Stories

EASA Certifies Airbus A321XLR With GTF Engine Option

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recently certified Airbus’ latest aircraft, the A321XLR, equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

Sam Jakobi
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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An A321XLR. (Photo: Airbus)

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recently certified Airbus’ latest aircraft, the A321XLR, equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines.

The go-ahead was given on Friday, with the first commercial A321XLR powered with this engine type expected to enter service later this year. This follows the CFM LEAP-1A powered aircraft being the first to fly after it was delivered to launch-customer Iberia in late 2024.

Current Engine Issues

This follows controversy surrounding Pratt & Whitney, given the recent grounding of many of their aircraft. This was due to suspicion of microscopic cracks in the metal of the engines, causing them to have to remove between 600 and 700 engines from the aircraft they were fitted to.

This has impacted many airlines, with carriers such as Wizz Air being forced to ground as many as 40 aircraft. It’s resulted in almost all of the airline’s A320neo fleet not being allowed to fly, causing them to have to keep using the less efficient A320ceos.

However, this hasn’t stopped Wizz, who opted to fit its A321XLR with the GTF engine when they ordered the aircraft shortly after its announcement. It is currently hoping to take delivery of the type in March 2025, with inaugural flights planned from London Gatwick to Jeddah and Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi.

The Pratt & Whitney engine issues haven’t hit the confidence of Airbus either, with the manufacturer’s commercial chief, Christian Scherer, saying that the A321XLR “already displays its great versatility crossing the Atlantic in daily operations. With the certification and entry-into-service of the GTF-powered A321XLR we will see more operators introduce this game changing aircraft. It is also good news for our customers’ passengers who will benefit from the convenience of new direct city to city connections with a heightened level of cabin comfort.”

 

Sam Jakobi

Sam Jakobi is a young aviation journalist based in London, U.K. A lifelong Airbus fan, he has adored aviation for as long as he can remember. Sam writes articles and conducts interviews with members of the aviation community.

American Postpones New International Route

New destination launches don't always go as planned, with the airline postponing the start of its newest city by at least a month.

Joey Gerardi
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Envoy E175
An American Eagle Embraer jet (Photo: Shutterstock | LJ Jones)

American Airlines has recently started service to a handful of new cities, especially on smaller jets such as the Embraer E170s and E175s to places like Carlsbad, California. Every new destination has its challenges and hurdles to overcome prior to starting new commercial flights, but with new international destinations, there are even more, especially when the airport hasn’t seen international service in decades.

Unfortunately, this is a case where the preparations weren’t completed in time, and a new international route to South Caicos had been postponed due to a lack of facilities to handle international flights. Currently, the airport only flies to places within the country on board 19-seat Twin Otters, and it was supposed to be a big feather in the cap to get international flights, especially on a jet aircraft.

The flights were supposed to start on February 15, 2025, but the airport did not receive its certification to accept international flights in time, so the service was pushed over a month to March 29, 2025. They did try to hold off postponing the service as long as they could, with the postponement of flights not happening until February 12, 2025, just three days before the start date.

The small airport terminal in South Caicos (Photo: South Caicos Airport)

American’s new nonstop service was planned to coincide with the opening of a new 100-room Marriott resort in South Caicos, But its opening has also been pushed back to March 8.

An airline spokesperson told The Miami Herald; “ We look forward to our continued work with all relevant authorities and partners to ensure the Airport receives certification approval to operate international commercial service.”

Passengers who were scheduled to fly on American between these dates will be offered a full refund for their flight or be accommodated on alternate flights to the country’s main, and currently only international airport which is located in Providenciales.

 

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

Appeals Court Declines to Intervene in Pilot Contract Dispute

The Teamsters’ lawsuit against Republic Airways argued the carrier illegally imposed non-compete clauses for pilots in its contract.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Republic Airways Embraer jet
A Republic Airways aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that a Teamsters lawsuit against Republic Airways will need to be resolved in arbitration between the union and carrier.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a lawsuit against Republic Airways in June 2023 over a pilot contract released by Republic a month prior. The Teamsters said the contract illegally imposed non-compete clauses and fines on pilots who violate it.

“The lawsuit asserts the employment contracts are an attempt by the airlines to change pilots’ working conditions unilaterally, in violation of federal labor law under the Railway Labor Act,” the union said in a press release at the time.

One year later, Teamsters Local 357 – based in Carmel, Indiana –  filed a second lawsuit against Republic Airways. In a Teamsters news release regarding the second lawsuit, the union said illegal non-compete clauses were included in the contract under “the false pretense that they were ‘bonus’ or ‘incentive’ agreements.’”

In a decision made by the Seventh Circuit on Jan. 31, 2025, Judges Michael Scudder, Amy St. Eve, and Thomas Kirsc’h concluded that the parties’ dispute was minor and would be resolved in arbitration instead of federal court.

