Jetstar Asia will accept transit passengers through Singapore Changi Airport from December 1, the LCC has said on its website. Read More » Passengers originating from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Phnom Penh would be able to transit through Changi for approved cities within the Jetstar Asia network if their connections are within 48 hours. Transit passengers will be identified by a wristband, be seated at the front of the aircraft, be met by staff on arrival at Changi and ushered to a transit holding area, transit hotel or, in the case of a tight connection, straight to their departure gates.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has lifted capacity forecasts for January 2021 to 19% of pre-COVID-19 levels, up from its previous estimate of 16%. In an update on the airline group's website, SIA said it planned to resume flights to Nagoya and San Francisco between December 2020 and January 2021, as well as transfer a number of routes operated by SIA and SilkAir to Scoot and vice versa.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator, Steve Dickson, overnight signed an order lifting the ban on the 737 MAX some 20 months after it was grounded following two fatal crashes of the type that killed 346 people. While the order was rescinded, the FAA said the aircraft would not return to flying until a series of design changes were implemented and new training requirements for pilots and technicians brought in. "The design changes we have overseen make it impossible for these accident scenarios to reoccur," Dickson told reporters.
In addition to allowing 737 MAX customer airlines to again operate the aircraft, Boeing said the FAA decision would allow the company to resume deliveries of the type to customers. "The FAA's directive is an important milestone," Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO, Stan Deal, said in a statement. "We will continue to work with regulators around the world and our customers to return the airplane back into service worldwide."
Singapore's Changi Airport Group (CAG) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) yesterday launched COVID-19 insurance for foreign visitors. The product, which offers S$30,000 (US$22,324) to S$250,000 cover for COVID-19 medical treatment and hospitalisation costs, would be available from three companies, AIG Asia Pacific Insurance, Chubb Insurance and HL Assurance, CAG and STB said in a joint-statement, Premiums will start at S$5.95. "As we gradually re-open for safe travel, COVID-19 insurance coverage is a key enabler to rebuild traveller confidence and provide peace of mind," STB CEO, Keith Tan, said.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) today granted Virgin Australia and Alliance Airlines interim approval to cooperate on 41 domestic regional routes and two international routes. The interim authorisation allowed the pair to work together on flight schedules and capacity and pricing. It also will permit the partners to enter into commercial agreements and potentially set up risk and revenue sharing mechanisms, ahead of a final decision. “The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the aviation industry in Australia,” ACCC commissioner, Stephen Ridgeway, said in a statement. "This interim authorisation will help facilitate a more competitive aviation landscape as Australian consumers resume travelling and demand for flights increases."
Melbourne Airport's monthly traffic report, published today, showed passenger numbers fell 98.8% to 38,822 in October, from 3.3 million in the prior corresponding period. There were 28,059 domestic passengers and 10,763 international passengers through Tullamarine in the month. Melbourne Airport CEO, Lyell Strambi, said he was hopeful of a "domestic re-start" as travel restrictions into and out of Victoria were eased following an outbreak of COVID-19 in Melbourne. “We know people are itching to travel and it’s terrific to see airlines add capacity as soon as border restrictions are eased, which also supports thousands of aviation related jobs," Strambi said.
