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Sharkskin System Used to Reduce Drag of 777 Cargo Jets

Freighter airlines are using a new coating that mimics the structure of a shark’s skin to reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Airframe repair specialists apply the AeroShark technology to an All Nippon Airways 777 freighter. (Photo: Lufthansa Technik/ANA)

Freighter airlines are leading the way in fitting aircraft with a new high-tech coating that mimics the structure of a shark’s skin to reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.

EVA Air and All Nippon Airways recently became the first Asian carriers to equip Boeing 777 freighters with the friction-reducing AeroShark surface film, following the footsteps of Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss International Air Lines.

All Nippon Airways said it began operating its first 777 freighter with the special coating on Sunday and plans to become the first airline to operate both freighter and passenger variants of the 777 with the AeroShark technology by next spring.

Lufthansa Technik, a provider of maintenance and other technical services for commercial aircraft, developed AeroShark with German chemical and coating manufacturer BASF to address the need for more sustainable air transport. The nearly invisible coating is designed to be weather-resistant and simple to apply.

Aircraft surfaces are exposed to UV radiation as well as temperature and pressure fluctuations at high altitudes that can alter smoothness. The low-friction film consists of riblets—small protrusions measuring about 50 micrometers or 0.002 inches—that imitate the hydrodynamic properties of sharkskin and allow air to flow more smoothly over the aircraft during flight. The subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG estimates the riblet film, which is applied to most of the fuselage and engine nacelles during scheduled maintenance layovers, reduces drag by about 1 percent.

Workers apply the AeroShark surface technology to a Lufthansa Cargo B777 freighter. (Photo: Lufthansa Cargo)

The sharkskin modification’s ability to reduce friction and emissions is slightly better on cargo than on passenger aircraft because the film is applied to a greater area due to the absence of windows, according to BASF.

An All Nippon Airways maintenance contractor applied the specialty film to the 777 freighter, which the airline says will reduce fuel use by 275 tons and greenhouse gas emissions by 881 tons per year. ANA said it will evaluate the real-world effectiveness of the technology in daily operations before deciding whether to expand its use to other 777 aircraft in the fleet.

Taiwan-based EVA Air has signed up to add the low-friction film to its entire fleet of nine 777 cargo jets by 2027, Lufthansa Technik announced late last month. The first aircraft was modified by EVA Air’s affiliate, Evergreen Aviation Technologies, under close supervision and is expected to reenter commercial service early this month. EVA Air expects to save more than 2,750 tons of jet fuel and about 8,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year once the entire fleet is retrofitted.

Lufthansa Cargo, which operates 18 B777 cargo jets, was the first to adopt the sharkskin technology in 2023. It has modified five 777 freighters so far and plans to gradually apply the coating to the remaining fleet by 2027, spokesman Jan Paulin said. Lufthansa Cargo has previously said that it will save more than 4,400 tons of jet fuel per year across its entire 777 fleet, which corresponds to about 53 cargo flights from its base in Frankfurt, Germany, to Shanghai.

Maintenance crews hired by EVA Air install an aerodynamic coating on a Boeing 777 freighter. (Photo: Lufthansa Technik)

Swiss International Air Lines, also part of the Lufthansa Group, in May finished equipping all 12 of its Boeing 777-300 extended-range passenger jets with AeroShark technology. It is considering applying the film to other long-haul aircraft in its fleet, according to the May edition of the airline’s magazine. Last month, Austrian Airlines, another Lufthansa subsidiary, announced it will be the first airline to outfit Boeing 777-200 extended-range passenger aircraft with the surface technology. A total of four 777-200s will receive the application, starting in December.

There are 19 total aircraft operating with the sharkskin technology in worldwide service.

Lufthansa Technik says it takes about a week to apply the transparent film to an aircraft. The company has regulatory approval to modify two types of Boeing 777 airframes with the AeroShark coating. It plans to seek change certification for additional aircraft types as well as the ability to apply the technology to even larger surface areas, such as the wings, which it claims could further reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Editor’s Note: This article 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.

