FAA Will Block Helicopters From Flying Near DCA

The NTSB issued an urgent recommendation Tuesday for the FAA to limit helicopter operations near the D.C. airport following January's accident.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 05:50 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Aircraft landing at Reagan National Airport (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) gave an urgent recommendation Tuesday for the Federal Aviation Administration to limit helicopter operations near the Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

The decision comes after January’s midair collision between a PSA Airlines CRJ-700 jet and U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.

According to an NTSB news release, the federal agency recommended the FAA permanently prohibit helicopter operations near the DCA Airport while runways 15 and 33 were being used for arrivals or departures.

In its 10-page urgent recommendation report, the NTSB called the allowance of these aviation activities “an intolerable risk to aviation safety by increasing the chance of a midair collision.”

The NTSB explained that helicopters flying on the Route 4 helicopter corridor at the highest authorized altitude of 200 feet could have only about 75 feet of vertical separation from an airplane on landing approach to Runway 33.

“[T]he lack of separation was insufficient and said vertical separation could potentially be even less than 75 feet depending on the helicopter’s lateral distance from the Potomac River shoreline or if an approaching airplane was below the designated visual glidepath to Runway 33,” the NTSB release stated.

Investigators examine wreckage from the CRJ-700. (Photo: NTSB)

Preliminary Report Released

The NTSB also published its 20-page preliminary report regarding the accident on Tuesday.

The report recounted the timeline of PSA Airlines flight 5342 prior to the collision. It also reviews the experience of the pilots who were flying the aircraft.

According to the report, both the captain and first officer piloting flight 5342 held transport pilot certificates with type ratings for the CL-65 – which includes the CRJ-200, CRJ-700, and CRJ-900 airplanes.

The captain had accumulated about 3,950 hours of flight experience, of which around 3,024 hours were in the CRJ-700.

The first officer had 2,469 total hours of flight experience, of which about 966 hours were in the CRJ-700.

The flight crew of the Black Hawk helicopter – flying under callsign PAT25 – consisted of an instructor pilot, pilot, and a crew chief. According to information provided to NTSB by the U.S. Army, both pilots were current and qualified in the accident helicopter.

“The [instructor pilot] held the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 and had accumulated about 968 total hours of flight experience, of which about 300 hours were in the accident helicopter make and model,” the NTSB report stated. “The pilot held the rank of Captain and had accumulated about 450 total hours of flight experience, of which about 326 hours were in the accident helicopter make and model. The crew chief held the rank of Staff Sargeant and had accumulated about 1,149 total flight hours, all of which was in UH-60 helicopters.”

The NTSB’s investigation into the cause of the incident is still ongoing.

“[Analysis] comes later in our investigation,” said NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homandy during a press conference on Tuesday. “Right now, we are still in the fact-finding phase of this investigation. I often say that the easiest and quickest part of the investigation is determining what happened. The part that takes longer is the ‘how’ and ‘why.’”

FAA, Pilots Union Respond

Following the NTSB report, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy reportedly said the helicopter ban near the DCA airport will continue per NTSB’s safety recommendation.

“How did the FAA not know that this was a hotspot,” he said, according to an X post by CNN Aviation Reporter Pete Muntean on Tuesday afternoon.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued an emailed statement responding to the NTSB’s preliminary report findings and call for prohibiting helicopter travel near the airport.

ALPA President Jason Ambrosi said the union was grateful to the NTSB for its report, and ALPA will continue efforts to help advance aviation safety.

“ALPA pledges our full support to the continued investigation and to work with government and industry stakeholders to implement the NTSB safety recommendations, including the ones issued by the Board today,” Ambrosi said in the emailed statement. “We will continue to work diligently to advance aviation safety and honor the legacies of those lost by ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.”

“We continue to strongly support the Federal Aviation Administration’s decisive action to restrict helicopter operations near Washington National Airport and support the NTSB’s safety recommendation to continue this restriction,” he continued. “While our pilots are the most highly trained in the world and fully capable of navigating complex airspace, removing this risk factor represents a significant safety improvement.”

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.

Avelo Adds Three New Cities

Since the start of operations in 2021, Avelo now serves 56 destinations, including a handful of international routes. The carrier plans to add more.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 02:53 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Avelo 737-800. (Photo: Avelo)

Ultra-low-cost carrier Avelo has announced the addition of 13 new routes and three new destinations, including Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and New York/Long Island.

