Flightline 27 - 4 September 2025

Saudi Arabian discounter Flyadeal (F3) will begin flights from Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) to Damascus, Syria (DAM) at the beginning of October. Both routes will be operated by Airbus A320 equipment, with 3x weekly and 4x weekly service, respectively.

India’s Akasa Air (QP) will begin daily flights from Mumbai (BOM) to Phuket, Thailand (HKT) on September 20. Forward bookings must be reasonable, as the airline has now scheduled a second daily run from October 1.

China’s Xiamen Airlines (MF) will begin a pair of routes to Jakarta, Indonesia (CGK) at the beginning of October: 4x weekly from Chongqing (CKG) and 3x weekly from Hangzhou (HGH). Both routes will be operated by Boeing 737-800 equipment. If you noticed that CKG-CGK “tongue twister” routing, you are not alone.

China Eastern Airlines (MU) will begin daily flights from Nanjing (NKG) to Fukuoka, Japan (FUK) on October 26. This route, last flown in March 2017, will see an Airbus A320 rostered.

Good news for those of you looking for a nonstop run on the Tashkent, Uzbekistan (TAS) to Male, Maldives (MLE) sector - Uzbek carrier Centrum Air (C6) has added a twice weekly service from October 3. Airbus A320 and A321neos will ply this route.

Vietjet (VJ) will begin 5x weekly Airbus A321 service from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL) on November 21.

Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) will begin 4x weekly service from Amman (AMM) to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) on May 10. This 7,036 mile route, the longest in the network of Jordan’s flag carrier, will be flown by Boeing 787-8 equipment.

Air Algerie (AH) plans to add twice weekly service from Algiers (ALG) to Rotterdam, Netherlands (RTM) this winter. Flights will begin on October 28 and be operated by the somewhat rare Boeing 737-600.

Arkia-Israeli Airlines (IZ) will add twice weekly seasonal service from Tel Aviv (TLV) to Lisbon, Portugal (LIS) from October 27. This route will be operated by Airbus A321neo equipment.

It appears that Discover Airlines (4Y) may not resume summer seasonal flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to Anchorage, Alaska (ANC), as the route is not available for booking.

Akasa Air has ended flights from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi (AUH).

Breeze Airways (MX) has dropped flights from Tampa, Fla. (TPA) to Lansing, Mich. (LAN).

A dramatic incident unfolded at London Heathrow (LHR) on 28 August 28 when a 33-year-old passenger on a Saudia (SV) flight taxiing for departure to Jeddah assaulted a crew member and deployed an emergency slide mid‑taxi. The aircraft was immediately halted on the taxiway as emergency services converged, deploying specialized airstairs for police to board and take the suspect into custody. No injuries were reported, but the slide deployment and subsequent inspection delayed departure by approximately four hours while engineers removed the slide and assessed the door system.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened nearly 10.4 million travelers at the nation’s airport security checkpoints from Friday through Monday of the Labor Day holiday weekend, with Friday marking one of the busiest days in TSA history. This represents about a 3.3 percent. On Friday, Aug. 29, TSA screened 2,971,217 passengers, the highest volume ever for the Friday before Labor Day and the 15th busiest single day in the agency’s nearly 24-year history. Of the top 10 busiest travel days, eight have been reported since May 23, with the agency on pace to break an all-time annual passenger volume record this year.  

TSA screeners cleared 80,304,585 passengers in August, which was a slight one percent increase over August 2024.

I recently visited Canada for the first time in a few years. As you know, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is responsible for the screening of employees and passengers at Canadian airports. CATSA oversees private contractors who handle these responsibilities. The new contracts, which began in April 2024, are for a term of five years, and are renewable for two additional five-year periods at CATSA’s discretion. How much are the contracts worth?

A British Airways (BA) pilot operating a recent London Heathrow to New York Kennedy (JFK) flight reportedly left the cockpit door open for an extended period so family members aboard could watch him fly. Crew and passengers noticed immediately and felt alarmed, prompting staff to report the breach), which is a violation of post-9/11 security protocols that mandate cockpit doors remain locked. The pilot was suspended, the return flight was canceled, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority launched a formal investigation. After determining there was no security risk, BA allowed the pilot to resume duties. You will recall British Airways has received negative attention of late due to a pair of flight attendants unprofessional behaviour.

ORDER CHANGES: Hawaiian Airlines (HA) has upgauged a previous order for five Boeing 787-9s to the larger 787-10. Iraqi Airways (IA) has also bumped up a prior order for five Boeing 787-8s to the larger 787-9s.

Lessor Macquarie AirFinance has announced a purchase of 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. This will bring Macquarie to 70 737 MAX jets once orders are delivered. Lessors now account for a quarter of all 737 MAX orders.

Vietjet earned $1.35 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, including a pre-tax profit of nearly $61 million. That figure was up 37 percent compared to 2024. In the first six months of the year, Vietjet operated 79,000 flights and carried 14.4 million passengers.

Ryanair (FR) announced a two percent annual uptick in August passenger traffic, with the Irish discounter flying 21 million passengers last month. System-wide load factor for the month was 96 percent. For the last 12 months, Ryanair has welcomed 203.6 million passengers.

UPDATE: If you are in the market to become a minority owner of a well-established airline, the Portuguese government is offering a 44.9 percent stake in TAP Air Portugal (TP) for $817.7 million. Five percent of the airline will be owned by its employees, with the government owning the remaining 50.1 percent.