Lufthansa Commences Munich-Johannesburg Service

Lufthansa launched its inaugural flight between Munich and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport earlier this week. 

Lorne Philipot
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Lufthansa Airbus A350-900 (Photo: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa launched its inaugural flight between Munich and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport earlier this week.

The inaugural flight (LH 578) arrived in Johannesburg on September 3. Germany’s national carrier will offer three services a week on this route. This is in addition to existing services between Frankfurt and Johannesburg.

The new year-round service will be operated with an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The widebody aircraft accommodates up to 293 passengers across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.

Lufthansa’s CEO, Jens Ritter, who was onboard flight LH 578 said that the airline was excited to operate the route. Ritter added in a press release, “Munich, with its award-winning airport, is a popular and beautiful city in the heart of Europe. It is also a convenient hub to take advantage of numerous onwards flights.”

Reintroduced Lufthansa Route

The airline previously offered flights between Munich and Johannesburg almost 19 years ago. However, it terminated its services in October 2005.

South African Airways then seized the opportunity to fly between Munich and Johannesburg, offering its own services. These flights were suspended in 2020 when the African airline underwent a business rescue procedure.

As a result, there have been no nonstop services between Munich and Johannesburg since 2020.

The reintroduction of this service connects Johannesburg with Bavaria. Both regions are indeed important industrial and commercial centers in each country.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) CEO Mpumi Mpofu said that the relaunched route was important for the growth of South Africa’s economy.

“We are delighted to welcome the reintroduction of Lufthansa’s direct route between Munich and Johannesburg, which offers significantly more seats per week to travellers between Germany and South Africa. The nonstop connection between Munich and Johannesburg will undoubtedly boost bilateral trade, create jobs and contribute to the overall economic prosperity of both respective regions,” Mpofu said.

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.

Gabon Launches New National Airline

On Aug. 31, 2024, Gabon's newly established national airline, Fly Gabon, launched operations with its inaugural flight from Libreville to Port-Gentil.

Victor Shalton
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An ATR aircraft
An ATR aircraft (Photo: ATR)

On Aug. 31, 2024, Gabon’s newly established national airline, Fly Gabon, officially launched operations with its inaugural flight from Libreville to Port-Gentil. The flight was carried out using the airline’s ATR 72-600 aircraft, registered as TR-LJT, which departed from Libreville at 10:15 a.m. and touched down in Port-Gentil, Gabon’s second-largest city and a vital industrial hub, at 10:40 a.m. according to Flightradar24.

Nyl Charles Moret-Mba, Managing Director of Fly Gabon, expressed his pride in reaching this significant milestone. He stated, “It is a privilege to address you this morning. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the President and Head of State for entrusting our team with this vital project for Gabon.”

Moret-Mba emphasized the solid foundation laid by the Head of State through the establishment of a national airline. He noted that Fly Gabon, which employs 320 Gabonese staff, is a continuation of the legacy of Afrijet—a private airline that has served Central Africa for nearly two decades. The Gabonese Republic, through Fly Gabon Holding, has acquired a 56% stake in Afrijet, which will soon be rebranded as Fly Gabon.

“This transition begins today, with our first aircraft flying under the Gabonese flag. We will soon be expanding our fleet with an Airbus A320 for medium-haul routes,” Moret-Mba added.

Fly Gabon is a subsidiary of Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), a holding company established on Feb. 7, 2024, with a mandate to invest in Gabonese and international aviation companies. The airline received its second ATR 72-600 on July 12, 2024, from Toulouse, France. The aircraft, registered as TR-LJU, was previously operated by the Burkinabe start-up Liz Aviation and before that by Loganair. This aircraft joined Fly Gabon’s first ATR72-600, registered as TR-LJT, which arrived on June 16.