“‘We are not resolving the merits’ of the Unions’ challenges,” the court stated in its decision. “The Unions can present their arguments to an adjustment board, which may ultimately decide that their position carries the day. Our task is only to determine whether the Carriers made nonfrivolous arguments that the CBAs [collective bargaining agreements] justify their individual employment agreements. They have. Accordingly, we find the parties’ dispute minor and therefore subject to arbitration.”

AirlineGeeks reached out to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Republic Airways for comment.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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.

Copa Adds 17th U.S. Route

Copa Airlines is set to grow in the U.S. with a new route. The Panama-based airline’s newest service will begin this summer.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Copa Airlines 737 MAX 9 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Noah Escobar)

Copa Airlines is set to grow in the U.S. with a new route. The Panama-based airline’s newest service will begin this summer.

Starting on June 25, the carrier will connect Panama City and San Diego. The route will become Copa’s 17th in the U.S. and third in California, joining Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“The launch of this new route strengthens our destination network and expands travel options for our passengers, reaffirming Copa’s commitment to efficiency, punctuality, and the high service standards that set us apart. With the addition of San Diego, we enhance connectivity between Southern California and Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, fostering tourism and commercial exchange across the continent,” said Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, in a news release.

The new service will operate four times per week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays – with a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet.

Flights are scheduled to depart from Tocumen International Airport at 1:16 p.m. local time and arrive at San Diego International Airport at 6:15 p.m. The return flight will operate on the same days, departing from San Diego at 8:58 p.m. and arriving in Panama City at 5:20 a.m.

Ryan Ewing

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.

Southwest 737 Involved in Close Call With Challenger Jet

A Southwest Boeing 737-800 and Flexjet Challenger 350 were involved in a close call on Tuesday at Chicago's Midway Airport.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Southwest 737 Chicago Midway
A Southwest 737 at Chicago Midway Airport (Photo: Shutterstock | marchello74)

A Southwest Boeing 737 and Flexjet Challenger 350 aircraft were involved in a close call on Tuesday. The incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. local time at Chicago Midway Airport.

According to air traffic control audio recordings, the Flexjet crew was instructed to cross Runway 31L and hold short of 31C. The Southwest 737-800 – operating flight 2504 from Omaha, Nebraska – was already over Runway 31C and had been cleared to land.

Surveillance footage shared on X shows the Challenger crossing Runway 31C directly in front of the landing Southwest aircraft. The Southwest crew opted to go around.

An FAA spokesperson said the agency will investigate the incident.

“The crew of Southwest Airlines Flight 2504 initiated a go-around when a business jet entered the runway without authorization at Chicago Midway Airport,” the spokesperson shared as part of an email statement.

A Brasher Warning was subsequently issued to the Flexjet crew. The Southwest 737 landed safely several minutes later, and the Flexjet aircraft continued to its destination of Knoxville, Tennessee.

“The crew followed safety procedures and the flight landed without incident,” a Southwest spokesperson told CNN. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of our customers and employees.”

The National Transportation Safety Board also said Tuesday afternoon that it will investigate.

Ryan Ewing

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.

ANA Orders New Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer Jets

All Nippon Airways Holding kicks into high gear after revealing record high revenue figures, with orders for dozens of new aircraft.

Pete Ainsley
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

ANA 787
An ANA Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

After years of suspending fleet growth, All Nippon Airways Holdings confirmed plans to enhance its fleet by adding 77 aircraft, including 68 confirmed orders and nine small and medium jets. The new orders range from Boeing 787-9s to Embraer E192-E2s.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the largest airline in Japan has paused its fleet expansion. Recently, the airline revealed a record high revenue, a strong demand for inbound travel to Japan, and robust demand from Japan to North America and Europe.

For the ANA brand, the group placed an order for 18 Boeing 787-9s with GE engines in anticipation of strong demand to North America in the future and the re-expansion of Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.

For the domestic services, the group will introduce 20 100-seat Embraer E190-E2, with 15 confirmed orders and five options, for the first time in Japan. In addition, the group will order 14 Airbus A321neo and 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft (eight confirmed orders and four options).

ANA’s E190-E2 aircraft (Photo: ANA)

Peach, the group’s low-cost carrier, will also update its fleet with 10 Airbus A321neos and three Airbus A321XLRs capable of medium to long-haul operations.

Plans for 320 Aircraft by 2030

The group is expected to own a fleet of 320 aircraft by 2030, with approximately 120 Boeing 787 series and the ratio of more efficient aircraft will increase to 91%.

“This order will be the catalyst for improving the profitability of domestic flights and the expansion of international flights which is an area of future growth of our airline business. We will fully utilize this opportunity in order to become an industry-leading airline with sustainable growth,” Koji Shibata, President and CEO of ANA Holdings, said in a statement.

