Lessor Seizes Four Flair Airlines Aircraft

Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 06:00 AM ET

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Flair Airlines Boeing 737-800 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (photo Airlinegeeks - Vanni Gibertini)

Recently, passengers at multiple airports across Canada experienced flight delays and cancellations, after Flair Airlines had four aircraft seized by their lessor for non-payment. The travel interruptions came during the busy March break travel season in Canada.

Leases Terminated for Four Boeing 737s

Dublin-based aircraft leasing company Airborne Capital issued lease termination notices for four aircraft, effectively grounding them and forcing the airline to cancel and delay flights. Four Boeing 737 aircraft were seized:

A 12.8-year-old Boeing 737-800 registered as C-FFLA was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
A 3.1-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLRS was seized at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport
A 3.3-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKD was seized at Region of Waterloo, Canada’s International Airport
A 3.4-year-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered as C-FLKI was seized at Edmonton, Canada’s International Airport

Another two Boeing 737s leased to Flair by Airborne Capital were not seized. The Edmonton,Canada-based airline reportedly owed approximately one million Canadian dollars ($73,000,000) to the lessor.

According to the passengers, flight cancellations and delays occurred at all three airports, with the airline initially attributing the disruptions to maintenance issues. Flair has stated that it will be using three spare aircraft to fill gaps left by the affected aircraft. The carrier has stated that it was working to rebook passengers and that passengers who chose to rebook their own travel would receive reimbursement within seven days.

A Bumpy Road for Flair

Flair Airlines began operations in 2005 as Flair Air. In its early days, the airline operated cargo and charter flights for a variety of clients. In 2017, it rebranded itself as Flair Airlines and announced that it would become an ultra low-cost carrier. Since this relaunch, the airline has faced a number of challenges, including a review by the Canadian Transportation Agency over foreign control and a lawsuit with a large Canadian investor.

In September of 2022, Flair announced that it was increasing capacity by 50 percent in its summer 2023 schedule. The airline stated that in a press release that seven new aircraft would be entering service for the summer, bringing the total fleet to 27 aircraft. Prior to the recent seizure, Flair’s fleet consisted of less than 20 aircraft.

The latest troubles for Flair raise questions about the airline’s financial position and future growth plans. While passengers have been drawn to the airline due to its low fares, a series of maintenance-related cancellations in December of 2022 and the latest aircraft seizure are likely to erode consumer confidence in the airline.

In a statement, Flair has categorized the seizures as “extreme and unusual actions taken by a New York-based hedge fund.” It further noted that “the airline is aggrieved by this unprecedented action.”

Airborne Capital has declined to comment publicly on the seizures.

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.

Sudan’s Badr Airlines Cements European Growth Plans

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 08:19 PM ET

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A Badr Airlines 737-500 (Photo: Eduard Onyshchenko (GFDL or GFDL ), via Wikimedia Commons)

Sudan’s largest airline, Badr Airlines, has recently appointed Network Airline Services (NAS) as its cargo general sales agent (GSA) in the UK and Ireland. This announcement follows Badr Airlines’ launch of a new route from Khartoum to London Gatwick in late February 2023.

Providing a Vital Link

NAS will now be responsible for selling Badr Airlines’ cargo capacity, which is a vital link between Europe and Sudan, and also provides connections to other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe such as Chad, Eritrea, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Commenting on the appointment, John Gilfeather, Sales Director of Network Airline Services, said, “NAS is delighted to be selling the cargo capacity of Badr Airlines. This is the only direct flight between Europe and Sudan which allows us to provide a vital link for shippers to not only Sudan but also other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe.”

Badr Airlines’ Expansion Plans

The appointment of NAS comes as Badr Airlines continues to expand its services and operations. The airline had announced earlier in February 2023 that it would commence flights to London Gatwick from Khartoum via Istanbul, with the first flight scheduled for Feb. 24, 2023.

The route was scheduled to operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

However, it seems that the launch of this new route did not materialize as planned. Despite the airline listing a preliminary schedule in both GDS and OAG since the third quarter of 2022 for an Oct. 31, 2022 “launch,” the first flight did not take off until late February 2023.

This new service is significant as it is the only nonstop flight between Europe and Sudan. In 2019, about 33,000 passengers traveled from London to Khartoum, making London an unserved European market from Sudan. With the new direct flight, Badr Airlines aims to meet the needs of many travelers who have been seeking a more convenient way to travel between the two countries.