Fly Gabon has ambitious plans to operate 90% of Gabon’s domestic routes by the end of 2024, with a view toward international expansion. The airline intends to launch its first international route to Johannesburg, South Africa, establishing a key air corridor for trade and industry. To support this expansion, Fly Gabon is in discussions with Airbus and leasing companies to acquire an Airbus A320.

Following the overthrow of President Ali Bongo on Aug. 30, 2023, Brigadier General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema delivered his first address to the nation on Dec. 31, 2023. In this speech, the president of the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) outlined his strategy for the country’s development, with a focus on civil aviation. The establishment of a national carrier was among his top priorities.

This led to the creation of a new semi-public airline, Fly Gabon. The Gabonese government acquired a 56% stake in Afrijet, the leading private Gabonese carrier and a dynamic airline in the CEMAC region. Contrary to the initial plan of creating Fly Gabon from scratch, the new national carrier will be built on the solid foundation of Afrijet, which has been a prominent player in Gabon’s aviation industry since its inception in 2005.

In line with this vision, Fly Air Gabon Holding (FLAGH), the parent company of Fly Gabon, successfully acquired a majority stake in Afrijet on March 12, 2024, during a ceremony at the presidential palace attended by the transitional president, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

As part of its long-term strategy, Fly Gabon aims to provide air services to all provinces in Gabon as the country’s airports undergo modernization. Its partner, Afrijet, already operates regional flights to countries including Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé, and Benin. Afrijet’s fleet includes three ATR 72-600s, one ATR 42-500, two ATR 72-500s, and a leased CRJ-900.

It is worth noting that Afrijet became the leading airline in the CEMAC region in 2019. Initially a charter service provider, the company expanded its network to offer regular regional air transport services starting in October 2016. Afrijet has been IOSA certified since February 2020 and employs 320 staff across Gabon, Congo, the DRC, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon.

The new Head of State has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Ali Bongo, who had previously promised to establish a national airline but did not see it through. As this project comes to fruition, Fly Gabon will fill the void left by the dissolution of Air Gabon in 2005.

Victor Shalton

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Activist Investor Now Owns 10% of Southwest, Can Call Special Meeting

Elliott Investment Management now owns 10% of Southwest’s common stock and can call a special meeting at the carrier, according to a Reuters report on Monday.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Southwest 737 MAX
A Southwest 737 MAX 8 in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Elliott Investment Management now owns 10% of Southwest’s common stock and can call a special meeting at the carrier, according to a Reuters report on Monday.

Elliott was founded in 1977 and manages approximately $70 billion in assets. The firm is scheduled to meet with the carrier on September 9 to discuss solutions for the airlines’ stock value loss over the last several years.

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan declined to resign earlier this summer after the hedge fund called for new leadership, accusing Jordan of failing to adapt to changing customer tastes. Elliott has since announced its intention to nominate 10 candidates to Southwest’s board of directors along with a list of several grievances against the airline’s current leadership on its “Stronger Southwest” website.

“When nominated, these Candidates would give shareholders a choice between the Company’s existing Board, which has delivered poor returns for shareholders and has not held management accountable for Southwest’s unacceptable performance, or a new Board that brings relevant expertise, fresh thinking and accountability,” the website states.

On August 26, Elliott sent an open letter to Southwest shareholders detailing solutions to address what the firm calls the carrier’s “inadequate leadership.”

Reuters reports that a special meeting used to solicit shareholder votes outside of the next annual gathering is rare, and if Elliott were to call one it would mean a major escalation of its fight with the carrier.

In July, Southwest attempted to address revenue woes by adding assigned seating and redeye flights for customers.

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.

Denmark Revokes Nuuk Airport’s Security Authorization

With less than two month until Nuuk's new longer runway opens for service, Denmark has pulled the airport's security authorization.

Joey Gerardi
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The terminal in Nuuk, which has since been demolished in the summer of 2024 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Nuuk Airport, located in Greenland’s capital city, is supposed to be opening to the world in a few months with a larger terminal, longer runway, and a new instrument landing system. The airport hoped to offer its first-ever flights from the airport using anything larger than a Dash-8 aircraft at the end of November 2024. Unfortunately, the plan has hit a major snag.