New Routes

From Raleigh-Durham International Airport, the carrier will add service to:

Nassau – Starts June 11, with flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Grand Rapids – Starts May 23, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
Wilmington, Delaware – Starts May 22, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

From Lakeland International Airport in Florida, new routes include:

Grand Rapids – Starts June 13, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
New York/Long Island – Starts June 12, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

From Wilmington International Airport in North Carolina, Avelo will add service to:

Houston – Starts June 11, with flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Washington Dulles – Starts June 13, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
Detroit – Starts June 12, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.
New York/Long Island – Starts June 12, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

From Charlotte, North Carolina’s Concord-Padgett Regional Airport, new routes include:

Detroit – Starts June 13, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
Washington Dulles – Starts May 23, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.
New York/Long Island – Starts May 22, with flights on Thursdays and Sundays.

From Delaware’s Wilmington Airport, Avelo will introduce service to:

Jacksonville, Florida – Starts May 23, with flights on Mondays and Fridays.

All routes will be operated by the carrier’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. Since the start of operations in 2021, Avelo now serves 56 destinations.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

United to Retire Aircraft Amid Capacity Cuts

With plans to reduce capacity later this year, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline will also retire several aircraft.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 10:41 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United Airbus A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | Wenjie Zheng)

With plans to reduce capacity later this year, United CEO Scott Kirby said the airline will also retire several aircraft. The move comes as U.S. airlines report lower-than-expected profitability outlooks for the first quarter.

In response, 21 aircraft will be retired early, Kirby stated. He did not say which types would be removed from United’s fleet.

“That’s something that’ll be cash-positive this year,” he added, noting that the Chicago-based carrier would have to spend around $100 million on engine overhauls alone.

“Those are our most expensive aircraft,” Kirby said during a Tuesday J.P. Morgan investors conference. “… We built a plan with optionality and flexibility that if we see short-term headwinds, we can make short-term responses. And that 21 aircraft, by the way, sort of correlates with what we’ve seen from the government.”

According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, United retired a single Airbus A320 in 2024. The airline took delivery of its 1,000th mainline jet in January.

A United 757 — A United Boeing 757-200 in Vail, Colorado (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Scaling Back Capacity

Kirby said the airline has already started pulling out capacity in certain markets. Among them is the transborder sector due to “dropping” Canadian traffic to the U.S.

In addition, capacity will be reduced in “key government markets” where there’s less demand. Government travel makes up around 2% of United’s business, Kirby noted.

Amid slashes to government spending, government-related travel is down around 50%, “a pretty material impact in the short term,” he said.

Ryan Ewing

Delta: Consumer Confidence ‘Waned’ Over Safety Concerns

CEO Ed Bastian called the January accident in Washington “ a causal fact in terms of the trend line that we’re looking at.”

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 09:47 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Delta revised its profit outlook on Monday, citing “a recent reduction in consumer and corporate confidence caused by increased macro uncertainty.” During the first quarter, the Atlanta-based airline now expects operating margins between 4% and 5%, down from the initial guidance of 6% to 8%.

CEO Ed Bastian provided some color on the reduced guidance during a Tuesday J.P. Morgan investors conference. He noted a “series of factors” during the first quarter, including the midair collision involving American flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter.

Bastian called the January accident “ a causal fact in terms of the trend line that we’re looking at.”

Politics Played a Role

During the conference, he said consumer confidence began to “wane” following the collision.

“ We saw a pretty immediate stall in both corporate travel and bookings,” Bastian added. “Not that they stopped, but the growth rates that we had stalled considerably.

“And consumer confidence, certainly in air travel, started to wane a little bit as questions of safety came and unfortunately, as we all know, some aspects of the crash were politicized, which did not help matters in terms of restoring confidence in consumers’ minds.”

Then, on Feb. 17, a CRJ-900 operated by Delta subsidiary Endeavor Air crashed in Toronto. All 80 on board the aircraft survived.

Following that accident, Delta corrected the record over speculation that the pilots were underqualified.

Bastian stated that the accident “ fed into another round of delay.” But economic uncertainty was also playing a part.

Despite pullbacks in government spending, less than 1% of Delta’s revenue comes directly from government, and 4% comes directly from the Washington area.

“ It’s the one area of the country that we’re the least exposed,” airline President Glen Hauenstein added. “So, I guess that’s a benefit at this point in time.”

Ryan Ewing

Southwest Ends Free Checked Bags Policy

In a Tuesday news release, the Dallas-based carrier said only some passengers will now be offered free checked bags starting in May.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 07:53 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 airplanes at Dallas Love Field. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Southwest is ending its long-standing tradition of offering two free checked bags to all passengers. The move is the airline’s latest departure from its nearly 60-year roots.

