Archer Plans to Launch Electric Air Taxi Flights Across the UAE

American-made electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are coming to the Middle East in just a few years. Service will launch in Dubai.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 12:12 PM ET

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Archer chief commercial officer Nikhil Goel (left) poses with leaders of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority at the company’s global headquarters in San Jose, Calif. [Photo: Archer Aviation]

American-made electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are coming to the Middle East.

San Jose, Calif.-based eVTOL manufacturer Archer Aviation on Monday announced its plan to initiate electric air taxi services across the United Arab Emirates, which is expected to be the company’s first international launch market. Partnering with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Archer plans to launch nationwide in 2026.

The agreement was finalized during a signing ceremony this week, where ADIO and regional aviation leaders entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support Archer’s UAE launch. ADIO will provide incentives for the firm to build its first international headquarters and establish manufacturing capabilities in Abu Dhabi.

Archer is partially backed by Mubadala Capital, the asset management subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co.

“Archer plans to partner closely with ADIO and the [UAE’s] Department of Economic Development to bring manufacturing and operations for our air taxis to the region,” said Archer CEO Adam Goldstein. “Together, we are positioned to be a driving force in making all-electric air taxis a reality in the skies of the UAE and beyond in the coming years.”

The Details

The ADIO partnership calls for Archer to build an engineering “Center of Excellence,” which will focus on the development and implementation of advanced air mobility (AAM) technology to support the UAE’s growing AAM industry. The firm will work with Stellantis—with which it signed an exclusive manufacturing partnership in January—and local partners to support its construction, as well as that of its manufacturing plant.

“We are excited to be working with Archer to begin establishing a high-volume manufacturing facility for the Midnight aircraft in the United States over the last couple of years,” said Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares. “We hope this first production site will be a blueprint for future Archer manufacturing facilities as it expands operations to serve new regions, starting with the Middle East, where we see extraordinary potential for urban air mobility.”

The facilities will be located within the UAE’s Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industry (SAVI) cluster. Designed to speed the development of new vehicles across air, land, and sea, SAVI is backed by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the city’s executive council. The urban hub launched last week and is centered in Masdar City, an urban community within the nation’s capital.

In a separate announcement, ADIO on Sunday revealed that Santa Cruz, California-based Joby Aviation—Archer’s main U.S. rival—will also participate in SAVI. Like Archer, it plans to establish a significant footprint in the region.

Archer also agreed to collaborate with local eVTOL manufacturers and maintenance and repair organization (MRO) providers to spearhead the country’s production and support SAVI’s expansion. In exchange, it will receive support from passenger helicopter operator Falcon Aviation, which agreed to operate its flagship Midnight air taxi across Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

It signed another MOU with Global Aerospace Logistics and the Advanced Military Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Center (GAL-AMMROC) to add eVTOL MRO services to the region.

Next month, Archer will showcase Midnight in the Middle East for the first time at the Dubai Airshow. The following week, the eVTOL will make an appearance at the Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuel (CAAF), hosted by ICAO and the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Archer in a press release said it is in discussions with “numerous other industry participants” and plans to announce more MOUs as Midnight tours the UAE.

“We are thrilled to work with Archer to host their first international operations in Abu Dhabi,” said Badr Al-Olama, acting director general of ADIO. “Bringing electric aviation to the UAE will help unlock congestion with zero emissions and, in turn, bring millions in foreign direct investment and thousands of jobs to the region over the next decade.”

Recently, GCAA leaders—including director general Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi—visited Archer’s California headquarters to inspect Midnight and get an update on its FAA certification progress. Al Suwaidi said the regulator’s goal is to approve Midnight flights in the UAE as soon as the aircraft is type certified in the U.S.

The five-seat eVTOL, designed for four passengers and a pilot, features a pair of fixed wings and 12 propellers—a half dozen on each wing, with the front propellers tilting forward during cruise—powered by lithium-ion batteries. The propulsion system gives it a range of about 52 sm (45 nm) at a cruise speed of 130 knots.

Midnight is meant to replace hour to hour-and-a-half commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute flights. Designed for rapid, back-to-back short hops with as little as 10 minutes of charge time in between, Archer claims it will be cost-competitive with rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft.

