More CRJs Set to Join American’s Regional Fleet

PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, said on Tuesday that it will be adding 14 CRJ-900NG aircraft to its fleet.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 01:18 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American Eagle CRJ-900 aircraft in Charlotte. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

PSA Airlines, a wholly owned regional subsidiary of American Airlines Group, announced on Tuesday that it will be adding 14 CRJ-900NG (Next-Generation) aircraft to its fleet. These aircraft will be leased to PSA from American and are expected to be delivered and inducted in phases, the regional carrier said.

The first of the additional aircraft is expected in late October. Each aircraft will be converted to the airline’s 76-seat, dual-class configuration.

A key feature of these new aircraft is high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, which American has been rolling out across its regional fleet. PSA says it has already begun installing upgraded Wi-Fi on its CRJ aircraft.

“PSA is on a well-planned growth trajectory that involves more team members flying more aircraft and customers as we continue to expand and enhance our operation,” said Dion Flannery, PSA Airlines president and CEO, in a news release. “This year, we fully restored staffing, resurrected all our parked aircraft and inducted the last of the seven aircraft as part of a previous agreement. Now, we’re prepared for the next phase of growth with the addition of these 14 NextGen CRJ900s.”

PSA’s current fleet consists of 136 active CRJ-700 and CRJ-900 aircraft along with five jets in storage programs. Last year, the airline added seven more CRJ-900s, which were previously operated by Mesa Airlines per Cirium Fleet Analyzer.

PSA-operated CRJ aircraft in Charlotte (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Mesa is planning to phase out its remaining CRJ fleet by March of next year, including 15 operating for United Express and 22 in storage. American ended its contract with Mesa in 2023.

American expects to continually grow its regional portfolio in the coming months. In early 2024, the airline’s finance chief, Devon May, said it expects to add up to 25 fully utilized regional aircraft each quarter throughout 2024.

Regional carriers have seen improvements in aircraft utilization as pandemic-era pilot supply constraints ease. Fellow wholly owned American regional subsidiary Piedmont Airlines said in July that it plans to return “dozens” of 50-seat Embraer E145 jets to revenue service.

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.

Emirates to Nearly Double 777 Freighter Fleet by Late 2026

The carrier currently has 14 777-300 freighters on firm order from Boeing, including five it committed to purchase in July.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 11:27 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Emirates SkyCargo 777 freighter lands at London Stansted Airport. Emirates currently operates 11 B777 freighter aircraft. (Photo: Shutterstock | paulpdh)

Emirates, a top-five airline by cargo tonnage, has ordered another five 777 freighters from Boeing for delivery in 2025 and 2026 to support growing cargo demand, the Middle East airline announced Monday.

The carrier currently has 14 777-300 freighters on firm order from Boeing, including five it committed to purchase in July.

Emirates also said its SkyCargo division has signed a multiyear lease extension with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for four 777 cargo jets in its existing fleet. The company has previously said that some of the incoming freighter aircraft will replace older 777s. By the end of 2026, when all the deliveries are complete, Emirates expects to have 21 factory-built 777 freighters – nearly double its current fleet of 11 units.

Emirates also is investing in fleet growth by converting 10 Boeing 777-300 passenger jets into freighters through an arrangement with Israel Aircraft Industries. The IAI conversion design is undergoing regulatory review in the United States, Europe and Israel for commercial production.

Emirates also has a huge fleet of widebody passenger jets that transport huge amounts of cargo in their lower holds.

“We’re investing in new freighter aircraft to meet surging demand and provide our customers around the world with even more flexibility, connectivity, and options to leverage market opportunity,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, in a news release. “Demand for Emirates’ air cargo services has been booming. This reflects Dubai’s growing prominence as a preferred and trusted global logistics hub, and also the success of Emirates SkyCargo’s bespoke solutions that address the needs of shippers in different industry sectors.”

Emirates made the purchase agreement for the five freighters in September at a retail price of $1 billion. Airlines typically receive discounts for larger orders.

The airline said it is also weighing the next-generation Airbus A350 and the Boeing 777X freighter for fleet expansion toward the end of the decade. A decision on the freighter of the future will be made by the end of the year.

