Flightline for June 16, 2025

Flight 004

NEW AND PROPOSED ROUTES  

Spirit Airlines (NK) is adding three new routes in mid-August: daily from Detroit (DTW) to Santa Ana, Calif. (SNA); 3x weekly from Reno, Nev. (RNO) to San Diego (SAN), and twice weekly from Minneapolis (MSP) to Myrtle Beach, S.C. (MYR).

Greater Bay Airlines (HB) has applied to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to begin service to the U.S. The Hong Kong (HKG) based carrier aspires to begin twice weekly flights to Saipan (SPN) this winter with Boeing 737-800s, as well as service to Guam (GUM) next year after the carrier has taken delivery of new Boeing 737 MAX frames.

Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines (CM) will start 4x weekly service from Panama City (PTY) to San Diego (SAN) on June 25. This route will be flown by Boeing 737 MAX 9 equipment.

SUSPENDED ROUTES

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) will suspend service from Amsterdam (AMS) to Minneapolis (MSP) this winter. Service will conclude on October 26 and resume in late March.

Delta Air Lines (DL) has suspended all service to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) until September, whilst United Airlines (UA) has done so until at least August.

American Airlines (AA) will briefly suspend flights from New York Kennedy (JFK) to Paris DeGaulle (CDG) from January 7 until February 4.

DROPPED ROUTES

It looks like Spirit will be closing shop in Seattle (SEA), as the carrier’s only route, to Las Vegas (LAS), is set to conclude on August 13.

AVIATION SECURITY

TSA screeners found two guns in separate carry-on bags within 10 minutes on June 10 at Boise, Idaho (BOI), bringing the total found at the airport to 15 for the year so far.

A recent incident at Seattle involved an Alaska Airlines (AS) passenger who triggered a security breach on June 10. The man bypassed TSA screening by walking through an emergency exit door, making it onto the tarmac and attempting to board a plane directly from the ramp. Airport police quickly responded and took the individual into custody without further incident. The breach caused a temporary security lockdown in parts of the terminal, delaying some flights. Alaska Airlines confirmed no injuries occurred, and the individual is now facing federal charges.

AIR INDIA 171 CRASH

On June 12, 2025, Air India (AI) Flight 171 — a Boeing 787‑8 (registered VT‑ANB)— crashed seconds after departing Ahmedabad (AMD) bound for London Gatwick (LGW). Carrying 242 people (230 passengers and 12 crew), the aircraft reached about 625 ft before plunging into a hostel at the BJ Medical College campus in Meghani Nagar, igniting a massive fire fueled by a full fuel load. Shortly before impact the captain had issued a “Mayday” call, stating the aircraft had lost power and lift. The impact and ensuing blaze claimed the lives of 241 onboard, with 28 more killed on the ground; 60 people were injured. Remarkably, a single British passenger, seated in an emergency exit row, survived by reportedly jumping from the aircraft and walking away with minor injuries. The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national.

The crash marks the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 and is the deadliest airline disaster in over a decade. Authorities, including India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, the NTSB, and the UK AAIB, have launched a joint inquiry. Preliminary reports suggest a dramatic loss of altitude shortly after takeoff, and videos hint at possible technical failures or power loss, although no definitive cause has been determined. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing, alongside engine maker GE Aerospace, is actively supporting the investigation—all while airline operations and Boeing’s stock take a significant hit amid growing scrutiny.

EERIE: This is the second Air India crash of a Flight 171, as a Boeing 707 flying from Mumbai (BOM) to London Heathrow (LHR) in October 1965 crashed while approaching Geneva (GVA) on a technical stop. 117 passengers and crew were killed. Air India will now retire the 171 flight number, with the new flight numbers for the Ahmedabad to London Gatwick service assigned as AI159 and AI160.

AVIATION INDUSTRY NEWS

Air France (AF) is launching a summer pop‑up restaurant on the rooftop of Galeries Lafayette in Paris from June 25 to August 20, 2025, offering a multi-course meal based on its long-haul business-class catering for €93 per person—including drinks. The experience will be served on custom Air France tableware, all within a stylish navy-blue and white decor that mimics the airline’s onboard ambiance. With just 20 seats per service and panoramic views over Paris, this playful yet premium concept marks the second year of the airline’s ground-based culinary showcase—after last year’s Palais de Tokyo Olympic pop‑up.