Badr Airlines’ Fleet

Badr Airlines operates a fleet of ten Boeing 737 aircraft, including -300, -400, and -500 variants. The airline provides international routes from its base at Khartoum International Airport to neighboring countries, as well as to Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey.

Interestingly, the flight to London Gatwick is operated by a Slovakian charter airline, AirExplore’s Boeing 737-800 on behalf of Badr Airlines as Badr is currently banned from flying to the UK by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The ban is due to safety concerns over the airline’s maintenance practices and safety standards.

Badr Airlines’ appointment of NAS as its cargo GSA in Europe is an important step in the airline’s expansion plans. As the only direct flight between Europe and Sudan, Badr Airlines’ cargo capacity is a vital link for shippers to not only Sudan but also other destinations in need of additional capacity from Europe. With NAS now selling its cargo capacity, the airline is well-positioned to continue its growth and expansion in the region.

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.

Korean Air Increases Flight Operations to China

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 07:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A Korean Air A380 At Los Angeles International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Korean Air has announced that it will enhance its flight operations to China from March 17. It comes after South Korea and China signed an agreement to increase the number of flights to pre-pandemic levels. The total flights between the two countries will reach 84 , up from 13 per week by the end of March. The airline will go further in increasing the weekly flights to 99 in May.

Since China reopened its border in January, South Korean government demanded the visitors from China to take a PCR test upon arrival. In addition, the government limited the number of flights coming from China and the flights must touched down at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport. China strongly opposed to the policies and stopped issuing short term visa to South Korean in return.

After two months of implementing its travel restrictions, South Korea has scrapped the policies on March 1. The decision has cleared the way for new flight schedule between two countries. However, Chinese government hasn’t approved the sightseeing tours to South Korea at the moment.

The South Korean flag carrier said it will enhance the services to Beijing and Shanghai from Seoul. The route of Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport to Beijing and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport will be resumed in March. Also, Seoul’s Incheon Airport to Beijing, Xian, Shenzhen, Yanji and Xiaman will be relaunched.

In the meantime, the airline will enhance its frequencies from Seoul Incheon International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport and other cities across China such as Guangzhou, Qingdao, Shenyang, Dalian, Tianjin and Nanjing.

Since the government lifted the restrictions, other Korean carriers are looking forward to resuming their direct services from other Korean cities to China, such as Jeju, South Korea — a popular tourist destination.

Meanwhile, Korean Air could face a delay on merging with Asiana Airlines. European Union won’t make a decision until Aug. 3. , almost a month late. After two years of the acquisition announcement, other competitors’ authorities include Australia, Singapore have given a green light to the merger.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines monopolized the flight operations of Seoul to Barcelona and 75% market share in Rome before 2019. Korean Air is expected to provide remedies to ease its monopoly, including returning some slots.

According to the airline, it will continue to cooperate closely with all authorities to receive approvals at the earliest opportunity. The carrier still need the approval from EU, Japan and the United States to finish the acquisition.

Virgin Atlantic Adds London – Seoul

Earlier, U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the acquisition. Following the decision, Virgin Atlantic has announced it will launch London – Seoul as a result.

“We welcome the CMA’s decision regarding Virgin Atlantic’s role as the remedy taker in the Korean Air and Asiana merger, which will facilitate our entry into Seoul,” the spokesperson of Virgin Atlantic said.

However, the flight planning is up in the air.

Pete Ainsley

Air Europa Adds 787 Flights from NYC to the Caribbean

Joey Gerardi

Monday, March 13, 2023 at 07:19 AM ET

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An Air Europa 787-8 in Madrid. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Milan to New York City on Emirates, Los Angeles to Paris on Air Tahiti Nui, and New York City to Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines all have one thing in common: they are what we call “Fifth Freedom Flights.”

These flights operate all around the planet and are flights where neither the origin nor destination is in the carrier’s home country, and they have the right to sell seats to people specifically on that flight, but the originating flight starts in their home country. For example, with Emirates, the plane originates in Dubai and flies to Milan and then continues onto New York City.

An Air Europa Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. (Photo: Alan Wilson [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)

Well, another flight is being added to the list of fifth freedom routes, JFK to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Looking at the airline’s website and booking platform, it looks like the aircraft originates in Madrid and flies to New York before continuing to Santo Domingo. Once in the Dominican Republic, it turns right around and does the same thing in reverse. Flights between the two destinations will be operated twice a week: Tuesdays and Sundays. The flights between New York and the Dominican Republic on Air Europa will be operated twice a week: Tuesdays and Sundays.

