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Lawsuit Against SkyWest and Its Labor Group Takes New Turn

Attorneys representing former SkyWest flight attendants filed an answer on Tuesday denying the SkyWest Inflight Association’s counterclaim.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700
A SkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft on final approach at O'Hare International Airport. (Photo: Shutterstock | Carlos Yudica)

A legal parry and riposte between two fired employees, SkyWest Airlines and the SkyWest Inflight Association (SIA) is taking off after allegations of wrongful termination and labor violations led to counterclaims of hacking and union election interference.

Attorneys representing former SkyWest flight attendants Shane Price and Tresa Grange filed an answer on Tuesday denying SIA’s counterclaim that alleges the two illegally hacked into the organization’s website to obtain confidential information and skew votes during SIA’s leadership election.

This comes after the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) filed a federal lawsuit against SkyWest Airlines and the SkyWest Inflight Association for violations of the Railway Labor Act (RLA) including illegal termination of the two union activists and unlawfully standing up a company union. SkyWest is the largest regional airline in the U.S. with a fleet of nearly 500 aircraft that connects passengers to 249 destinations in North America.

In their answer to SIA’s counterclaims, the plaintiffs denied all allegations, only confirming that several flight attendants complained of anomalies regarding the process to vote in SIA’s August 2023 election, and the election results were not certified. The plaintiffs requested that the court dismiss the counterclaims.

The Lawsuit

On Oct. 11, 2023, an AFA news release alleged that SkyWest flight attendants and AFA activists Shane Price and Tresa Grange were illegally fired by the airline in September 2023 in violation of the RLA. The complaint alleged that SkyWest fired the two flight attendants in retaliation for their support of efforts to obtain a union representation election at SkyWest and to address voting irregularities with SIA.

AFA’s lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, where SkyWest is headquartered and the flight attendants live.

“Because the Railway Labor Act does not have “unfair labor practices,” commonly known as ULPs, under the National Labor Relations Act, enforcement of these violations rests with the federal courts – and the court of public opinion,” the release stated.

The allegations made by the AFA against SkyWest/SIA were as follows:

  1. SkyWest violated the Railway Labor Act by funding and controlling SIA
  2. SkyWest wrongfully terminated Shane Price and Tresa Grange in violation of the Railway Labor Act.
  3. SkyWest failed to provide a mechanism for arbitration of employee termination
  4. The SkyWest Inflight Association breached its duty of fair representation by collaborating with SkyWest management in Price and Grange’s terminations.
  5. SkyWest violated the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act by failing to publicly report receipts of payments to labor organizations or expenditures to interfere with employees exercising the right to organize and bargain collectively.

On July 10, 2024, the AFA amended their lawsuit against SkyWest to include an additional sixth allegation that the carrier interfered with organizing and the choice of union representatives in violation of the Railway Labor Act.

SIA’s Response and Counterclaims

The SkyWest Inflight Association denied all allegations made by the AFA in an answer to their amended complaint filed on July 25, 2024.

On count three, SIA argues that SkyWest’s Flight Attendant Policy Manual (FAPM) meets the requirements of the RLA, which they claim does not actually mandate “arbitration” but does mandate a system board process that is incorporated in the FAPM.

On count four, SIA argues that the FAPM states SkyWest has the right to terminate employees for just cause. SIA alleges illegal and improper actions of Price and Grange constituted just cause for their terminations and denied all allegations of unfairness.

SIA referenced its motion to dismiss count five and offered no response to its allegations. It also denied count six.

Furthermore, SIA alleged Price and Grange violated the federal Stored Communications Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the State of Utah’s Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act. SIA also added a counterclaim against Grange for breach of contract.

“Price, who had no right or authorization to access a certain non-public area of SIA’s website, nevertheless hacked into it in order to obtain confidential information about the Fight Attendants represented by SIA …,” SIA’s counterclaim stated.

This information included employee numbers and individualized codes assigned to flight attendants for casting ballots in the internal SIA leadership election. SIA alleges that Grange and Price secretly used the voting credentials of tens of flight attendants who had yet to cast their ballots.

