Boeing Sets New Delivery Record

After a dismal year, Boeing's productivity has bounced back its deliveries to new heights during the first month of 2025.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Saturday, February 01, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 sits in Seattle prior to delivery. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

After a dismal year, Boeing’s productivity has bounced back its deliveries to new heights with its best January yet.

According to AirInsight data, Boeing delivered 44 jets as of Jan. 31, nearly double its 25 deliveries from January 2024. The solid start puts Boeing at one-tenth of its delivery goal for 2025.

The company produced one 777-200F, four 787s, one BBJ, 30 MAX 8s, three MAX 8-200s and three MAX 9s in January. Boeing beat Airbus in total deliveries for the month by 19 jets. Airbus had out-delivered Boeing the year before by five aircraft.

COMAC and Embraer each delivered three aircraft in January 2025 – half of what they each delivered a year prior.

In January 2024, Boeing’s 737 production was capped at 38 aircraft per month by the Federal Aviation Administration following a door plug incident earlier that month. That cap is still in place today.

According to a recent Reuters report, newly appointed Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has said he would keep the production cap in place until he was satisfied with Boeing’s safety standards.

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.

Reagan National Set for Busiest Year Ever in 2025

Despite Wednesday's mid-air collision and previous calls to not add flights at the airport, Reagan National is gearing up for one of its busiest years to date.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 04:49 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

American Airlines aircraft at Reagan National (Photo: Shutterstock | Thomas Barrat)

Washington’s Reagan National Airport is slated for its busiest year in 2025, despite calls last year not to add flights. As part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Congress authorized five more round-trip slot exemptions.

These flights will go beyond the airport’s 1,250-mile perimeter rule and were awarded by the Department of Transportation in late 2024. American, Delta, Southwest, United, and Alaska will each add one new daily service.

These beyond-perimeter routes will begin in the coming months. Some are currently set to start as early as next month, including Southwest’s new route to Las Vegas that begins on Feb. 13.

Congress is tasked with approving new service from Reagan National, or carriers return unused slots and the DOT awards them. The airport’s perimeter rule was first established in 1966 and expanded in the 1980s.

Increasing Service

Even though it operates Reagan National, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has little to no say on how Congress approves these new flights. Over the past 25 years, Congress has added 64 slot exemptions to the airport, per MWAA.

The airports authority has warned against adding more flights for years. As recently as last year, it said more flights would create “congestion, delays and stress on airport infrastructure.”

Most arrivals and departures use Reagan National’s main runway – 1/19 – making it the busiest runway in the U.S. with over 800 daily takeoffs and landings, MWAA said.

In a May 2023 memo, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Organization said an increase in flights would lead to more delays from the airport.

“In other words, as long as the total number of flights at DCA remains the same, FAA Air Traffic Organization takes no position on whether flights are within or beyond-perimeter,” the report stated.

Despite these calls, 2025 is shaping up to become the airport’s busiest year on record. Cirium Diio schedule data compiled by AirlineGeeks shows that airlines are planning over 302,000 total scheduled inbound and outbound flights for the year.

Scheduled inbound and outbound flights at Reagan National (Data; Cirium Diio)

This equates to nearly 900 peak-day flights during the busier summer months. Reagan National continues to see record years in terms of passenger volumes, too.

“DCA handles more passengers today – 25 million a year – than at any time in its history and more than Washington’s other two much-larger and better-equipped airports,” MWAA said on its website, referring to Dulles and Baltimore. “DCA was designed to handle 15 million passengers a year and is now at its limit for most of the day.”

American Regrows

Just last week, executives at American touted plans to beef up the carrier’s schedule from Reagan National. The airline is the largest at the airport with over 520 peak-daily flights.

“We’re going to be back to our largest schedules, largest number of seats offered in both LaGuardia and DCA since the pandemic,” American CEO Robert Isom said during the airline’s fourth-quarter earnings call.

American gained dominance at Reagan National after its 2013 merger with US Airways, which previously considered the airport a focus city. Now, American calls it a hub, with flights to nearly 100 destinations, including beyond-perimeter service to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Antonio starting in March.

Two days ago, an American Eagle CRJ-700 and a Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Pomotac River, killing 67. The accident is the deadliest crash involving a U.S. airline in over two decades.

A New York Times report on Thursday said staffing levels in Reagan National’s air traffic control tower were “not normal” at the time of the accident. A controller had been managing both helicopter and airplane traffic, positions that are usually split between two people.

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.

Livery of the Week: Horizon Air ‘Meatball’ Retro Livery

In stark contrast to the blue and green shades painted on most of its fleet, Horizon Air’s retrojet bears its bold original livery.

