Asiana Airlines‘ extreme step to help its trainee pilots retain their certificates during the pandemic has set examples for many aviation companies. Here’s what they are doing. By Tanvi Jain
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In an attempt to survive during the pandemic, and keep its pilots certified, the Asiana Airlines Inc. flew SE A380 – world’s biggest 495-seat superjumbo commercial plane –empty for more than 20 times in the month of May, over South Korea for few hours every day.
“Takeoffs and landings of this plane cost a lot of money, and it’s money that needs to be used wisely, especially these days. Asiana is in a bind because it also can’t afford for its pilots to lose their licenses,” Um Kyung-a, an analyst at Shinyoung Securities Co. in Seoul, was quoted saying to Bloomberg.
In trying times like these, when the aviation sector is one of the worst COVID-19-hit industries, airlines across the globe are struggling both to save money, as well as remain in business, and retain their staff. However, flying and landing an empty jet comes with a lot of expenses.
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Another of its 135 pilots who didn’t get enough flying time on its six A380s, their flying credentials had to be extended by the transport ministry as a special exemption. A similar extension was given to Japan’s All Nippon Airways as well by the country’s aviation authority.
Emirates, however, is still flying A380, since July 15, to London, Paris and Heathrow, after Dubai eased travel restrictions. Meanwhile, Deutsche Lufthansa AG had reportedly announced last month that A380 might not be operational for another two years, and may never return to service. Moreover, even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the superjumbo’s lack of demand had forced the airbus to put a halt on its production.
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“Following a review of its operations, and in light of developments in aircraft and engine technologies, Emirates is reducing its A380 order-book from 162 to 123 aircraft. Emirates will take delivery of 14 further A380s over the next two years. As a consequence, and given the lack of order backlog with other airlines, Airbus will cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021,” Airbus had said last year in a press release on its official website.
“As a result of this decision we have no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years. This leads to the end of A380 deliveries in 2021,” Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders had further said reacting to the decision.
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