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Copa Takes Delivery of Long-Awaited Boeing 737 MAX 8

Copa Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 after months-long delays. The carrier is set to introduce the aircraft in September.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A rendering of Copa 737 MAX jets (Photo: Boeing)

Copa Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 after months-long delays. The Panama-based airline — which currently only operates Boeing 737-700s, 737-800s, and 737 MAX 9s — initially planned to introduce the aircraft into revenue service this month.

The smallest certified 737 MAX variant is now slated to debut in Copa’s network on Sept. 2, 2024. Nearly two months behind schedule, the aircraft’s inaugural flight is set to operate from Panama City to Quito per Cirium Diio schedule data.

According to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data, Copa has seven 737 MAX 8s on order, along with 15 of the larger yet-to-be-certified MAX 10s.

In Copa’s latest schedule, the carrier plans to ramp up 737 MAX 8 operations in September to 155 flights, including to U.S. destinations of Chicago O’Hare, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. This plan is down substantially from the 323 flights planned in the airline’s earlier schedule iterations.

100th Aircraft

The airline’s first 737 MAX 8 flew from Boeing Field to Panama City on Wednesday. The aircraft is registered as HP-9801CMP, according to Flightradar24.

Copa’s first Boeing 737 MAX 8 delivery flight (Photo: Flighradar24)

The new aircraft is also the 100th in Copa’s fleet. The carrier has nine 737-700s, 58 737-800s, and 32 737 MAX 9s.

Copa did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the aircraft delivery. In May, a spokesperson from the airline confirmed it was still planning to operate the type later this year.

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.

Delta to Open New Widebody Crew Base

In a memo this week, the airline told pilots that Boston was the first base outside its existing hubs opened in "quite a while."

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Airbus A330-300 landing at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Delta is planning to open a new pilot base in Boston. As reported by aviation insider JonNYC on Twitter/X, the carrier plans to have up to 250 pilots at the new base.

In a memo, the airline told pilots that Boston was the first base outside its existing hubs opened in “quite a while.” According to information from Airline Pilot Central, Delta does have other A330 pilot bases in Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, and Seattle. Delta also has a flight attendant base in Boston.

Opening a new pilot base doesn’t happen often at major carriers. In 2022, United opened two new bases for the first time in two decades. Earlier this year, American announced plans to open a new Boeing 787 base in New York.

Per data from Cirium Diio, Delta will have up to 186 monthly A330 departures from Boston in May 2025. Recently, the airline moved its Boston-Honolulu route from a Boeing 767 to an A330 starting in November 2024.

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.

Spirit Issues Furlough Notices Amid Executive Pay Raises

Spirit Airlines pilots and their union have raised concerns over the airline’s decision to issue furlough notices to pilots.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit A320neo in Las Vegas (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Spirit Airlines pilots and their union have raised concerns over the airline’s decision to issue furlough notices to pilots while simultaneously approving salary increases for several top executives.

In a July 1 8-K filing, the carrier announced pay raises for four of its C-suite executives and its CEO. At the same time, 200 pilots received furlough notices—a plan the airline initially laid out in April due to aircraft engine issues and slower growth plans.

According to the filing, Spirit announced the appointment of Frederick Cromer as executive vice president and chief financial officer, replacing Scott Haralson who left last month. Spirit detailed salary increases and bonuses for other C-suite members who would receive base salaries to the tune of $950,000, $650,000, $525,000 and $500,000, beginning July 1.

Meanwhile, the low-cost carrier made a deal with Airbus to delay all deliveries until 2030-2031 in an effort to save money. Spirit says the move would improve its liquidity by $340 million over the next two years.

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

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.

Uganda Airlines Expands Fleet and Route Network

Uganda’s national airline is on an upward trajectory, with significant fleet and route expansion on the upcoming horizon.

Lorne Philipot
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Uganda A330neo
A Uganda Airlines Airbus A330neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Uganda Airlines is in a growth phase with exciting new developments lying ahead for the African carrier.

The full-service airline has a fleet consisting of seven aircraft. It currently has two Airbus A330s and four CRJ-900s. In addition, it has an Airbus A320 on a wet lease from Johannesburg-based Global Airways.

Current Fleet

The Entebbe-based carrier uses its widebody Airbus A330neo aircraft to operate long-haul services to Dubai, Lagos, and Mumbai.

The CRJ-900s are used to operate short-haul domestic and regional routes including to Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar in Tanzania, Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya, Bujumbura; Burundi and Juba, South Sudan among others.

