United Makes New Offers to Avoid Cabin Crew Layoffs
1 With the expiration of CARES Act funding approaching very quickly, United Airlines is attempting to avoid as many involuntary layoffs and furlough of cabin crew it possibly can. The airline has said that up to 15,000 of its in-flight crew could be facing furlough in the coming weeks.
The airline’s newest strategy is to offer “no-activity lines” to its flight attendants, essentially voluntary unpaid leave for one month at a time. The flight attendants would remain active in the system but would not bid on any flights for an entire month, allowing them to keep their job while not receiving a paycheck.
This option would keep the crew in the mix so that when demand does begin to ramp back up, they can be mobilized by the airline more quickly.
American to Continue Cargo
2 American Airlines will continue cargo operations, with the airline planning more than 1,000 cargo-only flights to 32 destinations in September, double what it flew in August.
American began operating cargo-only flights on March 17, in the early days of the pandemic as it looked to salvage some revenue operations as it was grounding planes. Since March, AA has transported more than 45 million pounds of cargo, and that doesn’t include the dense, dry chicken it usually serves in first class.
The 1,000 cargo-only flights in September will be accompanied by another 1,200 that will carry cargo in the belly as well as cargo passengers in the seats. Passengers will be available to fly in the belly with the cargo on combo flights for a savings of 15% off the basic economy price or 20% off the price paid in AAdvantage miles. These upgrades will only be available on the day of departure and can be processed by the gate agent.
Wizz Air to Expand at Gatwick
3 Wizz Air announced today that it would be expanding at its London/Gatwick hub, adding four new routes from the airport. These additions make Gatwick the second-largest operation in London for Wizz Air, behind just Luton.
The Budapest-based airline was Hungary to expand in London, just one day after LCC rival easyJet reduced its UK operation, cutting back flights at two airports — London/Stansted and Newcastle while ending service altogether at London/Southend.
The four new destinations for the airline from Gatwick are Athens (ATH), Lanzarote (ACE), Malta (MTA), and Naples (NAP).
PIA is Back Flying to the UK
4 Pakistan International Airlines, the official airline of aspiring airline pilots everywhere, is again operating to the UK after a seven-week hiatus. The airline was barred from flying to the United Kingdom, along with the United States and the EU, as all three have hardline anti-fake pilot policies.
The airline will resume service from Islamabad (ISB) to both Birmingham (BHX) and Manchester (MAN). The flights will be operated by European-based charter carrier Hi Fly on behalf of PIA. The UK Civil Aviation Authority granted the approval provided that PIA pilots not only be barred from operating the aircraft, but they also cannot go to the airport to watch the planes takeoff or track the flights on their own personal devices.
Hi Fly will operate A330Neo aircraft on the route, with 371 seats — 18 and upfront and a whopping 353 in coach.
Rochester, NY to Rename Airport
5 Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC) will be renamed in honor of Frederick Douglass, a 19th century abolitionist, author, and leader in the antislavery movement.
Douglass lived in Rochester for 25 years, and is buried in the city. He published his first abolitionist newspaper, the North Star, from the basement of the Memorial AME Zion Church in Rochester.
The airport’s new name will be: Frederick Douglass – Greater Rochester International Airport.
Airline Potpourri
- Air India has been banned from serving Hong Kong for two weeks due to the number of positive virus cases it brought onto the island. There’s no confirmation that the pilot who flew the flight in question was actually employed by the airline.
- Air Serbia is resuming service to Montenegro tomorrow with a flight to Tivat (TIV) from its Belgrade hub.
- Emirates is returning to Warsaw, with 2x weekly service beginning on September 4, followed by 3x weekly service on October 7.
- Ryanair has reduced its September and October capacity by 20%.
- SAS will be receiving €1 billion in aid after their aid package from the Danish and Swedish governments was approved by the European Commission.
- SATA will be receiving €133 million from the Portuguese government.
- United is requesting an extension of its service exemption to St. Thomas (STT) on the U.S. Virgin Islands through September 30.
- Virgin Australia and its new owner, Bain Capital were victorious in Australian Federal Court, with the court denying its creditors the right to own part of the airline as repayment for VA’s outstanding debt.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
What’s the leading cause of dry skin all over the world?
Towels.