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CAPA News Briefs

CAPA publishes more than 400 global News Briefs every weekday, covering all aspects of the aviation and travel industry. It’s the most comprehensive source of market intelligence in the world, with around 50 per cent of content translated from non-English sources. The breadth of our coverage means you won’t need any other news sources to monitor competitors and stay informed about the latest developments in the wider aviation sector.

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Below is a sample of the latest news headlines. 23 news briefs have been published for CAPA Members in the past 2 days.

IATA released (20-Feb-2020) its initial assessment of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Key forecast highlights include:

  • Global revenue loss: USD29.3 billion, a 5% decline compared to the Dec-2019 IATA forecast;
    • Asia Pacific revenue loss: USD27.8 billion. The majority of this will be borne by carriers registered in China, with USD12.8 billion lost in the China domestic market alone;
  • Global passenger traffic: 4.7% reduction in demand. IATA's Dec-2019 forecast was for global RPK growth of 4.1%, so this loss would more than eliminate expected growth, resulting in a 0.6% global contraction in passenger demand for 2020;
    • Asia Pacific passenger traffic: Potential 13% full year loss of passenger demand. Given the initial forecast of 4.8% traffic growth, the net impact will be an 8.2% full year contraction. 

The estimated impact assumes the centre of the public health emergency remains in China. If it spreads more widely to Asia Pacific markets then impacts on airlines from other regions would be larger. IATA also stated it is premature to estimate what this revenue loss will mean for global profitability. [more - original PR]

IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac expressed (20-Feb-2020) support for a US Department of Transportation (DoT) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to eliminate the requirement for US airlines to accommodate emotional support animals in the cabin. The NPRM proposes that only dogs can be service animals, and it defines a service animal as a dog that is individually trained to do work and perform tasks on behalf of a person with disabilities. Mr de Juniac noted that US airlines have been "required to permit passengers to bring on board a menagerie of dogs, pigs, miniature horses, ducks and turkeys, among others". In many cases these animals are "untrained and represent a hazard both to other passengers and to legitimate service animals", said Mr de Juniac. [more - original PR]

IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac stated (20-Feb-2020) the association is working with several OEMs to adopt "similar pro-competitive principles in their arrangements with the airlines and the MRO community" following its agreement with CFM International to adopt a set of pro-competitive "Conduct Policies" that enhance the opportunities available to third party providers of engine parts and MRO services on the CFM56 and LEAP series engines. IATA expects the CFM agreement "will result in significant savings for our members" and hopes the new MRO agreements become the "new gold standard for the broader MRO aftermarket". [more - original PR]

IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac stated (20-Feb-2020) regulatory harmonisation around aircraft certification is an area where alignment on global standards is vital. Mr de Juniac noted the Boeing 737 MAX crisis has "raised important questions about the certification process". He added that each national regulator has the responsibility for validating the airworthiness of those aircraft registered to airlines based in its own territory, and from a public confidence perspective, the greater the alignment of approvals and timelines among regulators the better. [more - original PR]

IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac stated (20-Feb-2020) the aviation industry's target to reduce net emissions to half of 2005 levels, irrespective of growth, is a "very tough" goal and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) "is the biggest hope but we cannot do it alone". Mr de Juniac said he finds it "simply astonishing that governments have not rallied to support much wider production of SAF", given aviation's existing dependence on carbon based fuel an the potential for SAF to reduce carbon lifecycle emissions by up to 80%. He added that is it "long past time for governments to step up to their environmental obligations and set a regulatory and legal framework that stimulates the sustainable aviation fuels industry", in a similar fashion to that provided for the development of the wind and solar power sectors. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group reported (20-Feb-2020) the following group capacity outlook for H2FY2020:

  • Group domestic capacity expected to decrease 2.3% year-on-year;
  • Group international capacity to decrease 3.8%;
  • The company will continue to monitor its position and adjust as required. [more - original PR]

CAAC announced (20-Feb-2020) regular air services will be maintained between mainland China and 113 destinations across 54 countries for the week of 24-Feb-2020 to 01-Mar-2020. There will be 2497 weekly international frequencies, including 1656 passenger and 841 freighter. China's airlines will operate 1258 flights, including 988 passenger and 270 freighter, while foreign airlines will operate 1239 flights, including 668 passenger and 571 freighter. [more - original PR - Chinese]

