Trip Report: Northern Pacific Airways’ First Ever Flight

Step onboard the first flight of a new airline.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 04:14 AM ET

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Water Salute for Northern Pacific Airways inaugural flight at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

After lengthy delays caused by geopolitical complications and certification issues, Northern Pacific Airways officially launched its first route on July 14, 2023, flying from Ontario, Calif, to Las Vegas. The first flight, 7H777, took off from Ontario at 2:57 pm and landed 40 minutes later in Las Vegas.

The inaugural was initially slated for May of 2023, and certification difficulties have pushed the date back several times. Although the short hop is far from the transpacific flights connecting the US west coast and Asia the airline has promised, it’s still an incredible feat to achieve nonetheless.

Despite a successful inaugural outbound flight, the airline had to cancel the return flight on Sunday. The plane appears to have run into mechanical issues after sitting 48hrs on the ramp in 115+F degree weather. According to reports, the company attempted to truck in spare parts from Ontario but had to eventually cancel the flight after more than 8 hours of delay. The aircraft departed Las Vegas on Monday afternoon on a ferry flight number back to Ontario.

AirlineGeeks flew on the inaugural flight, and here’s what flying on the world’s newest airline looks like.

Check-In

Checking in online with the newest airline has been challenging. The website will throw an error after seat selection unless the passenger logs in with the email used for the booking. However, the error message made no effort to point out how to resolve the error.

It also produced two different versions of boarding passes. Passengers can download a Northern Pacific-branded boarding pass. However, the link sent to your phone will show a Ravn Alaska-branded boarding pass, which operates as a separate brand under the same parent company as the Anchorage-based company.

Northern Pacific flies from Terminal 4 at Ontario International Airport. The airport has already installed signs for the airline and put up ads on electronic billboards across the airport. The check-in counter at the airport operates similarly to any other airline. The printed boarding pass had more references to Ravn Alaska than Northern Pacific, which might confuse passengers.

Northern Pacific’s roadside sign at Ontario International Airport in Ontario, Calif. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Inaugural Ceremony

The carrier hosted a small ceremony at the gate. The company’s leadership and the airport authority remarked on the tremendous work that occurred to start the airline. The airline’s CEO, Rob Mckinney, also cut a ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the milestone.

The pair also offered branded totes and themed cookies for passengers on the inaugural flight.

Northern Pacific Airway’s branded souvenirs for its inaugural flight. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Family and friends of the airline, along with AvGeeks from all over the country, made up the majority of the passengers on this flight. But there was a great number of unsuspecting passengers onboard, too. It was a pleasant surprise to them.

The energy remained high after boarding as many people took photos and videos onboard. Due to an ATC delay at Las Vegas airport, the crew started service on the ground, and the entire cabin toasted to the airline’s success. The fight attendant also jokingly said she’d sign the glasses while picking up the finished ones. Many passengers took on the offer, bringing some fun energy into the cabin while we waited for clearance.

Flight Attendant Annie was signing passengers’ glasses after a toast while the flight was delayed. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Last but not least, the flight was celebrated by water canons before departing the airport.

The Product

The airline may be the newest, but its planes are certainly not. The carrier acquired four American Airlines Boeing 757-200 aircraft retired during the pandemic and refurbished them. The aircraft is now the company’s Alaskan-themed bold new livery. However, the paint job looked rough, with many spillovers along the engine pylon.

The airline kept most monuments from the plane’s American days. Very little has changed from overhead storage to the lavatory, except for a coat of newly applied paint in certain areas. Stickers with their previous owner’s “Main Cabin Extra” branding were still visible in the overhead storage.

American Airlines’ Main Cabin Extra sticker was still visible onboard Northern Pacific Airway’s newly acquired Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

The economy seats are likely the same seats that flew with its previous owner as well. However, the new upholstery gave them a much sleeker look and made them more comfortable than the new slim seats. The seats are certainly more comfortable than those of its two competitors on this route, Frontier and Southwest.

Northern Pacific Airways put new upholstery on their newly acquired Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

The old seat also means there was no seatback entertainment. The good news is Northern Pacific is offering complimentary WiFi onboard. While the cabin attendant specifically mentioned that the WiFi was working in the preflight announcement, I could not get connected. The only offering is the internet at the moment, which is more than enough for the company’s short hop. In addition to offering complimentary Wifi, passengers also have access to USB-C charging on every seat.

Northern Pacific Airways installed USB-C ports on its Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

It’s also apparent that they still need to finish prepping the cabin. My window shade was very stuck and could only a third of the way up. The airline also marked out some damages on the side panel with painter tapes that the maintenance crew did not have time to take care of before the inaugural. Since it was a daytime flight, we didn’t see the starry skies ceiling the company showed in previous releases.

