American Airlines Reports Highest Quarterly Revenue Total Ever

Friday, July 22, 2022 at 03:28 AM ET

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An American Airlines jet landing on runway 18R with the Austin skyline in the background. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)

American Airlines has announced a company record second-quarter revenue earnings of $13.4 billion for Q2 2022. The revenue figure is a 12.2 percent increase over the same quarter in 2019, despite capacity being down 8.5 percent. This gave the world’s largest airline a net profit of $476 million to end the second quarter with $15.6 billion of total available liquidity.

American Airlines’ chief executive officer Robert Isom said, “We are very pleased to report a quarterly profit, excluding net special items, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, driven by the strong demand environment and the hard work of our team. The American Airlines team has stepped up to meet the surge in demand for air travel while running a reliable operation in very challenging conditions. We are encouraged by the trends we’re seeing across the business, and we remain well-positioned for the continued recovery.”

American Airlines reported a robust operational performance for the second quarter with the airline and its regional partners operating more than 500,000 flights. The airline said: ‘In the second quarter, American flew a schedule that was more than 25% larger than its closest competitor as measured by total departures.’ Passenger enplanements exceeded 53 million with an average load factor of 87 percent, a ten-point increase over Q2 2021.

The airline’s presentation to support the Q2 2022 results gave insight into the areas of the operation that are contributing to American Airlines’ pandemic recovery. The revenues from the domestic leisure and short-haul international networks are over 120 percent of 2019 levels. Domestic business revenues have reached 110% of 2019 though the airline states that corporate/government revenues are only at 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

American Airlines’ long-haul operations are still below pre-pandemic levels given the travel restrictions that were still in place for part or all of the quarter. The pre-departure testing requirement for entry to the U.S. was removed in the second week of June so airlines are only just experiencing the benefits of an increase in international travelers. The next quarter will also encompass the European summer holiday period that has seen significant demand for air travel albeit with some negative operational impacts for airlines and airports on both sides of the Atlantic.

Looking ahead to the third quarter of 2022 American Airlines forecasts revenues to again be above those for the same quarter of 2019. The increase in passenger demand but decreased capacity should see revenues 10-12% higher than in Q3 2019. Capacity in terms of available seat miles (ASM) is forecast to be down 8-10% though the cost of operation of that capacity (CASM – Cost per available seat mile) excluding fuel and special items will see a 12-14 percent increase compared to the same quarter in 2019. Overall the forecast is that the total revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) will be up by 20-24% over Q3 2019 and American will see another profit in Q3 2022.

American Airlines touted a positive remainder of the summer by stating, ‘American is proud to offer customers the youngest fleet among U.S. network carriers and the largest network of any U.S. airline, with an expected average of more than 5,400 daily departures for the remainder of the summer.’

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.

Alaska Airlines Announces Launch of Electronic Bag Tag Program

Chase Hagl

Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 11:22 AM ET

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Jack Dawin

Alaska Airlines set to launch electronic bag tags, becoming the first-U.S.-based carrier to do so (Photo: Alaska Airlines)

On Wednesday Alaska Airlines announced the launch of their new electronic bag tag program – the first amongst U.S. carriers. The digital tags are designed to replace the current paper tags and will ultimately allow customers to get through the check-in process quicker.

The electronic bag tag will allow guests to skip the kiosk completely, as there is no need for a printable tag. Guests will be able to set up the electronic bag tag from the airline’s mobile app for their upcoming flight from the comfort of their own homes. Upon arrival at the airport, customers will drop their bags off at the self-bag drop and be off to security.

“This technology allows our guests to tag their own bags in just seconds and makes the entire check-in process almost all off-airport,” stated Charu Jain, senior vice president of merchandising and innovation at Alaska in a press release. “Not only will our electronic bag tags allow our guests to quickly drop off their luggage after they arrive at the airport, but the devices will also give our employees the opportunity to spend more one-on-one time with guests who ask for assistance and reduce lines at our lobbies.”

Alaska Airlines predicts that the new tags will cut the baggage dropoff process up to 40 percent.

The Seattle-based carrier will initially introduce the tags at the San Jose International Airport in California. The bag tags will go hand-in-hand with their new self-bag drop system introduced in March to the SJC airport.

