AirlineGeeks’ 2024 Commercial Aviation Outlook

2024 is right around the corner and there are plenty of developments to keep an eye on in the commercial aviation sector.

Ryan Ewing

Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 04:20 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

The 777X on the taxiway. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Here we are; 2024 is right around the corner and there are plenty of developments to keep an eye on as the commercial aviation sector looks to write its next post-pandemic chapter. Indeed, the airline industry remains ever-so-cyclical as it morphs into the changing tides of our global economy.

A banner year for some — and for others not so much — 2023 was another key turning point in the continued rush to recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19. While many regions’ air travel sectors recovered and even exceeded pre-pandemic levels, others still lagged behind. All-in-all, though, 2023 saw a return in the consumer demand to travel, which is a win for airlines. But some carriers weren’t quite ready to meet that demand with adequate capacity.

We’ll take a more in-depth look back at 2023 in a separate post, but here we’ll share our commercial aviation outlook for 2024 and what to watch closely.

Aircraft Manufacturing Woes

Aircraft manufacturers have been far from immune to supply chain woes in recent years. But let’s also not forget about Boeing’s struggles with delivering a variety of its commercial products, including the 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX, mostly due to production hiccups.

As these issues snowball, air carriers wait longer to receive new jets, therefore limiting capacity growth. For the industry to achieve more uniform recovery and scale across global regions in 2024, manufacturers will need to deliver aircraft on time.

Newcomer Airplanes

A few new commercial aircraft are gearing up to be fully certified in 2024. Airbus’ A321XLR is slated for a late 2024 launch, which could be a game-changer for thinner long-haul markets. The Toulouse-based manufacturer currently has 550 orders for the variant.

Airbus’ A321XLR on display at the 2023 Paris Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Across the pond, Boeing’s 737 MAX 10 — the largest 737 variant to date — is slated to receive its final sign-off by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in late 2024. According to Reuters, Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci is becoming ‘anxious’ for his airline to receive the high-capacity aircraft.

An Eye on Demand

Although demand has largely returned in several markets, some industry leaders and shareholders fear that it may be softening. As costs spiral and the economic landscape continues to change — especially in the U.S. — investors have been left with questions.

For instance, both American and Delta reduced their respective profit outlooks in Q3 2023. “Demand is flashing warning signs,” Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu told Reuters. Leisure travel demand remains strong, and the U.S. even broke a record for Thanksgiving air travel. However, business travel is still down and The U.S. Travel Association doesn’t estimate it to improve to 2019 levels until 2024.

Even with some Wall Street concerns, many industry executives remain bullish that demand is still strong. Demand trends will be an important consideration in 2024.

Labor Disputes Boiling Over

In the U.S., labor disputes in the airline industry are governed by the 1920s-era Railway Labor Act. This piece of legislation stipulates the bargaining process between air carriers and unions. While many high-profile collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) have already been inked, particularly for pilots at major airlines, many remain outstanding.

For example, American, United, and Alaska flight attendants do not have new agreements in place. Last month, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) – which represents over 28,000 American Airlines flight attendants — asked the National Mediation Board (NMB) to be released from federal mediation, but was denied.

With some of these disputes heating up in 2024, the federal government may have to balance economic interests with those of the labor groups. If negotiations reach an impasse, a strike or lock-out action becomes increasingly possible.

Going Electric

The sustainable aviation space, including electric-propelled aircraft, is likely to continue turning heads in 2024. While some of these designers are a long way from regular commercial operations,

One such designer – VoloCity – is hoping to complete type certification in time to operate the first revenue eVTOL flights with its two-seat, piloted aircraft during the 2024 Paris Olympic games. Much of the electric space remains in the test phase as regulators sort out operating requirements and more.

United signed a purchase agreement for up to 400 eVTOL aircraft from Eve aiming to revolutionize commuter experience in cities around the world.(Photo: United Airlines)

Consolidation and the Regulatory Landscape

Just like we’ll be watching the 2024 commercial aviation space closely, so will many regulatory agencies. Several high-profile mergers and acquisitions are on the table next year, including JetBlue and Spirit, Hawaiian and Alaska, along with SAS’ tie-up in the Air France-KLM Group.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing to block the proposed $3.6 billion JetBlue-Spirit merger, Hearings concluded earlier this month with a decision expected in early 2024.

It is possible that the JetBlue-Spirit results could set the tone for Alaska’s proposed purchase of Hawaiian, which was just recently announced. Furthermore, 2024 is a presidential election year, creating the possibility for shifting tides in the antitrust enforcement landscape.