In the U.S., the company hopes to launch air taxi routes in 2025, beginning with Chicago and the New York City metro area, in partnership with United Airlines. United is one of Archer’s largest investors and has already paid the firm $10 million as part of a deal to purchase 100 Midnight aircraft.

AAM In the UAE

Archer’s planned entry into the UAE makes it the first U.S. eVTOL manufacturer to commit to operations in the country. But it probably won’t be the only player.

In December, GCAA and the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub announced a partnership with vertiport firm VPorts to build a 9-acre AAM integrator center, which is expected to begin operating next year. The center will support flight testing and development of eVTOL designs and other emerging aircraft types.

The project received an initial investment of $40 million over three years, and construction is already underway. It’s expected to generate some $7 billion in revenue for Abu Dhabi and Dubai over the next 25 years.

Also in December, UAE leaders published the country’s first national vertiport regulations. VPorts plans to build the first vertiport at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (OMRK) north of Dubai.

More commitments were made in February at Dubai’s annual World Government Summit, where Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (the city’s crown prince) approved plans to develop a nationwide network of vertiports. Working with the U.K.’s Skyports, the goal is to develop infrastructure in time for widespread eVTOL air taxi services in 2026.

The plan includes a vertiport at Dubai International Airport (OMDB), the concept for which was unveiled in April by Skyports and British architecture firm Foster + Partners. The design is backed by Al Maktoum.

A promotional video posted to X (formerly Twitter) following the announcement featured eVTOL air taxis made by Joby, Archer’s main U.S. competitor. A Joby spokesperson told the Associated Press the manufacturer is “actively exploring the possibility” of flying in the UAE, but did not commit to operations in the region.

However, with the news that Joby will join Archer as an early SAVI participant, the implication is that the company’s air taxi won’t just be used for marketing purposes.

“Autonomous flight has the potential to unlock important benefits for our customers over the long term,” said JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby. “We welcome the opportunity to participate in the SAVI cluster and look forward to collaborating with the team at ADIO as we work toward our mission of delivering fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world.”

Another California-based eVTOL manufacturer, Odys Aviation, is building a headquarters in Abu Dhabi that will include a production facility. China’s EHang, which also plans to build a manufacturing plant in the capital, has conducted flight testing in the country since 2017. Last week, the firm earned the world’s first eVTOL type certificate from China’s aviation authority.

The UAE has also hosted test flights from Germany’s Volocopter, China’s XPeng, and Vermont-based Beta Technologies, which recently partnered with UPS to begin demonstrations.

In June 2022, Falcon Aviation and Embraer subsidiary Eve Air Mobility announced plans to launch eVTOL tourism flights in Dubai starting in 2026. The agreement included a letter of intent for Falcon to purchase 35 Eve air taxis, which will likely join Midnight as some of the first eVTOL designs to fly commercially in the Middle East.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on FlyingMag.com.

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.

New Routes and Increased Connectivity in African Markets

In the next quarter, the skies over Africa will become even more accessible, as carriers seek to connect regions, nations, and the world.

Victor Shalton

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 09:56 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Uganda Airlines Airbus A330neo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The African continent, with its vast landscapes, cultural diversity, and economic potential, is witnessing an aviation renaissance. Airlines are unveiling ambitious plans for new flight routes and enhanced connectivity, opening doors for travelers and businesses alike.

In the next quarter, the skies over Africa will become even more accessible, as carriers seek to connect regions, nations, and the world. Here’s a glimpse of the upcoming routes and recent announcements:

Safair’s Ambitious Expansion

South African airline Safair is spreading its wings with an array of exciting new routes. In early October, it plans to introduce flights to Maputo, Livingstone, Harare, and Victoria Falls. These routes will provide travelers with greater accessibility to the wonders of southern Africa. Operating an entire Boeing 737 fleet, Safair will connect travelers with four flights a week to Maputo and Livingstone, a daily connection to Harare, and three flights per week to Victoria Falls. These new routes exemplify Safair’s determination to bolster regional connectivity.

ASKY’s East African Ventures

ASKY, a West African carrier, is venturing into East Africa. On October 1, the airline commenced operating three weekly flights to Nairobi serviced by Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

ASKY has also recently extended its reach by launching flights to Luanda 3 times weekly, bridging West and Southern Africa more effectively than ever before.

