Southwest 737 MAX 8 aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)
Southwest is making headlines after it canceled over 500 flights during the peak holiday travel period. According to data from Flightaware, the Dallas-based airline scrubbed 569 flights from December 20-25, representing 2.2% of its schedule.
The troubled operational performance far outpaces any of Southwest’s peers, which saw relatively smooth holiday performance. On Tuesday, United reported its best-ever completion factor at 99.7% between mainline and regional flights from December 15. American had no mainline cancellations between December 20-25.
Southwest blamed the cancellations on the weather at some airports, including dense fog at its fourth busiest operation: Chicago Midway Airport. In a statement to AirlineGeeks on Tuesday, the airline said its operation is ‘stable.’ The airline has canceled only two flights at the time of writing.
“Our operation is currently healthy and stable and we do not anticipate any significant disruptions today. We continue to have all-hands on deck as our Employees work to safely take care of our Customers during this busy holiday travel season,” a spokesperson from the airline said in a statement.
“Specific to Chicago, Midway is our fourth busiest airport operation, with more than 200 departures a day scheduled over the holiday weekend. As a result of dense fog that began in Chicago on Saturday and continued into Sunday, we canceled approximately 100 flights on Monday and 300 flights for Sunday systemwide (out of our total flights of approximately 4300),” the statement continued.
Cancellations at U.S. airports on Dec. 23, 2023 (Data: Anuvu Pulse)
Over a quarter of Southwest’s flights from December 20-25 arrived late, per Flightaware’s data, outpacing the U.S. industry mean of 17%. Southwest’s average delay time was approximately 39 minutes.
In a third quarter earnings call, Southwest’s Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson, assured shareholders and passengers that the airline was ready for the holiday rush and the challenging weather conditions that sometimes come with it.
“We have added de-ice pads, de-ice trucks, increased glycol storage and mixing stations, increased snow removal, heater carts, and other equipment to operate safely and effectively in winter weather. We have been conducting de-icing summer school to make sure we have plenty of ramp agents trained and ready to go for de-icing. That’s just a few examples of tangible things we have done,” Watterson said. “We are now so much better prepared for these extreme weather events.”
During the same call, the airline shared it had not suffered any ‘demand weakness’ during the 2023 holiday period following last year’s meltdown. Holiday bookings remained strong, according to the company.
DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg put U.S. airlines on notice in a December 18 Tweet adding, “This is a message to the entire airline industry: they must take care of passengers, or we’ll use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable.”
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.
A Mexicana 737-800 in Tijuana (Photo: Aquintero82, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Mexicana is back flying again for the first time in over a decade, albeit under new military-run management. Following some initial headwinds in receiving an Air Operator Certificate, Mexicana de Aviacion began service with a Boeing 737-800 that formerly belonged to the Mexican Air Force.
Per Flightradar24 data, Mexicana’s inaugural flight diverted to Merida (MID) due to poor weather conditions in Tulum. In a Tweet, the airline confirmed that the flight continued to Tulum.
The Mexican government has big plans for its new airline in 2024. According to Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval, the airline currently has three 737 aircraft and is wet-leasing two Embraer E145 jets from TAR Aerolineas. Mexicana will add up to 10 leased aircraft in 2024, Sandoval said in a press conference. More aircraft are slated to arrive early next year.
In addition, Sandoval confirmed that the company is in talks with Boeing for additional aircraft which would not arrive for at least another two years. Alongside TAR, Mexicana intends to operate to 15 domestic destinations in Mexico from Mexico City-NLU.
Mexicana’s route map as of Dec. 26, 2023. (Photo: Mexicana)
“This airline will be managed by the Olmeca-Maya-Mexica company that will administer airports, trains, especially the Maya Train, and Mexicana de Aviacion, in addition to other complementary companies with hotels and ecological parks,” AMLO said at a press conference, per Bloomberg. The Olmeca-Maya-Mexica entity is owned by the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA).
After becoming privatized, the original Mexicana went belly up in 2010. The Mexican government purchased the airline’s brand assets for $48 million in August 2023.
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.
Kenya Airways Boosts Fleet Capacity with Hi Fly ACMI Lease
Kenya Airways (KQ), the national carrier of Kenya, has inked a short-term lease agreement with Hi Fly, the Lisbon-based lease and charter specialist company.
Kenya Airways (KQ), the national carrier of Kenya, has inked a short-term lease agreement with Hi Fly, the Lisbon-based lease and charter specialist company. The lease will involve the immediate introduction of an Airbus A330 into the Kenya Airways fleet. This partnership was announced by the airline in a press release on December 20 and will address capacity constraints and support the anticipated surge in traveler demands during the festive season.