In Europe, SAS is set to join the Air France-KLM Group, requiring a handful of regulatory approvals. The Lufthansa Group is also in the market for fellow Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal,

The commercial aviation landscape is expansive, and these are only a few examples of what to watch next year. The AirlineGeeks team will continue to deliver industry insights, analysis, and storytelling to make our readers more informed.

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’s Cancel-Free Mainline Holiday Operation

In contrast to some of its U.S.-based peers, the American did not cancel any flights from December 20-25 according to FlightAware data.

Ryan Ewing

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 03:47 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

John McDermott

An American 777-300ER at DFW. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Despite weather events at some of its hubs, American managed through the peak holiday travel period from December 20-25 with zero mainline flight cancellations. According to data from Flightaware, the Fort Worth-based carrier scheduled 18,210 mainline flights during this period.

Zero cancellations is a far cry from last year’s lackluster holiday operation as U.S. airlines were pelted with winter weather events across the country. During the same date range in 2022, American canceled nearly 5% of its 17,542 flights.

This year, American outpaced its competitors on the cancellation front. FlightAware’s data shows that Delta canceled 25 mainline flights and United with 54 during the same period. Southwest had, by far, the most cancellations of any U.S. airline with 569, or 2.2% of its schedule. As of December 26, Southwest’s operation has largely improved and a spokesperson from the carrier said it is “currently healthy and stable.”

No other major U.S. carrier reported zero cancellations during this date range. Together, U.S.-based airlines canceled less than 1% of their scheduled flights, a significant improvement from 2022’s 12%, all while scheduling roughly 7.5% more flights year-over-year.

Regional Operators Fell Short

While American didn’t cancel any flights within its mainline operation, the airline’s regional flights suffered a bit. Out of the company’s three wholly-owned regional subsidiaries – Envoy, Piedmont, and PSA – Envoy canceled 12 flights, which the airline attributed to weather.

Piedmont and PSA also canceled zero flights. Air Wisconsin, which operates American Eagle regional flights from the airline’s Chicago O’Hare hub, canceled two.

Skywest operates regional flights for American, United, Delta, and Alaska. FlightAware shows that it canceled 153 flights across its operation.

Some Delays

Despite its lack of cancellations, American had the highest delayed arrival rate after Delta and United at 17.1%. Just over 3,100 of the carrier’s mainline flights arrived late, according to the flight tracking data. The airline said its on-time arrivals rate is up nearly 18% from the same period last year.

Although most airlines saw double-digit figures in the delayed arrivals category, Delta came out on top with only 9% of the airline’s 17,362 scheduled flights arriving behind schedule. Spirit, JetBlue, and Southwest had over a quarter of their flights arrive late.

American’s streak didn’t last through Tuesday, December 26, though, as FlightAware shows one mainline cancellation.

Ryan Ewing

The Flights That Let You Celebrate New Year’s Twice

Thanks to long-haul flight schedules and help from the international date line, some travelers are able to celebrate New Year's twice.

Filip Kopeć

Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at 12:51 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United Boeing 777-300ER. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

The International Date Line (IDL) creates an interesting opportunity for a unique twist to our travel plans. For those who do not overfly the Pacific often, it is quite an experience as it is the closest to time travel we can get for now.

Time Zone Magic

The reference point for time telling is the UTC – Coordinated Universal Time. This is a successor to the GMT or Greenwich Mean Time. In essence, the farther from Greenwich, United Kingdom, the bigger the time difference.

On the other side of the globe, 180 longitude degrees apart, two different stances meet. On the western side of the Pacific, on the Asian side, the sun rises up to 12 hours earlier than in Greenwich. On the eastern side of the Pacific, the day that already started in Greenwich has not even started yet, meaning that it is evening the day before. This Asian side of the Pacific might be just a few time zones apart from the East Coast in the United States, but the date has to be different, approximately one calendar day.

World time zones map (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Gain It or Lose It

Flying west is often preferred by long-distance travelers. Flying from Europe to the U.S. allows the passenger to leave in the morning and arrive in the very early afternoon, even though the flight was just shy of 10 hours. Traveling this way essentially “gains” the person some time.

Of course, this gain is equally easy to lose. Flying back to Europe will see us leaving in the afternoon, but arriving often in the early afternoon the day after, making our travel effectively longer than the actual flight duration.