Uganda Airlines’ Ambitious Routes

One of Africa’s newest carriers, Uganda Airlines, is on the move, adding two vibrant destinations to its growing network. Commencing on October 7, travelers will have the opportunity to fly to Mumbai three times a week, fostering economic and cultural ties between Uganda and India. The service was initially promised two years ago and is the second off the African peninsula and Uganda Airlines’ 12th destination.

The airline will compete with Air Tanzania, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, and Ethiopian Airlines, who have been connecting customers from Uganda to India through their various hubs.

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Parker Davis)

Still on the Pearl of Africa, the airline will inaugurate a new route to Lagos beginning Oct. 19 which will operate three times a week further amplify regional connectivity, offering travelers an exciting gateway to Nigeria. These new routes will be serviced by the carrier’s Airbus A330 Neo aircraft.

Air Peace’s Link to Jeddah

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, is expanding its network with a new route to Jeddah, featuring a stopover in Kano. This connection, beginning in October, signifies the airline’s commitment to bridging economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

Flydubai’s Mombasa Connection

In January, Flydubai will inaugurate four weekly flights to Mombasa, Kenya. The Dubai-based low-cost airline is set to break new ground, as it becomes the first Emirati airline to operate direct flights from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates to Mombasa. Starting on January 17, 2024, the carrier will offer four weekly flights operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport.

A Flydubai 737 MAX 8 performing a test flight at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

Brussels Airlines Expands East African Presence

The Belgian Lufthansa subsidiary is expanding in its focus market of Africa. Next summer, Brussels Airlines plans to operate six weekly flights to Nairobi and daily flights to Kigali. Commencing in June 2024, direct flights will connect Brussels to Nairobi, with the Kenyan capital city set to once again grace their route map.

Emirates’ Potential Return to Nigeria

Emirates, the UAE’s flagship carrier, is considering a return to Nigeria. This is after Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached an agreement to put an end to their diplomatic spat, which saw the UAE impose a visa ban on Nigerian travelers and the suspension of flights by Emirates Airline. This breakthrough comes after a meeting between Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

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.

United’s First A321neo Arrives in the U.S.

After an over 5,000-mile jaunt from Airbus' manufacturing facility in Hamburg, Germany, United's first A321neo landed in Houston on Monday.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

United's first A321neo arrives in Houston (Photo: @unitedflyerhd)

After ferrying from Airbus’ Hamburg, Germany manufacturing facility, United’s first A321neo arrived in the U.S. on Monday. The Chicago-based airline is gearing up to begin service with the new aircraft in December.

After announcing an order for more aircraft in early October, United now has 180 A321neo series aircraft planned for its fleet, including the longer-range A321XLR variant. Registered as N44501, the carrier’s first A321neo was officially delivered on Thursday, according to a post by Airbus. The factory-fresh aircraft flew from Hamburg to Houston on Monday, via Reykjavik and Cleveland.

After completing the over 5,000-mile journey, N44501 is set to go through induction at the carrier’s Houston maintenance base. The new jet was met with a water canon salute upon arrival at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Welcoming our new Airbus A321NEO to the family!@united pic.twitter.com/Ha96Gdiqtw

— Marcel Hoy (@HoyMarcel) October 17, 2023

United plans to launch service with the A321neo on Dec. 14, 2023 from Chicago O’Hare to Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale. The inaugural A321neo flight aptly bears the flight number UA321.

Where Will United’s A321neos Fly in 2024

According to Cirium data, United will broaden the fleet type’s network in January 2024, adding flights to Fort Myers, Las Vegas, and Orlando, all from its Chicago hub. United’s A321neos are expected to have 200 total seats with 20 in First Class and 180 in Economy.

United’s first A321neo arrives in Houston (Photo: @unitedflyerhd)

United has recently been investing heavily in modernizing its fleet of aging aircraft. In 2024, the airline expects to receive over 140 new aircraft. However, recent supply chain woes at both Airbus and Boeing have delayed some delivery timelines, per Reuters.

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.

Sun Country Expands International Footprint, Adds 10 New Routes

Starting in 2024, the ultra-low-cost airline will begin nonstop service to several new U.S. destinations along with two in Canada.