How the Airbus A330 Addresses Traveler Surge
Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Allan Kilavuka, emphasized the need for practical measures to tackle challenges in the market. “With the current capacity constraints on the back of the growing demand for airline travel, we need to balance our customers’ immediate needs by bringing more capacity into the market,” stated Kilavuka.
The move comes in response to the rising demand for air travel, compounded by President William Ruto’s recent announcement of ending visa requirements for all visitors to Kenya starting January 2024, effectively making Kenya a visa-free country. Kilavuka highlighted that the ACMI lease with Hi Fly allows the airline to quickly address capacity challenges, ensuring an aircraft that is ready to fly.
“With the arrival of the aircraft, we expect to see improved operational stability and efficiency, as well as enhanced capacity for the convenience of our passengers,” added Kilavuka.
The leased widebody A330 boasts a passenger capacity of 299, with 24 seats in the business cabin and 275 in the economy class. Its introduction into the fleet not only addresses immediate capacity needs but also augments cargo space with additional belly capacity and will join KQ’s fleet currently comprising of 32 aircraft with an average fleet age of 11.6 years, according to planespotters.net.
Hi Fly has a fleet size of 13 aircraft with an average fleet age of 19.2 years. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising A320, A330, and A340, specializing in wet lease services to airlines and governments. The airline offers flexibility from medium-haul to very long-haul flights, with a range of aircraft configurations suitable for passengers and cargo.
Cargo Expansion: Kenya Airways’ Growth Plans with the 737-800 Freighter
Recognizing India as a promising market for cargo, the airline plans to initially operate the route twice a week, later expanding it to four times weekly. Mumbai, a key gateway to the country, will serve as a focal point for Kenya Airways to saturate the cargo market, transporting a diverse range of goods, including pharmaceuticals, spare parts, machinery, high-tech products, consumer goods, and electronics.
Speaking at the India International Cargo Show, Musola highlighted the strategic importance of Mumbai International Airport as Kenya Airways’ entry point to India. He emphasized the airline’s intention to first focus on growing the belly capacity segment in Mumbai before exploring opportunities to fly to new Indian destinations. The new aircraft will offer 20 tonnes of cargo capacity to and from its Nairobi hub. Kenya Airways already operates twice-daily passenger service to Mumbai with its Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a belly capacity of one ton.
Musola also noted that, “The products include pharmaceuticals, spare parts, machinery, high tech, consumer goods and electronics. India is a strong manufacturing country and it is becoming a manufacturing giant. Most of these products are in demand in Africa and we want to leverage this as an airline.” He also pointed out that 20 percent of all pharmaceuticals manufactured in India end up in Africa. “So Kenya Airways is looking into tapping these opportunities,” he said.
“We are all set to launch our freighter Boeing 737-800 in Mumbai on January 25 to cater to Pharma market. We also have plans to expand our network and destinations, in India, but we are starting operations with Mumbai. India is a Pharma hub and we see lot of potential in Indian market. India is a great trade destination and lot of Pharma is being moved to and from Africa, with our hub in Nairobi. Kenya Airways is looking at enhancing regional connectivity and capacity but due to global economic slowdown and crises in Africa, things are not in our favour at the moment as there are lots of complexities. But we are very focused and we look at India as a major market and have growth prospects for our main Nairobi Hub so we will definitely expand here,” Musola added.
According to reports, the airline recently took delivery of its first 737-800 converted freighter on Nov. 23, 2023, and is set to add another in February 2024. This expansion will bring the total freighter fleet to four aircraft, complementing the two existing 737-300(SF) fleet.
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.
A Comac C919 conducting high-speed taxiing (Photo: COMAC)
On December 23, Air China released an announcement stating that the company is seeking to issue more shares to raise funds for 17 new aircraft and fulfill operating liquidities. The 17 new jets consisted of 11 COMAC ARJ21-700 regional jets, which were a part of the 2019 order of 35 ARJ21, and six COMAC C919, which entered service with China Eastern in May 2023. The announcement confirmed that the C919 will be delivered to Air China in 2024, and potentially more orders from the flag carrier of China will come. Currently, three C919s are operated by China Eastern based in Shanghai.
Delivery Plan
At the moment a detailed delivery plan is still yet to be announced. Based on available information, the Air China order of six COMAC C919 will likely be delivered after the completion of China Eastern’s initial order of five. The fourth China Eastern C919 rolled out of the production line in early December, and it has been on test flights ever since. A source close to COMAC said that the manufacturer is planning to deliver the fourth C919 to China Eastern within 2023 to hit its annual delivery goal. With this information, we can anticipate that the first Air China C919 will likely be delivered in or after the second quarter of 2024.
