This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51818492
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Coronavirus: Airlines cancel thousands of flights | Coronavirus: Airlines cancel thousands of flights |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of flights have been cancelled worldwide as airlines struggle to cope with a slump in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak. | Thousands of flights have been cancelled worldwide as airlines struggle to cope with a slump in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak. |
Ryanair will stop services to and from Italy from Friday until 8 April, with BA scrapping its routes until 4 April as the country goes into lockdown. | |
Norwegian Air has said it will cut about 3,000 flights in the next three months, about 15% of its capacity. | Norwegian Air has said it will cut about 3,000 flights in the next three months, about 15% of its capacity. |
It also plans to temporarily lay off "a significant share of its workforce". | It also plans to temporarily lay off "a significant share of its workforce". |
"We have initiated formal consultations with our unions regarding temporary layoffs for flying crew members as well as employees on the ground and in the offices," said chief executive Jacob Schram. | "We have initiated formal consultations with our unions regarding temporary layoffs for flying crew members as well as employees on the ground and in the offices," said chief executive Jacob Schram. |
EasyJet has cancelled all of its flights to and from Italy between 10 March and 3 April, but has said it will operate "rescue flights" in the coming days. | |
Whilst the restrictions on travel to Italy and China have meant some services have stopped completely, there has also been a general fall in demand as holiday-makers put their plans on hold and firms instruct staff to limit travel. | Whilst the restrictions on travel to Italy and China have meant some services have stopped completely, there has also been a general fall in demand as holiday-makers put their plans on hold and firms instruct staff to limit travel. |
Which airlines have cancelled flights? | |
Ghost flights | Ghost flights |
Some airlines had continued to operate near-empty flights in order to protect their rights to take-off and landing slots. Under EU "use it or lose it" rules they must run services on busy routes or forfeit them to other operators. | Some airlines had continued to operate near-empty flights in order to protect their rights to take-off and landing slots. Under EU "use it or lose it" rules they must run services on busy routes or forfeit them to other operators. |
However, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has announced that airlines will be allowed to keep their slots even if they were not flying routes. | However, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen has announced that airlines will be allowed to keep their slots even if they were not flying routes. |
"This is a temporary measure, and this temporary measure helps both our industry, but it also helps our environment," she said. | "This is a temporary measure, and this temporary measure helps both our industry, but it also helps our environment," she said. |
"It will relieve the pressure on the aviation industry and in particular, on smaller airline companies. But it will also decrease emissions by avoiding so-called ghost flights." | "It will relieve the pressure on the aviation industry and in particular, on smaller airline companies. But it will also decrease emissions by avoiding so-called ghost flights." |
Survival threat | Survival threat |
Earlier on Tuesday, Korean Air warned the coronavirus outbreak could threaten its survival. | Earlier on Tuesday, Korean Air warned the coronavirus outbreak could threaten its survival. |
In a memo sent to employees, Woo Kee-hong, Korean Air's president, said the airline could not predict how long the crisis would last. | In a memo sent to employees, Woo Kee-hong, Korean Air's president, said the airline could not predict how long the crisis would last. |
"But if the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company's survival," he said in the memo, which was seen by Reuters. | "But if the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company's survival," he said in the memo, which was seen by Reuters. |
Australia's Qantas airline said it would reduce international flights by nearly 25% as it sees demand fall from passengers worried about the coronavirus. | Australia's Qantas airline said it would reduce international flights by nearly 25% as it sees demand fall from passengers worried about the coronavirus. |
Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar will reduce operations for the next six months. | Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar will reduce operations for the next six months. |
ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said its "initial assessment" was that passenger numbers between January and March will drop 14% due to the coronavirus. | ACI Europe, which represents European airports, said its "initial assessment" was that passenger numbers between January and March will drop 14% due to the coronavirus. |
"The Covid-19 epidemic is turning into a shock of unprecedented proportions for our industry," said director general Olivier Jankovec. | "The Covid-19 epidemic is turning into a shock of unprecedented proportions for our industry," said director general Olivier Jankovec. |
Holiday industry plea | Holiday industry plea |
As well as airlines, the wider travel sector is also facing hardship, and UK travel industry lobby group ABTA has called for "extraordinary measures" from government to help. | As well as airlines, the wider travel sector is also facing hardship, and UK travel industry lobby group ABTA has called for "extraordinary measures" from government to help. |
The group's plea, ahead of Wednesday's Budget, includes a request for tax holidays and loans for companies struggling as sales dry up. | The group's plea, ahead of Wednesday's Budget, includes a request for tax holidays and loans for companies struggling as sales dry up. |
John Hays, founder of Hays Travel, the company that bought 555 Thomas Cook shops, told BBC Radio 5 live that a recruitment freeze at the firm is likely. | John Hays, founder of Hays Travel, the company that bought 555 Thomas Cook shops, told BBC Radio 5 live that a recruitment freeze at the firm is likely. |
"We're looking at a recruitment freeze and other operational issues," he said. | "We're looking at a recruitment freeze and other operational issues," he said. |
"We know this will be temporary, but it's very important that we match the volume of income against costs, that's what we do." | "We know this will be temporary, but it's very important that we match the volume of income against costs, that's what we do." |
In November last year, Hays Travel said it planned to hire an extra 1,500 staff - 200 for at its head office in Sunderland, 500 to handle foreign exchange, and an apprentice for each of its 737 branches. | In November last year, Hays Travel said it planned to hire an extra 1,500 staff - 200 for at its head office in Sunderland, 500 to handle foreign exchange, and an apprentice for each of its 737 branches. |