United Postpones Launch of Two New Routes Amid Increased FAA Oversight

United says it is delaying the launch of two new international routes due to increased Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 08, 2024 at 01:53 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A United 757-200 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

United says it is delaying the launch of two new international routes due to increased Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight. The affected routes include Tokyo to Cebu, originally scheduled for July 31, and Newark to Faro, which was slated to begin in May.

Service to Cebu won’t begin until October 27, according to a United spokesperson. Newark-Faro won’t begin this year, instead slipping into Summer 2025.

This news comes after a string of recent incidents involving United aircraft, which prompted the FAA to initiate a closer look at the airline’s operations.

“Due to recent safety events, the FAA is increasing oversight of United Airlines to ensure that it is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety,” the agency said in a statement last month. “Certification activities in process may be allowed to continue, but future projects may be delayed based on findings from oversight.”

The Chicago-based airline says impacted customers on these planned flights will receive full refunds or the option to rebook their travel on partner airlines without additional fees.

Additional Scrutiny

Because both Cebu and Faro are new destinations for United, the airline may require additional approvals to begin revenue service. It remains unclear exactly which certification activities will be restricted.

“United will still train, issue type rides, and conduct normal business,” the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) United MEC said in a letter. The pilots union noted that the airline will undergo an FAA audit called a Certification Holder and Evaluation Program (CHEP) in which the agency embeds inspectors into an air carrier’s daily operations to review “all facets.”

According to the union, these audits aren’t particularly uncommon. United’s last one was in 2018 and the FAA says they are conducted roughly every five years.

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.

Kalitta Charters II Says Goodbye to the Boeing 727

Michigan-based cargo operator Kalitta Charters II bid farewell to its final Boeing 727 freighter on April 5, 2024, marking the end of an era for the company.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 08, 2024 at 09:58 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Kalitta Charters II Boeing 727 aircraft (Photo: Shutterstock)

Michigan-based cargo operator Kalitta Charters II bid farewell to its final Boeing 727 freighter on April 5, 2024. The over 40-year-old aircraft, N729CK, completed a short flight from Willow Run Airport (KIPT) to Oscoda Wurtsmith Airport (KOSC) in Michigan, marking the end of an era for the company.

This retirement follows Kalitta Charters II’s announcement in 2024 to transition to a larger Boeing 737 freighter fleet. The carrier also operates a handful of business jets. In 2019, the company retired its DC-9 fleet.

The Boeing 727, a tri-jet airliner first introduced in the 1960s, played a significant role in the cargo industry. Kalitta acknowledged the aircraft’s legacy according to ch-aviation, highlighting its “workhorse” status and its “unmatched self-stainability in the field.”

The company operated a total of nine Boeing 727-200 freighters throughout its history, with N729CK being the last one in the fleet. Kalitta is one of a handful of U.S.-based carriers still operating the 727, including Everts Air Alaska and Towards Air.

Ryan Ewing

Spirit To Trim Pilot Workforce

Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Spirit plans to furlough approximately 260 pilots later this year, according to a news release.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, April 08, 2024 at 08:46 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Spirit A320neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Spirit plans to furlough approximately 260 pilots later this year, according to a news release issued on Monday. The company continues to grapple with Pratt & Whitney engine issues, losing almost $184 million last quarter.

Spirit says the furloughs will take effect on Sept. 1, 2024. In late 2023, the airline halted all pilot and flight attendant hiring, citing slower 2024 growth plans and ongoing engine troubles.

Earlier this year, a federal judge struck down the proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit. The duo terminated their merger agreement in early March.

“I am extremely proud of our dedicated Spirit team for their focus and resilience over the last few years. Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to furlough Pilots given the grounded aircraft in our fleet and our deferral of future deliveries,” Spirit chief Ted Christie said in a press release.

Aircraft Deferrals

In a move to bolster the company’s liquidity, Spirit says it also plans to defer new aircraft deliveries with Airbus. All aircraft on order that are scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026 will shift to 2030 and 2031, the carrier shared.

