Air Mauritius flies into voluntary administration on 22 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

On 22 April 2020, the Board of Directors of Air Mauritius decided to close down business in view of the covid pandemic, travel restrictions, cessation of flights and lockdowns in all its travel markets that have completely eroded its revenue base.

The Directors and Administrators in charge of Air Mauritius under voluntary administration unilaterally foresee that international travel demand and commercial air traffic will not pick up until late 2020.

To safeguard the interests of Air Mauritius and all its stakeholders, Air Mauritius is closing down its business. Its domestic and international flights will not resume from 16 May 2020 as earlier planned. Ticket refunds are ongoing.

Air Mauritius has operated flights for more than 50 years. It is the second airline that is in voluntary administration after Virgin Australia.

For the notices on Air Mauritius voluntary administration, please click this link : https://www.airmauritius.com/news/air-mauritius-in-voluntary-administration. 

Freighter new routes of Changi Airport in April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Asia Cargo Buzz

Changi Airport welcomes the launches of new freighter routes in April 2020.

Kalitta Air launched a four-times weekly freighter service to Changi Airport on 2 April 2020, connecting to Anchorage, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Sydney. 

On 12 April 2020, Sichuan Airlines commenced new freighter operations at Changi with a weekly freighter service connecting Singapore to Chongqinq and Nantong.

Central Airlines' first aircraft arrives in Zhengzhou on 11 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image courtesy : Wang Yuhao

At noon on 11 April 2020, a super eye-catching Boeing 737-300 (registration number: B-2119) landed steadily on the 30R runway of Zhengzhou airport. This is the first 737 aircraft of Central Airlines, another Henan local cargo airline after the establishment of Zhongyuan Longhao Airlines. 

The Civil Aviation Administration of China issued a public announcement on 18 December 2019 last year that Central Airlines had basically completed the preparatory work and applied for the issuance of a business license for public air transportation enterprises. Its IATA code I9 is and its call sign is Peony.

FAT officially closes business operations on 1 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

According to the Labour Ministry of Taiwan on 9 April 2020, Far Eastern Air Transport (FAT) officially closes down business operations on 1 April 2020. All 528 staff of FAT will receive their last salaries and letters of dismissals on 24 May 2020. FAT CEO Zhang Weigang started signing the letters on 5 March 2020.

AirAsia founder response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

According to AirAsia Group Bhd (AirAsia) founder Tony Fernandes' press release to the public via AirAsia Redbuzz newsletter, 96 per cent of AirAsia's fleet have been grounded in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

As a result, Tony Fernandes and AirAsia co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Tune Group Datuk Kamarudin bin Meranun are not drawing salaries during the pandemic period whereas managing directors, directors, other business officials, associates and crew of AirAsia Group known as Allstars are taking salary reductions from 15 to 75 per cent, depending on seniority.

Tony said many AirAsia passengers are frustrated about taking travel credits instead of full ticket refunds. He said each credit lasts a year. Passengers can use the credits to readjust their travel plans. Moreover, AirAsia is accepting requests for full ticket refunds. Each request takes 12 to 16 weeks to process. He seeks passengers' patience for the refunds. 

AirAsia Group Bhd comprises commercial entities AirAsia Berhad, AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Indonesia AirAsia, Philippines AirAsia, AirAsia India and AirAsia Japan.

Changi Airport Terminal 4 after launching operations

Pictures by : Gan Yung Chyan
                    / KUCINTA SETIA

New routes of Colorful Guizhou Airlines from 3 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

On 3 May 2020, Colorful Guizhou Airlines is launching more than nine new routes. They are as follows:-

Daily flights
GY7141/GY7142  Guiyang - Beihai - Boao
GY7233/GY7234  Guiyang - Datong
GY7235/GY7236  Datong - Chongqing
GY7173/GY7174  Huaian - Chengdu

Flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
GY7221/GY7222  Xingyi - Maotai - Chongqing
GY7139/GY7140  Yibin - Haikou
GY7157/GY7158  Yibin - Changsha

Flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
GY7147/GY7148  Yibin - Tianjin
GY7231/GY7232   Guiyang - Yibin

Aeromexico

Pictures by : Gan Yung Chyan

                   / KUCINTA SETIA