Boeing Delays Continue for Alaska, Hawaiian

Boeing expects to further delay 737 and 787 aircraft deliveries to Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Hawaiian Airlines.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 01:24 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Alaska's first 737 MAX 8 spotted at Boeing's Renton factory. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Boeing expects to delay 737 and 787 aircraft orders from Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Hawaiian Airlines.

According to Alaska’s Form 10-K filed on Friday for the 2024 fiscal year, the carrier had firm orders to purchase 74 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with deliveries expected between 2025 and 2029. Alaska also had rights for 100 more 737 aircraft through 2030.

Hawaiian had firm orders to purchase 10 Boeing 787-9 aircraft with deliveries expected between 2025 and 2028.

“Boeing has communicated that certain B737 and B787-9 aircraft are expected to be delivered later than the contracted delivery timing,” Alaska stated in the filing.

For Alaska, Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft contracted for delivery in 2024 have been moved to 2025. Certain 737 MAX 8 aircraft slated for delivery in 2024 and 2025 have also been moved later into the contracted year or into the following year.

737 MAX 10 aircraft contracted for delivery in 2025 and 2026 have been moved to 2026 or 2027, pending regulatory certification of the aircraft type.

Widebody Woes

Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9s planned for delivery between 2024 and 2026 were moved later into the contracted year or into the following year. Currently, the airline has just two 787s in its fleet.

A Hawaiian Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Photo: Hawaiian Airlines)

“Management expects that other Boeing aircraft deliveries could be delayed beyond the contractual delivery,” Alaska stated.

Alaska expects to receive nine 737 MAX 8 aircraft and eight 737 MAX 9 aircraft in 2025. The carrier will also retire its six remaining Boeing 737-900s this year.

In 2026, Alaska plans to receive six more 737 MAX 8 jets and three MAX 10s – pending certification. The carrier plans to have 17 more 737 MAX 10s delivered in 2027.

Hawaiian expects three Boeing 787-9 aircraft in 2025, two in 2026, and four in 2027.

Alaska reported in November that then-ongoing labor strikes at Boeing were impacting the carrier’s capacity growth.

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.

JetBlue ‘Still Talking’ to Multiple Airlines

JetBlue is still in talks with other airlines on a potential partnership, President Marty St. George said during a conference on Wednesday.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM ET

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A JetBlue Embraer E190 in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue is still in talks with other airlines on a potential partnership, President Marty St. George said Wednesday. These discussions come nearly two years after its Northeast Alliance (NEA) with American Airlines was struck down by a federal judge.

The New York-based carrier also mentioned partnership talks during a recent fourth-quarter earnings call.

“ We have said we’re talking to multiple airlines, we’re still talking … . If we find a deal that’s accretive, we will absolutely do it,” St. George said during an investors conference this week. “There is an amount of money in the JetForward plan for partnership, but we didn’t really gauge how big it would be or how small it would be.”

When the judge struck down JetBlue’s deal with American in 2023 on antitrust grounds, he laid out a “road map” for what a revised deal could look like that would appease regulators. The JetBlue-American partnership debuted in 2020 and allowed for schedule and slot coordination, revenue sharing, and various customer benefits.

Loyalty Benefits

St. George added that frequent flyer benefits would be a major component of a partnership. Under the NEA, American and JetBlue members could earn and redeem miles on both carriers, along with reciprocal loyalty benefits.

“ I think the ability to bring that utility as TrueBlue would be fantastic. We’re very happy with where TrueBlue revenues have been as far as percentage total, which I think we talked about in the last call. But we think that there’s a lot of upside,” he shared, referring to the airline’s loyalty program.

There’s been plenty of speculation over airline deals in recent weeks, especially as the new Trump administration took office. Recently, United dispelled rumors that it was in talks over a merger or acquisition of JetBlue.

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 Transformation Chief to Depart Airline

The airline's transformation chief, Ryan Green, leaves as activist investor Elliott plans to take a bigger stake in the carrier.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 09:20 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest Boeing 737-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Just a day after Southwest firmed up its first-ever mass layoffs, the airline’s executive vice president and chief transformation officer, Ryan Green, will leave the company on April 1.

