JetBlue Reveals Diminished First Quarter Earnings

The New York-based carrier announced that its revenue will be down between 6.5% and 11.5% in the second quarter relative to last year.

John McDermott

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11:04 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A JetBlue Airbus A320 on the ground in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

On Tuesday, JetBlue announced that it has adjusted its annual revenue forecast. The carrier announced that its revenue will be down between 6.5% and 11.5% in the second quarter relative to last year, more than double the 3.8% drop analysts expected. Annual revenue is expected to be in the low single digits, and sales for the year are expected to be flat.

“We’ve got to get the business back to profitability,” JetBlue finance chief Ursula Hurley said during an earnings call. The company was profitable in March, Hurley said, but it is difficult to know whether it will break even in the second half of the year.

Profitability would mean free cash flow, Hurley said, which would allow the airline to pivot to paying down its debt.

The financial difficulties JetBlue is facing are due mainly to “significantly elevated capacity” in its flights to Latin America. The region is critical to the company, accounting for more than ⅓ of its capacity.

“[Latin America] is a very strong market for JetBlue from a margin perspective,” CEO Joanna Geraghty told analysts. “These headwinds are transitory, and we will continue to double down in this area.”

“We have full confidence that continuing to take action on our refocused standalone strategy is the right path forward to ultimately return to profitability again,” Geraghty continued

JetBlue has continued to struggle since its deal to acquire low-cost competitor Spirit was blocked by a federal judge. JetBlue has left multiple markets and reduced its capacity on others in an attempt to shift focus toward profitable measures.

Shifting Priorities

In Tuesday’s earnings call, Geraghty emphasized that JetBlue is working to ensure it is focused on the right type of customer. JetBlue’s core geographies and customers have changed significantly since the pandemic. Most significantly, JetBlue says it is shifting to focus more on leisure travel than on corporate fliers.

“Leisure travel remains an increasing priority for customers, and there is no longer the same divide between corporate and leisure travel as more people can take advantage of the ability to work from anywhere,” Geraghty said.

“However, that also means most of the industry has shifted a portion of their flying to meet this increasing demand for leisure travel, allocating capacity to many of JetBlue’s bread and butter routes,” she continued.

Other airlines, such as United and Delta, have reported strong demand, especially among business and international travelers. Though JetBlue is focusing on leisure travel at the moment, it continues to expand its international offerings to take advantage of new market shares it did not have just a year or two ago.

Pratt & Whitney Difficulties

Equally important to JetBlue is the operational issues that have arisen with Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines. Issues with these engines arose last year and have impacted the global Airbus A220 and A320 fleets, among others, meaning that nearly ⅔ of JetBlue’s aircraft are impacted. Longer engine inspections mean aircraft are not flying as much, which consequently means they do not earn as much money.

JetBlue is seeking compensation from Pratt & Whitney for the engine issues, adding that the situation is “frustratingly fluid.” It plans to buy outright 12 leased jets originally set to be returned to their owners in order to maintain capacity.

“A key component of our work to return our business to profitability is ensuring we maintain a low-cost base in a year where we are not growing,” Geraghty said.

According to Reuters, the carrier’s investor meeting has been moved from May to the fall.

John McDermott

John McDermott is a commercial pilot pursuing a career in professional flight. His passion for aviation began in an Ann Arbor bookstore with a tale of enemy pilots during World War 2, and he hasn't looked back. Besides flying and writing for AirlineGeeks, John volunteers with Professional Pilots of Tomorrow and travels whenever he gets the chance.

South African Airways: No Further Route Expansion

South Africa’s national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), will not be adding any routes to its network in the near future.

Lorne Philipot

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 02:15 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A South African Airways A340-300. (Photo: Shutterstock)

South Africa’s national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), will not be adding any routes to its network in the near future. The collapse of the protracted equity partnership deal with private investor Takatso Consortium has impacted the airline, leaving SAA unable to carry out its planned route network expansion.

Rebuilding South African Airways

Since emerging from a business rescue process in 2021, the airline has cautiously been rebuilding its flight schedule and route network. It has experienced several challenges including aircraft shortages and technical issues in the period post-COVID-19, as it tried to scale up operations.

SAA’s Route Network

Initially, the restarted airline operated flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa; before reintroducing flights to several destinations in neighbouring African nations. Now, coming up on three years since exiting business rescue, the airline flies to 14 destinations.

South Africa’s flag carrier operates domestic routes including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Regionally, it flies to Windhoek, Namibia; Harare and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; Lusaka, Zambia; Mauritius; Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; Accra, Ghana; and Lagos, Nigeria.

Intercontinental flights include Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Perth, Australia – launching on April 28.

