A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Qatar Airways recently applied to serve Bogota, Colombia, via Caracas. The carrier does not currently serve either market.
If approved, flights would operate twice weekly with a mix of Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. The routing would be Doha-to-Bogota-to-Caracas, then a return to Doha.
BREAKING: @qatarairways has filed for approval to launch twice-weekly flights connecting Doha and Caracas, with a stop in Bogotá.
The carrier notes that Caracas would be a “technical stop,” so it’s unclear if Qatar plans to sell tickets from Bogota to Caracas or Caracas to Doha.
According to Aviacion al dia, the route is subject to approval by the Colombian civil aviation authority. The carrier has previously expressed interest in serving Bogota, joining fellow Middle East giant Emirates, which flies to Dubai via Miami.
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.
A United 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
United is planning to add yet another new long-haul route next summer, this time from its Denver hub. The carrier announced several new routes earlier this year.
Beginning on May 1, 2025, the Chicago-based airline will link its Denver hub and Rome. The new service will operate daily with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
This route will be seasonal, operating through Sept. 24. From its Denver hub, United serves a handful of long-haul markets, including Frankfurt and Munich, Germany; London Heathrow; and Tokyo Narita.
Daily service to Buffalo, New York, begins on May 22, operating year-round. The carrier will also add daily seasonal flights from Denver to Pensacola, Florida, and North Bend, Oregon, starting on May 22.
Flights between Denver and Peoria, Illinois, will operate year-round starting on March 30. United is also adding daily, year-round flights to Redding, California, and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, beginning on May 22 and May 15, respectively.
Finally, the airline will connect Denver and Wilmington, North Carolina, with seasonal Saturday-only service from May 24 to Aug. 16.
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.
The semiprivate operator currently serves several airports in the state, including Napa, Oakland, Monterey, Burbank, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Carlsbad.
A JSX E-145 in Austin. The airline exclusively operates the Embraer jet. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)
JSX is expanding its California route network next year. The semiprivate operator currently serves several airports in the state, including Napa, Oakland, Monterey, Burbank, Los Angeles, Orange County, and Carlsbad.
More nonstop routes are slated to begin next year. From Oakland, the carrier will add flights to Carlsbad and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Both routes will begin on March 2, 2025, operating four times per week.
On Thursday, the carrier began flights to Salt Lake City. The Dallas-based company will serve Burbank, Scottsdale, Denver, and Las Vegas from its newest city.
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.
Some airline CEOs have said the ultra-low-cost model is essentially dead, including United boss Scott Kirby. But Neeleman isn’t convinced yet.
“ I know why Scott said it because it makes logical sense and he’s a very smart guy …,” he told AirlineGeeks during an interview. “ If these guys rationalize their growth and rationalize the competition with each other, I do think there’s a market for them.”
With premium revenue becoming a hot topic in the industry, ultra-low-cost carriers have been forced to adapt. Spirit has beefed up its “premium” offerings, including snacks and drinks in its Big Front Seats and free Wi-Fi coming soon.
Both Frontier and JetBlue have debuted domestic first-class products, something that Breeze has had from its inception.
A rendering of Frontier’s new first-class product (Photo: Frontier Airlines)
“ You had these ULCCs growing indiscriminately, [with] bigger airplanes, stuffing more and more seats in them, thinking no one can ever stop us because United can’t offer $29 or $39 fares,” he continued.
Neeleman has founded multiple airlines, including JetBlue, WestJet, Morris Air, and Azul. His latest venture – Breeze – began operations in 2021 and now operates a fleet of Airbus A220 and Embraer aircraft to over 60 U.S. cities.
”It’s good to be able to not have to be scrambling to deal with that,” Neeleman added. “It’s great that we have first class, and it’s great that we have ‘extra legroom seats.’”
Breeze has seen strong demand for its premium product, he notes, especially on the airline’s longer routes.
The carrier’s A220-300s have 137 seats, including 12 in its premium class. In the future, Neeleman hinted at a potential increase in premium seating at Breeze.
First class seats on Breeze’s Airbus A220. (Photo: Breeze Airways)
More M&A
During the Wednesday interview, Neeleman added that Spirit and Frontier’s survival may very well depend on another merger attempt.