Additionally, SIA alleged that Price proceeded to create a detailed video demonstrating to others how they could also hack SIA’s website, and Grange publicly posted the video. SIA demanded a jury trial against Price and Grange to pay for damages.

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.

EasyJet Cancels Flights to Portugal Again

After a year of negotiating, the airline and Portuguese Union couldn't reach a deal, leading to more cancelled flights and disruptions.

Pete Ainsley
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An EasyJet A320 with Sharklets (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

With no end in sight for the disputes between EasyJet and the Portuguese National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Staff (SNPVAC), EasyJet has cancelled 232 flights to Portugal as a result of a three-day cabin crew strike, starting at midnight on August 15. The affected destinations include the popular tourism hot spots for Brits. EasyJet currently owns 19 aircraft and has more than 800 employees in Portugal.

According to Reuters, EasyJet has scheduled 1,138 flights to and from Portugal during the three-day strike. The affected passengers could rebook or claim a refund. In addition, passengers have been urged to check the status of their flights before traveling abroad.

The no-frills airline operates services from the U.K.’s London Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol, and Glasgow to the Portuguese cities of Lisbon, Porto, and Faro.

SNPVAC complains the “working conditions never cease to worsen,” demanding to improve insufficient staffing and higher bonuses. The union also asked for “the fair demands of its workers.”

The airline has been accused of ignoring the union’s demands.

“We are extremely disappointed with this needless strike action, especially at this important time of the year for our customers. Our priority has been to try and minimise the impact of this strike action on our customers,” a spokesperson of the airline said to The Mirror.

Several Strikes in 2023

The strike has been a sense of déjà vu; the members of SNPVAC have walked off the job several times in the last year. In July 2023, the union demanded better working conditions and higher salaries to cope with the soaring cost of living. In response to the strike, the British airline cancelled 350 flights.

In March 2023, the union spoke out against the shortage of staff and demanded a pay rise, citing the routes to Portugal are among the most profitable in the network. EasyJet was criticized for providing “significant increases” to the staff who serve the less profitable routes in other countries.

Pete Ainsley

EL AL Expands Fleet With Boeing 737 MAX Order

EL AL, the Israeli national flag carrier, has finalized an agreement with Boeing to purchase up to 31 737 MAX jets, replacing existing narrow-body aircraft.

Tolga Karadeniz
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

El Al 737-800
An EL AL 737-800 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

EL AL, the Israeli national flag carrier, has finalized an agreement with Boeing to purchase up to 31 737 MAX jets, solidifying its plan to renew its fleet of 737 airplanes.

The carrier’s fleet consists of only Boeing aircraft. The airline operates long-haul routes with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, including the 787-8 and 787-9 models along with 777-200s. For shorter distances, EL AL relies on the Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) family, specifically the 737-800 and 737-900ER variants.

“This is a significant milestone for EL AL, which will allow us to offer our customers the most advanced service and technology experience in the industry,” said Dina Ben-Tal Ganancia, CEO of EL AL Israel Airlines, in a press release. “The implementation of the long-term procurement plan, which began with the purchase of an additional 787 Dreamliners earlier this year and culminated in the current deal, once again demonstrates our commitment to the Israeli public and the state.”

EL AL’s fleet renewal began earlier this year with the purchase of three additional 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with options for six more. The airline is set to take delivery of a new 787-9 this year and plans to receive two more 787-9s on lease in the coming years.

Tolga Karadeniz

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

Qatar Airways to Offer Caviar Course in Business Class

The airline will now offer a caviar course with traditional accompaniments on select flights, a rarity among in business class.

Hemal Gosai
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Qatar Airways' caviar service (Photo: Qatar Airways)

Qatar Airways has an exceptional business class product that is a pleasure to fly. One of the many things that set the airline’s business class product apart from the rest is the catering.

