Perhaps, this year is best summed up by one word — lively. From the chaos of reopened airports to the incredible development of new aircraft, we certainly are finding ourselves in a new era of aviation and air travel. While the dreaded COVID-19 has not yet disappeared, it would appear that the airline industry has found a footing and begun returning to some sense of normality.

We’ve witnessed declining airline reputations, the continuing fallout of the 737 MAX fiasco, and tragedy from the war in Ukraine. But there has been some positive news; new airlines have continued to takeoff, flight frequencies have returned to pre-COVID levels, large investments have been made as the industry continues to define what the future will look like, and – of course – AirlineGeeks managed to support two major Australian air shows!

Here, then, is the year that was — 2022 in review:

January

Philippine Airlines’ new A350 (Photo: Philippine Airlines)

It was an interesting start to the year, with many nations opening up borders and airlines struggling to get back into their pre-COVID business.

Philippine Airlines Returns to Tel Aviv After A 60-Year Absence

Philippine Airlines resumed service to Tel Aviv, which it last served in the 1940s and 1950s.

Upsizing Cargo With The Airbus Beluga

Having flown its maiden flight in 1994, the Airbus A300-600ST Super Transporter — also known as the adorable and oversized Airbus BelugaST — became the world’s most unique cargo carrier as it featured one of the biggest cargo holds of any civil or military aircraft flying today in quite an unorthodox shape.

Boeing and Its Labyrinth: In 2021, Manufacturer the Lost $4.3 Billion Due to Aircraft Defects

It is no surprise that 2021 was a bad year for aviation globally, however, for many players, a timid recovery began to be seen. In the case of Boeing, such recovery became visible in the last quarter but did not prevent a loss of $4.3 billion, pushed mainly by the production problems of its airplanes.

ITA Airways Launches ‘Superior Class’ on All Domestic Flights from January 10

An ITA Airways Airbus A320 with the new livery named after “Fausto Coppi” at Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport. (Photo: ITA Airways)

According to ITA Airways, the Italian national airline offers three travel classes onboard its aircraft: Business Class on long- and medium-haul flights, Premium Economy on long-haul flights only, and Economy. However, on Dec. 26, the airline launched its new Superior Class, a service that was present in the old Italian flag carrier Alitalia but had since been eliminated. Superior Class will be available on some domestic flights, and later — after Jan. 10 — it will be available throughout the airline’s entire domestic network.

February

PLAY Airbus A321neo in flight (Photo: PLAY)

PLAY Announces New Flights To New York Stewart

Today, Icelandic low-cost airline PLAY is announcing a new service connecting Iceland to the United States. Starting June 9, PLAY will fly between its main base at Rekjavik, Iceland’s Keflavik Airport and New York’s Stewart International Airport.

Frontier Airlines Buys and Merges With Spirit Airlines, Creating 5th Largest U.S. Airline

The low-cost carrier industry is about to have some major breakthrough changes, beginning with the definitive merger between two of the largest and most prominent low-cost carriers in the U.S.; the first airline merger since Alaska purchased Virgin America back in 2016.

Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX Returns to the Skies

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Airlines operated its first Boeing 737 MAX flight almost three years after regulators grounded the fleet globally — following two deadly accidents involving the aircraft.

March

A Bamboo Airways 787 departs from Hanoi for its inaugural flight to the U.S. (Photo: Bamboo Airways)

Bamboo Airways Eyes International Route Expansion

Bamboo Airways — a Vietnamese leisure carrier — hasn’t stopped expanding its route map during the pandemic. Recently, the carrier announced the launch for flight operations between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Sydney on March 30.

European Carriers Suspend Asia Flights Amid Ukraine Crisis

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues escalating, more countries are closing their airspace to Russian carriers and Russia-registered aircrafts. In return, Russia closed its airspace to those countries to retaliate.

The New Italian Airline Aeroitalia

Today there are only three Italian airlines with an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), ITA Airways, Air Dolomiti (part of the Lufthansa group) and Neos Air.

Australia Reports No 5G Interference

The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has recently released an airworthiness bulletin stating that “CASA has not confirmed any RA (radar altimeter) system failure from 5G interference but continues to monitor this situation.”

