The decision was made “so we can be with our team and focus on our customer and the investigation,” Ortberg’s message to staff stated, according to Reuters.
Boeing's 777X on display at the Dubai Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg will not attend the Paris Air Show this week.
A recent Reuters report stated Ortberg told staff Thursday evening that he and a fellow Boeing executive canceled plans to attend the event scheduled for Monday through Friday.
The decision was made “so we can be with our team and focus on our customer and the investigation,” Ortberg’s message to staff stated, according to Reuters.
Air India’s 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered as VT-ANB crashed during takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Thursday.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident in conjunction with local authorities and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
The European airplane manufacturer announced Monday at the Paris Air Show that LOT placed a firm order for 20 A220-100s and 20 A220-300s. The deal could eventually be increased from 40 A220s to a total of 84, the company said.
“Today’s decision is about the future,” said LOT CEO, Michał Fijoł, in a news release. “The Airbus A220 family aircraft, which will start joining our fleet in 2027, open up new opportunities for development and growth – key pillars of our strategy. These modern, efficient, and passenger-focused aircraft will allow us to compete effectively in the European skies, strengthen our position as the preferred carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, and prepare LOT for its role as a leading airline at the Central Communication Port.”
The Central Communication Port is a planned infrastructure project in Poland aimed at building a new international airport outside Warsaw. Currently, the country’s busiest airport is Warsaw Chopin Airport, which handles about 40% of Poland’s commercial air traffic.
LOT said the new A220s will gradually replace the airline’s existing regional fleet while opening the door to new routes, owing to the aircraft’s range and fuel economy.
Depending on the cabin configuration, the A220-100 accommodates 100 to 135 seats, while the A220-300 can hold 120 to 160 seats.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
United Launches Service to World’s Most Northern Capital
United on Saturday launched its inaugural service between Newark and Nuuk, Greenland, which will run through this summer.
United touches down in Nuuk (Photo: United Airlines)
United on Saturday launched a nonstop seasonal route connecting the U.S. and Greenland for the first time in almost 20 years.
The inaugural flight, which used a Boeing 737 MAX 8, departed Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey Saturday morning and reached Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, about four hours later. A flight from Nuuk back to Newark took place Sunday morning.
Touchdown. United Airlines UA80.
EWR – GOH.
Nuuk, Greenland ??
The service will operate twice weekly through Sept. 24. It is the first flight connecting the U.S. and Greenland since 2008, when Air Greenland discontinued a route between Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, which is located about 195 miles north of Nuuk.
Before last weekend, the only way for U.S. travelers to reach Greenland by air was to fly first to Copenhagen, Denmark, then catch another flight heading west to the island.
United’s inaugural flight to Greenland (Photo: Flightradar24)
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Nuuk Airport was recently rebuilt and expanded in an effort to promote tourism. The island’s government is looking to draw in more visitors from North America and Europe to reduce the economy’s dependence on Danish subsidies and the local fishing industry, which accounts for about 90% of Greenland’s exports.
United first announced the Newark-Nuuk service in October, alongside new routes to Palermo, Italy; Bilbao, Spain; and Faro and Madeira Island in Portugal.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
Republic Airways to Evaluate All-Electric Aircraft
The aircraft will be delivered in late 2025 for performance assessments, route validation, and evaluation of use cases for both passenger and cargo missions.
Republic Airways Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding with BETA Technologies to explore the use of electric aircraft in regional operations, the companies announced Monday at the 2025 Paris Air Show.
Under the agreement, BETA will provide a pre-certified version of its ALIA conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) electric aircraft to Republic’s wholly owned subsidiary, Brickyard Connection, LLC. The aircraft will be delivered in late 2025 for performance assessments, route validation, and evaluation of use cases for both passenger and cargo missions, the two companies stated.
“We’ve been working with BETA for the past 18 months and continue to be impressed — not just by the performance and design of their CTOL aircraft, but by the company’s leadership, culture, and values,” said Matt Koscal, Republic’s president and chief commercial officer.
He said electric aircraft could also help reconnect smaller communities with the broader aviation system.
BETA Founder and CEO Kyle Clark said the initiative underscores Republic’s forward-looking approach: “The six-seat ALIA is just an entry point for a great transformation of aircraft to an electric future.”
As part of the agreement, the two companies will also explore the deployment of BETA’s standardized charging infrastructure at select Brickyard Connection locations to support future electric aviation operations.
The announcement follows several recent milestones for BETA Technologies, including ALIA’s daily demonstration flights at this year’s Paris Air Show — the first time an electric aircraft has flown at the event — and a recent passenger flight into a New York City airport with Koscal onboard.
