Qantas’ CEO Issues Formal Apology Following Operational Difficulties

Monday, August 22, 2022 at 10:00 PM ET

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A Qantas Boeing 787-9 departing LAX (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale).

This last year has definitely been a tough one for the airline industry. After the financial bloodbath caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, carriers around the world have had to deal with the rebound in demand caused by the relaxation of restrictions to travel and some of them found out they were not prepared for handling the current levels of traffic.

Airports and airlines alike have been struggling with staffing issues and operational delays, and this has caused widespread dissatisfaction among passengers.

In Australia, Qantas Airways has decided to face up to the criticism it is receiving from its customers and the entire traveling public by releasing a video to officially apologize for the below-standard service their passengers had to endure during the past few months. The video shows nothing less than Alan Joyce himself, Qantas’ Chief Executive, issuing a “formal apology” for what has been happening in the recent past.

“Over the past few months, too many of you have had flights delayed, flights canceled or bags misplaced. There are good reasons why, but when it comes to what you expect from Qantas, it’s not good enough – says the video – On behalf of the national carrier I want to apologize and assure you that we’re working hard to get back to our best.”

The airline is rolling out new technology to make the travel experience better and has hired 1,500 more people to face a 50% increase in sick leave.

The Airline’s Passenger Compensation

Qantas has also decided to thank its most loyal customers by granting a 12-month extension to the frequent flyer status of anyone above the Silver level together with a 50 Australian dollars ($34) promo code to all members based in Australia or New Zealand.

In addition to that, the initiative includes also a 50% increase in the availability of award seats on Qantas Flights as well as invitations for Qantas Lounges and free points for Platinum members.

Qantas’ move did not impress the Transport Workers Union of Australia (TWU), which called it a “stunt.”

“The thousands of passengers who’ve spent hours in call center queues following canceled flights, delays and lost luggage won’t want to waste more of their time attempting to cash in a voucher to buy themselves more of the same chaos,” the union said, as reported by Australian Aviation.

“Enough of the gimmicks. If Qantas management or indeed Joyce really cared about customers, the right thing to do would be to appoint a new CEO with the business acumen to bring back highly trained, experienced workers and treat them with respect,” the union added.

Vanni Gibertini

Vanni fell in love with commercial aviation during his undergraduate studies in Statistics at the University of Bologna, when he prepared his thesis on the effects of deregulation on the U.S. and European aviation markets. Then he pursued his passion further by obtaining a Master’s Degree in Air Transport Management at Cranfield University in the U.K. followed by holding several management positions at various start-up carriers in Europe (Jet2, SkyEurope, Silverjet). After moving to Canada, he was Business Development Manager for IATA for nine years before turning to his other passion: sports writing.

Ukrainian Airline SkyUp Takes Delivery of a New Boeing 737-800

Ryan Ewing

Sunday, August 21, 2022 at 09:50 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

A SkyUp Airlines 737-800 (Photo: Anna Zvereva, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Ukrainian low-cost carrier SkyUp Airlines took delivery of a new Boeing 737-800 on Tuesday, becoming the tenth aircraft of this type to join its fleet.

The airplane, with the manufacturer’s serial number (MSN) 40249, completed its first flight in July 2011. From August of that year, it operated for FlyDubai and in 2019 it joined the fleet of South African carrier Comair. Now, it is registered as UR-SQM so it can start flying for its new operator.

The aircraft is equipped with winglets, which will be replaced by split scimitar winglets during the coming autumn. The new wing devices will improve the aircraft’s aerodynamic performance and enable a further reduction in fuel consumption. Consequently, they contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

With the new acquisition, SkyUp has two Boeing 737-700s and ten 737-800s in operation. The aircraft are configured in single-class cabin disposal and can carry up to 149 and 189 passengers, respectively.

To continue in spite of everything

Since the beginning of the war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the company has had to adapt its model to try to survive the total suspension of scheduled commercial flights in the country.