The wet-leased Airbus A320 is used to operate services to Johannesburg and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, Uganda Airlines has placed an order for more next-generation aircraft with four Airbus A320neos on order.

New Routes in the Pipelines

In addition to its existing route network comprising 13 regional and intercontinental routes, Uganda Airlines aims to launch flights to London Gatwick Airport towards the end of the year. It has already secured the rights to operate this service.

The airline will also be launching new services to Lusaka, Zambia and Harare, Zimbabwe within the near future. The cities will be served using a triangular routing.

Interlining with South African Airways

Speaking to Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki, on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Wings of Change Focus Africa conference – held in Johannesburg on July 2-3, Bamuturaki said that the airline was in the advanced stages of arranging an interline agreement with South African Airways.

The interline agreement is set to open up further connectivity for passengers. The route networks of both carriers will offer expanded connectivity on the African continent and beyond. 

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.

TAP Air Portugal to Resume Manaus Service

TAP will operate three flights a week to Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, starting in early November.

Lorne Philipot
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

TAP Air Portugal is the first carrier to operate the Airbus A330-900. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Portugal’s national carrier will resume services between Lisbon and Manaus in Brazil later this year. TAP will operate three flights a week to Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, from November 4.

Reintroduced Route for TAP

The reinstated service was last included in TAP’s route network between 2014 and 2016. However, the restarted service will include a stop in Belém, en route to Manaus.

According to a media statement, TAP’s flights to Manaus will depart from Lisbon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

TAP Scales Up Brazil Schedule

These new services will take the number of TAP’s routes in Brazil to fifteen. TAP’s CEO Luís Rodrigues said that the Brazilian routes are important to Portugal’s national airline. 

“Brazil is strategic for TAP and the return of our flight to Manaus is another sign that we will continue to invest in the development of our operations in that country. We recently launched a new route to Florianópolis and we will end this year with at least 15 routes to Brazil, record numbers for the company in the sister country,” said Rodrigues.

TAP Aims to Boost Tourism

During the European summer, TAP operates 95 flights a week to Brazil. This is an average of 13 flights a day heading to the South American country. 

The airline operates flights from Lisbon to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belém, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Natal, Maceió, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador and Florianópolis. In addition, two services are operated from Porto. These include São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

“Our goal is to bring more and more tourists to Brazil, not only from Portugal, but from all over the world where TAP flies, and to make available more than 60 destinations in Europe and Africa, which can also be flown to by Brazilians via Lisbon and Porto. We want to continue to be the leading international airline in Brazil,” he continued.

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.

E.U. Commission Green Lights Lufthansa’s ITA Airways Takeover

The deal is also expected to lead to ITA Airways' departure from the SkyTeam alliance, with the airline likely joining the Star Alliance.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

ITA Airways' first A321neo (Photo: Airbus)

The European Commission has given its approval for Lufthansa’s acquisition of a 41% stake in Italy’s ITA Airways. The deal, valued at €325 million, is part of Lufthansa’s strategy to strengthen its position in the global aviation market. The transaction is expected to be finalized in the final quarter of 2024.

As part of the agreement, Lufthansa will have the option to acquire the remaining shares in ITA Airways at a later date. The deal is subject to certain conditions, including the provision of remedies to address competition concerns.

The European Commission’s approval follows an ‘in-depth review’ into the potential impact of the acquisition on competition in the European aviation market. The Commission concluded that the deal would not significantly impede effective competition in the relevant markets.

“The acquisition of ITA Airways strengthens the internationalization of the Lufthansa Group. We offer our guests a significantly greater choice of connections and destinations, and with the 5-star hub in Rome we are also extending our premium offering and better connecting strategic future markets south of the equator to our network, “said Lufthansa Group chief Carsten Spohr in a news release. “Despite the comprehensive and far-reaching concessions, the investment in ITA Airways strengthens the Lufthansa Group’s position in global competition. We will make ITA Airways a strong and successful part of our company and thus secure its future as an international airline and strong brand. ITA Airways will support us in further expanding our position as Number One in Europe.”

The deal is also expected to lead to ITA Airways’ departure from the SkyTeam alliance, with the airline likely joining the Star Alliance, of which Lufthansa is a founding member.

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.

Cebu Pacific Confirms Order With Airbus

Cebu Pacific Airways —  the Philippines-based low-cost carrier — inked an agreement with Airbus for up to 152 A321neos for $24 billion.

