freight-only passenger flights

50% jump in cargo revenue helps United Airlines slow Q3 cash burn

A white United Airlines jet turning on the taxiway at airport.

United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) cargo revenue shot up 50% in the third quarter to $422 million compared to the same period in 2019, topping the powerful 36% gain it achieved in the previous quarter amid a coronavirus pandemic that has throttled its main passenger business.

The Chicago-based carrier posted an adjusted net loss of $2.4 billion, but said it’s drawing down financial reserves at a lower rate. United’s average daily cash burn was $25 million, which included $4 million of average debt...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/50-jump-in-cargo-revenue-helps-united-airlines-slows-q3-cash-burn

Airline cargo divisions finally gain a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T

A large white jet with blue tail lifts off from runway on sunny day. View is from behind the plane, to the side a bit.

Air cargo is the cash cow for many passenger airlines during the coronavirus pandemic, an unusual result of decimated travel demand forcing passenger networks to shut down and carriers repurposing airplanes for cargo-only service. 

Other than cargo and loyalty programs, airline revenues are extremely weak as the industry racks up tens of billions of dollars in losses.

Air France-KLM, Aeromexico, IAG Group/British Airways and Korean Air significantly exceeded last year’s cargo revenues in the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/airline-cargo-divisions-finally-get-some-r-e-s-p-e-c-t

Role Reversal: Passenger airlines make more from cargo sales in Q2

A white British Airways jet with cargo pallets waiting to be loaded on a sunny day. British Airways contributed heavily to IAG Cargo's strong Q2 cargo results.

Add Air Canada (TO: AC) and IAG Group (LSE: IAG), parent of British Airways, to the list of passenger airlines that significantly increased cargo revenues in the second quarter even as the coronavirus crisis otherwise destroyed the industry’s finances. 

Air France-KLM (CXE: AF) also came out ahead on cargo in last week’s earnings results, something many competitors, such as Cathay Pacific (OTCUS: CPCAY) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), were unable to do.

In each case, cargo revenues notably grew...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/passenger-airlines-make-more-from-cargo-sales-in-q2

Swiss Air Lines cleared for more types of cabin cargo

Boxes of PPE being hand-passed up the passenger stairs for loading in cabin of Swiss Air flight. Swiss Air received permission to load all kinds of commodities in the cabin.

Swiss International Air Lines is carrying a greater variety of cargo in passenger cabins after four months of only being allowed to use the upper deck for shipments of COVID-19-related medical supplies.

Swiss Air Lines’ cargo division said it recently received approval from the Swiss aviation agency to transport general cargo in the cabin. Swiss flew its first flight a week ago from Zurich to Dubai International Airport with garments and other fashion-related goods in the passenger area.

The...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/swiss-air-lines-cleared-for-more-types-of-cabin-cargo

United Airlines nurses international operations back to health

United Airlines jets line up along taxiway to take off at Houston airport. United is increasing its international schedule.

United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) said Friday it will increase international capacity in September by 5% from its August level, including the addition of nearly 30 international routes, as it tries to carefully rebuild its network in a financially sustainable way. 

The Chicago-based carrier intends to add passenger routes to Asia, India, Australia, Israel and Latin America, which is expected to also help shippers move freight on desirable widebody aircraft that are in global short supply because the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/united-airlines-nurses-international-operations-back-to-health

North American passenger airlines expand cargo flights in May

A big white jet gets loaded with pallets of cargo.

Having gotten a taste of flying on-demand and scheduled cargo-only flights, U.S. and Canadian passenger airlines are doubling down on their new business model in May. 

Cargo is one of the few sources of revenue for airlines these days and after idling most of their fleets because of coronavirus travel restrictions and safety fears, shippers are itching to find available air transport to move their goods.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) on Wednesday is turning its frequent Shanghai-to-Los Angeles and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/north-american-passenger-airlines-expand-cargo-flights-in-may

Qatar Airways throws more cargo resources at Scandinavia, France

Qatar Airways, one of the largest airfreight operators in the world by volume, on Sunday announced it is increasing cargo capacity for Scandinavian cities and launching an emergency air bridge between Vietnam and France using both freighters and repurposed passenger jets to haul freight.

Qatar has added five Airbus 350 passenger planes to haul only freight to Copenhagen. That is in addition to its thrice-weekly flights to the Danish capital increasing its total weekly cargo capacity for Denmark...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/qatar-airways-throws-more-cargo-resources-at-scandinavia-france