A trusted source of Asia-Pacific commercial aviation news and analysis


MAY 2021

Week 19

Orient Aviation Daily Digest May 14, 2021

A look at the week

By Jordan Chong

The Australian government's announcement this week that a broad reopening of the country's international border was not expected to occur before mid-2022, at the earliest, is the latest example of a risk-averse approach being taken to international travel.

The mid-2022 timeline was included in the country's Federal Budget assumptions for the year ahead. The budget also was based on expectations all Australians would be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021.

Australia's Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, acknowledged it was "quite a conservative, cautious assumption" that international borders would gradually reopen from the middle of 2022. Read More »

 

News

Korean Air cuts losses to US$25 million for three months to March 31; in the black at an operating level

Korean Air (KAL) today reported a net loss of 28.8 billion won (US$25 million) for the three months to March 31, 2021, an improvement from a net loss of 692 billion won over the same quarter in 2020. Read More »


 

News

India’s Go Air rebrands as ultra-low-cost Go First

Indian carrier, Go Air, said yesterday it would rebrand as Go First and operate as an "ultra LCC business model". Read More »


 

News

Singapore Airlines resuming Tokyo Narita-Los Angeles fifth freedom flights next month

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said this week it would resume fifth-freedom flights between Tokyo Narita and Los Angeles from June 16. Read More »


 

News

Cathay Pacific Group reports 80% of cockpit crew have booked or received vaccine jab

Cathay Pacific Group said yesterday 80% of its pilots and 40% of cabin crew either had booked or received their COVID-19 vaccination. Read More »


 

News

Japan Airlines cuts domestic capacity to 63%; All Nippon Airways reduces in-country June flying to 55%

Japan Airlines (JAL) said yesterday it had cancelled a further 559 domestic flights between May 18-31 and 8,201 in June amid a growing number of daily coronavirus infections across the country. Read More »


 

News

Rolls-Royce forecast to be ‘free cash flow positive” in second half of 2021

Engine OEM Rolls-Royce told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting overnight engine flying hours during the first four months of 2021 were at 40% of 2019 levels, which was broadly unchanged from the run rate at the end of 2020 and consistent with its planning assumptions. Read More »