According to Nunatsiaq News, a media outlet located in Canada’s northern territory of Nunavut, Denmark revoked Nuuk’s security authorization on August 14. This means, while the city can accept flights from international destinations, they cannot depart from the city.

Currently, Nuuk sees flights to two international destinations: Reykjavik in Iceland which is flown by Icelandair and Air Greenland, along with Iqaluit in Canada which just Air Greenland serves. For the first couple of days, most of the flights leaving Greenland from Nuuk were cancelled, but airlines did start adding tech stops to the flights, which significantly increased the total travel time.

For the flights to Reykjavik in Iceland, Icelandair has been routing the flights with a tech stop in Kulusuk where passengers clear security before continuing onto Iceland. Kulusuk is located on Greenland’s Eastern shore and is a destination Icelandair already serves for part of the year.

Air Greenland’s flights from Nuuk to Iceland have been routed through either Kulusuk like Icelandair’s, or the airline’s main international airport in Kangerlussuaq. The latter city already houses the airline’s main route to Copenhagen on its flagship A330-800neo.

5
Air Greenland’s sole Airbus A300-800neo seconds before touching down in Kangerlussuaq (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

For the flights stopping in Kangerlussuaq on the way to Iceland, the aircraft flies an hour north from the capital of Nuuk, then stops for an hour so people can clear security. After that hour-long stop, it then continues onto Iceland. Going north to Kangerlussuaq and then to Iceland adds two extra hours to the journey that should last only about three hours as a nonstop flight.

Air Greenland’s flights to Iqaluit in northern Canada make a stop in Kangerlussuaq, adding two hours or so to this journey which should be a nonstop flight that lasts just under two hours.

The issues were originally supposed to be fixed on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, but three weeks later, flights leaving the country are still being routed through either Kulusuk or Kangerlussuaq. Just two days ago on Sept. 1, 2024, Air Greenland’s flight to Reykjavik in Iceland stopped in Kangerlussuaq, and according to FlightRadar24, the flight to Iqaluit on Sept. 4, 2024 is also scheduled to make a stop in Kangerlussuaq.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

Qantas Adds New U.S. Route

Starting in 2025, the Australian flag carrier says the new route will increase capacity to the U.S. by more than 40,000 seats annually.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Qantas A330-200
A Qantas Airbus A330-200 (Photo: Qantas)

Qantas is growing its U.S. network, adding a new route beginning in 2025. The Australian flag carrier says the new route will increase capacity by over 40,000 seats annually.

Starting on May 1, 2025, Qantas will add service between Melbourne and Honolulu. The company’s low-cost subsidiary Jetstar currently operates the same route, which will end on April 30, 2025.

The new route is scheduled to operate three times per week on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

“We are thrilled to continue to enhance our network in America with the launch of a new route from Melbourne to Honolulu, bringing a new, tropical destination to our Melbourne customers,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said in a news release.

Both Qantas and Jetstar operate flights between Sydney and Honolulu with up to eight flights per week between the two carriers. Hawaiian Airlines also serves the Sydney-Honolulu route.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Sept. 4, 2024 at 10:07 a.m. ET to clarify Cam Wallace’s role as CEO of Qantas International. 

Ryan Ewing

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

Air Arabia’s Unnoticed Ramp Up

The UAE's Air Arabia continues to grow its operations and financial performance in the developing economies of the Arab world.

Filip Kopeć
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air Arabia A321neo
An Air Arabia Airbus A321neo (Photo: Air Arabia)

Air Arabia, a carrier based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, reported results for the first half of 2024. This lesser known airline operating from multiple hubs across the Arab world is gearing up to be a significant player on the low-cost market.