Spirit expects this move to improve its liquidity position by roughly $340 million over the next two years. “This amendment to our agreement with Airbus is an important part of Spirit’s comprehensive plan to bolster profitability and strengthen our balance sheet,” Christie added.

Ryan Ewing

U.S. Airline Pilot Hiring Stabilizing

After years of aggressive growth, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has corroborated messaging that pilot hiring is slowing.

John McDermott

Sunday, April 07, 2024 at 11:18 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A CRJ-900 aircraft in Charlotte (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

After years of aggressive growth, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has corroborated messaging from multiple U.S. regional airlines that pilot hiring is stabilizing in the United States. Airlines are beginning to more easily manage their flow of pilots and plan ahead for future demand.

CommuteAir and Mesa Airlines both said that the ready supply of new pilots roughly matches the overall demand. ALPA announced at the end of March that the U.S. is consistently certifying a greater number of airline pilots each month compared to pre-pandemic levels.

To some, the writing has been on the wall for some time. Most notably, consumer courier companies like FedEx and UPS have significantly scaled back hiring over the past six months, and passenger airlines such as Southwest and United have done the same. Granted, the reasons for these changes vary – stabilizing demand for packages versus backups on airplane certification – but, in each case, it appears that the causes of the new hire slowdowns will not be short-lived.

This data does not mean, however, that all airlines’ needs are met. Many carriers, especially regional airlines, are still struggling to retain captains effectively to fully operate their schedules.

“We can hire first officers. I think almost every regional airline right now has a stack of first officers,” said CommuteAir CEO Rick Hoefling during an October 2023 interview with AirlineGeeks.

“The problem is building their time at the same time you’re attriting out captains at a pretty high rate in the industry. We went from a pilot shortage to a captain shortage now in the industry. So the pendulum is starting to move,” Hoefling continued.

And when there are enough pilots – captains and first officers together – to meet current demand, airlines may strive to start relaunching service to markets that were suffered before the pandemic. Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines announced late last year that it is planning to continue hiring enough pilots to cover not only the vacancies it has now but also to allow it to begin expanding services.

Pilot hiring is never a static condition; the amount that pilots are getting hired depends on various conditions. Without ongoing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification delays, for example, Southwest and United would not have reduced their hiring as significantly as they have in recent months, meaning hiring at regional airlines would still be higher to compensate for the crews lost to legacies. And as more senior pilots continue to retire, there will still be a certain amount of demand to maintain the current workforce.

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.

UPS Plans to Hire 300 Pilots to Support Postal Service Contract

UPS is looking to hire more than 300 pilots to support an anticipated increase in air cargo demand following a new Postal Service contract.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Friday, April 05, 2024 at 05:56 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A UPS Boeing 767 aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

UPS is looking to hire more than 300 pilots to support an anticipated increase in air cargo demand driven by a new multi-year contract from the U.S. Postal Service, according to the union representing the company’s air crews.

“The Independent Pilots Association Executive Board was informed that UPS HR is resuming their pilot hiring process to account for the additional volume surge that will occur as the year progresses,” the union said in a statement shared with FreightWaves. “The initial projected estimate for hiring is expected to be 300+ additional crew members, which is subject to adjustment once the network plan for the additional USPS volume is finalized.”

The Independent Pilots Association is the bargaining representative for about 3,200 pilots at UPS.

UPS beat out FedEx Express on Monday for the five-and-a-half-year Postal Service contract, which FedEx had held for more than 20 years. The call for pilots runs counter to initial assessments from analysts that UPS would need to add few, if any, aircraft to support the Postal Service because of its ability to lean on its high-performing linehaul truck network to move a portion of the volume. FedEx has acknowledged recent difficulties turning a decent profit on its postal business and UPS was expected to address that by running a leaner air network.

UPS also gave buyout packages last year to 193 of the most senior pilots to reduce costs amid a downturn in the parcel market.

Spokeswoman Michelle Polk confirmed UPS is recruiting 170 pilots, as currently posted on its external job boards.

The hiring number provided by the union covers the number of pilots UPS is likely to hire over the next year or so. A source familiar with pilot scheduling and staffing said UPS has to phase in new pilots because there isn’t enough capacity to train a full cohort at once.