In a Tuesday news release, the Dallas-based carrier said only some passengers will now be offered free checked bags. Southwest will offer two free checked bags to top-tier Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred members and passengers traveling on Business Select fares.

A-List Members and other certain passengers will be offered one free checked bag. In addition, the airline says it will credit one checked bag for Rapid Rewards Credit Card members.

These changes will take effect on flights booked on or after May 28. During its Investor Day event last year, Southwest leadership stated that 97% of passengers knew about the two free checked bags policy.

All of this comes as activist investor Elliott Investment Management continues to take hold of the company. In February, Southwest announced its first-ever mass layoff, eliminating 1,750 corporate jobs.

The airline’s unit revenue is expected to be down this quarter, citing “higher-than-expected completion factor, less government travel, and a greater impact from the California wildfires than originally estimated. The remainder of the decrease is primarily attributable to softness in bookings and demand trends as the macro environment has weakened.”

Ryan Ewing

Breeze Adds 70th Destination

Breeze is slated to add its 70th destination this summer. The carrier continues to bolster its route network with a handful of newly added markets.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 06:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Breeze Airways Airbus A220. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)

Breeze is slated to add its 70th destination this summer. The carrier continues to bolster its route network with a handful of newly added markets.

On June 12, the airline will begin serving Key West, Florida, becoming its 10th destination in the state. Flights to Tampa and Orlando will operate four times per week on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

“We’re excited to extend our service within the Sunshine State with the addition of new service to Key West,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ founder and CEO, in a news release on Monday. “We’re confident this will be a very popular addition to Breeze’s national network [and] look forward to welcoming new and existing Guests to the area onboard an upcoming Breeze flight this summer.”

The carrier will serve Key West with its Airbus A220-300, which will be among the largest aircraft to serve the airport’s 5,000-foot runway. Key West will be Breeze’s 70th city served.

This announcement joins a growing list of cities in Breeze’s network. Last month, the carrier announced new service from Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a new base at Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio.

Ryan Ewing

SkyWest Charter Rebukes Union Objections

SkyWest Charter continues to push for final Department of Transportation approval despite ongoing pushback from labor groups.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Monday, March 10, 2025 at 07:13 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A SkyWest Charter CRJ-200 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)

Skywest Charter (SWC) has issued an answer to the U.S. Department of Transportation over its request for commuter air carrier authority.

According to its consolidated answer submitted to the DOT by SkyWest on Thursday, SWC called for an expedited resolution to its application following extensive analysis and discussion over the merits of its application. The DOT provided a preliminary approval of the company’s charter venture last month, which was met with objections by various labor groups.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and other industry stakeholders have objected to SkyWest’s application due to safety concerns and how SWC’s business plan may impact Essential Air Service (EAS) communities.

The union has suggested SWC’s operations could shift small community flying from larger SkyWest Airlines aircraft to smaller charter jets.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) and the International Association of Machinists (IAM) have both joined ALPA in objecting to the company’s application.

SkyWest stated in its answer that the primary issues under consideration by the DOT are the fitness and U.S. citizenship qualifications of the company as it seeks to conduct scheduled passenger operations.

SWC argued that the objections lodged by the unions appear to be extraneous and not directly related to the essential criteria of its application.

SWC stated that ALPA’s recurring contentions have previously been deemed irrelevant by the DOT. Moreover, the company suggested that ALPA’s motives are due to a desire to limit competition, which might affect its members’ employment opportunities.

SkyWest also noted that the Federal Aviation Administration has already approved the necessary personnel and found that its operations have satisfied all regulatory requirements.

Responding to concerns raised about the safety implications of operating under Part 135 and 380 rules, SkyWest reiterated its commitment to exceeding mandatory safety standards. The company argued that the additional voluntary safety measures it adopts go beyond what is legally required.

SkyWest further stated that the allegations that its business practices might undermine consumer interests are unfounded.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Union: FedEx Shipping Pilot Jobs Overseas

Negotiations between ALPA and FedEx have been underway for around four years. Their contract became amendable in November 2021.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, March 10, 2025 at 01:11 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A FedEx Boeing 757 on approach to Cologne, Germany. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Pilots at FedEx – who have been negotiating a new contract since 2021 – say the carrier is outsourcing flying jobs to foreign contractors. The company’s nearly 6,000 aviators are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association.