Green had been at Southwest for over 20 years, and most recently oversaw the Dallas-based airline’s transition to assigned and premium seating. His exit comes as activist investor Elliott plans to take a bigger stake in the airline.

Both moves were disclosed on Wednesday. Southwest and Elliott recently inked an agreement to allow the firm to take a 19.9% stake in the airline, up from the original agreement of 14.9%.

A Pivot

Through his over two decades at Southwest, Green held various high-level positions. Before taking on the transformation role, he was the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer.

His exit joins Chief Financial Officer, Tammy Romo, and Chief Administrative Officer, Linda Rutherford, who will also leave the airline in April.

On Monday, the airline informed employees that it would be laying off 1,750 corporate workers. Employees learned whether their roles would be impacted on Tuesday.

Throughout its 53-year history, the airline has never laid off any employees. Its first-ever round of layoffs includes several high-ranking executives, including vice presidents and above.

Ryan Ewing

WestJet Adds New Transatlantic 737 Route

WestJet will fly from Halifax to Amsterdam up to six times weekly this summer, with connections on both sides allowing more choices for travelers.

Anthony Bang An

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 03:11 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A WestJet 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Calgary-based WestJet is launching a brand new connection between Halifax in Nova Scotia and Amsterdam. It will be the only non-stop link between Amsterdam and Atlantic Canada, operating during the summer season, with the first flight taking off from Halifax on May 29.

The carrier plans to run up to six weekly services through Oct. 26. Flights will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

WestJet’s Transatlantic Expansion

The new service joins WestJet’s rapidly growing portfolio of transatlantic flights out of Atlantic Canada, specifically from Halifax and St John’s. Besides Amsterdam, the airline will fly to Dublin, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, and Paris from Halifax this summer.

WestJet transatlantic map (Photo: gcmap)

The airline’s transatlantic seat capacity from Halifax will almost double compared to 2024. In the summer of 2024, the airline had up to 11 weekly flights across the pond from Halifax. This summer, the number of weekly services is expected to rise to 20, thanks to the addition of Amsterdam and Paris.

The airline had an extensive transatlantic network from the Nova Scotian city before the pandemic, before shifting its strategy and concentrating its transatlantic network to its main hub in Calgary in 2022. As a part of the shift in 2022, WestJet served Amsterdam with three weekly services on its Dreamliner for the summer season, though the flight did not return the following year.

Despite resuming transatlantic services from other Canadian cities since 2023, Calgary remains its most important intercontinental hub, with year-round services to London and Paris, as well as seasonal services to Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Rome, and Reykjavik.

A WestJet Boeing 787 enters the runway at Paine Field in Washington. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Connections on Both Ends

The new route will allow Canadian passengers to connect in Halifax, which, thanks to its position in Eastern Canada, minimizes travel time. During the peak summer season, according to aeroroutes, WestJet plans to offer the following domestic destinations from Halifax:

Destinations	Frequency
Calgary	Up to four daily
Edmonton	Up to two daily
Toronto	Up to two daily
Winnipeg	Daily

The new connection will serve as a new option for travelers from these cities to reach Amsterdam, with an eastbound schedule also designed to cater to connecting domestic flights.

“We are very pleased that WestJet will be resuming service at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and we look forward to welcoming the first flight on 30 May. Halifax is an exciting new destination at Schiphol and will be our sixth in Canada. The deployment of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft contributes to our policy to encourage airlines to operate their quietest and cleanest aircraft at Schiphol,” said Patricia Vitalis, executive director of operations at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, in a news release.

On the other end, Amsterdam is the hub of WestJet’s partner KLM. The two airlines have a codeshare agreement and passengers are expected to be able to connect to KLM’s European network on a single ticket, though it is unclear what destinations will be available at this moment.

Anthony Bang An

Anthony is an aviation enthusiast who grew up around the world from St. Louis to Singapore, and now lives in Amsterdam. He loves long-haul flying and finds peace in the sound of engine cruising. He aspires to share his passion for the sky though writing and providing another angle on the stories.

Boeing Sells U.K. Hangar to British Airways

British Airways has announced it will purchase the Boeing maintenance, repair and overhaul hangar at London Gatwick Airport.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 02:59 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A British Airways Boeing 777 at London Heathrow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

British Airways has announced it will purchase the Boeing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hangar at London Gatwick Airport.

