United Airlines is offering flight attendants the option to remain active employees while waiting for demand to return, in an effort to reduce the number of involuntary furloughs expected once CARES Act payroll support expires Oct. 1.

3,200 planes sat at American airports this spring as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. Airlines slashed fleets, routes, and began preparing to slash their workforce – some by 45 percent. Just last year the industry was facing a pilot shortage, with estimates of 200,000 pilots needed by 2038. But with fewer flights and the pandemic continuing, there’s too many pilots and aviation students who are preparing for turbulence in the job market. 

Ryanair plans to cut its flight capacity by 20% in September and October, citing waning forward bookings attributable to uncertainty over COVID-19 case rates in some EU countries. 

The Swedish National Debt Office has rejected Norwegian Air Shuttle’s loan-guarantee application, putting further pressure on the cash-strapped carrier, while Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has separately secured EU approval for its state-backed refinancing plan.

From Boeing seeking more voluntary worker departures to Icelandair share offering slips to September and more. A roundup of Aviation Daily news.

Airlines are faced with the task of educating passengers that it is safe to fly and that the measures they are taking ensure virus transmission risk is minimized throughout the air travel journey. Airlines are following ICAO guidelines, using hospital-quality HEPA filters in cabins, conducting extra anti-bacterial cleanings between flights and altering their in-flight offerings. Through a medical and scientific perspective, Dr. David Powell, IATA’s Chief Medical Officer, will explain why it is safe for passengers and crews to fly in a virus pandemic and provide evidence that supports why the transmission numbers aboard planes are so low.

Dr. Powell joined IATA in his current role in 2018, though he has been providing expert medical advice to the aviation industry for over a decade. He is a former Medical Officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force with previous airline posts, including Chief Medical Officer at Air New Zealand and Group Medical Officer at Virgin Australia.

Join Aviation Week Network as Dr. Powell highlights the current health precautions being taken by the entire industry to ensure pilots, flight attendants and passengers stay healthy and feel safe flying again.

The UK's reimposition of quarantine rules on arrivals from Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas, not long after similar action on Spain, is another reminder of the uncertainties facing airline capacity planners. COVID-19 cases are also increasing elsewhere.

Scandinavian Airlines is aiming to complete its revised SEK14.25 billion ($1.64 billion) recapitalization by November.