Delta Bumps Employee Pay, Raises Minimum Starting Wages

On Monday, Delta announced plans to raise its minimum starting wage to $19 per hour and provide a 5% pay raise to eligible employees.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 22, 2024 at 05:13 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Delta Airlines Airbus A320 in Boston. (Photo: AirliineGeeks | William Derrickson)

On Monday, Delta announced plans to raise its minimum starting wage to $19 per hour and provide a 5% pay raise to eligible employees worldwide. The move represents a roughly $500 million annual investment in the company’s workforce, the Atlanta-based carrier said in a news release.

This announcement comes on the heels of a $1.4 billion profit-sharing payout to employees earlier this year, which amounted to 10.4% of their eligible earnings. The profit-sharing program has now distributed a total of $11 billion to employees since its inception in 2007, outpacing both American and United’s respective plans.

The pay raise and minimum wage increase are scheduled to take effect on June 1, 2024. Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated in a memo to employees that the company is committed to offering industry-leading total compensation to recognize operational excellence and customer service.

According to the airline, these investments follow cumulative increases of 20-25% in compensation for Delta’s largest frontline workgroups since 2022. Delta was the first U.S. airline to offer boarding pay to its 28,000 flight attendants.

“Delta’s leading position comes thanks to a simple concept that dates back nearly a century – invest in our people first, and they will deliver great service and experiences for our customers,” Bastian said in the memo. “That’s exactly what you do, and it always sets us apart.”

Delta’s pilots and dispatchers are the company’s only unionized workgroups. On March 1, 2023, the airline and its pilots – represented by ALPA – ratified a new $7 billion agreement, followed later by American and United.

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.

ALPA to Return $50 Million in Member Dues Amid ‘Record Revenue Gains’

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) - which represents over 77,000 pilots in North America - plans to pay back $50 million in member dues this year.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 22, 2024 at 04:36 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Pilot executing pre-flight procedures in a commercial airliner cockpit before takeoff. (Photo: Shutterstock | l i g h t p o e t)

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – which represents over 77,000 pilots in North America – plans to pay back $50 million in member dues this year. In a Friday letter to members viewed by AirlineGeeks, ALPA President Captain Jason Ambrosi called the move a “first-of-its-kind across-the-board dues return.”

According to the letter, the return comes “in response to the record 2023 revenue gains.” The money will come directly from ALPA’s national funds, Ambrosi added. Airline-specific committees will also be able to provide their own refunds.

ALPA says it expects to make the payments this summer, which will be available to both U.S. and Canadian members based on dues paid last year. For pilots, the refund reflects up to 16% of total dues paid in 2023, the union stated.

“I thank our national officer team for sharing the belief and commend the Executive Council for upholding the fundamental responsibility entrusted to us, which is to be good fiduciaries of your money—a responsibility we take seriously,” Ambrosi said in the letter to pilots. “As always, we will ensure that your dues continue to be the best investment in your career that you ever make.”

Members of the union pay up to 1.85% of earnings in dues. While ALPA has been able to negotiate record-setting collective bargaining agreements at several airlines, it acknowledges that 16 carriers and their pilot groups are still in the bargaining process.

“The year 2023 was a monumental one in our union’s history…While we acknowledge these significant gains that resulted in a record amount of revenue for the association, ALPA continues to dedicate all needed resources to the 16 carriers that remain in bargaining,” Ambrosi added.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 9:52 a.m. ET to properly reflect ALPA’s 1.85% dues rate.

Ryan Ewing

Asiana to Temporarily Operate Shortest A380 Flight

South Korean-based Asiana Airlines has taken the crown for the shortest route served by the Airbus A380, but only temporarily.

Joey Gerardi

Monday, April 22, 2024 at 07:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Asiana A380 in Seoul (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

The A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, has been gracing the skies for over a decade on longer routes around the world. It is such an enormous aircraft that it takes a long time to board and deplane it, meaning shorter routes on the type make little operational sense.

The ten airlines that do operate the type – ANA, Asiana, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qatar, Qantas, and Singapore – all use them on longer routes that span between continents. Emirates operates the vast majority of the A380 routes in the world, including the previous crown holder for the shortest A380 route.

South Korean-based Asiana Airlines has taken the crown for the shortest route served on the type, but only temporarily. The route between Seoul Incheon and Osaka, Japan spans 535 miles with the scheduled flight time being about two hours.