Maintenance marked out damages on the panel without repairing it. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Some window shade was stuck on the 28-year-old Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Economy seat on Northern Pacific Airway’s Boeing 757-200 does not have seatback entertainment. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

The original sink on Northern Pacific Airway’s newly acquired Boeing 757-200. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fangzhong Guo)

Inflight service includes a bottle of water, more than some of its competitors on this route.

What does the future hold?

While the airline’s eventual goal is still connecting the US with Asia under its Icelandair model, it has a long way to go.

No matter how short it was, the inaugural is an enormous step to take so the carrier can start working toward its ETOPS certification for its transpacific service. But one weekly service between Southern California and Las Vegas won’t be enough.

Therefore, the company hopes to attract some charter business during the down times of scheduled flights. Its second aircraft will also come online by the end of the month, which will be too many airplanes if there are no other flights.

The company also planned for Saipan Islands service with Northern Mariana Airways branding. However, the Anchorage-based airline felt that plan has since become farfetched following the collapse of Marianas Southern Airways, the regional carrier providing interisland services, and the lack of funding from the government. Therefore, Northern Pacific has shifted back its focus to serving Mexico from its southern California base. The company’s chairman mentioned to passengers that they could serve destinations like Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta both popular Mexican resort destinations.

It takes tremendous work to start an airline. I’d like to congratulate the airline on making its debut on a scheduled route. I’m also looking forward to seeing the airline succeed in realizing its transpacific plans and putting its beautiful Anchorage terminal to use.

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.

United Airlines, Pilots Agree to Preliminary Contract

United is the latest U.S. airline to etch an AIP with its pilots.

John McDermott

Monday, July 17, 2023 at 05:59 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United 737 MAX 9, the larger variant of the 737 MAX 8, on the flight line. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

United Airlines has reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing the company’s pilots, on a new contract. The announcement comes soon after American Airlines pilots similarly announced a plan to vote on a new contract later this summer.

If United’s new contract is approved by pilots, flight crew members will see between 35% and 40% raises over 4 years depending on fleet type. The contract will also bring improvements to “quality of work-life, compensation, job security, work rules, retirement, benefits.” It is worth $10 billion over its lifespan.

Calls for a contract strengthened after the covid-19 pandemic subsided and Delta Air Lines announced massive pay raises for its pilots. However, ALPA says it has been negotiating with United management for more than four years to reach a new agreement.

A United 777-300ER at Paine Field.
(Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

“We promised our world-class pilots the industry-leading contract they deserve, and we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with ALPA on it,” United Airlines said in a statement. “The four-year agreement, once ratified, will deliver a meaningful pay raise and quality of life improvements for our pilots while putting the airline on track to achieve the incredible potential of our United Next strategy.”

United pilots have been putting increasing pressure on management for months. Pilots picketed outside company offices this spring and say they have been ready to strike since then. Pressure increased when United faced massive flight cancellations and delays earlier this month. Though United blamed air traffic control staffing shortages and weather for the issues, pilots said that internal staffing was also a major issue that could have been solved with a better contract.

The FAA also said that it was not to blame for United’s issues and that it was ready to work with the carrier to resolve the situation.

Competitors’ Contracts

American Airlines pilots reached a similar AIP in May, and voting will be finalized later this summer. Delta’s contract, approved in March, includes $7 billion in cumulative increases pay and benefits over four years.

Since the covid-19 pandemic subsided and travel in the United States returned to near-pre-pandemic levels, pilots across the country have called for improved work rules and better pay. Regional airline pilots received pay increases quickly after the pandemic subsided, thanks in large part to increases by American Airlines’ wholly-owned subsidiaries. Other regionals subsequently matched these pay hikes.

Mainline companies have been slower to ratify contract updates. The big three legacy airlines made their moves months after the last regionals did so. Southwest Airlines pilots have also been fighting for changes at their company, though their demands go further. A meltdown over the 2022 holiday season exposed gaping issues in Southwest’s crew scheduling system and work rules.

Commercial Pilot Demand

Delta, American, United, and Southwest are expected to hire 8,000 pilots over the next year. Per Reuters, the United States is short roughly 10,000 pilots, a gap projected to last until 2027. Though the United States has seen an increase in the number of people passing commercial pilot checkrides in the last 18 months, to date roughly one Airline Transport Pilot retires for each new ATP pilot certified.