Postal flights are primarily operated during the daytime, opposite the express overnight network.

The Postal Service has prioritized moving mail by ground as much as possible over the past three years, resulting in a $500 million reduction in revenues for FedEx during that time. FedEx realized $1.6 million in revenue during fiscal year 2023 from its air contract with the mail agency, according to research by David Hendel, a transportation attorney at Culhane Meadows.

UPS has about 292 freighters in its mainline fleet, which is 43% smaller than FedEx’s. FedEx also has about 2,400 more pilots than UPS.

There is no indication that UPS will slow the phase out of its aging MD-11 fleet. The company last year retired six of the aircraft and plans to remove more than that amount this year. The MD-11s are being replaced by 767 freighters. UPS has 21 more 767s on order from Boeing.

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

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

AirlineGeeks.com was founded in February 2013 as a one-person blog in Washington D.C. Since then, we’ve grown to have 25+ active team members scattered across the globe. We are all here for the same reason: we love deep-diving into the fascinating realm of the airline industry.

Livery of the Week: Embraer’s Profit-Hunting Predators

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has a history of using striking designs to showcase its new airplanes, including the E190-E2.

Ryan Ewing

Friday, April 05, 2024 at 04:24 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Embraer's E190-E2 at the 2022 Farnborough Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch 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.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has a history of using striking designs to showcase its new airplanes. Particularly eye-catching were its “Profit Hunter” series, featuring animal motifs painted on the fuselages of E-190 E2 demonstration aircraft.

The most famous of these was likely the shark livery. This ferocious great white shark design garnered significant attention during the E190-E2’s world tour in 2018. Nicknamed the “Profit Hunter,” the aircraft visited locations around the globe, turning heads wherever it landed.

The Tiger Design

Embraer didn’t stop there. The company also rolled out an E190-E2 emblazoned with a striking tiger design, showcasing the aircraft at the 2018 Singapore Air Show. These weren’t the only creatures to take flight on Embraer jets. A snow leopard and an eagle also adorned other E2 demonstrators during this promotional campaign.

An Embraer E190-E2, with the front section decorated as a tiger head, on display during the Singapore Airshow in 2018. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The purpose of these eye-catching liveries was two-fold. First, they undoubtedly grabbed attention, generating interest in Embraer’s new E-Jet E2 line. Second, the chosen animals – the tiger, shark, eagle, and snow leopard – all possess qualities associated with efficiency, power, and grace, mirroring the characteristics Embraer hoped to highlight in their new aircraft.

While these unique liveries were only used on demonstrator aircraft, they certainly made a lasting impression.

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

Turkish Airlines to Connect Denver and Istanbul

At a press conference on Thursday, Turkish Airlines revealed a new nonstop route linking Denver and Istanbul starting in July 2024.

Arya Karnik

Friday, April 05, 2024 at 09:14 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Turkish Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

At a press conference today, Turkish Airlines announced a new nonstop service between Denver and Istanbul, beginning on June 11, 2024. This flight, scheduled at 6,130 miles, will be around 400 miles longer than the current longest flight from Denver, United’s nonstop flight to Tokyo.

The outbound flight from Denver to Istanbul departs at 7:35 p.m. and arrives at 4:15 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves Istanbul at 1:55 p.m. with a 5:40 p.m. arrival in Denver. The carrier’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft will operate the route thrice weekly.

Economic Impact

The new service, according to the release by the Denver Airport, is estimated to “produce more than $54 million in annual economic impact to Colorado’s economy and support the creation of approximately 350 new jobs across the state, generating more than $21 million in additional wages.” This is a huge win for the city, amid the continued growth pattern demonstrated by the airport. In February 2023, a 21-person delegation from the City visited Ethiopia in an effort to persuade Ethiopian Airlines to commit to starting service to Denver.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston stated that Turkish “is the most connected airline in the world” while adding that the flight “not only opens Denver to Istanbul and Turkey, [but] also opens up opportunities for us into India, Africa, and the Middle East.”

