Covid updates from Scoot

Picture by : Gan Yung Chyan                   / KUCINTA SETIA The past month has been extraordinary for us all, especially those largely confined to home. Singapore’s circuit breaker certainly made it a memorable start for me: on my fourth day in the office everyone went home and didn’t return… although I don’t think it’s personal.  On 9th April Scoot announced a new refund policy for flights cancelled due to Covid-19, making us one of the first airlines to provide customers the choice of either a cash refund to the original form of payment, or a travel voucher worth 120% of the original ticket’s value. Since then we have processed nearly 75,000 cash and voucher refunds, and our team is hard at work on the remainder, which are being actioned by departure date. If you are still waiting, thank you for your patience. Please bear with us a little longer whilst we get to yours. With most aircraft grounded, many of our staff have been deployed to assist with refunds and customer service requests, whilst many others are helping Singapore’s national Covid-19 response. For example, hundreds of our crew are helping at the People’s Associations and Ministry of Social & Family Development, with dozens more at hospitals around Singapore supporting healthcare professionals. We are proud of the work they are doing and heartened by the spirit with which they are doing it. Scoot has also been supporting the repatriation of Singaporeans and residents with flights to/from Wuhan, Chennai and Kuala Lumpur. We are also doing our part to maintain the supply chain through regular service to both Perth and Hong Kong, and many all-cargo charters to other cities. Our teams both in Singapore and overseas see these as important missions and are appreciative of the chance to contribute. Of course, this is still a far cry from Scoot’s normal scale of connecting people and places, and we can’t wait to get back in the air in a bigger way. With signs of progress in the fight against Covid-19, and of some economies opening up, we are starting to see relaxation of travel restrictions. As and when travel resumes, however, rest assured that we will be following all government requirements on social distancing, safety equipment and cleaning. We are committed to keeping you, and our staff, safe. It has indeed been extraordinary. And the efforts shown by everyone doing their part to keep things going and community spirits up, have been nothing short of that. It seems extraordinary times have triggered an extraordinary response, of resilience, of kindness and of strength. So until we get back in the air, here’s a message from the Scoot team. As they say: Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay strong. We’ll be here when it’s time to fly again. Campbell Wilson, Scoot CEO

Our Refund Policy All customers with bookings made on or before 15 March 2020 travelling on flights scheduled to depart between 23 January and 30 June 2020 but which were cancelled, we now offer two options to claim a refund. A 100% refund via the original method of payment, or A 120% refund in Scoot vouchers, valid for 12 months.

Shandong Airlines resumes flight to Singapore on 13 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Shandong Airlines 737 MAX in Changi Airport in January 2019.

According to Changi Airport on 12 May 2020, Shandong Airlines is resuming scheduled flight to Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 from Jinan on 13 May 2020. This is the first B737-800 flight since the grounding of its 737 MAX aircraft in 2019.

The outbound flight from Jinan, SC4937, will arrive in Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 12.15 pm and take off for Jinan at 1.30 pm under SC4938.

The above flights are subject to airline schedule adjustments.

New to Terminal 1 is Sichuan Airlines which maintains flights to Chengdu from Singapore.

Cathay Pacific has resumed commercial flights between Hong Kong and Changi Airport Terminal 1 until further notice.

Vietnam Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines have moved back their operations to Terminal 3 while Royal Brunei Airlines from Terminal 2 will resume operations at Terminal 1.

On 12 May 2020, Changi Airport also announced that several airlines from Terminal 4 will move over to Changi Airport Terminal 1. From 16 May 2020, Korean Air is resuming flights to Incheon from Terminal 1. The other Terminal 4 airlines including AirAsia Group, Cebu Pacific, GoAir, GX Airlines, Hainan Airlines,  Jeju Air, Juneyao Air, Spring Airlines,  Urumqi Air, Regent Airways and Vietjet Air have agreed to move their operations to Terminal 1 as soon as they have finalized their resumption flight schedules.


Ref :https://www.changiairport.com/corporate/media-centre/newsroom/consolidation-of-terminal-operations.html#?tid=relocation

Avianca filed for bankruptcy protection in the US on 10 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Image : Daniel Slim / AFP via Getty Images

In order to restructure the heavy debt caused by the "unexpected shock" of the covid pandemic, Avianca, the second largest airline in Latin America,  filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States on 10 May 2020.

The decision to apply for bankruptcy protection is due to the closure of Colombian airspace as the number of covid cases in Colombia continued to increase. At the end of March 2020, Aviana suspended all passenger aircraft operations. Of the airline's more than 20,000 employees, 12,000 staff are on unpaid leave.

Avianca CEO Anko van der Werff said in a press release, "Avianca is facing the most challenging crisis in its century of history.

Avianca issued a statement in Bogota, emphasizing the grounding of its fleet "has reduced the company's comprehensive income by more than 80%, and caused significant pressure on capital liquidity." The company and "some subsidiaries and affiliated companies" have requested in New York courts to "voluntarily apply for bankruptcy protection in accordance with Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Law."

This procedure allows companies and companies with financial difficulties to restructure and restructure their debt.

Avianca asked the New York court to give priority to "authorize the performance of work commitments" so that the company's "compensation plan for employees can continue to operate."

Avianca first filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States in 2003, with a net loss of $ 894 million in 2019, compared with a profit of only $ 1.1 million in 2018.

Juan David Ballen, chief economist of Casa de Bolsa, a securities broker in Bogota, was not surprised that Avianca filed for bankruptcy protection again. He said that this company was already heavily in debt and tried to restructure its debt in 2019.