“ I think Spirit and Frontier will survive and the way they’ll do it, I think, is by merging. That’s my guess. If they were to merge, they have 40% overlap on the routes that they serve,” he said. They also have dual station operations and dual headquarters. If they can work on getting the revenue synergies and the cost synergies in line, then I think there’s certainly a market for that in the U.S.”
Neeleman continued: “I think that’s probably the most effective way … as opposed to adding eight first-class seats.”
JetBlue swooped in to buy Spirit in 2022, essentially outbidding Frontier. Neeleman adds that JetBlue “kind of derailed” Frontier’s plan to build an ultra-low-cost conglomerate.
He also gave accolades to recently appointed JetBlue President Marty St. George.
“[He’s been] doing a good job trying to reorient it there, and I think the first class will really help them a lot because they have a lot of customers that will be willing to pay for that,” Neeleman shared. “And that will attract a lot of people back to them.”
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.
A LinkedIn post by Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, confirmed Tuesday that Boeing had resumed building its 767 and 777/777X aircraft.
A Boeing 777 in Everett, Washington (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Boeing has confirmed its 767 and 777 airplane programs are back in production.
A LinkedIn post by Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, confirmed Tuesday that Boeing had resumed building its 767 and 777/777X aircraft.
“Our teammates have worked methodically to warm up our factories in the Pacific Northwest, using Boeing’s Safety Management System to identify and address potential issues and ensure a safe and orderly restart,” Pope said in the post. “In particular, we have taken time to ensure all manufacturing teammates are current on training and certifications, while positioning inventory at the optimal levels for smooth production.”
“As we move forward, we will closely track our production health performance indicators and focus on delivering safe, high-quality airplanes on time to our customers,” she continued.
The 777X static model being rolled out in Everett, Wash. (Photo: Boeing)
According to a recent Reuters report, Boeing commercial jet deliveries had slumped to 13 in November following the strike.
Boeing aimed to build 38 of its 737 MAX jets per month before the strikes. Analysts from the Jefferies investment firm told Reuters in another report they expect Boeing to produce an average of 29 737 MAX jets per month in 2025.
The company delivered 92 737s in Q3 2024, bringing the total to 229 year to date. Its competitor, Airbus, announced in its Q3 earnings report that it aims to produce 75 A320-series jets per month by October 2027.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
A Spirit Airbus A321 (Photo: Shutterstock | Ron Adar)
Spirit Airlines looks to trade shareholders for bondholders as it moves toward a restructuring deal that will hand control of the carrier to its creditors.
According to a Tuesday Bloomberg report, the airline said it expected shareholders will lose their investments during its bankruptcy. Shares dropped from around 60 cents on Tuesday to around 45 cents on Wednesday morning after the news broke.
The Bloomberg report cited Spirit lawyer Marshall Heubner, who said that the carrier had exhausted its restructuring options. On Tuesday, Spirit won approval from a federal bankruptcy court judge to move forward with its restructuring that would likely see shareholders lose their equity in the company with no compensation.
The restructuring – which will be considered for approval on January 29 – would see bondholders swap $795 million in debt for equity in the reorganized airline.
Shareholders Furious
According to the report, over a dozen shareholders sent letters to New York District Judge Sean Lane criticizing Spirit CEO Ted Christie or board members for the Chapter 11 filing and for supporting a deal that would cancel their shares.
One perturbed investor created a website titled “Spirit Go Away” blasting the restructuring support agreement between Spirit and bondholders. The website includes several open letters to Christie, the U.S. trustee representing Spirit shareholders, and Lane.
It also includes links to a song and documents with lyrics to several other diss tracks: “Leaving On A Jet Plane” and “Take The Money and Run.”
Huebner told Bloomberg that while it’s regrettable, the market has “fully understood” for a while now that Spirit is insolvent.
AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.
A British Airways Airbus A380. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
British Airways is expanding its Airbus A380 network in the U.S. The U.K. carrier’s superjumbo aircraft is slated to serve Boston, Washington Dulles, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco next summer.