Use It To Your Advantage

Who would not like to experience an exciting event twice? With New Year’s Eve coming in a few days, there is an interesting proposition to party not once but twice. Looking at the table down below you can get quite a few ideas. The flights have a scheduled departure time after midnight so that you can toast the New Year with your welcome drink.

Operating Airline	Flight #	Departure Airport	Arrival Airport	Local Scheduled Dep. Time (1/1/24)	Local Scheduled Arr. Time (12/31/23)
Cathay Pacific	880	HKG	LAX	0:15	20:55
Cathay Pacific	872	HKG	SFO	0:55	21:00
ANA	106	HND	LAX	0:50	17:50
United	200	GUM	HNL	7:35	18:50
Cathay Pacific	888	HKG	YVR	1:00	20:30

Soon after arrival, you can be just in time to go to a New Year’s celebration party at your destination.

One of the most ideal options for a back-to-back celebration is United flight 200. This flight is scheduled to depart Guam at 7:35 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2024, before arriving in Honolulu at 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2023 local time. There are other options, too, most of which are from Asia to the west coast of North America.

Filip Kopeć

A passionate aviation enthusiast that started off his career as an aerospace engineer, but found his true calling on the commercial side of the airline business. Now as a finance guy among avgeeks and an avgeek among finance guys, he has experience working in the Revenue Divisions of three airlines. In his spare time he enjoys traveling, but admittedly sometimes is more about the journey than the destination.

Southwest Cancels Over 2% of Holiday Schedule

Southwest is making headlines after it canceled over 500 flights during the peak holiday travel period from December 20-25.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 03:47 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

John McDermott

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.

Foggy Conditions Across the U.S.

A whopping 63 flights were canceled at Midway alone on December 23, far more than any other U.S. airport. Another large operation for Southwest, foggy conditions were also reported at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport over the holiday weekend, hampering some flights.

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.

While to a lesser degree, Southwest’s holiday performance comes almost a year after the carrier’s 2022 meltdown where roughly 17,000 flights were canceled, stranding more than two million passengers. As a result, the airline was recently fined $140 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

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.”

“[Y]ou guys ruined my Christmas two years in a row,” one Twitter/X user posted.

Ryan Ewing

Military-Run Mexican Airline Takes Off

Flying under the reincarnated Mexicana brand, the new airline officially inaugurated service on December 26 from Mexico City to Tulum.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 02:29 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

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.

The revived airline’s first revenue flight took off from Mexico City’s Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU) bound for the brand-new Tulum International Airport (TQO), according to the country’s government. Both airports are also operated by the Mexican military as the nation’s president – Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (or AMLO) – pushes to place some civilian infrastructure under military control.

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.

Welcome onboard @MexicanaVuela_ ‘s first 737-800! Who can guess who this aircraft’s original operator was based on the interior? pic.twitter.com/eS586YSrQX

— Emiliano Padilla (@iTripReport) December 26, 2023

Expansion in 2024

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)

The reincarnated Mexicana joins a growing list of civilian aviation projects being assigned to the Mexican military. Last month, the country placed four more civilian airports under military control.

“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 Ewing

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.

Victor Shalton

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 01:03 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Hi Fly A330 (Photo: Shutterstock)

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

In other news, Kenya Airways is set to launch its newly acquired B737-800 freighter on the Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta-Sharjah-Mumbai International-Nairobi route, with the inaugural flight scheduled for Jan. 15, 2024. The announcement was made by Peter Musola, the Commercial Director (Cargo) of Kenya Airways, during the India International Cargo Show (IICS) 2023 in Mumbai last Thursday (Dec 14, 2023).

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

Victor Shalton's love for aviation can be traced to when he was 11-years-old. As a seasoned aviation writer, he takes pride in providing the best aviation coverage around the globe and is passionate about advancing his skills in the aviation space. In addition, he loves travelling, writing, arts and while his speaking engagements have taken him around the world, he is proud to call Nairobi home.

Air China to Order and Receive Six COMAC C919s in 2024

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.

Lei Yan

Monday, December 25, 2023 at 02:19 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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 Yan

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.

Joey Gerardi

Monday, December 25, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A French Bee A350-900XWB (Photo: French bee)

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 Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

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.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Monday, December 25, 2023 at 04:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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 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.

Air India Receives Its First Airbus A350

Air India recently took delivery of its inaugural Airbus A350-900 aircraft, representing a significant milestone in the airline's ongoing transformation.

Arya Karnik

Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 03:51 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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.

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.