Ryan Ewing

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 09:40 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

Sun Country Boeing 737s sitting at its main base in Minneapolis/St. Paul (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Sun Country Airlines is adding 10 new routes to its network as it plans for the Summer 2024 season. The Minneapolis-based ultra-low-cost carrier is slated to begin service to eight U.S. markets and two in Canada.

According to the airline, the carrier will begin service to the following destinations:

MSP-ABQ – Starting June 19, 2024
MSP-BIL – Starting June 19, 2024
MSP-BOI – Starting June 19, 2024
MSP-GRR – Starting June 13, 2024
MSP-IAD – Starting April 18, 2024
MSP-MSO – Starting June 26, 2024
MSP-OAK – Starting May 23, 2024
MSP-SYR – Starting June 6, 2024

In addition to the eight domestic routes, Sun Country plans to grow its portfolio in Canada with service to Montreal and Toronto set to begin in June 2024. The airline currently serves Vancouver.

While most of the network adds are completely new, Washington Dulles is a resumption as the airline previously served the airport until September 2019. The airline says that most of the new routes will be served twice weekly, while Washington Dulles sees four times weekly service.

Starting in late April, Sun Country also plans to shift its Houston flights from George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the city’s Hobby airport. The airline says it will have 98 distinct destinations from its MSP hub in 2024.

“Sun Country prides itself on being the leisure airline of choice for MSP customers,” said Grant Whitney, senior vice president and chief revenue officer for Sun Country in a press release. “We have more than doubled our nonstop destinations for customers flying out of MSP in the last five years and we are thrilled to offer these unique new offerings spanning the continent from Quebec to New Mexico.”

New Aircraft Support Network Growth

In April, Sun Country announced that it is acquiring five 737-900ER aircraft. Joining a fleet of nearly 54 aircraft, the carrier plans to take delivery of one 737-900ER in late 2024 and the other four throughout 2025. The aircraft are currently on lease to Oman Air.

The airline’s Tuesday announcement adds to its budding network portfolio. Sun Country has recently expanded service not only from its MSP hub, but also on point-to-point routes, including some Essential Air Service (EAS) markets.

Ryan Ewing

Rolls Royce Set to Announce 2,500 Job Cuts

Rolls-Royce is to cut up to 2,500 jobs across its business, as its chief executive prepares to reveal his long-term strategy for the company.

Fangzhong Guo

Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 07:05 AM ET

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Edited By:

John McDermott

A Rolls Royce powered Airbus A350 in Chicago. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Greg Linton)

British jet engine maker Rolls Royce has drawn up plans to cut a significant number of non-engineering jobs in a restructuring as early as Tuesday, per Sky News.

Scope of The Job Cut

Rolls Royce is set to cut 2,000 to 2,500 jobs, or about 6% of its global staff, which measures 50,000 people. The company has around 24,800 employees in the UK; more than 10,000 employees in Germany; and over 6,000 in the US. The cuts will be distributed across its global operations and likely affect hundreds of UK staff. Sky News reports that the company has briefed UK officials on the prospective job reduction.

The cut is expected to cut costs and reduce duplication within the company. The plan sounded familiar to what Airbus did in 2016, where it restructured itself and reduced duplication of management roles to significantly lower costs.

The New CEO’s Push for Efficiency

The move will be among the most significant steps taken by Tufan Erginbilgic, who took over as Rolls Royce’s Chief Executive in January 2023. Tufan has said Rolls, which provides engines for Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 planes, is a “burning platform” that needs to improve its cash generation, cut debt, and invest for the future.

The Boeing 787 can be powered by Rolls Royce engines.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

Since his inauguration, he’s closed the company’s AI start-up, The R2 Factory venture, though the company stated it would “endeavor to find redeployment opportunities for our people within Rolls-Royce.” The company’s leadership team has also seen shake-ups by the new CEO, with newly appointed CFO and president of Civil Aviation. Shares of the company have risen 120% since the start of the year, driven by the strong air travel recovery and Erginbilgic’s turnaround plans.

Focus of the Engine Maker

“I am honored to be joining Rolls-Royce at a time of significant commercial opportunity and strategic evolution as its customers embrace the energy transition,” Tufan Erginbilgic said in his first public address to the company.