The developments come a week after Emirates CEO Tim Clark forcefully criticized Boeing for production and quality issues that have delayed delivery of the 777X passenger aircraft for years. Emirates has more than 260 units of the 777X. Clark predicted Boeing will have to file for bankruptcy protection if it can’t raise $35 million through financing and equity. His frustration with the 777X program’s progress raises questions about whether the airline would further order a 777X freighter variant. Boeing earlier this month pushed back the start of 777-8 freighter deliveries until 2028. Airbus is targeting initial deliveries of the A350 freighter for 2026.

Boeing aircraft production has stopped for more than a month because of a strike by machinists. The airframe workers are set to vote Wednesday on a new contract proposal that would give them a 35% raise over four y ears.

The current-generation 777 freighter can fly farther (4,970 nautical miles) and carry more freight (112 tons) than any other twin-engine cargo jet today. This capability enables operators to fly more freight on more nonstop routes with better operating economics, connecting high-value cargo markets such as the Middle East with the U.S. and Europe.

Editor’s Note: This story first appeared on FreightWaves.

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.

Air Seychelles to Add Seasonal Services

In preparation for increased visitor numbers, the airline will add frequencies on several routes in its compact route network.

Lorne Philipot

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 11:18 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Seychelles Airbus A320neo. (Photo: Air Seychelles)

Ahead of the year-end vacation, Air Seychelles has increased frequencies on several routes. In preparation for increased visitor numbers, the airline will add frequencies on several routes in its compact route network.

Air Seychelles’ Network

The airline operates scheduled services from its Mahe hub to various destinations in the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions. Destinations include Mauritius, Colombo, Johannesburg, Mumbai, and Tel Aviv.

It has codeshare agreements with a number of airlines, enabling many international travellers to fly to and from Mahe and beyond. Tourism Update reports that Air Seychelles has added a number of seasonal flights as part of its service expansion for the holiday peak, starting in December and ending mid-January.

“We’re excited to announce additional flights for the upcoming festive season, allowing passengers even more options for their favourite destinations,” Charles Johnson, chief commercial officer for Air Seychelles, said.

Adding Seasonal Services

Air Seychelles will add an extra flight from Mahe to Mauritius from December 4 to January 1. The additional flight will operate on Wednesdays. This increases service on the route to an average of four flights per week.

An additional flight will also be introduced between Mahe and Johannesburg. This service will operate on Saturdays, from December 21 to January 4. Flights to Mumbai will increase to three a week, with an additional flight operating on Wednesdays between December 18 to January 1.

Introducing Reunion Route

In addition, the carrier will launch new seasonal service to Réunion Island, located in the Indian Ocean. The route will be operated once a week, on a Monday, for the period from December 30 to January 18.

Sustainability in the Sky reports that Air Seychelles will operate these seasonal services with an Airbus A320neo aircraft seating 168 passengers in two classes.

The Air Seychelles fleet comprises of two Airbus A320neos and five DHC-6 Twin Otter 400 series.

Lorne Philipot

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.

The Aircraft Being Retired This Month

Often, the drop in seasonal demand can also present a convenient opportunity to retire aging fleet types ahead of the next peak season

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 06:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Icelandair Boeing 757-300 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

During the peak months between late March and October of each year, most airlines bolster their capacity to capture peak demand. The off-peak — or shoulder — months often see a dip in capacity as students go back and the colder months begin.

These ebbs and flows in capacity are tied in with the International Air Transport Association’s seasons, split between summer and winter. While also divided between seasons in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, the capacity peaks are generally more pronounced in the North.

The lull in capacity between late October and March allows air carriers to conduct heavy maintenance checks on their fleets, repaint worn liveries, and better utilize aircraft for special events and holiday demand spikes.

Often, the drop in demand can also become a convenient opportunity to retire aging fleet types ahead of the next peak season. There are several examples of this over time, but some notable retirements include United’s Boeing 747 fleet in November 2017 and American’s MD-80s in September 2019.

Of course, aircraft retirements and the peak season’s endpoint aren’t always a perfect correlation, but this month, at least three airlines are retiring some rather rare fleet types.

