Page 34 - World Airnews Magazine October Edition 2020

FUEL NEWS

AIR BP AND CANNES

ir BP, an international aviation
Afuel products and services sup-
plier, has renewed its contract with Cannes

Mandelieu airport in France, after six years

of successful collaboration.

It will continue to be the sole supplier of
Jet A-1 and Avgas at the airport. Cannes
Mandelieu is the country’s second most

important general aviation hub and one of

Air BP’s 47 locations in France.
Air BP will work with Cannes Mandelieu
Airport and the Aéroports Côtes de Azur

or ACA team to continue to provide safe
and efficient operations. Plans include

upgrading facilities with the relocation
of fuel storage tanks, pending requisite renewal reinforces our belief in regional contract has been renewed. WHAT COMES
approvals, to enable increased parking airports and their importance for local “Among the important factors in our
capacity and an improved customer infrastructure and economic development. selection, we considered the emphasis on

experience. We look forward to working together with service quality, the high level of technical AFTER LIFELINES
The contract renewal underlines Air BP’s the team at Cannes Mandelieu as we wel- expertise, support for global marketing

track record in providing and maintaining come general aviation customers and card activity and Air BP’s environmental focus.

the highest level of service, its contin- holders this year,” said Jean Mousa, Air BP These factors will help to strengthen ACA’s By Graham Dunn
ued commitment to growth and supply general aviation sales director continental position as a major player in the business

reliability. Europe. aviation sector.”

“We are pleased to be continuing our While Thierry Pollet, general manager Air BP is also present at ACA’s other loca- airlines will also require further funding retain minimal levels of services during this

hugely successful relationship at one of Cannes Mandelieu airport, Aéroports Cotes tions; Nice Airport and Saint Tropez Airport solutions as the northern hemisphere period - it averted the wholesale job cuts a

Europe’s premier airports. This contract de Azur, said the company is delighted the the latter of which is bulk supplied. Q ews that Virgin Atlantic has winter draws on. And the question of smaller US airline market would require.

Nsecured court approval for its how much funding is enough hinges on But the flip side of having acted quickly is

NEWS planned recapitalisation marks the latest how quickly and to what extent air travel that US policymakers are already facing up
demand recovers.
in series of rescue deals that have been
to what happens next. Because if the hope

struck to ensure airlines around the world But these are questions which airlines was that by the time the CARES act expires

can stay airborne. neither possess a clear answer, nor have at the end of September there would be

Some have simply secured protection many tools to influence. some semblance of a recovery in air travel,

from creditors while they re-organise. Oth- Normal route-development practic- that is far from evident.
ers have secured fresh capital – be it from es around revenue management, price Data from trade body Airlines for
A NEW BELL private investors or the state – and almost stimulation or identifying growth markets America shows that for the week ending

30 August, US carrier passenger volumes
are trumped by travel restrictions - which

all have brokered some level of cost-savings

from staff or from aircraft cuts or deferrals. can make or break a market at a stroke. remain 70% down on the same week last

Many have tapped all these. And these restrictions are guided by the year. International traffic is down 86%.

But the stuttering opening up of passenger evolution of the virus and the states’ ability Little wonder then that the talk of what

markets – in which an increasing number of to contain it, rather than network planners. comes after the rescue in the US centres

travel restrictions have clipped the hoped- In essence airlines and their backers have around a possible sequel to the first act.

for pace of a recovery in international air so far bought themselves breathing space. A so-called CARES-2 package is being dis-

travel – begs the question for airlines of Some have secured more than others. But cussed in Washington - against a backdrop

what comes after the initial rescue. all need to see a confident reopening of that US passenger airlines are preparing
In the case of Norwegian, which carried air markets before they can start to feel to shed up to 100,000 jobs in the coming
out its own lifeline restructuring in May comfortable they have enough to come out weeks unless there is an extension to the

to unlock critical state aid, the answer is a on the other side of the crisis. financial relief that kept workers employed

quest for more funding. So far, that confidence is in short supply. until now.

“We have secured cash through the rest Few countries acted more quickly to pro- And, in the absence of a transformative

of this year,” said chief executive Jacob vide a financial lifeline to its airlines than medical breakthrough, expect many more

Schram. the USA. Before the end of March the US airlines, investors and governments to
Gulf Helicopters have this Bell 412-EP based at Malta International Airport. The Qatari company Congress had passed the CARES act, which face the same challenge before this crisis

“But” he said, ‘’I have been very clear; we
has set up a subsidiary on the island with other partners, known as Gulfmed Aviation Services. will need more if Covid continues – which provided airlines with up to (US) $58 billion is over. Q

Malta has proven to be an ideal platform to service oil rigs, especially in Libyan waters as the it has done. We will need more financing to in grants and loans.

situation in the Maghreb country remains unstable. Photographer : Mario Caruana

come through the winter.” While the financial lifeline came with its Article courtesy:

It remains to be seen how many other own caveats - notably requiring airlines to https://www.flightglobal.com/
World Airnews | October 2020 World Airnews | October 2020
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