Across several Qatar Airways flights, I have found the food to be consistently excellent. Ingredients are fresh and dishes often have local touches to reflect the region in which the flight is operating. The entire dining experience feels exceedingly premium for a business class experience. There are international first class products that do not offer as good of a dining experience as Qatar Airways does in business class. Menu options often included premium items such as Balik salmon and lobster sandwiches

Qatar Airways Lobster Sandwich (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Hemal Gosai)
Balik salmon appetizer (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Hemal Gosai)

Well, the airline has found a way to continue to keep its edge. Starting on Aug. 15, 2024, the airline is introducing caviar service on 13 routes in business class. These flights are between Doha and Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and Washington Dulles.

Dining on Demand

It’s quite unheard of to offer a full caviar course in business class on any airline. This move by Qatar Airways continues to show that the airline is consistently seeking to improve the onboard experience and provide new ways to delight passengers.

The caviar course can be had during a meal service or at any other time a passenger requests it. The airline offers another benefit that is not very common in business class: dining on demand. Many airlines in business class have set dining times and it can be a challenge to get a full meal outside of those times with passengers often relegated to eating snack-size portions off a smaller menu.

Qatar Airways instead allows business class passengers to eat full meals whenever they wish. These are not abbreviated express service meals but full multi-course meals with proper table settings. This additional degree of freedom allows passengers to have meals on their schedule.

Next Generation of QSuites

This announcement of caviar service comes at the heels of a new QSuites design announced at the Farnborough Airshow a few weeks ago. The next generation QSuites retain signature Quad Suites while introducing new Companion Suites at the window seats which will provide a new experience for travelers flying in pairs. Additional enhancements include 4K OLED IFE in-flight entertainment screens and increased space and privacy at each seat.

Hemal Gosai

Hemal took his first flight at four years old and has been an avgeek since then. When he isn't working as an analyst he's frequently found outside watching planes fly overhead or flying in them. His favorite plane is the 747-8i which Lufthansa thankfully flies to EWR allowing for some great spotting. He firmly believes that the best way to fly between JFK and BOS is via DFW and is always willing to go for that extra elite qualifying mile. Hemal's opinions are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.

Alaska Flight Attendants Reject ‘Record’ Tentative Agreement

Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), have voted against ratifying a tentative agreement.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9
An Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Flight attendants at Alaska Airlines, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), have voted against ratifying a tentative agreement that was reached after nearly two years of negotiations. The vote, which concluded on Aug. 14, 2024, saw a participation rate of 92.4% among eligible voters, with 68% voting against the agreement and 32% in favor, the AFA said.

The tentative agreement (TA), announced in late June, was heralded as a record contract that would have provided an average pay bump of 32% over three years, alongside other benefits like compensation for boarding time, marking a first among AFA-represented flight attendant groups.

AFA President Sara Nelson touted the new agreement in an interview with Forbes, adding, “We were able to get Alaska to lead the industry, something they would never do in the past.”

The rejection comes amidst a backdrop of intense labor negotiations across the airline industry, where flight attendants have been pushing for better wages, working conditions, and benefits. Earlier in the year, Alaska’s flight attendants had overwhelmingly authorized a strike.

“This is our union democracy in action. This is our contract, and we will fight to address membership concerns as expeditiously as possible,” the union said in a press release on Thursday.

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 Canada Brings Back Transatlantic Service from Canadian Capital

After a four year pause, Canada’s largest airline will be resuming flights between Canada’s capital city and one of Europe’s busiest airports.

Andrew Chen
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air Canada 787
An Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at London Heathrow Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Canada’s largest airline will be resuming flights between Canada’s capital city and one of Europe’s busiest airports. Air Canada has announced that it will once again connect Ottawa with London–Heathrow starting in the spring of 2025.

Details: Air Canada’s Ottawa–London Route

The Montreal-based carrier plans on flying four times weekly between Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from March 31, 2025. Flights will operate in both directions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for the summer season.

Air Canada will use Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, configured with 298 seats: 30 in the airline’s “Signature Class” business class product, 21 seats in premium economy class, and 247 seats in economy class.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada provided daily year-round service between Ottawa and London Heathrow. The route was operated by the airline’s now-retired Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and was paused in 2020.

The airline’s latest announcement also hinted at the possibility of expanding the route in the future with the Airbus A321XLR. In a press release, Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada stated, “The economics, optimum cabin size and range of the XLR which is expected to begin arriving in late 2025, will enable us to consider operating this important international route with greater frequencies and potentially with year-round service.”