Bye, Bye, ‘Baby Bus’

Affectionately known as the “Baby Bus,” the Airbus A318 is a rare breed operated by only two airlines. Before the A220’s debut, the A318 was the smallest Airbus aircraft, with space to accommodate up to 110 passengers.

By the end of October, only one scheduled operator will still fly the type: Air France with only six in its fleet.

Romania’s Tarom is slated to retire its only remaining A318 by Saturday, per Aeroroutes. Its final routes include Bucharest to Istanbul and London Heathrow.

Just weeks ago, the state airline opted to sell its four remaining A318s as part of a restructuring.

‘Flying Pencil’ Farewell

As one of the longest narrowbody jets still flying, the Boeing 757-300 is becoming increasingly rare as airlines opt for newer and more fuel-efficient aircraft. Icelandair is one of a handful of carriers still flying the jet, but that is slated to end in just a few days.

Boeing 757-300, this is your final call. It’s the last scheduled departure from Schiphol for this aircraft ✈️ pic.twitter.com/eJ77SDfLdl

— Schiphol (@Schiphol) October 21, 2024

According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer, the Icelandic carrier only has two 757-300s remaining in its fleet. United is the largest operator of the type with 21, followed by Delta and Germany’s Condor. Fifty Boeing 757-300s remain in service worldwide.

While the airline has yet to officially confirm the aircraft’s retirement, its last scheduled flight is planned for Oct. 28 between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Reykjavík as flight 543.

The 717’s Australian Tenure Ends

Qantas Group regional subsidiary QantasLink is slated to retire its two remaining Boeing 717-200s by the end of October. The jet was a workhorse in Australia’s regional network with the carrier having up to 20 717s in 2023.

As part of a broader fleet transformation effort, Qantas is replacing the aging jets with brand-new Airbus A220s. In total, the airline has 29 A220s on order.

As first noted by Aeroroutes, the carrier is planning to operate its last 717 flights this Saturday between Sydney and Canberra along with Launceston.

Ninety-nine Boeing 717s are still active across the globe, with Delta and Hawaiian left as the only operators when Qantas retires the jet.

Ryan Ewing

Finnair Adds Intercontinental Capacity

Finnair is doubling down in several key markets, adding more frequencies in the U.S., China, and Japan starting next year.

Anthony Bang An

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 04:50 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Finnair A350 takes off. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

From the start of the northern summer season next year, Finnair is adding capacity to its destinations in Asia and the United States.

North America Capacity

From May of 2025, the airline will fly 11 weekly flights to Dallas/Fort Worth using its A350-900. The airline started flying to the city last year.

A Finnair A330 in Seattle (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

It is also adding frequency to Chicago, another oneworld hub, to daily from March 31, and increasing flights to Los Angeles to five weekly flights. Elsewhere in the U.S., flights to Seattle will go up to five weekly from the current three, with its flagship A350-900.

“Customers can connect via Dallas and Chicago to our partner American Airlines’ extensive network in North and South America, while Seattle and Los Angeles offer a gateway to other parts of the West Coast and Hawaii, through our partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines,” Finnair’s chief revenue officer Christine Rovelli said in a news release.

Asia Recovery Continues

Despite the ongoing Russian airspace unavailability, the airline will ramp up capacity to Asia, Finnair’s largest market outside of Europe before the pandemic.

In Japan, Finnair will have daily frequency starting in May to Tokyo Narita along with Osaka, and will double capacity to Nagoya, to four weekly flights. All flights to Japan will utilize its A350.

In total, Finnair will operate 25 weekly flights to Japan next summer. The airline has yet to resume flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo in Japan, both of which were paused due to COVID-19.

Finnair’s new business class seat (Photo: Finnair)

In China, Finnair will increase capacity to its sole Chinese Mainland destination, Shanghai, from April 29, up to four weekly flights. The airline is adding capacity amid a series of withdrawals and capacity reductions in China by European carriers.

Despite the additional weekly flight, the airline’s presence in China is still significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The airline also previously served Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Nanjing, and Chongqing, with up to 35 weekly flights to China.

