Executive Industry News You Need To Know Today
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Another day and another round of job losses announced globally. The industry continues to react to the structural shock to the sector. Our concern remains that this is not the end for headcount reduction and that this cycle will continue into 2021.
On a brighter note, we are now seeing increasing news flow on the reopening of international airports - the question remains - will the initial demand for international air travel spike and then diminish or will the recovery in numbers be sustainable... time will tell.
In today's update we are covering the following topics:
DRC reopens airspace after 5 months closure
Vistara to make long-haul debut, fly to London from August 2
Asaba Airport: Air Peace Resumes Flight Operations
Nigerian government moves to prevent job losses in aviation sector
Swissport and Qatar Airways renew services contract at Schiphol Airport
More passengers allowed to transit at Changi Airport
Fastjet Group to delist and convert to private company
Protests planned over closure of easyJet bases
Stobart Group to cut jobs after Easyjet scraps Southend and Stansted bases
‘Humbled’ Boeing scores first new 737 Max orders since November - CNBC
Democratic Republic Of Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo has reopened its airspace after been closed for nearly five months due to Coronavirus pandemic. It received its first commercial passenger flight on Saturday.
Border health officials were seen taking the temperature of each passenger after a mandatory hand washing with chlorinated water.
"It takes a little longer, but that's the price to pay for a trip without risk of contamination," reacted Aristotle Kabengele, who was on his way to Paris via the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
More than 200 passengers boarded an Ethiopian Airlines plane bound for Addis Ababa.
On the runway, freshly drawn markings on the ground separated travellers by a metre before the first commercial flight from Ndjili airport in Kinshasa took off.
The DRC has so far recorded 9,638 Covid-19 cases and 239 deaths since the first cases were declared on 10 March, according to the latest official figures.
By: Jerry Fisayo - Bambi
Source: www.africanews.com
India
Vistara To Make Long-Haul Debut, Fly To London From August 2 - Mumbai Mirror
Nigeria
Asaba Airport: Air Peace Resumes Flight Operations
Air Peace on Tuesday resumed its Lagos-Asaba-Lagos and Abuja-Asaba-Abuja flight operations, with a pledge to deliver the best flight experience to the travelling public on the routes.
The Air Peace Boeing 737 with registration No. 5N–BUJ arrived Asaba four months after the closure of the airport due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
The aircraft which touched down at the airport at 8.50 am was celebrated with a water cannon salute.
The pilot of the Aircraft, Captain Omar Al-Talib, said the carrier was delighted to have returned to Asaba after its flight operations were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the NCAA, and the Delta State Government for their efforts at reopening the airport assuring that the airline will scale up its operations at the Asaba Airport.
Senior Political Adviser to the Governor, Chief Funkekeme Solomon; Executive Assistant to the Governor on Communications Dr. Fred Latimore and Chairman Isoko North Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor were among dignitaries on the Air Peace flight from Lagos.
Funkeme while speaking to newsmen said the investments at the airport were yielding adequate results and urged the airport authorities to ensure excellence in its operations.
“The investments in this airport has paid off with the upgrading of standards of the airport with a very high approval rating from the regulatory authorities.
“We had a very smooth flight onboard Air Peace from Lagos and we thank His Excellency the Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for all he has done to ensure the reopening of this airport.
“We know that this COVID-19 has altered our lifestyle but by the grace of God it will go very soon, but for now we have to adapt to the new normal. I appeal to the airport authorities to ensure excellence in their operations so that more people will continue to patronise the airport.” he said.
Latimore in his remark said the Air Peace flight from Lagos to Asaba was a 50 minutes flight.
“We had a very smooth flight experience. The COVID-19 protocol was in order and everything went well. Deltans and Nigerians are happy that the Asaba Airport has re-opened because travellers to Delta from South East and other neighbouring States will now begin to enjoy flight experience from Lagos and Abuja to the Asaba International Airport.”
Special Project Director, Asaba Airport, Austine Ayemidejor, assured that the facility has complied with all COVID-19 safety protocol assuring air travellers of the best flying experience from the airport.
“You know that Air Peace has been operating here on a daily basis before the pandemic and now that they have come back, they have assured us of daily flight operations here in Asaba.
“So far we have six airlines, Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Azman, Arik, Ibom Air among others already indicated interest to return to Asaba Airport. My advice to air travellers from the airport is to always ensure they adhere strictly to safety protocols already put in place to ensure smooth operations of the Airport.
On his part, Delta State Vice Chairman All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief George Okafor who was among dignitaries on the return flight to Abuja, commended Governor Okowa for his efforts at ensuring prompt reopening of the airport.
“The return of flight operations at the Asaba Airport is a very big relief to us especially those of us that often go to meetings in Abuja. We thank the Governor and the state government and everybody that is here today to ensure the successful reopening of the airport,” he stated.