During the first days and weeks of the conflict, SkyUp flew Ukrainian citizens to Israel and Portugal from Chisinau, Moldova, and from the Polish cities of Warsaw and Lublin. It also helped transport international humanitarian aid to airports near the Ukrainian border.

It then offered aircraft and crew leasing services to other airlines outside Ukraine on wet-lease agreements and operated for the tour operator Join UP!, a commercial partner of the airline.

With the country’s airports still closed and airspace restricted for civil operations, the provision of on-demand services with aircraft housed in other territories presents itself as one of the most viable options for generating revenue. Of course, the desire of the company’s employees and management is to return to operating on Ukrainian soil.

This story was originally published by Agustin Miguens of Aviacionline in syndication with AirlineGeeks.

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has spent more than a decade covering the airline business. His work has been featured by CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. His aviation experience spans airport operations, Part 135 regulatory compliance, and airline crew workforce planning, along with time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 and interviews with airline executives. Ryan now serves as Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group. He holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and teaches Airline Management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Emirates and Aegean Announce Codeshare Partnership

Ryan Ewing

Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 06:37 PM ET

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Ryan Ewing

An Emirates 777-300ER in Dubai (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Hisham Qadri)

Emirates has announced a new codeshare partnership with Aegean, allowing its customers to connect across eight Greek destinations via Athens using a single ticket.

The Dubai-based airline will place its EK flight code on services operated by Aegean, offering its customers a convenient and seamless booking experience, as well as a consistent baggage allowance, to popular destinations such as: Kerkyra, Chania, Irakleion, Mykonos, Thira, Rhodes, Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis.

Under the codeshare agreement, the Greek carrier will also place its A3 code on Emirates-operated flights between Dubai and Athens so that its customers can enjoy seamless connections to the Emirati capital and beyond. Travel itineraries can now be booked from both companies’ websites and their regular channels.

An Emirates 777-300ER lines up on the runway for a test flight at Paine Field. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

From October 2022, Emirates and Aegean will further increase their joint codeshare network to include eight more intra-European routes via Athens, including Bucharest, Romania; Belgrade, Serbia and Naples, Italy among others, as well as westbound on Emirates’ flights to Newark, New Jersey from the Greek capital, and New York from Milan, Italy.

The Dubai-based carrier currently operates Athens with 12 weekly flights operated by a Boeing 777-300ER. These additional codeshare routes will be subject to receiving government approvals.

This article was written by Rainer Nieves Dolande for Aviacionline.

Ryan Ewing

Boom Supersonic Reels in Orders, Delta Remains Hesitant

Ezra Gollan

Friday, August 19, 2022 at 08:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A rendering of Boom's Overture aircraft. (Photo: Boom Supersonic)

You’ve seen the marketing everywhere. For instance, the possibility of flying from New York to London in 3 and a half hours or flying from Los Angeles to Tokyo in 4 and a half hours. This thought has not seemed like a reality for quite some time, not since the Concorde last flew supersonic transatlantic flights at the speed of sound but eventually retired from service in 2003.

Boom Supersonic — the Denver-based aviation design startup — is looking to change the air travel industry, and airlines are buying. Perhaps, at least they are agreeing to buy. For an aircraft that to this date has no engine, it sure has wooed over executives from major carriers in the U.S., with the idea of transporting 60-80 passengers at Mach 1.7 — a cool 1300 miles per hour.

United Airlines was the first of the big 3 carriers in the U.S. to commit to buying 15 of Boom’s Overture, their first prototype. Then, a few months later, American Airlines expressed interest and announced that they’d bite and committed to 20 aircraft with an option to add up to 40 more, though pundits find the timetable Boom has laid out to be ambitious, given that without an engine, there is no aircraft.

Delta’s Skepticism

Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has watched from the sidelines. The carrier seems to be less interested in prototypes and more interested in watching its competition go through what will no doubt be an interesting 7 or so years leading up to 2029, the year when Boom says its Overture will enter service with airlines.

Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian told FOX Business in an interview on Tuesday, “I have a lot more questions than answers” adding that “until we’re confident that we could actually generate a reliable return from the aircraft on investment, that’s not where we’re investing.” Bastian’s remarks make it pretty clear where the airline stands at the moment.

Where Delta’s skepticism lies is unclear but it is safe to assume they are probably put off by the fact that Boom has no set plan for an engine. To make matters worse, Rolls Royce, the engine manufacturer which Boom had said they were in talks with, seemed to brush off any suggestions that progress had been made.

Rolls Royce CEO Warren East recently told the Air Current, “We’re not making anything speculative for anybody. We’re not spending our dollars on new engine development. Our new engine developments are around our business jet engines and our UltraFan. That’s it. East’s wording here is important. We’re not spending our dollars on new engine development.”

This is not to flat out say Rolls Royce is not willing to work with Boom or develop engines, it just doesn’t have interest in putting in its own funds at the moment. Additionally, this can’t give Ed Bastian or any other skeptical executives at Delta much confidence, though can it?

So, while the idea of getting to Paris from New York at the same time it would take you to get to, say, Denver, seems fantastic, obstacles are to be found in nearly every facet of Boom’s plan. Maybe Bastian becomes optimistic and Delta jumps in tomorrow, maybe Boom and Rolls Royce roll out an engine sooner than anyone expects, and maybe it all gets scrapped. A lot of maybes and “what ifs.” However, no one will complain if Boom does what it claims it can do, except for maybe a sailor not thrilled by a mid-afternoon sonic boom.

Ezra Gollan

Ezra Gollan is a student, photographer and aviation enthusiast based in New York, New York. He has spent over half a decade around New York City’s airports as a photographer.

Icelandair Extends Seasonal Services to Portland and Raleigh-Durham into 2023

John Flett

Friday, August 19, 2022 at 07:15 AM ET

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Vanni Gibertini

Icelandair Boeing 757 wearing the "Vatnajökull" livery (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

Icelandair has announced an extension to the seasonal routes offered from the airline’s base at Keflavik airport (KEF) to Portland International Airport (PDX) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). Initially the Icelandic carrier was scheduled to operate the services until the end of the Northern Summer season in October. The extended season will now see the airline operating flights from Oregon and North Carolina until February.

Icelandair began operations from Raleigh-Durham in May and at the time Michael Landguth, president and chief executive of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority acknowledged the demand from passengers in the region. Mr. Landguth said: “Icelandair will help meet that growing demand by offering leisure and business travelers nonstop service to a new destination and global connections to major cities on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Announcing the extension of services on Thursday Mr. Landguth stated: “We’re very pleased the Iceland route has been very successful.” A post-pandemic high of just over 1.1 million passengers traveled through RDU in July though this was still 81 percent of the July 2019 figure according to the Durham Herald Sun.

The newspaper reports that RDU was offering an incentive program to increase international carriers to operate from the airport. According to one report, ‘the program waived several airline fees, up to $250,000 a year per route for two years, and provided an additional $25,000 to promote a new flight’. The Durham Herald Sun stated that Icelandair was the only international airline to take advantage of the program. As a result passengers from the region are able to travel to Iceland or transit through Keflavik airport to more than 20 European destinations.

Passengers at PDX Still Well Below 2019 Levels

Portland International Airport was forecasting that 1.4 million passengers would travel through PDX in July. This is approximately 70 percent of 2019 figures for the same month even with the World Athletic Championships being held in Oregon between 15-24 July. For the whole of the summer season PDX is forecasting 4.2 million passengers in total against a 2019 pre-pandemic summer total of 5.7 million.

In June international passengers only accounted for just over 4 percent of enplaning and deplaning passengers at PDX. To promote the continued service from PDX, Icelandair is running a campaign for passengers to win four $1,500 gift certificates, each valid for two round-trip tickets to Iceland.

