“The cargo market is set to become a key element in our business model and will benefit from the advantages offered by Taiwan’s geographical location,” said STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai in a news release. “The A350F is the perfect choice for STARLUX, offering a similar payload-range capability as previous-generation freighters, but with very significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions.”
The airline currently operates a fleet of 26 Airbus aircraft, including the A321neo, A330neo, and A350-900. The airline received its first A350 aircraft in 2022.
A Competitive Edge
The A350F is designed to address future market needs while complying with stricter environmental standards. The freighter boasts a payload capacity of up to 111 tonnes and a range of 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers). Powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft promises up to 40% reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation models.
Additionally, the A350F is the only freighter currently designed to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) enhanced CO₂ emissions standards, set to take effect in 2027.
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.
How Geese Are Helping Delta Go Green
Delta plans to test a new fuel-efficient flying technique pioneered by Airbus – which takes inspiration from the flight pattern of migrating geese.
Delta plans to test a new fuel-efficient flying technique pioneered by Airbus called “fello’fly” – which takes inspiration from the “V” shaped flight pattern of migrating geese.
The carrier, which turns 100 years old on March 2, announced the plan for future flight operations among other planned innovations for its centennial celebration in a news release on Tuesday.
According to information on Airbus’ website, fello’fly safely positions and pairs aircraft, allowing a follower aircraft to benefit from so-called free lift and use less engine thrust, resulting in less fuel consumption.
“This technique is known as wake energy retrieval – or surfing the air upwash of a lead bird,” Airbus stated on its website. “… The uplift from the wake has shown it can drive at least a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions per trip.”
Delta stated in its news release that it plans to pair flights to test fello’fly in the second half of 2025.
Partnership With Airbus UpNext
The carrier’s new partnership with aerospace research company Airbus UpNext is planned to “revolutionize the future of flying” with new technology.
The partnership will see Delta and Airbus collaborate on researching technology solutions to explore wing performance, fuel efficiency, superconductivity, advanced aircraft assistance and more. The two companies are also working to achieve sustainable flight by exploring hydrogen-powered aircraft through the Airbus ZEROe project and other sustainable air fuel initiatives.
“It’s estimated that 80 percent or more of the world’s population has never experienced air travel,” said Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta, in the release. “That’s why, as we continue to expand as an international airline, increasing the world’s access to travel isn’t just an opportunity – it’s our responsibility. We live in a divided world, which is why what we do at Delta is so important. Our job isn’t to transport people. It’s to bring them together.”
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 Lufthansa A320neo in Oslo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Lufthansa Group has set a goal of recruiting around 10,000 new employees across various professions this year.
According to a news release from the parent company of German carrier Lufthansa Airlines, that number includes over 2,000 flight attendants, more than 1,400 ground staff, and around 1,300 technical experts. The company is also looking to hire 1,200 administrative workers and 800 pilots with more than half of all recruitment to take place in Germany.
The release stated that over 2,000 employees are to start at Lufthansa Technik – the group’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul division. Lufthansa Group subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Eurowings will each look to hire around 700 employees.
Lufthansa Airlines expects to hire fewer employees in 2025 than in 2024 and plans to recruit around 1,200 people with a focus on operations by the end of the year. These hiring plans come after the airline axed routes in the U.S. and China due to aircraft delivery shortages from Boeing last fall.
The carrier will continue to implement its “Turnaround program” with the aim of increasing efficiency and improving product quality in 2025.
“The Lufthansa Group is and remains an attractive employer with many different job profiles and career options,” said Michael Niggemann, chief human resources officer at Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “Last year alone, we received 350,000 applications across the Group and recruited over 13,000 employees. We look forward to welcoming every new colleague.”
The Lufthansa Group currently employs over 100,000 people in over 90 countries, and it has recruited more than 30,000 new workers over the past three years. In October 2024, Lufthansa Group reported $11 billion in revenue – its strongest revenue quarter in company history.