Turkish is the 26th airline to serve Denver, and the 14th U.S. destination for the carrier. Turkish joins Air Canada, Copa Airlines, and Lufthansa as international Star Alliance carriers at Denver, which serves as an important hub for United.

Arya Karnik

Ever since he was a kid, Arya has been interested in aviation. With his entire family overseas, he has taken many family trips worldwide to places like the United Kingdom and India. He lives in Colorado but attends The University of Alabama, studying Computer Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. He hopes to obtain his PPL and eventually translate his engineering degree to working in operations at an airline.

Rolls-Royce Begins Pearl 10X Engine Flight Tests

Rolls-Royce's new Pearl 10X turbofan engine has begun its flight testing phase becoming the newest member of the Pearl engine family.

Tolga Karadeniz

Friday, April 05, 2024 at 06:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Rolls-Royce's newest engine on a testbed aircraft (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce recently announced a significant milestone today with the commencement of flight testing for its Pearl 10X turbofan engine. This powerful engine — designed to propel Dassault Aviation’s ultra-long-range Falcon 10X business jet — is taking flight aboard a specially equipped Boeing 747-200 testbed in Tucson, Ariz.

The Pearl 10X represents the latest addition to Rolls-Royce’s successful Pearl engine family, following the Pearl 15 used in Bombardier’s Global 5500/6500 and the Pearl 700 powering the Gulfstream G700/G800. This 18,000-pound-thrust engine is set to undergo a rigorous flight test program designed to comprehensively evaluate its performance and handling capabilities.

Pushing The Limits

According to Rolls-Royce, the flight test program will encompass various aspects of engine performance and handling. Engineers will conduct checks at various speeds and altitudes, replicating real-world flight conditions experienced by business jets. They will also assess the engine’s ability to relight in flight, a crucial safety feature.

Additionally, the program will evaluate the nacelle’s anti-icing system during low-temperature scenarios to ensure optimal operation in all weather conditions. Fan vibration will be meticulously measured to guarantee smooth and efficient engine operation.

“All the tests completed to date confirm the reliability of the engine and show it will meet the performance requirements to power Dassault’s flagship, the Falcon 10X, “Philipp Zeller, Rolls-Royce’s Senior Vice President for Dassault Business Aviation, said.

Building On Ground Testing Success

The flight testing phase follows a successful ground testing program that accumulated over 2,300 test hours. These tests focused on both the Advance2 core demonstrator, a key component of the engine, and the complete Pearl 10X configuration in its entirety.

Ground testing yielded promising results, particularly regarding the engine’s environmental performance. The Pearl 10X features an ultra-low-emissions AL combustor, which Rolls-Royce claims is compatible with 100% sustainable aviation fuel. This innovation paves the way for cleaner air travel and aligns with the industry’s growing focus on sustainability.

Additionally, the new accessory gearbox on the Pearl 10X enables a higher level of additional power extraction, ensuring ample power for onboard systems during flight, while boasting a 5% improvement in efficiency and lower noise emissions compared to Rolls-Royce’s previous BR700-series business jet engines.

“The extensive ground testing program provided valuable data on the Pearl 10X’s performance and emissions profile,” Zeller said. “We are confident that the engine will deliver the exceptional performance, efficiency, and environmental compatibility that Dassault demands for its Falcon 10X.”

The initiation of this flight testing program signifies a major step forward for the Pearl 10X engine. This powerful and environmentally conscious engine is poised to propel the next generation of ultra-long-range business jets.

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.

Boeing Shells Out $160M to Alaska After Door Plug Blowout

Alaska Airlines estimates its pretax profit would have been 80% higher in Q1 compared to Q1 2023 if the incident on Flight 1282 hadn’t occurred.

Brinley Hineman

Thursday, April 04, 2024 at 02:43 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

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

Alaska Airlines told investors in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that it received about $160 million from Boeing in “initial compensation” after a door plug blew off a 737 MAX 9 during a January flight.

The Q1 money makes up for financial damages caused by the Alaska flight 1282 incident and subsequent 737 MAX 9 groundings, the filing says. All 737 MAX 9 aircraft were grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after a door-plug panel blew off the aircraft during the flight from Portland to Ontario on Jan. 5.

