Flightline 14 for July 21, 2025

FOLLOW FLIGHTLINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Bluesky / Instagram / Twitter aka X

Spirit Airlines (NK) is adding twice weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Macon, Ga. (MCN). This route begins on October 16.

Emirates (EK) has resumed direct flights from Dubai (DXB) to Damascus, Syria (DAM) after a 13-year break. The 3x weekly Boeing 777-200/LR route will go to a daily service in late October.

Nigeria’s Air Peace (P4) will begin flights from Abuja (ABV) to London in late October, with Heathrow (LHR) service commencing on October 28 and Gatwick (LGW) on October 28. Both routes will be served 3x weekly by Boeing 777-200/ER equipment,

Breeze Airways (MX) is adding a pair of routes from Las Vegas (LAS) soon, with the carrier tipped to begin service to New Orleans (MSY) and Provo, Utah (PVU). Additionally, Breeze will begin New Orleans to Los Angeles (LAX) flights in 2026. But that’s not all. Breeze is moving quickly to fill in the gaps left by the departure of Avelo Airlines (XP) from its West Coast routes, with Breeze set to add the following routes in March:

• Burbank, Calif. (BUR) to Arcata, Calif. (ACV), Eugene, Ore. (EUG), Redmond, Ore. (RDM), and Pasco, Wash. (PSC)

• Redmond to Las Vegas

• Burbank to Provo, Utah

Breeze Airways has closed its Plattsburgh, N.Y. (PBG) station for good.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced additional changes to screening measures at some of the its 435 airports across the U.S.:

• Dedicated family lanes at select airports nationwide 

• Discounted TSA PreCheck fees for families coming soon

• Dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes for service members and their families  

On July 15, 2025, a serious security incident occurred at Vancouver (YVR). A Cessna 172 was stolen earlier that day from a flying club in Victoria, B.C. (YYJ). The aircraft was flown without authorization into Vancouver’s airspace. Air traffic control quickly detected the rogue aircraft and issued a rare ground stop for all arriving flights. This stoppage lasted 39 minutes and resulted in nine incoming flights being diverted to alternate airports.

The pilot, identified as 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, had reportedly threatened a flight instructor at Victoria before taking off with the aircraft. While flying over Vancouver, he circled repeatedly at low altitude, remaining between approximately 600 and 1,000 feet. In response to the threat, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and NAV CANADA coordinated with both Canadian and U.S. military forces. NORAD scrambled American F-15s and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets to monitor the situation.

At around 1:45 p.m., Cassim landed the plane safely on the north runway at Vancouver. He was immediately apprehended by RCMP and charged with hijacking. Under Canadian law, the hijacking charge is treated as a terrorism offense. Authorities stated that Cassim’s actions were ideologically motivated and designed to disrupt airport operations.

Investigators revealed that Cassim had previously expressed extreme environmental beliefs. He referred to himself online as a “messenger of Allah” and “Messiah,” claiming to act in the name of climate justice to prevent global extinction.

The Victoria Flying Club confirmed that the theft was the first of its kind in its 80-year history. Although some observers initially speculated that the act might have been a form of protest, law enforcement is treating it as a deliberate terrorism incident. The investigation is being handled by the RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, and remains ongoing.

A Dutch court has ruled that 78,000 solar panels must be removed from a solar farm near Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS) because their reflective glare posed a serious flight safety hazard, notably blinding pilots and causing 13 runway closures in March alone. The court mandated that half of the panels must be dismantled by September 1 and the rest by October 15, or the operator, De Groene Energie Corridor (DGEC), will face penalties up to €50 million. The judge determined that DGEC acted with social negligence by installing lightly textured glass panels instead of the recommended deeply textured type, prioritizing cost over safety. DGEC maintains it complied with permits and suggests pilots’ reports were subjective, but the court held that the operator must bear the removal costs and ensure aviation safety.

For those who follow this sort of thing, N657NK, an Airbus A321-231 that flew for Spirit Airlines from its July 2015 delivery until being withdrawn in November 2024 and place into storage, now has a new home. This frame is now VN-A129 with Vietnam’s Vietravel Airlines (VU).

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy on Saturday unveiled several measures aimed at countering Mexico’s alleged non‑compliance with the 2015 U.S.–Mexico Air Transport Agreement and addressing unfair practices. Mexico is accused of revoking slots held by U.S. passenger airlines at Mexico City (MEX) since 2022 and forcing U.S. all‑cargo carriers to relocate, leading to increased costs for American airlines. In response, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued three directives targeting Mexican carriers:

• a Part 213 order mandating schedule filings for all U.S. operations,

• a Part 212 order requiring pre‑approval for large charter flights to or from the U.S.