With the same intentions as the new high-tech bag tags, Alaskas’ self-bag drop incubators allow customers to bypass a part of the check-in process that is commonly known for significantly increasing check-in wait times. This is just another step in the airline’s attempt to augment the said process.

Set to launch later this year, the tags will be introduced in several phases. Phase one will include 2,500 tags that will be distributed to Alaska Airlines’ frequent fliers. Members of the carriers’ Mileage Plan will have the option to purchase the devices in early 2023.

Alaska will purchase the tags from the Dutch-based manufacturer, BagTag. BagTag currently provides many other carriers with similar products that include Austrian, China Southern, Dolomiti, Lufthansa, and Swiss.

“We are very proud to announce the first American carrier adopting our EBT solutions,” said BAGTAG Managing Director Jasper Quak. “Alaska Airlines’ relentless efforts to make their passenger journey a true 21st-century experience makes us very confident in a successful rollout among their guests.”

The tag selected by Alaska will be “battery-less”, never having to be recharged by its users. The devices utilize two durable screens that are attached to baggage just like any other bag tag, using an industrial-strength plastic zip tie.

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.

Azerbaijan Airlines Signs MOU with Boeing for the Purchase of Four 787 Dreamliner

AirlineGeeks.com Staff

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 07:53 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

An Azerbaijan Airlines Boeing 787-8 in London (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

At the Farnborough International Airshow, Azerbaijan Airlines and Boeing signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purchase of four 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. Azerbaijan Airlines currently operates two aircraft of this type.

According to both companies, the airline aims to increase its 787 fleet up to ten aircraft by 2030. The additions would allow it to open new routes in Central Asia.

“Today’s agreement extends our long-term partnership with Azerbaijan Airlines as they renew their fleet to capitalize on the growing long-term travel demand,” said Stan Deal, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes in a press release. “The global in-service 787 fleet has been the most-utilized widebody during the market downturn and we are confident in the proven performance capabilities of this airplane,” he added.

In addition to the two Boeing 787-8s currently in its fleet, Azerbaijan Airlines operates one Boeing 757-200, two 767-300s and one 777-200. It also operates four Airbus A319s, seven A320s, one A340-500, one A340-600 and two Embraer 190s.

Jahangir Asgarov, the company’s President, noted that the airline was the first in the region to operate the U.S. manufacturer’s popular long-range model. “Over the years, our 787 airplanes have provided impeccable performance, and the addition of more long-haul airplanes will further expand the geography of Azerbaijan Airlines’ route network,” he said.

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

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.

South African Airways Enhances Codeshare Deal with Kenya Airways

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 08:00 AM ET

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Benjamin Pham

A South African A330 taking off. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

Kenya Airways and South African Airways continue to enhance their strategic pact as they gear towards a pan-African entity. Earlier this week, South African Airways struck a codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, enabling both airlines to cooperate more closely by offering their passengers seamless travel while offering a wider range of operations.

This announcement also comes as demand for air travel rebounds and will see Kenya Airways’ KQ code used for South African Airways flights within Southern Africa including Cape Town, SOuth Africa; Durban, South Africa and Harare, Zimbabwe.

The airline’s code will in turn be used for Kenya Airways flights within Kenya and East African destinations including Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Entebbe, Uganda; Mombasa, Kenya and Kisumu, Kenya.

South African Airways’ customers will continue to have the ability to earn Voyager Miles on these new codeshare flights. The deal enables travelers to combine flight segments and baggage on a single ticket.

In a joint press release, the two airlines said they are evaluating their codeshare partnership and will see the addition of Zanzibar, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro in Tanzania; Juba, South Sudan; Douala, Cameroon; Lusaka, Zambia; Ghana and Nigeria. These destinations are subject to government approval as the airlines seek to offer more options for travelers within Africa.

Allan Kilavuka, Kenya Airways CEO and Group Managing Director said; “We are very pleased to implement the codeshare with SAA which offers our shared customers more options and flight combinations. As part of our Strategic Partnership Framework, we will contribute to making it easier for passengers to reach exciting new destinations within Africa. The additional destinations we believe will offer better customer journey thanks to the number of frequencies and connections created as well as many opportunities for trade and tourism.”