Icelandair will operate four times weekly from RDU from 01 November until 07 January 2023. The airline will operate a Boeing 737 MAX 8 on the KEF-RDU route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights from PDX will also operate four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays also from 01 November until 07 January 2023. The carrier will utilize its Boeing 757-200 aircraft seating 184 passengers on the PDX-KEF route.

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.

Frontier Airlines Announces Five New International Destinations As It Continues Expansion

Chase Hagl

Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 04:36 PM ET

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Parker Davis

A Frontier A320 in Denver (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Parker Davis)

Ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines announced on Tuesday that it will launch flights to an additional five destinations outside of the U.S. The carrier will operate its new international flights from the nation’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with service beginning between November and December later this year.

Beginning Nov. 5, and continuing through Dec. 17, Frontier will add nonstop service to five destinations from Atlanta, more than doubling its current international operation out of the airport. Destinations served will include San Jose, Costa Rica; Liberia, Costa Rica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Salvador, El Salvador and Kingston, Jamaica.

“This is a significant moment for Frontier Airlines here at Hartsfield-Jackson,” said the airport’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Commercial Officer Jai Ferrell. “We are excited that Frontier will expand our travelers’ choice of international connectivity with these five new routes.”

The carrier began operating internationally from Atlanta a little under a year ago, offering nonstop flights to three international destinations including Cancun; Montego Bay, Jamaica and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The announcement brings excitement for the airlines and its customers, offering many more options for travelers looking for a getaway.

“This international expansion marks an exciting milestone for Frontier at ATL,” said Jake Filene, Senior Vice President of Customers at Frontier Airlines. “We now offer an extensive range of flight options, including an impressive roster of international destinations, providing Atlanta-area consumers even more opportunities to enjoy our ‘Low Fares Done Right.’ With the addition of these new routes, Frontier now serves 36 nonstop destinations in total from ATL.”

A Quick Expansion

Service to each destination will begin different days with varying frequencies. The first destination the airline will serve is Nassau, service that will start Nov. 5. Intro fares will begin at $69, and the route will be serviced one time weekly. On Nov. 6, it will launch flights to San Salvador, El Salvador, beginning at $69, with services running twice weekly.

One day later, Frontier will add Kingston — with an intro fare of $89 — operating twice weekly. Ten days later on Nov. 17, twice-weekly service to San Jose, Costa Rica will begin, with introductory fares of $79. Service to Liberia, Costa Rica will begin just prior to the uptick in passenger travel for Christmas, on Dec. 17. The carrier will serve Liberia once weekly and plans to start offering tickets for $79.

Additionally, the Denver-based airline announced new international service from Orlando International Airport to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport in Guadalajara, Mexico. Service to Guadalajara will begin Nov. 6, and the city will be served twice weekly.

Lastly, the carrier will launch three weekly flights from its Denver International Airport hub to Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida. Service begins Nov. 6, as well.

The announcement comes just weeks after Frontier’s $2.7 billion bid was rejected by Spirit stakeholders for purchase of the company. One day later, Jetblue’s $3.8 billion buyout deal was accepted.

Chase Hagl

Chase Hagl grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho. His love and passion for Aviation landed him in Orem, Utah where he obtained a B.S. in Aviation Management with a minor in Business Management from Utah Valley University. Chase currently works as a flight attendant in Charleston, SC and is also the primary Inflight ASAP ERC representative for startup airline, Breeze Airways. His experience in the aviation industry spans back four years, working in areas including agriculture application, customer service, maintenance, and flight ops. In his free time, Chase enjoys road biking, astronomy, and flying.

Pacific Airshow Gold Coast Releases Event Dates

Mike Mangano

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM ET

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Parker Davis

Canada's Snowbirds performing at Pacific Airshow, Huntington Beach. (Photo: Pacific Airshow)

Pacific Airshow today released the dates for its inaugural Gold Coast, Queensland, event, expanding the highly successful Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach to Australia in 2023. The three-day Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, scheduled from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20, 2023, promises to be the largest air show in Australian history.

