Last week, an Icelandair (Iceland: ICEAIR.IC) Boeing 767 (TF-ISN), landed at Troll airfield (QAT) at the Troll research station operated by the Norwegian Polar Institute in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The flight was operated by Loftleiðir (Icelandair’s charter-flight subsidiary) to offload provisions for the research station’s staff who will remain at Troll this winter, and to pick up scientists returning to Norway after their summer service. Some of the scientists had been at Troll for 16 months and were happy to be heading home.
The flight
The journey involved a lot of planning due to the unique conditions, and involved 6 pilots, 13 crew and 1 flight engineer.
From Keflavík airport in Iceland, the plane flew nonstop to Cape Town, South Africa, where it paused for a rest and refueling stop. Some of the team stayed in Cape Town and the remainder flew 4,332km south to Troll in 5 hours and 43 minutes.
After a 2-hour layover at Troll, the aircraft returned with the Norwegian passengers to Cape Town, picked up the fresh crew, and continued on to Oslo, then home to Iceland.
According to flight commander August Hakansson, landing conditions at Troll were far better than forecast. And the worst weather of the entire trip was upon the return to Keflavík!
The flight route was so unusual that it attracted worldwide attention from aviation fans and media, including over 30,000 followers on Flightradar. And although it might seem crazy, this isn’t Icelandair’s first time in the Deep South – back in 2015, Icelandair became the first commercial airline to land a plane on a blue-ice runway in Antarctica.
Mexico City, February 22, 2020. – Grupo Viva Aerobus today reported operating and financial results for 4Q20 and full year 2020, reflecting a recovery trend, amid the challenges of the pandemic, which began in the third quarter. This performance is the result of an adequate financial management, a strict expense control protecting the company’s liquidity and a responsible operational recovery which prioritizes health and safety for all passengers and staff.
During the 4Q, Viva Aerobus led the industry’s recovery, being the first airline in the Americas to resume 100% of its operational capacity, in November. Furthermore, Viva also consolidated as the first Mexican airline to grow its service at the end of the year by increasing its offer (available seats per kilometer) an 11% during December 2020 vs December 2019. In addition, the airline closed the year with 131 routes (103 domestic and 28 international), 12 more routes than the ones recorded at the end of 2019.
As a result of this recovery, added to an enhanced flexibility by permanently getting rid of charges for flight changes, Viva registered higher demand, closing 4Q20 with more than 2.9 million passengers, a 59% increase compared to 3Q2020. Moreover, the airline closed December with over one million of passengers registered, a similar figure reported in December 2019, before the pandemic.
This operational and passengers increase boosted the operating revenue to reach 3,237 million pesos in 4Q20, representing a 76.8% growth compared to 3Q20. Total operating revenue was composed 49% by fare revenue (1,589 million pesos) and 51% of ancillary revenue (1,647 million pesos). This revenue scheme represents the possibility that Viva Aerobus gives passengers to personalize their flights. Therefore, Viva takes care of their economy by offering low prices and giving the opportunity to pay only for what they need.
Due to this sequential increase in revenues, a positive EBITDAR was obtained for the second consecutive quarter, totaling 531 million pesos; this represented a sequential increase of 95% compared to 3Q20. Additionally, liquidity preservation stands out as attested in the cash and cash equivalents balance, recording 2,967 million pesos, a similar figure to the one reported in 3Q20. This reflects an assertive use of cash, taking advantage of an agile operational resumption, the support of the airline’s suppliers and the decisions to eliminate non-essential expenses.
These quarterly results softened the effects of the pandemic in the full year, considering that it was in the first half of 2020 when demand was most affected by the health emergency. Viva Aerobus registered more than 8.1 million annual passengers, a decrease of 32.4% compared to 2019. Consequently, total operating revenues reached 8,221 million pesos and EBITDAR totaled 946 million pesos, a 36.1% and 75.6% decrease, respectively.
To consult the full earnings report, please visit Viva Aerobus investor relations site: https://ri.vivaaerobus.com/en
Financial Indicators (MXN Million)
4Q20
4Q19
Ch. %
2020
2019
Ch. %
Total Revenue
3,237
3,728
(13.2%)
8,221
12,874
(36.1%)
EBITDAR*
531
1,122
(52.7%)
946
3,875
(75.6%)
EBITDAR Margin*
16.4%
30.1%
(13.7 p.p.)
11.5%
30.1%
(18.6 p.p.)