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.
An Edelweiss A340 lands in Las Vegas (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Edelweiss says it is ending service to Havana amid “declining demand” and “current conditions” at the city’s airport. The Swiss leisure airline will suspend the Zurich-Havana route next month.
“An on-site inspection by Edelweiss has shown that it is difficult to guarantee a long-term stable and reliable long-haul operation,” the carrier said in a news release.
The last flight between Zurich and Havana will operate on Feb. 27. Until then, the once-per-week service will continue to operate on Thursdays.
German leisure carrier Condor is halting flights to Cuba in May 2025. A handful of European airlines continue to serve Havana, including Air France and Iberia.
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.
An Avianca 787 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Shoddy maintenance work is being blamed for an October 2024 depressurization incident. The aircraft involved – an Avianca Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – was flying between Bogota, Colombia, and Madrid.
According to a FlightGlobal report, the jet was cruising at 42,000 feet when the crew received an alert and executed a rapid descent.
The 787 descended to approximately 23,000 feet, but the cabin altitude increased to just over 10,000 feet when the left pack was switched off. While never exceeding 14,000 feet, the cabin altitude continued to increase to over 11,000 feet.
Oxygen masks were manually deployed in the cabin, and a message directed the crew to use theirs as well.
Investigators said data from the aircraft indicates one of the two left-hand starter generators failed, causing the cabin air compressors to go offline. The 787’s other pack was also experiencing issues.
Maintenance Work
“Major maintenance work” had been performed on the aircraft between Oct. 2 and 27. The incident flight was on Oct. 31, and the aircraft had already operated two flights after undergoing maintenance.
Portuguese investigators noted that “extensive work was performed on both packs, specifically on the recirculation fans. This work resulted in a misassembled recirculation duct, allowing a gap to occur which consequently resulted in a significant leak.”
The crew diverted to Ponta Delgada-Nordela Airport in the Azores. No injuries were reported following the incident.
Maintenance personnel said the 787’s right-hand pack can be difficult to access with little room to maneuver.
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.
A Cathay Pacific A350. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)
Cathay Pacific will bolster service to Italy by resuming flight operations to Rome in June 2025. The new flight will operate three times a week with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
The new service comes after Cathay Group announced that it had reached 100% of pre-pandemic flights and carried more than 100,000 passengers on Dec. 15, 2024.
“Cathay Pacific’s history in Italy stetches back close to 40 years when we first launched direct flights between Hong Kong and Rome in 1986,” Lavinia Lau, the airline’s chief customer and commercial officer, said in a news release.
Rome becomes the airline’s 12th European destination as Cathay Pacific currently operates five weekly flights to Milan. Flight operations between Hong Kong and the Italian capital were suspended since the pandemic.
Projecting 100 Destinations in 2025
Cathay Group is continuing to spread its wings with the aim of serving 100 destinations within 2025. Earlier, Cathay Pacific announced more destinations will be rolling out in 2025, such as Hyderabad, India, Dallas/Fort Worth, Munich, and Brussels. In addition, HK Express, the group’s low-cost carrier, is launching in Sendai, Japan in January.
Alaska has published a report detailing what the carrier has learned and changed one year after one of its 737 MAXs had a door plug blow out while in flight.
An Alaska Boeing 737 MAX (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)
Alaska Airlines has published a report detailing what the carrier has learned and changed one year after one of its Boeing 737s had a door plug blow out while in flight.
The report stated that on Jan. 5, 2024, Alaska temporarily grounded its fleet of 65 737 MAX 9 aircraft after the incident occurred during flight 1282 from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. All passengers and crew members survived the incident, though there were several non-fatal injuries reported.
Right after the incident, Alaska’s quality and audit team reviewed Boeing’s production quality and control systems. The carrier said it also added “experienced members” of its team to “validate work and quality on the Boeing 737 production line.”