A Kenya Airways Boeing 787-8 at Schiphol Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

John Lamola, interim CEO of South African Airways said, “Through the codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, South African Airways’ valued clientele will gain new travel choices to markets across East Africa via Kenya’s extensive network and hub in Nairobi, providing for seamless travel and status recognition. We are looking forward to introducing Kenya Airways customers to our award-winning service, and to working closely with Kenya Airways as our partnership will improve the connections between our respective networks.”

African Aviation Industry’s Potential Growth

Last year, Kenya Airways and its South African compatriot teamed up in November to sign a strategic partnership. This pact will enable the two companies to combine under the roof of a common holding company, signaling a move toward post-pandemic Pan-African airline consolidation.

The two airlines will still, retain their respective brands and talent under this partnership expected to launch in 2023.

The respective chief executives of the two national carriers see the chance to unlock the potential of greater air connectivity within Africa as they focus on achieving synergies that ensure lower costs and route expansion, under the holding firm, the companies have since noted without providing details.

As the airline chiefs work on developing plans for a pan-African operation, the unanswered question is, will African aviation bypass the stage of a continent with “huge potential?”

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.

United Reorganizes Several Key Leadership Positions

Hemal Gosai

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 07:33 AM ET

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Edited By:

Jack Dawin

A United 787 Dreamliner descends into Amsterdam. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

United Airlines recently announced a leadership reshuffle that appears to play to the strengths of several key leadership personnel. This comes at a time when the industry is dealing with significant challenges due to a sudden return to travel that many airlines were unprepared for.

United has done a relatively good job compared to its peers. It has carefully managed staffing and capacity to avoid significant meltdowns that American Airlines, Southwest, and Delta Air Lines have faced. Overall, the staff is more satisfied with the management and most labor disputes have been avoided.

This goes to show that the airline led by Scott Kirby generally does know what they’re doing and this reorganization is posed to create a stronger airline while also rewarding key players for their performance.

Leadership Changes

Here’s the breakdown:

Toby Enqvist was the Chief Customer Officer and will now be taking on the role of Chief Operations Officer.

Linda Jojo will be taking on the role of Chief Customer Officer from the role of Chief Digital Officer. This is especially notable since Linda has been responsible for a significant number of positive improvements for customers. The biggest of which has been the revamp of the United Airlines mobile app which is arguably industry-leading in functionality and ease of use.

Greg Hart is Executive Vice President of United Next, the initiative to renew the United fleet. He will take on additional responsibilities by managing TechOps, the maintenance, repair, and overhaul division of the airline.

Andrew Nocella is United’s Chief Commercial Officer and will be taking on additional responsibilities by overseeing inflight and club menu along with product design. This move is to consolidate oversight of the hard and soft product design.

Ankit Gupta, who was recently promoted to SVP of Domestic Planning and United Express in October 2021, will now become Senior Vice President and Chief Air Operations Officer. This involves oversight of Flight Ops, Inflight, and NOC teams along with coordination of commercial and network planning teams.

Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President International Network and Alliances, will now be Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. This will be in addition to oversight of the domestic United network.

Jason Birnbaum, Senior Vice President Digital Technology, will become Chief Information Officer and continue to report to Linda Jojo.

Jon Roitman, Chief Operating Officer, will step down from his position but will remain on the board as an advisor.

United has taken several calculated steps to reorganize top leadership in a move to better poise the airline for the future.

Political Moves

This is in addition to several steps the airline has taken to cozy up with the government. The airline was among the first to announce a vaccine mandate and has received direct recognition from the White House over the airline’s assistance in flying in baby formula. Scott Kirby also has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council and has made several announcements regarding environmental conservation efforts from the White House. United’s Chief Communications Officer, Josh Earnest, was a former White House Press Sectary under the Obama Administration.

United is playing a very calculated game here with multiple players. It is evident their house is in order and they are taking calculated steps to become friendly with the government and the public.

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.

How Commercial Airlines Help Predict the Weather

Hemal Gosai

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 07:30 AM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

All of Mesa's airborne aircraft. At even given time there are nearly 100 birds airborne. Weather is currently impacted Texas operations. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Tom Pallini)

We all know that aviation touches everyone’s lives in some way, either directly or indirectly. In this interconnected world, there isn’t much that can’t be attributed to aviation to some degree. If someone digs deep enough, more often than not an aviation angle is found.