During the Paris Airshow this year, the CEO said that the engine maker did not rule out future partnerships in the narrowbody market. However, it has a sufficient runway for growth in its large engine business. While it does not have an active narrowbody program yet, the company indicated that its new UltraFan technology is scalable and offers the potential to power new narrowbody and widebody aircraft anticipated in the 2030s.

Rolls-Royce’s UltraFan technology will be scalable for narrowbody aircraft. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls Royce is a lot more active on the energy transition front, where it partnered with Airbus and EasyJet to launch the Hydrogen in Aviation (HIA) alliance in September to ensure that infrastructure, policy, regulatory, and safety frameworks are ready for when the first hydrogen-powered aircraft takes to the skies. Two weeks ago, it completed the first fuel burn of a new small gas turbine developed for the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market.

Rolls-Royce performed first fuel burn on a small gas turbine for hybrid electric flight. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

The non-engineering job cut should free up more capital for the company to focus on its engineering and deliver on its strategic visions.

Fangzhong Guo

Fangzhong grew up near an OEM airport in northeastern China, where he developed his enthusiasm for aviation. Taking upon his passion, he's now working as an aircraft interior design engineer. Besides working in the aerospace industry, Fangzhong enjoys trying out different types of airplanes and seeing how airplane interiors have evolved. So far, he's flown on over 80 types of aircraft. He also planespots in his spare time. His rarest catches included the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and AN-225.

Chinese Aviation Market Cools Down After Record-Breaking Holiday

The record-breaking holiday demand did not sustain, according to some data points. The Chinese aviation market is still rebuilding post-pandemic.

Lei Yan

Monday, October 16, 2023 at 05:44 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Air China and Shenzhen Airlines aircrafts in Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport (Photo: Lei Yan)

During the first week of October, China entered into an eight-day National Day Holiday. This holiday was the longest public holiday in China during 2023. Many Chinese people travel during this holiday, and they have experienced the busiest national day holiday ever in this country. However, the traffic quickly dialed down after the holiday.

For air travel, over 15 million passengers traveled by air during the holiday season. The average fares for economy class climbed to RMB 1,095 ($150), a 45% increase compared to the 2022 national holiday, and a 15% increase versus the average price during the 2019 pre-pandemic national day holiday. The statistics demonstrate that, despite the recent sluggish economic performance of China, people in the country were still willing to spend.

All sectors of the transportation industry were striving during the Chinese National Day holiday. On the rail side, nearly 200 million passengers were transported during the 8-day holiday, equivalent to more than half of the population in the United States. China has the biggest high-speed rail network in the world, constituting more than 60% of the world’s total high-speed rail in milage.

A China Southern 737MAX being towed while in storage at Paine Field.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

During the holiday, the new trend reveals reasons that drive the market to modesty. Short-range and mid-range travels take the highest portion among all travels, and previously atypical destinations, such as a handful of small cities and townships, have seen significant growth in tourist traffic, due to their relatively low price compared to hit tourist destinations. Adding a layer of data that suggests residents’ saving has also seen a record-high increase in 2023, those phenomena demonstrate that the public was still price-sensitive, and unwilling to indulge in unessential spending.

A Swift Decrease

After the holiday, many airports saw their traffic decrease quickly. Take Urumqi, China as an example. The airport has seen its busiest year ever in 2023, surpassing 20 million throughput 11 days earlier than in 2019. The airport processes over 560 lights a day during the summer season with only one runway, and most of them are wide-body jets carrying tourists from all around China. After the national day holiday, the daily flights dropped over 10% to around 500 flights per day. Furthermore, most of the widebody jets are pulled out of Urumqi to more profitable business routes such as flights between Beijing and Shanghai. Such a situation has been seen across the nation’s airports, and the flight reduction is expected after the spring-summer schedule ends on October 29.

Expanding the horizon to the end of 2023, the aviation market in China is expected to recover to 70% to 80% of 2019 level. In some regions of the country, the recovery may be more expeditious than in others. There is still a long way to go for the country’s aviation market to fully retain the momentum of growth it had back in 2019.

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.

Spirit Adds Nine New Routes in Network Shake-up

Spirit is adding several new routes across the U.S., but is also removing a handful of flights in its 2024 schedule. Most notably, the carrier is expanding its presence in Boston.