Airlines are fighting hard to find solutions to this problem, including fighting for an increase in the pilot retirement age and a possible loophole in the rule that requires 2 pilots in the cockpit of each airline flight. Since the covid-19 pandemic began, pilots have maintained that the US aviation industry has a pay shortage, not a pilot shortage, and that more people would become pilots if the high entry fee to start flying could be better managed.

A United Aviate Academy aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Ewing)

Airlines already have methods to help pilots start their careers. American Airlines’ wholly-owned regional carriers have cadet programs that will reimburse cadets for some of their flight training; Mesa Airlines has a program that allows pilots to build flight hours at a reduced cost per hour; Delta Air Lines recently announced its own pilot pathway program; and United Airlines manages its own flight school in Arizona.

United pilots still need to vote on their new contract, a process that could take weeks or months after negotiators finalize the final contract language. However, this new agreement will certainly be a welcome relief for pilots. Hopefully, it will decrease tension between crews and management and help the airline run a smooth operation going forward.

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.

Airlink’s Embraer E195 Takes Flight in Stunning Black Livery

A stunning new livery is getting attention.

Victor Shalton

Monday, July 17, 2023 at 02:22 PM ET

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AirlineGeeks.com Staff

An Airlink Embraer E190. (Photo: Airlink)

Airlink, the prominent regional airline in South Africa, has unveiled a striking addition to its fleet with the introduction of an elegant black special finish on one of its Embraer E195 aircraft. This captivating livery aims to highlight an important innovation while enhancing the airline’s commitment to glamour and style in air travel.

With the registration number ZS-YDE, this aircraft has completed its test flights and will soon begin operating on Airlink’s regular routes. The black livery serves as a visual representation of Airlink’s recently launched Skybucks frequent flyer program, where black represents the highest level of membership.

Previously flying under the registration UR-EMG for Ukraine International, this Embraer E195 joined Airlink’s fleet in April through a lease agreement. After successful test flights in Johannesburg last week, the aircraft has been re-registered as ZS-YDE and now stands as a symbol of elegance and sophistication in Airlink’s fleet.

Airlink’s decision to dress the Embraer E195 in a sleek black livery is aimed at drawing attention to the airline’s recently launched Skybucks frequent flyer program. The Skybucks program offers a range of benefits and rewards for its members, providing an extra level of recognition and appreciation to Airlink’s most loyal passengers.

There are four Skybucks membership tiers, with eligibility determined by the number of sectors or legs of a journey flown in 12 months. The Blue Tier is for customers who have flown less than 18 sectors, the Red is for 18 to 34 sectors, Emerald is for more than 35 sectors, and the Black tier membership is by invitation only. Each tier earns rewards at a different rate, with the higher tiers earning more Skybucks for the same flight at the same fare.

Reviving Glamour in Air Travel

Rodger Foster, the CEO of Airlink, expressed the airline’s commitment to reintroducing glamour and style to the skies. “Some say flying has lost its allure, but as Southern Africa’s premier airline, Airlink is putting glamour and style back in the skies. In addition to our top-class service provided by our friendly crew in their stylish new uniforms, we have dressed one of our svelte Embraer E-Jets in an elegant and chic little black number,” Roger said.

The airline aspires to create a travel experience that combines exceptional service, stylish aesthetics, and a touch of luxury, all while ensuring the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

The private South African airline officially changed its corporate name from SA Airlink to Airlink in October 2020 in a bold step towards independence which ended its 23-year franchise agreement with South African Airways and began operating and issuing tickets under its own Iata code 4Z. This freed Airlink and enabled it to forge business relationships with other international airlines that carry passengers and cargo to and from destinations throughout Southern Africa.

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.

Salem, Oregon Returning to Air Transportation Network

A start-up airline is set to put Salem back on the map.

Joey Gerardi

Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 10:46 PM ET

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AirlineGeeks.com Staff

An Avelo Airlines Boeing 737-700 at Tweed-New Haven. (Photo: Avelo Airlines)

The past couple of years have been good for the overall air transportation network in the United States, with cities returning after being gone for sometimes over a decade. Gallup and Las Cruces, New Mexico, both have resumed air service with Advanced Air in the past year thanks to local and state funding to support air service to the communities. Las Cruces lost airline service back in 2005, Gallup lost airline service back in 2008, and Salem lost air service back in 2008, but life is breathing back into them again after being out of the system for so long.

An Advanced Air Super King Air 350 in Albuquerque (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

According to a local website in Salem, The Salem Reporter, the airport received an $850,000 federal grant to use for minimum revenue guarantees. A revenue guarantee entices airlines to serve these small communities and give them a chance, as the carriers won’t have to worry about filling the planes and making a profit during the first couple of years serving the new market.