No Further Route Expansion

In a televised interview, the chair of SAA’s Interim Board of Directors Derek Hanekom said that the airline now, fully back in state hands, will not see further route expansion in the short term.

Hanekom said that no additional new routes would be launched for a couple of years, without capital injection from an equity partner or loans from capital markets.

“We were planning to go beyond Perth as our second intercontinental flight. We were planning to do London, Frankfurt and North America. All of that has to be suspended, or rather, delayed. So, we are not going to go beyond Perth for the next couple of years,” Hanekom said.

He said that in its current form South African Airways is a small and sustainable operation that does not rely on handouts from the state. “It’s not where we want it to be but it’s growing slowly and we believe, sustainably,” Hanekom stated.

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.

Royal Air Maroc, Safran Strengthen Engine Maintenance Partnership

Royal Air Maroc and Safran have deepened their collaboration in aircraft engine maintenance, including expansion plans for its Casablanca facility.

Victor Shalton

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 01:50 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-800. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Royal Air Maroc and Safran have deepened their collaboration in aircraft engine maintenance. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Safran Aircraft Engines Services Morocco (SAESM), a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and Royal Air Maroc, unveiled an extension to its Nouaceur plant adjacent to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, as announced in a press release on April 18, 2024.

The event was joined by Mohammed Abdeljalil, Moroccan Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hamid Addou, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, and Abdallah Chatter, governor of the Nouaceur region.

The partners also formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the continued expansion of the facility, encompassing an additional 2,000 square meters (21,500 sq. ft) of space. This expansion is set to bolster the capacity from 70 to 100 shop visits annually by 2026.

SAESM is solidifying its stature as a center of excellence for the CFM56 engine family within Safran’s broader maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) network, providing airlines with services spanning the entire MRO process, from diagnosis to performance assurance at the test bench.

The CFM56 engine, developed by Safran Aircraft Engines and GE Aerospace through their CFM International joint venture, currently powers a significant portion of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 airliners, with over 33,000 engines delivered.

“Today marks the onset of a new chapter in our collaboration with Safran. This agreement will not only facilitate the expansion of our Casablanca facility but also enhance our expertise in the aviation sector. Royal Air Maroc takes pride in partnering with Safran to bolster Morocco’s aviation landscape and elevate our nation’s standing in the global aerospace arena,” stated Hamid Addou, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Royal Air Maroc.

To support this growth, SAESM plans to recruit approximately 100 individuals by 2026, increasing the plant’s total workforce to 350. Additionally, it will leverage key local academic alliances, backed by Royal Air Maroc and Safran Aircraft Engines, to nurture MRO proficiency in Morocco.

Jean-Paul Alary, CEO of Safran Aircraft Engines, remarked: “We are thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Royal Air Maroc and tap into the pool of top-tier talent in Morocco, aligning with our robust industrial focus on the CFM56. Since its inception 25 years ago, SAESM has emerged as a benchmark in our global MRO network, distinguished by operational excellence, innovation, and carbon footprint reduction.”

In an effort to curb CO2 emissions from Safran’s facilities, the Casablanca site is investing in the installation of solar panels on building rooftops and parking lot shade structures, aiming to achieve a 30% share of renewable energy by 2025.

According to the Groupement des Industries Marocaines Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIMAS), Morocco has 140 companies specialized in aeronautics and space, making it one of the most attractive in the continent in this field.

The country’s aerospace sector is undergoing significant expansion with a notable project focused on converting Boeing 777-300ER aircraft into freighters, a venture, announced on April 13, 2024, between Kansas Modification Center, LLC (KMC), Stratos Industries, and Integrated Aerospace Alliance, LLC (IAA).

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 China to Resume Havana Service in May

Air China is planning the resumption of service to Cuba with the opening of reservations for a new route from Beijing Capital Airport to Havana.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 11:28 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Air China Boeing 787-9 in Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Air China is planning the resumption of service to Cuba with the opening of reservations for a new route from Beijing Capital Airport to Havana with a stopover in Madrid (MAD).

According to Aeroroutes, flights will begin on May 17, 2024, and operate twice weekly using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The initial schedule features flights on Tuesdays and Fridays, moving to Tuesdays and Saturdays starting on June 11, 2024. Flights are currently bookable until Sept. 28, 2024.

This marks a return to Havana for Air China, which previously served the route via Montreal until 2020, cutting the market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has been increasing flights to Latin America in recent months with the return of flights to Sao Paulo (GRU).

Starting in May, the carrier will have up to 11 weekly flights to Madrid, which includes both the Havana and Sao Paulo stopover flights.

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 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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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A320 in Boston. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | 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

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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Edited By:

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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Edited By:

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

Verified

Edited By:

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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Edited By:

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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Edited By:

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.