What is perhaps the most interesting aspect of this route is that it will be operated by a widebody Boeing 787, unlike the many other flights between the two cities on other airlines. Air Europa isn’t adding any new destinations either as it already serves both JFK and Santo Domingo from Madrid.

Flights are scheduled to begin on July 18, 2023, and are subject to change. All data and flight schedules were obtained from the airline’s website.

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.

ITA Airways Joins Inmarsat’s IRIS Datalink Program

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 07:15 PM ET

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An ITA Airways Airbus A330-200 at Rome Fiumicino Airport. (Photo: ITA Airways)

Italy’s national airline is the second European carrier to join Inmarsat’s IRIS program. Starting in Summer 2023, ITA Airways’ entire fleet will operate digitally connected flights to and from Italy using the innovative datalink technology developed with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite Organization) is a British company founded in 1979 that provides advanced mobile satellite telecommunications services worldwide, making operations more efficient and secure. It manages satellite communications for 84 nations through a network of geostationary satellites capable of covering almost the entire globe, excluding the polar regions.

The IRIS program will enable aircraft to fly more fuel-efficient routes by providing digital satellite communications to replace VHF data links, which are nearing capacity due to airspace congestion, minimizing flight delays, saving fuel and reducing the environmental impact of air travel.

IRIS technology benefits airlines and air navigation service providers by providing the bandwidth and reliability needed to enable more efficient digital exchanges between aircraft and ground systems through trajectory-based operations.

This 4-dimensional trajectory-based operation will improve airspace management by promoting operational efficiency for airlines, avoiding holding patterns, accessing better routes and optimal altitudes, and using continuous climb and descent paths. The additional data link capability provided by the SB-S will also power a range of onboard digital applications, such as AI flight profile optimizers and real-time weather applications.

The Italian carrier will equip its entire fleet of new Airbus A320neo and A330neo aircraft with Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S). ITA Airways’ aircraft will play a key role in the IRIS demonstration flights, which will take place in European airspace in 2023.

The IRIS technology will enable Air Traffic Management (ATM) operators to optimize the use of airspace and reduce CO2 emissions by 8-10% through the use of fast and reliable data links between aircraft and the ground.

ITA Airways is not alone in equipping its aircraft with Inmarsat SB-S, as Virgin Atlantic, Jet2, Transavia Airlines and EasyJet have also signed up.

In the period from 2023-2024, Airbus plans to deliver 72 aircraft with Light Cockpit Satcom (LCS) on board, compatible with IRIS. These new technologies and their deployment on many European commercial airlines will contribute to the implementation of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), a project to completely overhaul European airspace to manage air traffic for the “Single European Sky.”

Once again, ITA Airways is demonstrating a strong focus on environmental impact and is committed to achieving its goal of being Europe’s greenest airline by 2026.

Joel Klooster, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations and Safety at Inmarsat Aviation, said in a press release: “The addition of ITA Airways, just months after EasyJet joined, demonstrates the continued strong interest in the IRIS program as it prepares to enter commercial service in Europe later this year, followed by full global implementation.”

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.

U.S. Department of Justice Lawsuit Delays JetBlue-Spirit Merger

Zach Cooke

Friday, March 10, 2023 at 07:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A JetBlue A321 departs Pinal Airpark's 6,000-foot runway to return to active service (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

On Tuesday, the United States’ Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that they would launch a lawsuit to block the $3.8 billion JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines merger that has been in the works since July 2022. The DOJ also created a lawsuit to block the major merger of American Airlines and US Airways back in 2013, but the two companies ultimately merged after concessions were made.

While that merger consisted of two industry giants, three years later, Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America in 2016, bringing two west coast airlines together. This put Alaska in a strong position to operate out of Los Angeles and San Fransisco. However, once again, the DOJ intervened and required the Seattle-based carrier to scale back its partnership with American.

Reasons for Lawsuit

In the DOJ’s announcement, the main reason for the lawsuit is the proclaimed adverse impact that the merger would create for the budget conscience traveler, customers looking for the lowest fair possible. While JetBlue is considered a low-cost carrier (LCC), Spirit is regarded as an ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC).