This is very common throughout the industry and is how many airlines get a foothold on new routes and destinations. Then, once the revenue guarantee terms end, if the carrier had consistently full planes the airline will hopefully continue to serve this market if it has done well.

New Ultra-Low-Cost Service

The new flights to Salem will be to Burbank, Calif. via ultra-low-cost start-up Avelo Airlines, as well as the airline’s newest base in Las Vegas. The first flight will operate to Las Vegas and will fly on a twice-weekly basis, Thursdays and Sundays, with Burbank flights beginning the next day on Oct. 6, 2023, and operating on Fridays and Mondays.

Boarding Avelo’s first-ever commercial flight in Burbank. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Taylor Rains)

With airlines beginning to announce flights that start in the fall, it is expected that a couple more of the Small Community Development Grants will be used and airlines will announce flights on underserved routes in the coming months.

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.

Trip Report: China Eastern Domestic First Class

What is it like to fly China Eastern in domestic business class?

Anthony Bang An

Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 05:53 PM ET

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AirlineGeeks.com Staff

A China Eastern A321 (Photo: aeroprints.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

I recently had the opportunity to experience an ‘authentic’ first class flight in China mainland. ‘Authentic’ as the airplane isn’t one of its flagships and the route isn’t one of he signature routes like between Beijing and Shanghai. Those are merely the minority of what China Eastern is and not the most accurate picture of the airline.

As an airline whose fleet is mostly narrow bodies and whose network has an overwhelming focus on domestic routes, this is the experience that most China Eastern customers are getting.

On the Ground

Check-in

My flight departs from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, one of the main hubs of China Eastern. The airport serves domestic and selected regional destinations and is the smaller one of the two Shanghai airports.

Shanghai Hongqiao is one of China Eastern’s main hubs and therefore has a sizable premium check-in area. There were separate areas for business class passengers and frequent fliers, specifically its own members and Skyteam members. Skyteam elites and elite plus are able to use the check-in area.

The area is carpeted and fenced off from the rest of the check-in hall. Sofas are offered only for the business class section while the members would need to unfortunately stand while checking in for their flights.

China Eastern opens new check-in section with robots - SHINE News — The premium check-in area (Photo: China Eastern)

Lounge

China Eastern operated multiple lounges in the airport, with all but one of them on the airside of the terminal. The exception is the V21S lounger which I was ‘assigned’ to as per the sticker on my boarding pass. The lounge is on the floor above the departure hall and is operated and used solely by China Eastern passengers traveling in business class.

The lounge has its own security checkpoint with no line at all. Another highlight is the view of the lounge. It overlooks the two concourses of the terminal and the central taxiing area of the airport. The outdoor terrace would be a great spot for plane-spotting but was not open when I visited the lounge.

The lounge has more than enough seats but does get crowded during peak hours. Only selected seats had power outlets though it is not difficult to find one.

The food selection in the lounge is understandably oriental as the airport serves mostly domestic destinations and had no major international connection traffic. The signature item at the lounge is ‘MU NOODLE’ a noodle bar where noodle dishes are freshly prepared as you order and a nice selection of Chinese condiments are available for customers to add.

Salad and sandwiches were available as well as a pasta dish and they were admittedly terrible. You are strongly advised to always go for the local options in Asian countries as they are almost certainly the better one.

Red and white wines are available free of charge, along with a selection of beers and soft drinks. A selection of tea is nicely presented as well.

Onboard

Boarding

China Eastern’s A321 features 12 business class seats in a 2-2 configuration. The seats were retrofitted several years ago with a new color scheme and it is in good condition.

The first class seat on China Eastern A321 (Photo: Anthony An)

A pre-departure drink was served alongside a hot towel.

Amenities

Pillows and blankets were available for the short hop; slippers are also available and passengers are encouraged to bring them home. Earphone was also provided though not noise-canceling.

Food and Beverages

The flight departed a few minutes after eight so no meal was served. Snacks and fruits were still served on a beautiful plate alongside metal cutleries and a hot towel. I do appreciate some Asian and European airlines serving snacks in business in proper dining wares, which always feels way more premium than the bags of chips and cookies on Delta and United for flights of similar length.

Food service on MU2407 (Photo: Anthony An)

There was also a physical drink menu, titled ‘enjoyment,’ with a good selection of drinks for the flight.

Entertainment

The IFE was nothing too impressive; some foreign movies were available and a couple of Hollywood movies in English. It is sufficient for the two-hour flight while any flight longer than two hours might prove the system insufficient. There were no games available despite a games category and barely any TV shows.

Service

The cabin crews were extremely friendly and addressed me by my last name. They were attentive and despite not speaking the perfect English, communicated to the best of their ability.

