Flightline 16 for July 28, 2025

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China Airlines (CI) is set to begin its 3x weekly Airbus A350-900 route from Taipei (TPE) to Phoenix (PHX) on December 3.

Daily service from Phoenix to Fort Lauderdale (FLL) on American Airlines (AA) is set to begin on December 18. An Airbus A321 is rostered on this route.

Irish flag carrier Air Lingus (EI) will begin twice weekly flights from Dublin (DUB) to Tromsø, Norway (TOS) on December 3. This route will be operated by Airbus A320 equipment.

EVA Air (BR) is set to begin daily flights from Taipei to Busan, South Korea (PUS) on October 21, with an Airbus A321 being set to handle the work.

ZIPAir Tokyo (ZG) will operate 3x weekly Boeing 787-8 flights from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Vancouver (YVR) this winter. The route is set to start on October 26 and conclude on March 28.

The Air France/KLM Group will transfer one of its three daily routes on the Toulouse, France (TLS) to Amsterdam (AMS) sector from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) to Air France (AF), with Air France subsidiary HOP! (A5) set to operate one of the trio from October 26 with Embraer E190 equipment.

Spirit Airlines (NK) will operate a trio of daily seasonal routes from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) this winter, with flights running from December 4 through March 4: Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE); Managua, Nicaragua (MGA); San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL).

Air France has pushed back a trio of central African route resumptions from mid-September to mid-January, with routes from Paris deGaulle (CDG) all seeing new service start dates: Bamako, Mali (BKO); Niamey, Niger (NIM); Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (OUA).

Kuwait Airways (KU) has pulled flights from Kuwait City (KWI) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) from its schedule. This route has been planned to return in mid-September.

Royal Jordanian (RJ) has scrapped plans to resume flights from Amman (AMM) to Delhi (DEL). This route had been set to return in mid-September.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the development and deployment of turnkey solutions for use at airport security checkpoints. The RFI supports TSA’s strategic goal to identify innovative, technology-driven solutions that strengthen aviation security and enhance the overall passenger experience. Respondents are encouraged to propose turnkey models, incorporating cutting-edge screening technologies to deliver a curated, secure, customer-centric experience at security checkpoints.  TSA is seeking information to:

• Enhance aviation security effectiveness

• Reduce total operating costs, workforce requirements, and manual labor

• Improve passenger experience and throughput

• Maintain full compliance with TSA’s performance standards and regulatory oversight

• Incorporate AI-driven threat detection and remote screening

• Increase adaptability during surge events or staffing constraints

• Optimize workforce capabilities through automation or robotics for passenger and baggage screening

Irish aircraft leasing giant Avolon, headquartered in Dublin and the world’s second‑largest lessor, has placed a significant order with Airbus for 90 aircraft: 15 A330‑900neos and 75 A321neos, with deliveries scheduled through 2033. This deal also features purchase rights for an additional 15 A330neos and 25 A321neos, boosting Avolon’s Airbus orderbook to 79 A330neos and 264 A321neos, and increasing its total Airbus commitments to 413 aircraft. CEO Andy Cronin emphasized that the order reflects strong confidence in sustained airline demand and Avolon’s ability to support customers’ fleet growth, while Airbus hailed it as a powerful endorsement of the fuel-efficient, next-generation Airbus family. In tandem, Avolon’s robust performance, including a 36 percent year‑on‑year increase in Q2 net income, underpins this strategic expansion amid anticipated supply constraints in the aviation market.

Airbus has completed its 100th aircraft at the Mobile, Alabama final assembly line, marking a major milestone for the facility since its opening in 2015. Delivery of the frame went to Breeze Airways (MX). The Mobile plant assembles A220 and A320 family aircraft for U.S. customers and has played a key role in Airbus’ growing presence in North America. The site has steadily expanded its operations and workforce, contributing significantly to the local economy and Airbus’ overall production capacity.