The carrier stated in a Monday news release that the move will secure jobs at the site and expand British Airways’ presence at the airport.

“It will ultimately benefit BA customers by bringing additional skills, expertise and facilities into the business which will help to support the BA operation,” British Airways stated in the release.

Under the transaction agreement, British Airways will create a new wholly-owned subsidiary called British Airways Engineering Gatwick (BAEG), which will join the carrier’s current engineering operations in South Wales and Glasgow.

Boeing’s employees who work at the facility will be transferred to the new subsidiary in the second quarter of 2025 – subject to an “employee information and consultation process.”

British Airways stated the investment is in line with the carrier’s strategy to expand its engineering operations. Taking over the Boeing facility will enable the carrier to continue carrying out minor maintenance on Boeing 777 aircraft at the airport.

This increased capacity will also allow the airline to in-source some scheduled heavy maintenance work on its Airbus A320/A321 fleet.

“Longer-term, it’s expected the carrier will recruit additional colleagues and grow this new facility at Gatwick,” the release stated. “British Airways’ existing engineering operation at Gatwick is a vital part of the airline’s family, and its role and capability as a key engineering hub or ‘line station’ in the airline’s network will be enhanced with the hangar now under British Airways ownership.”

Andy Best, British Airways’ chief technical officer, said the purchase will help the carrier “be the very best in the business” by bringing the expertise of former Boeing workers and adding a large MRO hangar to BA’s portfolio of engineering facilities.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Duffy: Less Than 400 FAA Employees Fired

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said less than 400 probationary employees at the Federal Aviation Administration have been fired recently.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 02:14 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest aircraft taxis in Austin. (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said less than 400 probationary employees at the Federal Aviation Administration have been recently terminated.

In a scathing response to his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg, Duffy said on X that zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go during last weekend’s round of layoffs. A Department of Transportation spokesperson also confirmed the agency is continuing to onboard air traffic controllers and other safety positions, including technicians.

“Mayor Pete chose to use this amazing department—that is so critical to America’s success—as a slush fund for the green new scam and environmental justice nonsense,” he said in the post. “Not to mention that over 90% of the workforce under his leadership were working from home – including him. The building was empty!”

Mayor Pete failed for four years to address the air traffic controller shortage and upgrade our outdated, World War II-era air traffic control system. In less than four weeks, we have already begun the process and are engaging the smartest minds in the entire world.

Here’s the… https://t.co/LCL1dswC2T

— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 18, 2025

The post was in response to a previous X post by Buttigieg demanding answers detailing how many personnel – and in what positions – were fired.

Duffy justified the decision to lay off less than 1% of the FAA’s 45,000-member workforce saying these probationary employees were hired less than a year ago.

On Monday, Elon Musk’s SpaceX employees visited the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center in New Baltimore, Virginia, to make improvements to the federal air traffic control system.

On Feb. 5, Musk said in a post on X that President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will aim to make “rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system.”

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

FAA Warns of Boeing 747 Water Leaks

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a new airworthiness directive for Boeing 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 747-8i aircraft.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 01:55 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A UPS Boeing 747-8F (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a new airworthiness directive for certain Boeing 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8F, and 747-8i aircraft. The directive, which goes into effect on March 21, 2025, requires the installation of additional safeguards to prevent water leaks from damaging critical electronics.

The AD was prompted by an incident in which multiple engine indicating and crew alerting system messages occurred during potable water servicing of a 747. Investigators later determined the cause was a separated fitting and water supply tube above an electronics cooling air filter.

To address this safety issue, the FAA is mandating several modifications depending on the specific aircraft configuration, including shrouds and shields over various water lines.

These changes aim to prevent water from leaking into the main electronics bay, which could impact multiple systems essential for safe flight. The FAA estimates the modifications will cost U.S. operators up to $1.2 million to implement across the affected fleet of 178 U.S.-registered aircraft.

Past Incident

In 2008, a Boeing 747-400 experienced widespread failures on approach to Bangkok after a galley leak allowed water to flood electronic components. Though the aircraft landed safely, several systems became inoperable, including the autopilot and the first officer’s instruments.