One surprising place that commercial aviation lends a helping hand is weather prediction. It’s common knowledge that various meteorological agencies around the world use a slew of tools to help accurately forecast the weather, however, not everyone knows that many commercial aircraft are among those tools.

Development of the Technology

In the case of the United States, the government has been using aircraft for atmospheric research since 1904, shortly after the historic Wright Brother’s flight in 1903. These early observations were initially quite rudimentary and eventually phased out in the late 1930s by radiosondes, and weather balloons.

As aviation grew in the United States, it again caught the interest of the government in atmospheric data collection. The advent of aircraft data links in the 1970s opened up the possibility of automated weather reports to be collected and transmitted by aircraft.

By the 1990s, technology had developed enough and with the agreement of various airlines in the United States, a system for aircraft to collect weather data and transmit it to the National Weather Service was born. It goes by different names depending on where in the world it’s being referred to. It can go by MDCRS- Meteorological Data, Collection and Reporting System, which is the weather portion of ACARS- Aircraft Communications, Addressing, and Reporting System. It can also be referred to as AMDAR, Aircraft Meteorological Data Report, this is generally preferred by World Meteorological Organization and the National Weather Service.

The system has grown within the United States and globally since its creation and countries around the world use weather data collected by aircraft for their weather forecasts. A major benefit was the reduction in the need for radiosondes as aircraft could collect similar data for 1% of the cost. Several studies have also shown that AMDAR data can at times be slightly superior to data collected from radiosondes. This results in significant forecast model improvements allowing for weather forecasts to be created all the way out to 10 days.

Data collected and analyzed by the National Weather Service is also shared with airlines for their operational purposes.

AMDAR Uses

The data are collected by various existing sensors on aircraft and are used in a variety of forecasts from understanding low-level wind shear all the way to things like precipitation forecasts and thunderstorm prediction. The data can also be used in emergency situations to create dispersion models in the event of the release of hazardous materials into the environment.

This system has many advantages and disadvantages. The National Weather Service gets access to a large swath of data that it previously couldn’t. On the flip side, during bad weather events when flights are often canceled, there is a drop in the data that is collected. The reduction in air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic also impacted the amount of data available to the National Weather Service.

It is clear that the benefits are numerous and this system is here to stay. As technology develops, meteorologists will be able to create more accurate forecasts. This not only helps us on a daily basis but can also help save lives during severe weather events. All in part to an unexpected contribution by commercial aviation.

Hemal Gosai

Emirates Opens World’s Largest Vertical Farm

Hemal Gosai

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 07:25 AM ET

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Edited By:

Jack Dawin

Bustanica Seedlings (Photo: Emirates Airlines)

Emirates Flight Catering is a huge operation based in Dubai that supplied over 225,000 meals a day prior to the pandemic and has a staff of over 6,000. It provides catering services for all Emirates flights along with many other airlines and airport lounges in Dubai.

It operates with chefs from 69 different nationalities all developing food to cater to passengers traveling across the world. This naturally requires a significant amount of ingredients coming in 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Given the UAE’s location, sourcing certain ingredients can pose a challenge. Supply chains are tightening all over the world and it’s becoming considerably more challenging to source goods.

This is a problem for a huge commercial kitchen operation that needs to operate on strict deadlines. One innovative solution Emirates Flight Catering has come up with is the development of the world’s largest hydroponic farm in partnership with Crop One, a large player in indoor vertical farming.

Hydroponic Farming

The facility, named Bustanica, is a 330,000 sqft facility right outside of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport. It that will produce over 2.2 million pounds of primarily leafy greens annually, which equates to a daily output of approximately 6,600 pounds of produce. There are future plans to grow fruits and vegetables along with the current leafy greens such as kale, spinach, lettuce, and arugula.

The facility has also taken considerable steps to ensure a growing environment free of pests and unwanted plant growth. This essentially eliminates the need for pesticides or herbicides. Craig Ratajczyk, CEO of Crop One, goes as far as to say that customers buying produce from Bustanica can eat it straight from the bag and washing the produce could actually introduce contaminants.

Most of this will go to Emirates Flight Catering starting in July for use onboard in various salads and as components of other dishes. Eventually, as production ramps up, Bustanica also plans on selling produce directly in supermarkets within the United Arab Emirates.

