CAPA News Briefs

London Heathrow Airport reported (26-Jul-2021) the following financial highlights for 1H2021:

• Revenue: GBP348 million, -51.1% year-on-year;
• Cash from operations: GBP177 million, -39.8%;
• Profit (loss) before tax: (GBP868 million), +18%;
• Adjusted EBITDA (loss): (GBP33 million), -114.9%.

Cash burn was reduced by over 50% compared to the same period in 2019, with operating costs and capex reduced by 35% and 77% respectively. Liquidity has been increased to GBP4.8 billion since the start of the pandemic, while cumulative losses during the period are at GBP2.9 billion. [more - original PR]

WestJet CEO Ed Sims reported plans to revise and refile an application to the US Department of Transportation to be permitted to enter a JV with Delta Air Lines (Routes Online, 23-Jul-2021). As previously reported by CAPA, WestJet and Delta submitted a notice to the DoT in Nov-2020 informing them of an intention to withdraw from the proposed JV due to "arbitrary and capricious" conditions. These included a condition that WestJet divest 100% of its slot portfolio at New York LaGuardia Airport.

Zagreb Airport, via its official Twitter account, stated (23-Jul-2021) Ryanair opened a Zagreb based and announced plans to deliver 60 weekly frequencies across 24 services.

China Eastern Airlines, via its official Weibo account, announced (23-Jul-2021) plans to extend the suspension of its Shanghai Pudong-London service until 27-Aug-2021.

Emirates Airline, via its official website, announced (23-Jul-2021) passenger services from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to Dubai will remain suspended until 28-Jul-2021, in line with UAE Government directives. 

Lufthansa Group announced (25-Jul-2021) Eurowings Discover commenced scheduled operations, with an A330-200 travelling from Frankfurt to Mombasa and then onward to Zanzibar. Key details include:

• Aircraft configuration: The carrier's A330 is initially configured with 270 seats, including 22 lie flat business class seats. Over the next few months, all Eurowings Discover aircraft will gradually become equipped with up to 31 premium economy class seats;
• Inflight product: All meals and non-alcoholic beverages included in the price regardless of fare class. In business class, all beverages will be offered free of charge, while in the premium economy class there will also be a complimentary selection of beer and wine. A variety of buy-on-board offers will be available, from which travellers in economy class and premium economy class can select additional snacks and alcoholic beverages;
• Route network: The carrier plans to add 15 more long and medium haul destinations in 2021, with Frankfurt-Punta Cana service to start on 09-Aug-2021 and Frankfurt-Windhoek starting 10-Aug-2021. Other route plans from Frankfurt include: Las Vegas (30-Sep-2021); Mauritius (01-Sep-2021); Bridgetown (01-Nov-2021); Cancún (01-Nov-2021); Varadero (02-Nov-2021) and Montego Bay (03-Nov-2021). The airline will also add attractive medium haul routes from Frankfurt in Nov-2021, including: the Canary Islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife; Hurghada and Marsa Alam in Egypt; Marrakech in Morocco. From summer 2022 onwards, Eurowings Discover will also be operating short, medium and long haul flights out of the Munich hub. [more - original PR]

Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center announced (23-Jul-2021) plans to lower the epidemic alert from level three to level two, effective 27-Jul-2021 to 09-Aug-2021. [more - original PR]

AirAsia extended (23-Jul-2021) its credit account validity period to three years from the date of issuance, for all of its guests with a valid credit account issued before 30-Jun-2021. [more - original PR]

Air Canada reported (23-Jul-2021) the following traffic highlights:

• Three months ended 30-Jun-2021:
  • Passengers: 1.2 million, -90.9% compared to 2019;
  • Passenger load factor: 42.2%, -41.9pp;
  • Passenger traffic (RPM): -92.8%;
  • Passenger capacity (ASM): -85.7%;
• Six months ended 30-Jun-2021:
  • Passengers: 2.3 million, -78.0% year-on-year;
  • Passenger load factor: 42.8%, -28.2pp;
  • Passenger traffic (RPM): -80.8%;
  • Passenger capacity (ASM): -68.1%. [more - original PR]

Assaeroporti reported (22-Jul-2021) the following traffic highlights for its Italian airports for Jun-2021:

• Passengers: 6.6 million, -65.0% compared to Jun-2019;
• Cargo: 91,329 tons, -2.8%;
• Aircraft movements: 83,331, -47.7%. [more - original PR]

Russia's Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov announced more than RUB200 billion (EUR2.3 billion) has been allocated from the National Wealth Fund to finance procurement of civil aviation equipment (TASS, 21-Jul-2021). Funding will include commercial aviation equipment, regional and helicopter equipment and airfield systems. Russia's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Oleg Bocharov also confirmed part of the finding will go towards air navigation systems and integration of drones into Russian airspace.

American Airlines announced (22-Jul-2021) plans to operate over 150 new routes in the summer 2021 period, including several new destinations and greater connectivity in Miami, Austin, Texas, and Orlando. During the summer season, the carrier expects to fly over 90% of its domestic seat capacity and 80% of its international seat capacity, in each case as compared to 2019. [more - original PR]