No scheduled U.S. airline operates the 747. However, the jet still remains in service with various charter and cargo operators.

Ryan Ewing

Avianca Continues U.S. Expansion With Another New Route

According to Avianca, the new service complements the airline’s existing flights to Bogota and its recently announced route to Medellin, Colombia.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Avianca Airbus A320neo (Photo: Noah Escobar)

Avianca announced a new nonstop route connecting Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with Managua, Nicaragua. The Latin American carrier continues to add new routes to the U.S.

The new route will operate with an Airbus A320neo aircraft, each with a capacity of up to 180 passengers. The airline expects the addition to contribute more than 2,500 seats per week between the two cities.

According to Avianca, the Fort Lauderdale-Managua service complements the airline’s existing flights to Bogota and its recently announced route to Medellin, Colombia. Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit also flies between its Fort Lauderdale hub and Managua.

“Avianca is committed to strengthening its network and providing travelers with more options. The launch of this new route between Fort Lauderdale and Managua underscores our dedication to connecting key markets and offering seamless access to the best destinations in Latin America,” said Rolando Damas, director of sales for Avianca in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe, in a news release.

Beginning on May 10, flights will operate on a daily basis. Recently, Avianca added flights between Bogota and Dallas/Fort Worth along with San Salvador, El Salvador, and Chicago O’Hare.

Ryan Ewing

Frontier Adds 14 Routes, Returns to Two Airports

Frontier plans to launch 14 new routes this spring, including resuming service to Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 10:35 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Frontier Airbus A320neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Frontier plans to launch 14 new routes this spring, including resuming service to Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Washington.

The ultra-low-cost carrier last served Boise in 2021 and Spokane in 2022, according to Cirium Diio schedule data.

Additional Flights

From Austin-Bergstrom International Airport:

Miami and Philadelphia: Begins May 22, three times per week.

American currently serves all of these routes.

From Nashville International Airport:

Cleveland: Begins May 23, three times per week.

From Boise Airport:

Denver: Begins May 15, three times per week.

From Spokane International Airport:

Denver: Begins May 20, three times per week.

From Boston Logan International Airport:

Cleveland: Begins May 22, three times per week.

From Rafael Hernández Airport in Puerto Rico:

Miami: Begins May 24, weekly.

From Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport:

Washington Dulles: Begins May 22, daily.
Norfolk, Virginia: Begins May 22, two times per week.

From Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas:

Tucson, Arizona: Begins May 22, three times per week.

From Los Angeles International Airport:

Chicago O’Hare and Philadelphia: Begins May 22, daily.

From Miami International Airport:

Washington Dulles: Begins May 22, daily.

From Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico:

Washington Dulles: Begins May 22, three times per week.

Frontier’s February 2025 network expansion (Photo: gcmap)

The airline plans to roll out a new first class product later this year.

Ryan Ewing

Southwest Slashes Corporate Workforce

Southwest has never involuntarily furloughed or laid off workers in its 53-year history, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, February 17, 2025 at 05:32 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest 737 MAX 8. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Southwest is cutting its corporate workforce, the airline said Monday. This move ‒ a first for the airline ‒ is set to impact roughly 1,750 jobs, or 15% of non-union workers, per a news release.

“We must improve how we work together, maximizing efficiencies and reducing costs. To achieve this goal, we have made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce, almost entirely in Corporate and Leadership positions,” CEO Bob Jordan said in a memo to employees.

Jordan called the move “unprecedented” in the airline’s 53-year history. Southwest has never involuntarily furloughed or laid off workers, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dallas-based airline continues to aggressively cut costs, including offering some early buyouts to front-line employees at various airports. Monday’s round of layoffs will only impact noncontract employees.

According to the release, these cuts include senior leadership and directors. Eleven senior leadership positions (vice president and above) will also be eliminated, the airline said. Separations will be “substantially complete” by the end of the second quarter of 2025.

With these layoffs, Southwest expects to save approximately $210 million in 2025 and $300 million in 2026. “We are at a pivotal moment as we transform Southwest Airlines into a leaner, faster, and more agile organization,” Jordan stated in the release.

Most employees will no longer work for the company, but will continue to be on payroll until late April.

Ryan Ewing