China Eastern Boeing 737-800 Crashes in Southern China

On the afternoon of March 21, a China Eastern Boeing 737-800 flying domestically from Kunming to Guangzhou crashed in a mountainous of Southern China. According to official sources, the aircraft had 123 passengers and 9 crew members on board flight MU5735.

April

JetBlue Airbus A321 departing London Heathrow [AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale]

JetBlue Announces $3.6 Billion Offer for Spirit, Topping Previously Announced Frontier Deal

Following reports by the New York Times, JetBlue announced that it had submitted a $3.6 billion all-cash offer for Miramar, Fla.-based Spirit Airlines, putting the New York-headquartered carrier in direct competition with Frontier Airlines — the ultra-low-cost carrier with which Spirit had agreed to merge earlier this year.

Ryanair Posts Record High Passenger Numbers for March

Ryanair has posted positive gains in traffic figures for the month of March with the airline recording 11.2 million passengers carried.

Behind-the-Scenes at “Hawai’i’s Hometown Airline” in Honolulu

An AvGeek couldn’t visit the Hawaiian Islands without thinking about the airline that carries the namesake of them, Hawaiian Airlines.

Easter Travel Overloads Australian Aviation

This year’s Easter weekend has seen Australian airports and airlines struggle to manage the highest amount of passengers some airports have seen in over two years.

Schiphol Airport Asks Airlines to Cancel Flights Due to Staff Shortages

One of Europe’s busiest airports is set to have further disruption this weekend after an unannounced baggage handlers strike caused chaos last weekend.

A KLM 737-800 in Amsterdam (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

May

A rendering of Qantas’ new Airbus A350-1000, A321XLR and A220-300. (Photo: Qantas)

Qantas Selects A350 for New York, London Flights, Places Orders for 52 Airbus Aircraft

Australian flag carrier Qantas today announced a set of aircraft orders aimed at expanding both its international and domestic route networks.

Flight Cancellations and Passport Delays Set to Disrupt Summer Travel

The lifting of coronavirus travel restrictions in North America and across Europe has created a sharp increase in the demand for air travel.

Cape Air Requests Cancellation of Service to Small Communities

The Essential Air Service – or EAS – communities have been taking a major hit over the past eight months. First Boutique Air requested to terminate Jackson, Tenn. followed by Show Low, Ariz. Altoona, Penn., and Pendleton, Oregon, although the latter three were just so the carrier could get a higher subsidy and is in the process, they are planning to leave Jackson in the next month or so.

JetBlue Urges Shareholders to Vote Against Frontier’s “Inferior” Offer

On Monday, JetBlue set in motion a second attempt to merge with Spirit — the ultra-low-cost carrier — through the means of a hostile takeover.

June

An Emirates Boeing 777F departing Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Emirates Converts Passenger Aircraft into Freighters

Dubai, the United Arab Emirates-based Emirates will convert six more of its Boeing 777s into freighters which will serve to provide capacity growth, according to Cargo Facts. 

Pilot Shortages Continue to Cause Significant U.S. Flight Disruptions

Airline passengers this summer can continue to expect record flight cancellations as the aviation industry wages its battle against one of the largest pilot shortages to date.

Canada Suspends Vaccination Mandate For Air Passengers

As the travel industry attempts to return to a semblance of normality after months of restrictions due to the COVID pandemic, each country tried to find its own way to deal with the situation balancing the need to protect its population in a rapidly changing health environment and the need to restart business and leisure air traffic to support the economy.

Air New Zealand Poised to Provide ‘Best Sleep in the Sky’ with New Products

Air New Zealand unveiled its plan on Wednesday for completely redesigned cabins on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, creating a much more comfortable experience for passengers on the carrier’s long-haul flights.

An Air New Zealand Boeing 787 Dreamliner landing in Houston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

July

Marianas Southern Airways Tecnam P2012 Traveller (Photo: Southern Airways)

Interview: Marianas Southern Airways, America’s Newest Airline

Etihad Airways ‘Sustainable 50’ A350 makes inaugural flight to New York

On 30 June 2022, Etihad Airways celebrated the arrival of its new Airbus A350-1000 (one of five new Airbus A350s to join Etihad’s fleet this year) in the United States, with 371 passengers, following the inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Alaska Airlines Announces Launch of Electronic Bag Tag Program

On Wednesday Alaska Airlines announced the launch of their new electronic bag tag program – the first amongst U.S. carriers.