Starting in April 2025, the airline will add a second daily A380 flight between London Heathrow and San Francisco. As first reported by Ishrion Aviation, the aircraft replaces the Boeing 777-300ER.
An airline spokesperson confirmed the aircraft upgauge, noting that the second-daily A380 flight will operate between April and May.
British Airways has 12 A380s in its fleet, which were grounded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline returned the fleet to service beginning in 2021.
Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
An Etihad Airbus A320. (Photo: Shutterstock | Markus Mainka)
Etihad Airways has reintroduced scheduled flights to Nairobi, Kenya. The resumption of this service comes after Etihad Airways dropped Nairobi from its route network in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reinstated service commenced on Sunday, after a hiatus of nearly four years. The Abu-Dhabi-based carrier began flying into the Kenyan capital in April 2012.
“The introduction of our Nairobi service enhances our growing network while responding to strong travel demand between the UAE and Kenya, as demonstrated by today’s completely full inaugural flight,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, as reported by Sustainability in the Sky.
Etihad will offer four scheduled weekly flights on the route between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Flights are operated with an Airbus A320.
Lorne is a South Africa-based aviation journalist. He was captivated and fascinated by flying from the day he took his first airline flight. With a passion for aviation in his blood, he has flown to destinations in all corners of the globe. Lorne has traveled extensively and lived in various countries. Drawing on his travels and passion for aviation, Lorne enjoys writing about airlines, routes, networks, and new developments.
Aer Lingus Receives Its First A321XLR
Aer Lingus’ first long-range A321 – registered as EI-XLR – ferried from Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany, manufacturing facility to its Dublin hub.
An Aer Lingus A321XLR lands in Dublin (Photo: Shauns_Aviation)
The second-ever Airbus A321XLR was delivered to Aer Lingus on Wednesday. The Irish airline joins its IAG-counterpart, Iberia, which received the world’s first A321XLR in October.
Aer Lingus’ first long-range A321 – registered as EI-XLR – ferried from Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany, manufacturing facility to its Dublin hub. The carrier has six on order, with another planned for delivery by the end of 2024.
The airline was initially slated to receive its first A321XLR last week, but the flight was repeatedly delayed.
Iberia – which is also part of the International Airlines Group – became the A321XLR’s launch customer in late October. The carrier began long-haul revenue flights with the new aircraft between Madrid and Boston last month.
First Routes
Aer Lingus already has plans to stretch the A321XLR’s legs on new U.S. routes. The jet has a published range of 4,700 nautical miles.
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.
JetBlue, Frontier, and Spirit – whose proposals were not selected – objected to the DOT’s ruling. Spirit even hinted at legal action in its response.
With the final order now issued, selected airlines are expected to inaugurate service within 90 days, unless the DOT grants an exception.
New Routes
American plans to serve San Antonio with daily Airbus A321 flights. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline is the largest carrier at Reagan National.
Delta is set to serve its Seattle hub with daily service from the D.C. airport on an Airbus A321neo. The airline will compete directly with Alaska on the same route.
A Delta aircraft takes off from Washington-DCA (Photo: Shutterstock | Andrew Mauro)
“American would like to thank the city and community of San Antonio, the San Antonio International Airport, U.S. Senator Cruz and the entire Texas delegation for its strong partnership and support of this effort. I’d also like to thank DOT for recognizing the overwhelming value this route will bring to a previously unserved market,” said American Executive Vice President Nate Gatten in a Wednesday news release.
Alaska was also awarded new routes. Alaska will add service between Reagan National and San Diego on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The Seattle-based carrier also serves San Diego from Washington Dulles.
“We are pleased the DOT sees the value of Alaska providing direct service between San Diego and DCA, and we thank the many local businesses and organizations who supported our bid. This new route reflects our commitment to San Diego, home of the nation’s largest military community, and offers our guests a seamless travel option to our nation’s capital,” CEO Ben Minicucci said in a news release on Tuesday.
San Diego is the largest unserved market from the airport, previously flown by US Airways before the route was cut in 2014.
Southwest will also operate new flights between Washington and Las Vegas following the slot award. The carrier will go head-to-head with American on the route.
Finally, United gains a second daily nonstop flight to San Francisco. The airline will compete with Alaska between the two cities.
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.
