Flightline 23 - August 21, 2025

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WE COVER THE WORLD: Azerbaijan Airlines (J2) will return on the Baku (GYD) to Tehran Khomeini (IKA) sector on September 1 with 4x weekly service. Additionally, the airline has added twice weekly runs from Baku to Tabriz, Iran (TBZ) on September 3. Both routes will be rostered by Embraer E190 equipment.

Air China (CA) will begin 4x weekly seasonal service from Hangzhou (HGH) to Hanoi, Vietnam (HAN) on October 26. This route will be flown by Airbus A320 equipment.

Arkia-Israeli Airlines (IZ) will add a pair of East Asian routes this winter from Tel Aviv (TLV): twice weekly to Bangkok (BKK) from November 26 and weekly to Hanoi from January 5. Both routes will see an Airbus A330-200 putting in work.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (3L) is slated to operate a twice weekly Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Yekaterinburg, Russia (SVX) winter seasonal service. This Airbus A320 route will operate from October 27 through March 27.

Lufthansa (LH) will pause flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to St. Louis, Mo. (STL) in the month of February.

Alaska Airlines (AS) will end flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Monterrey, Mexico (MTY) on October 3. Four other routes from last winter will also not return this year: Fresno, Calif. (FAT) to Guadalajara (GDL); Kansas City (MCI) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR); Orlando (MCO) to Boise, Idaho (BOI) and Sacramento, Calif. (SMF).

JetBlue Airways (B6) will conclude its daily route from Boston (BOS) to Miami (MIA) on September 2.

Delta Air Lines (DL) will not return this winter on their weekly seasonal runs from Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis (MSP) to Tulum, Mexico (TQO).

Southwest Airlines (WN) is set to cut nearly 30 routes by the first week of March. I figured this chart would like nicer than a super long paragraph. And yes, the classic Southwest livery is my favorite:

United Airlines (UA) experienced a unique delay on August 3, 2025, for its flight from Nuuk, Greenland (GOH) to Newark, N.J. (EWR). The flight, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delayed by over three hours due to a lack of security staff, who had taken the day off to participate in the traditional Greenlandic reindeer hunting season. The flight departed Nuuk at 12:13 PM local time instead of the scheduled 9:00 AM, arriving in Newark at 1:45 PM local time rather than the planned 10:30 AM. Passengers were understandably frustrated, but some understood the cultural significance of the hunt, which is essential for food supplies in Greenland. One would imagine that United will take this into account if they return to Greenland next summer.

A recent United Airlines flight from Indianapolis (IND) was scrubbed after a passenger on the inbound flight suffered an extreme bout of food poisoning mid‑air. The incident evidently stemmed from an undercooked hamburger consumed in Portugal, triggering uncontrolled vomiting and explosive diarrhea that persisted throughout the flight—so severe that lavatory access for other passengers became ill-advised. Indeed, the situation was deemed a potential biohazard. The female passenger remained locked in the restroom for the duration of the flight, including the landing, with crew offering assistance and trash bags. Upon landing, she was too weak to move, was wheeled off the aircraft, and the upcoming flight for that aircraft was canceled so hazmat crews could perform a thorough sanitation.

Qantas (QF) has been ordered to pay $59 million (AU$90 million) for unlawfully dismissing over 1,800 ground staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and replacing them with outsourced contractors. The Australian Federal Court ruled that the airline's actions were illegal and caused genuine hardship for the employees and their families. Qantas' CEO apologized for the harm caused, stating that the company has been working hard to change its operations and rebuild trust with its people and customers. The penalty includes $50 million to be paid directly to the Transport Workers' Union, while $40 million will be held for future payment, potentially to the affected employees. This decision comes after Qantas had already paid $120 million in compensation to the impacted former employee.

Oakland, Calif. (OAK) notched a 20 percent drop in year-on-year June passenger traffic. For the first half of the year, passenger counts at Oakland, which is in the second attempt at trying to add San Francisco in some form to its name, are down over 16 percent.

Chris Sununu, the former governor of New Hampshire, will become the next President and CEO of Airlines for America (A4A), which bills itself as the leading U.S. airline trade association. A4A represents multiple airlines, including representing carriers such as American Airlines (AA), Delta, FedEx (FX), Southwest, and United. Appointed on August 18, 2025, Sununu will take over effective September 9, succeeding longtime leader Nick Calio, who has led the organization since 2011.