In an interview with AirlineGeeks, Pacific Airshow Gold Coast event organiser Kevin Elliott said that the event aims to be “more than just an air show. It will be a total experience,” with the exact setup yet to be announced.

A Southward Expansion

Following April’s announcement that Pacific Airshow would be expanding to Australia, Elliott said there was substantial interest in what the event could look like. As such, the event will seek to cater toward a variety of attendees, from professionals to more casual visitors.

Offering a glimpse into what those in attendance can expect, Elliott said, “There will be hospitality options for everyone – ranging from show-centre General Admission on the beach to ‘money can’t buy’ VIP experiences, corporate chalets, private cabanas and more! The hospitality build-out on the beach is going to be truly extraordinary and when combined with our highly curated cuisine offerings — we’re taking hospitality on the beach to a whole new level.”

Rendered image of hospitality setting at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast. Image: Pacific Airshow

In addition to the culinary culture to be experienced, Elliott said attendees can expect “something for everyone throughout the event precinct stretching for several kilometres along the esplanade,” adding that spectators “can expect the whole of Surfers Paradise, land, sea and sky to be transformed into the world’s biggest stage.”

Explaining why Pacific Airshow Gold Coast stands out as unique among other Australian air shows, Elliott said the event will “be an absolutely epic air show, with the air displays set to flow non-stop and fluently.” Although finer details are yet to be released, including the specifics of which display teams will be performing, Elliott’s position on the International Council of Air Shows means the world’s best talent will be attracted to the event. In a statement, Pacific Airshow said that “spectators are set to be thrilled by world-class aerobatics and jets with adrenaline-pumping speed and thunderous power as well as the latest in Urban Air Mobility technology.”

Performers join up for the camera over Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach. Photo: Pacific Airshow

Elliott reinforced that despite the size and scale of Pacific Airshow Gold Coast – with the event already utilising several full time operations teams – the entire experience will be family-friendly. Speaking on the matter of safety, Elliott told AirlineGeeks that “all stakeholders have been engaged” so as to ensure a safe atmosphere for all in attendance to enjoy. He also said that “during the history of Pacific Airshow, not a single arrest has been made.”

A Boost For Tourism

Given the losses experienced by Australia’s tourism industry throughout the pandemic, Pacific Airshow Gold Coast is expected to bring a welcome increase of both national and international tourists to Australia’s most popular holiday destination.

“The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast will be a game-changer for our city and I’ve no doubt that now the 2023 dates are announced, the media and marketing exposure across Australia is sure to result in strong accommodation bookings giving our tourism sector a welcome boost though the traditionally quieter August period,” Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said.

According to Elliott, Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach already attracts 3 million visitors each year and has become a national sensation in the United States – a positive sign for Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, which aims to become an annual and integral element of the Gold Coast’s tourism sector. Speaking on the location and its importance to the event, Elliott told AirlineGeeks that event will be “the biggest spectacle on the coast”, adding “what better place to be than on the Gold Coast – an ideal place to combine a holiday with an incredible air show.”

Mike Mangano

Mike’s love affair with flight and mechanical objects in the sky began at an early age, fascinated by space documentaries and the vintage Flight Simulator ’95. He currently works as an instructor for UAVs and is training to receive his Private Pilot Licence with the goal of working in manned flight instruction. An avid reader of all things aviation and manned space flight, Mike stays close to developments in aerospace while reminiscing and sharing the rich history of flight with others. He loves writing, engineering and science.

Qantas Orders A321 Freighters In Next Move with Airbus

Pete Ainsley

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 09:00 AM ET

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Parker Davis

A Qantas A380 in long-term storage (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Qantas has deepened it cooperation with Airbus again. In the wake of the growing demand for cargo, in particular in the Asia Pacific region, Qantas will increase its cargo services by adding six Airbus A321 freighters.

