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Sunday, 22 March 2020

Financial Times

• UK government draws up plans to buy into airlinesBankers say loan guarantees alone will not stave off collapse
• US airlines show it is time to switch off buyback machineIndustry has lavished 115% of free cash flow on repurchasing shares since 2014

The Guardian

• Pakistan suspends international flights for two weeksPeople told to stay at home for at least another 45 days as south Asian nations ramp up effortsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coveragePakistan has suspended all international flights for two weeks to limit the spread of coronavirus, as governments across densely populated south Asian countries ramp up their efforts to contain the virus.Pakistani officials also asked people to self-quarantine for at least another 45 days, as the country reported its third coronavirus death, with confirmed cases rising to 534. Continue reading...
• Easyjet sorry as staff motivation video copies Leo VaradkarAddress to pilots and crew about making financial sacrifices plagiarised Ireland’s taoiseach Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageEasyJet has apologised to staff after it emerged that a motivational video addressing pilots and cabin crew being asked to make huge financial sacrifices due to the coronavirus crisis heavily plagiarised a speech by Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.An unknown video editor spliced together footage of Varadkar’s address with a rallying cry by easyJet’s chief operating officer Peter Bellew, a former Ryanair manager who has been negotiating with ...

Times Online

• IAG joins airlines in fight for survival as they fly into a storm like no other [Subscription]Covid-19 has put the industry in turbulence — and no end is in sight. By Brian Carey
• Prestwick airport is now a car park for out-of-service planes [Subscription]Scotland’s state-owned Prestwick airport has been turned into a massive car park for aircraft taken out of service as a result of the coronavirus crisis, as part of a sweeping reconfiguration of the transport network.
• Coronavirus: millions of jobs at risk as travel industry is grounded [Subscription]From the rooftop bar of the Hilton Garden Inn at Heathrow, Surinder Arora watched the approaching blink of a solitary plane. Normally, the skies would be dotted with lights as a plane landed every 45 seconds. On the ground, others would be taxiing. That carefully synchronised ballet is essential for the smooth running of one the world’s busiest airports, a bastion of global trade — and a gold mine for its investors.
• British Airways faces bailout as coronavirus crisis engulfs airlines [Subscription]Taxpayers could take stakes in flag carrier and its rivals
• Coronavirus: flights from Italy, Iran and China still landing [Subscription]Travellers from virus-hit countries continue to arrive daily despite the government’s domestic lockdown

City AM

• UK government considers buying equity in airlines to keep them afloatThe UK government is considering buying equity stakes in airlines and other companies hardest hit by the coronavirus. It comes The post UK government considers buying equity in airlines to keep them afloat appeared first on CityAM.

Mail Online

• British Airways pilots face 50 per cent pay cut in desperate bid to save airlineBritish Airways pilots have opted to take a 50 per cent pay cut in April and May as the company fights for its survival amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
• Government 'plans to buy SHARES In British Airways to keep it afloat through coronavirus crisis'The UK Government is drawing up plans to buy shares in British Airways and other airlines hit by the Pandemic Crisis to keep them afloat, insiders confirmed (pictured, Grant Shapps).

This is Money

• Airline billionaires told: Put hands in your OWN pockets to help the bailoutSir Richard Branson and other billionaire aviation investors should reach into their own pockets and contribute to any bailout deal for the sector, former Ministers have demanded.

Leeds Live

• Leeds bus drivers left stranded in Poland praise Jet2 for rescue The bus drivers, who all work in Leeds, have praised Jet2 for sending planes to Krakow to rescue hundreds of Brits who were worried about getting home