Changing Strategy

In 2022, the airline introduced a new corporate strategy in response to the Russian airspace closure and profitability issues. The airline vowed to balance its network by reorienting itself from Asia and optimizing its fleet. Since then, Finnair has repositioned capacity by increasing its presence in the U.S. while also leasing out aircraft.

Finnair started operating daily flights from Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki to Doha in cooperation with Qatar Airways, using three of its A330-300s. Another two Finnair A330s are wet-leased to Qantas for flights from Sydney to Bangkok and Singapore, and its A321s are operating for British Airways.

The additional capacity to Asia and North America will likely come from the return of some of the leased aircraft, as well as new deliveries. Finnair is expecting an additional A350 later this year, according to Aviation Week.

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.

Report: Southwest, Elliott in Talks to Avoid Proxy Fight

The fight between Elliott Investment Management L.P. and Southwest could come to an amicable conclusion, according to a Bloomberg report.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 12:41 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

The fight between Elliott Investment Management L.P. and Southwest could come to an amicable conclusion, according to a Bloomberg report published Saturday.

The report stated that the two sides have been in talks for a possible policy agreement that would give Elliott representation but not control of the board, according to sources familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified due to the discussions being private.

Southwest and Elliott have been in a dispute since June regarding the carrier’s leadership and poor stock performance over the past few years. It’s estimated that the activist investment firm currently holds over 10% of Southwest’s common stock.

Elliott has sought influence in Southwest through public nominations for its board of directors on its “Stronger Southwest” website. The firm more recently called for a Dec. 10 special meeting to elect these eight nominees as the two sides engaged in a public back and forth on social media during Southwest’s 2024 leadership conference last week.

Elliott has also previously called for Southwest CEO Bob Jordan’s resignation, though the airline’s board has chosen to stand behind him.

Southwest spokesperson Chris Mainz told AirlineGeeks via email that the carrier would not weigh in on the Bloomberg report. AirlineGeeks reached out to Elliott for comment.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

NTSB Blames Boeing 747 Engine Fire on Shoddy Maintenance Work

The National Transportation Safety Board said an improperly installed borescope plug led to a January engine fire on an Atlas Air Boeing 747.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 12:13 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

The National Transportation Safety Board said an improperly installed borescope plug led to a January engine fire on an Atlas Air Boeing 747. Maintenance on the aircraft was performed just four days before the incident.

On Jan. 18, Atlas Air flight 3885 was flying between Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico, when the crew received a fire indication in the Boeing 747-8F’s No. 2 engine at approximately 3,000 feet. An emergency was declared and the aircraft returned to Miami with no injuries reported.

No signs of an uncontained engine failure were found, the NTSB’s final report noted, though minor burn damage was reported on the GEnx engine’s thrust reverser fan duct. The aircraft returned to service nine days later on Jan. 27.

According to the agency’s report, a third-party maintenance contractor was tasked with performing a borescope inspection on the No. 2 engine, requiring the removal of a plug. Both the mechanic and inspector certified that the inspection had been completed in line with maintenance manual standards.

The removed plug was found loose in the engine cowling, which resulted in the fire.

Ryan Ewing

Montana Airport Expands Air Service After Pilot Shortage Slowdown

In 2022, the town of nearly 34,500 was one of many small communities that felt the effects of pilot supply woes at regional airlines.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 11:19 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Connection CRJ-200 in Butte, Mont. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

The community of Butte, Montana, is set to receive more choices in air service next year. Flights to Butte are federally subsidized under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

In 2022, the town of nearly 34,500 was one of many small communities that felt the effects of pilot supply woes at regional airlines. SkyWest previously operated flights to both Denver and Salt Lake City but cut the Denver service citing an ongoing pilot shortage.

According to the Montana Standard, the regional airline added the Denver flights just six months before axing the service in late June 2022. Service to Denver operates under the United Express brand, while flights to Salt Lake City are branded under Delta Connection.

Butte requested a waiver from the Department of Transportation to allow SkyWest to continue serving the community under minimum EAS requirements. Later, SkyWest increased service to Salt Lake City, eliminating the need for a waiver.