Operation (loss) income [EBIT]*
(427)
315
(>100.0%)
(2,619)
935
(>100.0%)
EBIT Margin*
(13.2%)
8.4%
(21.6 p.p.)
(31.9%)
7.3%
(39.1 p.p.)
Earnings Before Taxes (EBT)*
(791)
658
(>100.0%)
(3,881)
579
(>100.0%)
EBT Margin*
(24.4%)
17.7%
(42.1 p.p.)
(47.2%)
4.5%
(51.7 p.p.)
Net (loss) income*
(558)
420
(>100.0%)
(2,727)
469
(>100.0%)
Net Margin*
(17.2%)
11.3%
(28.5 p.p.)
(33.2%)
3.6%
(36.8 p.p.)
*Items not comparable with 2019 due to change in the functional currency conducted in 2020.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand is going back into lockdown following reports of 3 new Covid-19 cases in the south Auckland area. Following the press release earlier today, Air New Zealand (OTC: ANZLY) is asking that customers traveling to and from Auckland check they are eligible to travel under the new Alert Level 3 restrictions. Customers travelling from Alert Level 2 regions on our services are able to transit through Auckland on their way to other Alert Level 2 regions.
Food and beverage service onboard domestic flights had already been suspended in response to the latest community cases and this suspension will remain in place until further notice. Water is available on request on all flights.
From tomorrow, Air New Zealand’s Auckland lounges and valet parking will close. Due to capacity restrictions under Alert Level 2, the maximum number of people able to access the airline’s lounges in other regions is capped at 100.
While the country is at elevated Alert Levels, Air New Zealand will be taking extra precautions to keep its staff and customers safe. Air New Zealand front line staff and cabin crew will be wearing masks and gloves and customers are required to continue to wear face coverings onboard.
Customers with existing bookings between Monday 15 February and Sunday 21 February who wish to rebook to travel before Sunday 7 March will have any fare difference waived, and customers can call the contact centre to arrange this.
In addition to this, customers who hold a ticket for a domestic flight scheduled to depart up until 30 March 2021 and no longer wish to travel are able to opt in for credit and can do this via the airline’s online booking tool. Customers who are unable to manage their booking online do not need to contact Air New Zealand immediately or prior to their flight’s departure – assistance will be provided at a later date to find an alternative flight option or a credit note can be arranged.
The Air New Zealand contact centre and social media team are currently experiencing very high demand and the airline is grateful to customers for their patience while it works through these changes.
For the latest information, customers can check the Air New Zealand COVID-19 Hub and travel alerts page.
DHL Global Forwarding opens expanded Leipzig Life Sciences & Healthcare Hub
Frankfurt, Hamburg and Leipzig GxP facilities successfully achieve CEIV IATArecertification
Specially trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment for storage and handling oftemperature-controlled pharmaceutical products and drugs
DHL Global Forwarding, Deutsche Post DHL Group’s air and ocean freight specialist, has expanded its Life Sciences & Healthcare (LSH) facility in Leipzig by approximately 2,500 square meters. The center is very close to Leipzig Airport and houses state- of-the-art equipment for storing and handling temperature-controlled pharmaceutical and medical products, such as vaccinations. After Frankfurt am Main, Leipzig is the second DHL Global Forwarding facility to be expanded in terms of capacity and equipment. DHL has successfully achieved IATA CEIV Pharma recertification for its GxP (good practice) facilities in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg and Leipzig, making the company ideally prepared in Germany to meet the logistical requirements related to importing and exporting Covid-19 vaccinations.
The previous trans shipment and warehouse space of approximately 2,200 square meters in Leipzig was more than doubled when the expansion was completed in the last quarter of 2020. The second warehouse covers more than 2,500 square meters and is divided into two temperature zones. In the larger zone comprising approximately 1,700 square meters, the temperature can be regulated between 15 and 25°C. The smaller zone of around 850 square meters can be cooled down to 2-8°C. This allows pharmaceutical products to be stored at an appropriately cool temperature, to ensure their integrity. Dry ice handling for passively cooled transport containers and handling of actively cooled transport containers are also part of the standard repertoire. The immediate proximity to Leipzig Airport ensures fast import and export times. Of course, the facility also operates under the highest safety and security standards, with systems in place to immediately report temperature deviations and fire risks, as well as break-ins.
