which it indicated its intent to cut flights to 29 Essential Air Service (EAS) cities within 90 days, reflects an egregious miscarriage of the intent of Congress when it provided the airline with nearly $2b in support,” the letter reads. “It also reveals an arrogance that only the most grasping corporate executives could possess.” In its letter, the ALPA notes that SkyWest had applied to the DOT for other EAS routes just a month prior. “The airline’s blatant attempt to cherry-pick certain EAS communities over others exposes not a pervasive staffing issue but an intentional decision to prioritise lucrative markets,” the union says.<br/>
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An Irish government minister is to talk to Ryanair after accusations that it hiked fares on flights from Poland to Ireland as demand soared from Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. Ryanair has rejected outright the claims made by the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Larysa Gerasko, at a parliamentary committee meeting last week. CE Michael O’Leary said the claims were “completely false” but Ireland’s transport minister is under pressure to take up the matter. Eamon Ryan was repeatedly asked Monday whether Ryanair should lay on humanitarian flights. He declined to answer the question: “We’re in constant touch with Ryanair. Through the previous Covid crisis, on a number of occasions, they helped us in terms of getting people out of difficult places in different ways. Let me first of all talk to the ambassador and then I’ll talk to Ryanair without a doubt.” Demand for flights to Dublin from Warsaw has escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine and Ireland lifted visa restrictions for Ukrainians.<br/>
Ryanair aims to achieve a third of its decarbonisation target by flying its planes with sustainable aviation fuels, and will also rely on offsetting measures to cut its emissions to net zero by 2050, it said on Monday. The Irish airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, committed last year to power 12.5% of its flights with sustainable aviation fuels by 2030, although CE Michael O'Leary has since said he is not sure Ryanair will reach the "very ambitious target." Sustainable jet fuel generally produces up to 70% less carbon than fossil fuels, offering airlines a way to become greener while continuing to fly, before less carbon-intensive hybrid, electric or hydrogen aeroplane options become available from the late 2030s. The budget carrier said on Monday that its order of 210 Boeing 737 MAX jets, which use around 16% less fuel than the current generation of 737s while squeezing in 4% more passengers, will help it meet 32% of its decarbonisation target. Critics say the low-cost business model encourages people to fly more frequently and drives growth in the total number of people flying. Ryanair plans to grow from flying around 150m passengers per year before the COVID-19 pandemic to 225m by 2026, although it predicts that total short-haul capacity in Europe is likely to be lower after the pandemic. Offsetting measures, which Ryanair said will include carbon capture offset projects and supporting government policies and reforms, will contribute a further 24%.<br/>
Kuwait Airways’ latest full-year financial statement shows the flag-carrier sustained a net loss of KD264.5m ($870m) during the pandemic-hit 2020. The airline’s revenues sank by 64% over the year, to just under KD138m. Kuwait Airways had already been unprofitable before the crisis, turning in a 2019 net loss of KD107m. The airline was badly affected by restrictions imposed by the emirate’s government, suspending all inbound and outbound flights on 7 March 2020. “Being an international airline and consistent with the industry trend, a significant portion of the group’s capacity had to be reduced,” the carrier states. Kuwait Airways’ fleet in 2020 comprised 30 aircraft. But the airline was limited from April 2020 to essential travel and specific repatriation flights, plus cargo-only services. Despite the extraordinary loss, the airline’s management says it “does not consider” the figures indicate existence of any material uncertainty regarding the airline’s ability to continue as a going concern.<br/>