St. Louis’s Master Plan Reveals Push for Single Terminal

Friday, January 07, 2022 at 03:50 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Terminal A at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ian McMurtry)

What once started as a single terminal resting under the domes of Minoru Yamasaki might be returning once more as St. Louis-Lambert International Airport evaluates its future needs going forward. The airport recently announced its updated Airport Master Plan during the Airport Commission Briefing on January 5th, taking into account an array of flyers requests and discomforts about the current experience at St. Louis. These polls were run in 2020 and 2021 and were compiled to focus on St. Louis’s current flaws and ways to address them.

The report was created and analyzed by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Airport/Airline Affairs Committee (AAAC). The TAC is notable for having members ranging from local and national government officials to on-site airport users like rental car companies, passenger and cargo airlines and The Boeing Company. AAAC consists of just airlines, including the recently announced new arrival of Lufthansa.

On passengers’ top priorities were roadway issues and the differences between Terminals A and B. Passengers found that food options and space were inconsistent between the two and even lacked consistency between concourses in Terminal A. Further frustration was met with Terminal A’s concourse-specific security points preventing travelers from accessing shops and restaurants in other sections of the airport.

The airport also noted that the passengers noted issues with parking and road signage. Most of which has been impacted by the airport’s narrow presentation as it fits between Interstate 70 to the south, a Department of Defense office to the west and the existing airport infrastructure to the north and east.

St. Louis’s current airport design is a two-terminal layout with the initial Terminal 1 structure and a Terminal 2 extension. Terminal 1 consists of four Concourses, marked A, B, C, and D, with B and D being shuttered over the last two decades as air service dwindled. The biggest movement came over the last two decades as the loss of Trans World/American’s hub in Concourse C and D was countered with the rise of Southwest in Terminal 2.

This has led to St. Louis’s greatest issue, where space has become a factor. In Terminal 1, the vacated concourses lead to plenty of room for airlines to find growth and have since come to welcome other low-cost airlines like Spirit and Sun Country in recent years. Meanwhile, Terminal 2 has become flooded and is well over its initially planned usage. The airport has converted some of the abandoned Terminal 1 Concourse D into Terminal 2 gates but leaves passengers with a lengthy walk if they need to make a connection. The airport also took into consideration the idea of having Southwest and the Concourse C inhabitants switch positions alongside reopening Concourse D should the demand require it but the funds never arrive.

At the time of writing, St. Louis currently has 54 being utilized by airlines, the largest of which is Southwest with 18. However, the single-sided nature of Terminal 2 makes these gates harder to connect through compared to other airports that offer gates on both sides of the walkway. The airport expects the new terminal would need to have 62 gates by 2040 as the airport expects further growth from airlines on site.

Under the selected plan, the airport would utilize a mix of existing infrastructure and new buildings, with the most notable change being airside. The Yamasaki-designed dome would remain and would serve as the check-in counter like it does today, but would now lead passengers into a consolidated single security screening point on the same level and would eventually lead into a single-linear terminal that would stretch longer than the current span of Concourses A and C today. Arriving passengers would descend down to ground level and walk under the security screening area before making their way to the baggage carousels.

St. Louis-Lambert’s Preferred Single Terminal Design (Credit: FlySTL)

The new terminal would not infringe on any existing taxiways, continuing to utilize taxiways C and D for their entire stretch. St. Louis’s new terminal would require the removal of a hangar and the repositioning of the southern fire station in the process.

For a reference to what these single terminals bring to the table, St. Louis can just look across the state where Kansas City International Airport is expected to open a single terminal in 2023. The terminal consolidates three horseshoe-shaped terminals into a single H-destined structure on top of now demolished Terminal A, saving money on operating costs and building a structure that is more welcoming to passengers in terms of both connectivity and origin/destination.

St. Louis’s previous study in 2012 had also looked into the concept of a consolidated terminal building for all airlines but would not make it a priority since the existing infrastructure was sufficient for the time. Since then, Southwest has stepped up service alongside the arrival of new faces like Spirit, Sun Country, WOW Air and soon-to-touch down Lufthansa. The Dallas-based airline has increased service to the midwestern town to the point it has named it a focus city and has been the driving force as the airport has climbed from 12.2 million flyers in 2012 to 15.2 million flyers in 2019

St. Louis also plans on addressing the other issues that passengers brought up including signage, traffic flow and the Terminal 1 parking garage. The airport is looking into new signage placements and alternative exit ramps from Interstate 70 to combat drivers seeing signage right before their turn. The airport notes how the Indianapolis International Airport has built its terminal to have signage telling passengers about lanes a least one mile before the cutoff. The airport would also like to replace Terminal A’s parking garage as the current structure is nearing the end of its useful life.