Environmental Impact

There is a significant environmental benefit to this approach as well. Hydroponic farms are inherently better for the environment due to their smaller footprint than traditional farms without compromising food output. This along with reduced soil erosion allow for ethical growing that reduces the overall environmental impact of feeding people.

Additionally, it is expected that Bustanica will require 95 percent less water than conventional farms to grow the same amount of produce. Water is also regularly recycled after cleaning. A significant amount of water savings for a country with a desert climate with a negligible amount of readily available fresh water.

Not only is this a big step for Emirates to run the largest vertical farm but also a big step towards expanding hydroponic farming techniques across the world. Bustanica meets several business needs for a consistent supply of produce for the airline’s catering kitchens while also working towards environmental targets established by the UAE government. It’s a move that many airlines can look to as the entire industry shifts towards more environmental responsibility.

Hemal Gosai

Trip Report: PLAY to Brussels via Reykjavik

Ezra Gollan

Monday, July 18, 2022 at 09:09 PM ET

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Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

PLAY Airbus A321neo in flight (Photo: PLAY)

When WOW Air, the ultra-low-cost carrier connecting passengers between the United States and Europe via Iceland went under, the future of no-frills, transatlantic travel seemed uncertain. Many believed it simply could not be done; that an airline cannot feasibly operate medium to long haul flights at rates that, depending on the season, were cheaper than a roundtrip ticket between New York and Los Angeles.

Enter PLAY, an Icelandic ultra-low-cost start-up from former WOW Air executives that is looking to do nearly exactly what WOW did but with even fewer bells and whistles and a more simplified operation. The carrier began serving the United States in the spring of 2022 with flights to Baltimore and soon following with New York Stewart and Boston.

I flew aboard PLAY’s A321neo and A320neo aircraft from Boston through to Brussels to see how it compared to other emerging low-cost carriers.

Purchasing my ticket

PLAY’s website is minimal in classic Scandinavian fashion. The interface is useful and does little else besides letting you book a ticket. Fortunately, PLAY is shown on the GDS. This means PLAY’s fares appear on Google Flights and other third-party flight finding services. My roundtrip ticket, before seats, came in at $578 USD. Pretty darn good for a July round trip ticket to Europe when the next cheapest option that included a stop in Dublin was nearly $1,300 USD. Mind you I also booked this fare on July 1st for a July 13th departure and I would imagine there are cheaper seats to be found on PLAY and legacy carriers. There is no premium option on PLAY unless you consider a $40 exit row seat premium.

Being that a ticket on PLAY is a ticket for a seat and a seat only, you are given a variety choices from bags bundled with priority boarding to seat selection. PLAY includes one personal item in every ticket with carry-on bags starting at around $50 USD on each leg and checked bags starting at around $70 USD though bag rates are dependent on route and time.

I was traveling with a traditional carry-on backpack packed completely full but opted to decline purchasing a carry-on plus priority boarding with the idea that I could probably get it to pass as a personal item even though I knew it wouldn’t really fit under the seat in front of me.

Check-in and Experience at Boston

I was able to check in online 24 hours before my scheduled departure on PLAY’s website. The airline does not offer an app and I am unsure if an app is coming given that it is roughly a year old. Boarding passes also cannot be added to Apple Wallet which is unfortunate as it is a simple feature that makes travel that much easier. PLAY also has yet to set up a relationship with TSA’s PreCheck program.

When checking in I was given the option to add my Known Traveler Number (KTN) but the system continued to decline my KTN saying that “letters were not allowed” and a little Google search gave me my answer. A gate agent in Boston told me that the carrier is working to allow passengers with PreCheck to use it but until then you are left with the standard TSA lines and procedures.

Check-in at Boston opens two hours prior to departure. A bit late for a transatlantic flight especially in the summer but I headed straight for security anyway given that I had checked in online and was not checking a bag. PLAY operates out of Boston Logan’s terminal E, the main international terminal. It is by no means the greatest terminal in the world but it is clean and offers good seating, Wi-Fi, power outlets at most seats and a variety of restaurants including the famed Legal Sea Foods should you need your clam chowder fix before embarking on a flight across the ocean. Our flight departed out of gate E3 on the lower level.

Boarding began slightly after the scheduled 6:20 pm. Families traveling with small children and passengers with disabilities are allowed to board first. As I mentioned, there is no premium seating. Following the first two groups, an announcement was made for those with priority boarding to board. The reality was that little was done to check this. Passengers formed a long line in no real order and we headed down the jet bridge towards the A321neo that would take us to Reykjavik.