The domestic/international check-in area at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

Growing International Opportunities for Ottawa

As the global air travel industry recovered from the effects of the pandemic, the Canadian capital was left without transatlantic air service for a few years. In June of 2023, Air France began flying between Ottawa and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Air France has been operating the route year-round since then and has also increased the size of the aircraft used on the route from the Airbus A330-200 to the Boeing 787-9 to the Airbus A350-900.

The city’s residents and businesses have been longing for the return of Air Canada’s Heathrow service. “Ottawa residents and business owners have been hoping and calling for a return of direct non-stop service to London, Ottawa mayor Mark Sutcliffe stated in a press release. “The restored flight will boost our local economy, increase tourism, and connect two world capitals.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Canada also operated a seasonal route between Ottawa and Frankfurt Airport (FRA) during the summer months. Lufthansa was slated to take over this route for the summer of 2020, but those plans were also curtailed by the pandemic.

Andrew Chen

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

A Detailed Look Inside Concorde

RVR should be in the plan for any AvGeek visiting the Manchester area. And I highly recommend putting the Concorde Platinum Tour in that plan. 

Fangzhong Guo
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Boarding the Concorde at Manchester's Runway Visitor Park. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Concorde is one of the most iconic aircraft in commercial aviation history. It was the only supersonic jet in regular commercial service. Of the 20 aircraft built, only 14 went into service, split evenly between British Airways and Air France. The Concorde was so unique and significant that 12 out of the 14 production airplanes were preserved in museums around the globe.

I visited G-BOAC in Runway Visitor Park (RVR) at Manchester Airport. G-BOAC has always been considered the flagship of the British Airways fleet since it bears the registration that’s also the abbreviation of British Overseas Airways Corporation, the predecessor of British Airways. It was built in 1975 and joined the flag carrier’s fleet as the second Concorde in 1976. It hosted many celebrities and Royals, including Princess Diana and HRH Queen Elizabeth II when it was in service. 

Runway Visitor Park also has many Concorde artifacts on display. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

It arrived at its final home in Manchester on Oct. 31, 2003, two months after the last commercial Concorde flight and the end of the supersonic age. It has been the centerpiece of the Runway Visitor Park ever since.

Booking the Tour

The RVR hosts four types of Concorde tours: 

  • Supersonic Short Tour: a 20-minute experience onboard the Concorde
  • Concorde Classic Tour: a one-hour experience onboard the Concorde with a visit to the cockpit
  • Concorde Technical tour: a 90-minute tour beneath the aircraft focusing on the innovative technologies of the supersonic plane
  • Concorde Platinum Tour: a two-hour experience that includes both onboard visits and technical narration. In addition, it also includes a private showing of the nose drop.

I took part in the platinum tour, which is usually offered from Fridays to Mondays. I was able to book it the week of the tour, but it will sell out from time to time. In addition to the tours, you will also receive a glass of complimentary champagne and a certificate for getting onboard the Concorde with the platinum package.

The Platinum Tour

The tour started in the theater, where we watched a short film showing the history of the Concorde. The tour guide then took the group to the aircraft and we boarded the supersonic jet. Visitors must climb 26 steps to enter the iconic jet’s cabin. We listened to stories about the Concorde from its inception to inflight service and its eventual retirement while waiting for each group’s turn to visit the cockpit.

Aboard the Concorde

Seat on British Airways Concorde also has its logo as part of the armrest. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

While Alpha Charlie is not the only Concorde you could board, all the other ones have either boxed off the seat so no one can sit in them or have some protective covers. Sitting in one of the authentic seats is as good as it could get now that there’s no chance to fly this iconic aircraft.

The museum tries its best to protect the seats by asking visitors not to use any movable parts. Thanks to the cabin refreshment shortly before the airplane’s retirement and the volunteer’s effort to maintain it, the seats remained plush and comfortable even though they were over 20 years old. 