Terminal construction is still a long way off, St. Louis wants to run an additional poll this spring to get more in-depth information about travelers walking distances and food choices. The airport must also finish its own internal financial feasibility report before sending it off to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval. Only then can the airport start creating concrete plans to replace the aging infrastructure.

Airport director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge noted the potential, saying, “It’s a process so we will see how it will go in the coming months and the coming years but we are very optimistic….if you think about the best of all worlds, [new terminals] have happened in eight or nine years but a more realistic approach of start to finish is usually in that 10- to 11-year mark.”

Ian McMurtry

Although Ian McMurtry was never originally an avgeek, he did enjoy watching US Airways aircraft across western Pennsylvania in the early 2000s. He lived along the Pennsylvania Railroad and took a liking to trains but a change of scenery in the mid-2000s saw him shift more of an interest into aviation. He would eventually express this passion by taking flying lessons in mid-Missouri and joining AirlineGeeks in 2013. Now living in Wichita, Kansas, Ian is in college majoring in aerospace engineering and minoring in business administration at Wichita State University.

Peruvian Government Executes Airports Expansion Projects

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

Friday, January 07, 2022 at 03:48 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

Inside Lima's airport terminal. (Photo: VasenkaPhotography - https://www.flickr.com/photos/vasenka/8722356428/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26698429)

The Peruvian government has already started the procedures and other measures for the airport’s expansion at Cajamarca, Pucallpa, and Iquitos.

These measures consist of the execution of the expropriations of the properties affected in the expansion projects of the Cajamarca, Pucallpa, and Iquitos airports.

Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport

Mayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias Airport is located at north Cajamarca, in the Baños del Inca district, province and department of Cajamarca.

Cajamarca’s airport has one 2,500 meters long by 45 meters wide runway; a four-story Control Tower with 12.70 meters high; a single passenger terminal; 2 parking spaces on a platform 160 meters long by 80 meters wide, which is for small narrow-body aircraft.

In 2020, ADP conferred the engineering studies to carry out the runway rehabilitation works, taxiway and platform, as well as the design of the perimeter fence of the airport.

The expansion works will require an investment of $38.6 million.

At the end of 2021, the Peruvian government approved a $23,400 payment to compensate the people who will be harmed by the expropriation of land in favor of the expansion of the Cajamarca airport.

Capitán FAP David Abensur Rengifo Airport

Capitán FAP David Abensur Rengifo Airport is located in northeast Pucallpa, in the Yarinacocha district, Coronel Portillo Province, Ucayali department.

Pucallpa’s airport has one 2,800 meters long by 45 meters wide runway; a five-story Control Tower with 14 meters high; a single passenger terminal; 4 parking spaces on a platform with 270 meters long by 92.90 meters wide, which is for small narrow-body aircraft.

In 2018, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications agreed to buy/expropriate the land affected by the Pucallpa airport expansion project.

However, 3 years later, the Peruvian government announced the disbursement of $658,900 to carry out this operation.

At the beginning of this year, the Minister of Transportation and Communications promised to complete this year the approval of the technical file to rehabilitate the runway and expand the perimeter fence of this air terminal, work that will require an investment of $85 million.

Additionally, the new passenger terminal is also close to approval, with an investment of approximately $200 million.

Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport

Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport is located at northeast Iquitos, in the district of San Juan, Province of Maynas, department of Loreto.

Iquitos’ airport has one 2,500 meters long by 45 meters wide runway; a single passenger terminal; 5 parking spaces on a platform with 247.50 meters long by 220 meters wide, which is for small narrow-body aircraft.

In 2020, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications published the technical file project for the investment in the rehabilitation of the airside and the optimization of the airport’s perimeter fence, whose works will demand an investment of approximately $85 million.

In mid-2021, the MTC acquired 90.55% of the properties necessary for the works described above.

In total, 1,485 properties were acquired, leaving 155 for pending acquisition.

At the beginning of this year, the MTC approved the total value of the appraisal and the payment of the improvements found in the affected areas for the expansion works.

Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio

The three things Juan Pedro loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.