According to OAG schedule data and first reported by Simple Flying, the route will only be operated six times with the first occurrence happening only two weeks away on May 5, 2024, with another trip happening the next day on May 6. Then the next and final four occurrences happen four months from now in September, all within five days of each other.

But, between these dates the current crown holder of the shortest A380 route will continue to be the Emirates flight between its base in Dubai to Riyadh, which comes in at only seven miles longer than Asiana’s route, sitting at 543 miles in length.

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.

China’s Xiamen Airlines Will Return to JFK

Xiamen Airlines is set to return to New York in late May with the resumption of flights to Fuzhou. The route was discontinued due to the pandemic.

Anthony Bang An

Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 10:33 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Xiamen Boeing 787-9 in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Xiamen Airlines is set to return to New York in late May with the resumption of flights to Fuzhou. The route was discontinued due to the pandemic and has since remained suspended due to the flight cap between China and the United States along with low demand.

The carrier will run two weekly flights between the Southern Chinese city and New York using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The tickets for the nonstop flight are currently available for purchase. The flight from JFK will have a block time of over 16 hours and cover a distance of 7,770 miles, making it one of the longest flights out of New York and the United States. The other direction takes around 14 and a half due to more favorable winds.

Fuzhou is the ancestral home of many in the Chinese American diaspora community in the New York area. The city pair of Fuzhou and New York was one of the largest unserved transpacific markets and has specifically strong VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) demand, which prompted Xiamen Airlines to launch the route in 2017.

A Xiamen 787 taxis in Amsterdam. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

This is a part of the newly approved increase in flights between China and the United States, rising from 35 to 50 weekly flights starting on March 31. Xiamen Airlines’ only other US destination is Los Angeles, where it operates five weekly flights from its main hub of Xiamen.

Russian Airspace?

One of the most controversial topics when it comes to transpacific flying is the use of Russian airspace. U.S. carriers do not use the airspace while Chinese carriers, along with Indian and Middle Eastern airlines, continue to use it, often resulting in significantly shorter routings and flight times.

With Russian airspace out of bounds, it also becomes impractical for U.S. airlines to operate flights from the East Coast to East Asia. Some of the flights that were previously operated but are now impractical include:

Atlanta (ATL) to Shanghai (PVG), operated by Delta
Washington (IAD) to Beijing (PEK), operated by United
Newark (EWR) to Shanghai (PVG), operated by United
Newark (EWR) to Hong Kong (HKG), operated by United
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Hong Kong (HKG), operated American

For the same reason, some of the new slots given to the Chinese carriers limited their ability to use Russian airspace. For instance, Air China’s flights between Washington, D.C. and Beijing avoid Russian airspace and thus require a technical stop in Los Angeles on the return leg. Hainan Airlines’ flights between Boston and Beijing face the same issue and make a stop in Seattle on the return journey.

New York to Beijing on an Air China B747, without using Russian airspace. (Photo: flightrader24)

Flight path of a Cathay Pacific flight between Chicago and Hong Kong, using Russian airspace. (Photo: flightrader24)

Xiamen Airlines’ previous filing suggests a stopover in Urumqi on the return journey, according to its initial application with the Department of Transportation (DOT). However, the stopover has since been removed from the schedule and its website.

50 Weekly Flights Are All Used Up

Since the flight cap between the countries was raised to 50 weekly flights for both nations, meaning 50 each for American and Chinese carriers, all 50 will be used by the Chinese airlines when the New York flights are launched while U.S. carriers currently only utilize 31 of them.

The main reason for the low utilization by the US.. carriers again returns to the issue of Russian airspace. U.S. airlines are unable to justify operating flights from their East Coast and Midwestern hubs and are unable to codeshare with their Chinese partners on flights where Russian airspace is used.

Anthony Bang An

Anthony is an aviation enthusiast who grew up around the world from St. Louis to Singapore, and now lives in Amsterdam. He loves long-haul flying and finds peace in the sound of engine cruising. He aspires to share his passion for the sky though writing and providing another angle on the stories.

Fiji Airways, Porter Airlines Sign Interline Agreement

The importance of the North American market to Fiji Airways has been further highlighted with the announcement of an agreement with Porter Airlines.

John Flett

Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 07:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Porter Airlines Embraer 195-E2. (Photo: Embraer)

The importance of the North American market to Fiji Airways has been further highlighted with the announcement of an interline agreement with Canadian carrier Porter Airlines. The Fijian airline and Toronto-based Porter will connect in Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco allowing customers to travel on a single ticket to and from Canada.

