Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to launch ahead of schedule
Wizz Air CEO József Váradi announced plans to launch Wizz Air Abu Dhabi ahead of schedule and scale up the project (Aviation Week, 22-Apr-2020). Mr Váradi said: "We are bringing a niche that does not really exist at this point in time. We'll be stimulating the marketplace and that feeds into the strategic objectives of Abu Dhabi". As previously reported by CAPA, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi was to launch operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport in autumn 2020.
LATAM Airlines Brazil: 'Who will not have low cost will not survive'
LATAM Airlines Brazil CEO Jerome Cadier commented on cost planning for resumption of operations, stating: "If the margin is not positive in the short term, I die in the mid term"(Globo, 22-Apr-2020). He added: "Who will not have low cost will not survive. Maybe they'll survive the first wave, but plenty will disappear in 2021 or 2022".
Indigo Partners CEO: Industry will face up to 'a year or two of recovery'
Indigo Partners CEO Bill Franke said the industry is "going to face as much as a year or two of recovery", and may potentially require more financial aid (CNBC, 17-Apr-2020).
Delta Air Lines CEO: UK marketplace has 'need for the Virgin brand'
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said Delta is "not in a position to invest anymore money" into Virgin, as it is "already at the ownership cap" and focused on preserving cash (CNBC, 22-Apr-2020). "I trust Virgin will work through its challenges with the government and with Richard", he stated, adding: "If they are required to go through an administration process in the UK, I'm confident they could reemerge. There's a need for the Virgin brand in the UK marketplace, and I'm confident once we get through...the Virgin brand will be strong once more".
Norwegian CEO: extraordinary general meeting on 04-May-2020 'vital' for financial restructure
Norwegian CEO Jacob Schram, via his official LinkedIn account, reported (22-Apr-2020) the carrier is "still fighting like dogs and the extraordinary general meeting on the 4th of May is vital for our FINANCIAL RESTRUCTURE and to get access to the 3 bnok in liquidity from the Norwegian government". Mr Schram noted "we are constructing a stronger NEW NORWEGIAN" which will continue after coronavirus.
Melbourne Airport CEO: 'Virgin needs to make Melbourne the strategic heart of its network'
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport CEO Lyell Strambi reported "Virgin needs to make Melbourne the strategic heart of its network... That doesn't necessarily have to mean corporate HQ, though it certainly could" (Australian Financial Review, 23-Apr-2020). Mr Strambi said: "There's an ongoing conversation about how to make that happen, including with Virgin and the Victorian Government" and Melbourne is "underutilised in terms of its value as a strategic hub". Mr Strambi said if Virgin Australia is seeking to be "lean, fitter, stronger… Melbourne has to be at the heart of the plan".