• a Supplemental Show Cause Order proposing to revoke antitrust immunity granted to the Delta/Aeromexico joint venture to correct competitive imbalances. If this goes into effect, by October 25, Delta Air Lines (DL) and AeroMexico (AM) will lose their antitrust immunity on trans-border flights that has been in place since 2016.

U.S. scheduled-service passenger airlines employed 549,931 workers in May 2025, which was 55 percent of the industry-wide total. 2,507 people gained employment with U.S. airlines in May, with Spirit Airlines adding 940, American Airlines (AA) 642, and United Airlines (UA) 621.

Passengers from a July 14 Virgin Atlantic (VS) flight from London Heathrow to New York Kennedy (JFK) awaiting at baggage claim had a nasty surprise when the bags rolled down the carousel. Many of the suitcases were drenched in a foul‑smelling brown substance that initially was thought to be raw sewage but was later determined to be kitchen grease. A viral TikTok video showed several cases coated in the mysterious grime, sparking outrage and alarm among travelers. Virgin Atlantic quickly responded, clarifying that the contamination did not come from the aircraft but from a system failure in JFK’s baggage tunnel linked to a leaking kitchen drainage pipe, which caused greasy water to spill onto the bags. The airline apologized, offered cleaning guidance or professional biohazard services to affected passengers, and promised to work with the Port Authority to resolve the issue. Despite these efforts, more than a few passengers criticized the lack of immediate support at the carousel, noting that workers did not provide gloves, wipes, or sanitizer and directed them to contact customer service afterward.

German leisure carrier Condor (DE) has topped up a prior order for Airbus A330-900 neo aircraft with an additional four. By the time all aircraft are delivered in 231, Condor will operate a fleet of 25 A339s.

Air France (AF) and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) have begun a coordinated crew-sharing operation on the Amsterdam (AMS) to New York Kennedy route, marking the first flight with Air France pilots flying a KLM Boeing 777 and KLM cabin crew on July 16, 2025. The arrangement, which is set to last through the summer schedule until October 25, helps alleviate pilot and aircraft shortages by maximizing utilization across the Air France–KLM Group. Crews and unions from both airlines worked closely with aviation authorities to launch this collaborative effort smoothly.

United Airlines posted a strong second-quarter performance, reporting an adjusted profit of $3.87 per share and generating $15.2 billion in revenue, representing a 1.7 percent increase year‑over‑year. Net income totaled $973 million, despite rolling out a lowered full-year earnings forecast of $9 to $11 per share (down from an April range of $11.50 to $13.50) due to earlier economic uncertainty and operational issues at Newark. The carrier flagged robust travel demand, especially in business class (which rose double digits), and a passenger demand acceleration of six percentage points since early July. For the third quarter, United projected adjusted earnings between $2.25 and $2.75 per share, with potential drag from ongoing constraints at Newark, N.J. (EWR).

Irish discounter Ryanair (FR) reported a net profit of €820 million (approximately $953 million) for the April/May/June quarter, more than doubling its earnings from €360 million in the same period last year. The impressive surge was driven by the full Easter holiday falling in April, a 21 percent increase in average ticket prices, and strong summer booking . Revenue rose about 20 percent to around €4.3 billion (roughly $5 billion), with passenger numbers up around 4four percent to nearly 58 million travelers. Management noted cautious optimism, expecting to nearly fully recover the previous year’s fare decline and see reasonable annual profit growth through March 2026.

Pakistan has extended a ban, first put in pace on April 24, against Indian registered aircraft operating over Pakistani airspace until August 24.

Aegean Airlines (A3) has placed an order for two Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft, due for delivery by January, as part of its strategy to launch direct long‑haul services to India. With a range of up to 10.5 hours it will enable flights from Athens to New Delhi (DEL) starting in March 2026 (five weekly frequencies), followed by Mumbai (BOM) in May (three weekly). Configured in a 138‑seat layout featuring 24 lie‑flat business class suites and premium economy amenities like 4K screens, satellite Wi‑Fi, USB charging, and larger bins, the aircraft will form a “special‑purpose” sub‑fleet alongside four A321neo LRs scheduled for 2027–28. This move marks Aegean’s entry into the Europe–India long-haul market ahead of competitors, as demand for direct Asia connectivity grows.

