page_title: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines
section_title: Reductions
hierarchical_section_title: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines / Reductions
caption_attribution_description: Delta Air Lines planes (mostly 737's and A321's) parked at MCI on the north end of taxiway F and runway 1R/19L (in the background) due to COVID-19 Pandemic
context_page_description: Mirroring its impact on aviation, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on airline companies due to travel restrictions and a slump in demand among travelers. Several airlines have declared bankruptcy, with some ceasing operations, while other airlines reported historic reductions in flights.
context_section_description: On 25 February 2020, Aer Lingus noted it had been advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs that travel restrictions were being placed on several Italian towns within Italy's Lombardy region as a result of an outbreak of Coronavirus there, however stated all flights would continue to operate, further advising all flights operated would continue to comply with guidelines locally from the HSE as well as from the WHO and EASA. On 28 February, Aer Lingus had been informed that a passenger had travelled with COVID-19 on a service from Milan-Linate to Dublin and that it was cooperating fully with the HSE and Department for Foreign Affairs. Four Aer Lingus Cabin Crew were also placed into self-isolation from the flight in question. The following day, Aer Lingus announced flight suspensions to Northern Italy, subsequently extending this on 10 March to all services to Italy. On 13 March, the President of the United States announced a European travel ban which initially exempted Ireland, however was extended to cover Ireland the following day. Aer Lingus subsequently announced network-wide reductions which eventually saw its network of flights reduced by 95%,  the airlines plan for its biggest summer schedule within its history was scuppered as a result of what became a global pandemic. In a temporary measure, the airline confirmed it was cutting hours and salaries for all employees by 50%.
  AirAsia Group announced they temporarily suspended all operations.
  airBaltic announced it will suspend operations on 17 March 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. The decision is intended to help limit the spread of the virus.
  Air Deccan's CEO Arun Kumar Singh announced that all employees have been put on sabbatical without pay and ceased all operations until further notice.
  Air Canada announced a temporary layoff of 16,500 employees, suspending most of its international flights and cancelled all Boeing 737 MAX 9 orders However, most of the workers were later rehired under a wage subsidy program instituted by the Government of Canada. The airline later planned to lay off up to 60% of its workforce, affecting 20,000 employees, effective 7 June 2020.
  Air France–KLM's chairman and CEO, Benjamin Smith stated in a video recording to staff that the situation was "unprecedented". The Financial Times reported that the French government was exploring ways to provide the airline with cash. Air France-KLM later announced it would reduce capacity by 70–90%, as well as retiring all of the Airbus A340, Airbus A380, and Boeing 747-400 fleets.
  Air Georgian, a Canadian charter airline, began offering repatriation flights. On 29 May Air Georgian ceased operations.
  Air India Express Flight 1344 was a repatriation flight, for people who had been stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic, under the Vande Bharat Mission. Two passengers on the flight who survived tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving at a hospital after the accident.
  Air New Zealand cut its long-haul capacity by 85%, and suspended several long-haul routes. Domestic route capacity was reduced by 30%, and the company placed itself into a trading halt.
  Air Serbia temporarily suspended its passenger flights on 19 March 2020. It is projected to resume its passenger flights on 1 June 2020.
  In March 2020, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Air Tahiti Nui operated the world's longest domestic passenger flight, flying from Papeete to Paris, France, covering 9,765 miles.
  Air Zimbabwe was forced to suspend all flights indefinitely on 26 March 2020. The airline was subsequently forced to put all employees on unpaid leave and is in the process of creating a post-pandemic masterplan.
  Alaska Airlines reported a first-quarter loss of US$232 million, retired 12 Airbus A320 family aircraft inherited from Virgin America, including all 10 of the Airbus A319s, and is expected to retire 7 other Airbus A320s.
  American Airlines cut its domestic flight schedule by 60%–70% in April 2020 and 80%–90% in May, with only a "handful" of international routes staying in operation. On 6 April, American announced that a
caption: Delta Air Lines planes parked on a taxiway at Kansas City International Airport
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