Central Airlines launches its first cargo flight to Shenzhen on 10 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

Central Airlines launches its first cargo scheduled flight to Shenzhen from Zhengzhou on 10 May 2020. Its B737-300 took off from Zhengzhou for Shenzhen in the morning.

Central Airlines plans to launch further new cargo routes to Wuxi, Quanzhou and Haikou this year. It plans to own a fleet of 12 freighter aircraft by 2023 and 60 freighter aircraft by 2030.

Ethiopian Airlines in talks with Mauritius to re-start Air Mauritius

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

According to Ethiopian Airlines, it is in talks with the Mauritius Government over a possibility to invest in and re-start Air Mauritius. If successful, Air Mauritius will be a feeder carrier to Ethiopian Airlines' international route network and subsidiary.

Air Mauritius is in voluntary administration due to financial difficulties in continuing operations caused by the pandemic. 

Vietravel Airlines to launch flights "in 2021" after the pandemic ends

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                / KUCINTA SETIA

Vietravel Airlines officially introduces the airline start-up to the public in Ho Chi Minh City on 7 May 2020 as Vietnam's latest international airline. Its CEO is Vu Duc Bien. The Vietravel Airlines project with a total investment of VND 700 billion (about USD 29.869 million) is approved by Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung on 3 April 2020.

According to Vu Duc Bien, Vietravel Airlines is looking into the feasibility of beginning international charter flights using either Airbus A321 or Boeing B737 series jets "in 2021" after applying for, securing its AOC and after the pandemic ends. The airline is recruiting pilots and cabin crew.

Mr Vu did not specify the first route destination of Vietravel Airlines. However, he mentioned that future destinations will cover Japan, South Korea, all ASEAN countries, Australia and China. The charter flights may operate from Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Hanoi and Thua Thien Hue Province's Phu Bai International Airport, where the airline is headquartered.

Phu Bai currently undergoing international terminal development is the international airport of Hue. It is slated to finish construction by the end of 2021.

Vietravel Airlines is owned by major Vietnam tour operator Vietravel, which has domestic offices in every Vietnam city and overseas offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, France, the United States and Australia. 

Vietnam has witnessed a number of new airline start-up applications in recent years. According to Hang Khong Vietnam (CAAV), new proposed start-ups include Kite Air and VietStar Air (previously Vietstar Airlines). These new start-ups are expected to be approved to spur further growth in Vietnam's airline sector after Vietnam reported no more new covid cases.

South African Airways performs last flight on 8 May 2020 before collapse

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

The South African Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) said on 2 May 2020 that it has cooperated with an international airline and established a new airline with its assistance to replace the troubled South African Airways, which will operate its final flight on 8 May 2020 before the company collapse.

DPE said that it has started consultation with an international airline to build the basic structure of the new airline. Since the operating capital of South African Airways will be exhausted soon, this work is expected to be completed within a few weeks. However, the specific names of this international airline and the new national airline of South Africa have not been announced.

According to DPE, the unnamed new national airline of South Africa will take over assets of South African Airways and the livery will be changed. 

Since December 2019, South African Airways has been on the verge of bankruptcy and in the process of commercial rescue. However, the outbreak of the covid pandemic has worsened the financial situation of the airline. In particular, since the rescue fund of 5.5 billion rand (approximately RMB 2.75 billion) was used in March, the South African government subsequently stopped continuing to "transfuse" South African Airways.

South African Airways' last flight on 8 May 2020 will mark the 86-year-old airline’s official farewell from the world's attention.

Hebei Airlines launches first cargo flight on 30 April 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

According to Hebei Airlines, it launches its first cargo flight with its B737-800 aircraft on 30 April 2020.

On 30 April 2020, Hebei Airlines flight NS3601 left Shijiazhuang for Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, with anti-pandemic cargo include nucleic acid test kits, protective clothings and surgical masks, at 5.12 pm. It arrived in Bishkek three hours after.

Genghis Khan Airlines launches flights to Chifeng and Hailar on 3 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                 / KUCINTA SETIA

According to Genghis Khan Airlines that receives its fourth ARJ21-700 aircraft on 1 May 2020, it is launching daily scheduled flights from Hohhot to Chifeng and Hailar on 3 May 2020.

On 3 May 2020, Genghis Khan Airlines flight 9D5667 departs from Hohhot for Chifeng at 7 am, transits in Chifeng at 8.20 am before taking off for Hailar from Chifeng at 9.10 am and arriving in Hailar at 10.55 am.

At 11.55 am on 3 May 2020, flight 9D5668 leaves Hailar for Chifeng, arrives in Chifeng at 1.45 pm for passengers to disembark or transit before departing from Chifeng for Hohhot at 2.40 pm and touching down in Hohhot at 4 pm. 

The above timings of flight 9D5668 are valid on weekends and Tuesdays to Thursdays.

On Mondays and Fridays, 9D5668 departs from Hailar for Chifeng at 2.55 pm, arrives in Chifeng at 4.45 pm before taking off for Hohhot at 5.35 pm and landing in Hohhot at 7 pm.

The fourth ARJ21-700 aircraft of Genghis Khan Airlines will operate flights on the above routes.

Genghis Khan Airlines also flies from Hohhot to Ulanhot and Xilinhot. 

Donghai Airlines launches flight to Daxing from Nantong on 3 May 2020

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA

Donghai Airlines launches scheduled flight from Nantong to Daxing on 3 May 2020 using its B737-800.

On 3 May 2020, Donghai Airlines flight DZ6201 departs from Nantong for Daxing at 9 am, arrives in Daxing at 11 am before leaving Daxing for Nantong at 12.10 pm and touching down in Nantong at 2.10 pm under flight DX6202.

Donghai Airlines flies to Daxing on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.