A United Express CRJ aircraft in Newark. (Photo: Shutterstock - Bui Le Manh Hung)
The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a reduction in flight arrival and departure rates at Newark Airport.
According to an FAA interim order issued on Tuesday, maximum hourly rates at the New Jersey airport will be dropped to 28 arrivals and 28 departures until construction finishes on two of its runways.
A news release from the agency stated that daily construction will end on June 15, but is expected to continue on Saturdays afterward until the end of the year. On days when construction is not occurring, the airport will have a 34 arrival and departure limit until October 25.
The limits took effect on Tuesday after the FAA discussed the plan with airlines during a delay reduction meeting last week.
“Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,” said acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau in the release.
The FAA stated in its release that it may increase or decrease the limits as deemed necessary.
New Newark ATC Infrastructure
The FAA is currently working to add three new telecommunications connections to the Philadelphia TRACON for more speed and reliability.
The agency stated that it is replacing copper telecommunications connections with updated fiberoptic technology for “greater bandwidth and speed.”
Additionally, the FAA will be creating a STARS hub at the Philadelphia TRACON so that the facility won’t have to depend on telecommunications from the New York STARS hub.
Staffing at Philadelphia TRACON Area C will also be increased, and controllers are being cross trained for multiple positions, the agency said.
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.
An IndiGo Airbus A321neo at Delhi Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Vihaan Kushwaha)
Indian low-cost airline IndiGo has announced the debut of its first-ever long-haul flights.
The carrier will begin flights between Mumbai and Manchester in the United Kingdom on July 1 and flights between Mumbai and Amsterdam on July 2. The routes are IndiGo’s first venture into Europe and its first to meet the threshold of a long-haul service.
The Mumbai-Manchester route will operate once a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Flights will depart Mumbai for Amsterdam once a day on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while flights leaving Amsterdam for Mumbai will depart once a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Dutch flag carrier KLM currently operates a nonstop flight between Mumbai and Amsterdam, but IndiGo is now the only airline with a nonstop Mumbai-Manchester route.
In a statement, airline CEO Pieter Elbers said the new flights will strengthen economic and cultural ties between India and Europe, meet the needs of the growing Indian diaspora in the region, and facilitate the travel of Indian students, professionals, and tourists back and forth from their home country.
International Ambitions
IndiGo plans to fly its new European routes using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners leased from Norway-based Norse Atlantic Airways. The Boeing aircraft are a stopgap until IndiGo takes delivery of its orders of Airbus A321XLRs and A350-900s. The A321XLRs are expected to arrive later this year, while the A350-900s are scheduled for delivery starting in 2027.
The 787s have a total of 338 seats, 56 premium and 282 economy. IndiGo said it is offering complimentary hot meals for all customers on the Manchester and Amsterdam routes.
IndiGo is the largest airline in India and one of the largest in the world. Most of its destinations are in India, but the airline also serves cities in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, including Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Istanbul, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, among others. Airline officials have said the expansion to Europe is part of a broader effort to shift from short- and medium-haul operations to long-haul international flights.
IndiGo first announced the Manchester and Amsterdam flights in March but did not reveal the start dates.
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.
Frontier Reaffirms Loss Guidance as Demand Stabilizes
Despite ongoing “macro uncertainty,” the airline stated that recent booking activity supports its expectations for the quarter.
A Frontier A320 in Phoenix (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Frontier has reaffirmed its second-quarter financial guidance ahead of an investor conference set for Thursday. The company said it expects an adjusted loss per share in line with projections originally announced in its May 1 earnings release.
According to the 8-K filing made on May 20, the reaffirmation is based on improving travel demand following a dip in March and April. Frontier said revenue per available seat mile (RASM), adjusted for a 1,000-mile stage length — a non-GAAP metric it uses to normalize for flight distance — is expected to increase slightly in the second quarter compared to the same time last year, even with reduced capacity.