Where is It Going to Fly?
Naturally, as Air China is headquartered in Beijing, we may assume that the Air China COMAC C919 will fly between the nation’s capital and some other destinations. However, based on observations of China Eastern’s C919 operations, it may not be the case. Air China may join China Eastern and operate its C919 between Chengdu and Shanghai.
Currently, all three C919s with China Eastern are flying on the route between Shanghai’s Hongqiao International Airport and Chengdu’s Tianfu International Airport. Both airports have COMAC facilities, and the manufacturer can quickly advise on maintenance issues of those aircraft.
With the operational observation of China Eastern C919, Air China, as the incoming new operator of C919, may also choose to fly between airports that have COMAC facilities. Currently, the only two cities where the carrier and the manufacturer’s presence overlap are Chengdu and Shanghai. Air China has bases in both Tianfu and Shuangliu airports of Chengdu, and both Hongqiao and Pudong airports in Shanghai. It’s likely that the flag carrier of the nation will fly between those airports at the beginning.
What’s Onboard?
For cabin interiors, Air China will likely follow the decoration of its Airbus’ A320 series and Boeing’s 737 series jets. For onboard Wi-Fi, there is certified equipment available for C919, and Air China may choose to install Wi-Fi units onboard as its previous installment on their Airbus A350 fleet was widely welcomed by passengers. We will continue to focus on any updates on any passenger experience of Air China’s C919.
On the service front, with the major success of China Eastern’s C919 inaugural flights, Air China may follow suit with its competitor to also prepare special onboard souvenirs and in-flight supplies.
What’s Next?
As COMAC starts to ramp up production of its C919 jet, we may see more operators of the jet both in and out of China. Two out of the big three airlines in China have all confirmed their orders of C919s, and, China Southern, the final piece may soon announce its order and delivery plans of this new jet.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023 at 12:47 p.m. ET to correct an error in the number of Air China C919 orders.
Lei is from Inner Mongolia, China, and now lives in Guangzhou. He grew up in an aviation family, where his passion began. During his time at Penn State University, he studied Industrial Engineering specializing in operations research, and he graduated with an honor’s thesis on airport gate assignment optimization. Now, he is a Purchasing Manager with Procter & Gamble. In his free time, he enjoys flying, reading, and wandering around the city.
Trip Report: French Bee Premium Blue to Newark
French Bee is a Paris-based airline that has a modest fleet made up entirely of modern Airbus A350s with flights operating from the smaller Paris Orly Airport.
French Bee is a Paris-based airline that has a modest fleet made up entirely of modern Airbus A350s with flights operating from the smaller Paris Orly Airport, making the travel experience less hectic in theory.
Unlike most flights from Europe to the United States, this flight was scheduled to leave in the evening, at 6:55 p.m. with an arrival into Newark around 9 p.m., meaning arrival into the country will be much easier as many of the European flights arrive in the early afternoon to early evening.
Paris-Orly Airport in France (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
I arrived at Paris Orly much earlier than I needed to, seven hours prior, as there was a major sporting event happening that evening and I wanted to be able to catch as much as I could and not be in the customs line when it was happening. I also spent a lot of the time in the lounge, which I wanted to use to the fullest as I don’t often get access to lounges.
Day of the Flight
Check-in is shared with the airline’s partner Air Caraibes, which has opposite departure times from French Bee, so the screens at the ticket counters do change based on which airline has flights the closest away. But, if you do happen to get to the airport before the French Bee signs are up, just see an AirCaraibes airport agent and they will have no problem checking you in for the flight early. But, it is also good to know that check-in closes for each flight one hour and 30 minutes before departure time.
The check-in area for French Bee and Air Caraïbes (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
After leaving the lounge, I headed down to the gates. Paris Orly is much smaller than its counterpart Charles De Gaulle on the other side of the city, and it didn’t take long to find my gate which ended up being F06. And while security and customs were busy here, it would be absolute chaos if I had flown out of Charles De Gaulle.
The airline A350-900s are laid out in a two-class configuration; 376 in the main cabin in a 3-4-3 configuration and 35 seats in its premium cabin which it calls ‘Premium Blue’, in a 2-3-2 configuration.
French Bee’s ‘Premium Blue’ cabin (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
Every seat came equipped with power outlets and an IFE screen, which is great as the airline’s shortest flight is still over six hours long, and happens to be this flight from Paris to Newark. The seats were very well padded and had a water bottle, pillow, and blanket waiting for us, even with this not being an overnight flight. For this flight, I was seated in 7K, a window in the Premium blue cabin, and also the same seat I took over to Paris on board the carrier’s inaugural flight from Miami a couple of days prior.
