COVID-19 News Roundup

Tracking the impact of the pandemic on travel

COVID-19 News Roundup

When the pandemic was first declared in March 2020, ATPCO understood the value of keeping track of industry-related news in the quickly changing environment. We tracked aviation news and developments from the start of the pandemic through December 2020. This page is no longer updated but remains a source for looking back on the events our industry weathered during our toughest times. We are now looking forward to recovery and a post-recovery world.

   
Region Date Organization Summary
North America 27 May 2020 American Airlines American Airlines Gives Customers ‘More Flexibility,’ Extends No Fee Changes
North America 28 May 2020 Southwest Southwest Eyes Corporate Travel Gains with New Q4 Routes
North America 12 Jun 2020 American Airlines American Airlines expects to halt cash burn by year-end, shares jump
North America 16 Jun 2020 United United Airlines to ban passengers not wearing masks
North America 22 Jun 2020 American Airlines American Airlines looking for another $3.5 billion to deal with COVID-19 fallout
North America 23 Jun 2020 Alaska Airways Alaska Airlines Sees Passenger Demand Begin To Rebound
North America 09 Jul 2020 JetBlue JetBlue To Launch 7 New Los Angeles Routes On October 7th
North America 22 Jul 2020 United United CEO: We won't be 'anywhere close to normal' until there's vaccine
North America 27 Jul 2020 United United tells two regional airlines it will continue contract with just one: union letter
North America 01 Aug 2020 United United To Cut Ties With World’s Largest E145 Operator Expressjet
North America 11 Aug 2020 American Airlines American Airlines extends window for employees to seek voluntary exit
North America 25 Aug 2020 Government San Francisco Offers COVID-19 Testing To All Airport And Airline Employees
North America 28 Aug 2020 United United Airlines Unveils New Algorithm to Help It Target Empty Flights
North America 04 Sep 2020 Government US Airlines Begin Lobbying For US-UK Travel Corridor
North America 09 Sep 2020 United United Airlines Cuts Flight Capacity. It’s a Bad Sign for Fall Air Travel.
North America 13 Sep 2020 United United CEO says travel demand unlikely to recover until vaccine is widely distributed
North America 16 Sep 2020 Delta Delta Borrows $9 Billion in Largest Airline Debt Sale Ever
North America 18 Sep 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Introduces COVID-19 Cover Following WestJet
North America 16 Sep 2020 United United CEO: Business travel will come back — eventually
North America 22 Sep 2020 Delta Delta Air Lines updates loyalty benefits and policies
North America 21 Sep 2020 Alaska Airways Alaska Airlines Will Block Middle Seats Through Thanksgiving
North America 02 Oct 2020 Air Canada Air Canada Finalizing Order for COVID-19 Rapid Testing Kits
North America 25 Sep 2020 United United pegs growth to Covid-19 vaccine availability
North America 08 Oct 2020 Air Canada Air Canada raises nearly $500 million by selling, leasing back nine Boeing 737 Max 8s
North America 09 Oct 2020 Allegiant Air Allegiant burned $1.3 million daily during third quarter
North America 12 Oct 2020 Allegiant Air Allegiant hopes its focus on underserved routes will help it beat coronavirus
North America 16 Oct 2020 Air Canada Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu to retire next year; Michael Rousseau named successor
North America 15 Oct 2020 United United Airlines reports $1.8 billion quarterly loss, but pins hopes on recovery in 2022
North America 20 Oct 2020 United United’s CEO Currently Forecasts Demand Returning In 2022
North America 22 Oct 2020 American Airlines American Sees Short-Haul International as Q4 Bright Spot
North America 09 Nov 2020 IATA IATA: September Global Air Traffic Down 72.8 Percent YOY
North America 23 Nov 2020 American Airlines American Airlines drops nearly every change and reservation fee
North America 23 Nov 2020 United United Airlines boosts Los Angeles-Sydney flights
North America 07 Dec 2020 United How United Airlines overcame one of the largest limitations to transporting Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to the US
North America 07 Dec 2020 Government Canadian aviation: encouraging steps on travel restrictions
North America 14 Dec 2020 United United Airlines Expects Massive Cash Burn Increase Over Slowing Demand
North America 14 Dec 2020 Government U.S. Airlines Shed the Most Jobs in 3 Decades After Federal Relief Expired
North America 19 Mar 2020 Air Canada Airline further reducing schedule, maintaining essential services where possible
North America 23 Mar 2020 Compass Covid-19 crisis forces shutdown of regional airlines Compass and Trans States
North America 03 Apr 2020 Frontier Frontier slashes April capacity a staggering 90%
North America 13 Apr 2020 Delta United, Delta Weigh Selling Miles Early to Raise Cash in Coronavirus Crisis
North America 17 Apr 2020 American Airlines The government could end up with a big stake in AA
North America 15 Apr 2020 American Airlines AA CEO said ticket sales are starting to tick upwards again
North America 25 Mar 2020 TripActions Layoffs Hit TripActions, Reports Suggest Hundreds Let Go
North America 07 Apr 2020 Government DOT orders airlines to pay out refunds
North America 20 Apr 2020 COVID-19 Airlines under pressure for refund policies
North America 04 May 2020 United United Airlines Plans To Lay Off More Than One Third Of Pilots
North America 08 May 2020 Delta Delta, citing health concerns, drops service to 10 US airports. Is yours on the list?
North America 13 May 2020 United United Airlines employee files class action lawsuit over unpaid days off policy
North America 28 May 2020 Delta Delta offers employees buyouts, retirement as coronavirus hurts travel demand, while United readies similar plans