“Current booking trends suggest demand for May and early summer travel has stabilized,” Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said during a May 1 earnings call.
As of Sunday, load factors were slightly above last year’s numbers, and RASM was up by a low-single-digit percentage. The airline expects similar trends to continue through the rest of May. The average flight length in the second quarter is projected to be about 4% longer than in the same period last year.
Frontier said its plans to reduce capacity for the remainder of 2025 are unchanged. The reductions will focus on off-peak travel days and are expected to be in the low single digits compared to 2024 levels.
The ultra-low-cost carrier also said it is still targeting a return to profitability in the second half of 2025. This outlook is based on what it described as “moderating industry capacity,” benefits from recent commercial investments, and tight cost and capital spending controls.
Despite “macro uncertainty,” the airline stated that recent booking activity supports its expectations for the quarter.
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 Allegiant A319 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Allegiant announced the addition of five new nonstop routes, expanding its network in eight cities across the United States. The new services are scheduled to commence in the fall.
The airline will introduce service between South Bend International Airport in Indiana and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, starting on Aug. 29.
Intra-Tennessee Service
In Tennessee, Allegiant will launch two new routes from McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville. Flights to Memphis will begin on Sept. 4, while service to Key West, Florida, is set to start on Oct. 3.
Additionally, Gulf Shores International Airport in Alabama will see new links to Appleton, Wisconsin, and Des Moines, Iowa. These routes are scheduled to commence on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, respectively.
All routes will operate twice per week.
An Allegiant 737 MAX at Boeing Field (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
“This expansion caters to passengers and communities we feel have been overlooked by other carriers,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s chief commercial officer, in a news release. “Allegiant’s unique business model, connecting small-to-medium sized cities to vacation destinations, creates accessible travel options not otherwise available in what we believe are underserved markets. We know travelers enjoy the convenience of nonstop flights departing from their neighborhood airport.”
In addition to these new routes, the ultra-low-cost carrier will offer a series of limited-time flights to Las Vegas for the NFL season. These routes will operate from Chicago, Akron, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee.
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.
BermudAir, the relatively new flag carrier of Bermuda, took delivery of its third aircraft, an Embraer E190, over the weekend.
The airline said the 96-seat jet – the largest in its fleet – arrived at its home base at L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda on Saturday. It joins the BermudAir fleet as the airline gears up to launch new nonstop routes to and from Providence, Rhode Island; Richmond, Virginia; and Montreal, Quebec in the coming weeks.
The carrier is expected to receive its fourth aircraft, another E190, in June. Its two other jets are smaller E175s.
“We are very proud to be doubling our fleet size to enhance our operational capabilities and provide the greatest level of operational resiliency of any airline with a dedicated spare aircraft always on standby,” said Adam Scott, BermudAir’s founder and CEO. “The addition of both our third and fourth aircraft is not only a key step in mitigating operational challenges and enabling continued operational excellence, but enables us to bolster our flight frequencies and to provide increased flexibility in our flight scheduling.”
BermudAir’s third aircraft, an Embraer E190. (Photo: BermudAir)
BermudAir, which has its headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda, launched operations in August 2023, initially flying nonstop routes between Bermuda and Boston; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Westchester County, New York.
It has since expanded its network to cities including Hartford, Connecticut; Orlando, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; and Toronto, Ontario, among others.
The carrier’s CEO told AirlineGeeks in November that more destinations may be on the horizon, including long-haul flights to Europe.
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.
New Advisory Board Targets AMT Shortage
The Aviation Institute of Maintenance has partnered with carriers to better prepare mechanics as industry labor demand grows.
A Delta 757-200 undergoes maintenance at the carrier's Atlanta TechOps facility. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
The symbiotic relationship between the Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) and partnering airlines has since culminated in the creation of a new advisory board designed to get more mechanics trained and hired.
AIM has been on the forefront of addressing concerns about a growing aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) labor gap expected to occur over the next decade or two.