For each IFE screen, you could choose what language you wanted it to be in: English, French, or Spanish. There was also the classic Airbus A350 tail camera which doesn’t leave much to see in the darkness, but it was still cool. Prior to pushing back from the gate, they offered a drink of either orange juice or champagne, and I opted for the OJ.
They served either OJ or champagne to passengers before pushback (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
The aircraft I was on that night was F-HREU, and it was actually the 5th A350-900 ever produced and served as an Airbus testbed from 2014 until 2017 when it was delivered to the airline.
We pushed back from the terminal pretty much on time and made our way to the runway bound for Newark. While there isn’t much to see with the tailcam while in the air, it did give off quite a pretty sight on the ground with all of the airport lighting.
A shot from the tail cam while taxiing out of Paris-Orly (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
As we took off from rainy Paris, I could see the Eiffel Tower in the far background, although were pretty far away from the airport, this is the closest you’ll see it while taking off from Paris, as Orly is closer to downtown than Charles De Gaulle. The Eiffel Tower is that taller light structure just to the left of the winglet in the picture below.
Taxing off from Paris-Orly, with the Eiffel Tower in the background (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
It was pretty seeing all of the lights on the outskirts of the city before we disappeared into the cloudy skies. About 30 minutes or so after takeoff, the flight attendants came around with a hot towel for us, and 30 minutes after that they came around with drinks and a light snack, which consisted of crackers with sesame seeds on them.
After the snack, I reclined and began to watch one of the English-offered movies on the flight, as they did have many of the blockbuster movie options as well as a few that had just been taken out of theaters.
Roughly an hour-and-a-half after takeoff they began to serve out dinner. The main meal was chicken with pineapple and rice, with a side of noodles with shrimp, blue cheese, and a baguette, and for dessert was tarte tropezienne. They also had more drinks with dinner, which this time I chose to be a mimosa.
Dinner on French Bee’s Paris to Newark flight (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
The cruising altitude for the flight was 38,000 feet or 11,582.40 meters, but as it was nighttime over the Atlantic Ocean and it was cloudy, there wasn’t much to see except the dark sky.
The next couple of hours I spent either watching one of the many movies they offered or sleeping, and sometimes I couldn’t distinguish between the two. Sleeping was so relaxing on the Airbus A350 as with the more humid cabin and lower cabin pressure altitude, it made you feel like you were on the ground, except for the fact you were sitting in a seat on an airplane.
The crew also turned the cabin lights down after the meal so that people could sleep if they chose to, which most did as it was now late in the evening Paris time.
About an hour before we landed, they turned the cabin lights back up and served an additional small meal. This time it consisted of warm pesto and cheese rolls in a plastic bag, along with apple sauce. I chose hot chocolate for my drink on this flight, as I wanted to be relaxed for bed once we landed in Newark.
Our second meal service before landing in Newark (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
It wasn’t long before we went below the cloud layer and I could see the lights below me. As the lights became closer I realized how nice I felt after this flight, given the humidity of the newer Airbus A350’s cabin.
Flying over the city lights going into Newark (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)
We touched down in Newark at 8:44 p.m. after 7 hours and 24 minutes of flying time, although it didn’t feel like over a seven-hour flight. In typical Newark fashion, we sat on the taxiway for almost an hour due to gate congestion, but that’s not French Bee’s fault and is just a byproduct of flying to the NYC area.
It was a wonderful flight with French Bee and despite it being a low-cost carrier, I would definitely do it again, especially in the Premium Blue cabin which is comparable to domestic first class in the United States. Since I took this flight, the airline has since put their new, much larger Airbus A350-1000 on the route to Newark.
A video account of this flight can be found below in 4K quality:
Editor’s Note: French Bee provided AirlineGeeks with the seat on this flight, but this trip report is an objective portrayal of the events and is in no way swayed by that aspect.
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.
Wizz Air’s Dynamic December: Milestones And Expansion Across Regions
In December 2023, Wizz Air, a prominent European low-cost carrier, celebrated several milestones and expansions, emphasizing its growing influence.
A Wizz Air A321neo taxing at Milan Malpensa Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)
In December 2023, Wizz Air, a prominent European low-cost carrier, celebrated several milestones and expansions, emphasizing its growing influence in the airline industry.
In 2023, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, achieved outstanding operational results. The airline, a joint venture between the sovereign wealth fund ADQ and Wizz Air Holdings PLC, doubled its flight operations and passenger count, carrying three million passengers.
This year, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi added four new A321 aircraft, taking the total fleet to 12 aircraft, and increased its seat capacity by 135% to 3.7 million seats on sale. The airline has grown in headcount by 100% in 2023.