In a statement distributed by the Department, the combination of the two airlines would create fewer flight options for consumers while also raising fare costs due to a reduction in competition. Further concern was mentioned that Frontier Airlines and Spirit are the two heavy hitters in the ULCC market.

With Spirit’s ultra-low-cost model going to the wayside to join JetBlue’s, the Department worries that ultra-low fare offerings would dwindle, hurting many Americans who rely on these fares. JetBlue is taking heat on another front from the DOJ as well, with a current lawsuit filed in an attempt to dismantle the Northeast Alliance, which the Long Island City, N.Y.-based carrier currently has with American. The ruling on that lawsuit is currently being awaited.

JetBlue & Spirit Rebuttal

Meanwhile, JetBlue and Spirit both argue that a merger would directly rival the Big Four and reduce fares overall for consumers as the newly formed whole would have a greater share in the overall market. JetBlue’s CEO Robin Hayes made a statement that the airline would continue the push for a completed merger and the “DOJ has got it wrong on the law here and misses the point that this merger will create a national low-fare, high-quality competitor to the Big Four carriers which – thanks to their own DOJ-approved mergers – control about 80% of the U.S. market.”

In a press release provided by Spirit, the two companies have come to a settlement with the state of Florida for the merger. Fort Lauderdale and Orlando will both see an increase in seat capacity by 50% along with new jobs being created in both markets. Another note that was mentioned is the commitment to serve 50 new routes not currently offered by either airline, showing that large-scale growth is in the plan.

Market Share

According to data from OAG, a route and market share analysis from August of 2022 showed JetBlue and Spirit operating 474 total routes, both domestically and internationally. However, only 38 of these routes overlap with each other, the majority being international flights out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

This limited competition between the two on routes means that if the merger were to be completed, the new combined airline would be operating 436 total routes using the August schedule. Thus, launching the merged airline to control 7.9% of the market, making them the fifth largest airline in terms of seats offered.

However, this number would decline based on information that has been given by JetBlue that aircraft currently operated by Spirit would receive updated cabins. This would result in economy seats seeing a change in pitch of 4 inches to 32 inches being offered.

Customers would see a decrease in the number of seats available on a given route currently held by Spirit from 182 seats on their highest capacity Airbus A320 to 162 seats which are currently installed on JetBlue’s redesigned A320s. Both carriers have aircraft on order, so available seats offered by each airline will continue to increase based on future growth plans.

Route Networks

While Spirit is headquartered in Miramar, Fla., just southwest of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, JetBlue has its headquarters located in Long Island City, N.Y. Both have overlapping bases in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. While the Miramar-based carrier does operate a large Fort Lauderdale hub, the overall route structure the airline uses is aimed toward being point-to-point. This is evident through routes from outstation to outstation such as Cleveland, Ohio to New Orleans or Hartford, Connecticut to Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Meanwhile, JetBlue tends to operate on the hub and spoke route structure, with most flights originating or ending at one of their five hubs. There are exceptions to this for the New York-based airline, however, the overwhelming majority of routes operated are of the hub and spoke structure.

While both airlines are considered low-cost, fare types and onboard products are vastly different with JetBlue offering the higher fare on average. One of the biggest differences the average passenger sees is free inflight entertainment along with snacks and drinks currently offered by JetBlue.

Spirit does offer these to consumers as well, however at an additional cost which passengers can choose to select or not. JetBlue entered the basic fare market in 2019 offering Blue Basic which is similar to base fares which are offered by Spirit in that customers need to pay for bags and seat assignments prior to 24 hours before departure. However, inflight entertainment along with snacks and beverages are still included in this fare with JetBlue.

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.

Lynx Air Adds Montréal to Expanding North American Network

John Flett

Thursday, March 09, 2023 at 07:00 PM ET

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Benjamin Pham

Lynx Air's Boeing 737 aircraft. (Photo: Lynx Air)

Lynx Air — the Canadian ultra low-cost carrier — will commence operations from Montréal’s Pierre Trudeau International Airport in June. Canada’s second-largest city will become the fifteenth North American destination on the Calgary, Alberta-based carrier’s network with services to Calgary International Airport and St. John, Canada’s International Airport.

Merren McArthur, chief executive officer of Lynx, said, “We are delighted to be adding the vibrant city of Montreal to the Lynx Air network in the lead-up to summer. While Montréal is a very popular destination, it is currently under-served by low-cost carriers, and Lynx aims to change that.”