Consistently Profitable

Since Air Arabia started publishing results in 2006, it has been consistently profitable, excluding the incomparable year of 2020. The first half of 2024 is no different; the company reported revenue of $871 million with an operating profit of $155 million. Compared to the first half of the prior year this is a 13% increase in revenue but a -17% decrease in operating profit.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, commented on this development: “Despite the robust passenger demand, the aviation industry continued to experience slower yield growth and rising costs during the second quarter of this year, driven by economic and geopolitical uncertainties, currency fluctuations, fuel price volatility, and supply chain disruptions that have led to increased inflationary pressures. Air Arabia’s ability to sustain its growth momentum and achieve such solid profitability amidst these challenges reflects the resilience of our business model and the strength of our management team.”

The carrier is growing its fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft, adding four frames already this year. Despite the fleet growth, the airline can deploy its capacity on such markets that the overall load factor performance is still in an upward trajectory, reaching 81,9% so far in 2024.

This figure, together with the growing fleet size, corresponds to 8.9 million passengers carried in the first half of the year. If the 15.8% growth is maintained throughout the year, the company might expect to reach around 19 million passengers carried in 2024.

Air Arabia’s key performance indicators (Photo: Filip Kopec, based on the carrier’s published data)

The Arabian Carrier

Air Arabia is an Emirati low-cost airline, established in 2003 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. The company came into existence through an Amiri decree issued by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.

The main base of the carrier is located on the Sharjah International Airport, though over the years the company established multiple hubs and joint ventures in the Arab world. The main brand of Air Arabia is operating in Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah, two of the seven emirates forming the federation, with 47 airplanes in use.

In 2020 the company opened its third UAE base in Abu Dhabi, after signing an agreement with Etihad Airways. Now Abu Dhabi is the third biggest base for Air Arabia by number of aircraft located with 10 frames at the end of the first half of 2024.

In 2009 and 2010 Air Arabia went for a significant international expansion, opening bases in Morocco and Egypt respectively. Currently, all the bases in Africa have 15 aircraft, with 11 stationed in multiple bases in Morocco and four in Egypt. The most recent venture of the carrier is the formation of Fly Jinnah in Pakistan in late 2021.

Air Arabia’s global network (Photo: Air Arabia)

The joint venture with Pakistani conglomerate Lakson Group was set to operate domestic and international routes from Pakistan. The airline quickly ramped up operations, now having assigned five aircraft from the Air Arabia’s fleet and locating its main base in Karachi, Pakistan.

Filip Kopeć

A passionate aviation enthusiast that started off his career as an aerospace engineer, but found his true calling on the commercial side of the airline business. Now as a finance guy among avgeeks and an avgeek among finance guys, he has experience working in the Revenue Divisions of three airlines. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, but admittedly sometimes is more about the journey than the destination.

Cathay Pacific Diversion Sparks Engine Investigations

Cathay Pacific A350-1000 returns to Hong Kong with engine issues sparking a fleet wide inspection that found component failures.

Zach Cooke
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000
A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000. (Photo: Airbus)

Cathay Pacific has found engine component issues affecting the carrier’s Airbus A350s. The airline’s A350 fleet is powered by Rolls Royce XWB-84 engines for the -900 and XWB-97s for the -1000 variant. 

The initial call to concern was due to Cathay Pacific flight CX383 returning to Hong Kong instead of its intended destination of Zurich on Sunday. According to Bloomberg, the airline stated the flight returned to Hong Kong due to engine troubles. Flight 383 was operated by ship B-LXI, an Airbus A350-1000 delivered to the carrier In February 2019, according to AirFleets.net. 

Cathay Pacific did not specifically state which engine component sustained issues requiring it to return to Hong Kong, however, it noted that the carrier’s entire fleet of 48 A350s would need to be inspected and the failed component replaced. 

In an effort to replace the parts in a timely and efficient manner, the carrier announced the cancellation of 48 flights continuing into Tuesday, September 3. According to FlightRadar24, CX524 to Tokyo Narita and CX659 to Singapore on Tuesday are both operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft and appear to be part of the airline’s cancellations. 