CODESHARE APPLICATION: American Airlines and Porter Airlines (PD) jointly filed on Friday for U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approval of a reciprocal codeshare agreement for flights between the U.S. and Canada. Under the proposed deal, American would market Porter-operated flights under its “AA” code, while Porter would place its “PD” code on American-operated services. If approved, the partnership would address American’s notable gap in Canadian coverage, aligning it with competitors like United (partnered with Air Canada) and Delta (partnered with WestJet). Porter, which operates a growing fleet of Embraer E195‑E2 jets as well as Dash 8 turboprops out of Toronto’s two airports, would gain expanded access into American’s U.S., Latin American, Mexican, and Caribbean route network.

In the second quarter of 2025 American Airlines posted record quarterly operating revenue of about $14.4 billion, up roughly 0.4 percent year over year. Its GAAP net income was $599 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, down from $717 million a year earlier. Excluding special items, adjusted net income rose to $628 million, or $0.95 per share, exceeding analyst expectations of around $0.78. The airline reported an operating margin near eight percent, and free cash flow of $2.5 billion for the first half of the year, supported by operating cash flow of $3.4 billion. At quarter end, total debt stood around $38 billion, with net debt at $29 billion, and liquidity remained strong at $12 billion in cash and available credit.

Looking ahead American now expects third‑quarter adjusted EPS between a loss of $0.10 and a loss of $0.60, and full‑year 2025 adjusted earnings per share between a loss of $0.20 and a profit of $0.80, down sharply from its previous January guidance of $1.70 to $2.70 per share.

Southwest Airlines (WN) posted operating revenues of approximately $7.24 billion, down about 1.5 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Passenger revenues totaled around $6.6 billion, reflecting a 1.3 percent year-over-year dip. Net income declined 42 percent to $213 million, with diluted earnings per share of $0.39, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.43, missing analyst expectations of $0.51.

Unit revenue (RASM) fell about 3.1 percent as capacity rose 1.6 percent year-over-year. The Dallas-based airline officially launched checked-bag fees and a basic economy fare class during the quarter. Revenue from bag fees exceeded expectations and rolled out without operational disruptions. The basic economy fare initially underperformed but booking processes were adjusted, and sales recovered. Southwest also authorized a new $2.0 billion share buyback program and returned approximately $1.6 billion to shareholders via repurchases and dividends.

Southwest reaffirmed full‑year 2025 EBIT2 guidance of $600 million to $800 million, on track toward an incremental $1.8 billion EBIT2 contribution from its transformation efforts.

🇦🇪 A6-BNJ, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Etihad Airways (EY) on July 26.

🇦🇪 A6-LRA, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Etihad Airways on July 25.

🇨🇳 B-32LZ, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) on July 26.

🇹🇼 B-50029, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to Tigerair Taiwan (IT) on July 24.

🇨🇦 C-GKYN, an Embraer E195/E2, was delivered to Porter Airlines Canada (PD) on July 25.

🇲🇦 CN-RHG, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Royal Air Maroc (AT) on July 24.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 F-HLYM, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Jet2 (LS) on July 24.

🇩🇴 HI-1118, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AraJet (DM) on July 23.

🇯🇵 JA227P, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Peach (MM) on July 26.

🇲🇽 N569AM, a Boeing 737 MAX 9, was delivered to AeroMexico (AM) on July 24.

🇺🇸 N671FR, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Frontier Airlines (F9) on July 24.

🇺🇸 N810VL, a Boeing 737-8EH, was delivered to Avelo Air (XP) on July 23. This frame was previously PR-GGG with Brazil’s GOL(G3) from 2009-2024.

🇺🇸 N910UP, a Boeing 767-300/F, was delivered to United Parcel Service (5X) on July 24.

🇳🇱 PH-YHD, an Airbus A321-272neo, was delivered to Transavia (HV) on July 25. This frame is painted in a 1960s retro livery.

🇹🇷 TC-RFP, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Pegasus Airlines (PC) on July 25.

🇧🇷 PR-ANB and PR-ANC, a pair of Airbus A350-941s with Brazil’s Azul (AD), have been withdrawn from use (wfu) and will be returned to their lessor in the coming week or so.

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