Lynx will operate between two to four flights per week, commencing on June 5 from Montreal to Calgary and St. John’s, ‘depending on the market.’ The carrier operates six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft with a configuration of up to 189 seats. The announcement of the addition of Montréal to the airline’s network comes just under a month before the one-year anniversary of Lynx’s operations commencing and has been welcomed by all three airports.

Stéphane Lapierre, Vice President, Airport Operations and Air Services Development, ADM Aéroports de Montréal, said: “ADM Aéroports de Montréal is very pleased to welcome Lynx Air to YUL for the first time. The announcement of these direct flights to Calgary and St. John’s is a great contribution to the development of domestic air services at YUL.” Lapierre added: “ADM is always looking for ways to offer our passengers the best possible service for both business and leisure travelers, and Lynx Air will certainly enhance the domestic flight options from Montréal.”

Lisa Bragg, Director of Business Development and Marketing with the St. John’s International Airport Authority, stated: “We are thrilled with the expansion of Lynx Air’s service out of St. John’s. This new Lynx route from St. John’s to Montréal and onward to Calgary further enhances our passenger choices in flying and reinforces the partnership we are building with Lynx.” The airline has already operated ‘through-flights’ from St. John’s via Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to Calgary and Edmonton, Canada’s International Airport.

Carmelle Hunka, Vice President, External Affairs, ESG, Enterprise Risk & General Counsel for The Calgary Airport Authority, said, “The addition of Montréal to Lynx Air’s route offerings out of YYC showcases the success it has seen in its YYC operations. We are thrilled with the success our collaboration has had over the last year and look forward to continuing to support Lynx’s growth and expansion in the years to come.”

The expansion of Lynx Air’s network referenced by YYC’s Hunka has included inaugural services last month to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport.

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.

Lufthansa Shows Off New Onboard Products

Andrew Chen

Wednesday, March 08, 2023 at 08:37 PM ET

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Lufthansa Allegris First Class "Suite Plus" rendering (Photo: Lufthansa)

Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) have recently revealed new interiors as part of their parent company’s major investment in the onboard cabin experience. Both carriers are part of the Lufthansa Group, which also owns Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings. The company appears to be harmonizing its offerings, as the new cabins for Lufthansa and SWISS feature the same seats but with different finishes for each airline.

Lufthansa Allegris

Lufthansa’s new long-haul experience is called “Lufthansa Allegris” and includes new offerings in all classes of service. The German flag carrier is introducing Lufthansa Allegris on new Boeing 787-9 aircraft that are slated to be delivered later in 2023. The airline’s new First Class will be introduced on Airbus A350-900s in 2024. Lufthansa currently operates both types of aircraft, including three Boeing 787-9s from a Hainan Airlines order and four second-hand Airbus A350-900s from Philippine Airlines. However, these aircraft currently have the configurations of their previous airlines, while Lufthansa’s other Airbus A350-900s have the company’s own current interiors.

Lufthansa Allegris on the Boeing 787-9 will have 28 Business Class seats, 28 Premium Economy Class seats and 231 Economy Class seats. Airbus A350-900s will be configured with four First Class seats, 38 Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy Class seats and 201 Economy Class seats. Existing aircraft in the fleet, including the carrier’s Boeing 747-8s, will also be retrofitted with the new cabins.

First Class

Lufthansa’s new First Class suite will be fully enclosed, with ceiling-high walls and fabric flexible doors. There will be four seats on the airline’s Airbus A350-900s, with the two center seats are being called the “Suite Plus.” The product consists of two adjacent seats that turn into a double bed. It appears that the Suite Plus seats will only be available as a pair, meaning that the cabin will have three suites but four seats.

The new suites will also feature a personal wardrobe, suite-width screens, and wireless charging. They will also have a heating and cooling system that allows passengers to set their own temperature.

Lufthansa Allegris First Class Suite Rendering (Photo: Lufthansa)

Business Class

Business Class will also feature a heating and cooling system, wireless charging as well as a personal minibar and wardrobe.

Lufthansa states that it will have seven different seating options in its new Business Class:

The first row of seats will be suites with doors in a 1-2-1 configuration. The center two seats will be a double suite.
The cabin will have staggered seats. Individual “throne-style” seats in the center section are being called “Extra-Space Seats.”
Seats directly beside the window are being called window seats.
Some seats will have an extra-long 2.2-meter bed.
The last window seats in the cabin will be window seats with extra privacy and a baby bassinet.
The center seats in the last row of business class have a retractable center console.
Window seats that are closer to the aisle in the staggered configuration and other aisle seats in the center section are being called “Classic Business Class Seats.”