American Airlines Reports Highest Quarterly Revenue Total Ever

American Airlines has announced company-record second-quarter revenue earnings of $13.4 billion for Q2 2022. The revenue figure is a 12.2 percent increase over the same quarter in 2019, despite capacity being down 8.5 percent.

American Airlines jets on the ramp at DFW.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

August

Delta’s new Airbus A321neo. (Photo: Delta Air Lines)

Delta Follows Other Major Airlines Adding “Tag Routes”

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has made it through the pandemic without starting a single tag route.

United Announces New Nonstop Flights to South Africa

Earlier this week, United announced new direct flights between Washington, DC’s Dulles Airport and Cape Town, South Africa —becoming the first airline to provide nonstop round-trip service from the United States’ capital to one of South Africa’s main gateways.

IATA Moves to Have Age Limit For Pilots Removed

While the airline industry recovers from the drastic collapse in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines and airports worldwide are struggling to cope with the sudden uptick in demand triggered by the removal of many restrictions on international mobility.

Hainan Airlines Resumes Flights to Manchester, U.K.

The U.K ‘s Manchester Airport has expanded its route map to mainland China again, after a two-year hiatus.

Trip Report: Hawaiian Airlines from Sydney to Honolulu

This month, AirlineGeeks took advantage of the opportunity to review the US airline described by Forbes magazine as “top in reliability for the second year running.”

It wouldn’t be a Hawaiian air show without Hawaiian Airlines. Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mike Mangano

September

Emirates Premium Economy (Photo Emirates)

Emirates Expands Premium Economy to New Cities

This past week, Emirates announced an expansion of their premium economy offering, making it available across more routes. Premium Economy was initially not a focus for the airline, but over the years its popularity has been growing and airlines have quickly come to see the dollar signs tagged to it.

The First Passenger Flight With an Electric Aircraft in Iceland

Last week Icelandair, Iceland’s national airline, made the first flight in Iceland operated by an electric aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic Reveals Its First Next Gen Airbus A330neo

Virgin Atlantic revealed images on Twitter of its freshly painted Airbus A330neo. The highly anticipated aircraft is just one of the carrier’s 16 Airbus A330-900s firm orders that were placed during the 2019 Paris Airshow.

U.S. Carriers Seek to Capitalize on Additional Cuba Flights

United Airlines has requested an additional 30-day waiver from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ahead of an Oct. 31 deadline to resume flights to Cuba.

Interview: Expedia VP of Airline Partnerships On the Changing Game for Airlines, Travelers

Air travel was dead in late-2020. Airlines had slashed their schedules to fractions of 2019 levels, potential travelers had hunkered down to protect themselves from Covid-19 and airports had little to do but sit idly by.

October

Rex Finalises Purchase of National Jet Express. (Photo: Regional Express)

Regional Express Acquires Australia’s National Jet Express

Australian airline Regional Express has finally acquired National Jet Express, having made the announcement on Friday, Sept. 30.

Alaska Air Cargo Delivers Fresh Hop to Alaska and Hawaii

Alaska Airlines, Yakima Chief Hops and Bale Breaker Brewing Company are teaming up to deliver fresh hop harvests to Hawaii and Alaska. 

ICAO Assembly Adopts New Net-Zero 2050 Emissions Target After Triennial Assembly

At its global headquarters in Montreal, Canada, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has just concluded its 41^st Assembly, a global event that every three years gathers all Member States to decide the way forward for all global items involving commercial aviation.

Amazon Air Adds Ten Airbus A330 Freighters to its Fleet

Amazon Air, the cargo airline of Amazon.com, Inc. which operates exclusively for Amazon’s parcel transportation business, has signed a lease agreement for ten converted to freighters (P2Fs) Airbus A330-300.

