Flightline 35 - October 2, 2025

British Airways (BA) will add 4x weekly service from London Heathrow (LHR) to St. Louis, Mo. (STL) on April 19. This route will see a Boeing 787-8 in service.

Spain’s World2Fly (2W) began 2x weekly service from Madrid (MAD) to Rosario, Argentina (ROS) yesterday. This route will be operated by 432-seat Airbus A350-900 equipment.

Iberojet (E9) is set to add weekly weekly flights from Madrid, Spain to Queretaro, Mexico (QRO) on December 20, increasing to 2x weekly on January 25. An Airbus A350-900 will operate this route. If you haven’t been to Queretaro, its a beautiful and historic city.

I have good news for those of you looking for options on the Moscow to Pyongyang, North Korea sector: Russia’s Nordwind Airlines (N4) is adding a round trip from Moscow Sheremetyevo (SVO) to Pyongyang (FNJ) on October 31, with a return on November 2. This route will be operated by Airbus A330-200 equipment. One can only wonder what cargo may be on these flights.

Delta Air Lines’ (DL) daily seasonal service from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Lima, Peru (LIM) has received full approval from the Peruvian government, and the route will begin on December 4. The Boeing 767-300/ER service concludes on January 25.

American Airlines (AA) will not resume flights from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Eugene, Ore. (EUG) next summer. This route began in 2021 as a year-round flight, later became seasonal, and now has concluded.

The New York Times reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is expanding its biometric exit program to more international airports, routinely photographing departing travelers and matching images to passports and travel documents. Officials say the system helps close long standing security gaps and identify visa overstays, but privacy advocates and civil liberties groups warn about data retention, accuracy and limited independent safeguards. The rollout follows an interim rule cleared by the White House that removes earlier pilot limits and paves the way for nationwide use. The technology is already in use at dozens of U.S. airports, and its expansion will have operational implications for airlines and airports that must integrate new verification steps, while oversight bodies continue to press for stronger privacy and accountability measures.

As of September 6, 2025, CBP had 67,792 employees.

As of May 31, 2025, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had 64,130 employees. This number does not include Law Enforcement Officers serving in the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), as that number is Sensitive Security Information. TSA estimates 61,197 employees (95 percent) as the total number of employees exempt/excepted and estimated to be retained during a government shutdown.

Icelandic low cost carrier PLAY (OG) abruptly ceased operations Monday, cancelling all flights effective immediately and stranding thousands of passengers across Europe. The airline, which had been struggling with weak ticket sales and mounting losses, confirmed the shutdown in a market filing, saying roughly 400 employees will lose their jobs. The move follows an attempted restructuring earlier this year that included shifting aircraft into ACMI work and exploring a new Maltese AOC, but the turnaround failed to stabilize cash flow or secure enough new funding. PLAY’s collapse removes a key competitor on Iceland–Europe leisure routes and will likely trigger aircraft repossessions and asset reallocations by lessors.

Passengers holding tickets have been advised to arrange their own onward travel, with credit card chargebacks, package tour protections, and travel insurance the primary avenues for refunds. Airports and other carriers may announce rescue fares in the coming days, while Icelandic authorities work with the company on formal wind-down proceedings. The sudden exit underscores the challenges small transatlantic low cost carriers face against rising costs, seasonal demand swings, and limited investor support.

Braathens has filed for bankruptcy for its Airbus unit, Braathens International Airways (TT), and all Airbus flights for tour operators have been cancelled with immediate effect. The board decided on August 27 to phase out the Airbus business but was unable to secure the financing needed for an orderly wind down, forcing the insolvency filing and affecting about 200 staff who are covered by the state wage guarantee. ATR72-600 ACMI operations will continue as planned while tour operators rebook capacity and the courts and regulators manage the fallout.

A Ryanair (FR) flight from Milan Malpensa to London Stansted was forced to divert to Paris Beauvais after two disruptive passengers destroyed their passports mid-flight. Witnesses reported one man tearing out pages and eating them, while another locked himself in the lavatory attempting to flush his passport. Cabin crew quickly intervened and requested diversion, with French police meeting the aircraft on arrival and removing the men. The incident delayed the flight by about two hours, but passengers continued on to London the same day. Diversions for disruptive behavior are rare, but standard protocol when crew cannot guarantee safety in the cabin. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the men or confirmed whether charges will follow.