Lufthansa Allegris Business Class Cabin Rendering (Photo: Lufthansa)

Premium Economy Class

These seats will be hard-shell seats with approximately 39 inches of pitch. They will also have wireless charging.

Economy Class

Economy Class will feature 31 inches of pitch, tablet holders and USB ports. Interestingly, Lufthansa has also stated that passengers may have the option to book a free seat beside themselves.

SWISS Senses

SWISS’ name for its new onboard experience is “SWISS Senses.” As previously mentioned, the hard products appear to be the same as those being installed on Lufthansa’s aircraft, except with SWISS finishes.

The new cabins will be debuting in 2025 and will be installed first on their Airbus A330-300s, followed by their Boeing 777-300ERs. SWISS is also set to receive five Airbus A350-900s that will come with the new cabins installed. The airline’s older Airbus A340-300 fleet is scheduled to be retired in 2025.

First Class

Like the new Lufthansa product, SWISS’ new First Class will have a heating and cooling system, ceiling-high doors and walls, personal wardrobes and large screens with 4k resolution.

Business Class

While the Business Class seats are in the same staggered configuration as seen in Lufthansa’s new cabins, SWISS is categorizing the seats into only five types: Privacy Seat, Extra Long Bed, Double Seat, Extra Space Seat and Classic Seat.

Premium Economy and Economy Class

As seen in the photos below, the Premium and Economy Class are the same as the ones being installed with Lufthansa Allegris. The Premium Economy Class seats are ZIM Aircraft Seating’s ZIMprivacy product and Recaro’s CL3810 was selected as the Economy Class seat.

SWISS Senses Premium Economy Class Rendering (Photo: SWISS)

SWISS Senses Economy Class Rendering (Photo: SWISS)

A Refreshed Onboard Experience

The parallel announcements from the two airlines show a move to standardize the products being offered across the Lufthansa Group fleets. The group will invest 2.5 billion Euros ($2.67 billion) into products and service.

“Every guest has their own understanding of premium, which is why we focus on maximum individuality and exclusivity,” said Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer Jens Ritter at the launch of the “First Class Suite Plus” in Berlin. “The Allegris range promises individuality, exclusivity, and premium service along the entire travel chain.”

“This is the most comprehensive cabin renewal in the history of our company,” SWISS Chief Executive Officer Dieter Vranckx stated in a press release. “As a premium airline, we want to pay due and full regard to our customer’s desire for more individuality. And with this extremely high-quality product, we can continue to meet all our high aspirations.”

Andrew Chen

China’s International Flight Recovery Falling Behind Expectations

Lei Yan

Tuesday, March 07, 2023 at 10:28 AM ET

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Edited By:

Parker Davis

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

On March 2, China’s international flights exceeded 500 flights for the first time in three years. Since the pandemic, China has adopted harsh quarantine requirements for all international travelers, and such measures were just released two months ago on January 8. Since then, the public expected an expeditious recovery of China’s international flights. However, after two months, the total international flights still only account for less than 10% of what it was in 2019, despite the 500% growth compared to the same time in 2022.

Over the past two months, the majority of China’s international flight resumption has been focusing on short-haul flights with destinations in Southeast Asia. In late March, when the summer-fall season of flight schedule commences, more flights to the Middle East and Europe will resume. However, the flights are still considerably fewer than they were in 2019.

On Europe routes, traditional mainlines such as Beijing to Frankfurt will increase to 10 flights per week, with 7 Lufthansa flights and 3 Air China flights. Back in 2019, 28 weekly flights were operated between two cities. Similar stories are observed among flights connecting other major European cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, and London.

On North American routes, no advancements have been made as the authorities from both sides of the Pacific reached an impasse regarding adding flights between the countries. Currently, 24 weekly flights are operated between China and US, and 10 weekly flights are operated between China and Canada. For the past three years, North American carriers were leveraging Seoul as the technical stop, so that the crews can avoid laying over in China under the quarantine requirement. At this moment, all US carriers have canceled the technical stops in Seoul for their flights, as their crews can now lay over in China without any quarantine.

Destinations in Australia and New Zealand are also expecting more flights from China. Though not as much as they were before the pandemic, now there will be daily flights connecting China to destinations in Oceania, some of which to multiple Chinese cities. Flights to China and Africa are not recovering as quickly as in other regions, and so far the connection between China and the continent is largely relying on transiting through the Middle East.