In a Monday news release, the union accused FedEx of “shipping American jobs overseas.” ALPA noted the carrier’s April schedule, which shifts all intra-Europe Boeing 757 flying to foreign contractors.

The routes “have vanished from mainline operations — outsourced entirely to foreign contractors,” ALPA stated.

“FedEx maintains the largest international air cargo network in the world with hundreds of unique international flight segments per week and service to more than 220 countries and territories around the globe,” a FedEx spokesperson said in a statement. “While the FedEx network is evolving to meet market demand and customer needs, overall international flight hours for FedEx pilots are up year over year. FedEx has a substantial European presence that is anchored by our hub at Charles de Gaulle, the largest hub in our European network. As we continue to adapt to changing market conditions, some intra-European markets are now served with smaller aircraft to more efficiently accommodate current demand.”

Since 2011, FedEx has maintained a pilot base in Cologne, Germany, the company’s largest air cargo hub in Europe. The base was closed in 2024, and FedEx leadership stated that the flying would move to Memphis, Tennessee-based pilots.

“FedEx management has steadily slashed European mainline 757 flying, and with the April schedule release, all those routes once flown by FedEx ALPA pilots have transitioned to foreign, third-party contract carriers,” ALPA’s release continued.

Negotiations between ALPA and FedEx have been underway for around four years. Their contract became amendable in November 2021.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 8:40 a.m. ET to add a statement from FedEx.

Ryan Ewing

Casablanca Airport Removes Entrance Security Scanners

ONDA plans to roll out similar changes at other major airports across Morocco, with Marrakech Menara Airport slated to follow.

Victor Shalton

Monday, March 10, 2025 at 11:13 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737 MAX on approach. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) has removed security scanners and metal detectors from the entrances of Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca to improve passenger flow and reduce wait times as of March 5.

This decision, spearheaded by the National Airports Office (ONDA), is a key component of the ambitious “Airports 2030” modernization strategy, designed to transform the country’s aviation infrastructure and boost tourism and economic growth.

The removal of entrance security checkpoints aims to address one of the most common pain points for travelers: long wait times. By eliminating these initial bottlenecks, ONDA projects that passenger processing times will drop from an average of 45 minutes to just 25 minutes. This change is expected to significantly improve the flow of travelers through the airport, which serves as Morocco’s primary international gateway and a vital hub connecting Africa, Europe, and beyond.

While the decision might raise eyebrows, authorities emphasize that safety remains a top priority. The scanners and metal detectors have not been eliminated entirely but relocated to other strategic points within the airport. The Ministry of Interior, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), and the Royal Gendarmerie collaborated closely with ONDA to ensure that security protocols are upheld. Passengers will still undergo thorough checks, just not at the front door.

“This is about efficiency without sacrificing safety,” an ONDA spokesperson said. “We’re reimagining how we manage security to create a seamless experience while maintaining the highest standards.”

The initiative at Mohammed V Airport is just the beginning. ONDA plans to roll out similar changes at other major airports across Morocco, with Marrakech Menara Airport slated to follow in the coming days. The “Airports 2030” strategy also includes a massive expansion of Mohammed V Airport’s capacity, aiming to increase its annual passenger throughput from 15 million to 35 million by 2029, as announced by ONDA on February 18.

Victor Shalton

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.

Arajet Plans Third U.S. Destination

After recently announcing service to Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, Arajet plans to add a third U.S. market this summer.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, March 10, 2025 at 09:31 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Photo: Arajet)

After recently announcing service to Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, Arajet plans to add a third U.S. market. The airline continues to expand after the U.S. finalized an open skies agreement with the Dominican Republic in December.

Beginning on June 16, the carrier will connect its Santo Domingo hub with Newark, New Jersey. The flights will be operated four times per week by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

“Arajet is committed to making air travel accessible and affordable for the Dominican community and American tourists alike, and New York is a key market to strengthen our U.S. presence,” said Victor Pacheco, CEO and founder of Arajet, in a news release. “The Newark service will complement routes between the DR, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, to establish Arajet as a carrier of choice for U.S. travelers booking vacations and getaways as well as visiting friends and family. We look forward to welcoming travelers with the convenience, affordability, and exceptional service Arajet is known for.”

Arajet began operations in 2022 and will serve 24 destinations later this year. The airline operates from both Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana International Airport.

In April, the airline plans to start flying to the U.S. for the first time with service to Miami. Later, Arajet will add San Juan, Puerto Rico, and an additional link from Punta Cana to Miami.

Ryan Ewing