Brooke Vatheuer, Alaska’s vice president of audit programs, said that the company’s leadership has spent a lot of time with Boeing leaders over the past year reviewing their improvement plans, sharing safety management systems best practices and monitoring their progress.
“In addition to oversight from the FAA, our visits to Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita (which makes the fuselage) and the Boeing factory in Renton have allowed us to directly observe the ongoing improvements and offer an additional ‘second set of eyes,’” Vatheuer wrote. “Our audit team is actively engaged with Boeing’s production quality and control systems. By walking the factory floor and interacting with management and frontline employees, we have fostered transparency and openness, providing us with the necessary information and access to execute our oversight activities.”
Inspectors in Renton and North Charleston
Alaska has also added three monitoring and evaluation employees who are experts in aircraft maintenance and inspection at Boeing’s Renton factory. The three Aircraft Acquisition Representatives (AARs) are on-site at Boeing five days a week covering different shifts and remain on call to conduct inspections per Alaska’s standards.
“We have also seen improvements in Boeing’s Mechanic Training Program, which now includes extended training periods and increased hands-on opportunities,” Vatheuer wrote. “There has been a focus on communicating the importance of safety and compliance, with a strong emphasis on voluntary reporting. Furthermore, we have observed positive changes in work processes, particularly regarding traveled work, where a SMS risk assessment framework is now employed to manage tasks effectively. We are encouraged to see Boeing leadership’s focus on safety and their commitment to cultural change.”
Vatheuer wrote that Alaska is “optimistic” about Boeing’s dedication and movement toward making significant improvements so far. She said that Alaska has planned several visits to Boeing in 2025 for further aircraft inspections, and the carrier will also extend its efforts to Boeing’s 787 line in North Charleston, South Carolina, as it prepares more deliveries.
Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 (Photo: Hawaiian Airlines)
“Safety is not just a policy – it is our core value that guides our actions every single day,” Vatheuer said. “Each of us plays a role in maintaining the safety for each other and our guests. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to safety and your dedication and pride toward ensuring our aircraft are safe and our operations are reliable. ”
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 Boeing 777X at the Dubai Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Analysts at London-based multinational bank Barclays are speculating that Boeing’s stocks could be on the uptick to recovery this year.
According to a Barron’s report, analysts led by Barclays Managing Director David Strauss recently upgraded Boeing shares from “equal weight” to “overweight” status and lifted its price target from $190 to $210. The analysts wrote that in a best-case scenario, Boeing’s stock could skyrocket anywhere between $270 to $290 per share if the company can speed up production and delivery for its 737 MAX and 787 jets.
As of Tuesday morning, Boeing stocks were trending upwards at $173.50 per share.
2024 was a difficult year for Boeing, which faced a devastating labor strike and government scrutiny over product quality and safety practices at the company. The Barclays analysis comes roughly one year after the door plug blew out from a Boeing 737 MAX 9 while it was in flight for Alaska Airlines.
While deliveries dropped by 34% in 2024 compared to the year prior, Boeing has stated it plans to boost production of its 737 and 787 jets this year and get back on track to meet its delivery goals.
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 United Express Embraer E175 (Photo: Shutterstock | Austin Deppe)
Mesa Airlines will shed more of its fleet in the coming months following a purchase agreement with United. The Phoenix-based airline disclosed the transaction in a Tuesday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
As part of the deal, the regional carrier will sell 18 of its Embraer E175 aircraft to United for $229.1 million. According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, Mesa has 57 E175s in service with three in storage.
On Dec. 24, the company said it entered into an agreement to sell 15 more CRJ-900 airframes. The buyer was not disclosed.
A Mesa Airlines CRJ-900 in Phoenix (Photo: Shutterstock | Robin Guess)
The carrier expects to generate $19 million from the sale, which will be used to pay a U.S. Treasury loan. This transaction, the company notes, will close at various points between January and April.
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.
Frontier plans to add three new routes from New York’s JFK Airport later this year. The ultra-low-cost carrier first began service to the airport in June 2024.
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.
