Lufthansa Group is strengthening its rules on the use of onboard face masks by only exempting passengers from wearing them if they provide a medical certificate explaining their reasons and a recent negative Covid-19 test result. Face coverings have been compulsory on all flights operated by Lufthansa Group carriers since the beginning of May. While exceptions were previously made for passengers who presented a medical exemption certificate, from 1 September these passengers must also present a negative Covid-19 test result taken up to 48 hours before their flight.
"The new rules on the compulsory wearing of masks now ensure even better protection for all passengers," states Lufthansa. The airline group says it will inform passengers about the new requirement through its carriers' websites and social media channels as well as via email and SMS, in order to "give customers the opportunity to adapt to the changed rules in good time".

Source: Cirium

More than 10 unsolicited approaches expressing interest in South African Airways have been received from potential investors and partners. The South African government’s department of public enterprises states that the approaches concern SAA and its subsidiaries Mango Airlines, SAA Technical, and catering arm Air Chefs. “We have been busy assessing the interests from several unsolicited local and international strategic equity partners,” the department says. SAA underwent a prolonged business rescue program which resulted in a strategic plan for the company being approved by creditors in mid-July. The department claims it has been working “around the clock” to finalise the rescue process after stating, earlier in August, that all the conditions for implementation had been met. It says it believes investments in the airline and its subsidiaries will “help support key economic sectors, including tourism” and “solidify” the country as a gateway to international markets. SAA is being overhauled in four phases, it adds. Some 1,000 personnel will be retained for the restructured company, with another 1,000 placed on a social plan for integration as the airline expands. The remaining staff will be granted a voluntary severance package. A smaller board – with members including a chief risk officer, chief operating officer, and chief information officer – is being appointed. The process of raising funds and investment in the new carrier will be assisted by a transaction adviser, which the government has already identified. This adviser will also assess the unsolicited expressions of interest from private sector investors and partners. The department says it had received more than 10 such unsolicited approaches by the beginning of this month. Creation of a revamped SAA, the fourth phase, will result in an airline in which the department will maintain “a certain level of presence in the ownership”, it says. Operating a modern fleet with various density options, it adds, the carrier will have a network structure based on the “right routes, at the right times, and at competitive prices” – one which ensures high aircraft utilisation and connectivity through hubs.

Source: Cirium

British Airways staff represented by the Unite union have "overwhelmingly" called for strike action over the airline's plans for job losses and changes to employment terms. At a gathering of over 1000 BA staff held near London Heathrow on 20 August, workers urged the Unite union to launch legal and industrial action against the airline. BA is making several thousand staff redundant and seeking to change the pay and conditions of other employees in response to the coronavirus crisis. The union argues that BA crews, ground staff and other workers face losing their jobs and up to 43% of their salaries. It also claims that some workers set to retain their positions could be placed on zero-hour-type contracts “that give them no stability or security”. "British Airways is reaping what it has sowed. It's systematic, brutal and needless attacks on its workforce will see it inevitably faced with strikes in the autumn along with the persistent threat of disruption through widespread legal action," says Unite assistant general secretary Howard Beckett. "This workforce was absolutely clear today; this fight will go all the way and it will last until BA stops behaving like an abusive Victorian mill owner." BA refutes that it uses zero-hour contracts and says it has received no notification of any ballot for industrial action. It highlights that it has reached an agreement in principal on restructuring with the Unite and GMB unions for its engineering and customer-facing Heathrow ground staff, as well as with the pilot’s union BALPA. The airline says the gathering appears to relate to 'below the wing' employees who work in airside roles in the ramp area and baggage handling. "We have to adapt to survive, so we will continue with the proper, lawful consultative process and we will keep inviting union representatives to discuss our proposals to the serious challenges we face. It is not too late to find solutions – as we have done with BALPA – and to protect jobs," BA comments. The carrier is currently operating less than a fifth of its regular flying schedule and is burning through more than £20 million ($26mn) per day.

Source: Cirium