Air New Zealand CEO: 'climate change is the biggest crisis facing our industry'
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran stated "Variants of Covid-19 will pass, or at least be something we learn to live with, but climate change is the biggest crisis facing our industry". Mr Foran noted New Zealand is "an island nation dependent on our connections with the rest of the world and we must find a more sustainable way to fly if we want to ensure our tourism and export industries thrive". Mr Foran added: "One thing that is clear to me, is that we cannot solve for this crisis alone", and called for the implementation of "Supportive policy framework" to accelerate the introduction of SAF.
Flight Centre Travel Group: Global airline seat capacity forecast to be back to 85% by end of 2022
Flight Centre Travel Group stated international travel bounce back is predicted to continue for the rest of the year with global airline seat capacity forecast to be back to 85% of pre coronavirus levels by the end of 2022, according to FCM Consulting's latest Global Quarterly Trend Report. The report reveals that the top 20 corporate airlines across the world are also on the rebound, with a global average of 87% seats offered in 2022, versus 2019. FCM consulting GM Felicity Burke stated: "We're seeing an upward tick in aviation globally with the second quarter showing a steady monthly growth in seats offered, down 23 per cent when compared to the same time-period pre-COVID". In terms of seats offered, the New Zealand domestic market is forecast to be back to 79 per cent of pre coronavirus levels for the full 2022 year. Australia is predicted to be back to 83% domestically for the year.
AirAsia X to 'return to daily services to most destinations' by 2023: acting group CEO
AirAsia X acting group CEO Tony Fernandes, commenting on the LCC's 2Q2022 results, stated "The Company is currently lean in its infrastructure as a result of debt restructuring with perhaps the lowest operating cost base of any airline in its category", but noted "investment in infrastructure and staff to support the ramp up of airline's operations will result in some additional costs and time for the short term". Mr Fernandes reported: "In the coming months we will be reactivating more aircraft to return to popular medium haul leisure destinations in Australia, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia", adding "Soon, we will also be launching new short haul services to Bali for the first time and more exciting new longer haul destinations to Istanbul, Dubai and London, which will start operations by the end of the year". He said AirAsia X expects "to ramp up flight frequencies and return to daily services to most destinations before 2023, with optimised aircraft utilisation of 15 hours by" Dec-2022. The acting group CEO concluded: "We also see positive signs for a stronger return to China and travel restrictions removed in all of our core markets in the not too distant future which will provide a significant boost to our operations".
Qantas Group CEO: 'We always knew travel demand would recover strongly'
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce stated "We always knew travel demand would recover strongly but the speed and scale of that recovery has been exceptional". Mr Joyce said: "There is a lot of work happening to bring us back to our best", including hiring additional employees, implementing new technology and "reducing domestic flying so we have more sick leave cover". Mr Joyce noted there was a "a big improvement in baggage handling and cancellations in August, which we expect will return to pre-COVID standards next month". On time performance "improved significantly and should be close to our usual high standard" in Sep-2022.
PLAY CEO: Smoother sailing ahead as carrier emerges from development phase
PLAY CEO Birgir Jonsson stated the carrier "has now emerged from the tough obstacle course of the start-up and expansion phase and smoother sailing is ahead". Mr Jonsson added: "We are now coming out of the development phase with a strong financial position and finally the external conditions are more favourable after strong headwinds". The carrier began operating the full hub-and-spoke network as of Jul-2022 and is reporting an increase in long term bookings and a decrease in cancellation coverage. Mr Jonsson said in addition to its fleet expansion, the carrier's objective is hiring more crew members, adding PLAY plans to increase its workforce from 300 staff to 500 in 2023.
Rex executive chairman 'mildly pleased that our performance is not much worse than it is'
Regional Express (Rex) executive chairman Lim Kim Hai stated "The lingering impact of COVID-19 meant that passenger services did not start to recover until Feb-2022". Mr Lim added: "Considering that COVID devastated practically three quarters of the FY and the war in Ukraine starting in February causing crude oil prices to skyrocket by over 70% during the financial year", peaking at AUD174 (USD120.9) a barrel in Jun-2022, Mr Lim is "mildly pleased that our performance is not much worse than it is".
TAP Air Portugal CEO: Restructuring plan remains 'key'
TAP Air Portugal CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener stated the carrier was able to offset an increase in costs in 2Q2022, due to "very healthy demand and higher revenue per passenger" during the period. Ms Ourmières-Widener added prospects for 4Q2022 and 2023 remain uncertain, and outlined the "execution of the restructuring plan remains key".
SpiceJet MD: 'We are exploring all options for investment from external parties, including airlines'
SpiceJet chairman and MD Ajay Singh reported the LCC's shareholders approved a proposal to raise INR15 billion (USD187.8 million) to INR20 billion (USD250.4 million) and commented "We are exploring all options for investment from external parties, including airlines" (Bloomberg/Times of India/The Hindu, 23-Aug-2022). Mr Singh further stated: "SpiceJet is doing its utmost to work through the stress we have faced", adding "We will do everything in our power to ensure that SpiceJet remains a strong and vibrant player as it has been in the last 17 years".
Malta's PM: We will still have a national airline
Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela, commenting on Air Malta's long term survival, stated "we will still have a national airline" adding he "believes that a national carrier can be sustainable, especially given our insularity as an island". Mr Abela attributed the airline's current situation to various factors including higher fuel prices and the COVID-19 pandemic, and added "strategic decisions and purchases made by Air Malta pre-2013 were not always in its best interest".
Air Caraïbes to increase airfares by 5% to 10% by end of 2022: CEO
Air Caraïbes CEO Marc Rochet reportedly stated the carrier plans to increase airfares by 5% to 10% by the end of 2022. Mr Rochet noted the carrier is "bearing the brunt" of raw materials price increases, primarily fuel.