END OF THE LINE: Ravn Alask (7H), a vital lifeline for rural Alaskan communities, ceased operations last week after nearly 77 years of service. The airline's shutdown, attributed to financial and operational challenges, including a significant reduction in available aircraft and soaring costs, has left a void in Alaska's aviation network. Approximately 270 employees face unemployment, with Alaska Airlines stepping in to host a job fair to support affected staff.

Frontier Airlines (F9) is offering a sweet deal for travelers: instant Elite Gold status for just $69, valid through December 2026. This status match opportunity is available to members of Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines loyalty programs, regardless of their current status level. With Elite Gold, you'll enjoy perks like free carry-on bags, Zone 1 priority boarding, priority customer care, free preferred seat selection, and complimentary upgrades to premium seating.

Lufthansa currently has around 15 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners parked in storage facilities, mostly in the United States, due to delays in certification of their Allegris business class seats by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These seats, manufactured by Collins Aerospace, require independent certification for the 787 model, unlike the similar seats on Lufthansa's Airbus A350, which were certified by European regulators. As a result, Lufthansa is exploring alternatives, such as operating the 787s with blocked business class seats or potentially reconfiguring the cabins. Meanwhile, there's limited public information available on American Airlines' parked A321XLRs due to seat supply chain issues. Lufthansa's 787 delays are part of broader fleet modernization challenges, including issues with the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350 introductions. The airline expects to start flying the 787s with Allegris cabins soon, with the first routes potentially including Frankfurt to Montreal, albeit with limited business class availability initially.

Turkish Airlines (TK) has agreed to acquire a roughly 26 percent stake in Air Europa (UX) for about $349 million. The investment will mainly take the form of a capital increase and would position Turkish Airlines as the second‑largest shareholder in Air Europa behind Globalia, surpassing IAG’s current 20 percent holding.

GOL's (G3) second-quarter 2025 financial results reveal a mixed bag. The airline's revenue increased by 23 percent to $880 million. Despite this growth, GOL posted a net loss of $275 million, slightly higher than the loss in the same period last year. The company's operating costs rose over 31 percent, largely due to the devaluation of the Brazilian real against the US dollar, investments in fleet recovery, and higher maintenance expenses. The airline also demonstrated operational resilience, achieving an 82.1 percent system-wide load factor and being recognized as the most punctual airline in Latin America in June 2025.

Qatar Airways (QR) is set to launch its first-ever exclusive lounge in the U.S. at New York Kennedy (JFK), located in the new Terminal One. Scheduled to open in 2026, the 15,000-square-foot lounge will offer Business Class passengers an enhanced experience with dedicated airport transfers, VIP check-in, fine dining, and retail options. The lounge will also feature direct access to the boarding gate.

Norse Atlantic Airways (N0) reported its Q2 2024 financial results, showcasing significant growth despite narrowing losses. The airline saw a substantial increase in available seat kilometers (ASK) by 105 percent year-over-year, with flight numbers rising by 89 percent and passenger count growing by 99 percent. The load factor also improved by seven percentage points to 82 percent. Revenue increased by 65 percent to $164.8 million, and unit costs ex-fuel decreased by 35 percent. Although the airline reported a net loss of $31.7 million, it was slightly better than the previous year. Looking ahead, Norse Atlantic is shifting its focus towards long-term contracts to reduce exposure to market risks. The airline plans to dedicate a growing proportion of its capacity to Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) and charter flying. To enhance operational flexibility and cost-efficiency, Norse Atlantic will withdraw three Boeing 787-8 aircraft and operate a uniform fleet of 787-9 aircraft. The airline targets at least half of its operated capacity to be allocated to ACMI and charter contracts from Q4 2024 through the winter season.

All Nippon Airways (NH) has made history by becoming the world's first airline to adopt an AI-powered turbulence prediction system developed by BlueWX Company Limited. This system, which uses deep learning and over a decade of turbulence data, can forecast turbulence in real-time with an impressive 86 percent accuracy rate. The technology is a result of a joint initiative between ANA and Keio University, which began in 2019 and involved trials with 2,500 pilots starting in 2021. By integrating this system into its weather data infrastructure, ANA aims to enhance flight safety, passenger comfort, and operational reliability, addressing a major concern in aviation where turbulence accounts for 30-50% of incidents. BlueWX plans to extend its turbulence prediction service to other airlines globally, contributing to improved flight safety and operational efficiency.

