Here is our rolling report with short aviation news for the month of April 2022:
19 – The easing of travel restrictions and higher quota on Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lanes have boosted March traffic for Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot. Passenger numbers for both airlines were up to 893.000 from 100.000 in March 2021 and up from 544.600 in February. The increase was evident across all regions. Passenger revenues kilometers (RPK) of parent airline Singapore Airlines increased almost ten-fold to some four million, those of Scoot even surpassed ten-fold growth numbers to 372.300. Scoot grew its capacity in available seat kilometers (ASK) by 366 percent to 1.3 million, SIA by 102 percent to 6.8 million. This was 51 percent of 2019 levels. Cargo carried increased to 89.4 million kilograms, up 12.3 percent. During March, Singapore resumed services to Southeast Asia, Australia, South Africa (Johannesburg), as well as to London Gatwick and New York Newark.
18 – AirAsia X has appointed a new CEO. Effective April 1, Patima Jeerapaet has taken over the helm from Nadda Buranasiri, who has lead the airline since 2014 and will stay on as an executive advisor for developing strategies for sustainable growth. Jeerapaet has no experience in the airline industry but joins AirAsia X with thirty years of experience in the Thailand Automotive Institute, The Office of SME Promotion, Colliers International Thailand, and The Pasupat Group. As reported recently, AirAsia X is in the process of restructuring its business, which includes reducing its order book with Airbus for 63 A330-900s and ten A321XLRs.
15 – Omicron and the resulting restrictions in Japan have had a negative effect on Japan Airlines’ fourth quarter and full-year results. In revised guidance for its FY21/22 result, JAL says that its net loss for the year ending March 31, 2022, will be ¥177 billion compared to ¥-146 billion in its previous guidance. Total revenues are expected to be around ¥682 billion versus ¥766 billion. Japan Airlines says that the Omicron variant significantly impacted demand for domestic travel in Japan. Despite the relaxation of restrictions in various international markets, demand didn’t pick up either. Only cargo saw higher revenues. JAL will present its full results on May 6.
14 – Wizz Air has also revised its guidance for the financial year FY22 which closed on March 31. The Hungarian low-cost says it has incurred a net loss of €652-632 million for the full year and a €210-190 million loss in Q4. This is also to blame on lower than expected demand because of the Omicron effect in January and February. Wizz is preparing for a significant expansion of its capacity this summer, planning to operate at 130 percent of 2019 levels in the April-June quarter and even 140 percent in July-September. The carrier will present its FY22 results on June 8.
14 – Embraer’s Eve Urban Mobility and Zanite expects to close the proposed acquisition of Eve by Zanite on May 9. Zanite, which is a so-called Special Acquisition Company, has filed the definitive proxy statement form to its shareholders, in preparation for its public offering at the New York Stock Exchange. A special meeting will be held on May 6. Although Eve will be spin-out from Embraer, the Brazilian OEM remains closely involved with its eVTOL subsidiary, which remains to have full access to Embraer’s engineering sources.
12 – The shareholders of Airbus have re-elected Guillaume Faury (second on the left in the picture) for another three-year term as Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Directors. Faury got the support of 100 percent during the Annual General Meeting, which was held in Amsterdam, at which 73 percent of the outstanding share capital was represented. “With his vast industrial and aeronautical experience, extensive operational knowledge and forward-looking mindset, Mr. Faury has the right competencies and charisma to bring the Company forward with new technological and s sustainability challenges and to open a new chapter in aviation’s history, placing Airbus as leader of the industry transformation”, Chairman Rene Obermann said. The shareholders also approved Faury’s 2021 remuneration which includes a base salary and variable remuneration that adds up to some €3.9 million.
12 – Spanish leisure airline Air Europa is sub-leasing two Boeing 787-8s and two -9s from Norwegian start-up Norse Atlantic, plus a fifth one from another source. The contract with Norse is for eighteen months. Norse itself has leased fifteen Dreamliners from BOC Aviation and AerCap, with which it plans to launch services to the US this summer.
Air Europa parent Globalia says that the aircraft are part of its growth strategy to consolidate its position at Madrid Barajas. Over the coming months, the airline will also add six Boeing 737 MAX from its backlog of twenty undelivered aircraft. Air Europa plans to offer 23 destinations in the Americas and 33 in Europe.
12 – Air France-KLM has confirmed its Letter of Intent for four Airbus A350Fs plus four options that it announced in December. The aircraft will join the cargo fleet of Air France, which consists of two Boeing 777Fs. Air France already operates fifteen A350-900s from an order of 38. The order entitles the carrier to substitute passenger aircraft for full freighters.
08 – UK leisure airline Jet2 has exercised six purchase rights from its Airbus A321neo order. This brings the total firm order to 57. Last August, Jet2 announced a firm order for 36 neo’s and 24 purchase rights to replace its Boeing 737-800s fleet for delivery in 2023 and 2024. It followed this up with an order for fifteen aircraft for delivery between 2026 and 2029. Including purchase rights, the carrier has the flexibility to grow the A321neo fleet to 75 aircraft.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