Atlas Air to Add Four Boeing 777 Freighters

Charlotte Seet

Friday, January 07, 2022 at 03:42 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Jack Dawin

An Atlas Air 777 Freighter (Photo: Boeing)

Last year has certainly been a drier year for Chicago-based aircraft manufacturing Boeing with production issues and fewer orders as opposed to fellow rival Airbus, especially with several notable airline customers who have switched to the Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer.

Fortunately for Boeing, the manufacturer seems to be getting a slightly better start to this year as it managed to turn the tables on Airbus after securing an agreement with Allegiant Air, and it looks like the manufacturer’s fortune may be turning towards gold as more orders from other airlines pour in.

An Order From Atlas Air

Considered as one of the leading cargo-dedicated airlines in the world that also happens to operate the largest fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft, with nearly 50 in its fleet – Atlas Air will also be receiving the final four 747s from the manufacturer as the production for the iconic jumbo jet came to an end last year.

Hence, it would only make sense that as Atlas Air continues to show its loyalty to Boeing, the cargo airline would be settling for the twin-engined workhorse it placed an order for an additional four 777-200LRFs as means to increase capacity to meet the roaring demand for e-commerce worldwide, as well as express cargo demand.

“We are honored that Atlas Air Worldwide, as a global leader in airfreight, has once again selected to grow with Boeing and our freighter family. As air cargo demand continues to grow, we’re confident that the efficiency, capability and flexibility of our freighter family will meet customer needs now and in the future,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing in a statement.

The first of the four new 777-200LRFs is expected to be delivered in November 2022 with the other three expected to be delivered throughout 2023. This new order will bolster the cargo airline’s 777 fleet – which currently includes 14 freighters that the company operates or provides to customers on a dry-lease basis through its Titan Aviation Leasing subsidiary.

“We are excited to expand our fleet and service offerings for our existing and prospective customers with these four new 777s. These new aircraft will advance our strategic growth plan as we continue to capitalize on strong demand for dedicated airfreight capacity,” said John W. Dietrich, Atlas Air Worldwide President and Chief Executive Officer in a press release.

Airbus vs. Boeing

Fortunately for Boeing, the Atlas order will be counted for 2021 instead of 2022 and will be aiding in making it the best year for Boeing on record for freighter sales, ensuring that the crown for domineering the freighter market still remains on its side.

Although the freighter market is booming alongside the cargo industry and even as Boeing has hinted at a possibility of a new freighter based on the 777X, but rival Airbus has already taken massive strides with its A350F.

Even with Boeing’s current line of existing freighters shining brightly for huge cargo airlines such as Atlas Air and UPS, but the uncertainty still remains with other customers such as Cargolux, FedEx Express and Emirates SkyCargo.

Charlotte Seet

Fascinated by aircraft from a very young age, Charlotte’s dream was to work alongside the big birds one day. Pursuing her dream, she went on to achieve her diploma in Aviation Management and is currently working on her degree in Aviation Business in Administration with a minor in Air Traffic Management. When she’s not busy with school assignments, you can find her aircraft spotting for long hours at the airport. In Charlotte’s heart, the Queen of the Skies will always be her favorite aircraft.

Allegiant Air to Add 100 737 MAX Aircraft

John Flett

Thursday, January 06, 2022 at 09:09 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Parker Davis

An Allegiant A320 on final approach to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis)

U.S. ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air has announced an order of 50 Boeing 737 aircraft comprising a mix of 737-7 and 737-8-200 models — model names airlines have started using to replace that of the beleaguered Boeing 737 MAX — with the option for a further 50 aircraft. The announcement by the airline’s parent company Allegiant Travel Company is somewhat of a surprise for the leisure carrier given that its current fleet is comprised of 108 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft that were all previously owned.

Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., Allegiant chairman and chief executive officer stated, “Our approach to fleet has always been opportunistic, and this exciting transaction with Boeing is no exception. While the heart of our strategy continues to center on previously-owned aircraft, the infusion of up to 100 direct-from-the-manufacturer 737s will bring numerous benefits for the future – including flexibility for capacity growth and aircraft retirements, significant environmental benefits, and modern configuration and cabin features our customers will appreciate.”

The order is also the first deal for Boeing of their 737 series aircraft with a ultra-low-cost carrier based in the U.S.