Source: www.vanguardngr.com
Nigerian Government Moves To Prevent Job Losses In Aviation Sector
The federal government has called for social dialogue between the employers and the employees in the aviation industry to prevent job losses.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made the call in a statement, signed by Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry on Friday in Abuja.
Mr Ngige made the call during a conciliatory meeting with airline operators and the trade unions in the aviation industry to discuss contentious issues, especially pay cut and laying off of workers.
The minister appealed to them to join hands to make sure there were no job losses in that industry.
According to him, the cardinal principle of this administration is to prevent job losses.
“The government on its part will honour its obligation to the industry by providing palliatives in the form of tax reduction, tax exemption, and elimination of custom duties on aircraft spares and logistics.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria will also provide (a) stimulus package to encourage the operators in the industry,” he said.
Mr Ngige, therefore commended the efforts of the airline operators, especially Air Peace and Bristow Helicopters, in keeping faith and paying the salaries and allowances of their staff, when necessary, for the period of the COVID-19 epidemic.
He urged the operators to allow their employees exercise their right to unionisation as Section 40 of Nigerian Constitution guaranteed that.
“We encourage the airline operators to allow members of staff who desire to go into unions to do so, as belonging to unions is a voluntary thing.
“Obstructing them from doing so, is to curtail their fundamental rights as enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
Mr Ngige, however, noted that the management of Air Peace, the Minister of Aviation and the trade unions had already agreed that Air Peace would dialogue with their workers on the re-absorption of some of the sacked pilots and engineers.
He also added that those who had already got employment elsewhere would be allowed to go peacefully with their entitlement.
Mr Ngige further directed the unions in Turkish Airlines to forward, in writing, their complaints about victimisation of officers in the unions to the Minister of Aviation, and copy the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The minister also said that on Bristow Helicopters, 90 – 95 per cent of the issues had already been solved through social dialoguing.
“We understand the plight of the employers, being that the volume of work in that organisation has dwindled, from 50 aircraft business to an all-time low of 12 aircraft.
“We appeal to both management and workers to dialogue with human face in order to save jobs,” he said.
He therefore, said that the thrust of the social dialogues was to save jobs, so that even the management could also consider reduction in the number of people slated for redundancy.
Mr Nigige also noted that even if redundancy must occur, it should be done under the ambit of Nigerian law on redundancy.
On the unilateral pay cut by Arik Air, as well as the disagreement on terminal benefit for workers, Mr Ngige directed the management of the airline to engage the employees on social dialogue and come up with a mutually agreed remuneration.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, commended the federal government’s commitment to supporting the Aviation industry through the provision of palliatives.
By: NAN
Source: www.premiumtimesng.com
Singapore
More Passengers Allowed To Transit At Changi Airport - Straits Times
The Netherlands
Swissport and Qatar Airways renew services contract at Schiphol Airport - airport-technology
United Kingdom
Fastjet Group to delist and convert to private company - Flight Global
Protests Planned Over Closure Of easyJet Bases
The airline is closing three UK bases as a result of the ‘unprecedented’ impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions.
Workers are to stage protests over a decision by easyJet to close a number of UK bases.
Demonstrations will be held on Thursday at Stansted and Southend airports, where the airline will cease operations from the end of the month, as well as at Newcastle.
Unite regional officer Lindsey Olliver said job losses caused by the announcement will bring “hardship and misery” to cabin crew and local communities.
“This is a cruel blow for the passengers of these regional airports as they are vital for regional connectivity.
“The loyal and dedicated workers at easyJet are the innocent victims of the company’s desire to make cuts to boost profits but also of the Government’s failure to provide sector specific support to the aviation sector.
“The Chancellor promised sector support for aviation in March and that still has not been delivered.
“As a minimum, a form of the job retention scheme must be retained to protect sectors such as aviation, which have been most affected by the pandemic.
“If the Government fails to act, then an ever-growing number of aviation workers face needlessly losing their jobs.”
Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, said: “We have had to take the very difficult decision to close three UK bases as a result of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions, compounded by quarantine measures in the UK which is impacting demand for travel.
“Working closely with our employee representatives, I am pleased that we have been able to identify ways to significantly reduce the number of proposed compulsory redundancies through providing enhanced voluntary redundancy packages for all UK crew alongside additional options like part-time and seasonal contracts, base transfers and unpaid leave which we expect to result in reducing the number of job losses overall.
“We would like to reassure customers due to fly from these airports that we are now contacting anyone whose flight is affected with clear advice on their options which include rerouting via alternative airports or receiving a full refund.
“I know this is a very difficult time for our pilots and crew and I would like to thank them for their continued professionalism.”
Source: www.expressandstar.com
Stobart Group to cut jobs after Easyjet scraps Southend and Stansted bases - CityAM
United States
‘Humbled’ Boeing scores first new 737 Max orders since November - CNBC
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