Market Growth
This month, Wizz Air also expanded its footprint in Georgia by introducing a fourth aircraft to its fleet at Kutaisi International Airport. This addition supports new routes and increases the frequency of existing ones. Introducing nonstop flights between Kutaisi and Copenhagen marks a significant step in enhancing travel options for Georgian passengers.
Wizz Air’s success story continued in Cyprus, reaching a significant milestone of seven million passengers at Larnaca International Airport. It now offers new connections to destinations across Europe and beyond. With 31 destinations in 18 countries, Wizz Air links Cyprus to the rest of the world, making the island’s air connections stronger. Cypriot passengers’ most popular destinations include Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
In 2023, Wizz Air celebrated a historic milestone in Poland by carrying 100 million passengers since its debut in the Polish market in May 2004. This achievement underscores Wizz Air’s commitment to providing accessible travel options in Poland and its status as one of the most sustainable airlines globally. During the almost 20 years of operations, the airline expanded its route network. It established five operational bases in the country, including Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Warsaw, and Wrocław, offering connections to multiple destinations across Europe and beyond. Wizz Air operates from 12 Polish airports and offers over 170 routes to 27 countries.
Wizz Air’s dynamic December showcases its robust growth trajectory and ability to adapt and thrive in a competitive industry. As we move forward, Wizz Air’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence will likely lead to more milestones and achievements, further cementing its position as a leading player in the aviation sector in 2024.
Vincenzo graduated in 2019 in Mechanical Engineering with an aeronautical curriculum, focusing his thesis on Human Factors in aircraft maintenance. In 2022 he pursued his master's degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Palermo, Italy. He combines his journalistic activities with his work as a Reliability Engineer at Zetalab.
Air India recently took delivery of its inaugural Airbus A350-900 aircraft, representing a significant milestone in the airline's ongoing transformation.
Air India's first A350 aircraft. (Photo: Air India)
Recently, Air India welcomed the delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 aircraft, registered as VT-JRA, from Toulouse, France. The aircraft arrived in New Delhi in the early afternoon on Dec. 23, officially marking the new generation for the now-privatized airline, via a statement from the airline.
Air India will become the first Indian carrier to introduce the Airbus A350 into its fleet. “Air India was also the first Indian airline to have inducted the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet type in 2012,” the carrier added.
Reacting to the delivery, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director at Air India, said in a press release, “The A350 is not just metal and engines; it’s the flying embodiment of the relentless efforts of all Air India employees towards our airline’s continuing transformation and of our commitment to setting new benchmarks. It is also, in many ways, a declaration of Indian aviation’s resurgence on the world stage.”
Air India’s first A350 (Photo: Air India)
The airline said it plans to enter the A350 into commercial service in January 2024, initially operating domestically. Once crew familiarization is completed, Air India plans to introduce the A350 across its international network. In the coming weeks, the airline intends to announce the official schedule of its new aircraft.
Wilson continued by stating that the A350 will promise “a world-class, long-haul travel experience on our non-stop routes,” while ensuring that the airline can continue to implement and run “commercially successful operations.”
The Airbus A350 will be configured in a three-class cabin configuration fabricated by Collins Aerospace. It will have 28 business class full-flat bed suites, 24 premium economy seats, and 264 economy seats. The airline added, “All seats on the aircraft feature the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system,” with HD screens on every seat to ensure passenger comfort.
Economy seating on Air India’s A350 (Photo: Air India)
Significance for Air India and Aviation in India
With the introduction of the A350 into Air India’s fleet, the carrier hopes to reap the benefits of the new generation of modern widebodies. The A350 will bring fuel efficiency, allowing the airline to run a more sustainable operation. As the Indian aviation market continues to grow, the flag carrier’s more robust product will increase competition with the big three Middle Eastern carriers to fight for a more substantial market share in India.
The continued fleet modernization plan falls squarely on the roadmap the Tata Group presented when it regained the airline in January 2022. The airline plans five more deliveries through March 2024, with 20 additional A350-1000 aircraft on order.
Business class seating on Air India’s A350 (Photo: Air India)
The airline stated in its release that this is a step forward on its “major five-year transformation roadmap” to become one of the world’s best airlines. The Indian flag carrier just released its new identity, paving the way for the new generation of Air India.
The carrier’s new branding scheme aligns with the modernization seen to become a world-class airline while staying connected to its Indian roots. With 470 aircraft on order from Boeing and Airbus, the airline is well on its way to achieving fleet modernization with a consistent product across the board.
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.
Nonstop Flights from Romania to U.S. Return
Romanian low-cost airline HiSky has announced plans to launch flights from Romania to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport next summer.