CREEPER: A 37-year-old chief cabin manager for T’way Air (TW) was sentenced to four weeks in prison in Singapore after secretly planting a mini camera under a towel in a bathroom shared by flight crew during a layover on April 27. The device, still recording when discovered by a colleague, revealed videos on his personal devices—some deleted just prior to police action. The targeted flight attendant suffered significant emotional trauma, including anxiety and trust issues, and T’way Air promptly suspended and terminated the manager following the incident.

On Thursday, JetBlue Airways (B6) Flight 312, an Airbus A220-300 (N3242J) arriving from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), veered off Runway 33L upon landing at Boston (BOS) and came to rest on the surrounding grass. Passengers reported the pilot announcing a loss of steering control after touchdown, with one saying, “We lost all steering on this runway.” Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation while Boston imposed a temporary ground stop and closed the runway for inspections, causing delays.

Silver Airways (3M) abruptly ceased operations on June 11, leaving over 500 employees surprised and without full pay — many report receiving only around 45 percent of their final paycheck despite working significant overtime. The airline, which had filed for Chapter 11 in December 2024, had hoped that Wexford Capital’s acquisition would preserve operations, but the buyer chose to only acquire assets, not the ongoing business, resulting in an immediate shutdown. The shortfall was attributed to limited cash reserves and the structure of the sale, and while the company did cover June medical insurance, hopes of additional payments hinge on flight revenues and court approval.

AIRCRAFT EVACUATED: Amid escalating military strikes between Israel and Iran, Israel’s major carriers — El Al (LY), Israir (6H), and Arkia (IZ) — have relocated their aircraft out of the country as a precautionary measure after Tel Aviv was shut down and the threat of retaliation increased. Israir confirmed that the move aligns with a recently enacted contingency plan. Plane tracking data shows that Israir jets headed to Cyprus, while El Al routed aircraft to multiple European airports. El Al has closed bookings for all flights until the end of June.

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) will pay $1.255 million dollars for two pieces of artwork for Terminal C, which is currently undergoing extensive modernization.

In May 2025, Boeing delivered 45 aircraft, maintaining its robust streak of five consecutive months with 40+ deliveries. This total included 31 Boeing 737 MAX, 7 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, five 777 freighters, one 767 freighter, and one P‑8 Poseidon to the U.S. Navy. These deliveries nearly doubled May 2024’s total of 24 and contributed to a year-to-date delivery count of 220 aircraft, positioning Boeing behind Airbus’s 243 frames.  

AerCap and several other major aircraft leasing firms secured a landmark victory in London’s High Court on June 11, 2025, winning a $1.035 billion insurance payout after nearly 150 jets and engines they had leased to Russian airlines were confiscated (stolen) following Russia’s March 2022 ban on aircraft exports. The court ruled the losses fell under “war risks” coverage rather than all-risks policies—validating reclaim rights despite EU and U.S. sanctions. This award augments AerCap’s prior recoveries—$1.3 billion in 2023 and $195 million in 2024—bringing its total pre-tax recoveries to roughly $2.5 billion. Insurers like AIG, Lloyd’s, Chubb, and Swiss Re must pay by July 2, 2025, with interest and costs to be determined later. The ruling sets a major precedent for leaseholder claims over assets lost during geopolitical conflicts.

Mexicana (XN) has postponed the delivery of its first Embraer E190-E2 turboprop by one month, now expected in July instead of June. This delay affects its already-small Embraer fleet — comprised of just three aircraft, with only two currently operational —and slightly disrupts its strategy to modernize and expand services with newer, fuel-efficient regional jets. The hold-up is believed to stem from broader supply-chain issues affecting Embraer and Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

Cebu Pacific (5J) has wet-leased a pair of Airbus A320s to Flyadeal (F3) for wet-lease ops. The two frames, RP-C4263 and RP-C4263, were both previously in the Virgin America fleet. Which you may, or may not, find interesting.

AIRBUS STUDYING LARGER A220, A350

Airbus is actively developing a larger variant of the A220 — often referred to as the A220‑500 or A221 — to compete more directly with 160–180 seat jets like the Boeing 737 MAX 8. Although Airbus recognizes the potential market for a stretched A220, it’s cautious about its impact: analysts warn the new model could eat into sales of the A320 family, especially the A319neo and A320neo, as their capacities overlap. Airbus has delayed any formal launch until its current A220 production reaches profitability and demand stabilizes, mindful of not undermining its own “core” A320 platform. Consequently, while the project remains on the drawing board, Airbus is weighing the benefits of market expansion against the risk of brand and product cannibalization.