John McDermott

Monday, October 16, 2023 at 03:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Spirit Airbus A319 pushing back at LAX. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Spirit Airlines has made a dozen network changes for the coming winter and summer seasons, according to Cirium schedule data. The largest expansion will be out of Boston, with additional routes out of Newark. Also included in the expansion are two routes on the West Coast and a couple of routes in the southeastern U.S.

Spirit is also planning to cut four routes. Three routes between Puerto Rico and Florida will be cut, as will a route between Florida and Cleveland, Ohio.

Two routes starting in December 2023 include a service between Miami and Minneapolis, which the airline previously served in 2022, as well as a new route between Fort Myers’ Southwest Florida International Airport and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The airline is starting a wider collection of routes in April 2024 for the summer season. Three will be out of Boston, and two more will depart from Newark. Additional routes will fly out of Burbank and San Diego. Those routes include:

Boston to Charleston, S.C.
Boston to Houston, Texas
Boston to Norfolk, Va.
Newark to Charlotte, N.C.
Newark to San Antonio, Texas
Burbank to Oakland, Calif.
San Diego to Sacramento, Calif.
Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh

It is curious to note Spirit’s focus on expanding in Boston. JetBlue, which is in a bid to buy Spirit and currently preparing to battle an anti-trust lawsuit that could block the sale, has a significant presence in Boston, as does JetBlue partner Cape Air. JetBlue already operates two of the three routes that Spirit is launching, with Norfolk being the only destination that JetBlue does not fly to from Boston. Spirit has not been shy to expand in Boston this year, meaning that JetBlue may be able to use Spirit’s gates and slots to significantly expand if the merger goes through.

A Spirit Airlines A320 landing in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

It is unclear whether Spirit’s move has anything to do with their potential deal with JetBlue or what role these routes will have on the deal. More important may be the two new routes Spirit is launching on the West Coast, as JetBlue has struggled to gain a significant presence there. Having extra slots in airports like Burbank, which is confined within the Los Angeles area, and San Diego may give JetBlue more ability to grow in that area.

The two airlines’ merger is currently facing lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice and several consumers.

Spirit’s route announcement also includes a few routes to be discontinued in 2024. All centered around the southeastern United States, and three of the four connect Florida with Puerto Rico. The dropped routes will include:

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Orlando, Fla.
Ponce, Puerto Rico to Orlando Fla.

The routes cut from Aguadilla and Ponce are the only ones that Spirit operates out of each respective destination. Spirit’s San Juan route network remains untouched. It is again important to consider JetBlue’s route network in Aguadilla and Ponce, as the airline serves every destination Spirit flies to in each destination at least seasonally. While it is again unclear whether this has any significance, it also cannot be ignored that Spirit may be adjusting its route network ahead of an anticipated merger.

Spirit has been quietly adding routes since the summer in addition to new flights being announced just in September.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Oct. 18, 2023 at 2:20 p.m. ET to remove Cleveland, Ohio to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. from the list of routes Spirit is dropping. Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh was also added to the list of new routes per the airline’s confirmation.

John McDermott

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

Delta Adds Flight to Brand-New Airport

Services will be offered daily and year-round onboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft from Delta's Atlanta hub. So far, Delta is the only U.S. airline to announce service.

John McDermott

Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:41 AM ET

Verified

A Delta 737-800 in Seattle. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

Mexico is among the top vacation destinations among Americans. Cancún is arguably the most popular, with Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta close behind.

However, one particular vacation spot has been notably hard to get to despite its popularity. Tulum, a city on Mexico’s southeastern Atlantic coast, boasts beaches, parks, forests, and ancient ruins like many other tourist hotspots in the region. But it is only now getting its first nonstop flight on an American carrier, as Delta Air Lines has announced it will launch a new route from Atlanta to Tulum in March 2024.

Services will be offered daily and year-round onboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft used on this route will feature 16 first-class recliners, 36 Comfort+ seats with extra legroom, and an additional 108 normal economy seats, for a total of 160 seats.