AIM is the largest educational institution for aircraft mechanics in the U.S. operating 15 locations across the country. To help solve the shortage, AIM has partnered with a number of carriers to address recruitment and training needs for fresh hires.
Former Mechanic Fine-Tunes the Curriculum
While many retiring mechanics are exiting the industry, former aircraft mechanic Bill Brown has instead left retirement to help improve training and tackle the labor gap.
Brown was recently hired as AIM’s Chief Aviation Officer after a 40-year career spent in aerospace mechanic and executive roles. When he approached AIM’s board of directors, he said he wanted to help better prepare students for the big upcoming job market.
That started with AIM’s hangars.
United maintenance staff (Photo: United Airlines)
“I wanted to really set up a process where everything that [the training mechanics] would have to do when they went to either an airline or MRO, [that] we’re practicing that now in our hangars,” he said during a virtual interview with AirlineGeeks. “I call it the standard code of conduct while you’re operating a hangar. People safety, product safety, and then success.”
Next, it was time to get industry input. Brown met with airline executives from major airlines to help match the school’s curriculum directly with employer needs.
“I brought in key executives from American, United, Southwest, Delta, Launch, [Aviation] Workforce Solutions and Piedmont to advise us,” he said. “And what we really learned from them was, our students weren’t any better or worse than others, but there was a lot of opportunity for improvement.”
Brown got feedback to better teach mechanics little things like interview and test taking skills, as well as more important safety skills. And while this feedback was invaluable, the networking proved just as important.
Not long after meeting with airline executives, Brown established AIM’s advisory board to continue the conversation with monthly meetings on how the institute can better prepare its students for success.
“We’re getting student feedback,” Brown said. “We’re getting airline feedback, and we’re deploying that into curriculum and changes in our hangars.”
“[Airlines] also see us as willing to invest,” he continued. “Our owners are investing significantly into all of our campuses, not only in upgrading equipment and standards, but also curriculum and instructors. So we’re going to become a powerhouse and maintain that long term in the future, and we think that’s going to help solve the problem that’s out there in the future of this huge gap between what [jobs are] going to be needed, and what is available.”
Industry Outlook
Brown said that recent economic tariffs haven’t had much of an impact on the continued demand for AMTs.
“The average age of mechanics at all the major airlines is in the mid fifties and above,” he said.
“So there’s a huge bow wave coming at us. That’s unchanged. Tariffs didn’t really create a reaction from any of the airline executives to change hiring today. I think it’s a wait and see.”
That said, there has been continued enrollment growth so far this year for AIM – a signal to Brown that the institute is “doing the right things.”
“The problem that’s out 10 years from now is unchanged,” Brown said. “Between now and 2034, we’re gonna see the number of aircraft out there flying is going to double. So that’s one demand in [AMTs].”
“The other is the aging workforce,” he continued. “We’re going to get double hit. I think it’s tens of thousands of workers [who will retire] a year. And we at AIM, I think through our advisory board and the number of campuses we have, we’re really positioned well to help the airlines get through this. And with their help and support … I think AIM is gonna be the real leader in the industry at bringing [AMTs] to market.”
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.
A Delta A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
Delta is once again offering daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv from John F. Kennedy International Airport after pausing flights due to the ongoing war in the region.
According to a Delta news release, the airline will operate the route on an Airbus A330-900neo starting on Tuesday.
“The decision to resume the route on May 20, which was temporarily suspended in response to ongoing conflict in the region, follows an extensive security risk assessment by the airline,” Delta stated in the release. “Delta is continuously monitoring the evolving security environment and assessing operations based on security guidance and intelligence reports.”
Additionally, a “Middle East Unrest” travel waiver has been issued allowing ticketholders flying to Tel Aviv from May 5 to May 25, to rebook their travel by June 15.
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 carrier – which began operations in 2020 – serves four destinations in America: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Ontario, California, along with Seattle.