Boeing is expected to pay more money, but the terms are confidential, the filing says.

Alaska’s operation was significantly impacted by the incident. The airline projects its Q1 adjusted pretax profit would have improved approximately 80% over Q1 2023 if the incident hadn’t occurred. Instead, the airline lost $160 million after the incident due to lost revenue, irregular operations, and restoring its fleet.

Still, February and March finished above the airline’s original pre-grounding expectations due to network adjustments, strong demand, and continued recovery of West Coast business travel.

“As a result of our revised accounting treatment, Q1 adjusted loss per share will not include the Boeing compensation, and is expected to be approximately ($1.15) to ($1.05). This reflects approximately ($0.95) cents of lost earnings due to Flight 1282 and the 737-9 MAX grounding lost profits,” the filing says.

Brinley Hineman

Brinley Hineman covers general assignment news. She previously worked for the USA TODAY Network, Newsday and The Messenger. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and is from West Virginia. She lives in Brooklyn with her poodle Franklin.

Hainan Airlines Eyeing Airbus A330neo Order

A recent stock filing for cabin galley orders suggests that China's Hainan Airlines will soon order A330-900neo aircraft.

Anthony Bang An

Thursday, April 04, 2024 at 11:30 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A Hainan Airlines A330-300 in Berlin (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

A recent stock filing has suggested that Hainan Airlines is on track to acquire Airbus A330-900neos from Airbus. The company reportedly approved a purchase of 20 sets of kitchen galleys from Safran for A330-900s in a March 29 filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, suggesting that the airline could be purchasing up to 20 of the type in the near future.

Rumored Undisclosed Customer

HNA Group, the parent company of Hainan Airlines, was believed to be the undisclosed customer for 40 A330neos firm orders that were previously announced and already in the backlog. The unidentified customer has since halved the order to 20 aircraft in 2022, and there is no confirmation if it is indeed Hainan Airlines.

A Hainan 787 Dreamliner in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

HNA Group has since gone through significant restructuring after bankruptcy, having gone into trouble even before the pandemic due to shareholder issues. As part of the restructuring, HNA Aviation, which controls all of the airline business of HNA Group, was acquired by Liaoning Fangda Group in late 2021.

Liaoning Fangda Group also made investments in Hong Kong Airlines, which was a part of HNA Group but not a part of the acquisition. Other airlines that were previously a part of the group, such as Tianjin Airlines, have since been acquired or partially taken over by other companies as a part of the restructuring.

Current Widebody Fleet

The airline downsized significantly during the same period of restructuring, retiring its entire relatively new A350 fleet and a number of 787 Dreamliners. The current widebody fleet comprises 38 Dreamliners, with 10 units of the 787-8 variant, the remaining being 787-9s, and 28 Airbus A330s. The carrier has nine A330-200s, but five of them are currently parked.

Hainan Airlines Widebody Fleet in 2024

Aircraft	Total Number	Average Age
B787-8	10	10.3 Years
B787-9	28	6.5 Years
A330-200	9	13.6 Years
A330-300	20	8.3 Years

Data: planespotter.com

Hainan’s A330-300s, which is the predecessor of the A330-900s, have an average age of 8.3 years. Chinese carriers are home to some of the youngest A330ceos in the world. Its production was discontinued in 2019 in favor of the newer NEO series, which several airlines have ordered to replace their A330s.

The airline has made some significant progress since its bankruptcy and the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited Chinese carriers’ ability to operate international services. At the start of the IATA 2024 summer season, the airline made its return to Seattle and Dublin from Beijing. The airline will also resume Shanghai to Brussels later this year. At the same time, new destinations, such as Cairo, are being launched by the carrier as it expands its footprint once again.

2024 Has Started Well for Airbus

Recent orders from Korean Air for a total of 33 A350s and JAL for A350s and A321s are just the latest victories the airplane manufacturer has scored. Earlier in the year, the airline received orders for 20 A350-1000s from Delta Air Lines, 85 A321neos from American, and 10 A220s from Breeze. It also signed a MoU with Vietjet for 20 A330neos.

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.