EgyptAir to Launch Nonstop Flights to Newark in June 2023

Monday, April 10, 2023 at 01:51 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

An EgyptAir Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner preparing to depart for Cairo using sustainable aviation fuel. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

EgyptAir has recently announced a new addition to its route network with the launch of a new route connecting Cairo to Newark Liberty International Airport in the New Jersey. The airline plans to begin operating this new route starting June 3, 2023, with three flights per week using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

The new route will provide travelers with an additional option for getting to the United States, as it complements EgyptAir’s existing service to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) which operates daily.

Flights will be flown using the same schedule as the existing Cairo-JFK flight on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that will be used for the new route offers the airline’s standard layout, including 30 seats in business class and 279 seats in economy. Passengers on this route can expect a flight time of approximately 11 hours and 35 minutes.

EgyptAir’s decision to launch this new route to Newark is a strategic move, as the airline will have no direct competition on this route. The airline also has a strong partnership with United Airlines, its alliance partner in the Star Alliance network. This partnership enables EgyptAir to offer passengers a wider range of options for travel within the United States, as it shares codes with United Airlines.

The new services will be flown alongside its existing daily Cairo-JFK flight, adding an additional option for travelers seeking flights between Egypt and the United States. The new flights will feature complimentary meals, beverages, and a range of entertainment options, all of which are sure to delight passengers on their journey.

In addition to the new route to Newark and the daily flights to JFK, EgyptAir also offers flights to other destinations in North America, including Washington-Dulles (four flights per week) and Toronto-Pearson (five flights per week).

Demand for Cairo-New York City

In 2019, the total round-trip point-to-point demand between Cairo and New York City — including both John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark — was 228,000 passengers, according to data from EgyptAir. The airline will be hoping to tap into this demand with the new nonstop flights to Newark.

The top 10 U.S.-Cairo market segments in 2019 were dominated by New York City, with a total of 228,000 passengers. Los Angeles and Washington, DC followed with 62,000 and 56,000 passengers, respectively. The remaining seven market segments were San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Boston, Miami, Orlando and Dallas.

It is yet to be determined whether the airline’s new flight to Newark will maintained on a year-round basis, as filling 10 weekly services to the New York City area in the low season period will be a major task. Nonetheless, the airline has expressed confidence in the success of the new route and is eager to expand its route network to provide passengers with more options for travel.

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.

Airbus Signs New Agreement with Chinese Government

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Sunday, April 09, 2023 at 05:28 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

China Southern Airbus A350-900 MSN398 (Photo: Airbus)

A few days ago in Beijing, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury signed new cooperation agreements with Chinese aviation industry partners, reaffirming the strategic partnership that Airbus and Chinese aviation began nearly 40 years ago.

The first agreement relates to the expansion of the Tianjin facility, which will increase the final assembly capacity of the Airbus A320 Family by adding a second production line. This important agreement was signed between the European aerospace giant, the Tianjin Free Trade Zone Investment Company Ltd. and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China Ltd. (AVIC, China’s state-owned aerospace and defense conglomerate headquartered in Beijing, the world’s second largest defense company in 2022) in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron. This will help Airbus achieve its global target of producing 75 aircraft per month in 2026 across its global production network.

There are already four Airbus A320 Family Final Assembly Plants, two in Europe in Hamburg and Toulouse, one in the U.S. in Mobile, Ala., and one in China in Tianjin, a municipality directly controlled by the Chinese central government. The Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FAL) started operations in 2008 and has assembled more than 600 Airbus A320 Family aircraft, with the first A321neo aircraft scheduled for delivery in March 2023.

The second agreement signed by Airbus is a General Terms of Agreement (GTA) with China Aviation Supplies (CAS) Holding Company (a state-owned enterprise specializing in aircraft procurement and aviation equipment supply) for the purchase of 160 Airbus commercial aircraft, including 150 Airbus A320 Family narrowbody aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft.

Finally, Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China National Aviation Fuel (CNAF) Group to intensify Sino-European cooperation in the production, formulation of common standards and supply chain optimization of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), diversifying sources and improving quality to achieve the target of using 10 percent SAF by 2030.

Agreements for the near future

Over the next 20 years, China’s air traffic is expected to grow by 5.3 percent per year, much faster than the global average of 3.6 percent. As a result, China’s demand for passenger and freighter aircraft will increase sharply between now and 2041, accounting for more than 20 percent of the world’s total demand for approximately 39,500 new aircraft over the next 20 years.

These agreements confirm the well-established partnership between Airbus and the Chinese aviation industry. Airbus’ presence in the Chinese market represents more than 50 percent of the market, and by the end of the first quarter of 2023, the Airbus fleet in service in China will exceed 2,100 aircraft.

Once again, China is demonstrating its ever-increasing role in the civil aviation landscape, working with leading global industry partners such as Airbus. However, the production capacity of Chinese-made aircraft, such as the COMAC C919, is expected to reach 150 aircraft per year within five years.

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.

Icelandair to Introduce Airbus A321XLR and A321LR into Fleet

John Flett

Friday, April 07, 2023 at 11:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Vanni Gibertini

Rendering of A321 in the Icelandair livery [Photo: Icelandair]

Icelandair has confirmed that Airbus A321XLR and A321LRs will replace its fleet of Boeing 757 aircraft and that the airline will begin to operate a mixed Boeing/Airbus fleet from 2025. Bogi Nils Bogason, President and Chief Executive Officer of Icelandair said: “The Boeing 757 has been the cornerstone of Icelandair’s operations since 1990. Its unique capabilities have underpinned the successful development of our extensive route network and competitive transatlantic hub by leveraging Iceland’s unique geographical location to connect North America and Europe via Iceland.”

“We are happy to announce that we have now reached a conclusion regarding Icelandair’s future fleet. We have decided that the capable and fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft, A321XLR and A321LR, will become the successors of the Boeing 757s we are gradually retiring,” Bogason stated. Thursday’s announcement of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the airline and Airbus indicated an initial order of 13 A321XLRs with purchase rights for a further 12. Though the first of the aircraft deliveries are slated for 2029 the airline noted that they are ‘currently in an advanced stage of negotiations in relation to four leased Airbus A321LR’ joining the fleet in two years’ time.

The airline had noted in January that an announcement on its future fleet strategy would be forthcoming. This week’s confirmation of the Airbus A321XLR and leased Airbus A321LRs entering the fleet alongside its current Boeing 757, 767, 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9s will mean the airline will have a mixed fleet from 2025.

The A321LR’s Increased Range Will Open Up New Opportunities

With a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) the leased A321LRs arriving in 2025 will service Icelandair’s current route network. Though with a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km), the A321LR will give the airline further strategic advantages. As Bogason acknowledged: “The excellent Airbus aircraft will not only allow us to further develop our proven business model around transatlantic flights but also open opportunities for future growth by entering new and exciting markets.”

According to the airline, the addition of the Airbus aircraft to Icelandair’s fleet will ‘reduce operating costs, further support Icelandair’s sustainability targets and offer exceptional customer experience through the aircraft design and unique features.’ By comparison to the 757 (183 seats), 737 MAX 8 (160 seats) and 737 MAX 9 (178) aircraft in the airline’s fleet, the Airbus aircraft will have ‘around 190 seats’ in Icelandair’s configuration.

As recently as last month, Icelandair announced significant growth in customer demand by releasing its most extensive northern winter schedule for 2023-24 with seasonal flights becoming year-round services. At the time, Tomas Ingason Icelandair Chief Revenue Officer said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to increase Icelandair’s capacity by 20-25%, compared to winter 2022/2023. We are always looking for further opportunities to optimize our network and connectivity for customers, so we can make even more travel options available to our passengers.” The addition of the Airbus A321XLR and A321LRs into Icelandair’s fleet will certainly provide further options to the airline’s customers.

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.

Avelo Airlines Expands Route Network in Florida

Zach Cooke

Thursday, April 06, 2023 at 04:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

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

On Thursday, Avelo Airlines announced a new destination in its route network: Melbourne, Fla. This announcement comes one day after the airline announced a new service to Daytona Beach, Fla., marking aggressive expansion for the relatively new airline. The carrier will connect Melbourne with New Haven, Conn. and Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

With the most recent announcement, the Houston-based carrier will now operate to eight Florida destinations, with two new destinations announced in the past two days. Flights out of Melbourne, Fla. will begin on June 21 with service to New Haven. Raleigh-Durham will begin on June 23. Both services will operate twice weekly.

Melbourne has seen an uptick in traffic over the past couple of years and significant facility upgrades. In 2021, the airport completed a $72 million expansion to be able to handle new services from TUI to multiple destinations in Europe after the airline left Orlando’s Sanford Airport.

On Wednesday, the airline also announced a new service to Daytona Beach, Fla. The airline will fly from New Haven to Daytona Beach twice weekly beginning on June 22.

Daytona Beach has seen several operators and routes come and go in recent years. Jetblue operated to the city out of New York’s John F. Kennedy International airport up until January 2019. Silver Airways also made a short stint operating out of the airport to Fort Lauderdale, however, suspended the route in July 2019. This new route will reconnect the Florida city to the northeast.

Daytona Beach and Melbourne to New Haven will be operated on Boeing 737-700s, while the Melbourne to Raleigh-Durham service will be operated on Avelo’s Boeing 737-800s. However, aircraft swaps do occur and this is subject to change.

Avelo’s route structure of point-to-point is further exemplified by the announcements of late. Since beginning operations on the East Coast in late 2021, the carrier has added 31 cities to its route map on the eastern seaboard.

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.

HK Express Receives First A321neo, Enters Into Service with Bangkok Flights

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, April 04, 2023 at 06:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

HK Express First A321neo (Photo : Airbus)

HK Express, Hong Kong’s low-cost carrier, has welcomed its first of the 16 Airbus A321neo aircraft — the Airbus’s update to the type with refreshed engines — with the remaining to be delivered over the next two years. The new airline has wasted no time in launching its maiden flight to Bangkok on Sunday.

The new flight features in vibrant shades of purple and white, with the new “e” shaped icon is painted on the winglets, vertical stabilizer and the bottom of the fuselage.

The single-aisle flight arrived at the right time as Japan and South Korea have canceled travel restrictions for passengers from the city, allowing the airline to open up its route network reminiscent of where it sat in early 2020.

The aircraft can hold 236 passengers, carrying six more than the carrier’s current Airbus A321ceo aircraft. However, HK Express has mentioned that passengers won’t be left uncomfortable due to a slightly altered cabin design.

HK Express has emphasized the importance of sustainability. The A321 delivers a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20% per seat, a key cost saving measure for the airline. In addition, the airline is going to introduce the “Passenger Carbon Offsetting Programme” in the second half of 2023.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the state-of-the-art A321neo aircraft to our fleet at this critical time as demand for international travel remains robust,” HK Express CEO Mandy Ng said in a statement.

HK Express is an all-Airbus operator currently owns a fleet of 27 Airbus A320 family aircraft.

“Airbus is proud to extend our relationship with the Cathay Pacific Group, and this new delivery represents a new milestone in our long relationship. The A321neo’s performance and efficiency will allow HK Express to expand its network, while reducing its carbon footprint.” Anand Stanley, President Airbus Asia-Pacific said.

Return to Pre-Pandemic Levels

After three years of the pandemic, the no-frills airline has seen the light at the end of the tunnel and the travel demand has seen a strong rebound. The airline will spread its wings again, expecting flight operations to return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming weeks, with more than 400 flights per week. The airline is looking forward to the number of weekly flights could reach 500, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

During the pandemic, HK Express had experienced the severe turbulence and suspended its services for months. Earlier, HK Express reported a loss of nearly 1.36 billion Hong Kong dollars ($173 million) for 2022 as a result of the pandemic. Cathay Pacific acquired HK Express from China’s HNA Group in 2019.

Hong Kong aviation industry is expected to see stiff competition between groups this year. Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines have begun to consolidate their positions and relaunch routes both new and renewed as travel restrictions begin to fall. Meanwhile, Greater Bay Airlines, the newest airline in Hong Kong, has gotten into gear, acquiring 15 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft — officially rebranded as Boeing 737-9s — to expand its route map.

Pete Ainsley

Auditor General Report Reveals $49M Fraud in Air Tanzania 767 Purchase

Victor Shalton

Monday, April 03, 2023 at 03:19 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

An Air Tanzania Airbus A320. (Photo: Air Tanzania, CC BY-SA 2.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0])

Air Tanzania’s highly anticipated Boeing 767F has been found to have an inflated invoice of nearly $50 million. The last installment for the manufacture of the plane was supposed to be $37 million, but instead, an $86 million invoice was submitted for payment, according to the latest Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

The report, which was read by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, calls for the resignation of all individuals involved in the fraud. “Where did this invoice come from? What did the contract say? And when you received the invoice, you still presented it to the government for payment. Stupid, what step did you take after you received the invoice? When you look at it critically, you will notice that the price hike is something that started internally,” said the President this week.

The cargo plane, with registration number 5H-TCO, was spotted at the Boeing Everett factory in Washington, D.C. It is among four Boeing planes that were ordered by the Tanzanian government in 2021 at a reported total cost of $726 million, including a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and two Boeing 737 MAX jets.

Brand new Air Tanzania Cargo ?? 767-300F 5H-TCO first test flight today from KPAE to KMWH and back. pic.twitter.com/H798bunTHx

— Jennifer Schuld (@JenSchuld) March 19, 2023

Air Tanzania’s first dedicated cargo plane will be based at Kilimanjaro International Airport, which will become a strategic hub for cargo operations in Tanzania. The nation’s carrier has reported losses of 35.2 billion shillings ($150 million), and the arrival of the new cargo plane is expected to boost the airline’s fortunes.

However, this revelation has caused concern among stakeholders, who fear that the airline may not be able to recover from such a loss. The fraud also raises questions about the government’s procurement processes and the possibility of similar incidents occurring in other areas. In addition, Air Tanzania was one of 42 government entities that recorded losses meaning that the airline is among the corporations that cannot pay debts quickly.

The President’s call for the resignation of those involved in the fraudulent activity is a step in the right direction, as it shows a commitment to stamping out corruption and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. It is essential for the Tanzanian government to take swift action to address this issue and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

It remains to be seen what action the government will take to address the issue and whether those responsible for inflating the invoice will face any legal repercussions. In the meantime, the delivery of the new cargo plane is likely to be delayed, as the government looks to investigate the matter and ensure that such fraud does not happen again in the future.

Victor Shalton

EVA Air Brings Back Hello Kitty Jet Service

Andrew Chen

Monday, April 03, 2023 at 03:47 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

An EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER Hello Kitty Jet named "Shining Star" (Photo: EVA Air)

One of the world’s most playful passenger experiences has returned as EVA Air announced that its Hello Kitty Jet service recommenced on March 27, 2023. For over a decade, EVA Air has worked with Japanese company Sanrio to offer a unique concept, which features the iconic anthropomorphic cat and other characters from the company.

While the Taipei-based carrier’s Hello Kitty Jet service was suspended on April 1, 2020, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers are now once again able to take Hello Kitty-themed flights.

An Immersive Experience

EVA Air has multiple aircraft painted in colorful special liveries featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters. The first iteration of the Hello Kitty Jets was launched in 2005 but was discontinued in 2009. In 2011, the airline announced the return of Hello Kitty Jets, which has continued to this day.

Over the years, various Airbus A320-200, A330-200, Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft have worn special Hello Kitty Jet liveries. Since aircraft are generally repainted every five to ten years, the airline has introduced over ten different liveries for its Hello Kitty Jets. Each aircraft is named based on its paint job, with the airline using names such as Shining Star, Hello Kitty Loves Apples and Celebration Flight.

An EVA Air Airbus A330-300 Hello Kitty Jet named “Hello Kitty Loves Apples” in 2015. This aircraft has since received a new Hello Kitty livery and is now named “Joyful Dream.” (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

The Hello Kitty theming extends far beyond the aircraft liveries. The presence of Hello Kitty is felt throughout the entire air travel experience. At check-in, passengers receive themed boarding passes and luggage tags. Upon boarding the aircraft, Hello Kitty finishings and amenities are immediately visible, with themed headrest covers, pillows and seatback screen content. In the seatback pocket, passengers will notice pink and white safety cards and airsickness bags. During the flight, EVA Air flight attendants don pink Hello Kitty aprons over their green uniforms to serve meals that include Hello Kitty cutlery ad other nods to the cat and her friends.

EVA Air Hello Kitty Jet meal (Photo: EVA Air)

EVA Air Hello Kitty Jet onboard service items (Photo: EVA Air)

Five Aircraft and Three Routes

The Taiwanese airline currently has five aircraft painted in Hello Kitty liveries, down from seven before the pandemic. The current Hello Kitty Jets are:

Friendship Bows: An Airbus A321-200 registered as B-16207
Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16331
Joyful Dream: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16332
Celebration Flight: An Airbus A330-300 registered as B-16333
Shining Star: A Boeing 777-300ER registered as B-16722

Prior to the service’s pandemic suspension, Hello Kitty Jet service was offered on numerous routes, including flights between Taipei and Singapore, Seoul and various Japanese destinations. In the past, the themed experience was also available on flights to long-haul destinations such as Paris, Houston and Los Angeles. However, Hello Kitty Jets service is now only available on three routes:

Flights BR115 and BR116 between Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and New Chitose Airport (Sapporo, Japan) are operating daily by either Joyful Dream or Celebration Flight.
Flights BR255 and BR256 between Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and Denpasar International Airport (Bali, Indonesia) are operated daily by either Joyful Dream or Celebration Flight.
Flights BR55 and BR56 between Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei, Taiwan) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport are operated three times a week by Shining Star.

EVA Air Airbus A330-300 Hello Kitty Jet Economy Class seats (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Andrew Chen)

When there are equipment changes on designated Hello Kitty Jet routes, the onboard themed service is generally still offered even if the aircraft flying that day does not have a Hello Kitty livery. Similarly, when Hello Kitty aircraft operate non-Hello Kitty Jet routes, the flights have regular EVA Air onboard service and amenities. This is currently the case with Friendship Bows and Bad Badtz-Maru Travel Fun, which are currently serving non-Hello Kitty Jet routes.

EVA Air has previously indicated that Hello Kitty Jet flights were very profitable, but the airline also faces unique costs with the service such as licensing fees as well as product design and manufacturing. Despite a three-year hiatus for the themed experience, the return of Hello Kitty Jet flights shows that the colorful aircraft will likely remain in the skies for years to come.

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.

ITA Airways, Lufthansa Partnership Moves Closer in New Approved Plan

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Sunday, April 02, 2023 at 07:59 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

ITA Airways aircraft at Rome Fiumicino Airport. (Photo: ITA Airways)

The Board of Directors of ITA Airways, Italy’s flag carrier and wholly owned by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), recently approved the business plan shared with the Lufthansa Group.

ITA Airways closed its 2022 with a loss of around 500 million euros. The EBITDA, a profitability indicator that shows a company’s income based on its operations, i.e. without taking into account interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of assets, was also -338 million. These figures will undoubtedly influence the final price to be agreed upon with the German group, but the increase in fuel costs is likely to have played a significant role.

Despite the losses, ITA Airways has implemented a strong digitalization of its processes during 2022 and has also committed itself to the sustainability of its fleet, using new generation aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and sustainable fuels.

Lufthansa confirms its willingness to acquire 40% of ITA Airways to secure a strategic alliance in Italy. Although it is a minority stake, it will have an impact on the future of the Italian airline, which has been increasing the number of members in its “Volare” loyalty program and load factors on long-haul routes. The Italian airline is reportedly negotiating with Lufthansa to buy a 40 percent stake in the company, worth around €250-300 million, with the idea of buying the rest at a later stage.

Lufthansa CEO, Carsten Spohr, traveled to Rome on March 30 to meet Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti and ITA Airways President Antonino Turicchi, who approved the joint industrial plan. This will define the development of ITA Airways in terms of fleet, network and strategic objectives following the agreement with Lufthansa, and will take the industrial partnership between the two airlines one step further.

At the end of January, the Italian government signed a memorandum of understanding with Lufthansa, but the details of the negotiations have not yet been officially disclosed. However, it now seems clear that Lufthansa only wants to take a minority stake of the Italian airline.

However, the German airline is convinced that the industrial partnership will help turn things around and that it will be profitable, albeit being a minority shareholder. ITA Airways cannot continue to face the challenges of the domestic and international markets on its own. Fabio Lazzerini, CEO of ITA Airways, is fairly certain that the Italian Ministry of Economy will conclude the negotiations with an agreement that suits both the German group and the Italian airline.

The Lufthansa CEO was very clear stating that ITA Airways has lost money and this is reflected in the valuation, which is the last obstacle in the negotiations. However, he remains confident that he will be able to sign within the exclusivity period which expires on 24 April 2023.

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Canada Jetlines Announces 2022 Financial Results

John Flett

Saturday, April 01, 2023 at 11:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

Canada Jetlines Airbus A320. (Photo: Canada Jetlines)

Canada Jetlines, the self-identifying ‘value-focused leisure carrier’, has announced its full-year 2022 annual financial results reporting a loss of 13.4 million Canadian dollars ($9.9 million). The Canadian carrier began operations on 22 September 2022 with service from Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) to Calgary (YYC). A loss is to be expected given the cost of start-up operations and the leasing of two Airbus A320 aircraft. Jetlines reported total operating revenues for 2022 of 3.3 million Canadian dollars.

Eddy Doyle the airline’s chief executive officer stated: “We are pleased to report that several key milestones were achieved in 2022 that allowed Canada Jetlines to get airborne. In March 2022, Canada Jetlines received determination of Canadian ownership and control by the CTA (Canadian Transportation Agency) and in the month of May 2022 the CTA concluded that the company had sufficient funds to meet the CTA requirements to issue its commercial license once the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) would be issued by Transport Canada.”

“In November 2022 the Company completed its first charter flight and several ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) flights for other carriers. The charter component of the business grew rapidly in December 2022 and with the entry into service of its second aircraft, Canada Jetlines fleet was being fully utilized throughout the month with most of its flights being composed of charter and ACMI lease contracts.”

Canada Jetlines met United Stated Federal Aviation Aviation (FAA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements in late 2022. Services from YYZ to Las Vegas and Cancun began in February and March respectively and the airline has sights on other destinations south of the Canadian border. Doyle also added that the airline was seeing “a continuous improvement in our aircraft utilization as we grow our network and increase our charter business.”

In addition, this month Canada Jetlines announced that it was in discussions with Qatar Airways ‘to explore a potential collaboration between the two airlines,’ and ‘the possibility of including non-stop flights between Toronto-Pearson and Doha.’ Qatar currently flies non-stop to Montreal’s Trudeau International (YUL) from its Doha hub.

“We are pleased to discuss potential opportunities with Qatar Airways, an international airline known for its world-class service and consistently recognized by the industry and consumers as the best airline in the world,” Doyle said at the time of the announcement. The potential codeshare agreement would be ‘subject to government approval and completing all applicable agreements between the two airlines.’

To support its business plan Canada Jetlines has advised it will need to raise additional capital ‘in the form of debt, convertible debt or equity.’ Such additional capital would be required ‘in order to further invest in the business and facilitate the continued growth of the fleet, including the acquisition of additional leased aircraft, as well as additional working capital.’

John Flett

Global X to Launch New Nebraska-based Airline

Zach Cooke

Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 09:34 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

One of GlobalX's first Airbus A320 aircraft registered N276GX (Photo: Global Crossing Airlines)

On Thursday, Lincoln, Neb. airport officials announced the introduction of a second airline behind United to operate to the airport. Delta operated out of the airport as well until pulling out of the city in 2022. The service will be operated by a relatively new airline: Global Crossing Airlines.

Global X is a Miami-based charter and cargo carrier, launching operations in 2021. The airline currently operates a fleet of five Airbus A320s and three A321 aircraft. An interesting fact to note is that the airline’s A320 aircraft have different configurations with a mix of business class and economy class seats depending on the plane. One example, N281GX is convertible from an entire 68-seat business class cabin to 150 mixed class seating arrangement depending on the customer’s needs according to the airline’s website. However, the service in and out of Lincoln will be operated by 150 seat, all economy class A320s. The cargo side of the company is operated by A321 aircraft.

While Global X will provide the aircraft and crews for the new routes, customers will book tickets through Red Way. While customers can book a flight directly with Global X, they must book the entire aircraft. By having customers book through Red Way, the airline will be able to offer a service dubbed “charter by seat”. The service will technically be operated as a charter however, the CEO of Global X, Ed Wegel, stated that passengers wouldn’t notice a difference in the travel experience.

A New Market

The airline will operate routes from Lincoln to Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Orlando, Dallas Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Nashville. The first two destinations to be served will be Orlando and Las Vegas beginning on June 8 with the rest following shortly after. All routes will be operated twice weekly to begin and on a seasonal basis, however, that could be upgraded based on demand.

The majority of passenger operations for Global X thus far have been through charters for different organizations such as college sports teams, casinos and the military among others. The Miami-based carrier is also developing seasonal charters to service warm-weather destinations in the Caribbean along with the recent announcement of routes out of Lincoln. Global X also offers a service known as aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance known in the industry as ACMI. Essentially, the carrier can also be hired to operate for other airlines in the short term to provide additional flying.

Starting new services is costly for airlines, especially at new airports. Lincoln understands this and to make the market more attractive to Global X, the airport is providing the airline with a $3 million incentive fund to begin service according to an article published by the Lincoln Journal Star.

Zach Cooke