Network Planning as Usual for Airlines … At Least for Now
It was always going to happen but after just one week of relatively little change in global airline capacity if feels like a trick is being played on the industry with the arrival of variant Omicron just before the year-end holidays. Stock markets panicked, airline shares plummeted, regulators applied new travel restrictions and airlines shrugged their shoulders and said, “here we go again”. Both as an industry and from the wider health perspective we are so much better placed to deal with another Covid variant but that doesn’t stop speculation, media hysteria and the resultant impact on an already damaged industry seeking to recover.
With Omicron only being announced late Thursday airlines have not reflected any schedule changes in their filings with OAG but are of course making short-term cancellations to schedules and will undoubtedly be working through the required changes this week. Perspective is everything, as…