Ryanair has cancelled its winter schedule to Tel Aviv (TLV), axing 22 routes and about one million seats after the airport authority would not confirm Summer 2026 slot allocations or guarantee access to low cost Terminal 1. The airline says repeated closures of Terminal 1 this summer forced it into the pricier Terminal 3, making routes financially unviable, and will only resume services once slots for S26 are confirmed and Terminal 1 availability is secured.

Qantas (QF) is taking a pair of dry-leased Airbus A330-302s that formerly flew for Finnair (AY) - OH-LTR and OH-LTU. Finnair has been unable to fully utilize these frames due to Russian air space closures, and Qantas has been looking for more capacity to increase its international network.

The United Airlines (UA) Club at Philadelphia (PHL) was ordered temporarily closed by the Philadelphia Department of Health on Monday after failing a routine inspection. A closure notice was posted and staff redirected members to alternate lounges while the club addresses cited issues, including hot water and other food safety non-compliances. The lounge will remain shut pending corrective work and a re-inspection.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says global passenger demand in August 2025 was up 4.6 percent year on year while capacity rose 4.5 percent, producing a record August load factor of 86.0 percent. International demand drove the increase, rising 6.6 percent, while domestic demand grew 1.5 percent. Regionally, Asia Pacific led the rebound with especially strong international traffic and notable gains from China and Japan, Europe posted moderate growth, and North America lagged. Willie Walsh noted that the 2025 northern summer peak reached new highs and warned that manufacturing supply chain issues must be resolved as airlines plan more capacity in October.

A grim incident unfolded at Charlotte (CLT) on Sunday, September 28, 2025, when a stowaway was found dead inside the landing gear compartment of an American Airlines plane. The aircraft, which had arrived from Europe, was undergoing routine maintenance when airport staff made the shocking discovery around 9 a.m. local time. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and federal agents are investigating the circumstances surrounding the individual's presence on the plane. Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin. The body has been transported to the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has extended its June 2025 order limiting scheduled operations at Newark, N.J. (EWR) through Oct. 24, 2026, and raised the hourly cap modestly from 68 to 72 operations (no more than 36 arrivals and 36 departures), effective Oct. 26, 2025. The agency said the move is intended to preserve safety and reliability while persistent air traffic controller staffing shortfalls at the Philadelphia TRACON, runway work and communications issues are addressed. United and airport operators supported the extension as a way to reduce delays, but the cap effectively locks in constrained growth at Newark and will force carriers to prioritise routes or shift capacity to other East Coast hubs.

If you are interested in reading some of the documents already filed in Spirit Airlines’ (NK) current bankruptcy proceeding, this link is quite helpful.

Spirit Airlines has reached a framework agreement with lessor AerCap under which Spirit will reject the leases on 27 aircraft and AerCap will pay Spirit $150 million as part of the settlement.  The carrier says the deal settles outstanding claims between the parties and provides for future deliveries of new Airbus jets under revised terms; AerCap had previously issued notices related to 36 scheduled deliveries and alleged lease defaults, so the pact aims to end that dispute while helping Spirit cut operating costs during its Chapter 11 restructuring.  The arrangement is subject to court approval and was disclosed alongside debtor-in-possession financing that Spirit is pursuing to stabilize liquidity as it restructures.

Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) has scrapped a planned five percent increase in airline charges for 2026 and will freeze fees next year after talks with carriers, reversing a decision made as part of a three year investment plan that saw a 41 percent rise in charges this year. Schiphol said the fee pause will be supported by voluntary contributions and cost control measures as it seeks to balance investment, affordability and noise reduction, and a final decision on 2026 charges is expected by the end of October.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has again delayed enforcement of the Wheelchair Rule, pushing back full implementation until December 2026 while opening a new rulemaking, “Wheelchair Rule II,” to reconsider key provisions such as airlines’ liability for damaged wheelchairs, staff training frequency, predeparture notices, and timelines for returning mobility devices. The rule, finalized in December 2024, would have required airlines to have trained staff ready to assist and to have a passenger’s wheelchair available at the aircraft door when they deplane, but Airlines for America and major carriers have challenged the measures in court and the DOT is using enforcement discretion while it reviews industry concerns; a proposed notice in the new rulemaking is not expected until April 2026.

