Air France-KLM launched (24-May-2022) a capital increase with preferential subscription rights to existing shareholders, to raise EUR2.256 billion through the issuance of 1928 million new shares. The measures aim to strengthen the group's balance sheet and accelerate its repayment of French state aid. Key details include:

• Around EUR1.7 billion to be allocated to the repayment of the COVID-19 recapitalisation aid, granted by the French State. The remainder will be used to reduce the group's debt;
• The group confirmed its objective to reduce its net debt to EBITDA ratio, to reach between 2.0x and 2.5x by 2023;
• The French State, holding a stake of 28.6%, plans to participate in the rights issue to keep its shareholding unchanged; 
• The Dutch State plans to maintain its 9.3% stake, provided it receives the necessary approvals from the Dutch Parliament in time;
• CMA CGM will become a new reference shareholder and exclusive strategic partner for the cargo business. CMA CGM will invest up to EUR400 million to acquire a stake of up to 9%. China Eastern Airlines (9.6%) and Delta Air Lines (5.8%) will participate on a cash neutral basis through the sale of part of their rights to CMA CGM, representing EUR110.7 million;
• The rights issue will occur between 27-May-2022 and 09-Jun-2022 at EUR1.17 per share, or three shares per existing share. 

Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith stated as recovery continues the group wants "to be in a position to seize any opportunity in a changing aviation sector and to be able to accelerate our environmental commitments". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - KLM]

Qantas resumed (23-May-2022) Sydney-Queenstown, Sydney-Wellington, Melbourne-Christchurch, Melbourne-Wellington and Brisbane-Christchurch services. Qantas stated the inaugural services are "full", reflecting strong demand from Australians to travel to New Zealand. The carrier will also resume Melbourne-Queenstown and Brisbane-Queenstown services on 18-Jun-2022. The airline will operate up to 20 weekly frequencies from Australia to Queenstown and capacity is expected to reach 110% of pre-COVID levels by Jul-2022. The additional services restore Qantas' full pre-coronavirus trans Tasman network. Services to New Zealand are operated with a combination of Boeing 737-800 and A330 equipment. Qantas reported strong demand in both directions across the Tasman, with New Zealanders connecting across Qantas' domestic and international network, including to and from London, Singapore and Bali. [more - original PR]

UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported (24-May-2022) the COVID-19 Omicron variant resulted in a slow start to 2022, causing flight cancellations and bans in key European markets. UK traffic reached 31.4 million passengers during 1Q2022, compared to 30.9 million in 4Q2021, and representing a decrease of 42% compared to 2019. Passenger levels increased despite aircraft movements decreasing from 315,202 in 4Q2021 to 292,764 in 1Q2022. UK CAA stated the increase in passenger numbers stemmed from an easing of travel restrictions from Feb-2022, leading to increased consumer confidence. Cargo decreased 11% from 2019 levels to 606,375 tonnes in 1Q2022, however the number of dedicated cargo flights increased 50% compared to 2019. UK CAA expects the "upward trajectory" to continue in 2Q2022, benefiting from holiday periods during the quarter and a continued easing of travel restrictions across key destinations. [more - original PR]

Jetstar Airways announced (24-May-2022) plans to resume operations between Japan and Australia, which have been suspended for more than two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. The LCC plans to resume the following services with Boeing 787 aircraft:

• Cairns-Tokyo Narita: Five times weekly from 21-Jul-2022;
• Cairns-Osaka Kansai: Four times weekly from 26-Jul-2022;
• Gold Coast-Tokyo Narita: Three times weekly from 02-Aug-2022. [more - original PR]

Avianca and Easyfly announced (24-May-2022) plans to launch their codeshare agreement on 06-Jun-2022, encompassing the following routes in the first phase:

• Bogota to Arauca, Barrancabermeja, Florencia, Manizales, Neiva, Popayán, Puerto Asís, Quibdó and Yopal;
• Arauca to Bucaramanga and Cúcuta;
• Cali to Guapi, Neiva, Pasto, Quibdó, Tumaco and Villavicencio.

The agreement will be expanded in 2H2022. [more - original PR - Spanish]

CDB Aviation signed (24-May-2022) lease agreements with Avianca for two A330-300P2Fs and one A320neo. The carrier is expected to take delivery of an additional five A320neos from the lessor between 2022 and 2023. The agreements bring the total of CDB Aviation aircraft on lease to Avianca to eight. According to the CAPA Fleet Database, the airline's fleet comprises 113 aircraft, including 12 A320neos with 88 on order. [more - original PR]