The flag carrier revealed that it will source the aircraft on the open market and covert the new aircraft from passenger flight to cargo flight. Six aircraft are expected to be arrived in Australia between early 2024 and mid- 2026. The new aircraft designation will be A321P2F — P2F stands for “passenger to freighter,” Airbus’s answer to Boeing’s Boeing Converted Freighter — BCF — program.

Qantas currently owns three A321P2Fs, which can carry 23 tonnes of goods, nine tonnes more than current 737s. The aircraft are around 30% more fuel efficient per tonne than their American-made counterparts. The airline said the A321P2F can reduce its emissions and enable to generate further operational efficiencies.

The airline will replace its two aging Boeing 737 freighters with the new aircraft. One B737-300F was retired last month after 36 years of services.

“This is one of the largest ever investments in our domestic freight fleet, that will enable Qantas Freight to capture more of that demand and will provide the opportunity to help Freight further grow revenue earnings,” said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce in a statement.

According to the airline, Qantas Freight has been benefiting from the increased demand for e-commerce and higher international yields driven by supply chain disruption. Qantas didn’t mince its word on the upcoming financial report.

Earlier, Qantas unveiled that two of its Airbus A330 passenger aircraft had been converted into freighters and are expected to start operating in 2023. The new aircraft will be able to carry up to 50 tonnes of freight. Qantas said one freighter will join the international network and the other freight will operate domestic route.

Since the airlines have been facing the severe turbulence in 2020, most airlines geared up their cargo services for the Covid-19. Some carriers’ income from the cargo services offset the weak travel demand. Also, online shopping becomes the new normal after two years of the pandemic.

New Airbus Fleet

Earlier, Qantas reached the agreement with Airbus for subscribing 12 Airbus A350-1000 XWBs and 20 Airbus A220s and A321XLRs. Qantas said it would pick the A350-1000 for its well known “Project Sunrise,” linking Sydney and Melbourne, Australia to London and New York as well as operating other international routes.

The A321XLRs and A220s will be used primarily on domestic routes, while the A321XLRs could also be operated from Australia to destinations in Southeast Asia.

In the meantime, Qantas and Airbus announced further cooperation after the aircraft contract had been inked. The pair are going to invest up to $200 million to help develop the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry in Australia, with the project aimed at helping Qantas and other potential customers lower their carbon emissions. Qantas has committed to using 10% SAF in its fuel by 2030.

Pete Ainsley

Ethiopian Airlines Adds European Fifth Freedom Route, Continues 737 MAX Deliveries

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 06:00 AM ET

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Parker Davis

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787-9 prepares to land in Brussels. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Ethiopian Airlines will try to stabilize its schedule in the months ahead, and it will turn to overseas flights to make that happen. The airline has obtained traffic rights on the route between Geneva, Switzerland and Manchester, two destinations to be offered jointly from Addis Ababa.

Beginning Oct. 30, the resumption of flights by the Ethiopian national carrier between its base in Addis Ababa and Manchester airport will no longer pass through Brussels as before the Covid-19 pandemic, but instead will connect through Geneva Airport.

This flight will receive the fifth freedom designation, allowing Ethiopian Airlines to fly passengers solely between Switzerland and England and vice versa. The airline will offer four weekly frequencies operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner departing from Ethiopia, which can accommodate 30 passengers in business class and 285 in economy.

These flights between Geneva and Manchester are scheduled to operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:15 a.m. to arrive at 8:05 a.m., while ET729 returns leaving Manchester at 6:50 p.m. and landing at 9:40 p.m. The Ethiopian national airline will face competition on this route from the low-cost EasyJet, Jet2 and TUI Airways.

In addition to the three weekly rotations to Manchester offered by the Star Alliance carrier via Brussels before the pandemic, it also provided three to Geneva with continuation to Marseille, France.

Zaventem Airport, located in Brussels, will benefit from two weekly flights from Addis Ababa plus five operated via Vienna. Marseille’s Provence Airport will then be served via Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport three times per week.

