United Airlines planning and scheduling VP: Aviation industry may recover 'sooner than 2024'
United Airlines VP for domestic network planning and scheduling Ankit Gupta said the airline may need to re-evaluate is projection that the aviation industry will not make a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic until 2024. Mr Gupta said recovery is "looking like it might happen even sooner than 2024", based on recent increases in leisure travel and the "green shoots" which are beginning to show "on the business side".
Garuda Indonesia CEO: We must have a 'solid plan'
Garuda Indonesia CEO Irfan Setiaputra reported the carrier is deciding whether to negotiate increasing debt in or out of court. Mr Setiaputra stated: "Garuda must have a solid plan because... creditors must be convinced that if they sacrifice their claims, they know that Garuda will sustain for longer time". As previously reported by CAPA, Garuda Indonesia deputy CEO Dony Oskaria reported the carrier has returned 20 unused aircraft and is in negotiations to return a further seven as part of restructuring efforts.
European Commission: Europe is 'opening up for tourism again', but three challenges remain
EU Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton reported Europe is "opening up for tourism again", thanks to "the concerted effort of the EU, national authorities, and industry".
SriLankan Airlines chairman: Return of Indian traffic 'very critical for us'
SriLankan Airlines chairman Ashok Pathirage stated the carrier is waiting on a return of traffic from India, adding "it's very critical for us". Mr Pathirage said: "If you ask my personal perspective, we are actually counting on India. Eventually, we are going to come out of this and people are just waiting to start travelling". He stated: "We need to think about our strategy in terms of survival today", adding: "In the last one and a half years, we did a lot of work in terms of cutting costs and becoming a leaner organisation".
Iberia CEO calls Europe the 'most closed market in the world'
Iberia CEO Javier Sánchez Prieto said the EU is the "most closed market in the world" at the moment, and called on the EU to urgently remove travel restrictions from its borders.
Air New Zealand CEO: Carrier moving into 'revival mode'
Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran stated "the airline has its eyes firmly set on the future as we move out of the survive phase and into revival mode". Mr Foran said the carrier will further strengthen its domestic business, placing greater focus on the customer, maintaining structural cost reductions and "ensuring continued cost vigilance".
RwandAir CEO: 'Business travel will recover', but slower than leisure
RwandAir CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo stated: "Business travel will recover, but a little bit slower - that's what we're seeing on the African continent". Ms Makolo added: "We are seeing a rise in leisure travel as well, as more and more people are getting vaccinated in the US, UK and Europe. So we are seeing a rise in tourists". She also reported an increase in VFR travel.
Cebu Pacific 'cautiously optimistic' about 2022 recovery targets
Cebu Pacific VP marketing Candice A Iyog said the carrier is "cautiously optimistic" and will maintain its 2022 traffic recovery targets in light of the Philippines' steady vaccination rates. Ms Iyog added the carrier continues to invest in digitisation and contactless technology initiatives in preparation for increased demand, and successfully launched its updated website and mobile booking channels on 16-Jun-2021.
ACCC chair: Increased competition impacts 'can be seen on all of Rex's new intercity routes'
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chair Rod Sims stated: "The impact of increased competition can be seen on all of Rex's new intercity routes, including Sydney-Melbourne where airfares fell to their lowest level in a decade following Rex's entry". ACCC said based on Mar-2021 figures, 18% of Australian domestic passengers flew on routes where there was a choice of three airline groups, compared to the pre-pandemic figure of 1.5%. This number is expected to have increased since Mar-2021 as Regional Express (Rex) has launched more services.
Wizz Air CEO: Suspension of 'use it or lose it' slot rules favours state owned airlines
Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said the continued suspension of 'use it or lose it' slot rules favours state owned airlines and "undermined" the European single market. He added the measure was an example of governments "protecting their investments". Mr Varadi's comments came in response to Air France-KLM CEO's endorsement of the suspension at the virtual Paris Air Forum.
Cathay Pacific Group expects 1H2021 loss to be 'somewhat lower' than 2020
Cathay Pacific Group chief customer and commercial officer Ronald Lam stated the group's losses in 1H2021 are expected to be "somewhat lower" than its losses reported in both 1H2020 and 2H2020. He cited cost saving measures implemented in 2020 and a strong underlying cargo performance.
London Gatwick Airport CEO urges regular addition of countries to UK Government travel green list
London Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate said the airport needs the UK Government to "regularly" add more countries to the green list in order to "protect as many jobs as possible". Staff levels at the airport have been reduced by more than 40% due to COVID-19, with up to 70% of remaining staff placed on furlough. Mr Wingate also recommended allowing double vaccinated passengers to travel abroad without testing requirements.