Global airlines cut capacity, staff, costs due to COVID-19 ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Scoot (TR, Singapore Changi) will deploy its passenger-configured B787-9s on cargo charters between Singapore Changi and destinations in China on behalf of its parent Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi), the airline confirmed to Air Cargo News.

Singapore Airlines Group will become the second operator after Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int'l) to use its passenger aircraft's bellyhold capacity to run cargo-only flights to China. The shortage of said capacity as a result of the termination of most passenger services has significantly affected the overall volume of available cargo space available on flights to and from China.

Scoot said it would operate cargo charters to Guangzhou and Nanjing during March 2020, despite all of its passenger services to China having been suspended through April 25, 2020.

The airline underlined that special precautions would be taken with no crew members staying in China. Ground handling agents will be wearing protective suits, and the aircraft will be thoroughly disinfected after returning to Singapore.

While most of its passenger...

Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong Int'l) has confirmed it is using A330-300s, operated by its subsidiary Cathay Dragon (KA, Hong Kong Int'l), to run cargo routes between Hong Kong Int'l and Chinese gateways in light of a recent surge in demand for freight to and from the mainland.

According to Cargo Facts, the airline is using Cathay Dragon's A330-300s on a daily route to Beijing Capital and on 3x weekly services to each of Shanghai Pudong and Xiamen. No passengers are transported on these services as the airline only utilises bellyhold capacity to carry freight.

Cathay Dragon maintains daily passenger services to Beijing and Shanghai and a 3x weekly service to Xiamen. All three are operated with A330-300s. Cathay Pacific itself does not operate any scheduled passenger services into mainland China at present. However, it retains scheduled cargo flights to five cities in the country (including Shanghai and Xiamen but not Beijing) using B747-8(F)s and B747-400(F)s. Cathay's cargo subsidiary Air Hong Kong continues to operate to...