Andrew Chen

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 03:44 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Horizon Air Embraer E175 featuring its "meatball" retro livery on approach to Paine Field outside Seattle. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

There is a bright and distinctive Embraer 175 that jets across the skies of the West Coast. In stark contrast to the blue and green shades painted on most of its fleet, Horizon Air’s retrojet bears its bold original livery.

Horizon Air was founded in 1981 and started out connecting destinations throughout the Pacific Northwest. The retro livery is the one that was used at the time of the airline’s inception. It features a series of burgundy and orange cheatlines across the fuselage, and an orange and red sun – affectionately known as the “meatball” – on the tail.

The aircraft also features a more subtle nod to the company’s origins. Most of Horizon’s E175s have registrations that end in the letters “QX,” the airline’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) designator code. However, the “meatball” retrojet is registered as N652MK, with “MK” being a tribute to one of the company’s founders, Milt Kuolt.

The “meatball” retro livery was previously featured on a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 until Horizon retired the type in early 2023.

Horizon was acquired by Alaska Airlines in 1986 and is now a subsidiary of the Alaska Airlines Group. Its standard livery is the same as the Alaska Airlines one, except for the fact that its aircraft are branded as “Alaska HORIZON.” Alaska has a whole lineup of special liveries, paying tribute to anything from sports teams and theme park partnerships, to military servicemembers and its Pacific Northwest heritage.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

American Renumbers Wichita-D.C. Flight

American began nonstop service between Wichita and Reagan National in January 2024. Flights operate once daily between the two cities.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 02:53 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A PSA Airlines CRJ-700 (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

Following Wednesday’s deadly collision between American flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., the airline is removing the flight number from its schedule.

Flight 5342 – operated by American’s wholly owned regional subsidiary PSA Airlines – was operating between Wichita, Kansas, and Washington. The CRJ-700 and the helicopter collided over the Potomac River while the jet was on approach to Reagan National Airport.

All 64 passengers and crew onboard the jet are dead, in addition to three on the helicopter.

As first noted by Aeroroutes, the Wichita-to-D.C. route will be renumbered as flight 5677 effective Friday. Thursday’s flight was canceled.

A spokesperson from the airline told AirlineGeeks that flight 5342 would be retired, despite it being loaded for multiple flights in 2025.

The practice of retiring flight numbers after a major accident is not uncommon in the industry. Wednesday’s crash was the deadliest accident involving a U.S. airline since 2001.

“Flight AA5342 will not be used for any future American Airlines flights,” an airline spokesperson said in a statement.

American began nonstop service between Wichita and Reagan National in January 2024. Flights operate once daily between the two cities.

Ryan Ewing

FAA Limits Helicopter Traffic Around DCA

The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following the deadly collision.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 02:00 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta aircraft takes off from Washington DCA. (Photo: Shutterstock | Andrew Mauro)

The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting helicopter flights around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following the deadly collision between PSA Airlines flight 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk over the nearby Potomac River on Wednesday night.

According to a Reuters report, the FAA is restricting most helicopters from Route 1 and Route 4 near the airport – the same routes used by the Black Hawk involved in the accident.

Police and medical helicopters will still be allowed to operate flights on those routes.

In an interview with Flying Magazine, helicopter pilot David Wartofsky said that helicopters flying in Washington, D.C., airspace have designated, published routes in which they operate.

“The helicopter routes are predefined and at a very low altitude—for example, at or below 200 feet above the surface.” Wartofsky said. “That particular route the helicopter was on intersects with the approach to Runway 33.”

Wednesday night’s crash killed all 64 people aboard the PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet, including professional U.S. and Russian figure skaters. Additionally, all three soldiers aboard the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter were killed.

The incident has spurred condolences from aviation labor organizations and airlines around the world.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Southwest Reaffirms ‘Merit’ Hiring Amid DEI Scrutiny

The Dallas-based carrier’s comments come after increased scrutiny over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within the aviation industry.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest 737 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Southwest is the latest airline to double down on commitments to merit-based hiring. The Dallas-based carrier’s comments come after increased scrutiny over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.

“On the DEI question, whether it’s today, five years ago, 10 years ago, or 20 years ago, I’ve been here 37 years. We’ve always worked hard to hire people who are just nice,” said Southwest CEO Bob Jordan during the airline’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Thursday.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring the Federal Aviation Administration to immediately halt all DEI initiatives, calling them discriminatory. In addition, the president ordered all federal employees in DEI-related roles to go on leave, according to NBC News.

Trump also suggested that Wednesday’s midair collision in Washington, D.C., was related to DEI hiring within the FAA.