Conclusion

Inconsistent is how I would describe this flight and China Eastern in general. The service was the real highlight and is absolutely on the level of world-class carriers while the entertainment seriously lacks quality content and the hard products are average at best.

For the short two-hour hop, the service onboard was outstanding and the catering was great as well. Though improvements on the hard products and entertainment can be made, it is overall an impressive flight.

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.

JetBlue, American Airlines Begin First Steps To End Alliance

John Flett

Friday, July 14, 2023 at 07:30 PM ET

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Benjamin Pham

JetBlue Airbus A321 departing London Heathrow [AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale]

American Airlines and JetBlue announced Friday that from July 21, both carriers will begin the ‘first step in the wind-down process’ of their ‘pro-competitive, pro-consumer Northeast Alliance (NEA).’ The move reported by Reuters comes after a U.S. District Court Judge ruled in May that the three-year-old alliance ‘”substantially” diminished competition in the domestic airline market.’

Beginning July 21, customers will no longer be able to book new codeshare bookings on either American Airlines or JetBlue. The airlines advised that customers with travel already booked would need to add TrueBlue or AAdvantage numbers to the existing booking before that date ‘in order to earn points, tiles and reciprocal perks.’

JetBlue’s NEA vice president Dave Fintzen said, “We are disappointed to be ending popular benefits like codesharing and reciprocal loyalty benefits. We know customers will miss these features and believe the U.S. Department of Justice’s position opposing them misses the mark. With the court’s recent ruling and the termination of the NEA, we have to sunset them in short order. Even as these benefits end, we are still committed to minimizing disruption to existing travel plans and continuing to deliver great value and our award-winning product and service to our customers.”

JetBlue had previously issued a statement advising that the carrier will not appeal the judge’s decision and seek to terminate the three-year arrangement with the world’s largest airline. JetBlue advised that the airline would now “turn even more focus to our proposed combination with Spirit, which is the best and most effective opportunity to truly transform the competitive landscape in the U.S. and bring the JetBlue Effect to more routes and markets across the country.”

With the termination of the NEA with American Airlines, JetBlue contends that the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) objections to its merger with Spirit Airlines are ‘entirely moot.’ JetBlue’s press release on the first step of the wind-down of the NEA states that “the DOJ should reconsider and support our plan to bring a national low-fare competitor to the Big Four; the flying public deserves better than the status quo. The DOJ itself has acknowledged the benefits of JetBlue’s disruptive impact on the industry, and we are open to working with the DOJ to address any remaining concerns they have.”

The challenge by the DOJ, Washington, D.C. and the states of Massachusetts and New York on JetBlue’s planned $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines is scheduled to commence on Oct. 16. According to an earlier report by Reuters, the court case is scheduled for four weeks and a decision may be forthcoming by as early as the end of 2023.

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.

Avianca Makes Major Progress in A320 Retrofits

Even after bankruptcy, Avianca has made major strides in retrofitting its fleet.

Hemal Gosai

Friday, July 14, 2023 at 10:05 AM ET

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AirlineGeeks.com Staff

An Avianca A320 in Miami (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Avianca, the largest airline in Colombia, was hit hard early during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline was already in a precarious financial situation leading up to the pandemic with over $7 billion in debt. The complete suspension of operations during the Colombian government’s lockdown is what tipped the airline over the edge.

The airline declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 10, 2020, right as the world was shutting down. It was a tense time for everyone and this was one of the largest airline bankruptcies that could be directly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It took the airline 18 months to work through its financial restructuring process and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. One of the key tenets of the restructuring was a simplification of the fleet and an increase in capacity on narrowbody aircraft at the expense of business class.

Fleet Changes

The long-haul fleet is now exclusively Boeing 787 aircraft, the carriers Airbus A330 variants were all retired between 2020 and 2023. The 787 will retain business class seating.

The short-haul fleet, which almost entirely consists of Airbus A320 aircraft, started undergoing retrofits sometime in early 2022. The goal of the reconfiguration was to increase capacity by 20 percent by reducing seat pitch and removing business class.

A320 family aircraft now consist of three rows of Premium seats in a 2×2 configuration, ten rows of Plus seating, and then the remainder of the aircraft being economy seating. The Premium seats will have headrests, device holders, and USB ports along with the ability to recline.

Plus seats will also feature the same amenities, but in a 3-3 configuration and less legroom.

Economy seats have an average pitch of 29’’ in a 3-3 configuration with seats that do not recline.

Avianca recently announced that it has reconfigured 104 Airbus A320S with the new interiors in-house with the help of over 1,500 technicians in less than two years. This process is going to continue with the remaining aircraft that feature the old interior. The airline is especially proud of this achievement given labor and supply chain shortages around the world.