🇭🇷 9A-CAO, an Airbus A220-100, was delivered to Croatia Airlines (OU) on September 29.

🇦🇪 A6-FPF, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Flydubai (FZ) on September 29.

🇦🇪 A6-LRE, an Airbus A321-251neo, was delivered to Etihad Airways (EY) on October 1.

🇨🇳 B-658X, a Comac C919-100, was delivered to China Southern Airlines (CZ) on September 8.

🇨🇳 B-659R, a Comac ARJ21-700, was delivered to China Express Airlines (G5) on September 30.

🇦🇴 D2-TER, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to TAAG Angola Airlines (DT) on September 30.

🇩🇪 D-ABPS, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Lufthansa (LH) on September 30.

🇮🇪 EI-ILG and EI-IKV, a pair of Boeing 737 MAX 8s, were delivered to Ryanair on September 29.

🇮🇪 EI-ILN, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Ryanair on September 30.

🇫🇷 F-HPNV, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Air France (AF) on September 29.

🇰🇷 HL8711, an Airbus A321-272neo, was delivered to Korean Air (KE) on September 29.

🇸🇦 HZ-FBR, an Airbus A320-251neo, was delivered to Flyadeal (F3) on September 30.

🗾 JA990A, a Boeing 787-10, was delivered to All Nippon Airways (NH) on September 28.

🇺🇸 N14549, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to United Airlines on September 30.

🇺🇸 N17414, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to United Airlines on September 30.

🇺🇸 N257BZ, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Breeze Airways (MX) on September 29.

🇺🇸 N594DA, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines on September 29.

🇺🇸 N596DT, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Delta Air Lines on October 1.

🇹🇷 TC-LMD, a Boeing 787-9, was delivered to Turkish Airlines (TK) on September 30.

🇮🇳 VT-NHC and NHD, a pair of Airbus A321-251neos, were delivered to IndiGo (6E) on September 30.

🇲🇽 XA-VUV, an Airbus A321-271neo, was delivered to Volaris (Y4) on September 29.

🇩🇪 D-ABOJ, a Boeing 757-330 with Condor (DE), was withdrawn from use (wfu) and ferried on October 1 to Glamorgan, Wales (DGX) for part-out and scrap.

🇺🇸 N427UA, an Airbus A320-232 with United Airlines, was wfu and ferried on September 29 to Marana, Ariz. (MZJ) for part-out and scrap. This frame was delivered to United in April 1995 and had accumulated 93,344 hours and 37,493 cycles as of July 18.

🇪🇬 SU-GFF, an Airbus A220-300 with EgyptAir (MS), was wfu and ferried on September 29 to Glamorgan, Wales (DGX) for part-out and scrap.

🇦🇺 VH-VUJ, a Boeing 737-8FE with Virgin Australia (VA), was wfu and ferried on September 28 to Coolidge, Ariz. (P08) for part-out and scape.

🇲🇽 XA-VOC, an Airbus A319-132 with Volaris, was wfu and ferried on September 30 to Coolidge, Ariz. (P08) for part-out and scrap.

$AAL ( ▼ 1.44% ) $ALGT ( ▼ 2.82% ) $ALK ( ▲ 1.11% ) $BA ( ▲ 0.95% ) $CPA ( ▼ 0.36% ) $DAL ( ▼ 2.8% ) $FLYY ( ▼ 2.78% ) $JBLU ( ▼ 2.87% ) $LUV ( ▼ 0.58% ) $MESA ( 0.0% ) $RJET ( 0.0% ) $SNCY ( ▼ 1.99% ) $UAL ( ▼ 0.43% ) $ULCC ( ▼ 5.17% )