“Our bookings to and from North America have been strong, collectively making up the second-largest group of visitors to Fiji in 2023. Many of these guests are flying in from other cities to catch our flights out of the three ports that Fiji Airways serves,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andre Viljoen.

Fiji Airways began a year-round, non-stop service from Vancouver to Nadi in November 2022. With the announcement of the interline agreement with Porter Airlines, North American passengers will not only be able to reach Fiji Airways’ home but also destinations in Australia and New Zealand.

Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Porter Airlines, Edmond Eldebs, stated, “This new partnership offers passengers seamless connections between Fiji Airways and Porter at key locations along the West Coast of North America. It improves access for Canadians to destinations across the Pacific, and for passengers originating on Fiji flights to reach points across Eastern Canada.”

Porter’s Recent Expansion

Porter Airlines has expanded in recent years with the addition of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft into the carrier’s fleet and offers over 30 destinations in its network. This expansion now sees the airline operating from its traditional base of Toronto’s city airport, Billy Bishop, and Pearson International in addition to key operations out of Ottawa, Montréal and Halifax.

In early 2023, the carrier announced a partnership with Montréal-Saint Hubert Airport (YHU) to develop facilities at what the airline said at the time would provide ‘incredible potential as a complementary secondary airport for Montréal.’

In recent weeks, Porter Airlines announced the commencement of nonstop services from Canada’s second-largest city Montréal to all three Fiji Airways connection points, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The service from Montreal Trudeau International began earlier this month and the services to LAX and SFO commence on June 27 and 28 respectively.

“We are excited to launch this interline partnership with Porter Airlines which creates easier access, and more travel options for customers traveling to and from the important and growing list of markets Porter serves,” Fiji Airways’ Viljoen added. “This partnership means that families in various parts of the two countries can realistically consider a holiday in Fiji. Fiji is an ideal holiday destination for anyone looking for sun, sand, sea with a vast variety of local experiences and culinary delights. Paradise is closer than you thought possible.”

John Flett

John has always had a passion for aviation and through a career with Air New Zealand has gained a strong understanding of aviation operations and the strategic nature of the industry. During his career with the airline, John held multiple leadership roles and was involved in projects such as the introduction of both the 777-200 and -300 type aircraft and the development of the IFE for the 777-300. He was also part of a small team who created and published the internal communications magazines for Air New Zealand’s pilots, cabin crew and ground staff balancing a mix of corporate and social content. John is educated to postgraduate level achieving a masters degree with Distinction in Airline and Airport Management. John has held the positions of course director of an undergraduate commercial pilot training programme at a leading London university. In addition he is contracted as an external instructor for IATA (International Air Transport Association) and has been a member of the Heathrow Community Fund’s ‘Communities for Tomorrow’ panel.

FAA To Require More Rest Time for Air Traffic Controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that it will be increasing the required time off between shifts for air traffic controllers.

Andrew Chen

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 04:56 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Southwest aircraft taxis in Austin. (Photo: Shutterstock | Ceri Breeze)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it will be increasing the required time off between shifts for air traffic controllers. The changes come as a result of the recommendations of an expert panel that was tasked with reviewing the risks associated with controller fatigue.

New 10-12 Hour Time Off Requirements

In a statement released earlier today, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated that the FAA would be requiring 10 hours off between shifts, effective in 90 days. Additionally, 12 hours of time off will be required before midnight shifts.

These requirements are consistent with the panel’s findings, which include a recommendation to, “develop and implement a strategy to update the current prescriptive policies to address identified fatigue factors, especially to avoid known schedule practices that induce fatigue.” The panel specifically recommended that the FAA require sufficient time off duty before all shifts and gave an example of 10-12 hours.

Existing regulations limit air traffic controllers from working for more than 10 hours during a 24-hour period unless they have had a rest period of at least eight hours at or before the end of the 10-hour shift. However, an analysis of a dataset covering the first 10 weeks of 2024 by the panel revealed that these requirements were not always being met. The report noted that 442 shifts began with less than eight hours of time off between shifts and 192 shifts began with less than 4 hours off between shifts during the 10-week period.

Growing Concerns Over ATC Fatigue and Staffing

The expert panel was convened in December of 2023, following a year of heightened concerns over air traffic control fatigue and staffing, due to a series of near misses across the U.S. airspace system and staffing shortages throughout the country. The FAA is currently investigating an apparent incident that occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday, where a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 was cleared to cross a runway from which a JetBlue Embraer E190 was also cleared to take off.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which is the union representing FAA air traffic controllers, stated that it is encouraged that the FAA is addressing air traffic controller fatigue. At the same time, it expressed disappointment that the FAA did not collaborate with NATCA in advance of its announcement.