Current Flight Options to Tulum

Nonstop flights are an improvement from the current option. Today, many travelers fly to Cancún, which is nearby, and drive 90 minutes south to Tulum. While safety might not be an issue between major tourist hubs, cost and time are. A private transfer can run $100 and add 90 minutes to the overall travel journey, per The Points Guy.

A Delta 737 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

This hassle wasn’t due to airlines’ resistance to flying into Tulum. Instead, the city is only getting an airport for the first time this winter. Tulum’s Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport is set to open in December 2023. At the time of writing, the airport’s website reports that preparations are 65% complete.

Planned Services to Tulum

Though the airport is brand new, there is already a selection of airlines preparing to operate into the vacation hub. Aeromexico and Viva Aerobus have been selling flights into Tulum since September, both from Mexico City.

Viva Aerobus will have the privilege of operating the very first flight into the airport. It will fly in from Felipe Ángeles International Airport, Mexico City’s secondary airport. Aeromexico will fly in from Mexico City International about 30 minutes later and add a second service later that day.

Viva Aerobus will also start flights from Mexico City International as well as Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Tijuana to Tulum later in December. It will surely not be the only Mexican low-cost airline to fly into Tulum.

Tulum Airport’s Future Potential

There is, of course, the question of whether flights to Tulum might cannibalize demand on flights to Cancún. While some demand might be transferred over, it is likely that a large majority of flights to Cancún will remain, if not all of them. Adding flights to Tulum will likely do nothing but increase demand to both destinations by freeing up space on flights to Cancún. More people will be able to fly nonstop and will either switch over to these nonstop flights or choose to take flights to Cancún with connections through Mexico City, as these flights will also likely have extra room.

The real question is how many other U.S. airlines will add flights to Tulum. There is certainly demand for the other major carriers to add at least one daily flight. Low-cost airlines will also certainly enter the market as a cheap alternative. Tulum will probably not have the same number of daily flights or destinations that Cancún does, but passengers will certainly be willing to transfer the $100 they spend on hours of driving to a nonstop flight that lengthens their vacation time.

One might even ask whether there will be room for connecting flights from Cancún to Tulum. The chances of this are slimmer. Viva Aerobus and Volaris both operate large networks out of Cancún. If they can find a way to make a connecting flight to Tulum through Cancún cheaper than flying nonstop, passengers may be equally attracted: they lose nothing by paying less money to stop in the airport they always go to and board on a faster ride on to Tulum.

Tulum’s airport has a lot of potential for expansion. It is somewhat surprising that more airlines have yet to launch flights there, but the airline did recently shorten its timeline to open from April 2024 to December 2023. This may incentivize many airlines to launch flights when the official summer season begins, just in time for universities to go on break in April.

John McDermott

Ryanair Pushes for Overflight Protections Amid French ATC Strikes

As ATC strikes continue to disrupt European air travel, Ryanair demands action from the EU Commission to protect passengers.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 03:28 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

John McDermott

A Ryanair 737-800 at Marrakesh Menara Airport in Morocco. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The aviation industry in Europe is currently experiencing widespread strikes due to staff shortages, disruptions, and poor working conditions, aggravated by the cost of living crisis.

Workers at various airports and airlines are striking for better wages and working conditions. Notable strikes include baggage carousel workers at London Heathrow, a nationwide strike in France, ground handler strikes in Spain, and concerns among Virgin Atlantic pilots about fatigue and wellbeing, which may lead to industrial action. Additionally, easyJet has canceled 1,700 flights due to labor problems, affecting over 180,000 passengers.

In a recent statement, Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline, has once again called upon Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, to take immediate action to safeguard overflights and the freedom of movement for EU citizens during Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes. Ryanair has been at the forefront of calling for ATC reform for years.

Following an unprecedented 64 days of air traffic control (ATC) strikes in 2023, which significantly exceeded the number of strikes from the previous year, a plea was issued to the EU Commission for a concrete response to the situation. The strikes had a major impact on the aviation industry and caused significant disruptions to air travel across the affected regions. The appeal was made with the hope that the EU Commission would take action to address the underlying issues and prevent similar disruptions from occurring in the future.

A Ryanair 737 descends into Milan.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

The last major ATC strike happened in France on October 13. According to the French civil aviation authority, air traffic controllers at Paris-Orly, Marseille-Provence, and Beauvais airports joined the strikes.

