EK job losses
Flying will resume in the following order:
1. Domestic flights
2. Travel bubbles with direct flights between virus free countries.
3. Connecting flights with transit through a virus free country with strict controls in place.
4. Normal operations when either the virus dies out or a vaccine/cure is found.
Loads will initially be low and favour smaller twins such as the A320/B737 and when greater range or capacity is required, the B787. Pax numbers slowly increase enough to support the B777 on certain routes.
If the UAE wants to be a transit point it will need shut out large parts of the EK/EY network and impose severe restrictions. Given the importance of the Indian sub continent as a source of pax and migrant labour it will have a huge effect on the airlines. India is now Italy back in April, unlike China they lack the control mechanisms to deal with the outbreak and the virus will run its course. Deaths will be in the hundreds of thousands.
Unfortunately, the EK business model of easy connections worldwide with pax mixing in a central location doesn’t come into the recovery until very late. Also its aircraft are too big to easily fill up and operate enough flights to maintain frequency and reasonable connecting times. Fine tuning the schedule is easier with smaller aircraft, going from double daily to once a day with a B777 could mean an extra night and an eight hour transit for the pax. Going from 5 narrow bodies a day down to 4 means a slightly less convenient departure time and an hour or so on the connecting time.
Hopefully we get the vaccine soon.
1. Domestic flights
2. Travel bubbles with direct flights between virus free countries.
3. Connecting flights with transit through a virus free country with strict controls in place.
4. Normal operations when either the virus dies out or a vaccine/cure is found.
Loads will initially be low and favour smaller twins such as the A320/B737 and when greater range or capacity is required, the B787. Pax numbers slowly increase enough to support the B777 on certain routes.
If the UAE wants to be a transit point it will need shut out large parts of the EK/EY network and impose severe restrictions. Given the importance of the Indian sub continent as a source of pax and migrant labour it will have a huge effect on the airlines. India is now Italy back in April, unlike China they lack the control mechanisms to deal with the outbreak and the virus will run its course. Deaths will be in the hundreds of thousands.
Unfortunately, the EK business model of easy connections worldwide with pax mixing in a central location doesn’t come into the recovery until very late. Also its aircraft are too big to easily fill up and operate enough flights to maintain frequency and reasonable connecting times. Fine tuning the schedule is easier with smaller aircraft, going from double daily to once a day with a B777 could mean an extra night and an eight hour transit for the pax. Going from 5 narrow bodies a day down to 4 means a slightly less convenient departure time and an hour or so on the connecting time.
Hopefully we get the vaccine soon.
They don’t have any, obviously, I was referring to air transport throughout the world. Nor do they have enough origin and destination traffic in Dubai to sustain a high level of flying.
EK start coming back into the picture at stage #4, possibly stage #3 if operations are limited to virus free countries and the integrity of the transit bubble at DXB can be guaranteed. The 2 day stop over with the desert safari and city tour will probably be off limits for a while.
This article gives an idea of the type of restrictions that need to be imposed in a transit bubble.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...aland-12825230
EK start coming back into the picture at stage #4, possibly stage #3 if operations are limited to virus free countries and the integrity of the transit bubble at DXB can be guaranteed. The 2 day stop over with the desert safari and city tour will probably be off limits for a while.
This article gives an idea of the type of restrictions that need to be imposed in a transit bubble.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...aland-12825230
SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) and SilkAir passengers flying from selected cities in Australia and New Zealand are now allowed to transit through Changi Airport.
SIA announced on its website that such transit flights are only for outbound journeys and will take effect from Thursday (Jun 11).
"Passengers will not be able to transit from other points in the SIA Group network through Singapore into these cities," said the national carrier.
The cities in Australia include Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth (via Scoot) and Sydney, while the New Zealand cities are Auckland and Christchurch.
Transfers are also only allowed on flights between airlines within the SIA Group - SIA, SilkAir and Scoot.
Currently, transfers to and from flights operated by other airlines are not allowed.
"We are in the midst of finalising plans for other transfer lanes and will announce them when ready," SIA said in response to CNA's queries.
TRANSIT, NON-TRANSIT PASSENGERS TO BE KEPT APART
In its announcement, SIA said that transit and non-transit passengers will be kept apart at Changi Airport.
"This is to ensure the health and safety of our customers and staff," said the airline.
When passengers transit through Changi Airport, they will be given a wristband indicating their access to the designated transit holding area.
"For transit times of more than 75 minutes, they will be ushered to a designated transit holding area at their departure terminal before boarding their connecting flight," said SIA.
The passengers will not be able to make any stops along the way and will have to stay within the transit holding area at all times.
When boarding the plane, transit passengers will first board the aircraft, followed by non-transit passengers.
SIA added that on the plane, there will be dedicated seating zones to separate the transit and non-transit passengers.
"Passengers should remain in their designated zone throughout the flight," said the airline.
"Upon arrival, non-transit passengers will disembark first followed by transit passengers."
SIA announced on its website that such transit flights are only for outbound journeys and will take effect from Thursday (Jun 11).
"Passengers will not be able to transit from other points in the SIA Group network through Singapore into these cities," said the national carrier.
The cities in Australia include Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth (via Scoot) and Sydney, while the New Zealand cities are Auckland and Christchurch.
Transfers are also only allowed on flights between airlines within the SIA Group - SIA, SilkAir and Scoot.
Currently, transfers to and from flights operated by other airlines are not allowed.
"We are in the midst of finalising plans for other transfer lanes and will announce them when ready," SIA said in response to CNA's queries.
TRANSIT, NON-TRANSIT PASSENGERS TO BE KEPT APART
In its announcement, SIA said that transit and non-transit passengers will be kept apart at Changi Airport.
"This is to ensure the health and safety of our customers and staff," said the airline.
When passengers transit through Changi Airport, they will be given a wristband indicating their access to the designated transit holding area.
READ: Safety measures in new transit holding areas in Changi Airport
If the transit time is less than 75 minutes, the passengers will be ushered directly to their boarding gate."For transit times of more than 75 minutes, they will be ushered to a designated transit holding area at their departure terminal before boarding their connecting flight," said SIA.
The passengers will not be able to make any stops along the way and will have to stay within the transit holding area at all times.
When boarding the plane, transit passengers will first board the aircraft, followed by non-transit passengers.
SIA added that on the plane, there will be dedicated seating zones to separate the transit and non-transit passengers.
"Passengers should remain in their designated zone throughout the flight," said the airline.
"Upon arrival, non-transit passengers will disembark first followed by transit passengers."