Onboard experience

On routes from the United States to Iceland, PLAY alternates between A320 and A321neo aircraft and if you do your research on your Google Flights, you too can score a whopping 34 inches of pitch for yourself. That isn’t a typo. It’s more legroom than you would get on any legacy economy seat and even products like United’s Economy Plus and Delta’s Comfort Plus on widebody aircraft.

Mind you this is an A321neo. You can thank Mexican low-cost carrier Interjet for not taking these aircraft a few years ago. They’ve remained in their original configuration with PLAY though there are rumors that they’ll be refurbished next year with the knee-crunching 28 inches of pitch you can find on all of PLAY’s A320neo aircraft so take advantage while you can.

I was in 38A, a window seat I paid $10 USD for. Seat selections are sold on a per leg basis which makes sense given the change in aircraft type in Reykjavik. I surprisingly found myself closer to the middle of the plane instead of the back despite row 38 generally being pretty close to the rear on a narrow body. The seats are minimal but comfortable and offer decent recline and even adjustable headrests.

There are no personal entertainment screens on the seatbacks so bring your own entertainment. Larger screens flip down from overhead every 3-5 rows displaying a map along with the weather and local time in Hermosillo, Mexico City and Cancun in case on your trip to Europe you wanted to keep tabs on the temperature in Mexico. An update could probably save a few passengers every flight from wondering if they had boarded the non-existent PLAY Airlines flight to Reykjavik with a quick pit stop in Central America. The information is also displayed in Spanish.

Onboard service

As is to be expected, nothing is free. There is a menu offering a range of snacks and sandwiches along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that can be purchased when the crew rolls the cart through or by pressing the flight attendant call button at any point in the flight. Prices ranged from 3 euros for sodas and candy bars to 9 euros for sandwiches and alcoholic drinks.

Transferring in Reykjavik

We touched down in Reykjavik around 4 a.m. local time and found ourselves in a quiet and clean airport with backpackers sleeping at nearly every bench. Automated passport control was closed for EU/EEA/CH citizens but luckily the line wasn’t too long at this hour. I would imagine that during peak hours it isn’t quite as simple though in comparison to many larger airports it is quiet.

Short Hop to Brussels

About as uneventful as it gets, our flight to Brussels contained little to get excited about. The flight was operated by an A320neo that had previously been with Interjet and then Russian carrier SmartAvia. Nearly all signage onboard was in Russian as well and a crew member said they had only operated this plane for a week.

There was the same buy-on-board menu as was on our flight from Boston. As for legroom, there is none. 28 inches of pitch definitely isn’t unbearable on a 2 or 3-hour flight but after coming off of a red eye, it feels 10 times worse than it actually is. Most passengers slept before we began our descent into a shockingly sunny Brussels.

Final Thoughts

With airfares the way that they are right now, PLAY is a very good option if you are looking to save some serious cash and are willing to suffer a bit more to get to your destination. The A321neos have great seats thanks to the interiors coming from Interjet while the A320neos are about as bare bones as it gets. I would definitely do it again for the price and the variety of destinations on offer is fantastic. Whether or not PLAY sticks remains to be seen but for the time being it is a very good low-cost option over the Atlantic.

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.

AirAsia X Relaunches Services to Australia and New Zealand

Pete Ainsley

Monday, July 18, 2022 at 09:37 AM ET

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Edited By:

Jack Dawin

An Air Asia Airbus A330-300. [AirlineGeeks - Hisham Qadri]

AirAsia X, the Malaysian no-frills carrier, has announced to resume its service from Malaysia to both Australia and New Zealand. South-west Pacific is an important market for AirAsia X, it carried over a million passengers to Australia and New Zealand in 2019. AirAsia X is the affiliated airline of AirAsia Aviation Group providing long-haul services in Asia.

“As the world reopens and travel restrictions ease, we are confident these new services will prove popular.” Benyamin Ismail, Chief Executive of AirAsia X said.

The airline will operate flights between Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to the Australian cities of Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand, starting from Nov. 1. The flight will fly to Auckland via Sydney. AirAsia X is set to operate three times a week in these Australian cities with Airbus A330 aircraft, it is expected the services will be gradually added to the daily operation in early 2023. Earlier, the airline announced a two-times-a-week from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney, starting on Sep. 2.