Currently, Ethiopian Airlines offers only three direct European destinations: Paris, London and Frankfurt. The airline operates to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Heathrow Airport in London.

With regard to its African flight offering, Ethiopian Airlines from January 2023 intends to increase capacity on its service to Bulawayo, its newest destination in Zimbabwe.

Initially, the Star Alliance carrier had scheduled from Nov. 1, a four-times weekly Addis Ababa – Victoria Falls – Bulawayo – Addis Baba service with a Boeing 737-800 or 737 MAX 8. As observed by Aeroroutes, the airline plans to switch to Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner starting January 1, 2023, with selected dates to be operated by Boeing 787-8.

According to planespotters.net, the airline currently has 36 Boeing 737s and 27 Boeing 787s in its fleet.

MAX Deliveries

Meanwhile, following the decision to return the MAX plane to its scheduled flight operations earlier this year, Ethiopian Airlines has resumed taking delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX from the U.S.-based manufacturer . The airline has so far received three Boeing 737 MAX since the resumption of flights three years after the crash of flight ET302, which killed 157 people.

An Ethiopian 737 MAX 8 parked in Washington. (Photo: AirlineGeeks)

As the airline resumes commercial ops of the 737 MAX 8, its first new unit — ET-AWJ — was received at the beginning of July. Two more 737-8s — ET-AWK and ET-AXG — have since been delivered, registering a total of seven active aircraft.

A further 23 are awaiting delivery, all configured to accommodate 16 passengers in business class and 144 in economy. According to planespotters.net, five others have already received their new registrations — ET-AZA, -AWF, -AWG, -AWH and -AWI — suggesting imminent deliveries.

The rest of Ethiopian Airlines’ medium-haul fleet consists of six Boeing 737-700s and 23 Boeing 737-800s plus 21 De Havilland Canada Dash-8 Q400s It also operates three Boeing 767-300s and 10 Boeing 777s in addition to assorted other aircraft.

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.

Delta Set to Reinforce Seattle-Seoul Daily Flight with Second Service

Parker Davis

Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 12:38 AM ET

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Parker Davis

A Delta A330 lands in Los Angeles (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Hisham Qadri)

Delta Air Lines will increase the frequency of its nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Seoul-Incheon International Airport with the addition of three-times-per-week service effective Dec. 13.

The new service will complement Delta’s existing daily operations and Joint Venture partner Korean Air’s five-times-weekly service, bringing the total frequency to 15 flights a week.

Delta’s Seoul services will operate on the latest Airbus 330-900neo aircraft, featuring Delta One suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin services. The added service will also provide new time channel option for customers connecting to Asia via Incheon, the joint venture’s hub.

“Korea travel demand has strongly rebounded since the reopening in April, leading recovery in Asia,” said Matteo Curcio, Delta’s Vice President – Asia Pacific. “With our increased flights between Incheon and Seattle, more passengers will be able to enjoy our best-in-class travel experience during the winter travel season.”

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

Delta is Seattle’s largest global airline and serves more international destinations than any other carrier, offering more than 130 daily departures to nearly 50 destinations across the globe. The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport recently opened a new, stunning 450,000-square-foot International Arrivals Facility (IAF) in May, offering customers a faster, more comfortable experience, with enhanced technologies for faster passport check clearance and reducing the average customer connection time by about 15 minutes.

Delta’s operations from Atlanta and Detroit to Incheon have resumed daily service as of Aug. 2, and Minneapolis service will return on Oct. 29. With the additional frequency from Seattle in December, Delta will increase the capacity on the U.S.-Korea network by 10% compared with 2019.

This article was written by Pablo Díaz for Aviacionline.

Parker Davis

Parker joined AirlineGeeks as a writer and photographer in 2016, combining his longtime love for aviation with a newfound passion for journalism. Since then, he’s worked as a Senior Writer before becoming Editor-in-Chief of the site in 2020. Originally from Dallas and an American frequent flyer, he left behind the city’s rich aviation history to attend college in North Carolina, where he’s studying economics.