Pete Ainsley

Why U.S. Airlines Could Face More Airbus Delivery Delays

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company could prioritize deliveries to its non-U.S. customers if tariffs impacted its American imports.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Airbus Hamburg
Airbus' manufacturing facility in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo: Fabian Behr)

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company could prioritize deliveries to its non-U.S. customers if tariffs impacted its American imports.

The European aircraft manufacturer spoke about the potential impacts of tariffs last week during its recent earnings call.

“When it comes to U.S. tariffs, well, we have all our sensors on,” Faury said during Thursday’s call. “We’re trying to fully understand and try to reasonably anticipate what could happen, but it’s obviously very difficult.”

He added that while Airbus has “very strong demand from outside the U.S.,” the company also has a production system in the U.S. and has tried to break into the market as a “major U.S. player.”

Later on Thursday during an interview with CNBC, Faury suggested that Airbus could adapt to tariffs by “bringing forward deliveries to other customers.”

Several U.S. carriers, including American, Delta, United, and JetBlue, are on the waiting list for Airbus deliveries. According to Airbus’ website, the company employs over 5,000 workers in the U.S. and supports over 275,000 American jobs through its annual spending of $15 billion.

During the earnings call, Faury said Airbus is aiming to deliver around 820 commercial aircraft in 2025.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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.

Asiana A350 Issued Low Altitude Alert in San Francisco

Controllers warned an Asiana flight of its low altitude on Sunday. The A350 was approximately 700 feet below the published altitude while on approach.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Asiana A350 aircraft
An Asiana A350-900 (Photo: Ben Suskind)

Air traffic controllers warned an Asiana Airlines flight of its low altitude on Sunday. The A350-900 was approximately 700 feet below the published altitude while on approach to San Francisco.

ADS-B data shows the aircraft was around 325 feet above the bay before the crew executed a go-around. Per AvHerald, the A350 should have been at 1,000 feet just over three nautical miles from the runway threshold.

Flight 212 from Seoul Incheon was cleared to land on Runway 28L at 2 p.m. local time.

Local weather conditions were also clear at the time of the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration did not immediately comment.

In July 2023, Asiana flight 214 impacted a seawall while attempting to land on Runway 28L in San Francisco. The accident ultimately killed three passengers, marking the first deadly crash for the Boeing 777 model.

Investigators later determined that the crew had mismanaged the aircraft’s final approach, including incorrectly set airspeed control. This resulted in the 777 being hundreds of feet below its glide path.

Ryan Ewing

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.

Passenger Flights Being Used to Haul Gold

Financial firms JPMorgan Chase and HSBC Holdings have been using unnamed commercial airlines to move gold bars from London to New York City.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American 787
An American Airlines 787-8 prepares to load cargo in Chicago (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ian McMurtry)

Commercial airlines have been transporting a unique kind of cVirgin Atlantic Plans Cargo-Only Flights this month for big banks.

Financial firms JPMorgan Chase and HSBC Holdings have been using unnamed commercial airlines to move gold bars from London to New York City. The flights, reported on by the Wall Street Journal, are part of a strategic business move to capitalize on shifting gold prices in U.S. and European markets.

The report stated President Donald Trump’s tariff threats on Europe have caused disarray in the precious metals market, with gold prices hitting record highs. Of the two major gold trading hubs in London and New York, gold in Manhattan is currently worth more.

This has spurred banks to move gold bars across the Atlantic from the United Kingdom to the U.S. to sell for higher yields.

In late January, Bloomberg reported that JP Morgan Chase planned to deliver over $4 billion in gold from the United Kingdom to the U.S. for the month of February. The company was one of several financial institutions to announce plans to move gold from London to New York City.

The report noted that the three million troy ounces being delivered will be the second-largest movement of gold since 1994.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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.

Breeze to Open 11th Base

Breeze is planning to open its 11th base this summer. The airline says this addition will add more jobs and allow aircraft to remain overnight.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Breeze A220
A Breeze A220 aircraft. (Photo: Breeze Airways)

Breeze is planning to open its 11th base this summer. The airline says this addition will add more jobs and allow aircraft to remain overnight.

Its newest base will be at Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. Breeze first began serving the market in June 2021.

The carrier’s 11th base will bring over 60 pilot, flight attendant, and maintenance jobs to the region over the next three years.

“The Akron-Canton community continues to show high demand for Breeze’s premium, convenient service, so establishing a base in the community is a natural fit,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ founder and CEO, in a news release. “We are grateful for the incredible support of our partners at JobsOhio, Team NEO, and the Akron-Canton airport as we continue to invest in Breeze’s future growth at CAK.”

The Akron-Canton area will join Breeze’s other bases in Providence, Rhode Island; Tampa, Fort Myers, Vero Beach, and Orlando, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Bradley, Connecticut; Provo, Utah; and New Orleans.

Currently, Breeze connects the Ohio city to several destinations, including Charleston, Las Vegas, Orlando, Los Angeles, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ryan Ewing

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.
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