DHL and IATA are jointly committed to ensuring that the pharmaceutical industries regulatory requirements are met. A standardized approach in air freight increases productivity, accuracy, and reliability, while enabling transport in compliance with all applicable regulations. DHL began IATA CEIV Pharma certification of its facilities worldwide in 2016, raising the bar in pharmaceutical logistics. After independent third-party audits and training courses for employees on site, the DHL GxP facilities in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Leipzig have successfully renewed the quality label. DHL Global Forwarding thus enhances transportation and storage quality levels of pharmaceutical goods, and the DHL station exceeds its usual quality standards. At each location, IATA verifies compliance with its Temperature Control Regulations (TCR), the European Union’s GDP (Good Distribution Practices) guidelines, and further requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other regulatory bodies.
As the leader in the life sciences and healthcare sector, DHL provides its employees, at all levels, and in all functional areas around the world, with vital tools to meet the requirements of both its customers and the supervisory authorities. For example, it provided a special training program to implement IATA regulation standards at scale in key GxP (good practice) facilities worldwide. The Certified Life Sciences Specialist (CLSS) program, offered as part of the Certified initiative, provides a comprehensive curriculum of mandatory training and specialized courses and materials to convey the knowledge needed in this highly specialized industry. As with all of DHL’s temperature-controlled locations, all employees in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Leipzig who are involved in handling life sciences and healthcare products have successfully completed the training and are certified Life Science Specialists. This ensures that sensitive shipments are handled with the utmost care and in compliance with the highest industry standards.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Airbus is pictured at the entrance of the Airbus facility in Bouguenais, near Nantes, France, July 2, 2020. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) – Major French unions on Monday signed a keenly awaited labor deal with Europe’s Airbus <EADSY> covering job reductions and furloughs for production workers affected by coronavirus-blighted demand for passenger jets.
After three months of talks, unions representing a majority of the planemaker’s French workers signed an agreement paving the way for 4,200 job reductions in France, including 3,400 in Toulouse, Europe’s aerospace capital where Airbus is based.
Unions say the agreement will prevent compulsory redundancies, although Chief Executive Guillaume Faury recently warned staff that voluntary measures would not be enough.
Five-Star Resort Returns With Full Array of Luxury Amenities and Industry-Leading Health & Safety Plan
LAS VEGAS, May 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Wynn Las Vegas (Nasdaq: WYNN) announced today a reopening date of Thursday, June 4, under phase two of the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan from Governor Steve Sisolak. As the largest five-star resort in the world, Wynn Las Vegas plans to offer guests a complete Las Vegas experience by opening every amenity and outlet available. Both hotel towers and the casino as well as all restaurants will reopen on June 4, followed by the resort’s newest restaurant, Elio, later in the month. Every effort has been made to present Wynn’s complete luxury experience and provide guests with the peace of mind needed to enjoy a fun and relaxing return.
In preparation, the Company has created a comprehensive new Health & Safety Plan that is now considered the gold standard in the hospitality industry.
“We are ready to provide our guests with a full Las Vegas experience with a collection of luxury amenities and unmatched service,” said Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox. “At the same time, our extensive Health & Safety Plan, validated by the nation’s leading public health experts, will enable a safe environment for our guests. The entire Wynn team is looking forward to welcoming our guests back.”
Wynn will reopen withthe full Las Vegas experience guests expect and deserve, with everything conveniently and safely available under one roof, allowing for the perfect getaway. From lounging by pristine pools to lively late-night betting – and most everything in between – the very best of Wynn’s renowned glamour, excitement, and luxury will be available, including:
Both Wynn and Encore hotel towers
Two 24-hour casinos with a variety of table games and slots as well as the Race & Sports Book
The resort’s full portfolio of fine-dining restaurants, lounges, and casual eateries, several with outdoor seating on open verandas and patios
Expansive resort pools with private cabanas
Wynn’s 18-hole championship golf course
Nightly entertainment at the Lake of Dreams
Three retail esplanades
Full-service beauty salons, barber shop, spa treatments and fitness centers
In addition, several thoughtful new measures in social distancing, touchless technologies, and cleaning protocols have been incorporated throughout the resort in a clear and transparent effort to protect the well-being of all guests. Most notable among the enhancements are:
Non-invasive thermal temperature checks and face coverings provided at all entrances
Automatic hand sanitizer stations, UV Technology, and electrostatic sprayers will be utilized throughout the resort
Sealed guest rooms after meticulous sanitization by Wynn’s professional housekeeping staff
Amenity kits including sanitizing wipes, hand sanitizer, and face coverings in each guest room
Dedicated team of cleaning professionals sanitizing public guest areas 24 hours a day
Wynn employees are required to wear face coverings at all times, and most importantly, have all been tested for COVID-19 before returning to work.