“We are thrilled that Allegiant has selected Boeing and the 737 MAX as they position themselves for future growth, improved efficiency and operational cost performance,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer Stan Deal said in a statement. “This deal further validates the economics of the 737 MAX family in the ULCC market and we’re excited to stand alongside Allegiant as they integrate these new airplanes into their fleet.”

The first batch of new 737s is scheduled to be delivered to Allegiant in 2023 with the remainder of the initial order arriving throughout 2024 and 2025. The more fuel-efficient 737s will replace retiring aircraft and assist in the airline’s goal of 10 percent annual growth. The press release from Allegiant also adds that the airline will continue to source additional used A320 aircraft to expand their fleet. In addition Allegiant has signed a 12-year exclusive maintenance agreement with CFM the makers of the LEAP 1-B engines chosen for the 737s. The maintenance agreement will also cover support for Allegiant’s current Airbus fleet.

Allegiant has benefited from the rebound of the US domestic leisure travel market in the wake of the impact of coronavirus. The airline’s latest traffic figures for November 2021 showed a 7.8% increase in the number of passengers carried on its scheduled services in comparison to November 2019. The number of scheduled flight departures had also increased (by 9 percent) adding 10 percent more capacity to Allegiant’s network. However the all-important metric of load factor, particularly crucial for an ultra-low-cost carrier, fell by 2.8 percentage points from 80.4% in November 2019 to 77.6% in November 2021.

Allegiant Travel Company has scheduled a call with investors on Thursday to discuss the Boeing 737 agreement.

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.

Philippine Airlines Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Vanni Gibertini

Thursday, January 06, 2022 at 09:04 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Philippine Airlines aircraft. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

Just a few hours before one of the worst years on record for commercial aviation came to a close, Philippine Airlines announced it was exiting U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after successfully restructuring its business.

Less than four months earlier, the airline had voluntarily entered Chapter 11 on Sept. 3 and was able to emerge from bankruptcy after its turnaround plan was accepted by all its creditors, including aircraft lessors and lenders, OEMs, MRO providers and other debt lenders, Businesswire reported.

The strong support from all the creditors allowed for over $2 billion of existing debts to be permanently eliminated from the carrier’s balance sheet. At the same time, over $505 million of additional liquidity was arranged through long-term equity and debt financing. PAL also has the option to avail of $150 million of extra financing from new investors.

“Philippine Airlines stands ready to help grow back the Philippines’ local and international air travel markets in ways that renew the tourism industry, serve the needs of global citizens including overseas Filipinos, and contribute actively to the recovery of the Philippine economy,” said PAL Director Lucio C. Tan III, quoting PAL Chairman and CEO Dr. Lucio C. Tan. “Our mission as the flag carrier matters more than ever, and we are thankful for the chance to rebound from the pandemic and continue to fulfill this mission as best as we can.”

Fewer Planes and an All-Cargo Unit

The new business plan included a cut to its fleet by approximately 25% while contextually reaffirming PAL’s role as the only full-service carrier in the country with a network extending as far West as Israel and as far East as Canada, Hawaii and the U.S. mainland, including also multiple services to Australian cities like Brisbane and Melbourne.

It is the only domestic carrier providing a business class cabin and it has a predominantly Airbus fleet including A320 and A321 aircraft with the A320s being progressively replaced by Airbus A321neo with delivery planned until 2026. The long-haul fleet includes 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, 12 A330-300 and four newer A350-900 XWBs.

Philippines Airlines will restore its links to multiple cities in mainland China as soon as restrictions to international traffic into the country are lifted in order to capitalize.

The Covid-19 pandemic decimated passenger numbers in the Philippines: domestic and international traffic collapsed by more than 75% from the 60 million passengers recorded in 2019 to the 13 million passengers of 2020, Channel News Asia reports.

A particular focus will be placed on competitive pricing, an overhaul of the Mabuhay Miles frequent flier program and improvement in customer experience, with a special focus on technological improvements.

The newly-created cargo business unit created to respond to increased freight transport demand during the pandemic will be expanded and will include all-cargo flights.

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.

Uganda Airlines Faces Network Challenges

Victor Shalton

Wednesday, January 05, 2022 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

Uganda Airlines takes delivery of its first Airbus A330neo (Photo: Airbus)

COVID-19 has drastically decreased airline traffic across all routes, raising questions as to whether the current crisis will lead to structural changes within the industry.

On the network side, this includes a debate about when and if traffic will return to normal. Uganda Airlines — like other carriers —will have to cater to these challenges as it faces a ban on its newest long-haul flights to Dubai.

