London Heathrow Airport CEO: 2020 pax numbers declined to 'levels we haven't seen since the 70s'
London Heathrow Airport CEO John Holland-Kaye said "2020 has been one of our most challenging years" and the airport declined "to passenger levels we haven't seen since the 70s". Mr Holland-Kaye said the resumption of travel will "save thousands of jobs and reinvigorate the economy", and the airport will collaborate with "the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a robust plan underpinned by science and backed by industry".
KLM CEO: Confidence, not price to be the determining factor in traffic recovery
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines president and CEO Pieter Elbers said confidence rather than price will be the main determining factor in traffic recovery. He said the carrier has been confronted with different rules, regulations and protocols in "every country where we operate", adding: "There needs to be a more collaborative approach and a shorter, pragmatic way to address safety measures".
TUI Group CEO: Travel in Europe will be possible in summer 2021
TUI Group CEO Fritz Joussen said (26-Feb-2021) he is confident that travel in Europe will be possible in summer 2021. He added the company is "preparing intensively" for this scenario and is in "close coordination" to expand to holiday destinations in Greece, Spain and Cyprus and elsewhere in the western and eastern Mediterranean. "It is clear that interest in holidays is turning into bookings and revenues again", Mr Joussen continued.
Airbus CEO sees narrowbody lineup fitting with travel trends post COVID-19
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the manufacturer is "quite lucky" as the changes in aviation from the coronavirus pandemic are "fitting with today's product lineup". According to Mr Faury, the company's development of longer range narrowbodies will suit changing travel patterns that emerge from the recovery of travel, as they offer airlines a combination of optimal capacity, nimbleness in deployment and fuel efficiency. Airbus has already introduced the 4000nm capable A321LR into service, with the 4700nm capable A321XLR to enter service in 2023.
Sydney Airport CEO calls for 'safe and risk-based' international border reopening
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport CEO Geoff Culbert called for a plan to reopen Australia's international borders "in a safe and risk-based way and also keep our state borders open so we can bank the dividend of all the hard work that we've done". Mr Culbert said following the arrival of coronavirus vaccines in Australia, individuals look to plan for the future, and urged against a "scenario where you sign up to get the vaccine but you can't visit your friends or family interstate or overseas… that can't be the deal".
IAG CEO calls for international common standard of coronavirus testing
IAG CEO Luis Gallego stated "We know there is pent-up demand for travel and people want to fly", and called for an international common standard of coronavirus testing, as well as the introduction of digital health passes to reopen aviation. IAG anticipates that as a result of coronavirus, demand will continue to be suppressed for several years and will not reach levels seen in 2019 until at least 2023.
Clean Sky: Now is the time for a revolution in aviation
Clean Sky executive director Axel Krein said the undertaking believes that "now is the time for a revolution in aviation" and there is an opportunity for "fast, radical change for a greener, brighter future!". Mr Krein said the "big challenge" is to answer the question of how it is possible to "maintain the positive effects of flying and at the same time eliminate the negative effects, the emissions, and bring them down to zero?". According to Mr Krein, 2019 "could be the peak year for emissions" in aviation if the industry acts quickly.
IATA: Governments have created a 'mess of inconsistency' on COVID testing and vaccine validation
IATA SVP airports, passenger, cargo and security Nick Careen stated the mix of health and border access requirements for international travel have created "a mess of inconsistency," where airlines are "left being validators of the information" without the means to verify it and customers "don't know what's required or where to get it".
Rex chairman: COVID-19 'the most significant set-back' the global airline industry has experienced
Regional Express (Rex) stated passenger numbers declined by 71.2% year-on-year in H1FY2021, with a revenue reduction of 70.5% from AUD145 million (USD111.9 million) to AUD42.8 million (USD33 million). Rex chairman Lim Kim Hai said coronavirus "completely devastated every passenger airline and has been the most significant set-back the global airline industry has ever experienced".
Safran CEO positive about long term outlook despite 1H2021 'uncertainties and headwinds'
Safran CEO Olivier Andriès said although "uncertainties and headwinds remain notably" for 1H2021, he is "determined and optimistic" about the future based on the "quality of our assets built up over the years".
Western Australia Premier: It is 'way too early' for Australia-wide travel restriction framework
Western Australia's Premier Mark McGowan stated it is "way too early" for a national framework for travel restrictions, noting: "We'll continue to make sure that we use our good judgment, our good medical advice, our police commissioner, and all the resources available to the state to keep the people of this state safe". Mr McGowan said he has not engaged in talks with Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce or other state premiers to discuss border restrictions.