Looking Ahead

Given the new high-density configurations, it seems apparent that the airline is seeking to implement a no-frills approach to flying. The airline now offers various fare structures and ancillary purchases that passengers can select to go beyond the simple economy experience. The new focus on economy class seating could suggest yielding challenges the airline could’ve faced in the past.

It makes sense given Avianca and low-cost carrier GOL now operate under the same holding company; the Abra Group. The operating environment in Latin America is also filled with low-cost carriers that make it challenging to operate with full-service airline fares.

The airline seems to have emerged from bankruptcy with a clear strategy. Alongside the focus on reconfiguration of aircraft, Avianca has also made significant additions to its route network. Just recently the airline launched new routes, including a dozen to the United States, along with the resumption of multiple routes that the airline had previously served prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latin America is a battleground for low-cost carriers and it appears that Avianca is gearing up for the fight.

Hemal Gosai

Hemal took his first flight at four years old and has been an avgeek since then. When he isn't working as an analyst he's frequently found outside watching planes fly overhead or flying in them. His favorite plane is the 747-8i which Lufthansa thankfully flies to EWR allowing for some great spotting. He firmly believes that the best way to fly between JFK and BOS is via DFW and is always willing to go for that extra elite qualifying mile. Hemal's opinions are his own and do not reflect those of his employer.

Delta Air Lines Reports Impressive Quarter

Zach Cooke

Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 11:10 PM ET

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Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 climbs out of Eagle County Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

This past Thursday, Delta Air Lines announced record-breaking operating revenue and operating income in their June quarter financial results. The Atlanta-based carrier reported record international performance numbers across the Atlantic, Pacific and South American regions. An uptick in passenger numbers compared to June last year correlates with new deliveries the carrier has received in the previous 12 months along with the reactivation of previously parked and stored aircraft.

This quarter’s reported revenue was up significantly, representing the carrier’s highest in history. Profitability for the carrier was just as impressive, operating at a margin of over 17%. The increase is partially attributed to an increase in consumer demand along with an overall decrease in fuel cost. Compared to the June quarter last year, the carrier’s fuel bill was 24% less for this quarter.

With the strong report for June and expecting this trend to continue into this fall, Delta’s President, Glen Hauenstein said, “Robust demand is continuing into the September quarter where we expect total revenue to be similar to the June quarter, up 11 percent to 14 percent compared to the September quarter 2022 on capacity that is 16 percent higher.”

International Demand

Following the pandemic, international demand has rebounded tremendously in the past year with the Atlanta-based carrier operating the largest transatlantic schedule to date this summer. Total international revenue for the quarter was up 61% according to the carrier, with domestic travel also showing a strong return up 8%.

While being the smallest market in terms of revenue, Delta’s Pacific market saw the largest increase of 175% compared to June of last year. According to the release, the carrier attributes this to Japan’s re-opening to international travelers along with the joint venture with Korean Air.

The Atlanta-based carrier has been able to boost international flying due in part to new aircraft deliveries and reactivation of stored aircraft. According to UK-based aviation valuation firm, AviationValues, Delta currently has 91% of its total fleet active. This number is up significantly from the percentage of active aircraft during the pandemic, which data from AviaitonValues showed as 82% of the fleet.

The overall market value for the international carrier’s wide-body fleet has continued to grow since the pandemic began and had an uptick over the past year due to deliveries from Airbus. The carrier’s total Airbus A330 fleet has had a net valuation increase of 30.8% this past June compared to June of 2022. This is attributed to the delivery of new Airbus A330-900s from Airbus in the time frame.

The carrier’s A350 fleet has also seen a valuation increase denoting additional deliveries in between June 2022 and 2023. Delta took delivery of two examples in the 12 months, N518DZ and N519DN, according to airfleets.net. AviationValues saw a market value change for Delta’s Airbus A350 fleet year over year of 560 million during that period, denoting the deliveries.

Compared to the June quarter last year, the carrier offered 17% more seat miles for this quarter and operated with an 88% load factor. The carrier welcomed 18 new aircraft in the year, with 12 joining the fleet in the June quarter alone which helped attribute to the increase in available seat miles.

All aircraft currently being delivered to Delta are orders fulfilled by Airbus. The Airbus A321neo fleet has particularly grown in the 12-month time frame, from three examples to 32, according to AviationValues. With strong demand for domestic and international travel this summer, it’s no surprise that Delta predicts the second half of summer and the beginning of fall to produce strong results.