The Entebbe, Uganda-Dubai, the United Arab Emirates service launch was suspended after three months — disrupting the airline’s growth plans. This flight service was expected to be the most lucrative route.

The October launch of the Uganda Airlines flight came two months after the United Arab Emirates lifted a travel ban on several countries including Uganda in August, put in place in June last year — due to surging new coronavirus infections.

According to the Airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Bamuturaki, Uganda Airlines has been operating between near to full capacity since it’s maiden flights to the United Arab Emirates.

“On the first commercial flight, we had 80 passengers on our 258-passenger Airbus to Dubai. On the second flight, we had 220 passengers,” Bamuturaki, said, on the capacity of Uganda Airlines.

This has been the same picture on the regional routes like Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and Johannesburg. However, navigating new testing rules and entry restrictions as more details about the new variant emerge is proving to be a big challenge for the airline.

Passengers from Uganda — along with numerous other African nations — have been barred from entering Dubai since December 28th as part of official policies to try and mitigate the spread of Omicron.

“Business was affected by the ban. We were making 60,000 to 70,000 US Dollars per flight before the ban,” the CEO says in regards to the Dubai flight suspension.

The carrier operated direct flight services between Entebbe, Uganda and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on the Airbus A330-800 Neo three times a week, hoping to increase these to five with increasing demand. However, Bamuturaki notes that cargo remains crucial for the airline, allowing it to record notable income despite the travel ban.

Fleet Expansion

While recently speaking to AviaDev Africa Podcast, Bamuturaki reiterated the need for mid-range jet equipment to join the airline’s fleet.

“When you look at the type of aircraft we have now and based on the routes we want to fly, we realized we needed a mid-range jet, something between the Airbus and the CRJ,” Bamuturaki said.

However, Bamuturaki expressed the hope that the induction of new mid-range equipment to the Pearl of Africa’s fleet would further enhance the national flag carrier’s capability to operate flights to more new destinations.

“So the plan is to look for equipment that carries between 120 and 150 passengers that can do long-range without a stop-over. At the moment, with the CRJ, we fly direct to South Africa, to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo, but we have to ‘cut’ it because of weight, volume and all that. It’s got its limitations which makes it unprofitable on the route. Also, baggage becomes an issue. So the need for a 120-150 seater is becoming important for us,” Bamuturaki added.

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 Launches New Subsidiary

Chase Hagl

Wednesday, January 05, 2022 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 on the production line. (Photo: Airbus)

On Monday, Airbus — the prominent, European aircraft manufacturer — announced the launch of Airbus Atlantic, which will become their new wholly-owned subsidiary. The combination of Airbus’ two major production sites located in Nantes, France and Montoir-de-Bretagne, France with Stelia Aerospace — their seat design and manufacturing subsidiary — will potentially make Airbus Atlantic, the second-largest S corporation in the world.

The subsidiary was officially established on Jan.1 and brings together a total of three production sites located in the Loire-Atlantique — one of France’s administrative departments.

Airbus’ production site in Nantes, France employs more than 3,000 Airbus employees and is home to the production of center wing boxes for all Airbus’s commercial aircraft. The production site is for air inlets on nacelles for the Airbus A350, the Airbus A380 Superjumbo, the specific Airbus A320 CFM International LEAP-1A and Airbus A330neo engines. The Nantes location also includes the manufacturing of the A380’s and A330’s ailerons, the A350’s belly fairing, and is the leading in manufacturing of structural parts in carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) — the weight-saving composite material that Airbus has increasingly incorporated into its aircraft.

Meanwhile, Airbus’ Montoir-de-Bretagne location employs 3,060 staff and is focused on the assembling, equipping, and testing of the forward sections of all A320 Family aircraft as well as both forward and center sections of A330 and A380 aircraft. Following assembly, fuselage elements are equipped with the essential systems before being transported to their final assembly locations.

Stelia Aerospace staffs 6,900 employees and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus. This subsidiary specializes in the design and manufacturing of aerostructures, premium class passenger seats and is the leading manufacturer of pilot seats for aircraft in the commercial sector.

Through consolidation and the combining of forces of all three production locations, the subsidiary will employ 13,000 staff located throughout five countries and three continents with an estimated business volume of $4 billion. The move will help strengthen both Airbus’ value chain and supply chain which includes 500 direct suppliers and 2,000 indirect suppliers.