Similar to the Airbus A380, there is a significantly noticeable distance between the inner and outer window panes. Unlike the A380, whose windows are normal-sized but have a thicker wall, Concorde windows are actually smaller than those of other commercial jets since they are designed to react better during decompression events.

The lavatory onboard the Concorde is not as luxurious as the rest of the plane. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Not only will you be able to sit in an actual passenger seat on the Concorde, but you can also sit in the driver’s seat. Our tour group was divided into groups of three to four people to visit the cockpit while others remained in the cabin and listened to all the fantastic Concorde stories. In the cockpit, you’ll receive a detailed explanation of all the instruments and anecdotes, such as the stuck hat in the expansion gap.

Runway Visitor Park also allows visitor to sit in the captain’s seat on the Concorde. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Outside the Airplane

After the onboard portion of the tour, the group was escorted downstairs, where we were offered champagne or orange juice. There, visitors received more detailed explanations about the innovative designs that made Concorde a reality, from cargo hold doors to the four Rolls Royce Olympus engines.

The Platinum Tour includes a detailed technical narration outside of the cabin too. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

The rarest treat, though, has to be witnessing the plane’s nose droop, which is exclusive to the platinum tour. Volunteers at the museum revived the systems and kept them working so the public could see the amazing engineering at work.

Other Things at the Runway Visitor Park

While Concorde is the park’s centerpiece, you can visit many other impressive displays.

In addition to the Concorde tours, the park also offers tours onboard the Hawker Sidney Nimrod and Trident, both are prime examples of the British aerospace industry’s capability. In addition, there’s a forward section of the now-defunct Monarch Air Douglas DC-10 cabin, which also only opens to the public by tour.

While you wait for your tours, you can get inside the British Aerospace Avro RJX, the last jet aircraft to be fully manufactured in the U.K. It was the prototype of the newest generation until the program ended after the terrorist attacks in 2001.

Visitors can get onboard the British Aerospace Avro RJX while at the Runway Visitor Park. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

After visiting the aircraft, you can also enjoy the rest of your day at the park’s observation deck. It provides some of the best views around Manchester Airport for planespotting. Lastly, if you’d like to spend more time with the Concorde, you can also rent out the place for galas and events.

Fangzhong Guo

Fangzhong grew up near an OEM airport in northeastern China, where he developed his enthusiasm for aviation. Taking upon his passion, he's now working as an aircraft interior design engineer. Besides working in the aerospace industry, Fangzhong enjoys trying out different types of airplanes and seeing how airplane interiors have evolved. So far, he's flown on over 80 types of aircraft. He also planespots in his spare time. His rarest catches included the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and AN-225.

AirExplore, Air Peace Partner for Boeing 737-800 Lease

AirExplore has entered into a contract with Nigeria-based Air Peace to lease four Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from November 2024 through March 2025.

Victor Shalton
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An AirExplore Boeing 737-800 aircraft (Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

AirExplore has entered into a contract with Nigeria-based Air Peace to lease four Boeing 737-800NG aircraft from November 2024 through March 2025.

According to a statement released on Aug. 12, 2024, these aircraft will be operated under a damp-lease agreement to enhance Air Peace’s capacity during the period. A damp lease is a type of leasing agreement where the lessor supplies the aircraft, flight crew, and maintenance, while the lessee provides the cabin crew. Under this arrangement, AirExplore will provide the aircraft, pilots, maintenance, and insurance, while Air Peace will supply the remaining cabin crew for domestic flights within Nigeria.

“We are excited about this new partnership for the winter season,” Martin Stulajter, Chief Executive Officer at AirExplore said. “This collaboration will benefit the client’s customers and strengthen our presence in the African aviation market while sustaining revenue during the challenging winter period.”

The contract was finalized during a recent visit to Lagos, Nigeria, where both Stulajter and Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, agreed on the terms. The two airlines have a history of collaboration, and this visit was aimed at further expanding their cooperation. This agreement also reinforces AirExplore’s presence in the African aviation market during a typically slow season.

“We look forward to working closely with the team at Air Peace as we continue to enable each other’s growth and success,” Stulajter said.