A Starlux A350 in Seattle (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Taiwanese startup airline Starlux is poised to add a new route to the U.S. Currently, the carrier – which began operations in 2020 – serves four destinations in America: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Ontario, California, along with Seattle.
On Tuesday, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Starlux announced the launch of the first-ever nonstop service from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Asia.
Beginning early next year, the carrier will operate flights between Phoenix and Taipei, Taiwan. A launch date for the new route has yet to be determined and is subject to regulatory approvals.
The new service marks a milestone for Phoenix, as it will be the city’s first scheduled nonstop connection to Asia. Starlux will offer the route three times per week on an Airbus A350-900XWB aircraft.
STARLUX Airlines A350-900 business class cabin (Photo: STARLUX Airlines)
Economic Boost
The addition of Starlux’s service is expected to generate substantial economic benefits for the region. According to city officials, nonstop international flights contribute an estimated $33 million annually to the local economy.
“I knew from the moment I set foot in Phoenix that Starlux should make the investment to fly here. Not only is the growth of business between Taipei and Phoenix staggering, it’s a perfect match for our level of service. We are proud and honored to be the first carrier to provide nonstop Asia service for the Phoenix community,” the airline’s chairman, K.W. Chang, said in a news release.
Phoenix has lately seen a jump in international service. Air France recently launched flights from Paris to the city, and Aeromexico resumed service to Phoenix.
Tickets for the Phoenix-Taipei route will go on sale once government approval is finalized, officials stated.
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.
Christoph Zammert, Airbus EVP and head of the A320 family program, and Owain Jones, Chief Corporate Officer of Wizz Air, at the delivery of the first A321XLR to Wizz Air. (Photo: Airbus)
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has taken delivery of the first-ever Airbus A321XLR powered by a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine.
The airline announced Tuesday that it had received the first of 47 A321XLRs it has ordered over the past several years. The aircraft made for Wizz have 239 seats in a single-class configuration and a published range of 4,700 nautical miles. Wizz said the long-haul jet will help it establish and service more routes between Europe and the Middle East.
In a statement, Wizz Air CEO Owain Jones called the recent delivery a “defining moment” for the airline and said customers will soon enjoy the upgraded cabins and quieter ride offered by the aircraft.
Wizz has said the jet’s inaugural route will be between London’s Gatwick Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was supposed to begin that service in late March, but the delivery was held up waiting for an air operator’s certificate.
The A321XLR uses two different types of engines, Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G and the CFM International LEAP-1A.
Among Wizz’s current fleet, Pratt engines power 100 A321neo family aircraft and 67 A320ceo family aircraft.
Pratt said 13 customers have selected GTF engines to power more than 200 A321XLR aircraft worldwide.
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.
Lufthansa Brings Back A380 Route After Five Years
Lufthansa plans to add more Airbus A380 flights to the U.S. this winter. The carrier operates the superjumbo jet in a handful of markets from its Munich hub.
A Lufthansa Airbus A380 (Photo: Denver International Airport)
Lufthansa is planning to add more Airbus A380 flights to the U.S. this winter. The carrier operates the superjumbo jet in a handful of markets from its Munich hub.
During the winter 2025/26 season, which kicks off on Oct. 26, the airline’s A380 fleet will fly to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bangkok, and Delhi. Lufthansa detailed its winter schedule in a news release on Tuesday.
San Francisco will be a new post-pandemic A380 market for Lufthansa. The carrier previously used the aircraft on flights from Munich until March 2020, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.
Starting on Oct. 26, the outfitted aircraft will fly daily from Munich to New York-JFK; Newark, New Jersey; Chicago; Miami; Shanghai; Cape Town, South Africa; and Tokyo. In addition, Bengaluru in India will be served three times a week.
Lufthansa Allegris First Class “Suite Plus” rendering (Photo: Lufthansa)
Lufthansa will also introduce its Allegris cabins from Frankfurt for the first time with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Existing aircraft will be retrofitted with the new cabin this year as well, beginning with the 747-8i 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.