Several Competing Factors

When it comes to resuming international flights, the game between different authorities can get complex. Different calculations, including epidemic control, slot availability, and even political factors, are in play when it comes to flight resumption.

For Asian countries, their connections to China are considered important, as they may have more economic ties and immediate interests with China than countries not in the region. Korea, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand all announced ambitious plans to resume flights from China. Korea is even planning to resume flights to China back to 608 flights per week soon, the same level it was in 2019.

As for Europe, authorities are more cautious when resuming flights to China. European authorities are concerned that, as Russian airspace is closed for most of the European carriers, Chinese carriers may have an advantage for flights between China and Europe. So far, a relatively conservative resumption plan is in place to slowly retain connections between firsttier Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, as a priority. The situation that even second-tier Chinese cities are connected to Europe may need to wait for a longer time to reappear.

As for North America, countries have the same concerns as the Europeans. As the atmosphere between China and US is still intense, the authorities are still reluctant to approve any applications for new routes. As of this moment, Chinese carriers and US carriers each have 12 weekly slots between the two countries, and will likely maintain this level until May or even further.

Additionally, as Chinese flights were disappearing for the last three years, flights between North America and Europe have been thriving. Airport slots have been occupied by those newly opened transatlantic routes, and it would be hard for Chinese carriers to reacquire available slots for them to operate at European airports.

As the country finally reopens to international travelers, the public is expecting more opportunities to travel between China and the rest of the world. However, the world now is a lot different than it was before the pandemic, and it is still uncertain when will international flights in and out of China will be fully resumed.

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.

Air Mauritius Resumes Flights to New Delhi, Boosting Outbound Tourism

Victor Shalton

Monday, March 06, 2023 at 01:20 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

An Air Mauritius Airbus A330-900 at the Paris Airshow 2019 (Photo: Airbus)

Air Mauritius has announced that it will resume direct flights to New Delhi in May, providing a major boost to outbound tourism from India to Mauritius. The move comes after a three-year absence of Air Mauritius operations in New Delhi. The airline will operate two weekly flights using its Airbus A330 aircraft, with a business and economy class configuration that has a capacity of 254 seats.

Poor Connectivity

Until now, the only direct service to Mauritius from India has been to Mumbai, making it challenging to restore tourist traffic from India to the Indian Ocean island. Lack of flights from other cities in India, notably New Delhi, has been a long-standing issue raised in various forums. With the resumption of direct flights, Air Mauritius aims to address this challenge and facilitate greater connectivity between the two countries.

The flight duration from New Delhi to Port Louis will be 7 hours and 30 minutes. According to the airline’s press statement, flight MK745 will depart from Delhi every Thursday and Sunday at 8 a.m., arriving in Port Louis at 2 p.m. the same day. The flight from Port Louis to New Delhi will depart every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:15 p.m. arriving in New Delhi at 6:15 a.m.

Air Mauritius is proud to celebrate 50 years of presence in Mumbai in April this year. In its press statement, the airline’s CEO, Krešimir Kučko, expressed excitement about the resumption of operations to New Delhi and the opportunities it presents to explore new avenues with Air India. Seamless connectivity via both Mumbai and New Delhi will be offered to and from a number of destinations in India, Kučko said.

Air Mauritius boasts one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the world, with the latest generation aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900 XWB and the Airbus A330-900neo. The airline is committed to providing safe and comfortable flights to its customers while ensuring the highest standards of hygiene and safety protocols.

The resumption of flights to New Delhi will open up new opportunities for travellers from India to explore the diverse and beautiful island of Mauritius. Visitors can expect to enjoy its sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and abundant marine life, along with a rich culture that reflects its history and people-to-people ties with India.

Mauritius has been a popular destination for Indian tourists, with its visa-free policy for Indian passport holders and cultural similarities between the two nations. The resumption of direct flights to New Delhi is expected to further strengthen these ties and encourage more people to visit the island.

The resumption of Air Mauritius operations to New Delhi is a significant development that will facilitate greater connectivity between India and Mauritius. It will provide a major boost to outbound tourism from India to the island, opening up new opportunities for travellers to experience its unique culture and natural beauty. With the highest safety and hygiene standards in place, Air Mauritius is committed to providing a safe and comfortable travel experience to its passengers.

Victor Shalton