JetBlue Airways announced (18-Feb-2020) plans to take delivery of the following aircraft:

  • 2020:
    • A321neo: 11;
    • A220: One;
  • 2021:
    • A321neo: 17;
    • A220: Six;
  • 2022:
    • A321neo: 15;
    • A220: Eight;
  • 2023:
    • A321neo: 14;
    • A220: 19;
  • 2024:
    • A321neo: 12;
    • A220: 22;
  • 2025:
    • A220: 12;
  • 2026:

Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) called (20-Feb-2020) for an extension to the 01-Oct-2020 deadline for US citizens to present a REAL ID to travel by air. The call for an extension is due to concerns that the low saturation of REAL ID compliant identification among the travelling public will negatively impact passengers and airport operations. [more - original PR]

MTU Aero Engines reported (20-Feb-2020) the following outlook for 2020:

  • Revenue in the commercial series production business forecast to increase organically by a high single digit percentage;
    • Revenue In the commercial spare parts business forecast to increase by a mid to high single digit percentage;
    • Revenue in the MRO business is expected to grow by a percentage in the low 20s. MTU anticipates a high single digit percentage revenue increase in the MRO core business. The remaining revenue increase results from the retrofit programme for the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan, which is "likely to hold back our margin in commercial maintenance," according to CFO Peter Kameritsch;
  • Operating profit of grow by a high single digit percentage;
  • The cash conversion rate (ratio of free cash flow to net income adjusted) forecast at around 70% (2019: 67%);
  • MTU is observing the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak and will, if necessary, adjust its forecast during the course of the year. [more - original PR]

Gol announced (20-Feb-2020) its board approved an aircraft lease agreement between with BBAM Aircraft Leasing & Management in the amount of up to USD10.1 million for one Boeing 737-700 (MSN 34295) equipped with two CFM 56-7B22 engines. The board also approved an aircraft sale and leaseback agreement with Carlyle Aviation Management Limited in the amount of up to USD136.1 million. The sale and leaseback transaction encompasses the following aircraft:

  • Boeing 737-700: MSN 37608 and MSN 37609;
  • Boeing 737-800: MSN 35835, MSN 35836, MSN 35837, MSN 35838, MSN 35843, MSN 35844, MSN 35851, MSN 35852 and MSN 39618. [more - original PR]

CAAC reported (20-Feb-2020) the following traffic highlights for Chinese airports:

  • Dec-2019:
    • Passengers: 107.7 million, +4.6% year-on-year;
      • Eastern region airports: 58.5 million, +4.1%;
      • Western region airports: 30.6 million, +4.7%;
      • Central region airports: 12.0 million, +6.8%;
      • Northeast region airports: 6.6 million, +3.7%;
    • Cargo: 1.6 million tonnes, +6.5%;
      • Eastern region airports: 1.2 million tonnes, +4.6%;
      • Western region airports: 269,000 tonnes, +10.9%;
      • Central region airports: 123,000 tonnes, +8.2%;
      • Northeast region airports: 60,000 tonnes, +23.0%;
    • Aircraft movements: 969,000, +4.1%;
      • Eastern region airports: 448,000, +2.4%;
      • Western region airports: 311,000, +5.8%;
      • Central region airports: 150,000, +6.8%;
      • Northeast region airports: 60,000, +1.5%;
  • 12 months ended Dec-2019:
    • Passengers: 1.35 billion, +6.9%;
      • Eastern region airports: 709.5 million, +5.4%;
      • Western region airports: 403.0 million, +8.3%;
      • Central region airports: 155.5 million, +10.8%;
      • Northeast region airports: 83.6 million, +6.2%;
    • Cargo: 17.1 million tonnes, +2.1%;
      • Eastern region airports: 12.5 million tonnes, stable;
      • Western region airports: 2.8 million tonnes, +7.5%;
      • Central region airports: 1.2 million tonnes, +9.9%;
      • Northeast region airports: 603,000 tonnes, +9.5%;
    • Aircraft movements: 11.7 million, +5.1%;
      • Eastern region airports: 5.3 million, +3.7%;
      • Western region airports: 3.9 million, +6.0%;
      • Central region airports: 1.7 million, +7.7%;
      • Northeast region airports: 746,000, +4.7%. [more - original PR]