“At the heart of Airbus, Airbus Atlantic aims at meeting the great challenges linked to a sustainable aviation industry, pioneering new technologies. Our first mission will be to ensure the satisfaction of all our customers and to establish new standards of excellence in terms of quality and operational efficiency,” the new Airbus Atlantic CEO and former CEO of Stelia Aerospace, Cédric Gautier, said. “I have full confidence in the talent, enthusiasm, and commitment of the Airbus Atlantic teams to write this new chapter of our history with success.”

The Larger Project

This move will play an important role in enabling Airbus to focus on their industry segment allowing them to be more agile, fostering competitiveness, innovation and quality to the benefit of all Airbus programs through the simplification of both governance and interfaces in the new industrial setup.

The Airbus Atlantic subsidiary is only half of the transformation project announced earlier last year by the manufacturer. Airbus has plans for an additional subsidiary in Germany and looks to simplify the work that occurs prior to the final assembly of aircraft. The name for the German subsidiary has yet to be announced, but it can be expected within the first half of 2022.

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.

Cathay Pacific Airways Cancels Long-Haul Cargo Flights

Pete Ainsley

Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 06:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Benjamin Pham

Photo: Yamaguchi Yoshiaki from Japan (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Cathay Pacific Airways announced that it will suspend its long-haul cargo services until Jan. 6 due to a shortage of staff. The Hong Kong government has tightened its restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant. The flight crew needs to take seven days isolation in a designated hotel after arriving in Hong Kong, instead of three days isolation.

The latest suspension is expected to threaten the supply chain during the Lunar New Year Holidays.

Meanwhile, two staff have been sacked who tested for positive for Covid-19, breaching the Covid-19 protocols. A new cluster of cases in Hong Kong restaurants has emerged, which is believed to be linked to Cathay Pacific’s staff going to the same indoor public spaces.

“Failure to comply with medical surveillance regulations will lead to disciplinary procedures. Two of the individuals are no longer employed by Cathay Pacific.” The airline said in a statement. The city has recorded zero local transmission over 70 days.

Hong Kong Government blasted the airline for not following the restrictions. At least five crew members have tested positive for the Omicron, according to the airline.

The latest incident has been a sense of déjà vu for the carrier. Three Cathay Pacific aircrew were sacked after breaching the carrier’s Covid protocol in Frankfurt — back in November.

The aviation industry in Hong Kong is facing turbulence. FedEx has also shut down its crew base in Hong Kong. Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO, told SCMP, he was “a little bit disappointed”, in response to Hong Kong’s tough travel restrictions. Qatar Airways owns a nearly 10% stake in Cathay Pacific.

The city has implemented the “zero covid” policy where most travelers coming from overseas need to quarantine for 21 days, and the airline staff also need to quarantine and self-test from time to time.

Earlier, the airline said it will start hiring pilots this year. Cathay Pacific staff revealed that the morale of the airline staff has dropped quite significantly because of facing too much isolation. Meanwhile, the airline has seen an increase in resignation.

The Airline’s Future Obstacles

Earlier, the airline revealed its passenger capacity in November. The airline’s operations were extremely challenging. The airline carried about 70,000 passengers — an increase of 85.2% — compared to the same time last year, but a 97.3% drop compared to November 2019. The airline has operated 12% of flights — compared to November 2019. However, the airline has seen strong demand for cargo services.

Cathay Pacific will have to overcome the Omicron variant, which currently has an impact on sentiment for travel over the holiday season.

Additionally, the carrier is facing another setback in the new year, forcing to suspend the Manchester, U.K. services for 14 days. Under the latest travel restrictions in Hong Kong, if a total of five or more passengers among all flights from the same place — regardless of airline — were confirmed positive through testing or relevant virus mutation within one week, then the airline will be banned from entering the city for two weeks.

Pete Ainsley

United Departs 11 Underserved U.S. Airports for Final Time

Joey Gerardi

Monday, January 03, 2022 at 07:22 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

A United Express CRJ-200 (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Joey Gerardi)

The New Year celebrations have come and gone and while some are still coming out of the weekend celebrations in a good mood, employees and passengers in 11 cities are likely not too thrilled. United Airlines, more specifically United Express, will be cutting services from their respective cities.

Kalamazoo and Lansing, Mich.; Columbia, Mo.; College Station, Texas; Evansville, Ind.; Monroe, La.; and Twin Falls, Id. all had their final United flights depart to the airline’s various hubs in the early morning between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. local time on Monday.