BETA Technologies is based in Vermont and manufactures electric aircraft along with associated technologies, including propulsion systems and charging infrastructure. Republic operates a fleet of more than 240 Embraer 170/175 aircraft, providing scheduled regional service on behalf of American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
The system, which provides pilots with enhanced situational awareness during taxi, takeoff, and landing, has already been installed on 95% of the carrier’s fleet.
The SmartRunway and SmartLanding solutions are enabled via the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) already installed on Southwest aircraft.
“The feature helps with runway safety by reducing the risk of runway excursions and wrong surface operations,” explained Thea Feyereisen, a distinguished technical fellow at Honeywell, during an interview.
According to Feyereisen, the system provides “a lot of alerts,” both aural and visual to increase pilot situational awareness in critical phases of flight.
“[It can] help provide the pilot awareness if they’re about ready to land on a taxiway or take off on a taxiway, if they’re too high or too fast on approach,” she said. “It also provides position awareness on the surface if you’re approaching a runway on a runway.”
Southwest’s implementation makes it the largest airline to date to adopt the SmartRunway and SmartLanding technology, which is certified for most Airbus and Boeing aircraft, as well as numerous business aviation platforms.
“It’s [an] exciting opportunity … both for Honeywell and for Southwest to show their commitment to improving the safety of their operations,” said Feyereisen.
For aircraft already equipped with Honeywell’s EGPWS, the SmartRunway and SmartLanding functions are already “in the box” and just need to be enabled.
Feyereisen said this makes the upgrade process seamless, requiring only minimal adjustments in pilot training, typically through a short memo and video overview.
Andrew Watterson, chief operating officer at Southwest Airlines, stressed the importance of safety in the airline’s operations.
“Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Southwest,” Watterson said in a news release. “Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding software will provide our pilots with enhanced situational awareness to ensure the highest level of safety while operating on runways throughout the network.”
Already Installed
A Southwest spokesperson told AirlineGeeks that the system is already installed on over 95% of its fleet, or around 700 aircraft. The carrier plans to retrofit the rest of its fleet, too, with some requiring additional equipment that will be installed during scheduled maintenance checks.
In addition, the airline’s nearly 11,000 pilots will receive training on the system’s capabilities, but this is “minimal,” according to the spokesperson, adding that they are already familiar with Honeywell’s existing technology.
In 2015, Southwest selected Honeywell flight-deck systems for its 240-unit order of 737 MAX aircraft, adding to its existing fleet of 737 Next Generation jets flying with Honeywell cockpit avionics. Southwest was also the first airline to incorporate Honeywell’s Integrated Multi-Mode Receiver technology into its fleet.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
Spirit plans to end a batch of routes later this year. The ultra-low-cost airline has been shifting its network after emerging from bankruptcy in March.
According to this week’s Cirium Diio schedule update, the airline will suspend service from Boston to Atlanta and Chicago O’Hare. Previously scheduled through November, daily flights between Boston and Atlanta will end on July 9.
The airline’s Boston-to-Chicago route was slated to resume in December after a 10-month hiatus, but has now been scrubbed from Spirit’s schedule.
In addition, the airline’s service between Las Vegas and Seattle is now scheduled to end in August. It was previously scheduled through mid-November, operating multiple times per day.
A spokesperson from the airline did not immediately respond to AirlineGeeks’ request for comment.
Starting in August, it will add new flights from Detroit, Minneapolis, and Reno, Nevada, as well as resume service on a route from Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Editor’s Note: Data referenced in this article was provided by aviation analytics company Cirium.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
An Ethiopian Airbus A350-900XWB. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have officially activated a strategic codeshare partnership, a move that strengthens connectivity and opens a world of travel opportunities between Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, the carriers shared. Announced on Monday, this bilateral agreement, initially formalized in March, is now live, with seats available for booking across the combined networks of both carriers.
The partnership paves the way for new flight routes, with Ethiopian set to launch services from Addis Ababa to Abu Dhabi on July 15. Etihad will follow, introducing daily flights to Addis Ababa starting Oct. 8. Abu Dhabi becomes Ethiopian Airlines’ 145th global destination, while Addis Ababa joins Etihad’s expanding 2025 network as its 15th new addition.
This codeshare, a precursor to a joint venture agreed upon in March 2025, simplifies travel with single-ticket bookings, one check-in process, and baggage transfers to final destinations. Passengers of Etihad gain access to Ethiopian’s African network, connecting via Addis Ababa to 55 destinations across 33 countries, including Entebbe, Kinshasa, Kigali, Lusaka, Harare, and Victoria Falls.
In return, Ethiopian passengers can tap into Etihad’s services through Abu Dhabi, reaching 20 key destinations in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, such as Sydney, Krabi, Colombo, and Phnom Penh.
Etihad currently serves four other African destinations: Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier also announced a new route to El Alamein, Egypt, beginning in July 2025.
