KLM Unveils Efforts For Sustainable Flight

Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 11:00 PM ET

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A KLM 787-9 parked on the tarmac in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Terrill Murriel)

Sustainable aviation has slowly been gaining ground over the past few years. We’ve seen start ups across the world try to electrify flight or use hydrogen to power planes. In addition, the movement towards carbon neutral flight operations is prominent.

This technology is still in its infancy and has a long road to travel before it becomes commercially viable. What airlines are doing in the meantime is coming up with ways to reduce carbon emissions. This is through flying more fuel-efficient aircraft, utilizing fuel burn reduction techniques and utilizing sustainable aviation fuel.

It’s no surprise that the environmentally conscious folks in Europe are the ones leading the charge given their recent push towards more utilization of sustainable aviation fuel.

One such airline is KLM. The airline is aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 30% over the next 7 years compared to 2019 levels.

KLM is taking part in the Sustainable Flight Challenge, a challenge to come up with new ideas and feasible solutions for sustainable aviation. A group of KLM employees had come up with the idea after drawing inspiration from the London to Melbourne Race in 1934.

This race aimed to make the world more accessible and connect people with one another. The Sustainable Flight Challenge focuses on driving the world towards operating regular commercial scheduled service as sustainably as possible.

Sustainable Flight Challenge

KLM flew two rountrip flights from May 16 to May 18 from Amsterdam to Los Angeles to kick off the challenge. The route will be operated by a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner and will test new initiatives in aviation sustainability.

The first of which is using sustainable aviation fuel. The goal is for the airline to operate the flights from both airports with a fuel blend that contains 50 percent sustainable aviation fuel, the maximum amount airlines are permitted to use.

The airline is also focusing on weight reduction across the cargo and passenger sections of the aircraft. Cardboard will be introduced across several components of the cargo operation. Instead of wood supports and wooden pallets, a type of cardboard, will be used that is comprised of 94 percent recycled paper.

Within the passenger cabin, lighter tableware and recycled trays. Most notably, the airline will not be serving any meat on flights to Los Angeles to further reduce environmental impact. Cabin crew will also have new uniforms and supplies made of organic and recycled materials. The number of paper boarding passes will also be reduced along with an elimination of printing at gates.

The expectation is that all of this will result in a signification reduction in carbon emissions. Last year’s attempt saw a reduction in emissions by 37 percent compared to regular commercial services. This year should see a greater reduction in emissions. Results will be released at the end of June.

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.

Sun Country Announces New Leisure Routes

Zach Cooke

Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 07:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A Sun Country 737 on the taxiway. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Recently, Sun Country Airlines announced the resumption of flights between its main base and hub in Minneapolis to St. Maarten in a release to the press. The city pair was previously connected before the pandemic but was axed during Covid. The carrier also announced an expansion of its current service out of Milwaukee.

The flights to St. Maarten will be operated once weekly on Saturdays from Jan. 13 through April 6 next year. The route will be operated by one of the airline’s 53 Boeing 737-800s aircraft. At just under 2,500 nautical miles, the route will be one of the longest the carrier operates out of their Minneapolis-St. Paul hub, with the return westbound flight time estimated to be just over six hours.

Grant Whitney, Sun Country’s Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, is enthusiastic about the new offering for customers stating, “[W]ith this schedule extension, we are giving customers more flights and choices in existing markets. We are also very excited to welcome St. Maarten back to the Sun Country network.”

While a seasonal route to a Caribbean island that will last for four months seems like a short stint of time, seasonal flights actually make up the majority of Sun Country’s route structure. When looking at cities served on the carrier’s website, only 13 out of the 94 destinations served by the carrier are served on a year around basis at the time of writing. This means that a whopping 86% of the flying Sun Country does is done on a seasonal basis.

Expansion In Milwaukee

Milwaukee will also see an uptick in service from the Minneapolis-based carrier. Included in the press release, the carrier will boost its Milwaukee to Cancún, Mexico service offering daily flights this winter. Milwaukee customers will also see new flights to Fort Myers, Fla. and Orlando, Fla., along with Phoenix this winter.

The resumption of the seasonal routes fits right into Sun Country’s route structure, offering flights fitted for leisure travel customers. The low-cost carrier operates Boeing 737-800 aircraft for scheduled passenger service consisting of an all-economy class layout.

The airline offers an economy product labeled as “Best” with additional legroom, more recline and an alcoholic beverage included in the ticket price. All passengers have access to onboard entertainment, a perfect way to pass the time on the way to one of the carrier’s newly announced warm-weather, leisure destinations.

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.

The Acquisition of Asiana Airlines Remains Uncertain

Pete Ainsley

Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 06:20 AM ET

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A Korean Air A380 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Korean Air could fall short of acquiring Asiana Airlines after clearing 11 hurdles in the past two years. The U.S. is considering filing a lawsuit to block the acquisition. According to Politico, the Department of Justice has been investigating the deal for two years. It came after the potential blockage from the EU. The plan could fall through without agreeing from the pair.

The merger concerns the U.S. that it could make less competition on passenger and cargo services between the U.S. and South Korea. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines provide service to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York and Honolulu.

In addition, the administration is also concerned that the Korean carriers could have a monopoly on cargo transportation. The decision could affect the stability of the supply chain, such as microchips.

“At the last meeting with the DOJ on May 12, Korean Air learned that the authority has yet to take a position nor has a confirmed timeline.” Korean Air said in a statement.

The U.S. government has blocked a few aviation mergers in recent years. Earlier, the U.S. filed suit to stop JetBlue from buying Spirit Airlines in March, and succeeding in opposing a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines in 2021. But the Asiana acquisition could be the first time it breaks up the acquisition of foreign airlines.

Waiting for a nod of approval

In the meantime, the EU remains skeptical about the merger, worrying the acquisition could result in increasing airfares and decreasing the quality of passenger and air transport services in the future. The bloc said the merger could restrict competition in the provision of passenger transport services on four routes between South Korea and France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and cargo air transport services between the European Economic Area (EEA) and South Korea.

In 2021, Air Canada canceled the acquisition of Transat after opposition by the EU.

Korean Air is expected to provide remedy to ease its monopoly, giving up some slots to Europe. However, the EU hasn’t accepted the packages from Korean Air thus far. Both Korean carriers monopolized flight operations from Seoul to Barcelona and 75% market share in Rome before 2019.

The EU is expected to announce the final decision in August.

“Korean Air has made, and continues to make, every effort to obtain all necessary approvals by emphasizing that the majority of the customers on the affected routes are Korean nationals and that the airline fully complies with a robust and comprehensive set of remedies ordered by Korea’s Fair Trade Commission,” Korean Air said.

The Korean flag carrier needs to clear 14 hurdles before making the deal. After two years, Korean Air got 11 approvals from the competitors’ authorities, including Australia, Singapore, and the U.K. Japan also hasn’t given the green light beside the U.S. and EU at the moment.

Pete Ainsley

ASKY Airlines Leases 737 MAX Jets, Expands Regional Connectivity

Victor Shalton

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 08:10 AM ET

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A Boeing 737 MAX in Renton, Wash. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ryan Krautkremer)

ASKY Airlines, the Pan-African carrier based in Togo, has announced its latest development in expanding its fleet through a lease partnership with AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company. ASKY Airlines, which provides intra-African connectivity, is set to lease two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from AerCap. These aircraft will be the first MAX models in ASKY’s fleet, which currently consists of Airbus and Bombardier aircraft.

The lease agreement marks a significant milestone for ASKY Airlines, as it continues to strengthen its presence in the African aviation industry. The two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are scheduled for delivery between June and August 2023.

The CEO of ASKY Airlines, Esayas W. Hailu, expressed his excitement about introducing the aircraft to the ASKY fleet in a press statement. “I consider it an honor to introduce state-of-the-art B737-8 MAX aircraft into the ASKY fleet, which will support our wide regional network in our continuous endeavor to serve our esteemed customers,” remarked Esayas W. HAILU, the CEO of ASKY. “I am confident that the introduction of B737-8 MAX will further enhance ASKY’s brand image before the eyes of the traveling public. It feels great to be the region’s leading customer to AerCap, the world’s largest owners of commercial aircraft.”

Partnership with AerCap

AerCap, known for its extensive aircraft leasing operations worldwide, welcomed ASKY Airlines as a new customer and expressed its pleasure in placing the first MAX aircraft in Togo. Aengus Kelly, the CEO of AerCap, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of African aviation.

“We are delighted to welcome ASKY as a new customer to AerCap and particularly pleased to place the first MAX in Togo,” said Aengus Kelly, the CEO of AerCap. “AerCap is the largest lessor in Africa with 14 airline customers on the continent, and we are pleased to continue to support the growth and development of African aviation. We wish the ASKY team every success and look forward to working with them as these aircraft deliver.”

With 14 airline customers on the continent, AerCap remains the largest lessor in Africa, contributing to the advancement of the aviation industry in the region. The lease agreement ceremony was attended by key figures from ASKY Airlines, AerCap, Ethiopian Airlines Group, and other distinguished guests.

Asky Partnership with Ethiopian Airlines

ASKY Airlines, established by a group of banking institutions including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), and the ECOBANK Group (ETI), aims to foster regional development, tourism, economic growth, and regional integration within Africa.

The collaboration between ASKY Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines extends beyond aircraft leasing, encompassing a strategic partnership that has further bolstered ASKY’s operations.

With a fleet of twelve aircraft, ASKY currently serves 26 destinations across 24 countries in 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.

Air Saint-Pierre’s Unique Transatlantic Domestic Route Returns

Andrew Chen

Monday, May 22, 2023 at 03:21 AM ET

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Jack Dawin

ASL Airlines France Boeing 737-700 (Photo: Gilbert Hechema (Wikimedia Commons), licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

A small French territory of 6,000 people located off the Canadian east coast hosts a rare and unique transatlantic domestic route. Air Saint-Pierre’s seasonal service connecting the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon with mainland France returns this summer for its fourth season.

The route is offered by Air Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon’s local airline. While its operations primarily connect the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon to nearby Canadian destinations using a small fleet of turboprop aircraft, the airline also operates a seasonal summer route between Saint-Pierre Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The once-weekly service returns this year on June 19, 2023.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon: A French Overseas Collectivity

Located approximately 12 miles off the coast of the eastern Canadian province of Newfound and Labrador, Saint Pierre and Miquelon consists of an archipelago of eight small islands. It has approximately 93 square miles of land and a population of around 6,000 residents. Despite being surrounded by Canada, it is distinctly French: street signs are written in French and have European designs, cars have European-style license plates and the local currency is the Euro.

As the last remaining part of New France – the once-vast area of North America under French colonial rule – Saint Pierre and Miquelon is now an overseas collectivity of France. While overseas departments and regions like Guadeloupe and Réunion have the same status as mainland regions of France, overseas collectivities like Saint Pierre and Miquelon and French Polynesia have semi-autonomous status.

Air Saint-Pierre: Saint Pierre and Miquelon’s Little Airline

Since Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a series of islands, access to the archipelago is only possible by sea or air. A ferry connects Saint-Pierre and Fortune Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, while Air Saint-Pierre provides air service to the territory’s two airports.

Saint-Pierre is the capital of the territory and home to approximately 90 percent of the population. As such, most of Air Saint-Pierre’s flights are based out of Saint-Pierre Airport, with Miquelon Airport only having a short flight connecting it to Saint-Pierre. Air Saint-Pierre is the lone airline that serves Saint-Pierre Airport, which has a small terminal and a single 5,908-foot runway.

Since its founding in 1964, Air Saint-Pierre has operated a variety of aircraft on its inter-island flights and its flights to Canada, including the Beechcraft Model 18, the Douglas DC-3 and the Hawker Siddeley HS 748. Today, it operates a fleet of three turboprop aircraft, consisting of one 46-seat ATR 42-600 and two Reims-Cessna F406s with eight seats each. In addition to its route connecting the two islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, it also connects Saint-Pierre with Canadian airports like Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Montréal–Trudeau International Airport and St. John’s International Airport.

Air Saint-Pierre ATR 42-500 at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in 2015 (Photo: Gilbert Hechema (Wikimedia Commons), licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License Version 1.2)

Air Saint-Pierre’s Domestic Transatlantic Route

Air Saint-Pierre launched a transatlantic service between Saint-Pierre Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in the summer of 2018. Despite the airline’s founding in 1964 and the construction of Saint-Pierre’s current airport in 1999, there had been no direct service between Saint Pierre and Miquelon and mainland France until the establishment of this route. The service operated in 2018 and 2019 but was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route returned in the summer of 2022.

Given the fact that Air Saint-Pierre’s turboprops are unable to make the transatlantic crossing, the airline wet leases a Boeing 737-700 from ASL Airlines France for the route. The aircraft has an all-economy configuration with 148 seats.

The route is scheduled to operate from June 19 to September 5, 2023. Eastbound flights leave St-Pierre every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and arrive in Paris at 8:05 p.m., making it a rare daytime transatlantic flight. Westbound flights are scheduled to leave Paris on Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in St-Pierre at 6:30 p.m. The route offers some of the shortest transatlantic flights available, with an eastbound flight time of five hours and 35 minutes and a westbound flight time of six hours.

Air Saint-Pierre is also unique in the fact that it offers fixed pricing on its routes. The carrier’s website lists fares for all its routes. Adult fares on its Paris route start from 589 Euros ($637) for the westbound flight and 623 Euros on the eastbound flight.

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.

EasyJet Opens First New Base in the U.K. Since Pandemic

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 11:11 PM ET

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An EasyJet A319 in Munich. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

English low-cost carrier, EasyJet, announced the opening of a new base in the U.K., marking a significant step forward in the airline’s post-pandemic recovery. The new base, which will open its doors in March 2024, will be the first to open in the U.K. since the COVID-19 emergency and will provide a significant boost to the country’s economy. The creation of around 100 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect jobs is expected to have a positive impact on the U.K. labor market.

Birmingham will be home to the new easyJet base. The low-cost carrier will base three 186-seat A320s aircraft at Birmingham Airport, strengthening easyJet’s network in the U.K. and expanding travel options to new routes in Europe. This will be its ninth base in the U.K.

EasyJet already operates domestic and international services from Birmingham to destinations including Amsterdam, Geneva, Milan, Naples, Lisbon, Faro and Palma de Mallorca. From this summer, the airline will operate its biggest-ever schedule in the country, increasing capacity by around eight percent on the pre-pandemic period, adding one million seats and opening 57 new routes, 23 of which will depart from the U.K.

U.K. still the No. 1 market for Easyjet

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said the opening of the new base was evidence of the strong demand for travel, which continues to grow. The U.K. is easyJet’s largest market, with 55 percent of all passengers flying to and from U.K. airports. The British low-cost carrier began operations at London Luton almost 30 years ago and has since carried more than 800 million customers to and from the U.K.

Commenting on the expansion plans, easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said: “Having served Birmingham for many years, the decision to open a base and grow at the airport is a testament to the strong demand we are seeing, coupled with the importance of the U.K. market in supporting our profitable growth.”

The new base in Birmingham will not only have a positive impact on the local economy through direct and indirect job creation but will also support the U.K.’s domestic connectivity. Every aircraft based in the U.K. directly supports 400 jobs and adds £27 million ($33.6 million) of value to the country’s economy, taking into account direct, indirect and induced effects. Nick Barton, Managing Director of Birmingham Airport (BHX), said: “This major investment by easyJet is a huge vote of confidence in the West Midlands.”

This new base is a significant milestone in the U.K.’s post-pandemic aviation recovery. With a current fleet of over 300 aircraft flying nearly 1,000 routes to over 150 airports in 35 countries, EasyJet’s increased capacity and new routes confirm its position as one of the largest and most resilient airlines in the U.K. and Europe.

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.

WestJet Pilots, Company Reach Agreement After Canceling Dozens of Flights

John Flett

Friday, May 19, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A WestJet Boeing 787 enters the runway at Paine Field in Washington. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

Canada’s WestJet and Swoop airlines cancelled over 200 flights in response to an industrial dispute with 1800 pilots. CBC News reports that 92 flights due to operate on Thursday were cancelled in addition to strategic cancellations already made by the airline ahead of the long holiday weekend.

“We are extremely disheartened to find ourselves in a place where we have to activate our contingency plan and subsequent takedown of our network as a result of the strike notice served by Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and their inability to accept a reasonable offer,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group, said in a statement. “We deeply regret the disruption this will have on the travel plans of our guests and the communities and businesses that rely on our critical air service,”

According to CBC News, the Canadian federal labour minister, the government’s head mediator, WestJet’s CEO and the pilots’ union leaders have continued to hold talks in Toronto. In a press release on Thursday Hoensbroech added: “We remain at a critical impasse with the union and have been left with no choice but to begin taking the painful steps of preparing for the reality of a work stoppage.”

ALPA say pay, job security and scheduling are at the core of the negotiations that led to the issuing of a strike notice on Monday. In response, the WestJet group issued a lockout notice to ALPA and indicated steps would be taken to manage the impact of any strike action. This included strategic cancellations around the network, communicating with affected passengers and implementing flexible policies allowing passengers to reschedule flights.

Union and Company Reach Agreement

Overnight on Thursday, WestJet and its pilots reached an Agreement-in-Principle (AIP), according to CBC News, therefore averting a strike action. The pilot group will now vote to set the agreement into motion.

A spokesperson for WestJet told CBC News that it is restarting operations “as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, the full resumption of operations will take time.”

The May holiday weekend comes as some university and high school students conclude examinations and begin summer vacation. WestJet had been scheduled to operate close to 4,000 flights in the coming week though reportedly ‘online bookings for flights on major routes such as Calgary-Vancouver and Toronto-Calgary are unavailable to book until Tuesday (23 May).’

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.

London’s Heathrow Airport Records Substantial Recovery Amid Controversial Landing Fees

Pete Ainsley

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 10:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

British Airways Airbus A321neo at London Heathrow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

After one year of lifting the travel restrictions in the U.K., London’s Heathrow Airport has recorded 6.4 million passengers travel through the airport for April.

Earlier, the country’s busiest airport has welcomed 16.9 million passengers in the first quarter of 2023, becoming the Europe’s busiest airport and second in the world for international travel. The airport has seen a 93-95% levels of 2019 levels across the first four months of this year.

“It is only 12 months since all international travel restrictions in the U.K. were lifted, and we have made tremendous progress.” John Holland-Kaye, CEO of the airport said.

Holland-Kaye will leave Heathrow later this year after nine years at helm.

Logan Air, the regional airline has launched its service at Heathrow. Heathrow has stepped into London’s City Airport and London’s Stansted Airport’s shoes to operate the services to Dundee and Derry.

According to the airline, this was a game-changer for regional connectivity. The routes are operating under the government’s Public Service Obligation scheme.

Meanwhile, Heathrow will enhance its services to China by adding frequencies to Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai to twice daily before the summer.

Airport Landing Fees

Despite the airport has seen a remarkable recovery, the airport reported a loss of 139 million Pounds ($173.63 million) in the first quarter of 2023.

Heathrow is accused of keeping its prices too high. According to the local media, the airport expects to increase the landing fees to GBP 40 per passenger from GBP 31.57 in coming years, in response to a loss of 684 million pounds in the last financial year.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has ruled the airport could only charge GBP 25.43 per passenger during 2024-26. CAA said the new fee is the right level for consumers while allowing the airport to make an investment for the future.

Heathrow was left disappointed and insisted the higher fees could provide a better service to passengers, but the airlines said that it pays through the nose for the services.

“The CAA decision contained multiple errors of fact and judgment, including pessimistic passenger forecasts that ignore the strength of recovering demand,” a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said.

IATA said the rule is “generous” to Heathrow with suggesting the current system for deciding fees needs a review.

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the competition watchdog has granted the permission to Heathrow, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines to appeal against CAA’s decision on the Heathrow landing fee.

Heathrow has been in dispute with the British carriers over the landing fees for years.

British Airways said Heathrow is three times more expensive than its EU airports. Virgin Atlantic said the foreign shareholders stand to benefit from the high landing fee, not the country. As a result of the landing fee dispute, Virgin Atlantic has withdrawn the support of Heathrow third runway last year.

Pete Ainsley

New Pan Am-Era Private Terminal Coming to Miami Airport

Hemal Gosai

Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 07:13 AM ET

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Former Pan Am facility in Miami (Photo: Miami Dade County)

Pan Am was an airline that revolutionized the aviation industry. The airline started service in 1927 delivering mail and through most of the 20^th Century was a world-renowned airline with modern aircraft and luxurious service. The airline started dealing with financial difficulties beginning in the 1970s and was eventually bought out by Delta in 1991.

There are some relics surviving today that remind us of the glory days of Pan Am. One of those is its now repurposed building at Miami International Airport. It will now be the airport’s first private terminal offering a polished experience for passengers willing to pay to avoid the crowds and the peering eyes.

PS, the company formerly known as The Private Suite, will be running the operation. One can look at their private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport to understand how their operation works.

Passengers will enter the terminal and clear through on-site TSA security screenings before accessing a very private lounge experience featuring balconies and courtyards for passengers to take in the sights before being driven to their aircraft.

Arriving passengers will experience much of the same through a pick-up directly at the jet bridge upon arrival.

Preserving the Legacy

The most notable aspect of this announcement is that – while the Pan Am building is being repurposed – much of it will remain the same to preserve its historic integrity.

Architect Richard Heisenbottle will be leading the efforts to create what they call an adaptive, effective, modern, and beautiful space that is in accordance with the Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for the Restoration and Rehabilitation of Historic Structures. Details have not yet been released on what this will entail.

All of the work is expected to take time since many historic structures often face significant oversight to ensure that any modifications done are compliant with regulations set to ensure the preservation of the structure. It’s expected that all of the work will be completed by sometime in 2025.

PS appears to be heavily invested in this project along with others. Their private terminal at Los Angeles International was initially met with some skepticism but has turned out to be a big hit. This has put the company on a path of growth with new private terminals in the works in Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth, along with the newly announced terminal in Miami.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will see its own private terminal, run by PS, come into service later this Summer. Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport is expected to have its private terminal completed and ready for service by Spring 2025.

Hemal Gosai

Breeze Begins Its Longest Nonstop Flight

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10:38 PM ET

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Breeze Airways Embraer 190 tail (Photo: Breeze Airways)

Breeze Airways, a Salt Lake City-based start-up airline, has announced the launch of its longest nonstop service from Providence’s T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This new addition to Breeze’s expanding route network marks a significant milestone for the airline and provides travelers in the New England region with a convenient and affordable option for traveling to the West Coast.

Passengers can now enjoy the ease and comfort of flying nonstop between Providence and Los Angeles, saving valuable time and avoiding the hassle of connecting flights. The inaugural flight from PVD to LAX took place on Wednesday, and Breeze Airways celebrated the occasion with a special event at T.F. Green International Airport.

Breeze Airways has gained a reputation for its unique business model as a ‘Nice Low Cost Carrier’ (NLCC), offering a so-called balance of efficiency, affordability, and passenger-friendly policies.

The nonstop service from PVD to LAX will be operated by Breeze Airways’ modern and fuel-efficient Airbus A220 aircraft. The A220 is renowned for its superior performance, providing a comfortable and smooth flying experience for passengers. With this aircraft, Breeze is able to operate on shorter runways from smaller airports, enabling the airline to connect city pairs that have previously not enjoyed nonstop service.

Passengers on Breeze Airways’ Providence-Los Angeles route will also benefit from the airline’s commitment to enhancing the onboard experience. Breeze Ascent, the airline’s rebranded front seating section, offers an elevated travel experience with recliner-style seats, complimentary snacks and beverages (including alcohol), and additional legroom.

@BreezeAirways launches four new destinations from BDL!

Starting this week, enjoy nonstop service to Fort Myers, FL, New Orleans, LA, and Tampa, FL. Breeze is also adding one-stop/no plane change ‘BreezeThru’ flights to Los Angeles, CA.

Learn more > https://t.co/dnMT32juNS pic.twitter.com/QOCvZGVkP2

— Bradley Intl Airport (@Bradley_Airport) May 17, 2023

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

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