The series of ATC strikes in 2023 has led to thousands of cancellations for EU overflights departing from Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the UK, causing unwarranted disruptions to passengers. These strikes have exposed a stark disparity, as France employs Minimum Service Laws to protect its flights during ATC strikes, while other EU states like Spain, Italy, and Greece save overflights and cancel flights to and from the affected state.

Since initiating the “Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open” petition last March, Ryanair as garnered over 1.8 million signatures demanding action to protect overflights and the freedom of movement during recurring ATC strikes. Regarding the latest French ATC strike, the Irish airline stated that it acknowledges the right of French ATC unions to strike but insists cancellations resulting from national French strikes should impact French flights rather than those overflying France on their way to other EU destinations.

Ryanair’s critical demands to the EU Commission are a mandate of a 21-day advance notice of ATC strikes and a 72-hour advance notice of participation in ATC strikes. Despite this substantial public outcry, the EU Commission has yet to take tangible measures to prevent EU passengers from enduring last-minute flight cancellations caused by ATC strikes.

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.

How to See the 2024 Eclipse on an Airplane

For this occasion, Southwest Airlines has communicated a list of the flights it will be operating on April 8 to view the Great American Eclipse.

Vanni Gibertini

Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 11:27 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A Southwest 737-800 on final approach to Los Angeles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

On, Saturday millions of people around North and South America and the Caribbean were treated to one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena freely visible from Earth: during the early hours of the morning, the Moon transited between the Earth and the Sun, causing an eclipse. Due to the peculiar distance between the Earth and the Moon, the phenomenon observed was a so-called “annular eclipse.” This was because the Moon did not cover the Sun entirely, but a “ring of fire” was visible as the black shadows as our satellite was passing in front of the Sun.

An eclipse occurs on average once every 18 months, but it is only visible from very small areas of the world, and most of the time these areas are very isolated or sparsely populated. Therefore, it is extremely rare that, within a six-month timespan, densely populated areas in North America will be able to observe an eclipse twice. In fact, on April 8, 2024, another total eclipse will be visible around the middle of the day, and the “path of totality” (the areas that will turn completely dark) will include many large cities in the United States and Canada, such as San Antonio, Texas, which itself was also located within the path of totality for the annular eclipse that occurred last Saturday. Other urban areas that will go dark on April 8 include Austin and Dallas in Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Buffalo, New York; and Montreal, Quebec.

The path of totality for the eclipse on April 8, 2024 (Photo: timeanddate.com)

For this reason, this eclipse has already being christened “The Great American Eclipse.”

Flying Into the Eclipse

For this occasion, Southwest Airlines has communicated a list of the flights it will be operating on April 8 that will provide the best vantage point to observe the eclipse.

“Our Meteorology and Network Planning Teams identified the best opportunities for a potential view of this breathtaking sight,” said David Dillahunt, Chief Meteorologist at Southwest Airlines in a press release. “With our flight schedule, we’re able to offer hundreds of seats in the sky to view the eclipse, and we look forward to showcasing our Hospitality on this day while celebrating with our customers.”

“Network and Schedule Planners modeled the operational day against projections of the umbra and penumbra—shadows cast by the moon’s eclipse of the sun,” continues the press release. The Southwest Airlines flights listed below have the greatest likelihood of offering Customers onboard the best view of this moment:

Southwest Flight #1252: departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:45 p.m. CDT for Pittsburgh
Southwest Flight #1721: departs Austin at 12:50 p.m. CDT for Indianapolis
Southwest Flight #1910: departs St. Louis at 1:20 p.m. CDT for Houston (Hobby)

These flights may also cross the path of totality during their scheduled operating time:

Southwest Flight #955 departs Dallas (Love Field) at 12:50 p.m. CDT for Chicago (Midway)
Southwest Flight #506: departs Milwaukee at 1:05 p.m. CDT for Dallas (Love Field)
Southwest Flight #1734: departs Houston (Hobby) at 1:35 p.m. CDT for Indianapolis
Southwest Flight #1682: departs Chicago (Midway) at 1:30 p.m. CDT for Austin
Southwest flight #3108: departs Nashville at 1:40 p.m. CDT for Dallas (Love Field)

Vanni Gibertini

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.