Zach Cooke

Zach’s love for aviation began when he was in elementary school with a flight sim and model planes. This passion for being in the air only intensified throughout high school when he earned his Private Pilot Certificate. He then attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his certificates and ratings to later flight instruct and share his passion for aviation with others. He now resides in the North East living out his dream as an airline pilot.

United Unveils New Domestic First Class Seats

Andrew Chen

Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 06:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

United's new domestic first class seat, unveiled on July 12, 2023 (Photo: United Airlines)

United Airlines is continuing the modernization of its narrowbody fleet with the introduction of a new domestic first class seat. The new seat features several improvements over the current product and is expected to debut later this summer.

The announcement comes just months after United began retrofitting its narrowbody fleet with new cabins. The Chicago-based carrier stated that it expects over two hundred aircraft to have the new first class seats by late 2026.

A Look at United’s New First Class Seat

The new product features winged headrests, a privacy divider between seats, five inches of recline and adjustable aisle arm rests. The seats are upholstered with vegan leather and have seat cushions designed by an ergonomist that sit one inch lower to accommodate a variety of passenger heights. The tray table has been made larger and is stored in the outer armrests of the seats to reduce passenger contact.

There will be three charging options at each seat: an AC outlet, a USB-C outlet and wireless charging. Wireless charging has been increasingly popular among new premium airline cabins, and the new seat is United’s first onboard product with wireless charging. The wireless charger is located in a compartment in the armrest.

United’s newly unveiled domestic first class seat features wireless charging (Photo: United Airlines)

The seats will also have a 13-inch high-definition seatback screen that with Bluetooth capability, allowing passengers to use their own headphones or earbuds. In an effort to improve accessibility, the airline has also included a remote for those unable to reach the touch screen.

United’s Narrowbody First Class Cabin Plans

A little over two years ago, United announced a new “signature interior” for its narrowbody jets. The announcement came alongside a massive order for 270 new narrowbody aircraft, consisting of a mix of Boeing 737 MAXs and Airbus A321neo aircraft.

New narrowbody aircraft delivered since the announcement – all of United’s Boeing 737 MAX 8s and some of its Boeing 737 MAX 9s – have the updated cabins, which feature larger overhead bins, in-seat power and seatback entertainment screens.

Product standardization across an airline’s fleet can be a challenge for large airlines like United, which has hundreds of narrowbody jets.

When narrowbody retrofits are completed in a few years, the airline’s narrowbody domestic first class cabins should have a uniform appearance with two similar but slightly different seats: the newly-announced iteration and the simpler version without the wireless charging, dividers and outer armrest tray tables.

This simpler version is already in service on a few retrofitted Airbus narrowbodies, the first of which re-entered service with United’s signature interior in May. According to the airline, the newest seats with wireless charging will be installed on Boeing 737 MAXs and Airbus A321neos.

Some Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft will also be retrofitted with the latest seats. It is expected that the new first class seat will debut later this summer on a Boeing 737-800 registered as N73259, which has been undergoing interior modifications in Miami since May.

Meanwhile, Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and some Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft will be retrofitted with the simpler version of the seats without wireless charging, dividers and outer armrests.

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.

Where to Find Transatlantic Narrowbody Flights

Flying across the pond on a narrowbody jet isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Anthony Bang An

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 07:43 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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

Many narrowbody jets are able to fly longer routes with a lower density configuration or a lower payload, but the aircraft, including Boeing’s 737 or Airbus A320 aren’t exactly designed to fly these longer routes. These are mostly exceptional cases such as British Airways’ now-cancelled service between JFK and London City via Ireland or Virgin Australia’s new service between Cairns and Tokyo with B737-700.

Most of the longer routes are operated by aircraft designed to perform such flights with a full payload, including the older generation, such as the 757, and the newcomers, including the A321LR, A321XLR and 737 MAX.

The transatlantic market has also turned into a battlefield between Airbus and Boeing in selling their long-haul single-aisle aircraft. The A321LR and XLR have longer ranges than Boeing’s 737MAX while the two have similar capacities.

A British Airways A318 at London City Airport (Photo: British Airways)

The role of long-range narrowbodies

New Markets

Doors open to secondary cities that would otherwise not have a European service, the like of Halifax, Hartford, Cleveland or Shannon. These aircraft would also allow airports that are not built to accommodate widebodies to receive transatlantic services. SAS’s new A321LR services to Newark are a great example of the impact these airplanes can have.

Flexibility

These aircraft allow airlines to maintain daily flights throughout the year. Routes that would traditionally be served by a single daily widebody are now served by multiple daily A321s, allowing for more choices for travelers and freedom for airlines to adjust schedules, maximizing load factors while maintaining frequency. It also allows cities to be served during off-peak seasons.