Last week, United CEO Scott Kirby echoed Jordan’s comments, adding that his airline has always hired based on merit. “And [while] we do hire on merit, we can hire the absolute best of the best and have a naturally diverse workforce,” he said.

Jordan continued: “They like coming to work. They like their team, and they feel like they belong at Southwest. And then as it relates to hiring and promotions, they’ve always been merit-based and no different across our history. So no changes in terms of how we think about how we treat people and how we reward people.”

He added that the airline will be “evaluating” a slew of recent executive orders from the White House. “And so I think just sort of stay tuned there,” Jordan concluded.

Ryan Ewing

Delta Adds Third Australian Destination

The airline began service to Brisbane last month, which is a seasonal flight. Its Los Angeles to Sydney route is served year-round.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11:57 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta A350-900XWB in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)

Delta is slated to add a new Australian destination later this year. The Atlanta-based airline currently serves Sydney and Brisbane.

Starting on Dec. 3, the carrier will begin serving Melbourne from its Los Angeles hub. The Victoria State Government shared the new route in a press release.

An airline spokesperson also confirmed the route addition: “Delta confirms it will be launching new nonstop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne on the Airbus A350-900, beginning in December 2025. We look forward to sharing more details in an official announcement in the coming days.”

Flights will operate three times per week, departing Los Angeles at 9:25 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and arriving in Melbourne at 8:15 a.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Return service from Melbourne will depart at 10:25 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving in Los Angeles at 6:10 a.m. local time the same day.

“Delta’s flights will help restore capacity on the Los Angeles route back to where it was before the Covid-19 pandemic and the arrival of a new carrier on the Pacific route will also make it easier for Victorian businesses to connect with a key trading partner,” Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said in the release.

Delta will compete with United on the Los Angeles route, which also serves Melbourne from its San Francisco hub. Qantas also connects Los Angeles and Melbourne.

The airline began service to Brisbane last month, which is a seasonal flight. Its Los Angeles to Sydney route is served year-round.

Ryan Ewing

Global Passenger Demand Hits Record High in 2024

IATA reports that global air travel demand in 2024 reached new heights, with international traffic seeing a strong 13.6% rise.

Tolga Karadeniz

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 09:49 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Aircraft on the ramp in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Global air travel demand reached unprecedented levels in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic figures, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported Thursday. Passenger traffic, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs), grew by 10.4% compared to 2023 and was 3.8% above 2019 levels, which marked the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global aviation.

Airlines operated with an 83.5% load factor for the year, setting a new record for full-year efficiency. “2024 made it absolutely clear that people want to travel,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general. “With 10.4% demand growth, travel reached record numbers both domestically and internationally. Airlines met that strong demand with record efficiency.”

International passenger traffic surged by 13.6% from 2023, while domestic traffic rose by 5.7%. The increase in traffic was matched by a corresponding boost in capacity. Available seat kilometers (ASKs) grew by 8.7%, with international capacity increasing by 12.8% and domestic capacity up by 2.5%.

The final month of 2024 was particularly robust. December saw an 8.6% year-on-year increase in total demand, with international traffic growing by 10.6% and domestic demand rising by 5.5%. The load factor for the month reached 84%, another record for the sector.

Regional Performance

The Asia-Pacific region led global international traffic growth in 2024, posting a 26.0% increase in revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs). This was supported by a 24.7% rise in capacity and a strong load factor of 83.8%. The region’s recovery was driven by a sharp rise in both leisure and business travel, particularly in countries like China, Japan, and Australia, where both domestic and international flights saw significant growth.

European airlines reported a 9.7% increase in international traffic, fueled by a boost in business and tourism travel. Middle Eastern carriers also saw a 9.4% rise, leveraging their strategic positions as key hubs for East-West connections. In North America, airlines experienced a 6.8% growth, driven by a solid rebound in cross-border travel, particularly with Mexico and Canada.

Latin American carriers saw a 14.4% jump, with Brazil and Mexico becoming the region’s strongest markets. African airlines recorded a 13.2% gain, largely driven by growing demand for both tourism and trade in East and Southern Africa, where expanding routes are meeting the needs of an increasingly connected market.

Domestically, China led the growth with a 12.3% increase in RPKs, supported by strong demand for both short-haul and long-haul flights. The U.S. domestic market grew by 3.7%, with regional hubs seeing particular strength, bolstered by a resurgence in business travel and steady growth in domestic tourism. India saw a 6.0% rise in domestic traffic, driven by an expanding middle class and increased demand for air travel. Load factors remained high across major domestic markets, with India achieving the highest at 86.4%.