Romanian low-cost airline HiSky has announced plans to launch flights from Romania to New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport next summer. The route will be the first connecting the two countries in over 10 years. Tickets are already on sale for a route launch on June 7, 2024.
HiSky’s route will operate four times per week leaving Romania on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Flights will leave Bucharest at 8:00 a.m. local time and arrive in New York at 11:25 a.m. The return flight will leave New York at 1:25 p.m. and arrive in Bucharest at 6:15 a.m. the next morning.
HiSky will operate an Airbus A330 on the route. It will not only be the first widebody aircraft in HiSky’s fleet but also the first A330 registered in Romania.
“This is a significant milestone for HiSky and even more so for Romania and all passengers wishing to travel across the ocean without stopovers or time wasted at other airports,” HiSky CEO Iulian Scorpan said in a statement.
“The USA is now a viable travel option for the first time since air travel became accessible to everyone. We are delighted to be the ones paving this way,” Scorpan continued.
Bucharest’s Henri Coandă Airport is HiSky’s primary airport and its main operational base. Additional international routes from the airport include Brussels, Barcelona, Malaga, Dublin, Chișinău, Bordeaux, Tel Aviv, and Frankfurt in addition to a handful of domestic routes.
HiSky’s Fleet
The carrier’s fleet consists entirely of narrowbody Airbus A320 family aircraft. The addition of the A330 will be an easy transition due to relative continuity with the company’s other Airbus aircraft. It also gives the airline time to adjust to widebody operations as it looks to further expand its long-haul fleet around the world.
Long-haul, low-cost airlines have had mixed performance, especially over the past decade. Some companies, such as French Bee and Azul, have thrived while others, such as Norwegian and WOW Air, faced high-profile downfalls.
HiSky has the benefit of cornering its own market instead of competing on popular, business-heavy routes. Historically, the long-haul low-cost airlines that perform best are those who can find their own market niches. Whereas Norwegian’s long-haul network featured routes like London to New York, French Bee focuses more on connecting Paris’ secondary airports to leisure destinations where people are more cost-conscious.
Without any competition, HiSky will combine the benefit of flying into an American city with the ease of taking charge of its own unique market.
The last airline to operate between New York and Bucharest was Delta Air Lines, who cut the route in 2009. TAROM also operated the route until 2003. Air Canada Rouge flew from Toronto and Montreal to Bucharest until 2019.
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.
Trip Report: Low-Cost Airline Arajet Connects North and South America
A first-hand experience of Arajet, the newest low-cost airline from the Dominican Republic, which seeks to bridge North and South America.
An Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Photo: Twitter/X @arajet)
In 2021, as the airline sector was busy recovering from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and restoring international connectivity to what it used to be, a small airline in the Dominican Republic was trying to reinvent itself as a low-cost airline with a Caribbean flavor, trying to capitalize on the large Dominican population living and working in neighboring countries in North America and also on the central position of its base at Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo (SDQ) to connect North and South America.
The airline that was originally founded in 2014 as Dominican Wings transformed itself into Arajet just seven years later, and on Sept. 15, 2022, it started its operations with a flight from SDQ to the coastal city of Barranquilla, Colombia (BAQ) operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft configured with 185 seats (8 in First Class and 177 in Economy).
The Spirit of the Caribbean
Arajet is currently operating at 22 destinations in 16 countries from as far North as Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), Canada to as far South as Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) Santiago, Chile (SCL), and Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE) with a fleet of eight Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. These are some of the longest routes in the world operated with a Boeing 737.
The airline is planning on aggressively expanding the fleet with an order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8200 capable of carrying up to 200 passengers in a one-class configuration, just like the Irish low-cost giant Ryanair, and transform their SDQ hub into what Fort Lauderdale (FLL) has become for Spirit Airlines in the United States.
An integral part of Arajet’s business model is therefore to carry passengers through its SDQ hub offering a low-cost option for traveling via the Dominican Republic to a destination in the Caribbean or at the far ends of the continent. At the moment Arajet does not have permission to operate commercial flights into the United States, but in October 2023 it started operating into Canada with four weekly services to both Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) and Montreal Trudeau International (YYZ).
The limited fleet still does not allow the Dominican carrier to develop a robust hub and spoke system, but with some clever scheduling, they are able to offer connecting itineraries to most of their network.
The Booking Process
During the month of October, a particularly aggressive flash sale saw Arajet offer tickets to some of their Caribbean destinations for an irresistible price: our attention was captured by the fares offered for the first weekend in December when temperatures in Canada start plummeting below zero (for those of you who believe that water boils at 100… otherwise we should probably say “in the mid-20s”). The island of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles was our preferred destination, but promo fares had all but gone when we went to book, but they were still available for the island of St. Maarten (SXM), a true “mecca” for airline enthusiasts with the famous Maho Beach right underneath the approach path to Princess Juliana Airport.
The only option allowed would see a departure from YUL mid-morning on a Saturday and a return from SXM on a Wednesday: a five-day trip with three full days in the sun seemed to be a good deal for $153, so we went ahead and booked our flights. Arajet follows the ultra-low-cost model, with only a small personal item included in the standard fare, and all other luggage subject to an extra payment: with a 10kg (22 lbs) carry-on offered for $39.99 and a 20kg (44 lbs) checked bag offered at $24.99, we didn’t think twice to opt for the cheaper option, even if this means having to check-in at the airport and trusting that the bag would make the connection in SDQ. Anyway, with the total price of the trip, including bags, just above the $200 mark the deal was certainly too good to be passed on.
The Check-in Experience
Online check-in is available until three hours before the flight, after that it is necessary to go to the airport desk where a supplement may be requested. It is not possible to select a seat during the process without payment: for those who elect not to pay for a specific seat, a random one is assigned, without the possibility of changing it. The boarding pass is delivered as a PDF document that can be printed or stored on a smartphone.
Arajet check-in desks at Montreal Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
We arrived at the airport well before 8 a.m. for an 11:10 a.m. departure, and the line was already quite long waiting for the check-in staff to open the three desks dedicated to the Arajet flight. Quite a few passengers had multiple bags, so the whole process was quite slow. Luckily, we had a few things to watch on the phone, so time flew by, but it took approximately an hour to check our bag. No self-service drop-off was available for Arajet, which was in its first month of operation at Montreal Airport. In the future, it would be a very welcome addition.
We swiftly went past security and decided to finish up on some work in the Air France Lounge. There are two lounges available for access through various programs in the International Departure section in Montreal. The Air France Lounge is probably the smaller of the two, but in the morning it is not busy at all since the three daily Air France flights to Paris are all scheduled after noon. The lounge serves all SkyTeam carriers, including the one or two daily Aeromexico flights to Mexico City, and in the winter the Air France service to Guadeloupe.
Air France Lounge at Montreal Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks)A Concorde model in the Air France Lounge at Montreal Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
Boarding
Boarding took place on time at Gate 60 after we witnessed the aircraft arrive at the gate. It was a Boeing 737 MAX 8 “Lago Enriquillo,” callsign HI1099, delivered to the airline just nine days earlier, and on its first commercial service from Santo Domingo. The unmistakable “new car smell” welcomed us inside the cabin configured in an all-economy configuration with new-generation leather seats and extra-spacious overhead bins.
Arajet Boeing 737 MAX 8 “Lago Entriquillo” HI1099 (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
The recline of the seat is very generous, probably too generous for someone who would prefer that economy seats did not have the option to recline so as not to bother the passenger sitting behind. Legroom is quite average but comfortable, even for someone close to 1.90m (or 6’3) tall.
Legroom on Arajet (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
There is no in-flight entertainment onboard, as well as no internet connection, but each seat is equipped with a standard USB port to recharge electronic devices, and there is a useful plastic holder that helps position tablets or smartphones to watch previously downloaded contents during the flight.
Arajet – seat back (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
During our four-hour and 20-minute flight, two full trolley services were performed by the four cabin crew dressed in very smart but lively uniforms. The menu for the onboard service was in the “literature pocket” together with the safety card. It is possible to order sandwiches, snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcohol (for passengers over 18), and some hot meals are available on longer flights to South America when flight time can approach eight hours.
The onboard menu on Arajet (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
No credit cards are accepted onboard, and payment is cash only either in Dominican Pesos or in U.S. dollars, but on the flights to and from Canada also Canadian dollars were accepted provided no change was required. We ordered a $3 fruit punch.
Fruit punch on Arajet (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
The Hub Airport is the Main Pain Point
The connection in Santo Domingo is probably the most underwhelming part of the entire trip: not all flights use jetways, some require the use of remote stands and passengers need to be bussed to the terminal. Connecting passengers need to go through a security screening before being allowed into the transit area: full metal detector, shoes off, all bags and jackets through the x-ray machine; those accustomed to the PreCheck soft touch will experience a trip back in time, and not a pleasant one.