Etihad reported its best-ever quarterly earnings last month, with a filing revealing a 30% surge in after-tax profits to $187 million for the first three months of 2025. The airline posted revenues of $1.79 billion, a 15% year-over-year increase, driven by steady passenger demand, expanded seating capacity, improved operational efficiencies, and growth in cargo revenues.
Passenger revenues climbed 16% to $1.5 billion, supported by a record five million passengers carried. Etihad, which has its main hub at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, currently serves 80 destinations worldwide, mainly in the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia.
Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.
Authorities in India and Japan have ordered inspections of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner following a crash in Ahmedabad, India, on Thursday that killed over 260 people.
A Japan Airlines 787-9 departing. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Civil aviation authorities in India and Japan have ordered inspections of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner following the crash of an Air India flight on Thursday, while U.S. transportation officials said they saw no reason to ground the aircraft.
According to The Times of India, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation is requiring inspections for all 787-8s and 787-9s operated by Air India. The carrier has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet.
The DGCA told Air India to check a number of the aircraft’s systems, including hydraulics, the cabin air compressor, and the electronic engine control unit.
Japan is taking similar measures. Mainichi Shimbun reported Friday that the country’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism has instructed All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, and low-cost carrier Zipair Tokyo to check their 787s’ engines and airframes. The aircraft are not being grounded, the ministry clarified.
U.S. transportation officials have not indicated that they will order new inspections of the 787. When asked by a reporter if he had any concerns about the aircraft’s safety or thought it should be grounded, FAA acting administrator Chris Rocheleau said it was too soon to make that determination.
“As we proceed down this road with the investigation itself, if there’s any information that becomes available to us regarding any risk, we will mitigate those risks immediately,” he said.
The Air India flight was taking off from an airport in the city of Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick with 242 people on board when it lost altitude and crashed into the campus of a medical college. Indian police officials have put the death toll at 269, but that number could rise.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
American Trims Capacity on Recently Launched Route
Just over four months since launching one of its newest routes, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier plans to reduce capacity in this market.
An American 737 departs from Dallas/Forth Worth.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Just over four months since launching one of its newest routes, the carrier plans to reduce capacity in this market.
Starting in August, the airline will downgrade its new service from Washington’s Reagan National to San Antonio. American previously planned to use a 190-seat Airbus A321 in this market.
On Aug. 6, the airline will instead begin using a 172-seat Boeing 737-800 on the daily route between the two cities. This change was made in a previous Cirium Diio schedule update.
An American Airbus A321 landing in Charlotte. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
In December, the Department of Transportation awarded this highly coveted D.C. to San Antonio service to American. At 1,380 miles, the route goes beyond Reagan National’s 1,250-mile perimeter limit.
In a late-2024 news release, the carrier said it planned to use an A321 on the route. But with the downgrade to a 737, this service will see 18 fewer seats per day in each direction.
At the time of writing, this aircraft change is scheduled to remain in effect until at least mid-February 2026.
An airline spokesperson confirmed the change to AirlineGeeks on Friday, noting “some impact” to travel at its Washington hub amid a slowdown in government demand.
“It is important to note that we have not canceled any routes, but we have made some minor adjustments to aircraft types operating routes,” the spokesperson said.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
A Silver Airways ATR aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | HMBSoFL Photography)
Former employees of now-shuttered Silver Airways have received only part of their final paychecks.
In a message to workers obtained and first reported by Enilria, Silver’s management acknowledged the shortfall and blamed investment firm Wexford Capital, which purchased the bankrupt airline’s assets. Silver had hoped the deal would “save hundreds of jobs,” but this week Wexford opted to shut down service.
“Despite statements by Wexford’s representatives in court that Wexford would pay for Silver’s operations after close and work out arrangements with airports and aircraft lessors, this did not occur,” the message said. “Wexford, with knowledge that its actions would shutter the company, walked away at the last minute. Wexford determined to purchase only the assets of the company and not the going concern (operations and employees).”
A Silver Airways ATR 42 600 on display at the Farnborough Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)
“As a result of Wexford’s actions, the company was left with limited cash,” the statement continued. “We did not know or expect Wexford was walking away until Tuesday, and we tried everything possible to bring them back. We exhausted all efforts to try and salvage the company.”
Silver’s remaining cash on hand was used for partial payroll and the continuation of medical insurance coverage for June. If more money comes in from recent flights, the airline will ask the court handling its bankruptcy to send another payment to laid off staff.
Silver filed for bankruptcy protection in late December and expected to emerge from the process within the first quarter of 2025. This did not happen, and on Wednesday Silver ceased operations, blindsiding employees and passengers.
Silver said it reached out to other airlines to ask them to provide “preferential treatment” for its former employees if they have open positions.
Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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