Pete Ainsley
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Cebu Pacific aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)

Cebu Pacific Airways —  the Philippines-based low-cost carrier — inked an agreement with Airbus for up to 152 A321neos for $24 billion at list prices. The deal could be the largest order in Philippine aviation history and finalized in the third quarter of 2024. The new aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney GFT engines, according to Forbes.

It is widely rumored that the airline could finalize a contract for 100 – 150 aircraft by the end of June. According to Reuters, Cebu Pacific will choose a combination of Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s and 737 MAX 10s or Airbus A320neos and A321neos. The airline currently owns a fleet of over 70 aircraft, ranging from Airbus to ATR turboprop. However, it doesn’t own a Boeing aircraft thus far.

“The order is designed to provide Cebu Pacific with maximum flexibility to adapt fleet growth to market conditions, with the ability to switch between the A321neo and A320neo,” Michael Szues, CEO of Cebu Pacific, said in the statement.

The no-frills airline got into gear and revealed that it will add 17 jets this year. Earlier this year, Cebu Pacific welcomed its fifth aircraft, an Airbus A320neo. The new aircraft is believed to operate more sustainably and use 15% less fuel per flight compared to the previous batch. The airline expects to achieve a fleet count of 92, expecting 17 aircraft deliveries for the year.

“Adding another neo aircraft to our growing fleet supports our goal of reducing our carbon footprint. We’re proud to take a more proactive approach in minimizing our environmental impact, all the while addressing the ongoing demand for air travel,” Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer of the airline, said.

The airline is looking to have an all-A320neo series fleet by 2028.

Increased Service at Manila Airport

In addition, Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is aiming to increase its aircraft movement limit in the near future. Cebu Pacific could stand to benefit from the new policy, operating to 29 domestic destinations and 23 international cities from NAIA.

“Per incremental movement per hour, that means we can base one or two more aircraft in Manila, basically adding lines of flying,” Alexander Lao, the president and chief commercial officer of the airline, told Philstar.

Earlier this year, San Miguel Corporation and NAIA Infrastructure Corp were granted the concession to operate NAIA for 15 years, with a 10-year extension based on its performance.

Pete Ainsley

Alaska Flight Attendants Slated to Receive 32% Pay Bumps

Alaska Airlines flight attendants are set to receive hefty pay raises along with boarding compensation as part of a pending agreement.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Alaska 737-900
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 in San Francisco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Alaska Airlines flight attendants are set to receive hefty pay raises along with compensation during boarding. A new tentative agreement — which is still pending a final vote from the carrier’s flight attendants — was approved by union leadership late last week.

With the new deal, flight attendants at the Seattle-based airline will see pay rates increase by an average of 32% depending on company seniority. If ratified, the so-called “record” contract would position Alaska flight attendants as one of the most compensated in the U.S. alongside Southwest.

Boarding Pay

Joining just a handful of other U.S. airlines, Alaska flight attendants will receive boarding pay as part of the new TA. The airline and its flight attendants became the first labor group represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) to include boarding pay in a new contract.

Both Delta and SkyWest — whose flight attendants are not unionized — offered boarding pay to their cabin crew in 2022. Southwest bucked the long-standing industry practice when its flight attendants inked a new contract earlier this year.

Retro Pay

Also included in the new Alaska TA is retroactive pay. In a summary viewed by AirlineGeeks, the AFA said it used the same formula as Southwest to calculate the payment, which extends to when the original contract became amendable in December 2022.

Southwest gave its roughly 20,000 flight attendants a total of $364 million in retro pay.

Alaska and its flight attendants had been in federal mediation for several months before this TA was reached. Union membership is set to vote on the new agreement later this month.

The union said it expects the three-year agreement to “carry us through the period of negotiating any joint contract” as a merger with Hawaiian Airlines looms.

Several airlines and their respective flight attendant unions remain at the bargaining table, including American, which has also been in federal mediation for several months. The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) — which represents American Airlines flight attendants — said in a recent update that progress was being made towards a new contract.

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.

American Plans to Buy 100 Hydrogen-Electric Engines

American Airlines announced that it has increased investment and entered into a conditional purchase agreement with ZeroAvia.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

American Eagle CRJ-700
An American Eagle CRJ-700 aircraft operated by SkyWest. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American Airlines announced that it has entered into a conditional purchase agreement with ZeroAvia for 100 hydrogen-electric engines to power regional jet aircraft.

According to a news release from the carrier published Tuesday, this green initiative will allow jets to fly with zero inflight emissions, aside from water vapor. Additionally, American has increased its investment in ZeroAvia since announcing its memorandum of understanding in 2022.