Airbus is reportedly also exploring the development of an extended version of its A350 widebody aircraft, tentatively referred to as the A350-2000. This stretched variant would be even longer than the current A350-1000, potentially seating up to 480 passengers in a typical two-class layout, targeting high-density international routes dominated by Boeing 777-9 and former 747 operators. The A350-2000 would build on the -1000’s range and efficiency but face challenges including gate compatibility, airport handling constraints, and market overlap with existing A350 and A380 customers. While Airbus has not confirmed a launch, discussions with airline customers are reportedly underway as part of broader efforts to respond to demand for high-capacity, long-range aircraft.

Finally, Airbus projects robust long-term growth in global aviation demand, forecasting deliveries of 43,420 new commercial aircraft between 2025 and 2044, which includes 42,450 passenger jets and 970 factory-built freighters. This outlook reflects a mildly increased demand (two percent above last year’s forecast), with single-aisle aircraft like A320s and 737s accounting for 34,250 units and wide-bodies rising to 9,170 — a sign of healthy long-haul market confidence. Airbus anticipates annual passenger traffic growth of 3.6 percent, fueled by rising GDP, urban populations, and an expanding global middle class — highlighted by strong momentum out of markets like India, Asia, and the Middle East. Despite geopolitical and trade tensions, Airbus remains optimistic, predicting the world fleet will nearly double to about 49,200 aircraft by 2044.

THE MOST ON-TIME AIRLINES IN MAY 2025

The below graphic shows the most on-time airlines around the world and in North America for May 2025. Data via Cirium.

POLICE BLOTTER 🚨 

Chengxuan Han, a Chinese PhD candidate from Wuhan, was arrested at Detroit (DTW) on June 8 after customs agents discovered four packages she secretly shipped to the University of Michigan containing roundworm-related biological materials without the required import permits. Initially, Han lied about the contents—claiming they were plastic cups—before admitting they were for her research. Further raising suspicions, she reportedly wiped her electronic device just days before arriving in the U.S. This marks the third recent case involving Chinese nationals smuggling biological specimens into the U.S., following prior incidents involving a toxic fungus, and authorities warn these actions may pose national security risks and threaten the integrity of American scientific institutions.

Darrell Ray Seale, a 56-year-old aerospace executive, has been indicted on a federal charge of abusive sexual contact after allegedly masturbating and groping the male passenger seated next to him aboard American Airlines Flight 4349, which was operating from Boston (BOS) to Washington National (DCA), on June 6. According to a probable-cause affidavit, Seale persisted in touching his seatmate’s genitals and leg —even after the victim repeatedly signaled him to stop — claiming afterward that he was just “stretching his arms.” He was arrested on June 8, released on personal recognizance bond under travel restrictions, and is prohibited from boarding commercial flights without court approval. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison. The full criminal complaint is attached below.

LATEST AIRCRAFT DELIVERIES (U.S. AIRLINES)

N248BZ, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to Breeze Airways (MX) on June 13.

N3267J, an Airbus A220-300, was delivered to JetBlue Airways on June 13.

N781YX, an Embraer E175, was delivered to Republic Airways (YX) on June 11. This frame is painted in United Express livery.

N8957Q, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was delivered to Southwest Airlines (WN) on June 12.

Look for Sun Country Airlines (SY) to enter N904SY revenue service in the coming weeks. This Boeing 737-91M/ER was formerly A4O-BZ with Oman Air (WY) from 2015-2025.

AIRCRAFT RETIREMENTS

N935WN, a Boeing 737-7H4 with Southwest Airlines, was withdrawn from use and ferried on June 10 to Coolidge, Ariz. (P08) for part-out and scrap. This 16-year-old frame had just over 51,000 hours and nearly 31,000 cycles as of early January.

AIRLINE STOCKS 💰️ 

$AAL ( ▲ 4.31% )  $ALGT ( ▲ 4.75% )  $ALK ( ▲ 3.83% )  $BA ( ▼ 0.18% )  $DAL ( ▲ 2.72% )  $FLYY ( 0.0% )  $JBLU ( ▲ 4.15% )  $LUV ( ▼ 0.06% )  $MESA ( ▲ 2.84% )  $RJET ( 0.0% )  $SNCY ( ▲ 5.7% )  $UAL ( ▲ 2.66% )  $ULCC ( ▲ 7.56% )  

DAILY PASSENGER COUNTS AT U.S. AIRPORTS, 2024 vs. 2025