Currently, the town sees 13 weekly flights to Delta’s Salt Lake City hub. Starting in January 2025, SkyWest will also resume flights to Denver.

Under the three-year contract, SkyWest will continue operating 13 round-trip subsidized flights per week, codesharing with both United and Delta. The annual subsidy rates for the contract are $6,354,635 in year one, $6,799,459 in year two, and $7,275,421 in year three.

Flights will be operated by both the CRJ-200 and CRJ-550 aircraft.

“SkyWest has provided exceptional and reliable air service to our community for over 30 years. We feel their proposal to offer service to both Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and to Denver International (DEN) will greatly benefit our passengers and strengthen air travel out of Butte,” said Jim Beauchamp, board chairman of the Bert Mooney Airport Authority, in a June letter to the DOT.

In 2023, the Regional Airline Association — a trade group — said 76% of small communities saw reductions in air service as a result of pilot supply constraints. Flights to several of those communities are subsidized under the federal program.

Ryan Ewing

United Finalizes Lease Deal for 40 A321neo Jets

United has finalized its plans to lease an additional 40 Airbus A321neo aircraft in the coming years as narrowbody jet shortage continues.

Sam Jakobi

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 10:03 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

United's first A321neo arrives in Houston (Photo: United Airlines)

United has finalized its plans to lease an additional 40 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

According to FlightGlobal, United didn’t publicly name the aircraft lessors. However, one company has since revealed its part in the deal with the airline. SMBC Aviation Capital claimed they were accounting for half of the deal, with 20 aircraft set to start being delivered in 2026.

The airline expects to start receiving the first leased aircraft by the end of this year, with deliveries ending in 2027. These should tie in with the 14 new aircraft coming in from Airbus before the end of the year, and a further 26 in 2025.

United still faces uncertainty around delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 10. The sibling to the MAX 9 and MAX 8 variants, the largest Boeing 737 model is still not certified, and won’t be until next year at the earliest.

The carrier has said that it hopes for the first deliveries of the 737 MAX 10 to begin in late 2026.

Sam Jakobi

Sam Jakobi is a young aviation journalist based in London, U.K. A lifelong Airbus fan, he has adored aviation for as long as he can remember. Sam writes articles and conducts interviews with members of the aviation community.

Allegiant’s Boeing 737 MAX Enters Revenue Service

After taking delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on Sept. 9, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) began revenue flights with the new jet on Sunday.

Ryan Ewing

Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 05:40 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Allegiant's first 737 MAX aircraft (Photo: Allegiant)

Allegiant is losing its title as an all-Airbus operator. After taking delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on Sept. 9, the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) began revenue flights with the new jet on Sunday.

For over a month, the airline has conducted a series of induction steps with its employees to familiarize them with the new aircraft. The carrier’s first and so far only 737 MAX — registered as N811NV — operated several ferry flights between Allegiant’s bases.

The aircraft officially began revenue service on Sunday, according to Flightradar24 tracking data and the carrier’s website. Departing from Allegiant’s Orlando-Sanford base, the aircraft is currently scheduled to serve Akron, Greenville-Spartanburg, Roanoke, and Bangor, among others.

Cirium Diio schedule data shows the airline’s 737 MAXs initially flying from its Orlando and St. Petersburg bases.

Allegiant’s initial 737 MAX routes as of March 2025 (Photo: Cirium Diio)

Allegiant faced nearly eight months of manufacturing delays at Boeing; the long-awaited jet was first slated to debut in early 2024. The airline also expected 12 new 737 MAXs this year but has since lowered its delivery estimates to four airframes.

The carrier’s first 737 is the MAX 8-200 variant, a higher-density model with 200 seats. Allegiant’s 737 MAX 8-200 can accommodate up to 190 passengers, including 21 Allegiant Extra seats with additional legroom.

In 2022, Allegiant placed its first order for the 737 MAX and now has 50 aircraft on firm order with options for 80 more. The airline retired its fleet of Boeing 757s in 2017, then the MD-80s in 2018, leaving it with just Airbus aircraft.

Ryan Ewing