Tolga Karadeniz

Tolga is a dedicated aviation enthusiast with years of experience in the industry. From an early age, his fascination with aviation went beyond a mere passion for travel, evolving into a deliberate exploration of the complex mechanics and engineering behind aircraft. As a writer, he aims to share insights , providing readers with a view into the complex inner workings of the aviation industry.

Flight Recorders Recovered From CRJ

Both devices were recovered from the PSA CRJ-700 jet, which collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 08:33 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Crash site near Reagan National Airport. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday evening that it recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the site of Wednesday’s crash.

Both devices were recovered from the PSA Airlines CRJ-700, which collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Often referred to as ‘black boxes,’ the two recorders contain critical flight data.

“NTSB investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the Bombardier CRJ700 airplane involved in yesterday’s mid-air collision at DCA,” the agency said in a statement. “The recorders are at the NTSB labs for evaluation.”

The NTSB’s labs are located nearby in downtown Washington, D.C. On Thursday, the agency officially took control of the investigation.

During a press conference, NTSB investigators said there will be various groups working on the investigation, including operations, structures, engines, systems, air traffic control, survival factors, helicopters, and human performance.

The agency had nearly 50 people on scene Thursday. A preliminary report will be available within 30 days.

Ryan Ewing

‘We Are One Airline Community:’ Aviation Groups Respond to D.C. Crash

The aviation community has responded in mass with condolences for the deceased and support for PSA Airlines following the deadly crash.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 05:28 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American Eagle CRJ-700. (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

The aviation community has responded in mass with condolences for the deceased and support for PSA Airlines following the deadly crash that killed over 60 people near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Wednesday night.

While recovery operations are still underway, it’s been reported that none of the 64 passengers on PSA flight 5342 survived the collision with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter which also killed all three soldiers aboard.

The incident has reinvigorated national discussions on safety and DEI hiring policies. On Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed an executive order appointing Chris Rocheleau as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and another for immediate assessment of aviation safety.

Airlines Respond

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan opened the carrier’s earnings call on Thursday by commenting on the accident in D.C.

“While we are all competitors, we are one airline community,” he said.

Other airline leaders echoed that sentiment with their own statements on the tragedy.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this tragic accident and their families – we’re in touch with our colleagues at American Airlines and will continue to offer any assistance and support they may need,” said United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby in a LinkedIn post.

Kirby was previously the president of American Airlines until 2016, which owns PSA.

Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in another LinkedIn post that “the aviation community was in mourning.”

pic.twitter.com/KTQZATTwDk

— Endeavor Air (@EndeavorAir) January 30, 2025

Attention Overseas

The incident, which is the first deadly U.S. airline accident since 2009, has drawn international attention.

“All our support and solidarity goes out to the victims, affected families and crews in these difficult times,” Spanish airline Iberia posted on X.

Our hearts are heavy with the tragic news of flight #AA5342. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew and all those affected. Our colleagues at @AmericanAir, our thoughts are with you.

— Finnair (@Finnair) January 30, 2025

According to a Reuters report, the Kremlin expressed its condolences to the families of Russian citizens who lost their lives in the crash. Trump said during a press briefing Thursday morning that he was in contact with Russian officials about transporting the deceased citizens back to Russia.

Unions Comment

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – which represents PSA’s pilots – released a statement on the accident.

“We are shocked and saddened by the tragic accident at DCA tonight,” ALPA told AirlineGeeks in an emailed statement. “Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy and ALPA’s accident investigation team is responding to assist the National Transportation Safety Board in their investigation.”

Jason Ambrosi, president of ALPA International, also issued a statement reminding the public to let the investigation complete before speculating about the cause of the crash.

“A lot of details and speculation will come out in response to this tragedy, but we must remember to let the investigation run its course,” Ambrosi said in an emailed statement to AirlineGeeks. “Extra pressure will be on each of us as our passengers—and our fellow crewmembers—have this accident on their minds. However, as we do day in and day out, ALPA pilots will continue to lead the way with professionalism and an overarching commitment to safety.”

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson – representing 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines, including PSA – also released a statement.

“Our union is responding to the tragic midair collision of PSA Flight 5342 with a military helicopter,” Nelson told AirlineGeeks in her emailed statement. “Two AFA Flight Attendants were crewing the flight. While we mobilize to support the families and crews directly affected by this incident, we are also sending strength to all first responders doing everything they can to bring survivors to safety.”

Nelson asked that the public avoid speculation and keep the families involved in their thoughts. She said that AFA’s employee assistance program is available by phone call at 800-424-2406 for all flight attendants and family members in need.

“Let us all stay focused on saving lives,” she said.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff