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A Look at the 2023 Dubai Air Show Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Amid the conflict in Israel, the Dubai Airshow is expected to face increased demand for weapons, but long-planned aircraft orders are still likely to be maintained, making it the most significant event in its history.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo
Verified
An Emirates Airbus A380 welcoming visitors to the Dubai Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The Dubai Air Show, scheduled from November 13-17, is expected to be the largest in its history, with over 100,000 visitors, 1,400 exhibitors from 95 countries, and 80 start-ups. The event will feature 180+ aircraft, 20 country pavilions, and a week-long conference with 300+ speakers. Notable exhibitors include Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and new participants like Reaction Engines. The show will showcase military aircraft, commercial jets, eVTOLs, and helicopters.

With global air travel rebounding, the focus may shift from traditional sales rivalry to competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE for aviation and transport dominance. The event will also spotlight innovations in advanced air mobility, military technology, business aviation, and spaceflight, with a dedicated space pavilion. Over 300 speakers will participate in conferences covering sustainability, passenger experience, flight safety, and space exploration.

Geopolitical Tension and Long-Haul Jet Recovery

The Dubai Airshow will take place amid the growing conflict in Israel. The war has increased demand for weapons, impacting airspace closures and lengthening flights for some airlines. Despite travel disruptions, over 1,000 companies from 95 countries, including four from Israel, plan to participate in the event.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Israel, long-planned aircraft orders are expected to be maintained. However, carriers in regions aiming for significant air travel growth, like Saudi Arabia, may need more certainty about future expansion plans.

The Dubai Airshow is anticipated to reflect a recovery in demand for long-haul jets, with Emirates considering additional orders for the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, or Boeing 777X aircraft. The show may witness new orders, potentially boosting the delayed Boeing 777X, with expectations for a significant demand from Emirates.

A Boeing 777X at the Dubai Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Challenges in the supply chain or certification processes may impact manufacturers’ capacity to deliver the latest models, particularly the 777X, which is already facing delays. Riyadh Air from Saudi Arabia could announce a substantial order for narrowbody planes, with Boeing currently having an edge in the competition with Airbus. Other carriers like Flydubai, Etihad, and India’s IndiGo are reportedly pursuing deals ahead of the event.

Emirates will showcase its aircraft lineup, including the retrofitted A380 and Boeing 777-300ER, along with training aircraft at the Dubai Airshow. The displayed A380 features the airline’s premium economy cabin and refreshed interiors.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy will exhibit its advanced training aircraft, and the Future Customer Journey will be featured, focusing on a barrier-free airport experience.

Former Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker, who stepped down on November 6, will be the only “big” CEO missing from this year’s exhibition.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

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.

Azores Airlines to Double Services from Canada in 2024

The airline recently released its Q3 2023 results detailing a positive operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of €21.8 million ($23.3 million).

John Flett
Verified
Azores' first A321LR lifts off from the Airbus factory.
Azores' first A321LR lifts off from the Airbus factory. (Photo: Airbus)

Azores Airlines will be more than doubling its non-stop services from Canada for the Summer 2024 season, according to Travel Week Canada. The airline currently serves Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) five times a week to Ponta Delgada’s Aeroporto João Paulo II (PDL) in the Portuguese archipelago. Beginning April 3, the carrier will add a seasonal service from YYZ to Lajes airport (TER) on the island of Terceira. From June 1, Montreal’s Pierre Trudeau International (YUL) will gain a seasonal service to PDL on São Miguel Island, the largest and most populous in the Azores archipelago.

The Toronto to Terceira route will initially begin as a weekly service departing YYZ on Wednesdays from April 3 to May 30. Beginning 02 June, the route will increase to a twice-weekly service with departures on Thursdays and Sundays until 29 September. Between October 2 – October 24 the service will then revert back to a single weekly operation on Wednesdays.

Non-stop from YUL to PDL will commence on June 1 through September 30 with four services per week departing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Currently, passengers choosing to fly from Montreal can book with Azores Airlines and connect through YYZ with the airline’s partner Porter Airlines. From other airports in Canada, the airline works in conjunction with both Porter Airlines and WestJet to connect via Toronto and this will continue with the addition of YYZ-TER and YUL-PDL to Azore Airlines’ network.

Expanding in the Azores

The geographic location of the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean gives Azores Airlines the ability to provide a network strategy allowing connections between North America and Europe. Flights from Toronto and Montreal do not just give travelers the opportunity to visit the Azores but also to continue onto other Portuguese destinations including Lisbon, Faro, and Porto.  Other mainland European destinations are also served including Barcelona and Bilbao in Spain; as well as Paris, France; Milan, Italy (from 2024); and Frankfurt, Germany. Nonstop services between PDL and London will resume in June 2024 with a twice-weekly operation.

Azores Airlines operates a fleet of A320 family aircraft including the A321LR and A320neo, as well as Bombardier Q400 Nextgen and Bombardier Q200 aircraft. In 2021 the airline operated the longest commercial flight at that time by an A321LR with a 9 hour 49 minute service between Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport in Portugal, and Bogotá El Dorado International Airport in Colombia.

The airline recently released its Q3 2023 results detailing a positive operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of €21.8 million ($23.3 million). The growth of the airline since 2019 was shown in passenger figures reaching 534.000 carried in Q3 2023, an increase of 27 percent over the same period in 2022 and a 59 percent increase over Q3 2019’s numbers.

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.

Aeromexico Adds Raleigh-Durham Service

Raleigh joins a growing list of U.S. airports receiving service from Mexican carriers due to recent changes to the country's air safety rating.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Aeromexco E190 (Photo: aeroprints.com [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Aeromexico is expanding into the U.S. market again with a new route between Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Mexico City (MEX), according to Friday evening’s Cirum Diio schedule update. A Delta focus city, Raleigh has seen several new air service developments in the last year, including new airlines such as Air France, Lufthansa, and Icelandair.

Starting on July 1, 2024, Aeromexico’s new service will be daily operated by an Embraer E190 aircraft. Both Delta and Aeromexico are codeshare partners and members of the SkyTeam Alliance.

More U.S. Expansion

With a recent change in Mexico’s air safety rating, the country’s airlines are now permitted to add new service to the U.S. Several Mexican airlines – including Aeromexico and VivaAerobus – have jumped on the opportunity to grow their respective networks across the border.

Last month, Aeromexico firmed up plans to add service between several U.S. and Mexican cities, particularly from Delta’s hubs in Detroit and Atlanta. All of these routes are scheduled to begin in early to mid-2024.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Norse Plans to Fly Dreamliner to Antarctica

Norwegian carrier Norse Atlantic confirmed that it plans to fly a 787 to Antarctica on a one-off charter mission for scientific research.

Anthony Bang An
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Norse 787 Dreamliner (Photo: Norse Atlantic Airways)

Norwegian low-cost carrier Norse Atlantic confirmed that it plans to fly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Antarctica. As first reported by Ishrion Aviation on Twitter (X), it will be a one-off charter flight that originates from Norway with a stopover on the way.

A spokesperson for the airline told AirlineGeeks that the charter will be for the Norwegian Polar Institute. This will be the first time that a 787 Dreamliner has been used to fly an Antarctica charter mission, though a variety of aircraft have been used in the past. It will also be the first time Norse Atlantic is flying to the continent.

Norway to Antarctica

It is not yet known what the exact purpose of the flight is, though most charters that run between Norway and Antarctica are used to carry Norwegian scientists and provisions used for polar research missions. In the past, Icelandair has used its 767 to fly supplies and scientists from Norway down to Antarctica in 2021. The charter operation in 2021 made a stopover in Cape Town and landed at Troll Airfield in Antarctica, with IATA code QAT. The airfield is operated by the Norwegian Polar Institute to support its Troll Research Station.

Past Antarctica Charters

Antarctica charter flights mostly serve either tourists or scientists. These charter flights often use a wide range of aircraft, from A319s to A340s. The first A340 flight that touched down in Antarctica ever took place in 2021, operated by Hi Fly from Cape Town to the ice runway at Wolf’s Fang resort. The flight took around five hours and was chartered by tourism company White Desert.

HiFly’s first Airbus A340 landing in Antarctica. (Photo: Hi Fly)

Titan Airways has also operated its 757 to Antarctica to carry marathoners as a part of the World Marathon Challenge back in 2020. Though more often than not, the charter flights to Antarctica fly on smaller jets such as the Gulfstream, while scientific missions often deploy jets from militaries around the world. U.S. research missions have a history of using Air Force LC-130s to transport supplies.

In the past, most charters fly to Antarctica through either South Africa, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand or Australia. One interesting flight was done by a Lufthansa A350 during COVID-19 and flew from Hamburg, Germany to the Falkland Islands. It was the longest flight in the company’s history and though technically not qualifying as an Antarctica charter – as it does not touch the continent – the flight was to transport scientists who were on polar research missions.

Sightseeing Charters

Some airlines operate charter flights that do not land in Antarctica but rather fly over the continent, providing a sightseeing opportunity for passengers. Qantas is known to fly Antarctica scenic flights from several Australian cities on its 787 Dreamliner. These flights take around 12 hours and are marketed as ‘Antarctica in a day.’

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 at 7:22 p.m. ET to correct a misprint. 

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.

Livery of the Week: ITA Airways’ Dazzling Blue Design

As a newer airline, ITA Airways’ brand and livery is bold and eye-catching, a refresh from the former Alitalia design.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

ITA Airways' first A321neo (Photo: Airbus)

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. 

ITA Airways is Italy’s relatively new airline, having been launched in October 2021. However, its history can be traced back to the collapse of Alitalia, the country’s former flag carrier, in 2020.

Alitalia had been struggling financially for several years, and the COVID-19 pandemic only worsened its problems. In March 2020, the Italian government took control of the airline and announced plans to launch a new national carrier.

ITA Airways was created as a successor to Alitalia, and it took over many of Alitalia’s assets, including its fleet, routes, and staff. However, ITA Airways is a new company with a different business model. It claims to focus on a better operation and sustainability, and it is not burdened by the legacy debts of Alitalia.

By reducing costs and improving reliability, ITA Airways has made several positive changes since its launch. It has also strived to improve its customer service and expanded its network, including recently announced new service to Chicago and Toronto. The airline is also growing its fleet with modernized aircraft, including the A321neo and A220-300.

ITA Airways aircraft at Rome Fiumicino Airport. (Photo: ITA Airways)

A Bold and Blue Livery

The Italian airline has used a dazzling blue paint scheme as a catalyst for its post-Alitalia turnaround. Designed by Landor & Finch, the new branding is far bolder than its predecessors.

ITA Airways’ livery features a blue fuselage and white engines along with the Italian flag etched on the rudder. “ITA Airways” is also placed near the front of each aircraft.

An ITA Airways A350-900 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

“The new livery of ITA Airways is characterized by the blue color, chosen as a symbol of unity, cohesion and pride of the country…,” the company said describing the livery in a press release.

“The rudder, the tricolor, on the blue background the white and red gold logo of ITA Airways and stylized icons inspired by the national artistic heritage,” the press release continued. The blue livery was first debuted on an Airbus A320.

With 73 aircraft in service, ITA Airways individually names each airplane after an Italian athlete. The carrier has also been known to use social media to solicit naming ideas for new aircraft.

As a newer airline, ITA Airways’ brand and livery is bold and eye-catching. The carrier is expected to expand more in the coming years with additional expansion plans.

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

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.

Flying Giant Pandas Over 8,000 Miles

Registered as N886FD, the 777 aircraft was also fitted with a panda-themed decal. The aircraft flew for 19 hours from the U.S. to China.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

The giant pandas flew from Washington Dulles to Chengdu, China. (Photo: FedEx)

Transporting giant pandas is no simple feat. FedEx transports over 10 million items each day, but a special delivery came on Wednesday as the Memphis, Tenn.-based company carried three beloved panda bears from Washington, D.C. to Chengdu, China.

Embarking on a 19-hour journey, the pandas’ departure puts an end to a 50-year-long partnership between the U.S. and China. According to CNN, China even admits that it uses the loveable bears as part of a diplomacy strategy. The Chinese government owns the pandas and their offspring, which the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has paid roughly $500,000 per year to maintain.

Transporting Fuzzy Diplomats

FedEx shared a bit more insight into the logistics of transporting the pandas. 25-year-old Mei Xiang, 26-year-old Tian Tian, and their three-year-old cub, Xiao Qi Ji, were loaded onto their own private 777-200 Freighter on Wednesday at Washington’s Dulles International Airport.

FedEx’s 777 with a special panda decal (Photo: FedEx)

A FedEx spokesperson confirmed to AirlineGeeks that – aside from staff, food, water, and other supplies – the pandas were the only cargo on the flight. A captain, relief captain, first officer, loadmaster, and animal care experts were among the transport team.

Registered as N886FD, the 777 aircraft was also fitted with a panda-themed decal. Following a brief stop in Anchorage, the three pandas arrived in Chengdu on Thursday.

FedEx placed a special decal on the 777-200 Freighter aircraft. (Photo: FedEx)

“I remember fondly when we brought Mei Xiang and Tian Tian over decades ago, and we are proud to once again be entrusted with transporting these beloved animals through our global network,” said Richard Smith, president and chief executive officer, Airline and International at FedEx in a press release.

The pandas were placed in custom containers, which they were acclimated to a few days before the transport. Bamboo, toys, and treats were also onboard to create a ‘first class’ experience.

A look inside the containers used to transport the giant pandas. (Photo: FedEx)

“These bears are special. Certainly don’t want anything happening to them on my watch,” FedEx’s 777 chief pilot Ron Zampini told WTOP. “Our No. 1 objective is to get these lovable bears to Chengdu safe.”

A Long History of Panda Logistics

While it isn’t clear what the future holds for so-called ‘panda diplomacy’ in the U.S., FedEx has spent decades airlifting giant pandas across the world. Starting with Mei Xiang and Tian Tian in 2000, the cargo operator has transported 15 different pandas on 10 separate flights.

Loading the pandas onto the 777 aircraft (Photo: FedEx)

These high-profile shipments have always been donated by FedEx, the company says. In addition to U.S.-China transport, FedEx has also carried giant pandas to Canada, France, and Scotland over the years.

“It’s the highlight of my career, certainly with FedEx,” Zampini also told WTOP.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

American Adds New Tulum Airport to Route Map

While the new airport was slated for an early 2024 opening, Mexico’s president announced in April that the project will be completed ahead of schedule.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An American Airlines 737-800 landing at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

American is jumping on the bandwagon of airlines adding service to Mexico’s newest airport. On Friday, the Fort Worth-based carrier announced that it will add four daily flights between three of its U.S. hubs and Tulum’s brand-new airport.

Coinciding with the airport’s early 2024 scheduled full opening, American will add new flights starting on March 28, 2024. Flights will be operating year-round, according to the airline. The new route from American’s Dallas/Fort Worth hub will be twice daily in addition to one daily service from Charlotte and Miami.

All of the airline’s new flights to Tulum will be operated by 737-800 aircraft. Just 80 miles north, American regularly serves nearby Cancun with up to 40 peak-day departures.

A Trio to Tulum

Last month, Delta announced that it is adding daily flights to the brand-new airport from its Atlanta hub. Ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit is also adding daily service from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando starting in March. American becomes the third U.S. airline to announce plans to serve Tulum.

Mexican airlines are already gearing up to serve the airport as early as Dec. 1, 2023. According to The Points Guy, Aeromexico and VivaAerobus have begun selling tickets. VivaAerobus will operate the first flight into Tulum from Mexico City’s newer Felipe Ángeles International Airport. Aeromexico will also operate a flight to its main hub in Mexico City.

While the new airport was slated for an early 2024 opening, Mexico’s president announced in April that the project will be completed ahead of schedule, per Cancun Sun.

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.

Zipair to Launch Tokyo to Vancouver Route

Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair is launching a new route between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver. The new service is expected to start in March of 2024.

Andrew Chen
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Zipair
A Zipair Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: Zipair)

Japanese low-cost carrier Zipair is launching a new route between Tokyo Narita International Airport and Vancouver International Airport. The new service will be the airline’s first route to a Canadian destination.

Zipair’s New Vancouver Service

As reported by Yahoo Japan, Zipair’s President Shingo Nishida has stated that the new Tokyo Narita–Vancouver route will launch in March of 2024. The airline will initially operate three flights per week in each direction but plans to increase the frequency to a daily service. A spokesperson for the Vancouver Airport Authority told Canadian media outlet Daily Hive that the airport is working with Zipair to finalize the schedule.

The route will be operated by the airline’s only aircraft type, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The carrier’s aircraft are configured with 18 business class seats and 272 economy class seats for a total of 290 seats. Zipair offers an unbundled low-cost product on all its flights. For example, its lie-flat business class seats do not have entertainment screens and the base fares for both seating types do not include checked bags or meals.

Zipair Boeing 787-8 lie-flat seat (Photo: Zipair)

Nishida stated that the airline is aiming to price tickets at half of what is being offered by full-service carriers. He added that typical round-trip economy fares for the Tokyo–Vancouver route are approximately 200,000 Japanese Yen ($1320), meaning that Zipair would be looking to price their flights at around 100,000 Japanese Yen.

Zipair’s Expanding Network

Since starting operations in June 2020, Zipair has expanded its network to a total of eight destinations – four in Asia and four in the United States. Zipair’s U.S. destinations include Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose. The airline is based at Tokyo Narita International Airport. Formally known as Zipair Tokyo, the low-cost carrier is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan Airlines.

Zipair operates a fleet of seven Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, with an eighth aircraft to be added early in the new year and another two to be added by the end of 2024. Last month, it was reported that Zipair was looking to expand its network to new North American destinations, with Las Vegas, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver being the options that were under consideration. Given that the airline plans to have a ten-aircraft fleet by the end of 2024, it is likely that the airline will add more new routes in the coming months.

Zipair Boeing 787-8 economy class cabin (Photo: Zipair)

 

A High-Demand but Competitive Market

Zipair will be joining three other carriers in the Tokyo–Vancouver market. Air Canada and Japan Airlines each currently operate a daily service between Vancouver and Tokyo Narita and All Nippon Airways has a daily Tokyo Haneda service.

Most notably, Zipair will be directly competing with its parent company, Japan Airlines. However, this is also the case on three out of Zipair’s four current transpacific routes.

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.

FAA Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Committee On Pilots’ Mental Health

The FAA announced on Thursday it will establish a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to address the issue.

AirlineGeeks.com Staff
Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Many commuter flights are operated by a single pilot. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

With concerns raised over whether pilots fear seeking treatment for mental health issues, the FAA announced on Thursday it will establish a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to address the issue. According to the announcement, the FAA “expects the committee to provide recommendations on breaking down the barriers that prevent pilots from reporting mental health issues to the agency.”

Members of the committee will include medical experts and representatives from aviation and labor. In the coming weeks, the charter for the ARC will be finalized and the FAA will appoint its panel of experts.

Noting that work has already been accomplished on the subject, the FAA said the new initiative will build on that foundation. Among the areas given priority are: increasing mental health training for aviation medical examiners (AMEs); providing support for industry-wide studies and research into pilots’ mental health; adding more mental health professionals to the FAA staff with the dual goals of expanding in-house expertise in the field and hastening “return-to-fly” decision-making for pilots awaiting FAA action; performing clinical research and amending policies on cognitive testing for pilots taking antidepressant medication; and ramping up efforts to connect with pilot groups to inform them of available resources.

Newly confirmed FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, said, “Mental health care has made great strides in recent years, and we want to make sure the FAA is considering those advances when we evaluate the health of pilots.”

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

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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

Remembering Delta’s Intra-European 727 Flights

Delta once maintained a strong presence in Frankfurt, Germany. A relic of Pan Am, the airline also flew from Frankfurt to several European markets.

Ryan Ewing
Verified

Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

1280px-Delta_Air_Lines_Boeing_727-225;_N8890Z@FRA;10.10.1995_(5471579532)
A Delta 727 in Frankfurt (Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Rarely does an airline operate narrow-body aircraft in regional markets outside of its home country. While this practice was more prevalent a few decades ago, today one would be hard-pressed to find examples of this practice.

A carryover from the 2010 Continental merger, one example of this is United’s ‘Island Hopper,’ which connects several islands in Micronesia using a Boeing 737-800. The route doesn’t touch any of United’s mainland hubs.

With decades of consolidation and concentration on hub-and-spoke network models, today it is difficult to imagine a world where a U.S. carrier would fly regional flights in Europe. But Delta did exactly that only 30 years ago.

A Pan Am Relic

In 1991, Delta acquired several of financially ailing Pan Am’s assets, including a variety of routes and aircraft leases. Valued at $416 million according to the Chicago Tribune, the acquisition also included Pan Am’s hub in Frankfurt (FRA).

Formed in 1954, Pan Am maintained a so-called Internal German Service (I.G.S.) with a hub in Berlin and another base in Frankfurt, per the Pan Am Historical Foundation. Frankfurt eventually morphed into a smaller intra-European operation along with a stop-over point for several of Pan Am’s long-haul India, Africa, and Middle East flights.

Pan Am continued to maintain a strong presence in Frankfurt up until Delta acquired the hub. At the time, German flag carrier Lufthansa was also bolstering its hub in Frankfurt.

Delta in Frankfurt

After acquiring Pan Am’s assets, Delta kept the Frankfurt hub for several years. In addition to its transatlantic flights, the carrier maintained a 727 base in the German city. According to Flightglobal, Delta flew Boeing 727s from Frankfurt to Athens, Bucharest, Istanbul, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Warsaw.

Delta also had a sizeable transatlantic presence in Frankfurt to various U.S. gateways, including Washington Dulles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Portland, and San Francisco. Frankfurt served as a connecting point for transatlantic and intra-European flights, all on Delta aircraft.

A Delta 727 in Prague (Photo: G B_NZ, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

With the Skyteam Alliance taking shape and a subsequent partnership with Air France, Delta’s Frankfurt hub began ramping down in the late 1990s. With it also came the axing of the airline’s intra-European operation.

In 1997, when air transportation was completely liberalized in the European Union, most of Delta’s intra-European flights were scrapped and the 727s deployed to U.S. markets. The airline also nixed several of its transatlantic flights to Frankfurt, pivoting to focus on bolstering European service from New York-JFK.

Nowadays, the landscape of intra-European flights has radically changed: competition is much tougher with almost 50% of the seats being provided by low-cost carrier, while before 1997 the model launched by Southwest Airlines in the U.S. was totally absent in Europe. Furthermore, the current E.U.-U.S. Open Skies Agreement does not allow U.S. carriers to sell seats on intra-European flights unless they are operate as the continuation of transatlantic services (so-called Fifth Freedom flights).

Now, Delta’s presence in Frankfurt is under the shadow of the Star Alliance, which dominates the market. The carrier only serves Detroit, Atlanta, and New York-JFK from Frankfurt, a far cry from just a few decades ago.

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.
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