Recent staffing shortages have led to the FAA assigning mandatory overtime to air traffic controllers. For many controllers, this has meant 6-day work weeks, the maximum allowed under current regulations. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated in May of 2023 that the FAA was understaffed by about 3,000 positions at the time.

The latest announcement on rest periods also comes amid an air traffic control hiring campaign. 1,500 new controllers were hired by the FAA in 2023, and the agency has a goal of 18,000 new controller hires this year.

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.

Livery of the Week: ANA’s R2-D2 Dreamliner

In 2015, All Nippon Airways (ANA) unveiled a special Star Wars-themed livery featuring the iconic R2-D2 droid on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 04:27 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An ANA 787-9 in a special Star Wars livery (Photo: Shutterstock)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is proud to present our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Have an idea for a livery that we should highlight? Drop us a line.

In 2015, All Nippon Airways (ANA) unveiled a special Star Wars-themed livery featuring the iconic R2-D2 droid. This unique design transformed a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner into a flying tribute to the beloved film character.

The R2-D2 livery mirrored the droid’s classic blue, white, and silver color scheme. The airplane’s fuselage became a canvas for R2-D2’s dome and panels, meticulously recreated in detail. Passengers and planespotters alike can even spot the droid’s signature red, white, and blue markings alongside its various hatches and instruments.

The design for this special collaboration was first debuted in early 2015 at a Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, Calif. It joins other ANA aircraft that are devoted to the movie franchise, including a Boeing 777-200 painted like the C-3PO character.

ANA’s special Star Wars livery (Photo: Shutterstock)

“Today the time has come to bring the ANA Star Wars project to life and we hope Star Wars fans across the world will be as excited about our R2-D2 ANA Jet as we are,” said Hideki Kunugi, Senior Vice President of the Americas at ANA in a 2015 press release. “At ANA we’re always looking for ways to improve the flying experience for our passengers, and what better way to start your trip to Asia than on a one-of-a-kind Star Wars plane?”

According to ANA, the R2-D2 livery marked the first time a Star Wars character appeared on a commercial aircraft. It captured the imagination of Star Wars fans and aviation enthusiasts alike, bringing a touch of intergalactic fun to the skies.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries.

Ryan Ewing

EVA Air Recertified For Pharmaceutical Air Cargo Operations

EVA Air earns recertification and continues investments in developing its pharmaceutical air transport business, which is one of the more lucrative sectors.

Hemal Gosai

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 12:31 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An EVA Air 777-300ER in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Wiliam Derrickson)

This past week EVA Air and Evergreen Airline Services Corp, both part of the conglomerate Evergreen Group out of Taiwan, were recertified by the International Air Transport Association’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma).

Only a few airlines carry this certification which is one of the main global standards for cold transport of high-value pharmaceuticals by air. It sets baseline trust for companies seeking to transport valuable pharmaceuticals and components across the world as part of supply chain operations.

This trust is important not only due to the high cost of the goods being shipped but also the extreme complexity that is often required to create these products. A destroyed shipment will not just cause financial harm to a pharmaceutical company but will impact timelines since it may take a lengthy period to remanufacture the product.

EVA Air’s Pharma Cargo Growth

EVA first earned this certification in 2021 and it has been of significant benefit to the airline given that its pharmaceutical cold chain transport business has been growing at an average rate of 30 percent annually since then. This recertification, required every three years, is expected to help continue this strong growth originating from both inside and outside the country of Taiwan.

The airline will be able to provide temperature-controlled pharmaceutical cargo services for import and export along with connecting services. It’s expected that Taiwan’s pharmaceutical manufacturing prowess will increase in the coming years with some companies trying to become the biomanufacturing equivalents of Taiwanese Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the current top manufacturer of high-tech computer chips globally.

EVA Air cargo operations (Photo: EVA Air)

As a result of this recertification, EVA Air will continue its hefty investments in cold chain transport. The airline and Evergeen have overhauled existing facilities and built new ones as the business has grown.

Staff training has also been a priority for the airline. It has developed a training program and deploys staff to continually monitor cargo as it moves through the EVA network in temperature-controlled containers.

Over the past few years, EVA has shown its technical competency in the transport of pharmaceuticals requiring cold handling. The business has grown significantly and the airline played an important role in transporting COVID-19 vaccines and subsequent components across Asia.