The Wynn Resorts Health & Safety Plan was created in consultation with leading public health medical professionals from Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities in addition to recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) and the Gaming Control Board (GCB). The full plan can be viewed on www.wynnlasvegas.com.
OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian Air <NAS.OL> shareholders backed its financial survival plan on Monday, with more than 95% of votes cast supporting the conversion of nearly $1 billion of debt into equity and raising more cash from its owners.
Approval of the scheme is a vital part of the struggling airline’s plan to tap government credit guarantees as it seeks to overcome the coronavirus crisis, which has compounded its already deep financial problems.
Airlines around the world have been hit hard by the impact on travel of the pandemic, with many forced to turn to governments for state aid to avoid bankruptcy.
The airline, which at the end of last year had amassed debts of around $8 billion, said ahead of the meeting that it had won “strong support” from aircraft lessors for its plan.
With 95% of its fleet grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic, Norwegian Air has said it could run out of cash by mid-May unless shareholders supported the plan.
On Sunday it said bondholders had signed up to the plan, which was narrowly rejected in a vote on Thursday.
Norwegian Air said lessors are now willing to convert at least $730 million of debt into equity, up from $550 million earlier, and talks are ongoing for possible further conversion.
“With the significant contributions from lessors and bondholders, the company expects to convert more than 10 billion crowns ($958 million) in debt to equity,” it said.
Based on the results from the shareholders’ meeting, the company will now proceed with the conversion of bonds and lease debt to shares, as well as the public offering of up to 400 million ($38.4 million) from the sale of new stock, it said.
The debt conversion and share sale will allow Norwegian Air to tap government guarantees of up to 2.7 billion crowns, which hinge on a reduction in leverage, on top of 300 million crowns it has already received.
The plan will hand majority ownership to the airline’s creditors and could leave current shareholders with just 5.2%.
The loan could keep Norwegian Air going until the end of 2020, although further cash may be needed as it eyes a gradual ramp-up next year and normalisation in 2022, albeit with a reduced fleet.
Norwegian Air is only paying invoices vital to maintaining minimum operations, such as salaries for staff still employed and critical IT infrastructure. It has put payments for ground handling, debt and leases on hold.
The Oslo Bourse said it had halted trade in Norwegian Air’s shares until the outcome of the vote is presented.
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Jason Neely and Alexander Smith)
FILE PHOTO: A Norwegian Air plane is refuelled at Oslo Gardermoen airport
LONDON (Reuters) – Airbus <AIR.PA> will furlough around 3,200 staff at its Broughton factory in Wales, the European planemaker said on Monday after it warned staff that the coronavirus crisis had put its survival at stake.
Airbus has given its starkest assessment yet of damage from the crisis, telling the company’s 135,000 employees to brace for potentially deeper job cuts as it grapples with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the aerospace sector.
Earlier this month, the group said it would furlough some 3,000 French workers by tapping a government-backed scheme for four weeks.
“Airbus confirms it has agreed with its social partners to apply the government’s Job Retention Scheme for approximately 3,200 production and production-support employees at its commercial aircraft site in Broughton,” it said in a statement.
Britain’s job retention scheme allows employers to furlough staff and claim cash grants up to 80% of wages, capped at 2,500 pounds per worker.
Airbus will top up gross salaries to bring pay up to 85-90% of pay, in accordance with an agreement signed with trade union representatives.
The deal affects the majority of the production and production support teams in Broughton, the north Wales factory which assembles wings.
Furlough periods will be staggered, with all starting in the next three weeks and lasting for at least three weeks.
The move does not affect Airbus’ 3,000 staff in Filton, western England, where wings are designed and supported.
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Stephen Addison)
FILE PHOTO: Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury poses before Airbus’s annual press conference on full-year results
By Tim Hepher
PARIS (Reuters) – European planemaker Airbus issued a bleak assessment of the impact of the coronavirus crisis, telling the company’s 135,000 employees to brace for potentially deeper job cuts and warning its survival is at stake without immediate action.
In a letter to staff, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said Airbus was “bleeding cash at an unprecedented speed” and that a recent drop of a third or more in production rates did not reflect the worst-case scenario and would be kept under review.