Hollister, Calif.-headquartered ZeroAvia is developing hydrogen-electric (fuel cell-powered) engines for commercial aircraft, which offer the potential for near-zero inflight emissions. The company is flight testing a prototype for a 20-seat plane and designing an engine for larger aircraft such as the Bombardier CRJ-700, which American operates on certain regional routes.

“Advancing the transition of commercial aviation to a low-carbon future requires investments in promising technologies, including alternate forms of propulsion,” said American’s CEO Robert Isom. “This announcement will help accelerate the development of technologies needed to power our industry and uphold our commitment to make American a sustainable airline so we can continue to deliver for customers for decades to come.”

A ZeroAvia prototype aircraft (Photo: ZeroAvia)

ZeroAvia aims to deliver environmentally friendly electric propulsion engines to the industry. The international aerospace company’s primary focus is on developing hydrogen-electric engines. According to the release, ZeroAvia hopes to certify its first powertrain for up to 20-seat planes by the end of 2025 and is working on a larger powertrain for 40 to 80-seat aircraft by 2027.

“In signing this purchase agreement and furthering its investment, American is supporting our mission of innovation for clean aircraft propulsion and it is a good signal that ZeroAvia is delivering on our technology roadmap,” said Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia founder and CEO. “The solutions that can serve the largest airlines are within reach, and the clean future of flight is coming.”

The news release states that American seeks to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through purchasing novel engine technology like ZeroAvia’s. The airline also says that lower-intensity electrical systems used by hydrogen-electric engines have the potential to offer significant cost savings.

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.

Ghanaian Aviation Experts Urge Collaboration for Safe 5G Network Rollout

According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the 5G network is expected to be launched by the third quarter of this year in the country.

Victor Shalton
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A British Airways 747-400 lands in Las Vegas (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Aviation experts in Ghana have called for closer collaboration between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in the rollout of 5G network services. According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the 5G network is expected to be launched by the third quarter of this year, ushering mobile phone users into a new era of digital connectivity.

During a two-day Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) Stakeholder Engagement held at the new GCAA head office at Kotoka International Airport, GCAA AIS stakeholders addressed concerns about the 5G network rollout in Ghana. The workshop, themed “Charting the Digital Future: Collaborative Solutions for Enhanced Aeronautical Information Quality,” took place beginning Thursday, June 27, 2024.

The panelists highlighted that the 5G network operates in a spectrum of electromagnetic waves, which could initially affect Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) infrastructure. They stated, “We communicate using signals, navigation equipment also uses the same signal or a similar spectrum, initially, depending on how it is deployed, it may affect this infrastructure and what we will do as AIS is that we will rely on CNS to give us information concerning any interference to these CNS infrastructures and we of course will publish such information. If it calls for a NOTAM, we will publish that, if it calls for changes they (CNS) will do that and inform us so we publish that.”

The experts further emphasized the need for closer collaboration between the NCA and the GCAA to ensure a safe rollout of the technology. They noted, “Definitely the CAA has a say when these networks are lodged. They (GCAA) would like to do their safety assessment to see if it (5G) won’t affect their existing infrastructure in the first place. So the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority will have a say, of course the National Communications Authority also has a say in that.”

Potential Safety Risk

The deployment of 5G spectrum services poses a potential risk of interference with radio altimeters, which are critical for aircraft landing and safety systems. Radio altimeters provide highly accurate information about an aircraft’s height above the ground, informing other safety equipment such as navigation instruments, terrain awareness, and collision-avoidance systems.

A 2020 study by the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), a private, not-for-profit association specializing in communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) issues, highlighted the risk. It found that both 5G base stations and user equipment operating in the 3.7–4.2 GHz frequency band presented a risk of harmful interference to radar altimeters, which operate in the 4.2–4.4 GHz range. This raised concerns about the proximity of auctioned frequencies to this range, with potential safety implications for all aircraft types, including commercial transport airplanes, business jets, regional aircraft, and helicopters.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has emphasized the importance of considering public and aviation safety when enabling cellular broadband and 5G services near radio altimeter frequency bands. In a state letter from March 2021, former ICAO Secretary General Fang Liu (2015-2021) urged administrations to prioritize safety in decisions related to 5G network deployment. Additionally, during a Frequency Management Workshop in Casablanca, June 6-10, 2022, ICAO called for measures to reduce the impact of 5G installations on aircraft movement.

 

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.
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