The first Airbus A321neoLR will be delivered to SAS in mid-2020. (Photo: SAS)

The airlines operating:

Aer Lingus

A scaled operation from its hubs in Dublin and Shannon to across the Atlantic, the A321LR is Aer Lingus’ equipment of choice. Newly established Are Lingus U.K. also uses the A321 on its Manchester-New York route seasonally.

The Summer 2023 schedule sees the A321LRs used on the following routes:

Dublin – Washington Dulles

Dublin – Newark

Dublin – Philadelphia

Dublin – Hartford Windsor Locks

Dublin – Cleveland

Shannon – JFK

Shannon – Boston Logan

Air Canada

Currently, there is only one route operated by Air Canada’s 737 MAX between Halifax and London, not particularly a long route, at only 2,867 miles.

Air Transat

The other Canadian airline operating single-aisle across the pond, operating a fleet of A321s from Montreal and Toronto to Europe, is Air Transat. The carrier typically uses the type together with a fleet of A330s and adjusts with changes in demand.

Toronto – Paris CDG

Toronto – Amsterdam

Toronto – Dublin

Toronto – Faro

Toronto – Glasgow

Toronto – Manchester

Toronto – Gatwick

Quebec City – Paris CDG

Quebec City – London Gatwick

Montreal – Brussels

Montreal – Basel

Montreal – Bordeaux

Montreal – Nates

Montreal – Nice

Montreal – Toulouse

Montreal – Amsterdam

Montreal – London Gatwick

Montreal – Porto

Montreal – Lisbon

The first A321LR departs from Paris bound for JFK (Photo: Airbus)

SAS

Some of the longest narrow-body routes are operated by SAS. The A321LR is used on these ‘ultra-long’ routes:

Aalborg – Newark

Gothenburg – Newark

Copenhagen- Newark

Copenhagen – Boston

Copenhagen – Toronto

Stockholm – Toronto

La Compagnie

An all-business airline that operates from French and Italian cities to Newark called La Compagnie also uses A321LRs:

Orly – Newark

Marseilles – Newark

Marseilles – Orly – Newark

Milan – Newark

TAP Portugal

TAP flies A321LRs from Lisbon to North and South American destinations, including:

Lisbon – Wahington Dulles

Lisbon – Toronto

Lisbon – Boston

Lisbon – Montreal

Lisbon – Newark

Porto – Newark

Lisbon – Belem

Lisbon – Natal

United Airlines

One of the only carriers still utilizing Boeing’s 757s on routes from its hubs in Washington Dulles, Chicago, and Newark to Europe is United. A handful of flights are also operated by the 737 MAX. The carrier has placed orders for A321XLRs to replace the 757s on some of these routes.

Newark – Malaga

Newark – Porto

Newark – Tenerife

Newark – Shannon

Newark – Dublin

Newark – Edinburgh

Chicago – Edinburgh

Chicago – Dublin

Chicago – Shannon

Washington Dulles – Porto

Washington Dulles – Edinburgh

A United Boeing 757 departs Eagle County. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

JetBlue

JetBlue uses A321LRs to fly from its hubs in Boston and JFK to London airports and Paris.

JFK – Paris

JFK – London Heathrow

JFK – London Gatwick

Boston – London Heathrow

Boston – London Gatwick

Service

With the airlines mostly full-service or all-business, traditional carriers are more fond of operating narrowbody aircraft on transatlantic routes. This can be attributed to low-cost carriers benefiting from economies of scale and not having business class hurt the financial potential of these operations.

Most airlines feature a premium heavy cabin on these services and for passengers, flying on a narrow-body over the ocean does not mean a compromised experience. Lie-flat business class seats and economy with IFEs are the industry standard, some frequent fliers have even decided that narrowbody flights are the ‘better’ way to fly transatlantic, quoting the relative privacy and intimacy as well as the faster speed of service all thanks to a smaller cabin.

Future

More airlines are expected to start serving the market with narrowbodies, with IAG having 14 A321XLR on order and 8 of them destined for Iberia.

The A321 fleet is the dominant player amongst the three common types at the momentwith most operators flying the jet. It is to be noted that Air Canada, Icelandair, and United have A321s on order and have plans to use them on transatlantic routes.

We could also see more 737s flying across the pond as the type had a greater presence before the grounding and many MAX flights have yet to be resumed after recertification, including WestJet’s services from Halifax and Air Canada’s from St. John’s, Newfoundland. The grounding, coupled with Norwegian’s bankruptcy, drastically reduced the number of transatlantic MAX services.

Anthony Bang An