The air cargo industry, after being thrown into the spotlight earlier this year as the world watched freighters transporting cargoes of medical supplies around the globe, has been hit much less hard than the passenger business by the COVID-19 crisis.

KLM will operate a significantly restricted winter schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel warnings.

The majority shareholder in French airline Corsair has confirmed that it will sell its entire 53% stake to new investors.

Lufthansa CEO and IATA chairman Carsten Spohr believes substantial global long-haul networks could be re-established by the second quarter of 2021 if there is broad COVID-19 testing of passengers and crew.

With its aircraft still grounded and borders closed, Thai Airways is trying to think out of the box, introducing a host of new alternative revenue streams with wheels still firmly on the ground. 

AirAsia is turning to its digital and e-commerce portfolio as an alternate revenue stream while the Malaysia-based LCC group’s network remains disrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Star Alliance members Austrian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) are resuming scheduled services to China eight months after they were suspended following the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.