The pharmaceutical air cargo market is lucrative for players willing to make the necessary investments to build out an entire temperature-controlled transport network. Turkish Airlines recently started making big moves in the sector with the announcement of new temperature-controlled offerings on passenger and cargo aircraft through the use of specialized containers.

For years, American Airlines has run a massive pharmaceutical cargo operation out of its hub in Philadelphia. The airline has large storage facilities that can store pharmaceutical goods at varying temperatures well below freezing.

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.

American Scales Back Pilot Hiring Plans, Pauses Summer Classes

American is the latest U.S. carrier to detail slashed 2024 pilot hiring plans. The Fort Worth-based airline is slated to reduce hiring by roughly 40% in 2024.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 12:09 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An American 737-800 aircraft in Charlotte (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American is the latest U.S. carrier to detail slashed 2024 pilot hiring plans. The Fort Worth-based airline is slated to reduce hiring by roughly 40% in 2024 compared to last year.

In a recent briefing to pilots viewed by AirlineGeeks, the company’s Vice President of Flight Operations Russ Moore said that American plans to hire 1,300 pilots this year. In 2023, the airline hired around 2,300.

Moore cited “delivery delays from Boeing” among the reasons for the reduction, but noted that 2024 is still poised to be the airline’s third-highest year for pilot hiring on record. In addition, the airline plans to pause new hire classes in June, July, August, and potentially in December, he said.

“In fact, we hired and trained more pilots in 2023 than we have in the history of this airline, and we did it efficiently enough that we were actually a bit ahead of where we needed to be for the summer of 2024,” Moore shared during the briefing. “This allowed us to transition from a ‘hire and train as many as you can’ approach to a more traditional approach, which in and of itself reduced our hiring targets for 2024.”

During the company’s investor day event in early March, CEO Robert Isom also noted the airline’s plans to pull back on pilot hiring. “So [hiring is] slowing down a little bit, but we have a considerable number of retirements. And so we will be hiring for the foreseeable future at levels like that,” Isom added.

Despite the slowdown, Moore added that hiring could pick up again as up to 850 of the airline’s pilots retire annually over the next five years. “So I expect we will be back to the 2023 tempo in hiring in pretty short order,” he concluded.

American joins a slew of other major airlines reducing their 2024 hiring, including both Delta and United. Earlier this year, Delta said it would also cut its 2024 pilot hiring plans in half.

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) – which represents over 16,000 American pilots – recently noted that the pilot shortage was “over.”

“The perceived pilot shortage is over, eliminating any further need for policymakers to consider changing the retirement age,” said the union’s President Captain Ed Sicher in a March statement.

American did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the hiring slowdown.

Ryan Ewing

Norse Adds New London Gatwick-Cape Town Service

Norse Atlantic Airways will launch new flights between London and Cape Town, breaking the dominance of two existing airlines on the route.

Tolga Karadeniz

Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 05:05 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Norse Atlantic Airways 787-9. (Photo: Norse Atlantic Airways | Malcolm Nason)

Low-cost carrier Norse announced on Thursday a new service between London Gatwick Airport and Cape Town International Airport in South Africa. This move breaks the current dominance of two airlines on the route, potentially offering travelers increased choice and flexibility.

New Nonstop Service to Break Duopoly

The airline, known for its focus on affordability and customer experience on existing routes from London Gatwick, expressed confidence in the new service.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new route between London and Cape Town,” said Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO and Founder of Norse Atlantic Airways, in a statement. “By breaking the duopoly on this route, we are not only expanding travel options for consumers but also driving down costs and putting the customer back in the pilot’s seat,” Larsen added.

Increased Choice and Flexibility for Travelers

Travelers can now potentially enjoy a more affordable and convenient journey to explore Cape Town or connect to other popular destinations within the region. Additionally, business travelers may benefit from increased flexibility and potentially lower fares, facilitating trade opportunities between the two regions.

The new route is slated to operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Flights are scheduled to begin on Oct. 28, 2024.

London Gatwick Airport echoed the positive sentiment with a statement from Stephanie Wear, VP of Aviation Development. Wear said: “We are proud to welcome another new route from Norse Atlantic, connecting passengers across London and the South East with Cape Town from October.”

“Norse Atlantic has continued to grow at London Gatwick and provide excellent connectivity to several key markets across the USA. This new route to South Africa is great news not only for those looking for a fantastic holiday destination but also for trade and inbound tourism,” Wear concluded.

This development is sure to be closely watched by competitors. From London’s Heathrow Airport, both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways serve the same route.

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.