By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Reading: Who you gonna call? Ghost Flights!
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Font ResizerAa
Travel Radar - Aviation NewsTravel Radar - Aviation News
  • Breaking News
  • Aviation
    • Aircraft
    • Airlines
    • Airshow & Events
    • Careers
    • Manufacturing
  • Travel
    • Airports
    • Points & Loyalty
    • Technology
    • Trip Reviews
  • Newsletters
Signin Sign In
Follow US
Copyright © Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2025 | All Rights Reserved
Travel Radar - Aviation News > News > Who you gonna call? Ghost Flights!

Who you gonna call? Ghost Flights!

Travel Radar
Last updated: 14 April 2020 08:54
By Travel Radar Staff
3 Min Read
Share
Ghost flights - Ryanair by Donovan.Lambaux
SHARE

If most countries have closed their borders, airlines have grounded their fleet and everyone is in lockdown, why then are there still planes in the sky?

Well, there are still limited services flying, mainly to repatriate passengers who will then be subject to quarantine periods upon their return home.

But, there are also planes that are flying with no passengers on board at all.

An internal memo published in the Dallas Business Journal, for example, revealed that 56 Southwest Airlines flights took off in a week without any passengers on board. Meanwhile, low cost carrier Ryanair has been seen flying its planes around in circles, and other airlines in Europe have wasted gallons of fuel running empty flights.

So why are they in the air at all?

Ghost flight - empty flight by Jeff KramerThere are actually several reasons why passenger-less flights have been flying. According to Southwest, it is running empty or near-empty flights as air travel is vital for the movement of personnel and cargo as well as it being potentially necessary to continue operations in order to qualify for Government aid.

The airline has also pointed out the logistical problems of restarting an airline rather than keeping one running.

At Ryanair, executives say that to make sure its planes continue to be usable to repatriate passengers and transport medical supplies, it must continue to run some of its fleet in order to meet maintenance and flying regulations.

Other flights are likely to be have been in operation to move aircraft back to base or to storage facilities. Airlines had also until very recently been continuing to run flights, even without any passengers, in order to hold onto coveted takeoff and landing slots.

Thankfully, the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Commission have, for the moment, suspended regulations which mean airlines must continue to fly a certain amount of their regular flights so that they can retain their hard-won time slots. So there should, in theory, now be fewer ghost flights in the air.

You Might Also Like

US Further Restricts Exports to Three Russian Airlines
Flight Simulation: Perfect Hobby for Pilots and Enthusiasts?
How is Brexit Affecting UK Aviation Industry?
SAS Strikes a Deal With Pilot Unions
Airbus Appoints Lars Wagner as CEO of Commercial Aircraft Business
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link
What’s your thoughts?
Love0
Sad0
Happy0
Angry0
Travel Radar
ByTravel Radar Staff
Follow:
Articles from guest contributors wishing to remain anonymous are credited to this account. Want to contribute to Travel Radar either in-name, or anonymously? Get in touch: [email protected]
Previous Article Flight Simulation: Perfect Hobby for Pilots and Enthusiasts?
Next Article “No Tourist, No Money”: Bali Economy Collapsing
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest

guest

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Upvoted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
YoutubeSubscribe

Trending News

Qatar aiways flight in air
Qatar Faces Lawsuit After Vegetarian Passenger told to ‘Eat Around’ Meat-based Meal Chokes to Death
Airlines Incidents & Accidents
Breeze Airways Airbus A220-300 climbing after takeoff under clear skies, showcasing the carrier’s focus on Airbus A220 efficiency and fleet expansion within Breeze Airways A220 fleet growth to reach underserved U.S. routes.
Breeze Airways Expands Airbus A220 Fleet to 400 Aircraft
Aircraft Airlines Aviation
Anime film poster for Bandai Namco's upcoming Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
JAL collabs with Anime giant to promote regional tourism
Airlines Aviation Travel
Sri Lankan Airlines
A Journey By Sri Lankan Airlines
Airlines Trip Reviews
Ryanair © Sevcan Alkan
Ryanair Boosts Cornwall Winter Flights with Extra 2,300 Seats
Aircraft Airline Economics Airlines Airports Aviation Route Development Travel Travel Radar
//

Travel Radar is the leading digital hub for all things aviation and air-travel. Discover our latest aviation news, aviation data, insight and analysis.

Discover

  • Latest News
  • Subscribe
  • Weekly Digest
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Media Coverage
  • Press & Events
  • Join Our Team
  • Our Brands

Signup to our Newsletter!

And get the latest aviation news via our weekly news digest!

© Travel Radar Media Ltd. 2015-2025 | ISSN #2635-0696 | Trademark #UK00003579704
wpDiscuz
adbanner
Welcome to the TR Community!

Sign in to your account

Not a member? Sign Up