Meanwhile, the passengers could stand to benefit from the new route, AirAsia X will offer a competitive price on the route from Auckland to Sydney. Auckland Airport welcomes the decision.

In response to the new route, Scott Tasker, the General Manager Customer and Aeronautical Commercial said, “The new service will not only provide more choice for trans-Tasman travelers looking for competitive fares route on the popular route between Sydney and Auckland but is a great option for those wanting to connect through to AirAsia’s extensive Asian network.”

AirAsia X has suspended its service to Melbourne since 2020. In 2018, the airline has moved its services to Melbourne Avalon Airport. However, the new services between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne will shift to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) in the future.

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport mentioned that the airport is the destination of choice for budget airlines. The airport is already the hub of Jetstar, the subsidiary of Qantas.

Since the travel restrictions were lifted, AirAsia X has enhanced its services by adding multiple destinations. Earlier, the airline announced the new long-haul routes from Kuala Lumpur to Honolulu, London, Dubai and Istanbul, and other Asian destinations by the end of the year. The airline has ceased its operation to London in 2012.

New Services to London and Honolulu

The airline said the fares to London will generally be higher, as a result of the surging price of fuel.

“The return to London and first-time flights direct to Dubai and Istanbul will be a game-changer for great value long haul travel,” Ismail said.

AirAsia X hopes its new business model, combining cargo and passengers enables the carrier to make a profit. According to the airline, it owns a fleet of 39 Airbus A330 aircraft including 15 in its affiliates, 13 in AirAsia X Thailand and two in AirAsia X Indonesia.

Since the country’s border reopened in April, the travel demand in Malaysia has surged. According to Malaysia Airports, the international passenger movements reached 1.03 million in May, the highest record since 2020.

Pete Ainsley

Farnborough International Air Show 2022 Kicks off Monday

Vincenzo Claudio Piscopo

Monday, July 18, 2022 at 03:32 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Airbus aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Fabian Behr)

Despite the scorching heat of this summer, the aviation world is not standing still. On Monday, the Farnborough International Air Show 2022 (FIA) will be held at Farnborough Airport in England. Since its first show in 1948, Farnborough has seen the debut of many famous planes, including the Vickers VC10, Concorde in 1970, the Eurofighter, the Airbus A380 in 2006, and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

After three years of a pandemic and restrictions, the FIA is a significant opportunity for aerospace companies to showcase development progress and innovation to a global, face-to-face audience.

In 2020, the live Farnborough Airshow was cancelled for the first time in its 72-year history due to the pandemic. The FIA organization launched the world’s major digital trade event for the aerospace and defense industries, called FIA Connect, held also in 2021.

The launch of FIA Connect saw more than 250 senior executives, academics, and politicians joined by 14,000 delegates from 97 countries. It served as a crucial opportunity for the industry to come together during a time of unprecedented challenge as the impacts of COVID-19 took hold.

Along with FIA 2022, on July 18, the Aerospace Global Forum (AGF) will also begin, providing a single global platform to drive immediate action, accelerating the transition to the Net Zero goal.

In the opening ceremony, Prince of Wales Charles will virtually welcome global industry leaders, CEOs, government, climate change experts and aerospace professionals to the forum. Future-focused topics, best practices and insights on seven central themes will be discussed: Space, Future Flight, Security, Sustainability, Innovation, Future Workforce, and Future Financing on the main stage.

Exhibitors will include, to name a few, Airbus, Boom Supersonic, Boeing, Dassault, Embraer, Aviation, GE Aviation, Inmarsat, Leonardo, Lilium, Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Microsoft, NASA Glenn Research Center, Northrop Grumman, Rolls-Royce, RUAG, Vertical Aerospace, and many more. The complete list is here.

The Farnborough International Airshow will be held from Monday, July 18, through Friday, July 22.

At the Air Show, there will be the daily flight exhibition, sponsored by Accenture, which will take place every afternoon and will feature the most advanced aircraft in both commercial and military. Parallel to the flight display, there will be a static exhibition that will offer visitors the opportunity to see the aircraft up close.

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks will provide continuing coverage of FIA22. Stay tuned to our Twitter and Instagram.

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.