The U.S. government has introduced a new $250 Visa Integrity Fee for applicants of most non‑immigrant visas such as B‑1/B‑2 tourist/business visas, F‑1/F‑2 student visas, J‑1/J‑2 exchange visas, H‑1B/H‑4 temporary work visas, M‑1 vocational visas, and others. The new fee must be paid when the visa is issued, on top of regular application and reciprocity fees. The fee is non‑waivable or reducible, though applicants can apply for reimbursement by showing they fully complied with visa terms, such as departing on time, with refunds processed only after the visa expires. Diplomats (A and G visa holders) are exempt, and citizens of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program (the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Australia, and others, along with most Canadian and Bermudian citizens) are also exempt when visiting for stays up to 90 days. The fee takes effect in fiscal year 2026, starting October 1, 2025, and will be adjusted for inflation each year.

A British Airways (BA) Boeing 777‑200 operating from London Gatwick to Cancun (CUN) last week developed a strong, musty odor in both the cockpit and cabin shortly after reaching about 11,000 ft, causing passengers to feel dizzy and sick. (This smell is typically indicative of engine oil contaminating the air inside the aircraft.) Pilots immediately donned oxygen masks, declared an emergency, dumped fuel over the English Channel, descended to 9,000 ft and circled back while cracking open cockpit windows to air out the cabin. The aircraft landed safely back at Gatwick, all 332 passengers deplaned, and British Airways confirmed the plane had a technical fault and issued an apology for the disruption.

Northern Air Cargo (NC), a division of Anchorage‑based Saltchuk Aviation, has announced that it will phase out its widebody Boeing 767 freighter operations, with the final flights expected to occur in October 2025. This strategic move aligns with Saltchuk’s goal of streamlining its airline business and sharpening its focus on cargo services specifically tailored to Alaska and Hawaii routes.

U.S. caro airlines employed 458,339 employees in May, which was 45 percent of the industry-wide total. Cargo airlines shed 2,629 jobs during the month, with FedEx (FX) accounting for all of that total.

The U.S. Postal Service reduced its reliance on air shipping by contracting United Parcel Service (5X) to handle its primary air cargo services in place of FedEx. In the first quarter after UPS took over, USPS shipped fewer items via air and cut its air transport expenses by 43 percent. Despite these cost savings, a USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit flagged several issues: USPS staff sometimes failed to scan packages properly before they were transferred to UPS, and a small number of hazardous materials shipments slipped through USPS screening. The report recommended that the USPS enhance its network planning, performance tracking, and package visibility to fully benefit from the new arrangement.

Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) has delivered its first A321‑200 passenger‑to‑freighter conversion certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to Warsaw Cargo in mid‑July 2025. The narrowbody freighter, converted by ATSG’s 321 Precision Conversions joint venture, offers containerized main deck loading, modern fuel efficiency, and a payload capacity of up to 27 tonnes. The move supports ATSG’s expanding global leasing fleet and aligns with Warsaw Cargo’s aim to scale regional ACMI and charter operations across Europe and nearby markets.

🇰🇼 9K-AQB, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Kuwait Airways (KU) on July 16.

🇨🇳 B-32M8, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to China Southern Airlines (CZ) on July 16.

🇨🇳 B-32N5, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Southern Airlines on July 19.

🇯🇵 JA10WJ, an Airbus A350-1041, was delivered to Japan Airlines (JL) on July 16.

🇺🇸 N251BZ, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Breeze Airways on July 18.

🇺🇸 N3275J, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to JetBlue Airways (B6) on July 19.

🇺🇸 N590DT, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines on July 18.

🇳🇱 PH-YHS, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Transavia (HV) on July 16.

🇮🇩 PK-GDC, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Garuda Indonesia (GA) on July 16.

🇹🇷 TC-LMC, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Turkish Airlines (TK) on July 15.

$AAL ( ▼ 0.19% )  $ALGT ( ▲ 0.89% )  $ALK ( ▲ 0.63% )  $BA ( ▼ 0.67% )  $DAL ( ▲ 0.28% )  $FLYY ( ▼ 2.67% )  $JBLU ( ▼ 0.19% )  $LUV ( ▲ 0.12% )  $MESA ( 0.0% )  $RJET ( 0.0% )  $SNCY ( ▲ 0.16% )  $UAL ( ▼ 0.91% )  $ULCC ( ▼ 1.44% )