UK's Jet2 to open Bristol base in 2Q21

UK's Jet2 suspends flight operations through late 1Q21

Jet2 (LS, Leeds/Bradford) has suspended all flights through to the end of the current winter season, citing the ongoing uncertainty and travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Kingdom is enduring a third nationwide lockdown with people required to remain home amid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

While the latest restrictions are set to run through to mid-February, Jet2 said in a statement its suspension would run through to and including March 25, 2021. It also affects package-holiday sister firm Jet2holidays.

For travel beyond March 26, Jet2 said it would issue an update closer the time when it has a clearer picture of events.

It is the second total suspension of Jet2's operations caused by the pandemic. The leisure specialist grounded all aircraft for four months between March 17 and July 15, 2020.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module lists Jet2's fleet as including one A321-200, seven B737-300s, seventy-four B737-800s, and eight B757-200s. As of this writing, its remaining seating capacity was heavily skewed in Spain's...

VietJetAir, Bamboo Airways appeal for state aid

VietJetAir (VJ, Hanoi) has asked the government to encourage commercial banks to offer it soft loans of VND4 trillion dong (USD173 million), for which it would pay the principal and interest in 2023-2025, local media reported.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Overcoming crisis, developing Vietnam’s aviation sustainably”, the carrier’s chief financial officer, Ngọc Yến Phương Hồ, revealed that the company had incurred substantial losses over the last nine months, forcing it to sell assets, slash wages by 50% to 70%, and pay minimum salaries of VND8-10 million (USD350-430) to many staff.

Airlines in other countries, such as Thailand and China, have been offered financial support, she argued, and once Vietnam resumes international flights, they will be in a position to compete fiercely with local airlines. Vietnam’s carriers will continue to experience liquidity difficulties in the next two to three years, she added.

Last month, the National Assembly of Vietnam approved a VND12 trillion (USD520 million) bailout for majority state-owned Vietnam Airlines (VN, Hanoi), including low-interest loans worth VND4 trillion.

At the...

Ryanair takes over bulk of easyJet's Stansted slots

Ryanair (FR, Dublin Int'l) will take over 312 weekly slots at London Stansted airport from low-cost carrier rival easyJet (U2, London Luton) at the onset of the summer 2021 season, a slot-swap notice has shown.

At the start of the current winter 2020/21 season, easyJet held 376 weekly slots at Stansted, including two held by easyJet Europe (EC, Vienna). The British LCC announced earlier this year that it would close its base at Stansted, although it said it would continue serving the airport from other bases.

The swap confirms that easyJet will retain 58 weekly slots, while easyJet Europe will hold an additional pair, which it currently uses for services to Amsterdam Schiphol.

In the slot swap request, Ryanair filed a placeholder schedule using the same destinations as previously operated by easyJet. As such, it has yet to confirm its expanded network out of Stansted.

Ryanair is already the largest operator at Stansted, holding 2,312 weekly slots, over two-thirds of all. According to the ch-aviation capacities...

Editorial Comment: The article has been updated in regard to easyJet's London area network. - 17.11.2020 - 14:50 UTC

UK's Dart Group rebrands as Jet2 plc

Dart Group, the parent of British leisure-oriented low-cost carrier Jet2 (LS, Leeds/Bradford), rebranded as Jet2 plc effective September 17, 2020.

The holding said the change reflects the sale of its distribution and logistics businesses earlier this year.

"Our business has evolved significantly over the last decade, and we believe now is the right time to align our Group name with the brand under which our business is delivered. Whilst what we are called is changing, the way in which we do business will not alter as our 'Customer First' strategy will remain consistent," it said.

Besides the airline, the holding also owns Jet2holidays, a tour operator.

In a concurrent operational update, the UK airline said that while it was satisfied with the level of demand this summer despite the obstacles presented by changing quarantine rules and travel guidances, so far sales for the winter season have remained below expectations. It said it would continue to offer "enticing" pricing to prop up demand. However, it hopes that Summer 2021 capacity will be on...