In a statement to the Financial Times, Cathay confirmed that the carrier has the spare parts required to replace the affected components in the engines; with the correction not expected to take an extended period of time. While this is the first of component failures for the Rolls Royce XWB series engines, Emirates President Tim Clark has been a public voice speaking out against the manufacturer’s XWB engine due to additional maintenance requirements and associated costs.

Not All Bad News

The positive for Airbus, Rolls Royce, and engine operators is that this fix, at the time of writing, does not require extensive ground time for the aircraft. This is in significant contrast to the troubles involving the PW1100G-JM engines which have grounded jets for several months. 

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

SAS Joins SkyTeam Alliance

Five months after the initial announcement, the carrier completed the deal in what CEO Anko Van der Werff called “a new era for SAS.”

Sam Jakobi
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An SAS Airbus A320neo.
An SAS Airbus A320neo (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

SAS announced on Sunday that it had officially joined the SkyTeam alliance. Five months after the initial announcement, the carrier completed the deal in what CEO Anko Van der Werff called “a new era for SAS.”

What’s Behind the Move?

SAS, the flag carrier for Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, claimed that the Star Alliance which it was formerly a member of didn’t bring enough to the table. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring the company, Mr. van der Werff said that SAS was looking for opportunities to start a joint venture or deeper integration, but the Star Alliance couldn’t provide this.

The move was largely predicted after Air France-KLM, a key player in SkyTeam, acquired a 19.9% stake in the company following financial troubles.

What Does the Move Bring to SAS?

The new move allows SAS to have an entirely different route network by connecting passengers to SkyTeam partners. In fact, the Scandinavian carrier has already started reshaping its routes, deploying aircraft to destinations such as Atlanta to allow for connection onto Delta.

SAS’ CEO announced in an Instagram post that the carrier would announce a new long-haul destination later this month. There are many possibilities as to what this might be, but some speculate that the destination could be a Delta hub.

The airline might not be the only carrier looking to join SkyTeam, with the Star Alliance potentially losing a second member. South Korea-based Asiana Airlines could make the move after talks of an acquisition by SkyTeam member Korean Air.

The planned merger is making slow process, despite facing backlash from regulatory bodies over worries of a potential monopoly in the Korean and East Asian markets.

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.

Delta Axes Two International Routes

Delta is cutting two international routes this winter, the Atlanta-based airline confirmed in a statement to AirlineGeeks on Friday.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

Delta 767-300ER
A Delta 767-300. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Delta is cutting two international routes this winter, the airline confirmed in a statement on Friday. Markets in both Latin America and Europe are set to be affected by the changes.

Starting on Oct. 26, 2024, Delta says it will discontinue service to Stuttgart, Germany, which had just been resumed in March 2023. The airline served the German city from its Atlanta hub with four-times-weekly service on a Boeing 767-300.

Stuttgart is home to automakers Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, which also base their U.S. operations in Atlanta. Delta’s flight was Stuttgart’s only transatlantic route.

In a statement to AirlineGeeks, an airline spokesperson confirmed the market exit.

“Delta will discontinue service to and from Stuttgart on October 26, 2024, as we adapt our schedule to align with consumer demand,” they said. “Delta customers will have access to and from Stuttgart through Delta partners Air France and KLM. Delta’s service at Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin will continue.”

Latin America Cut

Farther south, Delta is also cancelling its daily service between New York-JFK and Bogota, the spokesperson also confirmed. The market exit will take effect on Oct. 26, 2024.

The airline also serves Bogota from Atlanta with twice-daily flights in addition to routes served by its joint venture partner LATAM.

Commenting on the carrier’s Latin America network during a first-quarter 2024 earnings call, Delta President Glen Hauenstein said profitability in the region “remains solid.”

“Unit revenues are expected to be down double digits due to pressure in short-haul leisure markets. These markets are expected to see healthy improvements in the second half of the year as supply and demand comes back into balance,” he added.

Ryan Ewing

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