It’s most definitely the biggest bottleneck that Arajet will have to eliminate if they are planning on scaling up their transit business. The line was painstakingly slow and it is not difficult to see how this could represent a problem with potentially hundreds of passengers and possibly tight connections due to late arrivals of the first flight. No representative for the airline was checking the line to see if there were passengers with flights departing imminently, and some inexperienced passengers looked like they were left to their own devices. It brought back to our memory a transit in Doha before the construction of the flashy new Hamad Airport when the old facility was quite clearly unsuitable for the hub-and-spoke operation Qatar Airways was trying to run.
The Connecting Flight
The flight to SXM was short and uneventful: just over 60 minutes on an older aircraft (it couldn’t possibly be younger) still with leather seats but without the screen holder for personal devices.
The arrival in SXM was at a temporary facility due to the extensive construction works underway at Princess Juliana Airport: it was essentially a series of outdoor tents, and only a small baggage carousel as well as customs and immigration were located inside the facility.
Looking out at Arajet’s 737 MAX winglet (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
Maho Beach
No trip to Sint Maarten is complete without the classic pictures at Maho Beach during aircraft landing. Here is a KLM Airbus A330-200 aircraft from Amsterdam and a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320-200 from Fort Lauderdale.
A KLM Airbus A330-200 landing at SXM (Photo: AirlineGeeks)A Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 landing at SXM (Photo: AirlineGeeks)
The Return Flight
Once again, dropping off my 20 kg luggage required a lot of patience and something to read or watch during the hour-long wait. The airport was empty, our flight was the only one departing except for some commuter turboprop flights to St. Barths or Antigua.
The aircraft performing our short flight between SXM and SDQ was the Boeing 737 MAX 8 “Jaragua,” callsign HI1081. It had a First Class section, unlike the aircraft used in our outbound trip. The connection experience at SDQ was still quite hit and miss, with a long line at the security check before entering the transit zone after being bussed to the terminal. Very few signs around and little help made it a less-than-stellar experience.
This time, however, our flight to Montreal was boarding at one of the gates equipped with a jetway. It was quite messy, the announcement was made without the assistance of a microphone, the screens do not provide any information at all and the entire process can be quite confusing if there are multiple flights boarding at the same time next to each other.
This aircraft was configured in an all-economy layout, but there were no charging points at all, which is inconvenient on a four-hour and 16-minute flight.
Final Comments
The inflight experience with Arajet is as good as can be expected considering the positioning of the airline: it’s a simple product and it does “what it says on the tin.” Consistency will probably improve when the newer aircraft start arriving in 2024 and 2025: the charging points are quite important given the length of some of the flights and the lack of IFE. The choice not to accept credit cards onboard and the absence of Duty-Free items, which could be a real hit on some of the international routes, may be reviewed in the future, provided they do not complicate the delivery of the product.
The non-flight aspects of the experience are the most concerning, and probably the least dependent on the airline’s will: the check-in process can be slow and chaotic at times, and the security checks in transit at SDQ are a real pain point that could cause serious headaches, especially if the number of transit passengers increases, and especially if they obtain the authorization to fly to the United States.
As it stands, the experience would not be very attractive to the average U.S. passenger, but while Arajet irons out the issues with connections, the point-to-point traffic between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic could be enough to make this airline a success. We look forward to trying them again in a few years (or even earlier if the price is right) to see how their product is evolving.
Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.
Norse Atlantic Airways to Connect Athens and New York
Norse Atlantic Airways has announced a new transatlantic route from Athens to New York-JFK, which will operate five times weekly in the Summer 2024 season.
Norse Atlantic Airways has announced anew transatlantic route from Athens to New York-JFK, which will operate five times weekly in the Summer 2024 season.
The low-cost, long-haul carrier plans to schedule the first flight for May 30, 2024, and reduce service to three times weekly on September 13, 2024. The airline will operate these flights with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Norse Atlantic’s first scheduled flight from Athens will connect the capital of Greece with New York. The Norwegian airline currently serves London’s Gatwick Airport and Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport from New York-JFK, with seasonal flights to Berlin, Oslo, and Rome.
Increased Competition
This new route will benefit passengers traveling from Athens to New York. Currently, the only other carriers that offer this city pairing are:
Delta operates 14 flights per week
American operates seven times a week
United operates seven times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport
Emirates operates seven times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport
Delta and American are the only competitors of Norse Atlantic at New York JFK, with United and Emirates operating to Newark. A quickGoogle Flights search shows that the newcomer offers highly competitive fares for a one-way nonstop flight from Athens to New York JFK, which is of course subject to change.
Norse Atlantic Airways has positioned itself to capture the leisure market by offering highly competitive fares for a one-way nonstop flight from Athens to New York-JFK. Its fares surpass Delta’s by over $900 and American’s by over $2,500. This increased competition among airlines operating this route will result in lower fares, benefitting passengers traveling from Athens to New York.
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.
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