Air Peace will base the leased aircraft in Lagos, where they will complement the airline’s existing fleet of 12 Boeing 737 aircraft, along with other aircraft types. AirExplore operates under the banner of Avia Solutions Group.

The leased aircraft will also help address the gap caused by the unavailability of Air Peace’s grounded 737 fleet, which is currently out of service for maintenance. The airline has about nine aircraft out of service, including three 737-300s and one 737-500s.

Air Peace’s narrow-body fleet also includes five Embraer ERJ195-E2s, with three of them currently inactive. Additionally, the airline is expecting the delivery of eight more aircraft, including five E175s and ten Boeing 737 MAX 8s. The rest of the fleet comprises of a 777-200ER, two 777-300s, and six ERJ145s operated by its domestic subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper.

 

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.

Air Botswana Unveils New Route Offerings

Air Botswana has announced several new and returning network additions that it will launch progressively from next month.

Lorne Philipot
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air Botswana Embraer jet (Photo: Air Botswana)

Air Botswana has announced several new services that it will launch progressively from next month. The Gaborone-based airline will scale up operations and introduce new connectivity.

The airline’s latest route expansion will help to connect Botswana’s tourist destinations with those in surrounding countries and ultimately enhance tourist flows in the region. 

“These new additions are popular destinations for business and tourism, and we are excited to offer convenient air travel between the cities for the advancement of economic activities in all the countries, particularly Botswana,”  Air Botswana’s CEO Lulu Rasebotsa said.

Obtaining Additional Aircraft

Since Air Botswana doubled its fleet with the acquisition of three additional aircraft, the airline has unveiled various new services.

The airline’s new flight schedule will include some new routes as well as the reinstatement of several previously operated routes.

Reinstated Air Botswana Services Include:

Johannesburg – Maun (from Sept. 1)

This route will be operated five times a week, excluding Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Johannesburg – Kasane (from Sept. 1) 

This route will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Johannesburg – Francistown (from Sept. 15)

This route will be offered on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

New Air Botswana Services Include:

Windhoek – Gaborone (from Oct. 1)

This route will be offered on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Durban – Gaborone (from Oct. 1)

This route will be offered on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Cape Town – Maun (from Nov. 1)

This route will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Cape Town – Kasane (from Nov. 1)

This route will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Windhoek – Maun (from Nov. 1)

This route will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Windhoek – Kasane (from Nov. 1)

This route will be operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

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.

Rare Dornier Jet Service Coming to Atlanta

With a new EAS contract, Denver Air Connection will be expanding to the busiest airport in the world, and home of its newest interline partner.

Joey Gerardi
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Denver Air Connection Dornier 328Jet (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Colorado-based Denver Air Connection, more commonly known as DAC, is once again moving farther east. In conjunction with the newly awarded contract in the Essential Air Service (EAS) community of Jackson, Tenn., the airline will serve that community 11 times a week from Atlanta.

Denver Air Connection aircraft parked in Denver. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

DAC will be serving the community using a mix of 50-seat Embraer E145s and 30-seat Dornier 328Jets, meaning Atlanta will also see the DornierJet offering commercial services to the airport for the first time since Atlantic Coast Airlines stopped flying the type on behalf of Delta Connection and United Express in the early 2000s. This is also believed to be the first time Jackson, Tenn. airport will see scheduled jet service since the 1980s or 1990s.

Although DAC planned its new interline baggage agreement with Delta back in January of 2024, this new route to Delta’s headquarters and biggest hub will showcase the sheer amount of connections they will be able to offer from the hub. While Jackson is in the central time zone, Atlanta is farther east making it DAC’s first scheduled destination in the eastern time zone.

Denver Air Connection’s current route map before the Atlanta/Jackson add (Photo: Denver Air Connection)

The contract is scheduled to start on Dec. 1, 2024, and run for four years until Nov. 30, 2028. The subsidy will be $7,954,117 for the first year, $8,510,905 for the second year, $9,106,668 for the third year, and $9,744,135 for the fourth year. And while the current airline in Jackson, Southern Airways Express, had their contract end in June, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is requiring the carrier to stay until DAC is ready to start service in December.

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.
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