2024 RT Amination Banner.gif

China Daily

News> Business> Content
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 17:34
Govts offer aid as airlines forced to deepen cuts to flights, staffing
By Reuters
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 17:34 By Reuters

An airbus A 350 from Thai airways lands at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, as the sun sets, March 17, 2020. Due to the coronavirus thousands of flights had to be canceled worldwide. (MICHAEL PROBST / AP)

SYDNEY/CHICAGO — Australia and Taiwan joined governments offering financial aid to airlines as coronavirus and stricter travel controls forced carriers to deepen cuts to capacity and staffing.

US airlines have asked Washington for US$50 billion in grants and loans, plus tens of billions in tax relief. Sector executives are due to speak with US President Donald Trump by phone on Wednesday.

Planemaker Boeing Co has called on the US government to provide at least US$60 billion in access to liquidity, including loan guarantees, for the aerospace manufacturing industry as airlines halt deliveries and new orders to conserve cash.

Airbus has also signaled some government support may be needed if the coronavirus crisis lasts for several months, three people familiar with the matter said.

The Australian government said it would refund and waive charges to airlines such as domestic air traffic control fees worth A$715 million (US$430 million), including A$159 million upfront, as it advised citizens against all foreign travel.

Taiwan’s civil aviation regulator said late on Tuesday that its airlines could apply for subsidies and loans backdated to Jan 15.

Sweden and Denmark on Tuesday announced US$300 million in loan guarantees for Scandinavian carrier SAS.

El Al Israel Airlines on Wednesday said it had sent 5,500 of its 6,000 workers on unpaid leave until May 31 after it slashed its flight schedule.

Global passenger numbers are expected to fall by as much as 30 percent this year with a full recovery not likely until 2022 or 2023, S&P Global Ratings said

The outbreak of the flu-like virus has wiped 41 percent, or US$157 billion, off the share value of the world’s 116 listed airlines, with many using up their cash so fast they can now cover less than two months of expenses, a Reuters analysis showed.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) representing the sector said US$200 billion in government support could be needed worldwide.

Trump said on Tuesday that travel restrictions within the United States are being considered, which would be a further blow to its domestic carriers.

“You can do a national lockdown. Hopefully, we’re not going to need that,” Trump said. “It’s a very big step.”

US airlines are seeking to quickly reduce their workforces through unpaid leave of up to 12 months with medical benefits or early retirement packages in a sign carriers do not expect a quick rebound.

Global passenger numbers are expected to fall by as much as 30 percent this year with a full recovery not likely until 2022 or 2023, S&P Global Ratings said.

“At the risk of being alarmist, the airline industry is on the brink of collapse as governments are quarantining large portions of their populations and closing off borders,” Cowen analyst Helane Becker told clients.

Passenger jets from Delta Airlines lined up for storage at Pinal Airpark in Pinal County, north of Tucson, Ariz., on March 16, 2020. (REBECCA SASNETT / ARIZONA DAILY STAR)

CUTS GET DEEPER

The situation has worsened for airlines this week as governments have tightened travel restrictions.

United Airlines Holdings Inc said it would cut 60 percent of its capacity in April, including 85 percent of its international flights.

Air New Zealand Ltd on Wednesday suspended trading for another two days to assess the financial implications of deep capacity cuts announced on Monday.

“This is going to be quite tough as we forecast the volumes that we are looking at over the next few months,” CEO Greg Foran said in a video sent to reporters.

ALSO READ: Airlines slash schedules, jobs & pay after new travel curbs

Up to 30 percent of the airline’s 12,500 staff will not be required, he said, adding that the carrier would offer leave without pay and voluntary redundancies before moving to job cuts.

Qatar Airways laid off around 200 employees, all Filipino nationals based in Qatar, Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello told Reuters.

VOLUMES PLUNGE

Auckland International Airport Ltd said international passenger volumes on Monday were 44 percent lower than a year ago.

Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd on Tuesday announced plans to cut 90 percent of international capacity and its Singapore-based low-cost airline Jetstar Asia said it would stop flying altogether for three weeks from March 23 to April 15.

Australia’s No 2 carrier, Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd , said it would suspend all international flying from March 30 to June 14 and cut its domestic capacity in half, in a move that could lead to job losses.

Singapore Airlines Ltd plans to halve its capacity through the end of April, with further cuts possible as it braces for a “prolonged” period of difficulty.

READ MORE: Travel ban on European visitors hits US airlines 'extremely hard'

“Make no mistake – we expect the pace of this deterioration to accelerate,” CEO Goh Choon Phong said in a statement on Tuesday.

Share this story

CHINA DAILY
HONG KONG NEWS
OPEN
Please click in the upper right corner to open it in your browser !