Airbus said it did not comment on internal communications.
The letter was sent to employees late on Friday, days before the company is due to give first-quarter results overshadowed by a pandemic that has left airlines struggling to survive and virtually halted jet deliveries since mid-March.
Airbus has begun implementing government-assisted furlough schemes starting with 3,000 workers in France, “but we may now need to plan for more far-reaching measures,” Faury said.
“The survival of Airbus is in question if we don’t act now,” he added.
Industry sources have said a new restructuring plan similar to its 2007 Power8 which saw 10,000 job cuts could be launched in the summer, but Faury indicated the company was already exploring “all options” while waiting for clarity on demand.
People familiar with the matter say Airbus is also in active discussions with European governments about tapping schemes to assist struggling industries, including state-guaranteed loans.
It has already expanded commercial credit lines with banks, buying what Faury described as “time to adapt and resize”.
(Reuters) – The coronavirus outbreak has virtually shut down corporate Australia and New Zealand, forcing companies to throw out their strategic plans and resulting in thousands of layoffs or staff suspensions.
Listed companies in both the countries have already laid off or began considering laying off more than 100,000 people, temporarily or permanently, highlighting the toll on livelihoods as virtual shutdowns take hold.
Ultimately, economists forecast the crisis will more than double unemployment to more than 11%, the highest in three decades.
AIRLINES
* Qantas Airways to place 20,000 workers on leave until at least the end of May.
* Virgin Australia to stand down 8,000 employees until the end of May.
* Air New Zealand to lay off nearly a third of its employees, about 3,500, in the coming months, and said that was a “conservative” assumption.
CASINOS
* Star Entertainment Group says 90% of its workforce, or 9,000 people, will be placed on leave due to mandated casino closures.
* Crown Resorts Ltd stood down about 95% or more than 11,500 of its employees on a full or temporary basis as gaming and other non-essential services at its resorts in Melbourne and Perth were suspended.
* SkyCity Entertainment Group has laid off or furloughed at least 1,100 of its staff across Australia and New Zealand.
RETAIL
* Department store operator Myer Holdings will temporarily lay off 10,000 of its staff without pay.
* Kathmandu Holdings Ltd, the outdoor apparel retailer that owns Rip Curl, said most of its global stores were closed and almost all its staff in Australia will be stood down for four weeks without pay. It has around 4,000 employees globally.
* Home ware retailer Smiths City Group Ltd stands down almost all of its 465 employees on 80% of their salary.
* Retail Food Group will stand down or reduce the working hours of the majority of its 500 employees.
* Premier Investments, owner of Smiggle, Just Jeans and chains, is standing down 9,000 employees, most without pay
* Jeweller Michael Hill International is putting staff on leave in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The company employs about 2,500.
* Fashion retailer Mosaic Brands is standing down 6,800 due to store closures.
* Footwear retailer Accent Group stands down all its retail employees and most support staff for four weeks without pay. The company reportedly employs 5,700.
HOSPITALITY
* Pub and hotel operator Redcape Hotel Group will cut most permanent staff. It employs 800.
* ALH Group, the pubs and hotels group majority-owned by Woolworths, will stand down about 8,000 staff.
TRAVEL AGENTS
* Flight Centre is cutting or putting on leave a third of its 20,000 staff.
* Helloworld Travel lays off 275 people and temporarily stands two-thirds of its 1,800 workforce until the end of May.
HEALTH AND EXERCISE
* Viva Leisure lays off more than 90% of its 2,200 workforce.
* Dental group Abano Healthcare will stand down majority of its 2,300 employees at its operations in Australia and New Zealand.
HIRING:
On the other hand, some companies are hiring under the new circumstances.
* Australia’s biggest supermarket chain Woolworths to hire 20,000 in the next month. Some of the new hires will be those re-deployed from its the pubs and hotels business, ALH Group. Woolworths also plans to offer short-term roles to 5,000 Qantas employees put on leave.
* Coles has added 7,000 people to its ranks, and said it plans to hire another 5,000 to meet increasing demand at its supermarkets and liquor stores.
* Australia’s biggest telecom company Telstra will freeze a 6,000-employee cull and hire 1,000 due to growing volumes at call centres.
* BHP Group, the world’s biggest miner, says it will hire 1,500 temporary workers, some to be offered permanent roles after six months.
(Reporting by Nikhil Kurian Nainan and Anushka Trivedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Byron Kaye, Shounak Dasgupta and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