While Showing Signs of Recovery, Boeing Posts 3.3 Billion Loss for Q3 2022

Another earnings presentation, another negative result for Boeing. In recent years, the U.S. manufacturer found no way to escape this sequence, and Q3 2022 was no exception.

Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 on its maiden flight (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

November

HARS’ Lockheed Super Constellation. Photo: Ryan Imeson

Review: Wings Over Illawarra Was All About Aviation History

The chance to visit any air show is, of course, a delight. The opportunity to attend an air show based at an aviation museum, however, is extraordinary. That’s what makes Wings Over Illawarra so distinctly unique.

Wizz Air Continues to Grow in Europe But Closes Two Bases

Wizz Air is among the fastest-growing European airlines in 2022. It was also recently named Global Environmental Sustainability Airline Group of the Year at the inaugural Centre for Aviation Asia Aviation Summit and Sustainability Expo in Singapore and received the Europe, Middle East and Africa Environmental Sustainability Airline of the Year.

Asian Carriers Hosts Forum As Regional Travel Restrictions Ease

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)’s 66th Assembly of Presidents is being held in Bangkok, Thailand this week.

Canada, India Expand Bilateral Agreement to Allow Unlimited Frequencies

As China continues to pursue its zero-Covid-19 strategy imposing heavy restrictions on international travel and countries in East Asia continue to feel the impact of the closure of Russian air space to European and North American carriers, efforts are being made to boost commercial relationships with other Asian countries that represent viable commercial partners for Western economies.

Frontier Releases Unlimited “Go Wild” Pass

Frontier Airlines announced a ‘first-of-its-kind,’ ‘all-you-can-fly’ pass for a year, not without numerous caveats of course.

New Airline Startup Fly Atlantic Makes Push for Low-Cost Transatlantic Flying

The airline plans to be based in Belfast, Northern Ireland in the summer of 2024. Operating flights to both the United States and Canada, Fly Atlantic will look to change the narrative on ultra-low-cost transatlantic travel.

December

A United Express CRJ-200 exiting the runway in Ogdensburg, N.Y. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Severe Pilot Shortage Cited For Dramatic Loss of U.S. Regional Flights

A recent report from the Regional Airline Association (RAA) noted that 76 percent of U.S. airports lost air services when comparing figures from October 2022 with the same month in 2019.

Boeing’s Final 747 Exits Everett Factory

The 747-8 Freighter will be delivered to Atlas Air in early 2023, becoming the freight line’s 53rd 747.

Boom Announces Engine Partner, But Questions Remain on Proposed 2029 Timeline

Denver based startup Boom Supersonic announced on Tuesday that it had finally found a designer and manufacturer for the engine it hopes will power its Overture aircraft.

Spirit Looks to Enhance Guest Experience with New HAECO Seats

These new seats will be rolled out on their A320neo aircraft as early as January 2023.

Bad Weather, Operational Issues Force Southwest Airlines to Cancel Two-Thirds of Flights, More Cancelations Ahead

The week leading to Christmas is usually a very busy travel period in North America, but this year it has been made particularly chaotic by Winter Storm Elliot, an extra-tropical bomb cyclone that created blizzard conditions over large parts of the United States and Canada and wreaked havoc into airline schedules.

One Door Closes, Another Opens

It’s no lie that this year has been incredible – we’ve worked around the clock and around the globe to deliver all things airlines and aviation. We are thankful most for you — our cherished reader. This year saw us crack 60,000 followers on Twitter alone, and with all the comments and retweets, you sure know how to make us feel appreciated. Thank you.

As this year ends, we are excited for the next! We thank you for your support, and we — AirlineGeeks — look forward to delivering the very best we can.

All the best, and however you welcome 2023, be safe and keep your eyes on the skies!

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Mike Mangano

Mike’s love affair with flight and mechanical objects in the sky began at an early age, fascinated by space documentaries and the vintage Flight Simulator ’95. He currently works as an instructor for UAVs and is training to receive his Private Pilot Licence with the goal of working in manned flight instruction. An avid reader of all things aviation and manned space flight, Mike stays close to developments in aerospace while reminiscing and sharing the rich history of flight with others. He loves writing, engineering and science.

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