The four cities of Kileen, Texas; Wausau, Wis.; Pierre, S.D. and Watertown, S.D. will see their final United departure Monday evening between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time.

Watertown and Pierre, S.D. are being dropped as SkyWest – a United Express operator – lost the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract in both cities to Denver Air Connection. The decision to drop the other cities is due to “changes in the long-term sustainability” of the routes, all of which are operated on regional jets such as the ERJ-145 and the CRJ-200.

Twin Falls, College Station, Watertown, Pierre, and Killeen will all be left with only a single carrier serving them once United has departed for the final time. Although the airline didn’t say it would be leaving the 11 cities permanently, it did say it would be indefinite.

Joey Gerardi

Joey has always been interested in planes for as long as he can remember. He grew up in Central New York during the early 2000s when US Airways Express turboprops ruled the skies. Being from a non-aviation family made it harder for him to be around planes and would only spend about three hours a month at the airport. He was so excited when he could drive by himself, the first thing he did with his driver's license was get ice cream and go plane spotting for the entire day. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 2022 with a B.S. in Aviation Management & Operations and a Minor in Business, and currently works for a major airline in his hometown.

AirlineGeeks Year in Review: 2021

Mateen Kontoravdis

Monday, January 03, 2022 at 11:29 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

Undoubtedly, 2021 was another historic year for the aviation industry. On a global scale, airlines continued to fly through turbulent times as the Covid-19 pandemic dragged on and new variants arose. With vaccine availability increasing around the world, the industry slowly blossomed: countries loosened restrictions, opened borders and once again welcomed travel. In the U.S., this summer marked a unique recovery with unprecedented leisure travel demand as wide-body jets found a new niche whisking passengers around the U.S., and new airlines began operations on both coasts.

As we fly into a new and promising year for the aviation industry, let’s take a moment to look back at some of this year’s biggest headlines. The articles below are listed in chronological order and relevant articles may be linked in each header.

Several U.S. Carriers Grow During the Pandemic

2021 began with a promising outlook as multiple airlines reported growth despite the onset of the pandemic. Both Sun Country and Allegiant expanded their fleet to support new ventures such as cargo flying.

Boeing Delays 777X Entry into Service

A Boeing 777X at the Dubai Airshow. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

After posting a $11.94 billion loss for 2020, Boeing announced a launch delay for its new 777X jet. After the delay was announced, the FAA also sent a letter to the manufacturer in June clarifying that the manufacturer will likely not receive certification until mid to late 2023.

Boeing Secures Additional 737 MAX Orders

A Southwest 737 MAX 8 over the threshold in Las Vegas. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

After receiving the green light to re-enter commercial service in the U.S. in Nov. 2020, the Boeing 737 MAX received a major vote of confidence when Southwest topped its previous order for 100 additional jets. The airline now has 380 MAX aircraft on order.

Several Airlines Leverage Pandemic to Enter Heathrow

While slots at U.K.’s busiest airport are very hard to come by during a normal year, the pandemic opened opportunities for new airlines to enter the market. JetBlue has successfully secured an extension of its slots at Heathrow until at least fall of 2022.

While Most 747s Are Retired, One Special Jet Returned to the Skies in 2021

In a year when multiple airlines expedited the retirement of its 747s, one unique 747-300 made an unexpected return to the skies. After over five years of work, a heavy C-check and with two engines replaced through the cannibalization of EP-MND, a retired Boeing 747-300 also previously owned and operated by Mahan Air, the aircraft was able to return to service.

Avelo Airlines Begins Operations Ahead of Busy Summer

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

Avelo was the first of three new airlines to take off in the U.S. in 2021. Since commencing operations in Burbank, Calif., the airline has also added an east coast base. Just a few weeks later, Breeze Airways operated its first flight from Tampa, Fla. The airline has since added its first Airbus A220 to its fleet and announced additional destinations for 2022. Aha! Airlines — the reincarnation of ExpressJet — began operations from Reno, Nev. in late 2021.

Airbus Posts First Pandemic Profit

The European aircraft manufacturing giant said in a statement that it booked a bottom-line net profit of $440 million during the January to March period, compared with a loss of $581 million from the previous year. The manufacturer received orders for 906 jets in 2021 — outpacing Boeing by 58 orders.