1,000 CLUB: American Airlines has officially joined the small group of airlines operating over 1,000 mainline aircraft, solidifying its position as one of the world's largest carriers. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Fort Worth-based airline, which has been steadily expanding its fleet in recent years. (American Eagle branded regional aircraft number another 566 aircraft.) American’s mainline fleet now comprises 1,104 aircraft, including:

Canada’s WestJet (WS) has finalized its largest aircraft order ever for 67 jets from Boeing, marking a transformative leap in its fleet strategy. WestJet placed firm orders for 60 Boeing 737‑10 MAX narrowbodies and seven Boeing 787‑9 Dreamliners, with delivery stretching through 2034. Additionally, the airline secured options for 25 more 737‑10 MAXand four additional 787‑9s. This expansion brings WestJet’s total firm orders for Boeing jets to 123 aircraft, with another 40 options outstanding, making it the largest order book of any Canadian carrier. 

Based on industry estimates, the total value of the deal could approach $7 billion when factoring in long-range pricing and delivery schedules. The breakdown reflects the growing industry standard list prices: approximately $129.9 million for each 737‑10 MAX, and around $281.6 million for each 787‑9.  Although airlines typically secure discounts well below list price, often in the range of 50 to 55 percen,the headline figures indicate the significant investment WestJet is making in modernization and network expansion.

The new 737 MAX 10 jets will replace aging aircraft and deliver 20 percent lower fuel burn and emissions, along with 14 percent lower airframe maintenance costs. The seven additional Dreamliners will push WestJet into a new league of long-haul operators, effectively doubling its 787‑9 fleet and enabling expanded connectivity across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With the largest active order book in Canada, WestJet is investing in a modern, flexible fleet that supports both domestic low-cost routes and high-demand, international markets. 

In a move that redefines “heavy cargo,” Intradco Global recently completed a full Boeing 747‑400 freighter charter carrying a whopping 1,200 breeding pigs from Denmark to the Philippines. No stone or trough was left unturned in ensuring their in‑air comfort. The pigs traveled in custom‑built wooden crates equipped with oversized watering systems. Intradco’s bespoke “pig lift” vehicle made boarding a breeze - no steep ramps, just a livestock-friendly red carpet. A dedicated care specialist and the client’s representative oversaw welfare throughout the flight. And yes, there was even a last‑minute airport switch, handled with such smooth coordination that not even the snouts noticed the change.

Unionized pilots at ultra‑low‑cost carrier Sun Country Airlines (SY) have officially filed a notice to bargain a new contract, with negotiations set to begin in December when the current agreement becomes amendable. The initiative was launched last Friday during a meeting with the airline’s CEO and vice president of flight operations and was submitted through the Air Line Pilots Association’s Master Executive Council.  The timing is significant: Sun Country has dramatically expanded its cargo operations since partnering with Amazon Air in 2020. Soon, the airline will operate 20 freighters alongside its 45 passenger aircraft. This transformation from a primarily passenger-focused airline to one juggling scheduled services, charters, and freight is at the core of the pilots’ request. Pilots are of the opinion that the new contract must reflect the airline’s new identity and offer terms on par with those secured by pilots at other carriers. 

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has secured the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from both the FAA’s and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel for its Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger-to-freighter conversion. This landmark achievement places IAI ahead of all competitors as the company is now the first in the world authorized to convert a Boeing 777 into a freighter capable of carrying a 100-ton payload. The newly certified freighter will be leased by AerCap and operated by Kalitta Air (K4), bringing a high-volume, cost-efficient aircraft into the global cargo market. Industry watchers view the 777-300ERSF as a compelling replacement for aging 747 freighters. Several other P2F (passenger-to-freighter) contenders are already chasing their own 777 conversion programs, setting the stage for a new chapter in air cargo modernization.

CBI Arrests Airports Authority of India Manager in $28 Million Embezzlement Case

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested Rahul Vijay, a senior finance and accounts manager at the Airports Authority of India (AAI), for allegedly embezzling about $28 million during his tenure at Dehradun Airport between 2019–20 and 2022–23. Investigators allege that Vijay manipulated records by creating roughly $22.7 million in fictitious assets, excluding legitimate projects such as a $8.1 million electrical terminal build. He also duplicated entries and diverted an additional $5.2 million in fraudulent revenue expenditures to his personal accounts. The scheme surfaced after a senior AAI finance officer filed a complaint in early August. A formal case was registered on August 26 under India’s Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant penal code sections. Vijay was arrested at Jaipur Airport, produced before a CBI court in Dehradun, and remanded in custody. Authorities are now tracing the money trail and investigating possible collaborators.

🇨🇳 B-20ES, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Shenzen Airlines (ZH) on September 2.

🇨🇳 B-32NA, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Shenzhen Airlines yesterday.

🇨🇦 C-GSWJ, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to WestJet on September 2.

🇦🇺 VH-E2A, an Embraer E190/E2, was delivered to Virgin Australia (VA) yesterday.

🇳🇿 ZK-MZH, an ATR 72-600, was delivered to Air New Zealand (NZ) on September 1.

🇨🇦 C-FYNS, an Airbus A319-114 with Air Canada (AC), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried yesterday to Marana, Ariz. (MZJ) for part-out and scrap.

🇸🇦 HZ-FAJ, an Airbus A320-214 with Flyadeal, was wfu and ferried on August 31 to Glamorgan, Wales (DGX). This frame was returned to its lessor.

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