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 This page is no longer updated but remains a source for looking back on the events our industry weathered during our toughest times.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 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 18 Mar 2020 United 60 percent schedule reduction in April; 85 percent decrease in international flights
North America 25 Mar 2020 Delta Delta Air Lines Credit Rating Cut to Junk at S&P Global
North America 31 Mar 2020 American Airlines AA Seeks $12 Billion In Government Aid To Protect Jobs
North America 03 Apr 2020 American Airlines AA suspends more than 60% of its intnl capacity summer season
North America 13 Apr 2020 United United, Delta Weigh Selling Miles Early to Raise Cash in Coronavirus Crisis
North America 13 Apr 2020 COVID-19 US Airlines Discover They Will Have To Repay CARES Aid
North America 26 Apr 2020 Expedia Expedia’s Barry Diller Characterizes Removing Middle Seats on Airplanes as ‘Absurd’
North America 03 May 2020 United United Wants To Fly To Three Cities In China Next Month
North America 06 May 2020 Air Canada Air Canada: First Airline In North America Requiring Passengers To Get Temperature Checks
North America 09 May 2020 LATAM Delta and LATAM sign trans-American Joint Venture Agreement
North America 14 May 2020 United United Will Allow Travelers to Rebook Off Crowded Flights
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 10 Jun 2020 American Airlines American Airlines CEO says burning less cash but demand outlook still uncertain
North America 15 Jun 2020 Air Canada Ratings agency downgrades Air Canada over expected slow recovery for international travel
North America 15 Jun 2020 United United is mortgaging its frequent flyer program to raise $5 billion
North America 14 Jun 2020 Government Tourists Begin to Find Their Way Back to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
North America 22 Jun 2020 American Airlines American Airlines Expects To Spend $8.4 Billion On New Planes