Air Baltic (BT) flew 539,300 July passengers, a slight four percent year-on-year drop. The Latvian airline flew 4,455 flights during the month, filling over 86 percent of its available revenue seats. For the first seven months of 2025, passenger traffic is at an all-time high of 2,900,900, which is up 4.6 percent from last year.

U.S. airlines carried 85.2 million system-wide (domestic and international) scheduled passengers in May 2025, according to figures released by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

🇲🇽 The Mexican airports of Acapulco (ACA) and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (ZIH) are undergoing significant upgrades thanks to a $50 million investment from the State Government of Guerrero and Centro Norte Airport Group (OMA). This strategic alliance aims to modernize the airports, increasing their capacity to handle 2.3 million passengers annually and enhancing safety features. The investment will be allocated as follows:

• Acapulco: $26.25 million for improvements

• Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: $25 million for upgrades

The goal is to attract new domestic and international routes, boosting tourism and the local economy. With these enhancements, both airports will become more competitive, offering better services and facilities for passengers. This development is part of OMA's 2026-2030 Master Development Program, which seeks to strengthen air connectivity and tourism in the region.

Some potential benefits of this investment include.

• Increased Passenger Capacity: Handling up to 2.3 million passengers annually

• Improved Safety Features: Enhanced operational safety and security measures

• Economic Growth: Boosting local economy through increased tourism and air connectivity

• Enhanced Passenger Experience: Modernized infrastructure and amenities, such as expanded terminal spaces and more efficient operations

VINCI Airports, the largest shareholder of OMA, is contributing to the growth and development of these airports as part of its commitment to sustainable growth and ecological transition. Those in the industry who have spent any extended amount of time in Mexico over the past years have already begun seeing the increased investment in OMA airports since VINCI came into the picture.

July’s Most On-Time Airlines ⌚️ 

UPDATE: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that David Leroy Carver Jr., 47, has been charged by criminal complaint for interfering with flight crew members and attendants on a Breeze Airways (MX) flight from Norfolk, Va. (ORF), to Los Angeles on August 13, 2025. The flight was diverted to Grand Junction, Colo. (GJT). According to the criminal complaint, Carver made inappropriate sexual comments and racial slurs toward a flight attendant during the commercial flight. When a passenger overheard and told him to stop, Carver threatened to strike the passenger and threw chewing tobacco from his mouth into the passenger’s face. Another passenger intervened and restrained Carver, allowing flight attendants to place him in zip tie restraints. During the struggle, Carver lunged at a flight attendant, injuring her hand. Carver then freed himself from the restraints, removed his belt, and wrapped it around his knuckles in a threatening manner before flight attendants were able to separate him from the belt. The charge in the criminal complaint is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Case Number: 25-MJ-199-RTG

🇨🇳 B-226L, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to China Southern Airlines (CZ) on August 16.

🇨🇳 B-32LE, an Airbus A321-252neo, was delivered to Air China on August 16.

🇨🇳 B-32M6, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to China Southern Airlines on August 16.

🇮🇪 EI-ILD, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Ryanair (FR) on August 13.

🇮🇪 EI-IKT, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Ryanair on August 18.

🇯🇵 JA17XJ, an Airbus A350-941, was delivered to Japan Airlines (JL) on August 16.

🇺🇸 N14541, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to United Airlines on August 15.

🇺🇸 N647NN, a Canadair CRJ-900/LR, was delivered to PSA Airlines (OH) on August 15. This frame was previously EI-FPV with Scandinavian’s CityJet (WX) 2017-2025. Painted in American Eagle livery.

🇳🇱 PH-BKQ, a Boeing 787-10, was delivered to KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) on August 15.

🇹🇷 TC-LBT, an Airbus A320-271neo, was delivered to AJet (VF) on August 19.

🇦🇺 VH-8VA, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Virgin Australia (VA) on August 19.

🇲🇽 XA-AMP, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to AeroMexico (AM) on August 15.

$AAL ( ▲ 7.8% )  $ALGT ( ▲ 8.41% )  $ALK ( ▲ 8.34% )  $BA ( ▲ 2.52% )  $DAL ( ▲ 6.66% )  $FLYY ( ▲ 11.57% )  $JBLU ( ▲ 5.91% )  $LUV ( ▲ 5.47% )  $MESA ( ▲ 1.28% )  $RJET ( 0.0% )  $SNCY ( ▲ 8.69% )  $UAL ( ▲ 5.96% )  $ULCC ( ▲ 9.88% )  

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