Ryanair Flight Redirected by Belarusian Government

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair found itself in the middle of an international political incident when one of its flights was forced to divert to a foreign capital, and one of its passengers was apprehended by law enforcement.

Qatar Airways Grounds Multiple A350s

Qatar Airways A350-900 A7-AMF touching down on runway 25L at Brandenburg Airport (Photo: AirlineGeeks | James Dinsdale)

At the request of Qatar’s aviation regulators, the nation’s flag carrier has grounded 21 Airbus A350 jets. The airline recently sued Airbus as the dispute between the two companies continues.

United Plans for Supersonic Travel

United Airlines and start-up company Boom Supersonic announced an agreement for up to 50 supersonic aircraft to be delivered from 2029. The airline also made headlines this year when it announced an order for 270 narrow-body jets as well as an investment in Heart Aerospace’s electric aircraft.

Boeing 737 MAX 10 Completes Maiden Flight

Boeing’s first 737 MAX 10 arriving after an initial test flight (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Bailey)

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the latest type of the Boeing 737 family. Boeing touts the MAX 10 to offer up to 204 seats in two-class configurations and 230 seats in a single class. The aircraft offers the shortest range of the family at 3,300 nautical miles but has the largest length at 143 feet, 8 inches.

U.S. Orders Airlines to Assist in Afghanistan Evacuation

The Secretary of Defense officially ordered the third activation in the history of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet — utilizing Stage 1 of its operations. Previously, the Civil Reserve Air Fleet served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from August 1990 to May 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2002 to June 2003. The program was launched after the Berlin Airlift, which took place in the late-1940s.

Italy’s New Flag Carrier Takes Flight

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) succeeded Alitalia as Italy’s flag carrier with a fresh balance sheet, 52 aircraft from its predecessor and 2,800 employees on Oct. 15.

Alaska Airlines Announces Development of Hydrogen Engine

The new engine will be installed on a De Havilland Q400, operated by Alaska’s wholly-owned subsidiary Horizon Air. Alaska and ZeroAvia will work together to modify one of ZeroAvia’s existing powertrains to a new ZA2000 engine family that will be able to produce between 2,000-5,000 kilowatts of power.

Maskless Travel Slowly Returning Around the World

An SAS A320 in Oslo. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

The move was followed by other local carriers Norwegian, Flyr and Widerøe, the latter two of which have route networks that are much more heavily concentrated within the Nordic countries. In the U.S., the TSA has extended its mask mandate through March 18, 2022.

Play Takes Flight, Restores Competitive Field Left by WOW Air

Play is bringing competition back to Iceland after the closure of WOW Air. The airline commenced flights in June and will begin flights to the U.S. this year. Play’s first U.S. destinations will be Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Boston.

Emirates Takes Delivery of Final Airbus A380

Emirates’ final Airbus A380 delivery. (Photo: Emirates)

As the year came to a close, Airbus also delivered the 251st and final A380 to Emirates. The end of 2021 also marked the return of the A380 back into the skies for multiple airlines including British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

AirlineGeeks 2021 Review

2021 was another significant year for AirlineGeeks.com. We welcomed readers from 235 countries to our website. Internally, we grew our team with eight new writers based in countries around the globe including Australia, China, Indonesia, Italy and Singapore. As the site continues to grow, we are continuing to recruit for various positions. Additionally, we hosted multiple webinars including a unique discussion with Honeywell’s chief pilot.

As we take off into 2022, we look forward to expanding our global coverage of the aviation industry and look forward to hosting several exciting events for our readers.

Most importantly, we would like to thank all of our readers for your continued support, and we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for the future.

While there were many unique stories to hear this year, the following list includes some of our favorite exclusives that we posted in 2021.

Sun Country Using Proven Model to Forge New Trails

Inside Advance Air – The Do It All Airline

Hawaiian CEO Talks New Route, Future U.S. Growth

How Martin Gauss is Leading AirBaltic Through Trying Times

Inside Victorville Airport, 400 Airliners Face an Uncertain Future

Mateen Kontoravdis

Mateen has been interested in aviation from a very young age. He loves learning about different aspects of the industry. Mateen has been an editor for the website since early 2017. Most recently, Mateen is additionally the website’s overall strategist. In addition to writing for AirlineGeeks, Mateen is a sophomore at the University of Texas studying Human Dimensions of Organizations. You can also find him on Instagram (@Plane.Photos) where he enjoys sharing his aviation photography with thousands of people on a daily basis.